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By Paul E. Dorr, Kenneth P. Pavlich

This paper covers the practical aspects of economic analysis of mineral ventures and the application of a publicly available computer program. The paper touches briefly on the time value of money concepts and the phases of project evaluation. The most comprehensive port ion of the paper deal s with the requirements for economic evaluation, including capital expenditure categories, operating expenses, required geological and engineering data, and tax considerations. Highlights of the 1981 and 1982 tax laws are covered. A case study using the MINECO computer program will be used to illustrate the economic evaluation concepts developed. Guidelines and goals of sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation will be discussed and demonstrated on the MINECO example. The MINECO software system will be displayed as an example of a "user-friendly", interactive, and flexible computer tool available to the mining professional today.

Jan 1, 1983

By Richard H. Sprute, Dennis J. Kelsh

Slow-settling, fine-grained suspensions can often be dewatered and densified by applying direct current between buried electrodes. Although water removal rates and power expenditures depend on physical and chemical properties of the treated slurries, metal mine tailings from Idaho, Colorado, and Mexico have responded well in laboratory testing, as have 29 samples of ultrafine coal waste from mines in nine states. This Bureau of Mines report reviews field tests at two Idaho metal mines and describes the recent installation at the Henderson molybdenum mine near Empire, Colorado, and the treatment of coal sludge at a Clinchfield Coal Co. preparation plant near Dante, Virginia.

Jan 1, 1980

By Marcel Daly

THE writer has devoted a number of years to practical operations and to the study of geology in the oil fields. In consequence, he has been brought to investigate the theories advanced to account for the accumulation of oil and gas in commercial deposits. It is the result of these investigations and his personal conclusions that he wishes to sum up in this paper. The writer is an advocate of the organic origin of petroleum found in pools. He has been led to believe that the present theories of oil and gas accumulations are incomplete and, in certain respects, incorrect, although they may embody certain elements of truth; that the forces that are called upon to explain the movement are only secondary forces in the process, and insufficient, by themselves, to cause this movement; and that the phenomenon of accumulation is of much larger order than heretofore admitted and bears an intimate relation with the general as well as with the local deformations of the crust and is a direct consequence and a mechanical effect of these deformations to which the term "diastrophic" has been applied. As a complement to this theory, the writer offers a new interpretation of the "rock pressure" and of the mechanism of the "sealing up" of this pressure in oil and gas pools.

Jan 7, 1916

By L. D. Frink

Those actively interested in mining are fully aware of the ever-increasing difficulty of making conditions such that efficient work can be done in underground openings, especially as higher rock temperatures are encountered in depth. This is also true where an effort is being made to cut down the burden of overhead expense by working headings 24 hr. in a day if blasting is done as often as is possible in that time. That the conditions resulting from both these causes have driven the native-born Americans from the mines and that their places have been taken by less efficient foreigners is a fact that we must all admit. The great war now being fought in Europe and the educational qualification clause written into our immigration law by the last Congress will probably limit very materially the supply of labor, such as we are now using in our mines, and will force upon mine operators the necessity of making this work appeal again to Americans. Metal tubing, with blower or exhaust fans, has long been used in supplying air to dead ends where natural ventilation is impossible, or in driving the smoke from such places, or in doing both, as the need might be. Here in Butte we have now come to use canvas tubing very extensively and find that it has many advantages not possessed by the metal. The use of flexible tubing is not new, but it has not been generally used in mining operations. Recent improvements, however, in the canvas itself and in the jointing of sections and manner of suspension have so increased its usefulness that it promises to add much to the efficiency of mining. There is now on the market a product that is impervious to air, is fireproof, and has a system of jointing which permits it to be put up or taken down in a few seconds. In this article an effort will be made to explain the manner in which canvas tubing is being used in the North Butte company's operations at Butte, Mont. The accompanying photographs will, I hope, help make clear what may be done with this material.

Jan 1, 1918

By H. C. Spaulding

The rapid increase, during the last few years, in the number and magnitude of applications of electric power-transmission to commer cial uses in this country, has been due principally to three causes: first, the ability and enterprise of those who have been identified with the progress of electrical industries, since electric illumination became an economic fact instead of a laboratory-experiment: sec ondly, the readiness of the American people to adopt new and ad vanced methods as soon as their superiority has been fairly demon strated; and thirdly, tile economy and flexibility of the apparatus employed, when properly designed and constructed, and installed under suitable conditions. Basing our judgment on the world's advance in scientific devel opments during the past century, we may reasonably conclude that in no other country would the pioneeis of electrical invention, whose names have now become household words, have received the prompt and plentiful financial support which has enabled them to inaugurate undertakings of exceptional magnitude, even in this era of tremendous monetary organizations. And, on the other hand, we have seen, in the numerous financial and engineering failures inseparable from such rapid development, the natural results of a too implicit faith in electrical omnipotence. It is not to be wondered at that conservative engineers have been slow to adopt this new and mighty agent in the solution of exten sive problems, and under circumstances where a single failure means not only a greater or less financial sacrifice, but the loss, in a greater or less degree, of professional reputation. Be mechanical engineer, while recognizing the fact that thousands of horse-power are to-day transmitted by electrical means, from sunning the lathe in a dentist's office to the operation of a fifty-ton travelling crane; from passing a cooling draught of air through a

Jan 1, 1891

By Kenneth K. Humphreys, Joseph W. Leonard, Robert L. Llewellyn, William F. Lawrence

INTRODUCTION Cleaning fine coal sizes utilizing air currents in machines as the primary separating medium is called dry concentration or pneumatic cleaning. In 1947 approximately 18 million tons (16.38 million mt) of bituminous coal were cleaned by air machines; in 1965, 25.4 million tons (23.1 14 million mt); but in 1975, only 7 million tons (6.37 million mt). Table 11-1 shows the tonnages cleaned of bituminous coal and lignite in the United States by various types of equipment from 1938-1963. Table 11-2 shows only tonnages cleaned by pneumatic methods from 1964-1975. The decrease in tonnage to approximately 7 million tons (6.3 million mt) is due to a higher moisture content in the mined coal and the greater difficulty in cleaning the coal by air. There also was a definite trend to load raw coal at the mines, especially the slack which is the most expensive to clean due to the dewatering and drying requirements. While there have not been any applications of pneumatic cleaning in the anthracite field, its use has not been fully explored. The same is true for lignite and subbituminous coals.

Jan 1, 1979

By G. R. Hodgson, M. P. Lebourg

The introduction in the field of a new type well completion called for the setting of tubing open-ended in the well before perforating the casing. This paper describes a new perforating tool of the shaped charge expendable type, small enough to pass through tubing and powerful enough to perforate the casing. The perforations are produced at an angle and are large enough for optimum production. Performance of this tool in targets and under various well conditions is described. Very often no lifting equipment will be available at the well. In some cases, pressure will exist in the well at the time of the perforating operation (workover wells or multiple trip perforation) ; therefore, new equipment and new technique for the perforating operation were devised. This paper describes this equipment and technique, particularly casing collar recording, sheave support, and cable pull-down device. this last item being necessary for wells under pressure. Results obtained with this tool in the field are given. INTRODUCTION One of the key requirements for the introduction in the field of a new method of permanent well completion was the development of a new perforating method involving the use of a perforating gun small enough to go through tubing and with enough penetrating power to perforate the casing satisfactorily. The equipment described in this paper was basically designed to go through open-ended two-in. tubing and to perforate 5 1/2 in. casing. The equipment is illustrated in accompanying figures. NEW COMPLETION METHOD With the new permanent type well completion, the production string of casing is run and cemented through the potential producing zone. Open-ended tubing is -then run into the well and used to replace the drilling fluid with oil or water. The amount of the oil or water "cushion" can be varied according to the expected bottom hole pressure. Thus, if desired, the hydrostatic head can be greater, equal to, or less than the expected pressure within the zone to be perforated. Mud having been displaced, the tubing is -then positioned so that the end is above the zone to be perforated. The Christmas tree and flow lines are installed and tested. The drilling rig can now be removed from the well since it is not necessary for the perforating operation, thus resulting in a saving in rig tme. The perforating equipment is then moved to the well and the gun lowered through the tubing. After the gun passes out of the open end of the tubing, the depth measurements are correlated with casing collars and the gun placed opposite the zone to be perforated. Upon firing, the gun body is shattered and falls to the bottom of the well. Since the lubricator has been closed before firing, it is possible to withdraw the casing collar locator and head and then open the well immediately to the tanks. DESCRIPTION OF GUN An investigation of two basic types of Perforators, namely a bullet perforator and a shaped charge gun, was undertaken towards the development of a gun to meet the aforementioned requirements. Preliminary tests on various bullet perforator designs within the diameter limitations did not give results encouraging enough to warrant further study. Somewhat better results were obtained by using conventional shaped charges; but, as in the case of the bullet types, the necessarily small overall diameter proved to be a severe limitation and resulted in insufficient penetration. A shaped charge employing a new design was developed which gave excellent penetration. These shaped charges were designed to produce a large hole directed upward at a 45" angle. In order to obtain the maximum space possible for these charges, it was decided to use an expendable carrier made of drillable material, usually aluminum, which would shatter at the time of firing, leaving only harmless fragments at the bottom of the hole. The fixed spacing is five shots per ft. wit11

Jan 1, 1952

By William H. Morris

At the Glen Summit meeting, the question of controlling the silicon in pig-iron WAS raised; and as this has been deemed by most furnace-men for years past a matter of special difficulty, an account of our experience in the matter may be of interest. When running on mill-iron, some years ago, we aimed to keep

Jan 1, 1893

I. MCLAUGHLIN, R. P.-Protecting California Oil Fields from Damage by Infiltrating Water. Discussed by M. E. Lombardi, A. F. L. Bell, A. C. McLaughlin, R. P. McLaughlin, William A. Williams, Mark L. Requa, C. D. Keen 2413 BEST, W. N.-Petroleum as Fuel Under Boilers and in Furnaces. Discussed by William A. Williams, Hennen Jennings, David T. Day, Mark L. Requa, A. F. L. Bell, W. N. Best 2420 JOHNSON, ROSWELL H.-Sliding Royalties for Oil and Gas Wells. Discussed by William A. Williams, A. C. McLaughlin, A. F. L. Bell, Roswell H. Johnson 2423 BELL, ARTHUR F. L.-Important Topping Plants of California. Discussed by William A. Williams, David T. Day, A. F. L. Bell 2426 LOMBARDI, M. E.-The Cost of Maintaining Production in California Oil Fields. Discussed by C. D. Keen, Mark L. Requa, H. M. Bacon, M. E. Lombardi 2427 HUNTLEY, L. G.-Oil, Gas, and Water Contents of Dakota Sand in Canada and United States, Discussed by E. W. Shaw 2428

Jan 12, 1915

By C. B. Foraker

THE Magma mine, of the Magma Copper Co., at Superior, Pinal County, Arizona, is 68 miles east of Phoenix and 21 miles west of Miami, Arizona, on highway U. S. 180. TEMPERATURES AND UNDERGROUND WATERS Surface Temperatures.-The average surface dry-bulb temperature at Superior is 72.4°; wet-bulb, 57.4°; with an indicated relative humidity of 38 per cent. The average yearly rainfall from 1921 to 1936, inclusive, was 18.74 in. The maximum condition of the atmosphere is in June, July and August, and the minimum is in January and February. The surface temperatures, of course, influence the temperatures of the down-cast shafts; however, the variation between winter and summer causes a difference of only 2° to 3° in the stopes and working places that are not close to the intake shafts. Average atmospheric conditions are shown in Fig. 1. Rock Temperatures.-Rock temperatures on the deeper levels of tile mine are as follows: LEVEL DEGREES LEVEL DEGREES 2000 109 3200 127 2250 112.5 3400 130 2550 116 3600 134 2800 120 3800 137 3000 124 4000 140 There appears to be no difference in rock temperature for any particu-lar horizon of the various formations or in the vein. Water encountered is always the same temperature as the rock from which it flows, and for this reason it is thought that the water is heated by the rock; not the rock by the water. The country rock apparently has been heated by the various intrusions, perhaps the vein itself, and has not yet had time to cool off. The geothermal gradient (Fig. 2) as indicated by the rock tem-peratures given above is 1 1/2 ° per 100 feet.

Jan 1, 1938

By William Barrett

IN order properly to evaluate the data related to geomagnetic surveys, it is highly desirable to have all the available information concerning the magnetic properties of the, involved media. This is true of surface as well as subsurface formations and becomes of increasing importance as advancement in instrumental and interpretative technique permits the analysis of relatively slight magnetic reflections of buried masses. Since the magnitude and areal distribution of the usually complex resultant magnetic field at the surface of the earth is a function of the susceptibility1 of the involved matter, it necessarily follows that susceptibility determinations will afford valuable data for geophysical correlation. The present method was developed to meet the need for routine analysis of specimens in the geomagnetic laboratory where it was felt that general utility, ruggedness, ease of manipulation and reproducibility of results was of greater importance than extreme sensitivity.

Jan 1, 1931

By G. Rinelli, A. M. Marabini

A wide-ranging series of experiments has been carried out on value minerals (sphalerite, smithsonite and hematite) and gangue minerals (quartz and calcite) to assess the properties of various commercially available vegetable and synthetic tannins as dispersants for these minerals in a finely ground state (<5 microns). Experiments to determine the dispersing power of each reagents on every mineral have been performed through sedimentation tests run first in water and afterwards in the presence of a collector having specific action on the mineral concerned. The tests have been extended to a wide range of dispersant concentrations, maintaining the pH and collector concentrations at the levels known to be the best for the flotation of the various minerals. By comparing the results obtained on each mineral, conclusions have been drawn on the possibility of using different classes of vegetable and synthetic tannins in the selective flotation of fine particles. These results have been related to the structure of the tanning compounds and to the surface properties of the minerals.

Jan 1, 1980

By W. H. Adams

Shortly after becoming one of the van-guard of mine-developers in the State of Virginia, during the year 1883, I called the attention of the Institute to certain deposits of pyrites, which have been largely worked since. In all cases these deposits are covered with iron-ore (limonite), extending 40, 50 or 60 feet from surface to water-level. The several classes of brown iron-ores are found almost continuously along a prominent ridge of mineral-bearing slates, which can be traced from the James river northeasterly to the North Anna, the Rappahannock and the Potomac rivers, crossing the counties of Louisa, Spottsylvania and Stafford. Outcrops are plainly discoverable from end to end of this belt, also, in places, to the right and left of it, and at intervals there are evidences of workings, some of them for known purposes and others of unknown age and meaning. These old workings have an interest aside from the minerals they may contain or may have yielded. I have been engaged during the past five years in the collection of facts concerning them, which might determine definitely the site of those iron-furnaces, placed by tradition within reach of " the towne called Germanna," which were the first ever built in this State or on this continent. The events which led to the establishment of this important industry are sufficiently narrated in a paper written by Mr. R. A. Brock, Secretary of the Virginia Historical Society, and printed in the Proceedings of the National Museum, 1885, page 77, from which I quote the following : " To Virginia, the first of the English settlements in America, belongs the honor of inaugurating within her limits, as a colony, that most important industry, iron manufacture. "The London Company contemplated a variety of manufacturing enterprises from the very beginning of its authority; prominent among them was that of iron. In 1610 Sir Thomas Gates testified before the council of the Company at London, that in Virginia &apos; there were divers minerals, especially iron-oare,&apos; lying upon the

Jan 1, 1892

By H. S. Martin

Although it was known some years ago at the Utah Copper Co. mills that fine grinding improved flotation recoveries, no accurate data were available until recently as to just how far the grinding could be carried economically. In 1923 the ultimate degree of fineness for flotation feed was supposed to be about 10 per cent. on 65 mesh, with approximately 55 per cent. through 200 mesh, which meant that most of the mineral would pass 100 mesh. At this time Garfield and Wilfley tables were used ahead of flotation and a good deal of the coarse mineral removed prior to the ball mill regrind. Shortly afterwards, mill-scale tests developed the fact that on a feed containing not over 10 per cent. +65-mesh material flotation alone would give a copper recovery equal to that obtained by the combination of tables and flotation, but that on much coarser feed the recovery with flotation alone was lowered. This was at a time when all the sulfide minerals were floated if possible, so that the only requisite was to grind fine enough to free the mineral from gangue. Earliest Use of Microscopic Examination of Tailings As early as 1921, the writer had attempted to determine by chemical analysis the relative proportions of copper minerals in tailings from an ore that made extremely poor flotation results. Chemical analysis was not satisfactory or conclusive, and samples of these tailings were sent to the U. S. Bureau of Mines Station at the University of Utah for microscopic examination. The question at that time was to determine, if possible, which copper minerals had been lost and why, but R. E. Head, in his report, revealed other interesting data. He said in part: Briefly stated, the mineral partieles or grains may be classified into scparate groups as follows: 1. Free grains of pyrite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and bornite, respectively, which contain 110 other included sulfides; 2. Grains in which all three of the copper sulfides are representel (the core may be of chalcopyrite, partially altered to boruite, these two minerals being cntirely surrounded by a shell of chalcocite); 3. Grains composed of equal amounts of bornite and chalcocite or chalcopyrite and chalcocite. The grains of free mineral particles are perhaps the most numerous, taking the ore as a whole, but it is noticeable that of the grains of combined or associated sulfides

Jan 1, 1930

By I. R. Kramer

A delay time for yielding in cold-worked face-centered-cubic metals was found. Slip on (123) planes was observed. Glide on these planes occurred during the delay-time period before slip starts on the (111) planes. AN important approach to the study of the anchoring and blocking of dislocations is available through the delayed-yield phenomenon which has been observed in body-centered and hexagonal close-packed metal by several investigators. Clark and his associate1-5 showed that a delay time for yielding is present in mild steels and fine-grain molybdenum. Type 302 stainless, SAE 4130 normalized, SAE 4130 quenched and tempered, and 24s-T aluminum aid not have a delay time. Kramer and Maddin6 studied the delay-yield effect. in metal single crystals. While they found a delay time in body-centered-cubic metals none could be found in the face-centered-cubic metals. Later7 a delay time was found in hexagonal close-packed metals. cottrell8 has proposed an explanation for the difference in the yield phenomena of b.c.c. and f.c.c. metals based upon the anchoring of edge dislocations by the proper types of impurity atoms (C and N). In the body-centered-cubic lattice the interstitial atoms are near a cube edge and can interact with an edge dislocation, while in a face-centered-cubic lattice the distortion around an interstitial atom is of spherical symmetry and cannot anchor a screw dislocation which has practically no hydrostatic component. Cottrell&apos;s theory seems to account rather well for the behavior of body-centered-cubic . metals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The apparatus used in these experiments is essentially of the same design as described previously.&apos; Single crystals 1 in. long and having a diameter of % in. were placed in a pendulum which consisted of a bar 8 ft long designed with a crystal holder to accommodate the specimen at low temperatures. This portion of the apparatus was supported on fine molybdenum wires. A bar of the same diameter and length comprised the other portion of the apparatus. This bar was supported on a set of roller bearings arranged around the periphery of the bar to allow accurate alignment. This bar was propelled by means of a spring-loaded gun and allowed to strike the lead bar in front of the single-crystal specimen. SR-4 type A-8 resistance strain gages were cemented to the specimen and the strain measurements were obtained by amplifying the strain-gage output by means of a high-gain preamplifier. A tektronix 545 oscilloscope was used together with a polaroid camera to record the strain and time sweep. An Ellis Associate Bridge was used to calibrate the strain gages and calibration readings were obtained before each test. The sweep of the time signal was initiated by means of a miniature thyraton which was fired when the two bars came into contact. The single-crystal specimens were cut from single-crystal bars about 12 in. long, grown by a modified Bridgman technique. The aluminum crystals were made with material of 99.99 pct purity while the purity of the copper was 99.999 pct. A cut-off wheel was used to prepare the specimens which were then machined to the desired length. The two opposite faces of the specimen were parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis of the specimen. The specimens were compressed 1 pct. No machining followed thereafter. In some cases prestraining was carried out in liquid nitrogen by impacting the specimens directly in the apparatus so that subsequent observations could be made without allowing the specimen to warm up to room temperature. The single crystals were compressed 1 pct at room temperature in a hand press without much control of the rate of deformation. In some cases specimens were recompressed to obtain the desired length change. As far as could be determined in these experiments this factor did not seem to influence the results. The SR-4 strain gages were glued with a cellulose type cement onto the specimen surface and baked at 45°C for 12 hr. As a check on the baking treatment gages were allowed to dry at room temperature. All delay time tests in this paper were conducted in a liquid nitrogen bath at -195°C. A schematic delay time oscilloscope trace is shown in Fig. 1. At point B the elastic stress wave caused by the impact reaches the strain gage on the specimen. The portion BC is the elastic strain. In this investigation the strain at point C was used to calculate the critical resolved shear stress by multiplying by the proper modulus depending upon the orientation of the single-crystal specimen. The time between C and D is the delay time portion of the curve. This portion of the curve is fairly flat but does have a definite microstrain associated with it. After the point D is reached the specimen deforms rapidly and the strain reaches a maximum at E. Following this, depending upon the length of the bar behind the specimen, the strain remains constant for a period and then decreases when the reflected elastic wave returns from the end of the pendulum bar. A permanent plastic strain is recorded on the oscilloscope trace and also measured by a strain-measuring bridge. The strain, E p,

Jan 1, 1960

By Hugh O?Neill

IN PREVIOUS papers,1 the author has reported the results of experiments on the straining in tension of a single crystal test piece, about 0.6 in. long, of vacuum-melted electrolytic iron containing 1.8 per cent. of silicon. The crystal was originally in the "as cast" condition, and was stressed slowly along a tetragonal axis so that slipping along conjugate gliding planes finally transformed the original cylindrical portion into a pair of fracture wedges. One of these fracture wedges was sectioned along the stress axis in a plane at right angles to the edge of the wedge. A metallographic study of this plane of -section led to the conclusion that slip had taken place in the (111) direction along (112) planes making a V shape with the stress axis. The present paper describes the results of scratch-hardness tests conducted on the same section, in order to determine the distribution of strain hardness therein, followed by annealing, and considers the resulting variations in hardness. These observations supplement those made by Krivobok2 on similar material reduced 25 per cent. by hammering (i. e., by impact) in the cold. In order to investigate ageing effects, two small crystals of the same alloy were also tested.

Jan 1, 1928

By Chester Fulton

IN Polk County, Florida, the mining of raw phosphates began some 50 years ago with dredging operations on the Peace River, and in other near-by places by removal of shallow overburden with negroes and wheelbarrows, or with mules and scrapers, and the excavation and screen-ing of deposits found close to the surface. There were many individual operations of comparatively short life. Later steam shovels removed the overburden, and still later hydraulic methods were substituted for the steam shovel. Within the last 10 years large electrically operated drag-lines have almost entirely replaced hydraulic mining for overburden removal. The matrix is still mined by hydraulic giants and pumped to the washer or recovery plant. The many small operations have long since disappeared and the most desirable phosphate lands have gradually been acquired through purchase or merger by the seven companies that are operating in the field today. These companies are producing and selling about 2,000,000 long tons of phosphate per annum, or about two-thirds of what the industry likes to think is the normal output, with 1929 and 1930 in mind. To produce these 2,000,000 long tons of raw phosphate, they mine and treat about 1,000,000 tons of tailings from older and less efficient opera-tions, about 11,000,000 tons of matrix, and remove from above this matrix some 22,000,000 tons of overburden. The mining practice that has made possible the excavation and handling of 34 million tons of material to win but 2 million tons of merchantable product, selling for probably an average of only $4 per long ton when dried, should be of interest to the mining profession, though little has been written of it. The Florida Pebble Field, as it has come to be known, comprises an area (Fig. 1) within a radius of about 18 to 20 miles centering around Mulberry in Polk County, a small town 30 miles east of Tampa, Florida&apos;s largest port on the gulf coast.

Jan 1, 1936

By Robert M. Keeney

Important recent developments in the melting and annealing of non-ferrous metals include: 1. Melting of nickel silver in the vertical ring induction furnace. 2. Electric melting of stereotype metal. 3. The rotary-drum gas-fired brass melting furnace. 4. The low-frequency coreless induction furnace. 5. Finishing annealing of brass sheets with city gas1 replacing wood in the large brass-rolling mill. 6. Electric annealing of brass and copper tubing and sheets. 7. Replacement of oil by gas and electricity in the annealing of nickel-silver shells and stampings. Melting Nickel Silver in Vertical Ring Induction Furnace Although over 90 per cent. of the output of the brass rolling mills in the United States is now melted in electric furnaces,2 until recently a considerable part of the output of nickel silver has been the product of the pit fire. The application of the electric furnace to the melting of nickel silver has been slow for several reasons: (I) Until recently no lining has been available that gave a satisfactory life in the vertical ring induction furnace when melting nickel silver; (2) the rocking arc furnace so widely used in the foundry does not appear to have been favored by the rolling mill for melting nickel silver, possibly because the gases present may affect the quality of the alloy; and (3) the exclusive rights to the use of the high-frequency coreless induction furnace (which has proved very satisfactory for melting nickel silver) for the wrought brass industry are controlled by one concern. A little over one year ago the first vertical ring induction furnace to be used for melting nickel silver in the Naugatuck Valley was placed in operation. This was followed by two more in the same mill, and by

Jan 1, 1930

By L. A. Delano

During 1916, the St. Joseph Lead Co. milled 2,505,670 tons of ore. This is a daily operating average of 7855 tons. The economic concentration of such a large tonnage necessarily requires a plant equipped with modern machinery and operated efficiently. The milling process used in producing this output has been a gradual development through the long period of years that the company has been in existence. HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF MILLING PRACTICE Ore was first mined at Bonne Terre, Mo., in 1864. The early milling practice was crude. It consisted of breaking the ore into small pieces by hand, pulverizing in a Blake crusher and a pair of Cornish rolls to approximately minus 6 mm., and jigging in the old-fashioned hand jigs. Only the coarse heavy galena was saved, the gangue being shoveled off and discarded. The output for the first year under this method was only 240 tons of pig lead. The first mill of the company was a combination of extensions and additions built from time to time as the mines developed. It was a museum of early milling machinery, such as jigs, percussion tables, buddies, dolly tubs, log washers, etc., following no definite flow sheet. The chats, or tailings, were hauled to waste dumps by mule and ox teams, as much as 500 tons per day being moved in this manner, until a railroad was built in 1880. This mill was burned in 1883, at which time the annual output had reached approximately 7300 tons of pig lead. A new mill of 500 tons capacity was designed and built by C. B. Parsons. This mill has been admirably described by H. S. Munroe.&apos; The ore was crushed in Blake crushers, Cornish rolls, through 6-mm. screens, and treated by jigs of the Parsons type, percussion tables and log washers, or trunking machines, for cleaning the galena. The middlings were recrushed in rolls and treated on Harz jigs. The mill was operated without change, except later installing Gates crushers and en-

Jan 1, 1918

By H. Y. Yancey, B. M. Bird

One of the problems studied by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the University of Washington has been the re-treatment of table middlings. Hydraulic classification has given the best results. Instead of using the classifier to prepare the feed to the tables, as has been the practice for many years in ore dressing, it is used to separate part of a middling product that cannot be re-treated successfully on the table. Middlings are desirable in a table plant because the separation according to specific gravity is incomplete; that is, in the products of the table there is always an overlapping of free particles of coal and refuse that can be distinguished with heavy liquids such as are used in the float-and-sink test. The causes of this overlapping may be divided into two groups, those outside the table separation itself and those inherent in the table separation. The first of these groups includes, among other causes, the following: (1) poor adjustments of the table, (2) overloading or underloading the table, (3) irregularities in the quantity and quality of the feed, (4) irregularities in the power and water supply, and (5) a vertical dancing motion of the table deck due to weak foundations. These causes of overlapping are largely unnecessary in a properly designed and constructed plant; but whenever they are present they materially affect the character of the middling product, and hence the problem of re-treatment. The other group includes three additional causes: (6) small differences in specific gravity between coal and impurities, (7) a size-specific-gravity relationship of the coal and refuse particles in the table feed such that the sizing action of the table opposes the separation according to the specific gravity, and (8) shapes of particles that prevent a separation. The sixth, small differences in specific gravity, may be a very important reason for an incomplete separation. The change in specific gravity from coal to shale is always gradual and the designation of one part as coal and another part as refuse is arbitrary. If some specific gravity, such as 1.45, is chosen as the dividing point between washed coal and refuse,

Jan 1, 1930