The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 42

Synopsis of the Classes in the School of Mines

Synopsis of the Classes in the School of Mines.

Mathematics.

First Year.—Euclid: Six books, with geometrical exercises. Algebra: To the binomial theorem. Trigonometry: To the solution of plane triangles, including the use of logarithms. Text-books: Todhunter's Euclid, Colenso's Algebra, and Colenso's Trigonometry.

Second Year.—Algebra and trigonometry: An extended course. Elementary mechanics and hydrostatics. Textbooks: Todhunter's Algebra, Todhunter's Trigonometry, Goodwin's Statics, Goodwin's Dynamics, and Besant's Hydrostatics.

Physical Geology.

The composition and formation of rocks; the structure of rock masses; metamorphism; form and internal condition of the earth; movements of the surface; earthquakes; volcanoes; denudation; physiography; results of palæontology; chronological classification of rocks; former changes of climate.

Palæontology.

Processes of fossilization; zoological and botanical characters of the more important extinct animals and plants; historical palæontology; principles of the distribution of animals.

Theoretical and Technological Chemistry.

( a.) The general principles of chemical notation, combination, and nomenclature.
( b.) The classification of the elements, and the principles of the leading chemical theories,
( c.) The description of the more important elements, and organic and inorganic compounds.
( d.) The chemistry of the metals.
( e.) The general chemistry of animal and vegetable organisms.
( f.) Chemical physics, including the chemical relations of light, heat, and electricity. Text-book: Fownes' Manual.

Qualitative Analysis.

This course is conducted in the Chemical Laboratory. Practical instruction is given to the students in classes. It is devoted to the qualitative analysis of simple, compound, and complex salts, soils, water, metallic ores, and other minerals.

Text-books: Fresenius' Qualitative Analysis, Thorpe's Qualitative Analysis.

Metallurgy.

The Lectures will treat of—
( a.) Fuel, furnaces, crucibles, retorts, fluxes.
  • Coal—the different varieties.
  • Charcoal—its manufacture in kilns, heaps, ovens.
  • Coke—its manufacture in mounds, ovens, &c.
  • The description of the different kinds of furnaces: The blast furnace—hot blast, cold blast; rever-beratory furnace, oxidizing and reducing furnaces, puddling furnace, refinery, calcining furnace, liquation furnace, assay furnace, Siemen's gas furnace; materials for furnaces and crucibles— e.g., fire-stone, fire-clay, fire-bricks; the different kinds of crucibles and retorts; determination of the heating power of different kinds of fuel.
( b.) Extraction of metals from their ores,
( c.) Physical and chemical properties of the metals.
( d.) Industrial applications of the metals.

Mining Geology.

1. Modes of occurrence of useful minerals; description of the various kinds of deposits of useful minerals; lodes or mineral veins; bedded deposits, seams or layers; irregular massive deposits—stocks and stock works; impregnations, &c.; theory of faults or heaves, and rules for searching for the faulted or lost portion of a deposit; review of certain theories and hypotheses regarding the mode of formation of mineral veins and other kinds of mineral deposits.

2. Prospecting for useful mineral deposits; shoading, trenching, costeaning; boring as practised with rods or rope, different apparatus and different cutting and clearing implements; the diamond drill.

Scientific Use of the Blowpipe and Deter Minative Mineralogy.

Instruction in the use of the blowpipe; reactions of elements, oxides and acids; determination of artificial inorganic compounds, to be succeeded by that of important metallic and earthy minerals, with aid of their crystalline form and physical properties. Experienced students, on providing themselves with the necessary apparatus, will also receive instruction in executing assays for gold, silver, lead, copper, nickel, cobalt, &c., by means of the blowpipe.

Text-books: Guide to the Determination of Minerals by means of the Blowpipe, by Dr. Fuchs, translated from the German by T. W. Dauby, M.A.; Manual of Determinative Mineralogy, by Professor Brush; Plattner's Manual of Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis with the Blowpipe, translated by Professor H. B. Cornwall.