Show SCIENCE AIDS THE MINER Mines Mine Building I s 's of Utah Ufah 44 r r t j-t r 1 l w sr rw b Metallurgical a x tir r I I I By Sy S S. S F. F Director Utah Engineering Experiment Station that the mines and R REALIZING smelters of ot Utah not only provide provide provIde pro pro- vide employment for a large number of ot people veople but furnish markets for supplies and equipment equipment equip equip- ment meat whose producers in turn are consumers of ot agricultural pro agricultural pro products ducts the Utah Legislature In I 1913 established the Department i of Mining and Metallurgical Research Research Re Ro- Roi i search of ot the Engineering Experiment Experiment Experiment I ment Station at the University of Utah This department has bas grown to be one of ot the outstanding Institutions in its field Its staff consists of ot five men trained In metallurgical science nce a mechanic and a secretary secretary secretary secre secre- tary its plant of research and chemical laboratories a machine shop and considerable scientific and engineering equipment In cooperation cooperation co co- co operation with the United States Bureau of or Mines it has published more than articles which are In demand throughout the United States and In most foreign coun coun- tries Experience h has a s demonstrated that constant research Is necessary to Improve our mineral products to find better and less expensive methods of ot making them to find new uses for them and to develop sources of ot raw material tion flotation crushing and grindIng grinding grinding grind- grind Ing mine ventilation electro m metallurgy electro e t tall a 11 u r g y ore dressing microscopy and coal Investigation Investigation investigation in In- are ng the things covered By flotation alone In the development development development develop develop- ment of which the Station has bas played an important part ore bodies bodle In Utah at one time considered considered considered con con- worthless have become heavy producers employment has been provided for tor literally thousands thousands thousands thou thou- sands of ot persons within the state and millions of ot dollars worth of business has resulted The microscope Is proving exceedingly exceedingly exceedingly ex ex- ex- ex useful in helping to solve problems In crushing and grinding flotation etc So beneficial were Its accomplishments that seven largo large Utah companies beginning In 1929 assisted for tor several years In maintaining a n cooperative microscopic microscopic microscopic micro micro- laboratory ut at the station This has been taken over oyer by the University and Is still giving essential es es- es service Studies of ot Utah coals have yielded much valuable information for tor the coal industries research In smelting has been very useful to the local smelters and work in progress in mine ventilation gives promise of ot appreciably increasing I efficiency and lowering costs Meanwhile the study of ot funds fund a- a mental principles Is not over over- looked Discoveries in m physics and chemistry the nature of which no noman noman noman man can predict now may be made with revolutionary effects By giving fellowships and degrees degrees degrees de de- de- de grees in mining and metallurgy the University helps to carve careers for students and provide for companies companies com com- competent replacements and additions to their staffs Although a large proportion of ot the graduates of ot the Station find employment in various mines and smelters within the state former fellowship men can can be found holding important positions in practically every ming mining min ing lag region in the world Industrial concerns concern and Individuals IndivIduals duals may use the facilities of ot the Station If It such facilities are lacking lack ing elsewhere within the state stale If It the work Involves fundamental research research research re re- re- re search likely to extend scientific knowledge or or If It the results of ot the work will benefit the mineral Industries industries industries in In- of th the state In general Routine assays analysis and ore tests which would be In com competition tion with private business are not accepted The Station has undertaken several several sev sev- eral several Important commercial problems problems lems In cooperation with various companies One Ono of ot these was the extraction extra of ot gold from the tailing dumps at Mercur Utah Preliminary PrelIminary Preliminary Prelim PrelIm- inary t to o complex material was subjected to roasting first In small quantities and finally in the Stations Station's large rotary kiln with a capacity of ot one ton per ver hour Silver Sliver ore from Mexico submitted submit submit- ted by the A. A S. S d R R. R smelter at atEl atEl atEl El Paso Texas was also subjected to a series of ot tests in the tho large kiln under supervision of ot three metallurgists from the El EI Paso plant Many other big companies throughout the country have used the Stations Station's equipment to work workout workout workout out difficult problems Though It does not do O assaying for tor private applicants the Station makes for prospectors free of ot charge preliminary microscopic examinations of ot samples The only requirements for the free freo service are that the sample must have originated In Utah and be accompanied by a general description of ot the locality from which it carne came and of ot the character of ot the deposit The data thus obtained is to be used as a basis for tor a survey of the mineral resources of the state The free microscopic examination usually Is sufficient to determine the principal minerals In a sample and whether it Is likely to represent sent commercial value In this way prospectors very often otten are arc saved the coot coet of ot unwarranted blind assays assays assays as as- says and In addition are often otten enabled to obtain important Information Information information In In- formation which is not furnished by a chemical analysis |