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By David E. Hyatt

The chemical attributes of cyanides have long been exploited in ore pro- cessing schemes for the recovery of copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, and other metal values. Blast furnacing operations are significant unintentional producers of cyanides which find their way into process waters. Many of the more than 20,000 electroplating facilities in the United States utilize cyanide plating baths and generate cyanide containing wastes. As social, political, and economic pressures for water quality attainment, maintenance, and preservation grow, the requirements for the development of treatment technology to control cyanide levels in wastewater become increasingly apparent. Just as the chemistry of the cyanide ion 1s an integral part of its industrial applicability, so must this chemistry be a fundamental part of any decomposition or removal technology used to control its level in effluent or recycled waters. The complexity of this chemistry is substantial and it cannot be considered in a superficial or cursory manner if control system design is to be both efficient and reliable.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. C. Hagel, J. H. Westbrook

THERE has been a recent revival of interest in the intermetallic compound AgMg as an experimental material for study of the physical and chemical properties of simple ordered structures. Studies of mechanical behaviors,1-4 diffusion,5,6 and thermo-dynamic properties7'8 have been reported. In several of these studies, heat treatments have been carried out in argon-filled silica capsules at temperatures as high as 750°C with no apparent adverse effects. The present authors were, therefore, startled to discover in the course of some yet unpublished work, that gross melting of near-stoichio-metric AgMg compositions occurred in such samples more than 100 deg below their melting point of about 800°C. This note is to report a brief series of experiments carried out to establish the reason for this behavior. Gross errors in sample composition and failure of furnace temperature controls were quickly eliminated as causes of melting. The first tangible lead came from chemical analysis of an AgMg sample which had melted during treatment at 750°C. A silicon content of 3.3 wt pct was found. Since satisfactory analyses had been obtained on the original as-cast ingot, contamination by diffusion and/or reaction with the fused silica capsule seemed a distinct possibility. A perplexing fact, however, was the apparently capricious incidence of the effect. Not only was it previously unknown, even in the experience of the present authors; but, in the early part of the present study, melting sometimes occurred and sometimes not with specimens treated under constant conditions. Indeed, one sample successfully survived a 750°C heat treatment and yet melted completely during the course of a subsequent anneal in an identical capsule at a lower temperature. To obtain evidence that silicon contamination could lower the melting point to the extent observed, the following experiment was performed. A series of ternary alloys was made up with a stoichiometric AgMg base and containing 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, and 4 wt pct Si. Melting was done in MgO crucibles under a cover of argon gas. After holding 10 to 20 min in the temperature range 850° to 900°C, the alloys were allowed to solidify in the crucible and the temperature during cooling automatically recorded with a Pt/Pt-10 Rh thermocouple. Results from the cooling curves are shown in Fig. 1. Checks within 2 to 5C° were obtained upon repeated melting, cooling, and freezing. The whole series of cooling curves as well as metallographic examination of the melted alloys established that the AgMg rich portion of the AgMg-Si quasibinary is an eutectic-type system. The melting point of AgMg is lowered from approximately 820°C in the pure stoichiometric binary9 to about 710°C in the saturated intermetallic phase. Since second phase was observed in all samples on cooling to room temperature, the solid solubility of AgMg for silicon evidently falls rapidly with decreasing temperature as indicated schematically by the dashed solvus in Fig. 1. It is thus established that a silicon content

Jan 1, 1963

By G. M. Gay, R. L. Perrine

This paper describes a method of numerical computation for three-dimensional, unstable, miscible displacement behavior useful for heterogeneous systems, as well as for more ideal conditions. In the method, flow equations are first linearized by a perturbation approach. The basic flow process is separated and a solution for its behavior readily obtained. The remaining problem of deviations from the basic flow caused by non-ideal conditions is then subjected to numerical analysis. Results obtained from use of the method are also presented. Although conditions assumed in the test cal-culations were severe, results show the type of dispersing flow expected and appear quite satisfactory. The method has eliminated or reduced in importance problems of oscillating values near steep fronts, excessive computer smoothing, etc. A unique advantage of the method is that the source of variations from ideal behavior can be observed. ,The one serious drawback results from the algebraic complexity of the perturbation approach, and the need for second-order terms to be retained in calculations of interest. Fewer array points are available and more computer time is required than would be desired. However, these difficulties are also experienced with other approaches to the solution of three-dimensional dispIacement problems. INTRODUCTION Prediction of behavior of the miscible displacement process within a porous medium for any system of engineering importance is plagued by a number of difficulties. With typical fluid properties the displacing fluid has the lower viscosity, and there is a natural tendency toward flow instability. The problem of predicting instability is compounded by the fact that every real system is heterogeneous. Permeability will vary from point to point — not entirely systematically, and yet not in a random fashion leading to a readily defined average. Furthermore, permeability is unlikely to be isotropic. These permeability properties, which are characteristic of any real porous medium, accentuate the effects of flow instability. Another factor to be considered is that flow dispersion accompanies the displacement process in a porous medium. Mechanistically, dispersion is due to the fact that flow between any two points in the medium follows multiple tortuous paths, each characterized by slightly different flow properties. The fact that the coefficient characterizing dispersive properties of the real medium JS a tensor with variable elements complicates matters. Further difficulties arise because the parabolic influence, while not negligible, is small. Thus, there is a tendency toward steep and uneven displacement fronts along which dispersion smoothing must be represented accurately. Yet frequently used numerical analysis schemes may tend toward either instability, oscillation or excessive smoothing, none of which gives the desired accurate picture of flow behavior. Thus, while many experimental and analytical studies of the process have been made, predictions of actual performance are still subject to considerable uncertainty and possible improvement. This paper reports on part of a study which attempts to develop improved methods for solution of the flow equations describing the miscible displacement process. Of necessity, the calculations were performed on a large digital computer. A three-dimensional system is represented, and the coefficients defining dispersion and permeability can be varied in a manner representative of a real system. Because the differential equations are nonlinear, a first step is to linearize them using a perturbation approach. Objective of this approach has been to separate the basic flow which would occur in an ideal system and for which predictions are readily made. Then the numerical analysis, which is necessarily complex, is directed toward solution of the perturbation equations. These equations state how the basic flow is modified

Jan 1, 1967

By Milton F. Goodrich

The idea of using water-only cyclones to scalp clean coal from the feed to other devices has recently been gaining in popularity. 1,2,6 An indication of this popularity is that water-only cyclone scalping is already employed in a few commercial plants. Water-only cyclones scalp the feed to a heavy media vessel in the Warwick plant,3 to Deister tables in the Rowland plant,4 and to a heavy media cyclone circuit in the Amherst Coal Company's McGregor plant.5 Despite this trend, we found surprisingly little information in the literature on the performance of water-only cyclone scalping. Therefore, we undertook a study of its technical merits, limiting our investigation to a water-only cyclone scalper in conjunction with heavy-media cyclones. We felt this to be a reasonable combination of equipment, since both processes operate well on the same size coal. First, we developed simple mathematical relationships revealing general characteristics of the system. Next, we compared the clean coal yield and quality obtainable by the system on four different coals with that obtainable by heavymedia cyclone circuit alone and water-only cyclones middlings recirculation circuit alone. This was done by using computer program to simulate the operation of the three systems. Finally, we considered the effect that implementation of the system would have on a typical preparation plant circuit. The System The system chosen for study [(shown schematically in Fig. 1)] comprises two stages: a primary stage (PI) consisting of water-only cyclones, and a secondary stage (P2) consisting of heavy media cyclones. The water-only cyclones separate raw coal at a low specific gravity, producing a relatively small amount of high quality clean coal and a refuse containing much good coal. This refuse is then recleaned in the secondary stage, where the sharper separation of heavy media cyclones, operated at a higher specific gravity, reclaims additional clean coal. Finally, the clean coal from both stages is combined as the system's clean coal, while the refuse from the secondary stage becomes the system's refuse output. Theoretical Analysis Two assumptions lie behind the following theoretical analysis. The first assumption is that partition curves can represent not only the performance of each stage but also the performance of the system as a whole. These curves show partition number as a function of specific gravity, where partition number is either the percent or fraction of a raw coal with a given specific gravity reporting to clean coal. The second assumption is that these curves are independent of the raw coal characteristics. At any specific gravity the system's partition number is solely a function of the partition numbers of each stage. For convenience, we use the following variables in describing this relationship: g = specific gravity, PS(g) = the partition number of the system at specific gravity g, P1(g) = the partition number of the primary stage at specific gravity g, P2(g) = the partition number of the secondary stage at a specific gravity g. For this system, we can show algebraically that the relationship is: [Ps (g) = PI (g) + (1- P1(g)) P2 (9)(1)] With this equation the system's partition curve can be determined if the partition curves of each stage are known. By definition, the partition numbers P1(g) and P2(g) must each be less than, or equal to, one. Placing these constraints on Eq. (1), we arrive at the relations: [Ps(g) % P1(g) and Ps(g) % P2(g)(2)] Thus, at any specific gravity the system's partition number is always greater than that of both stages. [Figure 2] shows typical partition curves. Curve I represents the primary stage, which consists of water-only cyclones operating at a separating gravity of 1.3. (The separating gravity or the

Jan 1, 1979

By Douglas A. Sloan

Who would believe that young elementary school children could understand something as complex as the mining industry? The Challenge The challenge of accomplishing this is tremendous. An examination of Canadian school children indicated that they knew very little about the world of work in general, and hardly anything about the mineral resource industry in particular. It calls to mind the story about two youngsters who decided to play house. The little girl played her role well as she went about the house doing things she had watched her mother do every day. When it was the little boy's turn, he grabbed his lunch, waved goodbye to his "wife," jumped on his bicycle and pedalled furiously down to the end of the driveway-where he stopped. The youngster explained that he saw his dad go out of the driveway each morning, but he didn't know where he went, or what he did on the job. When you stop to consider the number of families today with two working parents, you can begin to appreciate the importance of the opportunities for role identity provided by this project. The Approach The challenge of teaching the school children of Canada about the world of work and, specifically, the mining industry is the challenge which the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy met with the Curriculum Development Research project. It started when a small, dedicated group of Vancouver members met Dr. Doreen Binnington. After this meeting, Dr. Binnington, an expert in curriculum development at the University of British Columbia, set herself to develop a curriculum program for the elementary shcools which accomplishes two main goals: It uses the "Identity Approach," developed by Dr. Binnington, an expert in curriculum development at the enable students to understand and appreciate the contribution of people, in this case, working with mineral resources. It has pupils enthusiastically exploring the importance of rocks, minerals, and the mining industry in their lives [(Fig. 1)]. Evolution of the Curriculum Development Research Project When the curriculum development research project was presented to the Vancouver Branch of the Canadian Institute of

Jan 1, 1981

By M. S. Miller, R. H. Mullennex

The growing need for development of thinner, more erratic, or less easily-mined coals in the Appalachian region requires more detailed analysis of conditions and factors controlling or influencing deposition of these seams. The value of depositional modeling in evaluation of such coals has been demonstrated in many recent studies and publications. Such modeling may be applied to allow prediction of factors varying from regional coal occurrence trends to very local areas of seam discontinuities but requires thorough we of all available types of data. Mapping of general depositional energies, as derived from basic geophysical and driller's logs, can be applied to specific prediction of coal occurrence, and projection of particular facies as representative of unique depositional features or conditions may prove more applicable to coal character delineation than mapping of the coal itself. Depositional modeling and trend projection may also serve as a guideline in reserve classification and confidence levels in reserve estimations.

Jan 1, 1983

By Mark David Rankin

This paper represents a general assessment of the primary factors driving the market for mobile offshore drilling rigs and the utility of those factors as choice variables for the offshore drilling program planner.

Jan 1, 1982

By B. H. Bergstrom, J. J. Gilvarry

Previously the authors showed that the Gilvarry equation correctly describes the distribution of fragment size in single fracture, provided the exoclastic particles showing original surface of the specimen are removed from the distribution. In the present work this conclusion has been strengthened in two respects. First, it has been shown that the existence of two peaks in the differential distribution for the endoclastic particles, corresponding to the effect of surface and volume flaws in the interior of the specimen, can be demonstrated from the average of data for a large number of specimens. Second, it has been shown by means of a Coulter counter that data obtained from specimens fractured in gelatin display the behavior at fragment sizes approaching 1 p which is demanded by the limiting form of the Gilvarry equation in this case. In previous work, a rigorous derivation of the proper distribution function for fragment size in single fracture of a brittle solid has been given by Gilvarry,' based on a closely defined physical model and deduced strictly by the laws of probability. Experimental work has been reported by Gilvarry and Berg-str~m,~ confirming the theory in its broad outlines. Subsequently, Gilvarry and Bergstrom extended the theoretical discussion to include comminution and presented experimental data bearing on this point. They have described further experimental results for the case of single fracture recently. The experimental evidence regarding single fracture was rather convincing. However, it was based on only five specimens for which fragment sizes were determined by sieve analyses and three for which measurements in the finer sizes were made on a Coulter counter. The purpose of the present paper is to extend the experimental results as obtained by means of both sieve analyses and the Coulter technique. In the former case, sufficient specimens are included so that the average data should vield ac- curately the detailed behavior of the distribution function for the coarser fragment sizes. In the latter case, measurements for the finer sizes are reported which correspond to single fracture more closely than prior results and fill a lacuna left in the experimental verification. In addition, an extension of the theory given recently bGilvarry for the case of fracture of a two-dimensional solid will be outlined, and experimental results obtained by him will be discussed.6 THREE-DIMENSIONAL CASE Gilvarry' has shown that the Schuhmann size modulus is a measure, in a sense specified later, of the number of activated edge flaws in a specimen undergoing single fracture. Single fracture is defined as that resulting from a single instantaneous application of energy, such as the blow of a hammer whose motion is halted when fracture begins. Plural fracture consists of a short sequence of single fractures, as in a jaw or gyratory crusher; multiple fracture obtains when many applications of energy are made, as in a ball mill. The Griffith flaws associated with fracture of a specimen are flaws occurring within the volume of the body, on the new surfaces created within its interior and on the new edges (intersections of two surfaces) within the body. Fracture proceeds by activation of flaws in the volume of the specimen, in the fracture surfaces throughout its interior, and in the edges produced by intersection of fracture surfaces. If all the flaws and all groups of flaws are distributed at random, independently of other flaws or groups thereof, it has been shown by Gilvarry that the distribution function for fragment size has the form of a Poisson distribution. The fraction y, by weight or volume, passing a sieve of mesh size x is given by where k is an average spacing of activated edge flaws, j2 is an average amount of surface containing one activated surface flaw and i3 is an average volume corresponding to an activated volume flaw. The averages in question are referred to the mean dimension x of a fragment. On the basis of the theoretical

Jan 1, 1962

By V. M. Karve, K. K. Majundar, K. V. Viswanathan, J. Y. Somnay

The effect of calcium, magnesium, iron (both ferrous and ferric) and aluminum ions, which are commonly encountered in a typical beryl ore, was studied in the flotation of pure beryl, soda-feldspar and quartz. The vacuumatic flotation technique was employed. With sodium oleate as collector and in the absence of any activator, beryl floated in a pH range of 3 to 7.5, whereas feldspar and quartz did not float at any pH up to 11.5. The pH range of flotation increased in the presence of the ions studied. With calcium and magnesium ions beryl floated from 3 to 11.5 pH and beyond, soda-feldspar floated beyond pH 6 and quartz floated beyond pH 8. Ferrous ion activation was found to be similar to that of calcium and magnesium. Activation by ferric and aluminium ions was found to be complex and the lower and upper critical pH for all the three minerals was around 2 and 10 respectively. These studies indicated the possibility of separation of beryl from feldspar and quartz even in the presence of calcium, magnesium and ferrous ions between pH 4 and 6. Flotation tests on a mixed feed of pure minerals in a 10 g cell revealed that beryl can be selectively floated from feldspar and quartz if ferric ion is reduced to ferrous state or if it is complexed. Beryl occurs mostly in pegmatites, and hence is associated with feldspar, quartz and micas and small amounts of other minerals such as apatite and tourmaline. The separation of beryl from these minerals is difficult because all the silicates accompanying beryl have more or less the same physical properties. Specific gravities of beryl, feldspar and quartz are 2.70, 2.56 and 2.66 respectively. Electrostatic separation has been suggested but no work has been reported. ' The adsorption of sodium tri-decylate tagged with Cl4 on beryl, feldspar and quartz reveal similarity in surface properties. Much work has been reported on the flotation of beryl from ores, either directly or indirectly as a by-product, but little is known about the fundamental aspects of beryl flotation. Kennedy and O'Meara3 laid emphasis on prior cleaning of the mineral surfaces with HF. Mica is removed first by flotation of beryl with oleic acid, around neutral pH. Runke4 introduced calcium hypochlorite conditioning in a final separation stage for activating beryl in a mixed beryl-feldspar concentrate, and after washing to remove the hypochlorite, floated beryl with petroleum sulphonate. The Snedden and Gibbs5 procedure is somewhat similar to that of Kennedy and O'Meara. Emulsified oleic acid is used as collector. Recently Fuerstenau and Bhappu6 studied the flotation of beryl, feldspar and quartz with petroleum sulfonate in the presence of activators and stressed the importance of iron in the flotation of beryl. From the studies conducted in this laboratory, it was found that feldspar and quartz as such do not float with sodium oleate, but in practice selective flotation of beryl from feldspar and quartz in an ore is found to be impossible with sodium oleate as collector. A glance at the chemical analysis of typical beryl ore indicates the presence of several ions like Ca ++, Mg++, Al + + + and Fe+++ in abundance and Ti++++ and Mn++ in traces. Hence, in an attempt to explain the behaviour of feldspar in the beryl flotation, the effect of Ca++, Mg++, Al+++ and Fe+++, which are known as gangue mineral activators7'8 has been investigated. Materials and Methods: Lumps of beryl ore (hand picked) were boiled with 10% sodium hydroxide and washed with distilled water. They were further boiled many times with 10% hydrochloric acid till no positive test for iron was obtained with ammonium thio cyanate. This was followed by thorough flushing with double distilled water. The lumps were crushed in a porcelain mortar and pestle under water. The minus 65 + 100 mesh fraction was used for testing and was always stored under distilled water. Pure feldspar and quartz were similarly prepared and the minus 65 + 100 mesh fractions collected. Inorganic ions tried as activators were ca++, Mg++ , Fe++, Fe ++ and A1 +++ . Calcium nitrate, magnesium chloride, ferrous ammonium sulfate, ferric ammonium sulfate and aluminum nitrate of G.R.E. Merck grade were used. B.D.H. technical grade sodium oleate was used as a collector. The vacuumatic flotation technique developed by Schuhmann and Prakash was used for studying the effect of pH on flotability. 7 The indications given by this work were confirmed by using 10 g miniature cell.'

Jan 1, 1965

By Petri Bryk, John Ryselin, Rolf Malmstrom, Jorma Honkasalo

THE theoretical possibilities for the realization of flash smelting have been known for a long time. Calculations concerning the same can be found in previously published literature,1 and suggestions for its accomplishment in practice are described in patents on the subject. Likewise a smaller number of practical test results are known. Autogenous smelting is closely connected with flash smelting, since in flash smelting techniques it is possible to use the heat evolved by oxidation of the sulfides for the smelting process to such an extent that under certain conditions smelting can proceed without additional fuel. However, in the event that insufficient heat is available from the oxidation of the sulfide concentrates, then additional heat may be supplied by preheating the air, using oxygen enriched air, on burning additional fuel with the concentrate.

Jan 6, 1958

By R. F. Hollis, C. K. McArthur

PRIOR to the application of anion exchange, all recovery of uranium from acid leach liquors precipitated an impure product requiring further upgrading before it could be refined. The ion exchange process, on the other hand, provides excellent selectivity for extracting soluble uranium from leach liquors, so that high grade concentrates can be produced directly. The discovery that uranium is readily adsorbed by anion exchange resins, together with the experience of resin and equipment manufacturers in water treatment, led to rapid development of ion exchange in a multiple column operation. Many processing plants using fixed bed ion exchange are in operation or under construction in Africa, Australia, and Canada. There are a limited number in the U. S. Although the fixed bed process has been highly successful, the feed to the ion exchange columns must be a clear solution, which is obtained by filtration or by countercurrent decantation of leached pulps. With some ores, poor filtration or settling characteristics make production of a clear solution difficult. Most processing plants in the U. S. receive their ores from a number of small mines, and there is considerable variation in the settling and filtering behavior of the ores. An ion exchange process was therefore desirable in which the uranium could be recovered directly for the leached pulp by adding ion exchange resin, which could be then separated from the pulp by a screening operation. The process would thus resemble the cyanide-charcoal process in which gold is adsorbed from cyanide pulp by means of activated charcoal. Preliminary tests in which leached pulps were directly contacted with resin beads led to the development of the RIP process.

Jan 4, 1957

By Grover R. Castle

INTRODUCTION "Project Financing" or "Project Loans" have become increasingly popular in recent years, and commercial banks are being asked to consider more and more of such financing. However, the analysis of this type of loan is quite different from the analysis of a loan to a financially sound corporation based on the company's balance sheet. For this reason Chemical Bank did a study of project loans in an attempt to be more sophisticated in our approach to them. As part of this study, we examined 29 project financings for which information was available. In this article I shall describe project loans and set forth the guidelines we developed, as an aid to credit officers who might have occasion to analyse this type of financing. DEFINITION OF "PROJECT FINANCING" OR "PROJECT LOAN" The terms "project financing" and "project loan" commonly describe the various methods that banks and institutional lenders use to finance the construction of new projects on a basis whereby payout is anticipated from the revenue stream generated by the project. A project financing often involves a loan to a new entity formed specifically to own the project. The analysis of a project loan proposal is quite different from the analysis of other term-loan proposals since it involves a credit decision based on the review of a projection or forecast rather than of historical earnings and/or it involves the reliance on contractual obligations of third parties. Lenders are asked to assume the added risks associated with project loans because: 1. Project financing may permit a company to obtain additional leverage. It is possible for companies to arrange financing on a project basis that could not be arranged as a direct borrowing. For example, a company may not be permitted to borrow more money directly, due to a limitation in a bond indenture. However, a project financing can sometimes be negotiated on a basis not prohibited by the indenture. 2. Often the sponsors of, or the stockholders in, the project are seeking an off-balance-sheet financing. For example, 11 of the 29 projects in our study were arranged on an off-balance-sheet basis and one showed on the balance sheet as a deferred income item. An off-balance-sheet financing, for the purpose of this article, is a financing which does not show as a direct liability on the balance sheet of the sponsors of or stockholders in a project. 3. Projects are often located in a foreign country. The financing is arranged so that the lenders assume the political risk on the loan because many companies rightly believe that this arrangement affords a degree of insulation from political risk not otherwise obtainable. 4. Many projects are jointly owned by several sponsors. This form of financing lends itself well to a situation where a new entity is formed to own a project and do the borrowing. Project loans can be used to finance a variety of activities including development of iron-ore deposits and associated pelletizing plants; development of coal reserves; construction of pipelines, alumina plants, fertilizer plants and refineries; etc. The specific areas of analysis can be quite different, depending upon the type of project being financed. It is important, therefore, to classify the proposal according to the type of project, and also by the nature of the financing - nonrecourse financing, financing covered by a guarantee of completion and financing supported by an undertaking lasting for the life of the financing. I will discuss each of these types in more detail later, but first, I should like to make some

Jan 1, 1985

Report of the Secretary TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS Gentlemen:-To a Board of Directors keeping in as close touch with all of the affairs under their care as do the Board of Directors of the A. I. M. E., through their monthly meetings, a report of the year's progress is almost superfluous. To the members who read the monthly reports of. the Board Meetings and of the various activities of the Institute as published each month, a yearly report cannot carry much fresh information; yet for both it may be well, as is the custom, to glance over the field of our activities during the past year, and to make an estimate for the year to come. The beginning of 1924 was not propitious for the members of the mining profession, though tonnage production for 1923 had been high and the gross value higher than for several years. The margin of profit had been narrow, prospecting and development were limited, and many of our members were unemployed, or were working in other industries. Toward the end of the year, higher metal, prices were in sight. Old-time optimism began to grow, and it now brightens the outlook for 1925. An excellent barometer of the prosperity of the industry, and that of the Institute, for they go hand in hand, is the work of our Employment Bureau. During the past few months, the percentage of our members for whom openings have been found has been increasing to a marked extent, and many members who had fallen in arrears are placing themselves in good standing. The number of new members joining has remained about as it was in 1922 and 1923. The Directors have reason to congratulate themselves on the interest maintained during a dull period, for it is not humanly possible to take a keen interest in the technology of an industry when our hands and minds are not actively engaged in it Now, with a much brighter outlook, we can look forward to a year of increasing prosperity for the industry and for the Institute.

Jan 3, 1925

By J. B. Clark

An exploratory study of the 60 wt pct Mg and 80 wt pct Mg sections of the solid constitution in the magnesium-rich region of the Mg-Al-Ca-Zn system was undertaken. The objective of the investigation was to determine the general configuration of the phase fields with respect to the magnesium solid solution in this complex system. The 335°C (635°F) tetrahedron was selected for study because the solid constitutions of the bounding ternary systems—Mg-Al-Zn,1 Mg-A1-Ca,2 Mg-Ca-zn3—were well known and, at least in these ternary systems, diffusion was rapid enough at 335°C for equilibrium to be reached fairly rapidly. Metallography and powder X-ray diffraction were selected as the best corroboratory methods for determining the solid phase equilibria. A total of forty-six quaternary alloys on the 60 wt Mg and 80 wt Mg sections were prepared, annealed to equilibrium at 335°C, and the phases present identified. Singly sublimed (99.99 pct) magnesium, electrolytic (99.99 pct) zinc, high-purity (99.99 pct) aluminum, and USP calcium were alloyed in graphite crucibles under a chloride flux and chill cast into a split graphite mold. Alloy samples were sealed under argon in Pyrex vials and annealed at 335°C ± 1/2° for a minimum of 500 hr. At the conclusion of the anneal, the alloy samples were quenched rapidly in ice water. Standard metallographic procedures for magnesium alloys were used. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns were taken on a G. E. Camera with a diameter of 14.32 cm using nickel filtered copper radiation. The phase equilibria in the 60 wt pct Mg section of the 335°C (635°F) tetrahedron is shown in Fig. 1. The complex equilibria in the zinc-rich region were not accurately determined and are shown only tentatively with dotted lines. The equilibria of the three bounding ternary 335°C sections from pure magnesium to 60 wt pct Mg are also shown as though folded away from the tetrahedron. The 80 wt pct Mg section has the same configuration of phase fields as that shown in Fig. 1. Thus it is reasonable to conclude that in higher magnesium sections, the same relative configuration of phase fields is maintained though the relative proportions of the individual phase fields may change slightly as the magnesium solid solution is approached. Note that all the ternary phases present in these ternary diagrams enter into the quaternary equilibria with the exception of the phase of the Mg-Al-Zn system which becomes unstable with the addition of as little as 1/2 pct Ca. No quaternary intermetallic phases were found. No liquid phase was detected in any of the quaternary alloys annealed at 335°C suggesting that if a quaternary eu-tectic exists, it must lie between 335°C and 339°C, the temperature of the ternary eutectic in the Mg-Al-Zn system.

Jan 1, 1962

By Thomas V. Falkie

The use of operation research and computer techniques in the mineral industries continued to gain acceptance during 1966. There are generally at least five sources of information for researchers and practitioners in the field: (1) Technical periodicals like MINING ENGINEER- ING, Mining Congress Journal, etc. (2) Proceedings of the Symposium and Short Course on Computers and Operations Re- search in Mineral Industries, held last year at Penn. State University and jointly sponsored by the University of Arizona, Stanford University, Colorado School of Mines, Penn. State University and the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME. (3) Various local conferences, such as the 1966 Rocky Mountain Minerals Conference held in Denver. (4) United States Bureau of Mines publications. (5) The AIME annual meeting in New York and the SME Fall Meeting in Tampa.

Jan 2, 1967

By Eizo Yabuuchi, Yukito Imanaga

INTRODUCTION In treatment of mine drainage, it is well known that the neutralization by calcium carbonate is far better than by slaked lime because of cheaper cost and better precipitability of its deposit. However, in case of iron ion contained in the mine drainage consists of ferrous salt, the ferrous salt must be oxidized to ferric salt before neutralization, because the ferrous salt does not react with calcium carbonate. At Yanahara Mine, during the period of 1950 through 1956, ferrous ion in the mine drainage had been oxidized to ferric ion, simultaneously neutralized by adding calcium carbonate into the aerated drainage. During the period of 1961 through 1974, after passing through many kinds of treating methods, the neutralization had been carried out by addition of calcium carbonate into the drainage after oxidized its ferrous ion to ferric by using nitrous gas as an oxidizing catalyzer. Meanwhile we had made an experiment on the oxidation of ferrous ion by utilizing iron bacteria, and developed a method which oxidized ferrous ion in large quantities briefly by cultivating and concentrating iron-oxidizing bacteria. Since 1974, we have been operating successfully for treating the drainage at Yanahara Mine by means of utilizing these bacteria.

Jan 1, 1976

By Eugene A. Stephenson

The writer apologizes for presenting this very elementary analysis of one aspect of proration, but a search of the literature failed to disclose any concrete illustrations of the effect of various proration formulas upon the allowable oil produced by tracts of different sizes. Many engineers have doubtless made somewhat similar calculations and are fully acquainted with the results. The various allocation formulas that are in use are based on one or more of the following factors: (1) wide-open well potential, (2) potential through an orifice, (3) uniform well allowable, (4) acreage, (5) sand thickness, (6) bottom-hole pressure, (7) productivity index, and (8) volumetric displacement. Of these, the unrestricted potential formula, or open-flow test, and the uniform well allowable are commonly regarded by engineers as those least likely to give each producer his proportionate share of the oil or gas, as represented either by acreage or by sand thickness, or both, except when the wells are located on tracts of large size. Unless the mechanical equipment that may be used during the potential test and the method of taking the test are both specified, the net result of the potential formula is to practically force the operators to use special equipment and adopt special procedures prior to and during the potential test, so as to secure the largest possible allowables. Much ingenuity and skill have been devoted to this,problem, but the general effect is to permit excessive allowables for very small tracts, and stimulate unnecessary drilling. It is interesting to compare some of the high yields from the Wilcox horizon at Oklahoma City with each other, as an illustration of the effect of an allocation factor based solely on potential (Table 5). One of the glaring instances is a well on a ½-acre lease, which had produced, as of September 1936, at the rate of almost 3,000,000 bbl. per acre. This is at least twice as many barrels as could have been present under the property if the reservoir had consisted of a tank of oil 200 ft, deep and 56 acre in area. Numerous combinations of acreage, potential, bottom-hole pressure, sand thickness, etc., have been proposed and are in use in various fields.

Jan 1, 1937

By P. Ramakrishnan, Ramjilal

Fine powders of lead zirconate titanate have been prepared by three different methods such as ball milling, conventional coprecipitation and spray drying. Different powders have also been prepared by changing the process variables in each method. These powders were analysed for particle size chemical composition and reactivity. DTA, TGA and x-ray analysis have been carried out to study the lead zirconate titanate formation with reference to calcination temperatures. The calcined powders were then consolidated by compaction and sintering. An attempt has bean made to explain the consolidation behaviour of these powders on the basis of powder characteristics.

Jan 1, 1980

By W. R. Bendy

GRINDING is a large and costly part of Portland cement manufacture. Prior to clinkering in the rotary kiln, raw materials are ground to a fineness of 80 to 90 pct passing 200 mesh. Then, after burning and cooling, the resulting clinker is ground to about 92 pct passing 325 mesh. In the cement industry the most favored method of grinding has always been by impact and attrition of a ball charge in a rotating mill. Other types of mills, in which materials are ground between die rings and rollers, or between die rings and large balls, are sometimes used for single-stage grinding and often for preliminary grinding followed by grinding in ball-type mills. Their efficiency is usually high, but maintenance and repair costs are high also, and the ball-type mill continues to be the most widely used. Together with 4 pct gypsum to retard setting time, the kiln run clinker—consisting of hard, semi-fused lumps that may have been crushed to — 1/2 in.—is ground to a Blaine surface area of 3000 sq cm per gram and about 92 pct passing 325 mesh. Approximately 32 kw-hr per ton, or 6 kw-hr per 376-1b barrel, are consumed in the grinding mills alone, not counting auxiliaries. Open Circuit Clinker Grinding: Many early clinker grinding plants employed two-stage, open circuit grinding. Comparatively short mills of large diameter, loaded with balls 4 in. and smaller, first reduced the clinker to 95 pct passing 14 mesh. Tube mills of smaller diameter and greater length, loaded with balls 11/4 in. and smaller, carried out the fine grinding operation. An early development was to assemble two or more stages of grinding in a single mill having two, three, or four compartments separated by division heads. There were difficulties in balancing the compartments, but compartment mills were popular in the 1920's because the layout was simple and there were no elevators and conveyors. Oversize Particles: Open circuit mills, whether separate ball and tube mills or compartment mills, always encountered the problem of tramp oversize in the product. A small percentage of clinker survived passage through the first grinding stage as particles—perhaps 1/16 in. diam—that were too large for the smaller balls in the following stages to reduce to —200 mesh. When the feed rate was lowered to reduce tramp oversize, there were serious losses in grinding efficiency. Many ingenious designs were perfected to incorporate perforated screen plates or wire mesh screens in the ball mills or in the first compartments of compartment mills. Their purpose was to prevent mate: rial passing out of the first stage until it was small

Jan 1, 1958

Established as a Division November 17, 1948 B W Gonser, Chairman J C Kinnear, Jr, Past Chairman H H Kellogg, Chairman-Elect R C Cole, Vice-Chairman, '58 A E Lee, Jr, Vice-Chairman, '59 W R Opie, Vice-Chairman, '60 R W Shearman, Secretary AIME, 29 West 39th Street New York 18, N Y

Jan 1, 1957