Engineering Commons^™

The Geology And Geochemistry Of The Golden Chest Gold Deposit, Murray, Idaho, Alexander Brown

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Golden Chest Au-W Mine has been intermittently mined since the 1880’s. Mineralized quartz veins have been deposited into the Upper Prichard Formation of the Proterozoic Belt Supergroup. The Golden Chest is located in the Summit Mining District within the Murray Gold Belt region of the greater Coeur d’Alene (CdA) Mining District. A modern geochemical study of the Golden Chest has never been conducted at the Golden Chest.

This thesis investigates, with the collaboration of New Jersey Mining Company (NJMC), the paragenesis of ore forming minerals, the mineralogy of the deposit and the genesis of the ore forming processes. A …

Raspberry Pi Cluster For Parallel And Distributed Computing, Ngoc Ha

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Parallel and distributed computing have become an essential part of the ‘Big Data’ processing and analysis, especially for geophysical applications. The main goal of this project was to build a 4-node distributed computing cluster system using the Raspberry Pi single-board computers for educational and research purposes. After assembling together the system, a standard test was performed to check the system functionality. A Monte Carlo simulation to calculate π (pi) was used to demonstrate the advantages and drawbacks of parallelization and distribution of tasks and data within the cluster. Challenges encountered during installation of the software and testing phase, and their …

Uav-Based Geotechnical Modeling And Mapping Of An Inaccessible Underground Site, Elizabeth Anne Russell

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Digital photogrammetry is becoming a more common method used for mapping geological and structural rock mass features in underground mining. The issue of capturing geological and structural data in inaccessible, unsupported areas of mines remains even when utilizing terrestrial photogrammetric methods; thus, geotechnical models of mines are left with incomplete datasets. Large unsupported underground voids, like stopes, have the potential to cause major failures, but by filling in the geotechnical data gaps in inaccessible areas, potential failures can be predicted through kinematic analysis of the area’s mapped discontinuities. Implementation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in underground mines and recent advances …

Geology Of The Middle Member Of The Bakken Formation In Divide County, North Dakota, Mandy Brewer

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Upper Devonian-Lower Mississippian Bakken Formation of Williston Basin is a large unconventional oil and gas play consisting of a lower shale member, a middle member, and an upper shale member. The middle member is a production target because it contains porosity and petroleum expelled from the shale members around it. Variable production and sweet spots of the Bakken in the study area of Divide County, ND and 15 miles around Divide County in the USA prompted a closer look at middle member Bakken sediments. For this study, 606 wells were correlated and thin sections from two wells located 10.17 …

Comparing Distributed Acoustic Sensing To Three-Component Geophones In An Underground Mine, Nikolas Nesladek

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Geophones have become the industry standard for seismic data collection. However, a relatively new method is gaining popularity called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). DAS uses changes in backscattered light of a fiber-optic cable to detect strain from acoustic energy. The purpose of this project was to make a direct comparison between DAS and three component geophones, specifically in a mining setting. Experiments were done in the Underground Education Mining Center on the campus of Montana Tech. The sources used for this project were vertical sledgehammer shots, oriented shear sledgehammer shots, and blasting caps set off in both unstemmed and stemmed …

Characterization Of Granite And Subsequent Ground Control Management Plan At Orphan Boy Mine – Butte, Montana, Emily Rose

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC) and World Museum of Mining facilities began as shallow underground mines in the 1880’s during the mining boom that populated Butte, Montana. The UMEC is a multi-disciplinary facility that provides an on-campus underground laboratory environment and a place for students to learn and practice practical underground mining techniques; therefore, the longevity of the facility is important to Montana Tech. The goal of this project is to develop a Ground Control Management Plan (GCMP) for the UMEC and World Museum of Mining facilities.

The World Museum of Mining (Orphan Girl) and UMEC (Orphan Boy) facilities …

Collecting, Preparing, And Synthesizing Well Log Data For Subsurface Mapping: Example From The Bakken Formation, Asel Sherimkulova

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Late Devonian and Early Mississippian Bakken Formation consists of three distinct members: the upper shale, middle, and lower shale. The upper and lower shales are excellent source rocks, rich in organic content. The organic material in the shales was derived from planktonic algae. Both the upper and lower shales were deposited during a transgressive event in hypoxic to anoxic conditions. The original total organic carbon content in the Bakken shales ranges from 20 to 22 weight percent, however; the content decreases to 10 to 17 weight percent as a result of maturation of hydrocarbons and primary expelling of oil. High …

Distributed Fiber-Optic Temperature Sensor Validations Using Field Deployments In The Flooded Orphan Boy Mine Shaft In Butte, Mt, Elliott Mazur

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The process of sensor validation through experimentation with the Omnisens Distributed Temperature and Strain (DITEST) Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analyzer (BOTDA) proved to be a challenging project. The project encompassed sensor calibrations, system error minimization, sensor network design and deployment, and the characterization of temperatures in the Orphan Boy Mine shaft. Fiber-optic cable sensor calibrations yielded linear relationship coefficients 0.6-1.0MHZ/°F, indicating a strong positive correlation between Brillouin Frequency Shifts and temperature. Calibrated sensors demonstrated accuracies near ±0.8°F using the corrected error bounds from residual analyses as the benchmark. Fiber-optic measurement accuracy and repeatability were controlled by user-selected signal interrogator settings …

Processing And Interpretation Of Three-Component Vertical Seismic Profile Data, Ross Sea, Antarctica, Meltem Akan

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Antarctic Geological Drilling Program (ANDRILL) AND-2A drill hole was drilled, cored and logged in southern McMurdo Sound (SMS) in the western Ross Sea, Antarctica during the austral summer of 2007. A single near-offset, over-sea ice vertical seismic profile (VSP) was collected in the AND-2A drill hole as a part of the logging program. The source for VSP data collection was a Generator Injector (GI) air-gun which was suspended by a cable through a hole made in the sea ice. The reason for selecting a GI air gun was the minimization of the bubble pulse effects which are prevalent in …

Studies In Modulation Of Interfacial Reactions For Certain Sulphide Minerals, Robert Owen Beyaert

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

No abstract provided.

Preliminary Examination Of The Aluminum Corner Of The Ternary System Aluminum-Silver-Indium (A1-Ag-In), Jerome J. Blake

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

In this paper the author attempts to lay the groundwork for future work on the Al-Ag-In system.

Production Of Standard-Grade Ferromanganese In An Electric Arc Furnace, Force F. Baney Jr.

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The investigations conducted in this project were essentially concerned with the effects of various compositions of two different slag systems upon the increased recovery of manganese in a standard-grade ferromanganese.

Investigation Of The Ternary System Silver-Aluminum-Indium (Ag-Al-In), Elvin H. Beardslee

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This thesis paper contains material pertaining to & preliminary investigation of the ternary system Ag-Al-In. Procedures in this preliminary investigation are discussed in detail.

Crystal Habit Modification Of Sodium Chlorate, Michael R. Keegan

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

All single crystals have a particular habit or morphology. The crystal habit refers to the relative degree of development of crystallographic planes into surfaces which make up the external appearance of the single crystal.

In this paper, NaClO3 is used as a parent crystal. Its simple cubic habit is modified to tetrahedral by the use of impurities of SO4=, S2O3=, Cr2O7=, and NO3-. The degree of habit change is studied as a function of impurity concentration and temperature. The problem and phenomena are explained in terms of surface chemistry and thermodynamics.

Physico-Chemical Principles Of Sixteenth Century Metallurgy, Robert E. Johnson

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Following a review of sixteenth century metallurgical literature and a discussion of Gibbs free energy, this thesis discusses thermodynamic considerations of galena (PbS) reduction by iron from a lead assay of this period. The importance of fluxes in this assay is emphasized. The discussion covers both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions at 1100 degrees Celsius. Possible substitutes for iron are also covered.

Information from twenty-one small controlled lead assays is correlated with the thermodynamic discussion to determine the purpose of each constituent in the assay.

The Beneficiation Of Titaniferous-Magnetite Sands, Ronald Lloyd Nordwick

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The purpose of this investigation of beneficiation methods is to develop and study possible economic methods for recovering an iron-titanium concentrate of sufficient purity to meet metallurgical requirements for subsequent direct reduction to pig iron and a high titanium slag.

Stress-Corrosion Cracking Of Brass, Paul A. Fossey

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

the mechanism of stress-corrosion cracking of brass has been sought for many years. Investigators have proposed many mechanisms, but each of these mechanisms has always had several drawbacks. This paper presents an account of experimental work done in the laboratory on this subject and compares it to the work of previous investigations. It evaluates the mechanisms presented by investigators and shows the failures of these mechanisms. A theory of Nitrogen Embrittlement is presented and an evaluation of this theory with experimental work follows.

Experimental Arc Furnace Smelting Of Titaniferous Iron Sands From The Northern Oregon Coast, Allan P. Herring

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

This investigation is an attempt to experimentally smelt titaniferous iron sands from the Northern Oregon Coast in a laboratory arc furnace.

The Effect Of Ph Upon Chelation Reactions In Montmorillonite Clays, Joseph Michael Keane

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate several chelation reactions and determine the effect of variable pH upon these reactions.

An Investigation Of The Sintering Of Iron-Wire Compacts, George L. Vivian

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

A study of the sintering of iron has been made by observing the rate of bonding of iron wires wound on iron spools. The specimens were sintered at a constant temperature of 850c in vacuum furnaces capable of producing pressures of 10-5 to 10-4 mm of mercury, and the growth of the bond between wires was observed as a function of time.

It has been concluded that the volume-diffusion mechanism is strongly operating in the sintering of iron at 850c, but in an evacuated system, the evaporation-condensation mechanism also contributes to the sintering process.

The Identification Of Montana Clays By X-Ray Analysis, David Stephen Malyevac

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The purpose of this study is to identify the various Montana clay minerals by means of X-ray diffraction. The ultimate aim of this investigation is to identify the different clay mixtures through an analysis of their respective diffraction patterns, and diffraction patterns obtained after various chemical and thermal treatments.

Geology Of A Portion Of The Hand Mine, Argenta Mining District, Beaverhead County, Montana, John Thomas Richards

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The Hand Mine is located in the Argenta Mining District near the town of Argenta. The area surrounding the Hand Mine is characterized by intense thrusting, folding, and igneous activity. The area mapped by the author is in the southeast portion of the mine and differs from the rest of the mine in that no commercial ore has been found. The writer concludes that the steep faulting and flatlying bodies are of two different ages, and that intense oxidation has altered the ore minerals to plumbojarosite.

Oxidized Copper Mineralization Along The Continental Fault Near Butte, Montana, Theodore H. Eyde

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Located in the fault zone of the Continental fault near the western edge of Boulder batholith of southwestern Montana the oxidized copper deposits are developed by three open pit mines, one of which is a presently in operation. Copper has been deposited by descending cold solutions which have leached copper from the surrounding quartz monzonite and deposited within the crushed fault zone. Local high grade 'bunches' of ore occur along narrow limonite veins, remnants of primary sulfide veins which have been enriched by the descending cold solutions.

Investigation Of Inclusions In Armco Ingot Iron, Edwin J. Duncan

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Various chemical and electrolytic separation methods were investigated in an attempt to separate the in­clusions in Armco ingot iron. Residues obtained were X-rayed for identification purposes. The microstruc­tures of this iron were studied with the object of de­termining the relative sizes, locations, and possible compositions of the inclusions.

The Design And Construction Of An Electrolytic Cell For Aluminum Reduction, Thomas H. Melrose

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The purpose of this investigation was to design and construct a laboratory size electrolytic cell in which to reduce alumina, using the same basic materials that are used in a commercial size cell. The cell was designed to have a capacity of approxi­mately 100 grams of metallic aluminum produced every 8 hours. The cell was constructed so it could be operated continuously.

Effect Of Recovery On The Recrystallized Grain-Size Of High Purity Aluminum, Rodney L. Helterline

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

When a cold-worked metal is annealed, it’s physical properties hange as a result of a new grain structure. The annealing treatment is divided into three stages according to the changes that occur in the distorted metal: (1) recovery, (2) recrystallization, and (3) grain growth.

Geology Of The Ragged Point Oil Field Musselshell County, Montana, David M. Amos

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The Ragged Point oil field is located in Northwest Musselshell County, in the Lake Basin field of central Mon­tana, and on the western border of the Great Plains region. The surface topography is that of a plain marked by erosion and moderate folding. The stratigraphy of central Montana shows periodic marine invasions from the Cordilleran trough, with normal marine limestones interbedded with sandstone sand shales. These sediments are over 12,000 feet thick, with the Creta­ceous Eagle and Colorado formations exposed at the surface on the Ragged Point anticline. Undifferentiated Cambrian lime­stones and shales are the oldest rocks encountered in drilling.

Polarography Of Indium, John Jackson

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

The purpose of this thesis is to study the various aspects of the polarography of indium. The eventual goal would be to develop a method of analyzing indium in unknowns. The investigation is approached by studying the indium ions in various electrolytes and in various concentrations.

The Application Of Electric Energy To The Metallurgy Plants In Montana, Edwin J. Duncan

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

Since the year 1800, metallurgy has been affiliated with electricity. In fact, the two industries have grown side by side, being naturally dependent upon each other and having a parallel growth.

The Construction And Operation Of A Universal Specimen Mount With Protective Lead Shield For The Purpose Of Determining Pole Figures Using The Schulz-Decker Transmission Technique, Richard L. Fausner

Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970

It was the purpose of this study to construct a universal mount, to construct a protective lead shield, to operate the instrument, and to provide a pole figure using the transmission method of Schulz and Decker. There are at present several lengthy x-ray methods of determining the grain orientation of metals. These methods are mainly photographic. In order to provide a rapid means of obtaining the necessary information concerning the grain orientation of a metal, a universal mount was constructed.