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By F. W. Davis

SOME idea may be gained of the tremendous consumption of refractories by the open-hearth steel manufacturers from a statement made by A. T. Green at a meeting reported by T11.e Industrial Chemist of London, as follows: "At a very progressive steel plant in the Midlands, with a battery of five open-hearth furnaces working. twelve months and making 3000 tons of steel per week, the cost of refractories per ton of steel produced averages about $0.50 for the actual open- hearth casting and $0.12 for those operations incidental to the rolling of the metal." .These figures, when translated into the annual tonnage of steel, represent a very considerable expenditure.

Jan 1, 1930

By AIME AIME

ADDRESSING the Ohio Section at a recent meeting in Columbus, Ohio, R. C. Allen, executive vice-president for Oglebay, Norton & Co., Cleveland, spoke on "The Iron-Ore Industry of the Lake Superior Region in Prosperity and Depression." The speaker considered this region in connection with the problem of national security. This is the age of minerals; progress depends on them; and next to agriculture, the mineral industry is of prime importance. The United States has no shortage of minerals rather an over-supply; but many mines have been and are being exhausted. The shifting of the sources of supplies of minerals so important as copper, petroleum, and iron to other countries would create internal strains and affect international relations. There will be no early decline of ore mining in the Lake Superior region unless it is forced by unwise public policies. Iron ore is industrial strength and self-sufficiency. A study of economic geography is important for statesmen and mining men, because the minerals essential for peace and war are haphazardly or irregularly distributed throughout the world. Of these minerals, 75 per cent are owned by 10 per cent of the population, mainly peoples of Anglo-Saxon origin.

Jan 1, 1934

By Edwin Ludlow

EDWIN LUDLOW, the 41st President of the A. I. M. E., died in Muskogee, Okla., on Feb. 10, 1924, after a brief illness of influenza followed by pneumonia. He was born in Oakdale, Long Island, N. Y., March 12, 1858, a son of William Handy and Louise (Nicoll) Ludlow, attended Flushing (L. I.) Institute 1868-75: and Columbia School of Mines (N. Y.) where he graduated with the degree of Engineer of Mines with the Class of 1879. After graduation his first employment was as assistant engineer in river and harbor work on the Delaware River near Philadelphia. In 1881 he went to Mexico as one of the engineers on the Mexican Central Railroad, then building from Laredo, Texas, to Mexico City. The road being in financial difficulties he returned to the United, [states, and shortly thereafter was made superintendent of the Union Coal Co.'s collieries located in the western middle anthracite field, between Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. Ludlow and Arthur H. Storrs, then superintendent of the Neilson Shaft Colliery, in Shamokin, were known throughout that section as the baby superintendents, both under 25 years of age. The appointments of such young men were at that time unique and set a record for youthful assumption of re-

Jan 1, 1924

By AIME

The Taconites Are Ready, the editorial appearing on P. 933 of the September issue, has provoked comment from several informed engineers to the effect that the indicated profit margin was considerably exaggerated. The cost figures in the editorial, taken from the Congressional Record, were characterized as inaccurate by some correspondents. The theme of the story was, however, substantiated in the announcement (P. 1023, October) that Republic and Armco had joined forces in a $160 million project for taconite development. Chief among the dissenters was E. W. Davis, , Director of the Mines Experiment Station at the University of Minnesota. Mr. Davis has worked up the following set of cost figures:

Jan 1, 1950

Although copper production established a new record, lead and zinc registered gains, and iron production held steady, the mixed trend in metallic and nonmetallic mining and generally lower prices in 1961 resulted in a net decline in the total value of domestic mineral production. According to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the value of metals produced in this country during the year was approximately $1.9 billion, a decrease of $117 million from 1960; the value of nonmetallics was about $3.7 billion, a $14 million decrease. The following report of mining and mineral developments during 1961 is based on USBM and industry sources. Aluminum Output Dips from 1960 Record Government reports indicate that the domestic primary aluminum industry produced approximately 1,880,000 tons, equivalent to 77% of this nation's capacity. This production is about 6% below the 1960 record output of 2,014,498 tons. Shipments of primary metal ingot slightly exceeded the quantity produced.

Jan 2, 1962

By Lawrence Henderson

TO increase tonnage in the early days of coal mining it was necessary only to hire more men. The job now is to increase the tons per man, but other troubles arise because this has been accomplished. With the introduction of continuous miners, newer and faster loading machines, and faster belt conveyors the safety engineer has been faced with new difficulties. Use of larger equipment created roof control problems, which were thoroughly studied by the safety engineers of various companies. With the assistance of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, safety engineers in Alabama conducted roof bolting experiments wherever they appeared to be applicable. Accident records before and after the method was adopted showed results more than justifying the efforts and funds expended. The larger mining companies responded enthusiastically to the program because roof bolting not only prevented accidents but also increased production efficiency, in many cases rep- resenting the margin between profit and loss. In Alabama today there are miles of roof supported by bolts.

Jan 8, 1957

By Schrade F. Radtke

The future of lead and zinc, as with any material, will relate directly to their capability to remain competitive; that is, to demonstrate cost-performance ratios that are superior to those of competing materials. These cost-performance ratios are not static; therefore, it is necessary to develop improvements in products or processes to maintain present markets or to penetrate other markets. Perhaps the surest way to achieve these goals, if they can be achieved at all, is through research. The world lead and zinc producing industry established ILZRO as its cooperative research function to carry on both fundamental and applied research and development efforts aimed at the stated objectives. Current research efforts in the fields of die casting, galvanizing, finishing, chemicals, architectural applications, ceramics, and batteries are reviewed and potential impact assessed, some projections are given of possible new areas of research. Environmental research and its impact on future uses of lead and zinc are also discussed.

Jan 1, 1977

The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of Mar. 10, 1918, to Apr. 10, 1918. ADAMS, NOAH- :.. Geol.,. E. N. Gillespie & Co., Box 1875, Tulsa, Okla. ALVAREZ, PEDRO Asst. Met., American Smelt. & Refin. Co., Blue Hill, Maine. BARTRAM, JOHN G., Pet. Geol., Roxana Petroleum Co. of Oklahoma, Cheyenne, Wyo. CHANEY, S. E Supt.., Arizona Binghamton Copper Co., Stoddard, Ariz. CLEVELAND, EARL C Mgr., Deadwood Min. Co., Mogollon, N. M. DENNIS, HOWARD B Min. Engr., Empire Mines, Grass Valley, Cal. FOWLER, ARTHUR A., Partner, Rogers, Brown &- Co., 30 Church St., New York, N. Y. FRIEDMAN, L. A Pres. and Gen'l Mgr., Rochester Mines Co., Lovelock, Nev. GUIBERSON, S. ALLEN, JR 923-24 1. N. Van Nuys Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal. KROHN, ARTHUR Mine Supt., Missouri Metal Corpn., Mine La Motte, Mo. KURSELL, H. A., Mgr., Altai Mines Ltd., Zmeinogorsk, Altai Gov't, Siberia, Russia. LANE, L. RAY Mine Examinations, Galiano 24, Aptd. 1066, Havana, Cuba.

Jan 5, 1918

PRODUCTION of nonmetallic mineral raw materials used by the fertilizer, ceramic, chemical, and construction industries and many others, was greater during 1953 than in any previous year. Production of fertilizer minerals was the highest in history despite somewhat decreased consumption in the second half of the year. Marketable phosphate rock production increased 10 pct to an estimated total of 13.1 million LT, valued at $78.5 million, and potash production was estimated at 1.8 million tons of K2O equivalent, valued at over $60 million. Crude gypsum output exceeded the 1952 total and approached the record of 8.66 million tons mined in 1951, with indications that 1953 will show a new all-time high. Gains and losses among gypsum products were irregular, with major gains in plate- glass and terra-cotta plasters, sanded building plasters and miscellaneous building plasters, and principal declines in base-coat plasters, prepared finishes and tile. Lath and wallboard outputs were each about 20 pct higher than in 1952.

Jan 2, 1954

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of Nov. 10, 1917, to Dec. 10, 1917. ADAMS, LLOYD D Supt., Hoskins Mine, Mineral Point Zinc Co., Galena, Ill. ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM D., Min. Engr.. Empire Coal Co., 715 American Trust Bldg., Birmingham, Ala. BALL, TOM LEE, Efficiency Engr., Iron Mines Dept., Tennessee Coal, Iron &.R. R. Co., Bessemer, Ala. BENZIE, WILLIAM ROSE, Sec. & Treas., The Republic Coal Co., 901-2 Foster Bldg.,Denver, Colo. BERGSTROM, GUNNAR, Min. Engr.... Resident Mgr., Russian Dept., Swedish Diamond Rock Drilling Co., Slatawostowskaja Ulitza 6, Ekaterinburg, Russia. CADOT, J., Engr.,. Hardinge Conical Mill Co., Newhouse Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. COFFEY, GEORGE W 64 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland, Cal. CUTLER, WILLARD WALKER, JR Geol., Carter Oil Co., Tulsa, Okla.' . DANIEL, JOSEPH A., Min. Engr. & Geol., Hudson's Bay Co., Care The Institution of Mining & Metallurgy, 1 Finsbury Circus, London, E. C., England. EARDLEY, WALTER HAZEN, Cons. Engr., Chanute Spelter Co., 316 Frisco Bldg Joplin, Mo.

Jan 1, 1918

By Hal M. Scrugham

UNITED States Steel Co.'s Tennessee Coal & Iron Div. Wenonah mines present definite materials handling problems arising from the natural features of the operation. Trackless equipment went a long way toward supplying the answers-but at the same time gave birth to several new posers. Machines-trackless or otherwise-require maintenance and Wenonah's experience may do much to add to the body of information already available on this type of equipment. Let's look at the mines themselves. Ore is of sedimentary origin, extending over an area of several square miles. A thickness from 8 to 14 ft is mined. Bed dip varies from the horizontal to 20 pct in local rolls. Practice is to mine across the dip at 14 pct or less. A parting forms a smooth footwall in some of the mines while in others the footwall must be blasted smooth. Ore weighs 215 lb per cu ft in place and is extremely abrasive.

Jan 6, 1953

Conservatively, there are a half million square miles in Australia just like it, this spot near the western border of New South Wales. Space and distance are the elements. Mulga tree and salt bush, silvery under the sun, hug the ground too close to make welcome shade. To the east a wrinkle on the empty plain marks the line of lode, the Broken Hill bonanza. Strangely, the outback stops at a cyclone fence close by the ridge. Beyond, the peculiar island continent vegetation flourishes with the same frosty patina of the mulga and the salt bush. A city of 30,000 people is hidden behind the screen of vegetation. Once, the city was ugly and the people miserable from marching, flying sand. Now with a protective screen of vegetation, it is an oasis in the outback. The secret of the oasis is the fence. All regeneration plans failed until it was built to keep kangaroo, rabbit, sheep and man from destroying the plantations.

Jan 10, 1964

By H. L. Talbot, R. S. Young, A. Golledge

THE differentiation of, oxidized forms of lead from lead sulphide in complex products by chemical analysis is of considerable importance to certain mining and metallurgical companies. A method for the separation of "oxide" lead, (non-sulphide), from sulphide lead, based on the solubility of the former and virtual insolubility of the latter in concentrated ammonium acetate solution, has been employed for many years in the industry.1,2 Unfortunately this solvent, while satisfactory for lead sulphate and carbonate, is without action on lead phosphates or vanadates, with the result that at Rhodesia Broken Hill Development Co. where these latter minerals are present, they have counted as sulphides when using this procedure. For the control of operations in the new concentrator it became necessary to have a closer check on sulphide lead than could be obtained by the only current method of differentiating this constituent from oxidized lead. For some time this problem has engaged our attention, and after a large number of solvents had been tried, the following procedure was evolved. Like all methods depending on selective solution in a complex material, it will not give 100 pct separation into oxide and sulphide portions. Because of the ease of oxidation of galena this is almost an impossibility. Our procedure will, however, give a recovery of 99-100 pct of the oxidized lead, contaminated with very small quantities of lead sulphide, and a corresponding recovery of 97-98 pct of the sulphide lead. The procedure is simple and reproducible, and gives results quite satisfactory for routine control purposes. EXPERIMENTAL For this work standard samples of the following pure lead minerals were obtained from Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia. These were hand-picked specimens, and were carefully ground to - 200 mesh. Since it was realized that a fair-sized sample would be necessary for this work to thoroughly test the large number of procedures we had in mind, a compromise had to be effected between a few grams of very pure minerals and a large sample of lower grade material. For this work the presence of gangue was not deleterious, so long as the oxide lead minerals did not contain lead sulphide, and vice versa. Table I shows the lead minerals used, and their total lead content, both theoretical and actual. Apart from the pyromorphite the minerals are seen by analysis to be quite pure. Many solutions were tried in an effort to dissolve the oxidized lead minerals and

Jan 1, 1947

By L. D. Lash, J. R. Ross

Scandium is a pseudo-rare earth which is truly rare and expensive. It has special properties which may make it desirable even at the present price of $2750 per lb. Recently the price was lowered from $5000 per lb which had prevailed since 1952, and it is anticipated that usage will be stimulated because of the lowered price. This metallic element is distributed widely in trace amounts in the rocks of the earth's crust. In addition to micro-amounts found in most uranium ores, concentrations of 50 to 100 ppm have been found in Colorado ferberite ore, lateritic nickel ore, heavy sandstone from Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico, and various zircon sands and monazites from the western part of the US. Scandium has been found as an essential constituent of very few minerals, the most important being thortveitite, a scandium silicate. At the present time, this mineral commands a price more than twice that of gold.

Jan 8, 1961

By Charles J. Lipton

Third World countries have lately taken a variety of actions to improve their revenues from the development of their mineral resources. Increasingly, their governments seek to negotiate production agreements on the basis of feasibility studies and discounted cash flow projections. Developing countries are now more selective in giving incentives to encourage investment in the mining sector. They recognize the value of their contributions to mining projects by way of guarantees and the provision of infrastructure. Third World governments now seek to participate in the basic decision making which determines profitability, such as loan-equity ratios, plant capacity, and processing and sales arrangements. They are alert to the benefits of large-scale development and appreciate their risks. They seek to increase their benefits from foreign exchange earnings and the multiplier effect of mining projects. New forms of arrangements are being used to insure that the mining sector is developed in harmony with the national objectives of the Third World.

Jan 1, 1977

John Eliot Allen has been made acting head, dept. of geology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, N. Mex. He had been associate professor of geology. Robert B. Anderson has accepted a position with the U. S. Steel Co., Gary, W. Va., as assistant to the superintendent, No. 2 mine. [ ] Donald L. Archibald has joined the sales dept. of the Ellicott Machine Corp., Baltimore. He formerly had been associated with the Joy Mfg. Co., St. Louis. J. C. Boswell has been appointed manager of the Fairbanks dept., United Smelting Refining & Mining Co. J. B. Metcalfe has been appointed assistant to the president. G. Howard LeFevre was elected vice-president and general manager of metal sales and R. N. Hunt, vice-president and chief geologist was elected a director. R. B. Earling, vice-president and general manager of Alaskan operations, has retired but. will con¬tinue to serve on the board of directors. J. D. Crawford has been appointed general manager of Alaskan operations.

Jan 1, 1952

By B. Misra, N. Brook

A new method of determining a "Rock Impact Hardness Number" by comminuting cylindrical specimens in a "Syskov" mortar is proposed. The method of finding Protodyakonov Number by the stamp-mill method was first examined, and the effect of initial size of specimen thoroughly investigated. A method of determining the correct number of blows to use in a test is developed and the inaccuracies involved in the original method, which stem from the measurement of a volume of fines, are avoided by using mass measurements. A graph of percentage fines below 50µtm and number of blows is statistically examined to obtain an accurate estimate of the number of blows to produce 25% fines, from regular initial specimens. This number was defined as the "Rock Impact Hardness Number". The effect of specimen size on this strength index was investigated. A comparison was made between this method of determining rock strength, and a 'field' method using irregular specimens.

Jan 1, 1971

By John Sherbourne

Much valuable scientific research has been performed in recent years on the subject of phase behavior of hydrocarbons. ? 1-11 Engineers employed in petroleum production are interesting themselves in this work as well as in methods of applying the fundamental data available to the solution of their various problems. Recently a number of papers have been published in which applica-tions of phase behavior have been made to specific cases pertaining to critical phenomena.)12-16 Little effort, however, has been made in the literature to show the relation between changes occurring in the critical region and the more common phase behavior, therefore it is believed that a presentation of the fundamentals of phase behavior with reference to hydrocarbons is timely. Study of phase behavior is not new. In the metallurgical field, knowledge of heterogeneous equilibria has advanced tremendously, particularly with reference to solid-solid and solid-liquid behavior. Much is known about vapor-liquid equilibria too, but few engineers are familiar with this subject. ?

Jan 1, 1940

By Norman D. Fitz, Gerald

BOTH physical and economic factors are concerned in determining the optimum rate of depletion of a mineral deposit. The physical limitations are, in a large measure fixed by nature. Economic influences on the other hand, are man-made and subject to wide changes. Analyses of the interrelations of these two groups of factors are of major importance in selecting the optimum rate of production of petroleum and mining properties and in their valuation. Physical Influences PRIMARY limitations on the rate of mining are the rate of shaft sinking and underground development, the rate of hoisting, and the rate of sloping. These rates are largely determined by the physical features of a property. Technical methods which may be employed, and consequently the length of time required, are governed by the dimensions of the deposit, its attitude, depth, regularity, the unit value and character of the ore, the nature of the wall rocks, and similar factors.

Jan 1, 1938

By J. C. METCALF

MORE than 80 per cent. of the iron produced in the United States and over 30 per cent. of the world's annual production is obtained in the Lake Superior district. Though iron ore was discovered on the Marquette range in 1844, the poor transportation facilities retarded the development of this region for many years. The structure of the Lake Superior basin is essentially an east-west synclinorium with steep dips on the south side of the lake and considerably flatter ones on the north and west. The Upper Huronian series, which -is the iron-bearing one of the formation, on the south side of the lake dips north from 55' to 80°, and on the north side dips south from 8" to 200. The series has been subjected to local folding and faulting, which have influenced the development of the mining systems used.

Jan 1, 1921