In the zeal for opening up new ore-bodies, or for extracting the ore from attractive bodies already opened up, we very often lose sight of the fact, that, after all, the operation of a mine is a business proposition, pure and simple, and, for the best working-results, should be treated upon a strict business basis. … Read more
Supposing that a claim is suitable for hydraulic sluicing, the first thing to do would be to ascertain what is the probable volume and pressure of the water supply. This can be closely approximated by means of an aneroid survey. The facilities for the disposal of the tailings should next be ascertained. As mentioned before, … Read more
The working of gold alluvial deposits by dredging has from all times been a popular form of mining, not only from the simplicity of its operations, but also, in its more primitive stages, from the possibility of carrying it on without large capital, without skilled labour, expensive plant, long terms of preparatory work, or, in fact, any … Read more
Electric power in mining-operations is now successfully applied to haulage, hoisting, lighting and pumping; and until lately, drilling was the one department of mining in which an electric source of energy had not been introduced. Drilling by electric power has been the field for much investigation and several forms of electric-drills have been tried; but … Read more
As this district is so far distant from the other mining centres and its mode of approach so circuitous, I am afraid that many residents of other portions of the Commonwealth never think of paying this “ Australia’s Silver City” a visit, to learn personally the many and various lessons everywhere available, and to become … Read more
It is often necessary to calculate the size of a mine hoisting system required to raise a given quantity of material, either as a preliminary to the detail design of the machinery, or to decide whether machinery on hand or offered by a manufacturer is adapted to the work to be done. The first element … Read more
So many emergencies that crop up in mining necessitate a departure from ordinary methods that the writer has been led to illustrate a few of the examples that have come under his notice during a somewhat lengthy career; and as most of the methods illustrated are certainly outside the ordinary, it may be hoped that … Read more
The limit of pressure to which an underground dam may with safety be subjected, is a question that—as far as the writer knows—has not received the same attention from authorities on engineering construction, or practical mining, that has been accorded to questions on which the design and strength of other structures or machines in connection … Read more
It has been more especially in these large low grade ore bodies, that modern methods have been beneficial; for small lodes must be rich to pay at all, as they cannot be worked on the same gigantic scale, but even in these a percentage of metal is saved which formerly was absolutely lost. To make … Read more
In the Engineering and Mining Journal there appeared an article by Fred T. Greene, describing a method of measuring stopes by the use of strings, a clinometer and a tape. I had occasion to use a somewhat similar method, for the purpose of accurately ascertaining the volume of a very irregular drift connecting two mines. This … Read more