Nevada Nugget Hunters

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL for APRIL 15, 1929 I

Arizona Mining Men Hold Spring Meeting
More than one hundred mining men from Southwestern camps enjoy the hospitality of the Morenci Branch, Phelps Dodge Corporation.
Technical and social features are full of interest.

One of the most successful gatherings of Arizona mining men was held on April 1 and 2, when over 100 representatives of southwestern companies came to Morenci Arizona, as guests of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, Morenci Branch, Frank Ayers, manager. The entire meet was exceptionally well planned. The program provided for ample time for social contact, the papers were comprehensive in that they covered all of the operations of the district, yet it required but four papers to do so, one on history and one each on the mine, mill and smelter.

The technical sessions were held in the High School Auditorium and only synopsis of the papers were presented as they had been printed in full and given to each visitor. By presenting the papers in brief form, ample time was allowed for discussions, and the informal talks on the various subjects covered did a great deal towards making the meeting a success.

The entertainment features of the meet were unique and well handled, making the event one of social interest as well as technical. The second day of the meeting was devoted to inspection trips, with trips planned to meet the wishes of the individual visitor.

There is probably no place in the state less accessible for a general mining men meeting than Morenci, Arizona, every visitor having to come by automobile, yet a record attendance of outside delegates and their universal expression of the meeting as being “the best yet” showed the keen interest which the Arizona men are showing in these gatherings.

An additional feature of this meeting was the round table conference of the safety inspectors and the chief electricians of the large mines, and practically every company was represented. While the safety men had been gathered together before, this was the first time that the chief electricians had had the opportunity of meeting with each other and learning of the problems of the other fellow and how he was meeting them. It is believed that this meeting has produced a sufficient value to be repeated and that there will hereafter be regular meetings of the electrical men.

The large majority of the visitors arrived on Sunday, March 31, and the afternoon and evening were largely spent in the “getting better acquainted” process which is so necessary to the successful conduct of such meetings. The details had been well arranged by Manager Frank Ayers and his committees, relative to the registration, housing, etc., and long before the visitors reached Clifton or Morenci, they knew that it was well organized from the signs on the roadside.

On Sunday night a meeting of the directors of the Arizona Chapter of the American Mining Congress was held, at which meeting it was decided to again advance wages throughout the state 5 per cent, this being the fourth advance since October 1, and the third advance in successive months. The increase was stated to be due to the higher price of copper and was made effective until further notice, this presumably meaning while the price of copper remained at or near its present level.

The technical meetings started on Monday morning, promptly at 9 o’clock, in the Morenci High School Auditorium. The session was opened by a short address by Harry Clark, governor of the Arizona Chapter of the American Mining Congress, who expressed himself as well pleased with the splendid attendance. The meeting was then turned over to Frank Ayers, manager of the Morenci Branch, as host, and he welcomed the visitors and told something of the plans for the two-day session.

The first paper presented was a “History of the Clifton-Morenci District,” by George M. Robison, chief engineer of the Morenci Branch, Phelps Dodge Corporation. In introducing Mr. Robison, Chairman Ayers qualified himself as a proper man to write such a paper, having been in the district and in the employ of the company for 38 years. Yet, as shown by the paper, the history of the district went far back beyond that date, as the original discovery was in 1869 and even ore bodies that were worked 40 years ago are still the main reserves of the company.
The paper by Mr. Robison was extremely interesting, as it told of the problems and hardships of the early-day pioneers and the contrast with the conditions of today, for mining in the days of the Indian uprisings and before there were any railroads, involved problems of great importance. Morenci enjoys the distinction of being the oldest copper camp in the state, the original porphyry copper, and the location of the first railroad. The first locomotive used was shipped from Pittsburgh, via Cape Horn to San Francisco, thence by boat to Yuma and from there, by ox teams to Clifton.
Mr. Robison further stated that up to the end of 1928, the district had had 56 years of production and that it had produced 1,806,000,000 pounds of copper and now had an annual rate of production of close to 60,000,000 pounds. Of particular interest was the history of ore dressing as shown by the changes in the concentrator which has now had 22 years of continuous operation.

The second paper of the morning session was one by McHenry Mosier, mine superintendent, Morenci Branch, and Gerald Sherman, consulting mining engineer, Phelps Dodge Corporation, on the mining practice in the district. This paper was a detailed explanation of the mining methods used and was especially interesting in that it included a discussion of the factors governing the choice of the adaptations of the caving method. The presentation of the paper was by McHenry Mosier and was assisted by large charts on the stage which could be readily followed.
The presentation of this paper brought about a discussion of the Morenci practice and of caving work in general. Of particular interest was the informal recitation of the history of the development of caving methods of mining by A. C. Stoddard, chief mining engineer of Inspiration, who was identified with this system of mining in its early days.
Those participating in the discussion on caving as an economical method of mining were F. W. Maclennan, Miami Copper Company; Capt. J. P. Hodgson, Phelps Dodge, Copper Queen Branch; Gerald Sherman, co-author of the paper; E. D. Gardner, of the United States Bureau of Mines, under whose direction an extensive research work is being done by the government on mining methods; C. P. Burford engineer in charge of stope control at the Morenci Branch; R. W. Hughes, Miami Copper Company; Charles A. Smith, Nevada Consolidated, Ray Branch; C. E. Weed, Inspiration Consolidated, and F. H. Hayes, Phelps Dodge, Copper Queen Branch.
Robert B. Tally, general manager of the United Verde Copper Company, was on the program next for an address, but illness prevented the attendance of Mr. Tally and I. D. Hogan, assistant manager Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, was induced to make an address and he made a clever one. While he did not stick to the subject of mining he added much to the meeting.

The afternoon sessions were split, in that the safety engineers met in special session at the Morenci Y. M. C. A., along with W. B. Hunter of the Arizona Industrial Commission and Tom Foster, state inspector of mines. The chief electricians met in the same building and both of these conferences started early and ended late. These were closed sessions and the papers and discussions will not be published although stenographic reports were taker, and will be given to those attending.
The regular afternoon session opened with a paper by Arthur Crowfoot, concentrator superintendent, and Dale C. Barnard, assistant concentrator superintendent of the Morenci Branch, Phelps Dodge Corporation, the paper being presented by Mr. Crowfoot. This paper on the Phelps Dodge concentrator beautifully presented the history of ore dressing and the introduction was divided into periods showing the equipment of the concentrating plant at various times with the changes which were made to keep the plant up to the metallurgical progress. The periods given were 1906-1911, 1911-1912, 1912-1916, 1916-1917, 1918-1923, and the changes since 1923.
This paper was intended to bring up to date the article on the Morenci concentrator by the same authors and published in the Engineering and Mining Journal on December 5, 1925. This paper was discussed by Harry Hunt, Miami Copper Company; W. Saben, Morenci Branch, Phelps Dodge; J. A. Potter, New Cornelia; F. W. Maclennan, Miami Copper, and E. L. Sweeney, consulting engineer for Zonia Copper Mining Company.

The gathering was particularly favored by having as a guest, J. V. N. Dorr of Dorr Classifier and Thickener ‘fame’ of New York, who has been motoring through the west. Mr. Dorr gave an interesting impromptu talk on the development and early history of ore dressing and particularly of his equipment. Many amusing incidents were related of the early troubles and a splendid tribute was given to the large mining companies who have worked so well in passing on the results of their practice to be incorporated into machinery design for the benefit of others.

The second paper of the afternoon session was on the smelter at Clifton, the paper being presented by I. J. Simcox, smelter superintendent. This paper created more interest than any of the others, due to the fact that the subject of fire refining of copper at the smelter and the casting of high-grade copper anodes received attention, as the Clifton plant is the first of the southwestern mines to adopt this practice.
Col. H. H. Stout, consulting metallurgist for the Phelps Dodge Corporation from New York, was in attendance at the meeting and gave the history of his work along this line, telling of the experimental work done at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a 600-pound plant and giving a brief description of the new plant which is proposed to be erected at the Phelps Dodge Copper Queen Branch smelter at Douglas, to cost about $184,000. This proposed plant is not alone the result of the experimental work but designed after the practical demonstration of large scale working at Clifton. Col. Stout stated that he had promised to prepare a detailed technical paper on the subject of fire relining of copper, which would give the details of the process.
This paper brought out a great deal of interesting discussion for it was a subject on which the managers and smelter men present desired more information. Those participating in the discussion in addition to Col Stout, were Harry Clark, C. and A. B. N. Rickard, American Smelting and Refining Company; E. L. Sweeney, Zonia Copper; B. P. Mathewson, University of Arizona; J. 0. Ambler, Copper Queen smelter; George Dawe, C. and A. smelter, and P. P. Butler, formerly of Copper Queen smelter and now consulting metallurgist.

At the close of the afternoon meeting, the delegates gathered with the officials and bosses of the Morenci and Clifton plants at the Morenci ball park, where a barbecue and entertainment was provided. It was a gathering of probably four hundred and they did justice to about 1100 pounds of young beef, besides plenty of other eatables. Two bands, one of American boys and another of Mexican boys, provided music and, as soon as the sun went down, huge bonfires provided light and heat.

Four 4-round boxing matches were staged by Mike Hannon as master of ceremonies. These bouts were by Morenci and Clifton boys and a live exhibition was given.

After the boxing matches several prominent guests were introduced. The first was Harry Clark, general manager of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company and governor of the Arizona Chapter, American Mining Congress. As he climbed into the ring, he was asked what weight he was weighing in and he said 265 pounds. He proceeded without an opponent of equal weight to put over some heavy weight stuff on the present condition of the mining industry in Arizona. He first announced the new increase in wages, the fourth increase since October 1, of last year and the third one in successive months.
He told of production, stating that the average Arizona production of copper last year was 60,000,000 pounds monthly and that the present production was 69,000,000 pounds monthly, and that if the present rate is continued it will make a total annual production of about 825,000,000 pounds, or far greater than anything in the history of the state.

In 1928 there were 15,679 men employed underground and at the present time there are 17,857, with the number constantly increasing. The payroll last year was $2,220,000 per month while at the present time it is approximately $900,000 per month greater.

The next speaker was P. C. Spilsbury, president of the Arizona Industrial Congress, who told of some of the co-operative work being done by Arizona mining companies in helping other industries of the state. W. E. Hunter of the Arizona Industrial Commission told of the work of the organization that he represented and the wonderful way in which accident prevention had been accomplished.

Tom Foster, state mine inspector, told of the sincerity of the work of the mining companies and the safety inspectors along safety lines and particularly brought out the way in which they were co-operating with his department. E. P. Mathewson, of the University of Arizona, told of the mine administration course at the University and how it was planned to train men for executive positions in an industry that had become so large that experience was hardly possible for one to obtain in all branches of the work.

After the meeting at the ballpark, the crowd adjourned to the Morenci High School Auditorium where they were wonderfully entertained by a Spanish Fiesta, a group of local boys and girls, singers, dancers, etc., who put on a most colorful entertainment of Spanish music. It was a late hour when the festivities closed, and the visitors decided that they had put in a very full and profitable day.

The second day was spent in trips to various parts of the properties for more intimate study of the things in which the delegates were most interested, each branch, the mine, mill and smelter, getting its share of attention. Special trips were arranged for those who desired to study some particular part of the work.

The convention came to its official close Tuesday afternoon with the annual mine congress golf tournament at the Greenlee County Country Club golf course. J. O. Ambler of Douglas, smelter superintendent, won first prize; Harry Hayes of Bisbee, mine superintendent of the Copper Queen, won second prize, and L, B. Brown of Morenci, chemist, third prize. There were 82 entries.

These meetings are held twice each year at some place in Arizona, and while ostensibly under the auspices of the Arizona Chapter of the American Mining Congress, they are actually open meetings of mining men being entertained by host companies, the entire affair, papers, entertainment and all, being provided for by the hosts. It was announced that Captain Hodgson of the Copper Queen and Harry Clark of the C. and A., had extended the invitation for the next meeting to be held at Bisbee in the fall and that the invitation had been accepted. Attendance at these meetings is not intended to be confined to Mining Congress members, but all interested people are invited.
Special mention should be made, in conclusion, of the splendid work of Frank Ayers and his committee in planning the Morenci meeting and its details. Not one thing was lacking, it went over with a snap, every detail was perfectly arranged and everyone was voicing the opinion that it was “the best yet.” They were real hosts in every sense of the word.

Among the visitors from out of the district were the following:
Miami Copper Co. (Miami)
F. W. Maclennan, manager.
R. W. Hughes, asst. mine superintendent.
H. D. Runt, mill superintendent.
H. L. Mountjoy, research engineer.
B. B. Kinney, chief draftsman.
F. J. Martin, general mechanical foreman.
S. S. Luchessa, chief electrician. Harry Wells, electrical engineer.

Nevada Consolidated Copper Co. (Ray)
Chas. A. Smith, manager (and wife).
S. D. Sullivan, electrical engineer.
B. V. Hersey, safety engineer.
Dean LaGrange, asst. chief engineer (and wife).
Ernest Jenkin, general mine foreman.
Charles Orr, general carpenter foreman.

Old Dominion Co. (Globe)
I. H. Barkdoll, manager.
Albert Tallon, safety inspector.
M. F. Murphy, chief electrician.
Harold Duncan, chief mine engineer.

Calumet & Arizona Mining Co. (Douglas)
George Dawe, smelter superintendent.
Carl H. Cole, metallurgist.
H. W. Lusk, chief chemist.

Calumet & Arizona Mining Co. (Bisbee and Warren)
H. A. Clark, general manager.
M. S. Lindholm, chief geologist.
W. R. Gibson, chief electrician.
T. W. Cowperthwaite, safety inspector.
James Grasham.
George Matzell.
H. M. Lavender, chief engineer.
S. S. Dymock, efficiency engineer.
C. K. Davey, engineer.

Calumet & Arizona Mining Co. (Lordsburg)
A. S. Balmforth, superintendent 85 Mine. El Paso Foundry & Machine Co. (El Paso)
K H. Carrington, vice-president.

Tennessee Copper Co. (Copperhill, Tenn.) S. N. Rouser, general manager.

University of Arizona (Tucson)
E. P. Mathewson, professor.
O. H. Roseveare, student.
J. B. Tenney, state geologist.

Christmas Copper Co. (Hayden)
F. A. Woodward, vice-president.
H. W. Woodward, superintendent.
S. D. Hendricks, chief engineer.

Copper Queen Branch, Phelps Dodge Corp. (Bisbee and Douglas)
S. P. Hodgson, manager (and wife).
F. H. Hayes, mine superintendent (and wife).
S. Owen Ambler, smelter superintendent.
H. S. Clemmer, chief electrician at Bisbee
H. C. Henrie, manager labor dept.
James Barrett, smelter safety engineer.
Mr. Brodie, chief electrician at Douglas.
A. J. Morgan, safety engineer at Bisbee.

Arizona Industrial Congress (Phoenix)
P. G. Spilsbury.

Industrial Commission of Ariz. (Phoenix) William E. Hunter.

Inspiration Cons. Copper Co. (Inspiration)
C. E. Weed, asst. general manager.
A. C. Stoddard, chief mine engineer.
James A. Ritchie, safety engineer.
Andrew N. Voss, chief electrician (and wife).

New Cornelia Copper Co. (Ajo)
W. L. Du Moulin, general supt.
George A. Bell, chief chemist.
E. Botsford, mechanical foreman.
S. A. Potter, plant superintendent.
L. V. Wilson, chief electrician.
E. U. Reid, master mechanic.
T. B. Hinton, asst. mine supt.
George Brown, asst. chief engineer.
S. K. Vinton, store manager.

Magma Copper Co. (Superior).
Wm. Koerner, general manager
C. B. Foraker, safety engineer.
George Knight, chief electrician.

Mine & Smelter Supply Co. (El Paso)
C. S. Thompson.
S. A. Miller.

Nichols Copper Co. (El Paso)
Mr. B. H. Gerwin, business manager.
Mr. F. M. Shaw, consulting engineer.

The Dorr Co. (El Paso and New York)
C. K. McArthur.
John V. N. Dorr, president (New York)
F. A. Downes (New York)

American Smelting & Refining Co. (El Paso Smelter)
B. N. Rickard, manager (and wife).

American Smelting & Refining Co. (Hayden Plant)
H. F. Easter, superintendent.
A. E. Griffith, safety inspector.

United Verde Copper Co. (Jerome)
IL W. Fredell, chief electrician.
A. A. Glaeser, ventilation and safety engineer.

United Verde Copper Co. (Clarkdale)
F. H. Parsons, asst. smelter supt.
O. C. Ralston, director of research.
L. M. Barker, concentrator supt.
A. I. Greenwood, chief electrician.

American Mining Congress Guests
I. D. Hogan, asst. manager, Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix.
R. W. Wood, president, Premier Mine, of British Columbia.
Gerald Sherman, consulting mining engineer, Phelps Dodge Corp.
Col. H. H. Stout, consulting metallurgist, Phelps Dodge Corp.
P. P. Butler, metallurgist, Tucson.
Joe Rice, Hercules Powder Co.

Charles F. Willis, publisher, The Mining Journal.
S. A. Reckman.
E. L. Sweeney, consulting engineer, Zonia Mining Co.
Tom Foster, state inspector of mines.
W. B. Gohring, secretary, Arizona Chapter, American Mining Congress.
E. D. Gardner, bureau of mines, Tucson.
C. H. Johnson, bureau of mines, Tucson.
I. Grageroff, Apache Powder Co.
James Lovell, E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co.
D. S. Nevill, Steams-Roger Mfg. Co.

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

TIDBITS OF INFO- STRAY BULLETS

MINING JOURNAL, JANUARY 15, 1930

“George A Shea and associates have purchased property of the Aztec Turquoise Mining Company, situated in Mineral Park, AZ, near Kingman. The turquoise claims were held for many years by New York interests, who developed semi-gem stones, cut in the company’s lapidary. Nearby are the old Atlee Claims, which were also sold to other manufacturers of gems.”

“The Lucky Jim Mine in San Bernardino County, near Mulligan, CA, has been sold to Frank Crampton & associates. The mine is a producer of silver and copper ore, that has produced over 19 carloads of ore, averaging $100/ton. The ore is shipped to Douglas, AZ for reduction.”

MINING JOURNAL, AUGUST 15, 1930

“A H Maxwell of Lander, WY, and his associates have opened up a pegmatite dike, near Bonneville, on the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy RR. Crystals of Beryl, Lepidolite, Garnet, Tourmaline ores, and manganese and feldspar are found in this vertical formation, covering a width of 50 feet.”

MINING JOURNAL, AUGUST 15, 1930

LITTLE TIDBITS OF INFO

“NEW REPORT ON COOKE CITY MINING DISTRICT, MONTANA
For almost 40 years small amounts of lead, zinc, silver, copper, gold, and platinum have been shipped annually from the New World, or “Cooke City” Mining District, which is just outside of the Yellowstone National Park, close to its NE corner. The US Geological Survey Bulletin 811-A, describes this little known district, and promises to be of great interest to mining engineers, geologist, prospectors, and tourists. The report was written by T S Lovering, of the USGS. It describes the geology and ore deposits of the district, and contains a map showing the roads, trails, buildings, drainage topography, and geology of the area; about 50 square miles.
The district is 55 miles from Gardiner, the nearest point on the RR, and has been little visited in the past, though tourists come to see the rugged beauty of the Grasshopper Glacier and the highest mountains in Montana. The glacier and surrounding environs is also noted on the map and described in the report. OF interest is the history of the district, along with descriptions of the mines, ores, and geology of the deposits. Of particular note has been the discovery of gold and platinum placers in the area, though more likely to be float.”

MINING JOURNAL, DECEMBER 30, 1930

“Prospecting for Radium ore in Yavapai County, AZ, has taken a definite turn with a shipment of two cars of materials sent from the Smithsonian Institution to W T Roberts at Puntenney, AZ. Mr Roberts is a representative for the institution and has completed a road to the site of operations. Similar work has been carried out in Nevada and Wyoming, with proven results in those states.”
Rehab notes: One such site was located just south of Las Vegas, and East of I-15, about 4 miles south of Sloan, NV. When you drive past the large black hole on the flank of an old caldera complex facing the freeway, this site produced one chunk of nearly pure radium ore worth about $185,000. Lesser deposits were also located in the vicinity farther east and south of this deposit. Some of the washes that drain the caldera complex also contain placer gold, though nothing larger than a BB has ever been reported, to my knowledge.

MINING JOURNAL, MAY 30, 1931

“M W Young has made a beryl discovery on the old Mutual Mica Claims, in Ruby Valley, near Wells, NV, and Robert L Mook, a mining engineer in San Francisco, CA, has taken an option on the property.
The property is entirely undeveloped, but the outcrops show a considerable quantity of pale green beryl crystals, varying in diameter from a ¼ of an inch to 10 inches. The formation is in a series of parallel pegmatite dikes, varying in width from 4 to 6 feet, and these dykes are nearly vertical. These small dykes are from 10 to 20 feet apart, across a distance of perhaps ½ of a mile, and the whole formation is on a granite-lime contact. The dyke system outcrops for s distance of about 15,000 feet, and the beryl crystals are visible in nearly all of these outcrops.
Until extensive testing has been done on the property, it is difficult to assess the economic importance of the find.”

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

39
for OCTOBER 15, 1929

METAL LOSSES AS SHOWN BY TINTIC DRY ORE TAILINGS

In connection with a microscopic study of minus 200-mesh tailing, resulting from the treatment of semi-oxidized ores, is being conducted at the Intermountain Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines, Salt Lake City, Utah, in cooperation with the University of Utah, a cursory examination of some tailing products resulting from flotation treatment of Tintic district “dry” ores has recently been made. The tailing samples examined contained 1.4 per cent lead and 8 ounces of silver. Microscopic examination of these samples, showed that they contained lead in four mineralogical forms; namely, galena, anglesite, cerrusite, and plumbojarosite.

The losses of lead represented by galena, anglesite, and cerrusite, respectively, are relatively small for each mineral, but the combined lead loss due to the incomplete recovery of these three minerals aggregates from 50 per cent to 70 per cent of the total lead in the tailing. The remainder of the lead lost, is represented by plumbojarosite, and the evidence gained by microscopic study, indicates that the greater portion of the 8-ounce silver loss is due to failure to recover argentojarosite.

The Tintic “dry” siliceous ore varies considerably in the ratio of the several lead and silver minerals, and as a consequence, represents a difficult problem in the selection of a treatment that will be sufficiently applicable to the various minerals, in order to prevent unduly high losses of lead and silver.

Examination of concentrate samples showed that they contained a very small amount of jarosites. The combined evidence of concentrate and tailing examination, indicates quite definitely that the reagents used, and the conditions obtaining in the flotation experiments, represented by the samples were not conducive to jarosite recovery.

The jarosites occur in crystals of microscopic size and are, in many cases, rather intimately associated with the oxides of iron that are usually abundant in the oxidized, siliceous, “dry” ores of the Tintic District. Fine grinding reduces the intermixed jarosites and iron oxides to a very fine comminuted slime, which probably adds materially to the difficulty encountered in obtaining a satisfactory recovery of jarosite minerals.

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 30 1929

STUDY OF CAVING SYSTEMS OF MINING

A study of the caving system of mining, as employed in Arizona, is being made by the Department of Commerce, as a feature of a general investigation of mining methods, and costs, in the different metal mining fields of the country. The following comments regarding the matter are made by the United States Bureau of Mines, which is actively conducting the investigation at its Southwest Experiment Station, Tucson, Arizona.

“Bodies of copper ore suitable for mining by a caving method are generally of the disseminated type. It is desirable that the ore-mass contain sufficient fractures or be of a texture that the rock will break in relatively small fragments in caving. Large, hard blocks of ore increase the cost of mining by a caving method and may make this system uneconomical in some cases.

“The mineral constituents are also an important factor to be considered in mining of an ore body by a caving method. Minerals that cause the ground to swell on exposure to air or moisture, or minerals that cause the broken ore to stick in chutes or drawing raises are particularly undesirable in mining by a caving system. An excessive amount of such minerals as kaolin or talc in an ore body may make inadvisable the selection of a caving method of mining. Only well-drained ore bodies should be mined by a caving system, as excessive moisture increases the cost.

“In mining by a caving method, the last of the ore in a block may not be drawn until a year or more after it is broken; therefore, it is desirable that the ore body does not contain minerals that will oxidize, or promote oxidation of the valuable minerals in cases where the ore mined is treated in concentrators. For instance, pyrite oxidizes rather readily, and on oxidizing, produces sulphuric acid and ferric sulphate, which attack chalcocite and bornite. At an Arizona copper mine a block of ore that had been undercut and caved was allowed to stand for about a year.

On drawing later, it was found that part of the copper was in the acid-soluble form, which caused difficulties in the concentrator and increased the losses in the tailings. This particular block had a relatively large amount of pyrite associated with the copper sulphide minerals-”

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL 10 15 1929

In 1877 the first American blasting caps were made in California.

AN ACCURATE POWER-RECORDING DEVICE FOR USE IN ORE CRUSHING

Prior to the time the United States Bureau of Mines began its studies on crushing and grinding, no accurate method had been devised for determining the amount of power required in crushing an ore to the proper size, for efficient treatment, by a concentration process, or by a metallurgical process.
As it was of the utmost importance to the Bureau in its study of ball-mill grinding to determine the power used in the mill, the metallurgists conducting the crushing and grinding studies at the Intermountain Experiment Station, Salt Lake City, Utah, in co-operation with the University of Utah, have developed an accurate power-recording device adapted from one used by Prof. H. E. T. Haultain, of the University of Toronto, for measuring power input to rolls, and which directly measures the work applied to the ball mill.

The apparatus is used to determine power to the 1/1000 horsepower, and is independent of motor efficiency, belt friction, belt slippage, etc. It is constructed as follows: 3 tangential springs connect the pulley, which rotates the ball mill; hence the greater the ball mill load the greater the extension of the springs. The distance through which the springs extend, is transmitted by a steel tape to an integrating meter. This meter is operated by two friction wheels in contact with a disc revolving at a definite speed ratio to that of the mill.

The two friction wheels are connected to the meter through a differential gear, so that when centered on the disc, both friction wheels revolve in opposite directions at the same speed, and the counter stands still. Any displacement from the center of the disc, results in an increased speed for one friction wheel, and a decreased speed for the other. This change in speed is transmitted through the differential gear to the counter.

By the calibration of the meter at various speeds by means of a Prony Brake, and by means of static loads on the driving pulley, the meter readings may be converted to horsepower.

That this device may be applied to other apparatus where accurate power readings are desired is demonstrated by its proposed use by the psychology Department of the University of Utah, for investigating the effect of practice or repetition on the ease with which certain muscles can accomplish definite types of physical work. The apparatus will be used in connection with a bicycle, a crank and other appliances whereby the action of various muscles can be studied.

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL

LIVELY DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC LANDS QUESTION

The disposition of public lands was once more the subject of a heated discussion, when the question was introduced into the Western Mining Convention at Spokane, Washington. Members of the western division, American Mining Congress, Northwest Mining Association, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineer, and Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, numbering 566 registered delegates, heard the discussion.

A section of President Hoover’s letter to the governors’ convention at Salt Lake City was the point around which the discussion centered. In this letter President Hoover suggested that a commission be appointed to consider the return of public lands to the states, but reserving mineral rights to the federal government.

J. F. Callbreath, Washington, D. C., Secretary of the American Mining Congress, praised Mr. Hoover’s “courageous” proposal, and warned that if it were refused, no other president “will ever again have the courage to draw the fire of Eastern criticism,” for the sake of the West.

Russell F. Collins, Wallace, Idaho, declared, “the Western States can handle the public lands better than any bureaucrat, in a swivel chair, in Washington. This effort of the government to retain the mineral rights is an imposition on the Western States.” He further stated that, “The government would not dare to try to control the natural resources of New York, or other Eastern states, but it is trying to dominate and control the Western states.”

Mark Woodruff, Spokane, of the Columbia Basin Irrigation League, expressed confidence that the presidents’ commission would take care of the rights of the mining men.

Dr. F. A. Thomson, Butte, Montana, president of the Montana State School of Mines, stated that the lands question was of immediate concern to miners, “for if the federal government should decide to transfer to the states the surface rights, reserving the mineral rights, the whole principle of mineral law will be changed. The mining laws, in principle, state that all valuable deposits are open for exploitation on any lands.”

In one of a series of resolutions passed at the meeting, the miners expressed “apprehension of any policy which shall separate the surface, from the sub-surface, rights to public lands.”

Two other resolutions, one, which stamped existing mining taxation laws as “unequitable and unfair” and the other which urged miners to scrutinize state compacts for the conservation of national resources, were passed by the convention.

El Paso, Texas, was selected for the 1930 convention, to be held at a date to be determined later, probably in September or October of next year. Brent M. Rickard, manager of the American Smelting and Refining Company’s El Paso smelter, was named as chairman of the Western Division, American Mining Congress.
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rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

Luminous Pressure Waves

PHOTOGRAPHS of the explosion taking place when a cartridge of dynamite is detonated have shown the existence of luminous waves propagated at high speed in the air surrounding the explosive. It was at first thought by U. S. Bureau of Mines engineers conducting these experiments that the waves were merely reaction gases projected from the explosive, but further work in which the air around the stick has been replaced by hydrogen or carbon dioxide has made it seem probable that these are really pressure waves at such high temperatures that the gas actually radiates in the visible region of the spectrum. The work is part of a program of investigation by the Bureau of Mines of the sensitivity of explosives to detonation by influence.

Engineering and Mining Journal— Vol.126, No.8

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

Analyzing Ores With The Spectrograph

In a previous article some of the applications of spectrography to mining were discussed. It is proposed here to explain how these analyses are made so that the engineer, or mining man may see for himself wherein this method may furnish the solution to many specific problems.

Many are familiar with the simple flame tests that are frequently used in field assaying, by which preliminary qualitative determinations on ore samples are made. When an intense flame is applied to a small amount of the sample, as in the case of a copper ore, a bluish-green flame reaction is observed. On the other hand, an ore containing large quantities of sodium gives an intense yellow flame.

Other metals also give characteristically colored flames when treated in this manner, showing that the colors emitted are closely associated with definite substances. In fact upon analyzing such light with suitable instruments, it is found that each metal emits a series of colors or wavelengths that are absolutely characteristic and remain unchanged regardless of the chemical combination or physical condition the metal may have. The eye in recording the stronger of these colors affords the crude flame-test method of identification.

With these fundamentals in mind, it is easy to see that by employing an Instrument, in place of the eye, capable of classifying the wave lengths of light emitted from an unknown ore, it is possible to determine each of its constituents.

Both the spectroscope-a visual instrument, and the spectrograph, a photographic instrument, have the ability to break up complex light into its elemental components in much the same way that a simple prism disperses sunlight into its spectrum.

In fact many of the instruments employ prisms for that purpose, while others use gratings to achieve the result. Both of these types lend themselves to the photographing of the spectrum in a single operation. This greatly extends the range of usable wavelengths since both the invisible ultra-violet and infrared regions of the spectrum may be photographed.

This is particularly fortunate since many of the most sensitive wave lengths of the various elements lie in the ultra-violet which makes possible their detection, if present, to as little as one one-thousandth of a per cent.

In practice the application of the spectrographic method of analysis proves to In the laboratory, to excite the spectra, or in other words produce light, the material is usually burned in an electric arc. This arc is struck between two chemically pure electrodes, the lower of which is cored with the finely ground sample to be investigated.

Upon starting the arc, a temperature of 7,000 to 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit is obtained which rapidly volatilizes all of the mineral constituents and brings them into the flame in the atomic form. Here the atoms, bombarded with electrons, are excited and made to give off light characteristic of those atoms or elements, as mentioned above. This light when dispersed and photographed, furnishes a complete record or spectrogram of the elements present in the ore,

The spectrogram records the light produced by the different elements as fine vertical planes whose positions are determined by the wavelengths of that light. Since tables of the principle lines’ of all the known elements are available, it is a simple matter to determine the elements such as beryllium, copper, silver and so on, which produced the lines recorded by the photograph.

With a suitable instrument, the lines representing the various metals, or elements do not interfere with one another, and since a number of lines for each element may be checked, the method is absolutely certain in identifying these substances in a spectrum.

In addition to giving qualitative information, the spectrograph also affords quantitative estimates. There is a definite relation between the intensities or blackness of the photographed lines found in the spectrum of a certain ore and the amount of the element producing them. Thus, by measuring line intensities, quantitative estimates can be made.

As for example, if lines associated with silver are found to be quite faint, it would indicate a quantity of about one part in a million, while heavier lines would signify correspondingly larger quantities. Through experience it is possible to estimate whether the value is close to 10, 1, .1, .01 or .001 per cent as the case might be. Therefore it is possible from a single spectrogram, taken of the sample burning in an electric arc, to deduce practically all of its elements, and to estimate the quantities in which they are present.

That this method will have far-reaching effects on analytical problems in general is certain, and that there is a real place for it in mineralogy may be seen from this discussion. The scope of the method in connection with various types of ore analysis will be covered in the next article of the series.

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

Copper Queen Concentrating Operations

By CHARLES W. TULLEY, Bisbee, Arizona.
A paper delivered before the Foremen and Bosses’ Dinner, outlining present concentrator practices, as contrasted with former procedure.

With the prospective development of the company’s low-grade porphyry ore bodies, there came the need for a concentrator which would successfully treat this ore before shipment to the smelter. Development of modern methods of concentrating these low-grade copper ores, was started by the company in 1918. In anticipation of the treatment by concentration of the Sacramento Hill West Ore Body, a pilot plant was constructed and operated between 1918 and 1920.

The design of this plant called for the treatment of the ore by both gravity and flotation processes; flotation constituting an intermediate process between roughing and finishing tables. This method was adopted because of the characteristics of the ore which made fine grinding unnecessary for the purpose of separating mineral from gangue; also because of the desire for a large proportion of coarse concentrates for subsequent smelting operations, and the desire for pyrite, for smelter fluxing of silicious copper ores. Based on the results of this pilot plant, it was decided to construct a concentrator of 4,000 tons’ daily capacity with a flow-sheet practically the same as that of the pilot plant.

With the construction of the concentrator completed, operations started in April, 1923. A glance at the flowsheet effective at that time will show what progress has been made in the past six years. With the exception of the crushing plant, the design of which has not been changed since the start of operations, a great many improvements have been made which have resulted in a simple, yet far more efficient flowsheet than was primarily in effect.

This originally called for three-stage coarse crushing to 1 1/2 -inches maximum size, two-stage grinding and tabling with intermediate flotation. The ore was delivered in railroad cars, to an 86 x 66 Allis-Chalmers jaw crusher, which discharged a 10-inch product to a 1,000-ton surge bin. Two No. 9 Gates gyratory crushers constituted the secondary crushing stage, producing 4-inch material, which went directly to four 48-inch Symons horizontal disc crushers. The discharge of these crushers, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 -inch maximum, dropped onto a conveyor, which carried it to the fine ore bins preparatory to grinding.

In addition to crushing the milling ore, the plant was designed to handle the direct smelting ore from the smaller high-grade deposits known to exist in the larger ore body. Additional bins of 8,000 tons capacity, in which the crushed smelter ore could be stored prior to shipment to the smelter, were constructed, and a two-way conveyor was installed under the disc crusher so that their product could be thrown to either bin as the case might be.

The crushing plant was designed for an hourly capacity of 500 tons. This is sufficiently greater than the mill capacity to take care of any contemplated increase in tonnage as well as the time required for necessary repairs.

To continue with the flowsheet, the 1-inch material from the fine ore bins was fed to eight 6-foot by 12-foot single-pass Marcy rod mills, which reduced it in size to 14 mesh, this product then being treated on 40 roughing tables, which produced a concentrate assaying from 4 per cent to 5 per cent copper, 25 per cent to 30 per cent insoluble, and about 30 per cent iron. This constituted approximately 50 per cent of the total concentrate. The table tailings, after being de-slimed, were reduced to 48 mesh in the secondary grinding department, which consisted of eight Marcy rod mills, each operating in closed circuit with six-foot Dorr circulating classifiers. The flotation department, comprising 16 rougher-cleaner cells of the Callow pneumatic type, produced a concentrate assaying 8 per cent copper, 20 per cent insoluble, and 30 per cent iron, about 48 per cent of the total concentrate. Eighty finishing tables, taking the tailings from flotation, completed the concentrating process by making a product assaying 4 per cent copper, 20 per cent insoluble, and 30 per cent iron.

Subsequent treatment of these products was purely mechanical, thickening, filtering, etc., in preparation for shipment. To accomplish this, six 75-foot Dorr thickeners, five 14-foot Oliver filters, and four Blaisdell settling tanks were in use. In addition, a 200-foot Dorr thickener was used to dewater the tailings. At this time, a recovery of 88 per cent of the total copper and a ratio of concentration of four into one was made.

Early operation indicated the desirability of a removal of more pyrite and insoluble in view of the growing depletion of silicious copper ores from the mines. The economic benefits to be derived by the production of a higher grade concentrate would result from a saving in freight on shipments, reduction in smelting costs on a smaller tonnage of concentrates, and a reduction in smelter slag losses owing to the partial removal of slag-forming constituents.

In concentration, these steps involved: eliminating all gravity process, sufficiently fine grinding, not only to separate mineral from gangue, but also sufficiently fine to separate the copper minerals from pyrite; changes in the flotation fiowsheet, and rearrangement of roughers, cleaners and changes in the character and amount of flotation reagents. The effects of selectivity and insoluble elimination are reflected in the many concentrator improvements, which have been made since the beginning of operations, a marked reduction being noticeable in the amount and character of equipment in actual use. This does not only apply to the equipment used in the concentrating process proper but also to the supplementary equipment, including thickening and filtering apparatus. These improvements are best shown by an actual comparison, step by step, of the original and present flowsheets.

Those factors having a direct bearing on the simplification of flowsheet may be included under four heads. These are:
(1) elimination of all gravity processes;
(2) (2) improved classification and fine grinding;
(3) (3) the use of improved reagents, especially Xanthate;
(4) (4) the successful development of the Forrester type flotation apparatus to meet local conditions.

The advantages resulting from the elimination of tables are quite apparent— lower operating costs as well as improved metallurgy. Of major importance in the fine-grinding program was the installation of bowl classifiers. By means of this intermediate classification approximately 50 per cent of the primary mill discharge, which is finished material, is diverted to flotation, thereby reducing to a large degree the tonnage treated by the secondary mills.

As the degree of grinding done in a roller mill is a function of the area of the grinding surface, it was decided to substitute balls for rods, as the grinding media of the secondary mills. This resulted not only in finer grinding but also in a reduction of power consumption and steel consumption and improved over all mechanical conditions. With the flotation feed ground sufficiently fine, so that 90 per cent of the mineral will pass a 200 mesh screen, a very satisfactory separation of the finely disseminated chalcocite and pyrite has been attained.

Of special interest in this regard are the results of a microscopic analysis of the tailings for a recent month’s operation. The tailing assaying 0.19 per cent copper was made on a 1.9 per cent total copper feed, giving a recovery of 91.00 per cent.
Chalcocite and covellite, the chief copper-bearing sulphides, account for 51 per cent of the total tailing copper. The balance of 49 per cent as oxide copper consists chiefly of cuprite and melaconite. Of the theoretically recoverable sulphides, 77 per cent is found in the free state, only 6 per cent associated with pyrite, and 17 per cent associated with gangue.

This shows quite plainly that the present grinding affords a very efficient mechanical separation of the sulphide copper and iron particles. Xanthate, in replacing the coal tars, which made a bulky float, introduced the idea of selectivity in flotation. This more sensitive reagent, in conjunction with lime used to depress the pyrite, made for much better metallurgical results; a much higher ratio of concentration and, in addition, increased recovery.

The Forrester flotation cell, due to its simplicity, ease and regularity of operation and low maintenance cost, occupies a most important place in concentrator operations. This apparatus consists essentially of a V-bottomed trough 50 feet in length, divided by partitions at 5-foot intervals. Feed enters at one end above the pulp level, tailing discharges over a weir at the other end and froth overflows the lips. Air at 1 1/2 pounds pressure is introduced throughout the cell through 1/2 inch pipes, depending from a 10-inch header.

The resulting agitation of the pulp, aided by pine oil, leads to the formation of a froth, in which a definite selective action takes place. This is due in a large part to the action of the reagents Xanthate and lime. The sulphide particles, coated with a thin film of reagent, are buoyed up in the froth and overflow the lips of the cell, while a large proportion of the pyrite, depressed by the lime and the gangue particles which have become wetted, sinks into the pulp and passes out in the tailing.

A unique feature of the local operation of this apparatus is the introduction of the original feed to the so-called cleaner cells, which produce the final concentrate. The lower cells, picking up much of the mineral remaining in the pulp, make a rougher concentrate, which is returned to the head of the plant to be cleaned. The original design of the Forrester machine as used at Globe, where it was developed, was not adapted to Bisbee conditions. Many local alterations of minor details, however, have finally brought it to its present state of efficient operation.

Since March 1, operations have been conducted on a slightly increased tonnage basis, about 4,600 tons being treated daily. This has resulted in a somewhat coarser grind with a consequent reduction in ratio of concentration. Results for the six months to date, however, show that the recovery has not dropped below the figure set in 1928.

The matter of chemical and mechanical control is one of great importance in all concentrating operations. To show that its importance is fully realized, it is only necessary to enumerate the various phases of control, which are practised at present. First of all, daily assays are made on regular shift samples, which are taken automatically from all mill products. Daily screenings are made on all products of the grinding department, and hourly titrations are made on the flotation pulp in which a certain degree of alkalinity must be maintained. The pulp alkalinity ranges from 0.6 to 0.8 pounds of free lime per ton of water.

As it is impossible in the case of the Copper Queen Concentrator to keep one of the most important variables, the mill feed, within narrow limits, it is vitally necessary that concentrating operations be controlled as efficiently as possible in the light of extreme variations in copper content. To meet this need, a quick colon-metric method for determining copper content has been installed. This has proved to be highly advantageous in keeping a close check on mill operations and detecting abnormal conditions as they arise. Samples are taken hourly and determinations known within 30 minutes. Assays so obtained check standard potassium iodide assays within 5 percent of the copper content.

A well-equipped laboratory is maintained, in which tests are constantly being made on new reagents, on ore samples from those parts of the mine now under development, and on regular mill feed, especially those ores on which average results were not obtained in the mill. From time to time microscopic analyses of the tailings are made. These serve as a check on grinding and metallurgy, and in some cases give the necessary clue for the solution of some problem which has arisen, chiefly in flotation. In addition, there are several minor phases of control, such as weightometers, by means of which the tonnage treated by each mill is kept uniform, a method for the determination of pulp density, etc.

rehab · Joined: 15 Aug 2006 Posts: 939 Location: NEVADA

THE MINING JOURNAL for OCTOBER 30, 1929

A NEW VENTILATION SHAFT FOR MAGMA COPPER COMPANY

As a part of its three-year improvement program, Magma Copper Company has started the sinking of what will be known as Shaft No. 7, in Magma’s series of shafts. This new shaft, primarily for ventilation purposes, will be located 700 feet due west of the mill and 8,000 feet west of Shaft No. 6, now in course of construction. The estimated cost of this new project is one-half million dollars.

Shaft No. 7 will be of three compartments, the compartments to be the same size as those in No. 3 shaft, and it will be sunk to the 2,800-foot level, and connected to No. 5. This work, as in the case of other shafts, will be done by contract.

At the No. 6 shaft, in the canyon just off the Miami-Superior highway, work is progressing satisfactorily. The tunnel has been completed, and is now being re-in-forced and concreted. As soon as this is finished the work of upraising from the floor of the tunnel will be started. This will require the letting down of 250 feet of hard ground before the surface is reached. Then sinking to the 2,250 level will be started.

The No. 2 shaft is now being concreted from the 2,600 to the 2,090 levels. The work will be completed during October and sinking to the 3,250 level started. This shaft is concreted to the surface.

With the completion of this development program, which will cover a period of three years, Magma will have more active shafts than any other mine in the state. The propect calls for an expenditure of two millions of dollars.