White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-10

belonging TO either mining or metal
,urgical engineering. Material as
mined may, and usually does, con-
tain a variety of minerals, some of
them in undesirabiy large quantities.
The important art of coal mining or
dressing is at the present time I'M
dergoing development.
The art of ore dressing consists In
partially separating, by means of va
rious e%xpedients, the desirable min
erals from the undesirable, so that
only the former may be subjected to
transportation charges or to metal
lurgical processes for extraction. BY
utilizing various characteristics of
Observation-Disclosures, friabiiity, spe-
cifc gravity, electrical conductivity,
magnetic attraction, adhesiveness,
etc.-in a score of ingenious ways,
ore dressing helps to convert other
wise valueless or undesirable materi-
al into highly profitable ore or min
erai. 1t Is this art that has made
possible much of the immense growth
OF the mining industry during the
last thirty years. Comparatively few
metalliferous mines are without con-
centrating mills as an indispensable
adjunct.
Thus the ~ore-bearing rock of the
Lake Superior region is crushed and
~pulverized, passed oye jigs and con
centrating tables and through n.y.
draulic classiiers until the minute
grains as we'll as the coarse pieces
of metallic copper are almost COM
pletely separated from the rock. In
Minnesota different types of appli-
anees wash sand away from several
millions of tons of ore each year.
In Austria, Peru, Wales and in this
country oil is used with water to
separate valuable zinc and copper
minerals from useless rock. In al
most every coal mining district jigs
and other washers are used to i'm
prove the quality of the coal. In
New York and Pennsylvania low
grade magnetic Is converted into val.
liable iron ore by mean of magnetic
concentrators. In fact, in almost ev-
cry field of mining ore concentration
methods are of great importance.
AS the result of these recent de
velopments In mining the mining en-
gineer must have an exceedingly
broad and thorough technical train
ing. In addition to his knowledge of
underground work he should be able
to design. construct and operate a
treatment plant which shall furnish
the ore to the smelter or the coal to
the coke ovens in the best possible
condition for subsequent treatment.
II Is evident that the ability to CO.
ordinate and direct such work can
be attained only by broad experience
and thorough training. No other
line of human industry, perhaps, In
wolves such a wide field OF knowledge
and engineering skill; geology, civil
engineering. mechanical engineering,
electrical engineering. metallurgy-
all must contribute to the result, to-
gether with a large amount of spe-
cial knowledge peculiar to mining
alone.
Mining students are now given =
knowledge of the metailurgical proc
esses by which the metals are ex-
tracted from the ores Laboratory
work is used TO stimulate powers of
observation and reasoning, and some
practice is given in surveying. At
Carnegie general inspection trips to
various mines are made and students
are also required TO familiariZe them
selves with the important work of
the United States buerau of mines
and are encouraged to take advant-
g Of every opportunity to secure
practical experience underground.
The graduate of such a course l.
expected 10 profit by practical ex-
~perience, which alone can make him
an engineer. In practical operations
he sees the applications If fundamen.
tai principles and learns 20 apply
them on larger scales successfully by
working underground in various po-
s%itiors, or in The engineering corps,
or in the assay laboratory or concen-
trating mill. BY experience the
graduate fits himself for executive
positions of increasing responsibility.
The field Is large. SO large tina.
mining engineers frequently find il
desirable to specialize IN some par.
ticulsr branch. One nan makes 3
specially of examining and valuing
properties; another man becomes ex-
pert. in economical operation OF
mines. while a third makes q special
study of the geological side of min
ing. Each line offers ample oppor-
tunities To a capable man, and the
industry of mining must necessarily
grow with the growth of reputation
and civilization.