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By V. R. Garfias

. EVEN before the arrival of Cortes in 1519, the history of Mexico was closely linked to that of its mineral production; the mining activities of the Aztecs being thus described by Clavigero, one of the early historians: In the mountains of Anahuac there abound in veins all kinds of metals, and infinite variety of other fossiliferous products. The Aztecs obtained gold from the countries of the Cohuijques, of the Mixtecas, of the Zapotecas and from various other places. They gathered that precious metal usually in grain, from the sands of the rivers, keeping a certain portion for the crown. They obtained silver from the mines of Taxco, of Tzumpango and others; however, this metal was not as esteemed by them as by other neighboring nations. They had two kinds of copper; one hard, which they used instead of iron to make sickles; lances and all kinds of rural and military instru-ments and another, soft, with which they made kettles, goblets and other receptacles. This metal abounds mainly in the province of Zacatula and in that of Cohuijques, which at present is in the kingdom of Michoacan. They obtained tin from the mines of Taxco and lead from those of Izmiquilpan, located in the country of the Otomies. From the tin they made money, and the lead, we know they sold in the market places, but we ignore the uses to which they applied it. They also had mines of iron in Tlaxcala, in Taxco and in other places; but they either had not discovered them, or did not know how to make use of the metal they contained. In Chilapa there were mines of mercury, and in other places there were mines of sulphur, alum, vitriol, cinnabar, cohre and of a white earth which they esteemed highly. As regards mercury and vitriol, we do not know of what use (they were to them; the other metals they used in paintings and dyes. There were then great abundance of amber and asphalt-bitu-men of Judea-on the coast of the seas and many cities of that territory paid tribute of one and the other to the kingdom of Mexico. They mounted the amber in gold, and it was only used as ornament and display by them. With the asphalt they made certain perfumes.

Jan 1, 1937

By Warren K. Kourt

Many important discoveries of mineral deposits have been made as a result of routine exploration for oil and gas. Through the presentation of three hypothetical case histories, including cost data, the author shows how mineral evaluation can be performed during routine petroleum drilling operations and how mining companies and oil companies or oil operators can cooperate in such endeavors.

Jan 1, 1972

By K. W. Warren, F. R. Prestridge, B. A. Sinclair

Separating oil from water may seem simple enough, but in fact, tremendous efforts have gone into this common process problem. The petroleum industry is constantly looking for better ways to separate the emulsion of oil and connate water that is pumped from the ground and its latest development, the electrostatic emulsion separator, may find an important offshoot application in hydrometallurgy. The patent-pending OSX coalescer, developed by C-E Natco, recovers entrained solvent from both raffinate and the pregnant strip liquor. It has already undergone successful testing at the Bluebird copper circuit in Arizona and is currently being prepared for testing at a uranium SX plant.

Jan 4, 1978

By E. A. Stevens

In a low and gently sloping ridge extending some 1500 ft. southward from Squaw Mt., and now.covered by the buildings, or crossed by the railroads and streets, of a portion of the city of Victor, there is an ancient volcanic vent or crater, which exhibits one of the most interesting phenomena of the great upheaval and volcanic disturbance that built up the hills of the famous Cripple Creek gold-field—of the period when mass was piled on mass to form the mountains and foothills; when fissures and craters opened, and lavas, welling up, overflowed the surface, until, finally cooling, they effectually choked their vents, thus forming many of the ridges that stand out in bold relief, and the dikes that seam the Continent. This particular occurrence, though limited in dimensions, shows in miniature certain stages of the eruptions of Etna and Vesuvius,* Kilauea and Loa; and illustrates what was (with the exception of the penetrating dikes) the closing chapter of the early volcanoes whose emanations have contributed to the

Jan 1, 1901

By Wilson D. Michell

THE Magma copper vein trends east-west, dips 70° south, and cuts through a 6000-ft thickness of limestones, quartzites, shale, diabase, and schist. The vein is itself a fault with -a horizontal offset of 500 ft on the formation contacts in the two walls. There are two principal faults of large displacement and numerous smaller steep and flat faults that complicate the prediction of ore occurrence. A study of the geology, its systematic recording to facilitate ready reference, and graphic methods of interpretation of mineralization have aided the exploration, development, and mining of the ore. In making predictions of the distribution of mineable ore bodies and their shape in critical areas, studies are made of "mineralization contours" and "mineralization trends," which are developed on a longitudinal section of the vein from variations in the concentration of the combined base metal content as shown by assays of available openings in the mine.

Jan 1, 1947

By Walter Miller

Any annual review of engineering progress in petroleum refining must of necessity include many features mentioned in earlier reviews. Advances do not spring mushroom fashion to wide acceptance overnight, but rather resemble rolling snowballs, gathering size and velocity as they progress. The new ideas of one year develop through the course of scattered adoption and testing during following years, to be ultimately discarded or to become an integral part of refinery engineering and operation. Polymerization and Cracking As an illustration, the publicity given to the polymerization and cracking of petroleum gases during the year has given many the impression that this is a new art. But patent and technical literature have disclosed active work on the problem dating back a decade or more and a unit capable of making 100 bbl. a day of polymer gasoline was constructed as early as 1930. Important strides have been made during 1935 looking to the more general commercialization of available processes, and some four important groups are furthering this work. In addition to the production of liquid products for inclusion as a constituent of commercial motor fuel, polymerization has also been a factor leading to the installation of a plant at the Houston refinery of The Shell Petroleum Corporation for manufacturing isooctane for aviation use, by making available dibutylene for catalytic hydrogenation Polymerization is not confined to unsaturated hydrocarbon gases as a source of raw material, and has been extended to include a preliminary decomposition of normal saturated gases under suitable heat and pressure conditions into the unsaturated types, which can then be used as raw material for the polymerization process. Thus there is opened up the possibility of eventually using large quantities of natural gas in the manufacture of high-grade motor fuels, although the early commercial growth will be largely on cracking still gases for economic reasons. Such utilization will result in a somewhat lowered drain on crude-oil reserves and a partial elimination of the

Jan 1, 1936

By Walter Miller

Any annual review of engineering progress in petroleum refining must of necessity include many features mentioned in earlier reviews. Advances do not spring mushroom fashion to wide acceptance overnight, but rather resemble rolling snowballs, gathering size and velocity as they progress. The new ideas of one year develop through the course of scattered adoption and testing during following years, to be ultimately discarded or to become an integral part of refinery engineering and operation. Polymerization and Cracking As an illustration, the publicity given to the polymerization and cracking of petroleum gases during the year has given many the impression that this is a new art. But patent and technical literature have disclosed active work on the problem dating back a decade or more and a unit capable of making 100 bbl. a day of polymer gasoline was constructed as early as 1930. Important strides have been made during 1935 looking to the more general commercialization of available processes, and some four important groups are furthering this work. In addition to the production of liquid products for inclusion as a constituent of commercial motor fuel, polymerization has also been a factor leading to the installation of a plant at the Houston refinery of The Shell Petroleum Corporation for manufacturing isooctane for aviation use, by making available dibutylene for catalytic hydrogenation Polymerization is not confined to unsaturated hydrocarbon gases as a source of raw material, and has been extended to include a preliminary decomposition of normal saturated gases under suitable heat and pressure conditions into the unsaturated types, which can then be used as raw material for the polymerization process. Thus there is opened up the possibility of eventually using large quantities of natural gas in the manufacture of high-grade motor fuels, although the early commercial growth will be largely on cracking still gases for economic reasons. Such utilization will result in a somewhat lowered drain on crude-oil reserves and a partial elimination of the

Jan 1, 1936

By J. Moore Samuel

THE CHAIRMAN (WALTER DOUGLAS, NEW YORK, N. Y.).-Perhaps there is no problem that causes the modern metallurgist more worry than the question of unaccounted for loss. He has not the advantage of the metallurgist of the early days here, who could sleep peaceably with the settled conviction that there were certain copper mineral constituents of the ore which were volatile, and there was therefore nothing to worry about. The slag contents and volatilization accounted for the balance of the copper that went in the top of the furnace after the weighing of the bullion. There have been great strides in recent years toward reducing this loss. Perhaps the Anaconda company is the one we have to thank for the original pioneer work along the lines which we are all today following. We would be glad to hear from some gentlemen present with reference to their experience with this question of dust losses. E. P. MATHEWSON, Anaconda, Mont.-You mentioned the Anaconda company, Mr. Chairman. I would like to say something about what we have been doing there, and the troubles we have been having. We have a tremendous volume of .gas to handle. We adopted the system of large chambers, lessening the velocity of gases, and incidentally cooling the gases. Unfortunately in one sense and fortunately in another, we were compelled to increase the amount of gas handled in the flue system, and the results were then not so good. Still, we get a very good recovery. Our system of taking a sample is similar to the one described by the writer of the paper. We have tried all kinds of apparatus for getting a fair sample. We divided the area of the flue into imaginary squares, and have taken samples for a certain period of time from each square; and have used the asbestos bags. At present, there is a large unit of the Cottrell apparatus almost ready to connect up on the roaster flue to catch the dust from flotation concentrates. The worst things smelters have to handle at the present clay, they are coming in the Southwest as well as the Northwest, are of material much of which is as small as 500 mesh, and the ordinary methods of catching dust will not apply to flotation concentrates. The Cottrell process is going to be tried out at our plant for this material. We have devised special forms, with a view to preventing the formation of dust from this material, and we are pleased with the results so far obtained. There is another point in connection with this subject that I want to put before the members here, so they will be thinking about it. You know there has been a great deal of litigation between the farmers

Jan 12, 1916

By A. E. Weissenborn

Current knowledge of the substantial resources of zinc that exist in northwestern Washington is reviewed. These zinc-lead deposits are all associated with the Kootenay Arc, a narrow arcuate belt of folded and faulted rocks that dominates the regional structure of Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties and adjacent parts of British Columbia. The deposits of the Arc are only part of a major lead-zinc silver metallogenic province that includes the deposits of the Coeur d'Alene district and the famed Sullivan ore body of Kimberly, British Columbia. Most, but by no means all the zinc-lead deposits of the Kootenay Arc are in carbonate rocks. They occur in several stratigraphic units, and in different parts of the Arc are quite diverse in character. The deposits appear to have undergone a complex geologic history and have not necessarily all been formed at the same time or by the same geologic processes.

Jan 1, 1976

JAMES E. HOWARD,* Washington, D. C. (written discussion?). -Mr. Comstock, in his classification of the possible causes of transverse fissures, has not quite caught the point of view of the writer. It appears, following the trend of thought in Mr. Comstock's paper, that three groups instead of two might bee enumerated, namely: Fatigue of the steel, quality or, preferably, grade of steel, and mill practice. All steels are liable to failure by fatigue. Stresses that are capable of causing fatigue fractures are modified in their magnitude by the grade of steel acted upon. Mill practice is a term having a very wide meaning and in its relations to the development of transverse fissures has been used with such vagueness as to include many known factors and some that are unknown in the arts. According to the grade of steel employed, fatigue fractures may be accomplished by loads of greater or less magnitude, hence there is a relation between quality, or grade, of steel and the display of fatigue fractures. Mill practice of such an order as to affect the formation of transverse fissures must be shown to exert an influence on the ability of the steel to endure repeated stresses. Different grades of steel are selected for different purposes. Steel employed for fire-box purposes is of different grade from that used for cutting tools; although each grade is suitable for its purpose, and therefore of good quality. It is conceivable that a demand might be made for steel of physical properties in excess of those of any known grade. Under such a demand, impossible of' fulfillment, it would not be proper to refer to the steels as being deficient in quality; to do so would be a failure to recognize that all steels have their limitations in strength. Service conditions peculiar to rails admit of successive advance until the conditions can no longer-be met. The failure of a large number of rails from one type of failure, when all known means of averting the failure have been employed without success, is sufficient evidence that the end is close at hand. Iron rails, for a time, successfully met the requirements of railway service but weight of equipment, motive power, and rolling stock were increased, necessitating the use of steel. The early steel rails enjoyed the reputation of being of excellent quality, although: neither chemically nor structurally would they be so regarded ,lit the present time. They did good service in their day and under the conditions then prevailing were good rails. To meet the increased weight of rolling stock there has been

Jan 3, 1919

By James Gayley

The occurrence of obstructions in furnace-hearths is nothing new to blast-furnace managers. The removal of them is becoming more and more simplified every day. The appliances that can be readily obtained at any works, are so simple in construction and effective in operation that they can overcome the most obstinate condition of affairs that can exist in a furnace-hearth. The old method of opening up tuyeres and notches with sledges and chipping-bass,. Was

Jan 1, 1886

By M. E. Prunty

Activity in coal preparation in 1967 was on the up-swing and all indications are that demands will be greater in the future. Feed tonnages to plants are increasing and a significant factor is that the top size being fed to plants is decreasing. This has been brought about by market demands, better cokability in some cases and emphasis on sulfur reduction in others. New plants are being built and some are in operation in the coal fields of southern Illinois. These plants are producing metallurgical coal in circuits that contain heavy medium cyclones and froth flotation on the - ½ mm x 0.

Jan 2, 1968

By Paul H. Lu

This paper proposes an unconventional, simple, and practical method of measuring mining-induced ground stresses with hydraulic borehole pressure cells. The method is a direct ground stress measuring technique. It does not require the value of deformation modulus for back-calculation of stresses; instead, it directly measures the ground stress in situ. The applicability and practicality of the technique are shown by two case studies. The technique may be applied to monitoring a stress buildup that may lead to mine roof failure or to rock and coal outbursts.

Jan 1, 1984

By Mohammad A. Pasha, John T. Atkins

Utah International's Shirley Basin Mine is located in the Southeastern High Plains of Wyoming at an elevation of 7100 ft. The Shirley Basin area is a gently rolling semi-arid land. The uranium ore zone occurs at depths ranging from 270-350 ft below the surface. Overburden consists of poorly consolidated sandstones, siltstones and clays. Underground mining was begun in 1960. Conditions were made difficult by high rates of water inflow and ground support problems. Development of a solution mining or in-situ leaching technique allowed underground operation to be abandoned in 1964. Solution mining provided limited production from 1963 to July 1970. In January, 1969, large scale development of open-pit mining was begun. A 1200 tpd mill went on-stream in March, 1971.

Jan 6, 1973

By H. J. Hager

The Alabama By-Products Corp. is an entirely independent Alabama enterprise. Organization of the company stemmed from the consolidation of three important properties in the Birmingham District and a by-product coke plant at Tarrant, Ala. In 1924 ABC was merged with the Pratt Consolidated Coal Co. This merger greatly extended the company's holdings of valuable coal lands in Walker and Jefferson Counties.

Jan 12, 1950

By Franc R. Joubin, D. H. James

Uranium exploration in the North Shore area of Lake Huron goes back to 1847 when J. L. LeConte, a distinguished American geologist, identified a pitchblende-like mineral which he called coracite from specimens sent from a locality north of Sault Ste. Marie. In 1948 a search for the LeConte occurrence resulted in discovery of the Camray field, some 70 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie. Prospecting the Camray field yielded about 30 pitchblende occurrences spread over approximately 200 sq miles. Almost without exception these discoveries consisted of narrow, short, pitchblende-filled fractures, within or along the contacts of diabase dykes cutting pre-Cambrian Archean granite and gneiss. Eight discoveries were diamond drilled and three were explored underground, but none proved to be of economic value. Uranium prospecting at this time spread far afield, and it was in 1949 that radioactive conglomerate was discovered in Long Township of the Algoma district midway between and 90 miles from Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. F. Joubin examined this discovery at that time but could not interest capital in its development.

Jun 1, 1956

By H. L. Washburn, G. L. Judy

DURING recent years thermal drying of fine coal has increased at a tremendous rate, but very little discussion of the several excellent units has found its way into print. This is particularly true for operating and maintenance costs, and the operator who is faced with his first fine coal drying installation must depend chiefly on hearsay when trying to determine what his drying costs will be. This article presents the maintenance and operating costs for the seven drying units now installed in preparation plants of Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co. and lists other cost information that should be obtained before any particular drying unit is selected.

Jan 10, 1957

By AIME AIME

NINETEEN states have on their statutes laws requiring engineers practicing within their borders to be licensed sixteen other states have such laws under consideration. While mining engineers are not specifically referred to in every case, they are referred to by implication. In only a few states have mining engineers taken any active interest in this subject, either in support or in opposition, yet it is a matter of very grave importance to them. By some it is thought that it is now too late to take any active steps toward preventing or repealing a type of legislation for which there appears to be a growing demand from some source. And it is further thought that the best course for those who are interested is to endeavor to guide legislation so that the remaining states may enact laws containing as few objectionable features as possible.

Jan 1, 1921

By Harry A. Perry

The Highlad underground uranium mine is located in the southern Powder River Basin, Converse County, Wyoming. Development by Exxon Minerals Company began in 1973 and average production from the complex roll- front deposit ranges from 500 to 600 stpd. A staff of six eight grade control technicians work within the Geology Department to guide and monitor production, to minimize waste and to account production to reserve estimates. A thorough knowledge of the complex roll- front deposit aids in accounting production to reserve estimates. Grade control technicians assist the mine geologist in making geologic cross sections, in estimating reserves, and in predicting monthly and quarterly production grades.

Jan 1, 1980