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By C. S. Samis, J. C. Mitchell

Sodion activity data have been obtained for the Na-A1 system for sodium concentrations in aluminum between NN, = 25 . 10-and 300 x 10'. This concentration intert-a2 encompasses those sodium concentrations nor1)zally encountered in aluminum reduction cell operation. The sodium activity data were measured by a two-phase equilibration of sodium between a lead and an aluminam rich phase. The Na-Pb system was emplojed as a reference for the determination of the actiz7itj 0.f sodium. The activity of sodiin in aluminuwz exhibits large positi2.e deviations frorn ideality and a strong dependence, on concentration below NN, = 100 x 1K6. The inteated data indicate that the activity of aluminium is equal to its mole fraction over the range of miscibility of the Na-A1 sgstem. The data on the Na-A1 binary have been combined with experimental data on the cryolite-A1 system at 1025°C to obtain the activities of Na F and AlF, in liquid cryolite oz2er the cornposition 1-ange encountered in aluminum cell operation. The results are in agreement with activities calculated from the NaF-AlF, phase diagram. ALUMINUM is produced commercially by the electrolytic reduction of aluminum oxide dissolved in molten cryolite. There is considerable controversy over the actual mechanism of the discharge processes, but sodium potentials in the systems appear to play an important role in the reduction mechanism. The metal-salt reaction involving NaF and aluminum to produce A1F3 and sodium is responsible for the presence of sodium in the aluminum metal phase. Additional sodium may be produced from the simultaneous deposition of sodium and aluminum at the cathode as a result of a cathodic overvoltage. runert' has suggested that sodium gas at atmospheric pressure would be the result of reaction between cryolite and aluminum at 1000°C. Subsequent investigations have shown that production of sodium at atmospheric pressure does not occur. These later investigations can be conveniently separated into two categories. The first involves sodium, aluminum, and cryolite, in which the sodium activity was measured. The second includes a lead phase for sodium activity measurement. Jander and errmann,' studied the reaction: at 1090°C in alumina crucibles under an atmosphere of dry, oxygen-free nitrogen. The equilibrium constant for the reaction was expressed in terms of concentration. Their results in Fig. 1 show an increase in sodium content of the aluminum with increasing NaF/A1F3 weight ratio. Pearson and waddington3 performed similar experiments at 1000°C. Their results are included in Fig. 1. Dewing and ollinshead have measured the sodium content of aluminum as a function of the NF/AF, ratio at 1025"C, Fig. 1, and ewin' measured the sodium content of the aluminum in a system involving the solid reactants NaF, cryolite, and liquid aluminum. This reaction is different from those discussed above. Two solid phases, NaF and Na3A1F6, and a liquid aluminum phase were present. The sodium concentration in the aluminum was determined by the temperature. Dewing's measurements covered the temperature range 679" to 896°C. Omo, Matsushima, and 1t02" investigated the equilibrium 6NaF ential thermal analysis. Stokes and Frank6 determined sodium activities by

Jan 1, 1970

By Grafton Thrasher

For the proper discussion of this subject it is necessary to incorporate in this paper the substance of part of an article published by rite in Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering for January, 1915. CAST-IRON TEST PLUG, SHOWING LOW MOTTLED AND MOTTLED FRACTURES. Several years ago, while I was thief chemist for a malleable-iron company, it occurred to me that the mere regulation of silicon was not sufficient to produce the desired degree of chill. But only after repeatedly encountering this fact in befit open-hearth and air-furnace, as well as cupola metal, was I led to regard variation in the total carbon as the principal cause of disturbance; and I resolved to determine the total carbon as well as the sill on ill every heat, and by a carefully prepared test piece to gauge the approximate degree of chill. The test piece selected was a round plug, 2 in. in diameter and 12 in. long, cast on end

Jan 10, 1915

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The two earlier papers in this series1,2 presented data on the rate of diffusion of carbon and of manganese in gamma iron. Apart from their scientific interest, these data are needed chiefly in order to treat data on carburization, on rate of formation of pearlite, and on rate of austenit-izing in a quantitative way.1'2'9'10 In the present investigation rates of diffusion of nickel in ?-Fe over wide temperature and concentration ranges have been determined, and the effects of carbon, of im- purities, and of grain size on these rates have been studied. Claussen,3 using the data of Fry,4 has calculated the diffusion coefficient of nickel in y-Fe as 9.2 X 10-11 sq. cm. per sec. at 1200ºC., but had no data from which to calculate the variation of D with concentration, temperature, and percentage of carbon. Method and Materials Method.—Nickel was diffused along the axis of a cylindrical specimen across a concentration gradient, concentration-penetration curves were determined and D values calculated from Grube or Matano solutions.5 Details of the method are given

Jan 1, 1941

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The two earlier papers in this series1,2 presented data on the rate of diffusion of carbon and of manganese in gamma iron. Apart from their scientific interest, these data are needed chiefly in order to treat data on carburization, on rate of formation of pearlite, and on rate of austenit-izing in a quantitative way.1'2'9'10 In the present investigation rates of diffusion of nickel in ?-Fe over wide temperature and concentration ranges have been determined, and the effects of carbon, of im- purities, and of grain size on these rates have been studied. Claussen,3 using the data of Fry,4 has calculated the diffusion coefficient of nickel in y-Fe as 9.2 X 10-11 sq. cm. per sec. at 1200ºC., but had no data from which to calculate the variation of D with concentration, temperature, and percentage of carbon. Method and Materials Method.—Nickel was diffused along the axis of a cylindrical specimen across a concentration gradient, concentration-penetration curves were determined and D values calculated from Grube or Matano solutions.5 Details of the method are given

Jan 1, 1941

J. W. Tomlison—It seems probable that the author's conclusion, that the conductivity of the slags decreases with increasing content of FeO, is erroneous due to the method of plotting the data. Thus, the results of other workers2,3,13,15 show that the conductivity of molten oxide slags increase with increasing temperature, indicating that the trend of the curve shown by the authors is due to the fact that the data for the slags containing relatively small amounts of FeO are at higher temperatures than those for the slags containing relatively large amounts of this oxide. In this connection the work of Wejnarth2 may be mentioned in which in an investigation of a series of iron silicate slags, the conductivity was found to increase with increasing content of FeO; the fact that the author's slags contained TiO2 probably does not affect the issue since it has been shown15,16 that, at least as far as conductivity is concerned, this oxide behaves essentially the same as silica and that mixtures of the oxide with silica have a very low conductivity of the order of 10-4 mhos at 1750°C. In connection with the experimental technique it may be noted that bubbles of carbon monoxide would probably be produced at the surface of the graphite electrodes in contact with the melts thus rendering the accuracy of the measurements somewhat open to question. J. L. Wyatt (author's reply)—Dr. Tomlinson makes reference to works by Martin and Derge, which indicate that slag systems containing no TiO2 are characterized by an increase in conductivity with an increase in temperature. Further, I have cited his examples, which indicate a drastic increase with small temperature change. The results of Dr. Derge's work have no bearing whatsoever on the results of this paper, since the slags under study here contained up to 70 pct TiO2 One cannot generalize on slag systems as a whole on the basis of any one family, for there are definite compounds of ionic nature formed in each system, and the ionic mobilization of these is something that cannot be determined without actual experimentation. Dr. Tomlinson makes reference to an unpublished work which, he claims, shows that titanium dioxide behaves the same as silica in regard to conductivity. Since I have not had 'an opportunity to see the paper I cannot make any comments, but unless the same slag system was studied there can be no specific comparison of results. If the decrease in conductivity of the slag was due entirely to temperature phenomena, as Dr. Tomlinson indicates, then one is without an explanation of the values shown in the paper for slags containing from 10 to 20 pct FeO. I cannot agree that the deviation in findings was appreciably related to temperature change; further, I believe this point was completely covered in the paper. References 13 Endell and Hellbrügge: Glasstech. Ber. (1942) 20, 277. 14 Bockris, Kitchener, Ignatowicz and Tomlinson: Faraday Society. Discussion (1948) 4, 265. 15 Tomlinson: Thesis, London 1949. 10 Bockris, Kitchener, Ignatowicz, and Tomlinson: Unpublished work.

Jan 1, 1951

By R. D. Satterley

The Sherwood mine is an iron-ore mine owned and operated by the Inland Steel CO. in the Iron River district of the Menominee Range in Michigan. The property consists of an 80-acre tract in the village of Mineral Hills, about a mile north of the city of Iron River. The Ore mined is a reddish brown, nonbessemer hematite and limonite. The ore bodies lie in a large syncline having an east-west strike and are associated with a rock structure that is folded in a complex manner. The two 40-acre tracts run north and south and the shaft is at about the center of the north forty. The shaft is 1286 ft. deep, with the principal operating level at a depth of 1000 ft. from surface. A new level at a depth of 1200 ft. is in process of development. The ore body at the 1000 ft. level is east and west at approximately the line between the north and south forties and at this elevation is from 50 to 250 ft. wide and extends above the level at varying heights of from 50 to 250 feet. The 1000-ft. haulage drift extends south from the shaft, through the east-west ore body to the slates on the south side of the body. The ore body was intercepted in the drifting at about goo ft. from the shaft and was about 200 ft. wide at that point. A crosscut was extended to the east and west property lines along the south boundary of the ore body. This east-west ore body is laid out in areas go ft. wide for stoping with pillars 40 ft. wide. With this plan a stope is approximately 80 by 200 ft. and has a pillar on both sides that is approximately 40 by 200 ft. The ore has a height of from 50 to 250 ft. above the elevation of the level, therefore the height of the stopes varies in accordance with the height of the ore body at each location. From the crosscut, two main raises, each 6 by 7 ft., are put up into each 80 ft. stope area (Fig. 1). One of the main raises serves as a manway and the other as an ore raise, through which the ore is transferred from the stope to the tramming equipment. The original layout as for scraping of the ore from under the stopes into the ore raises. The ore raise is put halfway (east and west) along the 80-ft. stope area and usually is in iron formation. The manway and ore raise are on approximately 15-ft. centers. These main raises are Put up to a height of from 22 to 30 ft. above the level floor, then from the toll of the ore raise a scraper drift (8 X 8 ft.) is driven across the width of the ore body, which is in the neighborhood of 200 ft. From the scraper drift, mill raises are put up at 12½-ft. centers, staggered on opposite sides of the drift, and these are extended 23 ft. above the elevation of the scraper-drift floor. The sublevel connecting the top of these mill raises is called a mill "sub." Other sublevels are developed parallel to the scraper and mill subs at 25-ft. vertical intervals above the mill sub. The mill sub and the other subs above the mill sub are known as sublevels or dog drifts, and are 4 ft. wide and 6 ft. high. These dog drifts

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1951

By John Henry Harden

It appears that in the earlier days of anthracite coal mining, 1824-25, the Lehigh region mined 76 per cent. of all the coal sent to market. During the same period Wyoming sent 12 and 5 per cent. respectively, whilst the Schuylkill sent 11 and 18 per cent., the number of tons marketed being in those days very small indeed. In the year 1828 the Schuylkill region mined over one-half of all the coal sent to market, and continued to do so for thirty years (with the exception of the year 1831), until 1858 ; since that date the production has declined very steadily in comparison with the other regions, until, in 1876, it was only 34 per cent. Wyoming, in the year 1820, was mining 40 per cent., but the production of all the regions was very small; in six years it declined to 5 per cent., increased to 34 per cent. in 1831, declined to 10 per cent. in 1838. Since which time the increase has been gradual, until 1873-75 Wyoming produced over 50 per cent. of all the anthracite coal sent to market. In 1867 the production exceeded that of Schuylkill, and has continued to do so since that time. In the year 1876, during the existence of the "coal combination," Wyoming lost 9 per cent.; during the same time Lehigh gained 7 and Schuylkill 2 per cent. over their relative production of the preceding year, the decrease of Wyoming being two and a half million tons, the increase of the Lehigh one million, the decrease of the Schuylkill nearly three-quarters of a million. The extraordinary production of the Lehigh region at a time of decreased demand and in opposition to an agreement with the other regions to limit the supply to the supposed demand mas the cause of the disagreement which ultimately broke up the combination of the great coal-producing and carrying companies. The Lehigh region produced very steadily, from 1829 to 1854, an average of about 22 per cent. of the whole production. From 1854

By John Henry Harden

IT appears that in the earlier days of anthracite coal mining, 1824-25, the Lehigh region mined 76 per cent. of all the coal sent to market. During the same period Wyoming sent 12 and 5 per cent. respectively, whilst the Schuylkill sent 11 and 18 per cent., the number of tons marketed being in those days very small indeed. In the year 1828 the Schuylkill region mined over one-half of all the coal sent to market, and continued to do so for thirty years (with the exception of the year 1831), until 1858 ; since that date the pro¬duction has declined very steadily in comparison with the other regions, until, in 1876, it was only 34 per cent. Wyoming, in the year 1820, was mining 40 per cent., but the production of all the regions was very small ; in six years it declined to 5 per cent., increased to 34 per cent. in 1831, declined to 10 per cent. in 1838. Since which time the increase has been gradual, until 1873-75 Wyoming produced over 50 per cent. of all the anthracite coal sent to market. In 1867 the production exceeded that of Schuylkill, and has continued to do so since that time. In the year 1876, during the existence of the " coal combination," Wyoming lost 9 per cent. ; during the same time Lehigh gained 7 and Schuylkill 2 per cent. over their relative production of the preceding year, the decrease of Wyoming being two and a half million tons, the increase of the Lehigh one million, the decrease of the Schuylkill nearly three-quarters of a million. The extraordinary production of the Lehigh region at a time of decreased demand and in opposition to an agreement with the other regions to limit the supply to the supposed demand was the cause of the disagreement which ultimately broke up the combination of the great coal-producing and carrying companies. The Lehigh region produced very steadily, from 1829 to 1854, an average of about 22 per cent. of the whole production. From 1854

Jan 1, 1877

By V. R. Garfias, A. C. Fernandez

Despite artificial curtailment in all the fields of Mexico during 1937, owing to strikes and other disturbances, the production of crude petroleum aggregated approximately 46,738,000 bbl., showing a substantial increase of about 5,571,000 bbl. over the preceding year. Most of this increase occurred in the Poza Rica area, where, although only two wells were completed during the year, production increased from 14,162,000 bbl. in 1936 to 18,634,000 in 1937. While production in the South fields (Golden Lane) remained practically stationary, the output in the heavy-oil district of the Northern fields showed an increase of 1,930,000 bbl., because production had been considerably curtailed during 1936. Production in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec decreased about 596,000 bbl., owing to labor disturbances. Crude run to stills in local refineries increased from 34,000,000 bbl. in 1936 to 36,650,000 in 1937. Exports of crude and refined products were approximately 22,700,000 bbl., or 500,000 bbl. less than in 1936. Domestic consumption, excluding ships bunkers, reached a total of 20,000,000 bbl., which shows a small increase of 200,000 bbl. over the. previous year. Domestic demand for gasoline is estimated at 3,400,000 bbl. for the year, which represents an increase of 500,000 bbl. over 1936. In all, 60 wells were completed in Mexico during 1937, as compared to 70 in 1936 and 74 in 1935. In proven areas 52 completions resulted in 25 producers and 27 failures. In the Northeastern area near the United States border, five gas wells were drilled, all of which were producers; one of them, in Camargo, came in with a daily production of 20,000,000 cu. ft. of gas. One well, resulting in a failure, was drilled in Las Uvas, Coahuila, and three wells were completed in Quebrache, to the southeast of the heavy-oil district, resulting in two small producers and one failure. TWO more wells drilled in San SebastiBn, east of the Golden Lane, were failures. Fields Northern Fields (Heavy-oil District).—A total of 11 producers and 22 failures was completed in the proven areas of the Northern fields, as compared to 16 producers and 25 failures in 1936. In the Altamira

Jan 1, 1938

By W. N. Tanner

THE wire-rope hoisting conditions at the mines of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. in Butte, Mont., are very severe because of the conditions under which it is necessary to operate. A study was made, in the fall of 1919, for the purpose of changing these conditions in order to obtain longer rope and sheave life. There are at present in Butte, hoisting engines equipped with wire rope as follows: 9 main hoists using flat ropes. 7 main hoists using 1 ½ in. rope. 5 main hoists using 1 ¼ in. rope. 6 shafts using 1 1/8 in. rope. 2 chippy hoists using 1 ¼ in. rope. 9 chippy hoists using 1 1/8 in. rope. 15 shafts using 1 in. rope. 7 shafts using 7/8 in. rope. 1 shaft using ¾ in. rope. In addition, there are a number of sinking engines using 5/8 in., ¾ in., 7/8 in., and 1 in. (15.9, 19, 22, and 25 mm. rope.) The flat ropes run from ½ by 7 ½ in. (12.7 by 190.5 mm.) to ½ by 4 ½ in. (9.5 by 114 mm.) and are used on the older hoisting-engines, which are set comparatively close to the shaft. Because of swelling and moving ground at some of the shafts, these ropes present certain difficulties in operation that are more pronounced than with round ropes; they are, therefore, being superseded by round ropes as newer engines are being installed. They are, however, much more easily inspected and repaired than round ropes.

Jan 2, 1922

By D. B. Myers

The consistent upward trend in crude oil production prevailing in California throughout the greater part of 1929, was effectively checked in November by a curtailment program instituted by mutual agreement between operators in four of the major fields. This program artificially reduced daily production to approximately the same daily figure as prevailed in December, 1928. The large amount of deep drilling during the later part of 1928 and during 1929 has established a potential, however, which is far in excess of refinery needs in the state. Low prices for crude oil which prevailed in California during 1928 continued during 1929. General curtailment continued in the older fields in San Joaquin Valley. The number of wildcat and exploratory wells drilled throughout California was materially increased, but no major field was discovered unless the recent bringing in of the Ohio Oil Co.'s Recreation Gun Club No. 1 well, near Venice in Los Angeles Basin, during the closing days of 1929 results in such a field. Significant developments during 1929 were: (1) The discovery of three deeper zones in the Santa Fe Springs field known as the O'Connell, Clarke, and Hathaway; (2) Kettleman Hills development and unanimous agreement to restrict production; (3) developments along the Santa Barbara Coast and the drilling of tideland permits; (4) extensions of some of the older producing areas in the San Joaquin Valley; (5) the Lawndale and Santa Barbara Mesa structures, the former discovered in Los Angeles Basin in 1928, the latter in Santa Barbara County in 1929, proved to be failures; (6) intensive exploration throughout the state and the drilling of a large number of deep wildcat wells; (7) discovery of oil by the Ohio Oil Co. in the Los Angeles Basin at Venice; (8) Long Beach and Ventura Avenue fields maintained steady production throughout the year. As a natural sequence to the discovery of high-gravity oil fields in Kettleman Hills and at Elwood in 1928, a tremendous amount of exploratory work was done in 1929 in areas underlain by rocks of lower Miocene age, particularly along the Santa Barbara Coast area, the San Joaquin Valley, and the Salinas Valley, where the Vaqueros and Temblor sands were considered to hold possibilities for production.

Jan 1, 1930

By T. G. Madgwick, W. Calder

Production of petroleum increased again during 1929, thus maintaining the steady growth inaugurated by the bringing in of Royalite No. 4 in Turner Valley, Alberta, towards the end of 1924, prior to which a decline over a number of years had been experienced. The growth has been confined to the Province of Alberta, the older production in New Brunswick and Ontario showing declines, although in the latter case considerable activity in the search for new gas structures was maintained and during the last six months two wells were brought in, one at Howard in the Trenton at a depth of 1250 ft., giving 5,500,000 cu. ft., and the other at Tilbury in the Guelph or Salina at 750 ft. giving 9,000,000 cubic feet. As has been the case during the past five years, interest in the search for structure and in the following up and development of areas already recognized has centered in Alberta and adjacent portions of Saskatchewan. This was due in the first instance to the striking of wet gas in the Palaeozoic limestone (Madison) of Turner Valley, some 30 miles south of Calgary, in Royalite No. 4 in October, 1924. The bringing in of other wells of similar importance late in 1928 and in the spring of 1929 which extended the productive area 3 miles southwards led to greatly enhanced drilling activity throughout the structure and adjacent areas and in other parts of Alberta. As a result good strikes of heavy crude oil have been recorded during the year at Ribstone, Oyen, Skiff and Coutts, in each case at moderate depths and in sufficient quanitity to justify prolonged testing. The prospects of a satisfactory production of this grade of oil are very encouraging. Actual oil production in the west is still confined to the Province of Alberta and for all grades of oil totaled 997,359 bbl., which compared with previous years shows a gratifying increase. To this increase the naphtha obtained from the wet gas of Turner Valley has proved the principal contributant, heavy crude also showing an improvement, while the light crude, the product of the Cretaceo-Jurassic sands overlying the Paleozoic of Turner Valley, remains unchanged. This is largely owing to operators casing off these sands in their endeavor to reach the limestone, but, there is evidence that in future more attention will be paid to

Jan 1, 1930

By G. F. Comstock

In the literature of metallography there is a large amount of material describing the various non-metallic inclusions found in iron and steel, and the appearance of sulfides, silicates, oxides, or alumina in steel under the microscope is fairly well known. The inclusions found in non-ferrous metals are, however, not so well known, at least judging from published writings, and the author has been interested in examining small castings of copper, brass, or bronze with certain inclusions purposely mixed with the metal, to see what was the characteristic appearance of each kind of inclusion, and if they could be readily distinguished from one another. The method employed in most cases consisted in overheating and oxidizing a small charge of copper, then cooling it somewhat, and adding a suitable amount of the element whose oxide it was desired to observe. This element was stirred in well and given time to react with the oxygen in the copper, then the melt was poured in a sand mold in the form of a cylinder about 21/2 in. (63 mm.) in each dimension, with a sprue about 11/2 in. (38 mm.) in diameter and 3 in. (76 mm.) high on top of the cylinder, the sprue forming the only riser. Samples for examination were cut sometimes from the center of the casting, and sometimes from the sprue or riser. A few of these samples were cast in chill molds. The appearance of sulfides was studied in an alloy containing 10 per cent, each of tin and lead, with which a flux of plaster of Paris was used. The appearance of foundry sand was studied in several alloys, one of them having sand stirred into the metal intentionally, and others having cut into the molds badly when poured, so that the castings were spoiled by included sand. As all this work was done on alloys having copper as the chief ingredient, the natural starting point was copper oxide, the appearance of which in a micro-section is well known. Cuprous oxide is soluble in molten copper, but separates out in freezing and forms a eutectic containing 3.5 per cent. Cu20, or 0.39 per cent. oxygen. If there is less

Jan 1, 1919

By William P. Blake

The mineral, garnet, is a common associate of copper-ore in the southwestern portion of the United States. This association may be observed on a large scale in southwestern Arizona, in southern New Mexico and in Sonora, Old Mexico, especially at El Cananea, and at Nacozari. At other localities in Mexico the general occurrence of garnet " as a contact metamorphic mineral" in the copper-deposits of the Cretaceous limestone is noted by José G. Aguilera.1 It is usually found at the contact of this limestone with diorites, granites, etc., at numerous mines. The same authority also cites the occurrence of garnet in metamorphosed Cretaceous limestone alongside of diorite dikes in association with iron-ore. Other foreign examples are found in the Banat and Servia, at Rezbanya in Hungary, and Offenbanya in Transylvania, and at Bogoslovsk in the Urals. In New South Wales, at Broken Hill, the gangue in the Proprietary mine is chiefly garnet, with quartz, opal and rhodonite.2 Also, in a recent paper by George Smith, entitled, " The Garnet-Formations of the Chillagoe Copper-Field, North Queensland, Australia,"3 it is shown that in the copper-field of Chillagoe, Australia, where there are many lode-formations, about one-half of the number are garnetiferous, and many of this garnet-type are associated with magnetite, which is regarded as of analogous origin. The two minerals are found merging imperceptibly into each other. These examples suffice to show the very general and wide distribution of garnet as an associate of copper-ore. In addition to the localities already mentioned as known in Arizona may be mentioned the copper-mines and occurrences

Jan 1, 1904

By Robert Mehl

RELATIVELY few data have been collected on the rates of diffusion in ternary solid solution systems. In general it does not seem worth while to gather extensive data for such systems until the factors that determine the rates of diffusion in binary systems are better understood. But the rates of diffusion in a ternary system of limited solid solubility, in which the terminal solid solution is in equilibrium with an intermediate phase and may thus be represented as a quasibinary system, represents a case of special interest. In this case, where by reason of the association of the two solute metals in an intermediate phase a special attraction of the two solute atoms may be safely assumed, some interaction of these atoms during simultaneous diffusion in the solvent lattice might be expected. It has frequently been proposed that molecular solid solutions exist in quasibinary and in other ternary (and binary) solid solutions. There is no direct evidence for such solid solutions; arguments based upon the supposed anomaly in certain physical properties1 are hardly important; unexpected density relationships have proved deceptive ;2 suggestions of molecular solid solutions have been made on the basis of solution laws in their application to certain systems, but without result;3 attempts to find lattice parameters in the solid solution Al-MgZn2, which cannot be calculated from the separate effects of magnesium and zinc and might therefore be taken as evidence for a molecular aggregation, have given negative results.4 Fundamentally, methods for the determination of the state of molecu¬lar aggregation in solution depend upon the kinetic behavior of the par-ticles constituting the system. If it could be shown that the two solutes in a quasibinary ternary system diffuse in molecular proportions, despite a radical difference in the separate rates of diffusion of each solute when diffusing alone in the solvent lattice, some basis for the concept of molecu-lar solid solution would be afforded. Freche5 examined the rates of independent and simultaneous diffusion of magnesium and silicon in

Jan 1, 1939

Statistics compiled by the United States Geological Survey show that the iron ore mined in the United States in 1917 reached a total of 75,288,851 gross tons, exceeding the former record output of 1916 by 121,179 tons. The shipments from the mines in 1917 were 75, 573,181 gross tons, valued at $238,260,333, a decrease in quantity of 2,297,372 tons, or 2.95 per cent., and an increase in value of $56,358,056, or 30.98 per cent., over the shipments in 1916. The average value per ton at the mines for all grades of ore in 1917 was $3.15 as against $2.34 in 1916. Stocks of iron ore at mines, mainly in Minnesota and Michigan, amounted at the close of 1917 to 10,628,908 gross tons, compared with 10,876,352 gross tons in 1916. The quantity of pig iron, exclusive of ferro-alloys, sold or used in 1917, according to reports of producers to the United States Geological Survey, amounted to 38,612,546 gross tons, valued at $1,053,785,975; compared with 39,126,324 gross tons, valued at $663,478,118 in 1916, a decrease of 1.32 per cent. in quantity and an increase of 59 per cent. in value. The average price per ton at furnaces in 1917, as reported to the Survey, was $27.29, compared with $16.96 in 1916, an increase of 61 per cent. The production of pig iron, including ferro-alloys, was 38,647,397 gross tons in 1917, compared with 39,434,797 gross tons in 1916, a decrease of 4.5 per cent., according to figures published by the American Iron and Steel Institute, March 18, 1918.

Jan 12, 1918

By E. V. Foran

AMONG the many newer disclosures that have accompanied the petroleum industry's progressively deeper exploratory drilling is the increased frequency with which the operators are encountering reservoirs of which the products at the time of discovery exist wholly or predomi-nantly in the gas phase. The popular term "distillate pool" is most often used within the industry when referring to this type of reservoir, and in this paper the term is used in that sense. These pools have been observed in many different surroundings. In some places the entire reservoir is filled with the wet gas containing its water-white condensible products in the gas phase but apparently with no dark oil or other hydrocarbon liquids in the reservoir. The 8200-ft. horizon in the Big Lake field in West Texas is a good example of this type. At other places the wet, or distillate-bearing, gas may form a large gas cap directly overlying and in contact with an extensive reserve of dark oil. Oklahoma City, Kettleman Hills, the 8500-ft. horizon in the Big Lake field, and many others are examples of this type. There are also many places in which the wet distillate-bearing gas fills nearly the entire reservoir space, while the dark oil occupies only a narrow, bandlike zone, which marks the boundary of the reservoir along its lowest productive contour. The heavier components of these deep pool gases are generally water white in color, a large portion of which are condensible in a conventional oil and gas separator, when operated under pressures of the order of 400 to 800 lb. per sq. in. Although the water-white products recovered in the separator sometimes have end points of 650° F. and higher on standard Engler distillation, they occur only in the gas phase in the reservoir. It is entirely possible that even some small amounts of dark colored reservoir components may occur in the gas phase when the temperature is 300° F. and pressures exceed 6000 lb. per sq. in. Close approaches to these conditions have been encountered in the deepest producing wells. The condensible content of the deep reservoir gases of the many pools that have been tested or produced to date shows a wide variation in both condensible content, per 1000 cu. ft. of gas, and physical character.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. B. Berg

Chlorite veins in the Silver Star district were of little interest to those who were mining gold and silver in the late 19th century. In 1975 unusually pure magnesian chlorite of the variety clinochlore was identified from a "talc" claim in this district. In 1977 tests by Cyprus Industrial Minerals showed that this chlorite was suitable for use in ceramics. Mining begun in that year continues. These replacement veins of chlorite in Precambrian quartzofeldspathic gneiss differ from nearby metalliferous veins to the northwest in both attitude and mineralogy.

Jan 1, 1984

By Robert Keeney

Before the outbreak of the war in 1914, the only electric-furnace smelting plant operating on a commercial basis west of the Mississippi River was an electric pig-iron plant in California; rare metal ores were not smelted, concentrates of molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, and vanadium ores being shipped east for reduction. Practically no- chrome ore was being mined, and only comparatively small amounts of manganese ore. Today there are two electric smelting plants in California, one in Washington, one in Iowa, and four in Colorado; two plants are under construction in California, and one in Montana. Ores of manganese, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten are now smelted in the West, and although uranium and vanadium concentrates are still shipped to the East, they will probably be treated in western plants in a short time. The four electric-furnace plants in Colorado are listed in Table 1. TABLE 1.-Electric Smelting Plants in Colorado Capacity, Company, Location Kilowatts Products . Tungsten Products Co Boulder 800 Ferrotungsten, ferromolybdentun. Boulder Tungsten Production Co. . Boulder 400 Ferrotungsten. Ferro Alloy Co Utah Junction 1200 Ferrochrome, ferrotung-sten. Iron Mountain Alloy Co Utah Junction 3000 Ferromanganese. Power for all of these plants is supplied by the Colorado Power Co.

Jan 8, 1918