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By C. K. Leith

OTHERS here are far better qualified than I to discuss some of the specific proposals for government regulation of the oil industry. I shall make no attempt to carry oil to Oklahoma. The question of public control, however, is inherent in other branches of the mineral industry in varying degrees, and my comments will be directed mainly toward some of the trends affecting the mineral industry as a whole, as a background for your more specific consideration of oil legislation. A proud American tradition has been the insistence on freedom of competition, on equality of economic opportunity, on a policy of laissez faire. Nowhere has this principle been given wider application than in the mineral industry. The mineral field has been open to all comers, and the job of mineral exploitation has naturally attracted daring and independent spirits. The laws governing conditions of discovery and development, as well as the anti- trust laws, have been devised to foster the spirit of private initiative. The result has been the building of a mineral industry on a scale never before approximated anywhere in the world. The impetus thus gained, the methods, the technique, the financial resources, have been projected be- yond our boundaries and have made the American mineral industry the purveyor to the world for many essential commodities and first in the exploitation of the world's minerals. Our habits of individual self-reliance and success are deeply ingrained, and there is hardly an individual in the entire mineral field who does not instinctively recoil fro111 the extension of collective control, whether public or private.

Jan 1, 1932

By Dennis J. Riley

A. This outline addresses what a sub-contractor, or a subsub-contractor should do to get paid in the event the general contractor or building owner files for bankruptcy. B. Negotiating payment terms. Progress payments vs. "pay when paid". How a sub or subsub can avoid financing the contract. C. Court interpretation of "pay when paid" clauses allow postponement not excusal of payment. See, e.g., Seal Tite Corporation v. Ehret. Inc., 589 F. Supp. 701 (D.N.J. 1984) (where the court held that the general contractor could not delay payment indefinitely to the subcontractor in the event of non-payment from the owner); United Plate Glass Co. v. Metal Industries. Inc., 525 A.2d 468 (Commw. Ct. Pa. 1987) (where the court held that payment from owner was not a condition precedent to paying subcontractor but instead a timing mechanism indicating when payment should be made); But see. Straham v. Landis Construction Co., 499 So. 2d 417 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1986) (where the court strictly interpreted the "pay when paid" clause).

Jan 1, 1991

By S. S. Venkata

This volume describes a comprehensive program of research into the reliability of mine electrical power system components and the resultant reliability of the total system. The research effort encompassed analytical models, laboratory testing and field testing. The analytical work included definition of terms, fail rate functions and distributions, failure rate estimation and techniques and procedures for theoretical reliability assessment. One of the primary mine power system components addressed in the study was the ac molded case circuit breaker. This device is known to have low reliability and hence an unfavorable impact on mine safety and productivity. Ac molded case circuit breaker reliability was studied by analytical means, laboratory testing and field monitoring. A similar three-pronged' effort was made to study the reliability of undervoltage relays/releases. Particular emphasis was placed on new solid state undervoltage relays. The reliability of bulk power components, such as trailing cab les, motors, control gear, and other equipment, was assessed by gathering maintenance records from active mines. These data were compared to similar records from other industries. The work was extended to include the reliability, availability, maintainability and safety of these components.

Jan 1, 1979

By John F. Spence

Ever since opening, the M25 motorway to the west of London has carried a rapidly increasing volume of traffic. The section of M25 between the junctions with the M3 and M4 motorways, which is in the near vicinity of Heathrow airport, is the most heavily trafficked section. Piling and ground treatment was required for motorway widening works over this route, which is 7 miles long. The foundation works were undertaken next to the live motorway and beneath the flightpath for aircraft landing and taking off at the airport. The paper describes the foundation construction techniques used, and the how the methods were affected by the live motorway and the height restrictions imposed by the airport. A unique method of piled retaining wall construction is also described.

Jan 1, 2007

The placer mining industry of the West Coast region of the South Island is based largely around the production of alluvial gold, although other valuable minerals are also present. Since the first major discoveries in 1864-65, reported gold production has totalled around 264 t (8.5 Moz). During the past 10 years, annual production has totalled around 1460 kg (47,000 oz). It is anticipated that gold production over the next three years will continue at a level of 1400-1800 kg.   Annual gold production peaked during 1866 at approximately 17,170 kg (550,000 oz) and has not exceeded 100,000 oz since 1885. This reflects the ease with which gold was won from shallow, rich deposits that were present at many localities. Subsequently, there has been a general decline in the availability of this type of deposit, a trend that will continue in the future. This paper outlines the present state of placer mining in the West Coast region, gives some historical background to the industry and briefly predicts future trends.

Jan 1, 1997

By K. H. Brandt

A standard planning system for the development of roadways was adopted for German coal mines based on the results of geotechnical and rockmechanical investigations. Its goal is to provide for sufficient support systems under conditions of multiple seam mining at great depth. The report points out the required determination of geotechnical parameters and the basis for achieving a high level of planning reliability and resulting high performance in roadway development and longwall mining. The instrumentation and the planning procedure for selecting the support design most appropriate for the geotechnical conditions are described and demonstrated by examples.

Jan 1, 2004

By William J. Campbell

Three types of X-ray analytical instrumentation were compared for applications in the secondary brass and bronze industry. The instruments were a conventional X-ray spectrograph, a portable X-ray spectrograph, and a radioiso-topic X-ray analyzer using balanced filters. The following two general applications were considered: Rapid identification for sorting scrap metals and quantitative analyses to provide guidance in the melting and casting of alloys. Twenty-three analyzed copper-base alloys were used as standards. Although the alloys varied widely in composition, matrix correction procedures were not necessary except for copper. The conventional X-ray spectrograph provides positive identification of the alloys and quantitative values for the six elements investigated--aluminum, copper, iron, lead, tin, and zinc. Equivalent results were obtained with the portable X-ray spectrograph for those elements whose characteristic X-rays are in the wavelength range of the instrument. The radioisotopic X-ray analyzer distinguishes certain groups of alloys and provides quantitative determinations for copper, lead, tin, and zinc. The sensitivity of the analyzer was marginal for the determination of small concentrations of elements of atomic number 26 or lower.

Jan 1, 1972

Neutralization with lime is a simple, cheap, and effective means of treating acid raffinates from uranium processing to' raise the pH, reduce the concentrations of dissolved salts (including heavy metal impurities), and remove amine by adsorption. Two-stage neutralization, using limestone in the first stage at approximately pH 4 and lime in the second, lIlay be advantageous.Lime neutralization of mffinates in the pH range 7 to 8· 5 generally reduced the radium ·concentration to 10 to 200 pCi 1-1, but ·there was considerable scatter in the experimental data. The radium concentration was further reduced to less than 3 pCi 1-1 by co-precipitation of barium (radium) sulphate with 10 mg Ba (as barium chloride) per litre of raffinate. Adsorption of radium on barytes was -also effective in reducing the radium concentration in neutralized raffinate to less than 3 pCi 1-1.The radium concentration of pit water was readily reduced to less than 3 pCi 1-1 when pit water containing 0·01 M sulphate as ammonium, calcium, or sodium sulphate was treated with 20 mg Ba per litre of pit water.Adsorption on barytes was also effective in removing radium from pit water containing 0·03 M sulphate.

Jan 1, 1975

A series of stemming confinement tests were conducted at a test site near Vernal, Utah. The purpose of the study was to determine the relative performance of various stemming enhancement “plugs”, stem types and loading configurations. The stemming performance was quantified in terms of: . Stem confinement time . Stem ejection velocity . Ground swell velocity . Ground vibration . Air blast . Crater formation Of primary interest was the performance of a new spherical stemming enhancement plug. The initial findings indicate that the hard plastic spheres improved blast performance when used appropriately. Their ability to improve blast performance is reduced when used in over confined or severely underconfined conditions. The study also evaluated the effects of air decking on stemming confinement and explosive performance.

Jan 1, 2000

By G. F. Butterworth

The metallographic structures most frequently encountered in rifle barrels, and which are illustrated by the accompanying photomicrographs, fall naturally into two groups, distinguished by the method used to, produce in the stock a physical condition having the requisite properties. The fist group consists of "rolled" barrels; that is, barrels subjected to hot working by rolling in or near the critical range. In the second group, the stock, which is smaller in diameter than the first, is upset to form the butt end and is then heat treated by giving it a quench and a draw. These barrels will be referred to as " heat-treated " barrels. The structure of the rolled barrels resembles closely that of the same steel after annealing. There is the same network of excess ferrite outlining the grain boundaries, but the grains themselves are composed of sorbite rather than pearlite. The grain size is closely related to the rolling temperature. The critical-point curves of this grade of steel, which is approximately 0.50 to 0.60 per cent. of carbon and 1.00 to 1.30 per cent, of manganese, show a single very pronounced point between 1300" and 1350" F. (704" and 732" C.). Barrels rolled within this temperature range give an exceedingly fine grain, shown in Fig. 1. In fact, the grains may be so fine that, at a low magnification, they may be confused with the heat-treated structure shown in Fig. 6. A magnification of 500 diameters, however, will always resolve a rolled barrel into the characteristic structure shown in Fig. 2. As the temperature is increased, the grains are found to be larger. If, on the other hand, the rolling temperature is below the critical range, the structure previous to rolling will not be obliterated, the only effect of rolling being to elongate the coarse sorbite grains in the direction of rolling, Fig. 3. This distortion is greatest at the muzzle. Heat-treated barrels are quenched in oil from above the critical range, which should give a martensitic structure, Fig. 4, but the presence of some troostite in the martensite is frequently noted when the quench has not been sufficiently drastic, Fig. 5. The structure brought about by the subsequent draw is not so striking, though quite as typical. It is sorbitic or sorbito-pearlitic, and under a low magnification appears almost homogeneous, as in the case of fine grains of pepper and salt well mixed together, Fig. 6. This structure is substantially the same for all

Jan 1, 1920

Resonance re-emission from nickel vapour affords a convenient method for isolating the resonance lines at 3415A, 3515A, and 3524A. The vapour is generated by cathodic sputtering and is illuminated by light from a nickel atomic spectral lamp. The resonance lines thus isolated can be usefully employed for absorption measurements on mineral samples where the nickel concentration is too high for measurements with the more sensitive line at 2320A. A spectrophotometer employing a resonance lamp as monochromator possesses several advantages where a great number of determinations are made under routine conditions. The wavelength setting is stable under even the most rigorous conditions and with the provision for automatic setting of full scale deflection the instrument requires virtually no adjustment. The instrument has been used under routine conditions for the determination of nickel (in the range O· 05-2 per cent) in mineral samples.

Jan 1, 1968

By Oliver Bowles

Sandstone, a widely distributed siliceous sedimentary rock, is the third most popular building stone in the United States. It is formed by the breaking down of preexisting rocks by weathering, subsequent segregation of the detrital quartz grains into discrete deposits by the sorting action of water or wind, and finally cementation of the quartz sand into a coherent rock. The homogeneity and resistance to weathering of the resultant sandstone make it suitable for exterior construction. Its excellent wearing properties explain its popularity for flagging and stair treads. However, quarrying and dressing methods and costs are adversely affected by the abrasiveness and hardness of sandstone especially as compared to limestone.

Jan 1, 1963

By M. R. Pickus, I. W. Pickus

ORDINARILY age-hardening is thought of as being associated with a limited solubility of one metal in another. Much less has been written about the type of age-hardening that attends the formation of superstructures. Solid solutions generally have a disordered or random arrangement of atoms; that is to say, in a unit cell, such as that of the face-centered cubic lattice, there is no distinction between atomic sites. Atoms of a given metal may occupy cube corners or face centers. Under certain conditions, however, some alloys develop what is known as an ordered structure. In this case, cube corners would be occupied by only one type of atom and face centers by another type, Associated with this ordering process are many interesting changes in physical and electrical properties. Moreover, in many instances the alloys become susceptible to age-hardening. From the evidence now to be described, it appears that age-hardening in 14-carat gold alloys is due to the formation of both a super-structure and a precipitate. Alloys of the metals gold, silver and copper were known in antiquity. The available knowledge regarding their constitution has been ably summarized and extended by Sterner-Rainer,1 Janecke,2 Carter,3 Wise,4 and Coleman.5 Despite the long familiarity with these alloys and the numerous investigations of their properties that have been made, there is still much that remains unexplained. It has been known for a long time that the hardness of these alloys is closely related to the rate of cooling, Similar changes have been observed in the binary gold-copper system,6 one alloy of which corresponding to the formula Cu3Au, has been the subject of a careful and competent report by the English investigators, Sykes and Evans.7 They have established the fact that the shift of atoms from the ordered to the disordered condition takes place in some critical temperature range. At temperatures above the critical range the structure is random, and at temperatures below it the structure is ordered. No difference between these two structures is revealed by the microscope. Both have a face-centered cubic lattice and complete solubility, so that there is no evidence to suggest that the changes in properties are associated with a phase change, The more slowly the alloy is cooled, the higher is the degree to which the ordering process proceeds and the more marked is the increase in hardness. As experimental data were accumulated on 14-carat gold alloys, several contradictions arose. Certain observations tended to confirm the existence of a superstructure, while other observations seemed to be inconsistent with such a transformation. PRESENT INVESTIGATION As a focal point about which to develop this subject, it is expedient to consider first

Jan 1, 1943

By J. B. Zadra

Tungsten metal, chemically equivalent to commercial grade, is produced by electrolysis of impure tungsten compounds or scheelite in an alkali, phosphate or borate electrolyte. A preliminary investigation of fused-bath electrolysis shows the effect of electrolyte composition, temperature, and current density on current efficiency, yield, crystal structure, and purity of product. Experiments show that tungsten can be electrowon from scheelite in a fused alkali, phosphate, or borate bath with similar results. Studies on electrolyte composition show that the addition of sodium chloride is essential to both electrolytes in treating scheelite. Although its main function is to react with or flux the CaO, it also increases the bath fluidity. Temperature studies revealed optimum ranges between 900° and 1,100° C.; 900° C. proved satisfactory for tungsten trioxide, and 950° to 1,050° C. for scheelite. Current efficiencies were satisfactory for all current densities ranging from 10 to 57 a./dm.2. Yields were 400 to 650 g./kw.-hr. over the same current-density range. Crystal size and purity of the product are functions of temperature, current density, and amount of impurities in the electrolyte. Deposited crystals vary in shape from spherical grains to clusters of dendritic hexagonal needles, and in size from smaller than 35 to 570 microns. The purity of the tungsten metal produced ranges from 99.7 to 99.94 percent.

Jan 1, 1959

By Wayne Trudel, Eric Saderhold, Lloyd McEvers, Lori Clarke, Charles Lynn Bolin, Leroy Schutz

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two-part series on how mine geologists added about 141t (4.53 million oz) at Newmont Mining’s gold operations in Nevada during 2003. Part one (ME, July2004, pp. 19-26) showed how cross-functional teamwork among mine geologists, engineers, metallurgists and operators added $65 million in revenues at Newmont’s Gold Quarry Mine. Part two deals with how this same cross-functional team added about 25.8 t (830,000 oz) of gold reserves and two years of life at the company’s LoneTree Mine. This was done through improved reconciliation methods, pit optimization designs and updated geotechnical parameters. Part two also discusses how Newmont’s Nevada mine personnel added about 62.2 t (2 million oz) of gold reserves at its Twin Creeks Mine, extending the mine’s life by several years. The Lone Tree Mine is a sediment-hosted, micron gold deposit. It is dominantly situated in the Golconda thrust footwall. The north-south trending Wayne Zone fault controls the highest-grade ores and

Jan 1, 2004

By T. McKeon, G. Luttrell

Spiral separators are commonly used to upgrade sand-sized particles in both the coal and mineral processing industries. Many plants utilize multiple stages of cleaning and/or scavenging spirals to improve recovery and/or final product grade. Field studies suggest, however, that the layout of industrial spiral circuits is often less than optimal. This oversight can usually be attributed to a failure by plant designers to consider fundamental process engineering rules that govern the layout of complex separation circuits. This article reviews some of these important rules as specifically applied to multistage spiral circuit design. Two industrial case studies, one involving the upgrading of heavy mineral sands and a second involving the cleaning of fine coal, are presented to illustrate the impact of good design protocols on spiral circuit performance.

Jan 1, 2007

By Howard W. Wainwright

This bibliography was compiled by the Bureau of Mines as part of an investigation into the possible utilization of low-temperature coal-tar bases. The bibliography consists of literature and patent references from about 1945 to 1961 and is divided into the following headings: Analysis and Composition; Production, Synthesis, Reactions, and Utilization; and Separation, Purification, and Properties. Although over 1,000 references are included, no attempt was made to insure a comprehensive survey. The literature and patent references are arranged alphabetically by author or patentee. When several publications have the same author they are listed in reverse order of age, with the newest first. An author index is included because secondary authors are not cross-indexed. In almost every instance, the entry is accompanied by a Chemical Abstracts reference for those interested in locating an abstract of the original paper.

Jan 1, 1962

By Arun Vathavooran, Adrian Singh, Michael Fletcher, Rainer Imhof

The Imhoflot G-Cell, a new development in the pneumatic flotation technology (which incorporates centrifugal forces in the separating vessel) is a recent innovation in the mineral processing world. The G-Cell was invented by Dr Rainer Imhof and commercialised by Maelgwyn Mineral Services Ltd. In a short time span a number of plants and units have been successfully commissioned in the mineral processing industry. In addition, a number of industrial G-Cell flotation plants are in the process of construction for the purpose of coal preparation and environmental remediation. In this paper two industrial installations have been highlighted together with a pilot plant test programme investigating ultra fine flotation recovery for a base metal operation.

Jan 1, 2007

By Mitchell L. Fong

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District will be extending BART service south along an 8.7-km (5.4-mile) -long corridor in the city of Fremont, California as part of the Warm Springs Extension (WSX). The WSX project will link the existing BART system to the future BART to San Jose extension. A segment of WSX is located in Fremont Central Park (referred to as the Fremont Central Park Subway Project). The Fremont Central Park Subway is considered the most complicated and geotechnically challenging portion of the project with an underground subway box being constructed near the active Hayward Fault which is capable of ground motions up to 0.75 g and is located in an aquifer which is used for water storage and supply. Soil-structure interaction analysis was used in the design of the subway box to resist deformations due to earthquake ground motions. A water-tight excavation support system has been designed to allow subway box construction while minimizing impacts to the aquifer.

By Donald E. Raab, Lee W. Saperstein

INTRODUCTION The Premise Not much time has to be spent in a tunneling project to realize the tremendous interdependence that exists among the various unit operations. The research that is to be described attempts to examine one set of these linked operations, namely, the effect of cutters on muck handling properties. All too often research focuses on too minute an aspect of a problem for the results to be of much immediate, practical use. The goal of this research is to avoid this specificity. Apologies are tendered if this goal is missed. It is known that the mode of flow of bulk solids under the influence of gravity -- emptying a bin or hopper -- is dependent on several basic parameters. The size of the particles and the distribution of sizes (consist) determine whether the solids will first flow out of a given aperture; the cohesion of the solids will determine if flow will continue after the bin is opened; and the angle of internal friction determines the size of the flow regime (1,2,3). It is well understood that the latter two parameters affect the behavior of bulk material on a conveyor belt. Cohesion of material to a belt is always an undesired problem. Heaping of material on a belt depends on the material's internal friction. It is also known that varying the particle size, and the packing density of the material can affect the material's angle of internal friction (4,5). The question was posed whether sufficient variation in a mechanical tunneling machine's (mole) cutting function could be arranged to affect materially the handling properties of the muck

Jan 1, 1974