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By D. Cubicciotti

IT has long been known that some metals are capable of being dispersed or dissolved in certain of their fused salts.' Davy' and Bunsen³ were among the first to observe that in some fused salt electrolyses, a highly colored, strongly reducing salt phase appeared in the neighborhood of the cathode. Later workers found that the current efficiency of the electrolysis was markedly reduced when such a phase appeared. It was also found that the strongly reducing salt could be made by melting the metal and normal salt together. Chemical analysis showed that in such salts the metal ion to anion ratio was always larger than in the normal salt. From such observations arose two different explanations of the nature of metal in salt solutions. When a solution of this type is quenched, it is possible to find small globules of metal in the salt. From this and other observations, Lorenz' and co-workers assumed the metal in salt solution to be a colloidal dispersion of metal in the fused salt and called it "metallnebel" or metal fog formation. They made a number of experiments to substantiate this point of view. Another school felt that when the metal dissolved it reduced the salt partially to a mixture or solution of normal salt and subsalt. Both of these ideas could explain the strong reducing character of the salt formed and the low current efficiency of the electrolysis. If either a metal colloid or a subsalt were formed at the cathode and diffused to the anode, it would be oxidized to the normal salt. Thus a cyclic process of oxidation and reduction could be set up conducting the current without giving rise to a net change in the system. These facts led the author to investigate some of the properties of metal in salt solutions with the hope of elucidating their nature further. Among the metal-salt systems that form metal in salt solutions most markedly are the alkaline earth metal-halide systems and cerium, bismuth, and cadmium halides. Other systems of halides, oxides and sulphides form such solutions to a lesser degree. The first work undertaken was a study of the temperature-composition diagrams of some of the systems." From such diagrams it would be possible to distinguish between a subhalide formation or a colloid. A subhalide should give rise to characteristic changes in the phase diagram, while a colloidal dispersion of metal in salt would not alter the freezing point of the salt. The results obtained on a number of alkaline earth metal-halide systems were all quite similar. Fig. 1 shows the barium-barium chloride system. The other

Jan 1, 1954

By Frederick N. Rhines

BECAUSE of the nature of the environments in which metals are handled, it is natural that gases should be suspected of intruding into metallurgical operations, there to produce effects both beneficial and detrimental. The problem of tracing and controlling such effects is often made difficult by the complexity of the conditions surrounding 'their occurrence, even though the fundamental mechanisms involved may be simple and of familiar type. Many gas-metal reactions are known to be implemented by processes of diffusion. These form a homogeneous group of phenomena which become more readily understandable when viewed together, in that the knowledge gained from one serves to interpret the next. It is the purpose of the present paper to present, by means of examples drawn from practice, a brief survey, of the ways in which gas-metal diffusion serves and obstructs the purposes of the metal-fabricating industries. The selection of the cases described was made by consulting more than thirty-six practicing experts whose combined experience provided an extensive coverage of the field and who were in a position to supply examples of occurrences of present day interest. The response was generous and it is regrettable that space permits the description of only a limited number of typical examples with but brief mention of parallel cases. THE NATURE OF GAS-METAL DIFFUSION The term "gas-metal diffusion," although commonly used, is ambiguous in so far as it implies that a definite group of substances may be identified as gases and may be expected to behave in a manner distinct from other substances in association with metals. "Gases" such as oxygen and hydrogen when diffusing through a liquid or solid metal are properly components of the liquid or solid solution; they behave as alloying elements and are not to be distinguished in their diffusion characteristics from other elements, except that each has an individual rate of diffusion. On the other hand, a number of metals in certain temperature ranges are volatile to the extent that they may appear in the form of vapor in metallurgical operations. For the sake of greater definiteness, therefore, it will be convenient to- regard as "gas-metal diffusion" any process in which the result depends upon one or more of the diffusing elements appearing, at some stage, in the gaseous state, or as a compound gas. No element, gaseous or otherwise, can diffuse through a liquid or solid metal unless it is at least slightly soluble in that metal. The elements of low atomic number

Jan 1, 1944

By James R. Gage

THE lead deposits of Missouri may be divided into three districts, the southwest, middle, and southeast. As too much time would be required to devote a detailed account to each district, only a description of the modes of occurrence of the lead ores in the southeast district will be given. The lead mining region proper of Southeast Missouri is embraced in an area of about twenty-five miles in width by about one hundred in length. The country embraced in this district is very broken, and traversed by ridges from one hundred to three hundred feet in height, with an occasional knob rising higher. Porphyry forms almost the entire substructure of the region, with here and there outcrops of granite. The crystalline rocks were eroded into ridges and valleys before the deposition of the limestone took place. These porphyries are older than the Silurian limestones, and "belong (according to Pumpelly) to the Archaean (Azoic) formation, of which they may be the youngest member in Missouri. They are the near equivalents, in point of age, to the great iron-bearing rocks of Lake Superior, New Jersey, and Sweden."12/02/2007

Jan 1, 1875

By Walter R. Hibbard, George H. Eichelman, William P. Saunders

INTEREST in the various products of the austenite eutectoid transformation in iron-carbon alloys, particularly as produced by the isothermal sub-critical techniques introduced by Davenport and Bain,1 has resulted in the application of similar heat treatments to other eutectoid transformations. Studies2.3.4 of the beta copper-aluminum alloy eutectoid transformation revealed microstructures very similar to those found in iron-carbon alloys. Investigations5,6 of the kappa phase in the copper-silicon alloy system have established the eutectoid type transformation of this phase into terminal alpha and intermediate gamma phases. This transformation has been reported' as forming a eutectoid type structure in a very sluggish manner by a long time isothermal treatment. The purpose of the present investigation is to study the products of the kappa eutectoid transformation as affected by transformation temperatures by means of microscopic and hardness methods. PREPARATION OF ALLOYS The copper-silicon alloy equilibrium diagram is shown in Fig I. The kappa field converges to a minimum silicon solubility at the eutectoid composition and all other completely kappa alloys are hypereutectoid. Thus, kappa decomposition involves first the proeutectoid precipitation of gamma, followed by the eutectoid transformation of a lower silicon content kappa (5.2 pct). Smith5 has indicated that alloys containing between 5.4 and 5.7 pct silicon could be hot rolled, but that the latter composition was desirable in order to permit a wider kappa temperature range. The alloy was prepared by adding Baker's commercially pure silicon to an ingot of copper-silicon alloy containing 2.34 pct silicon remaining from the investigation of Brick, Martin and Angier.7 Following the casting techniques of Krynitsky, Saunders and Stern,8 the ingot was melted under a heavy layer of dried charcoal in a clay-graphite crucible in a gas-fired pot furnace. Small lumps of silicon were held under the melt surface with a graphite rod. After the silicon had dissolved, the alloy was chill-cast and then remelted without a cover, stirred thoroughly, skimmed and poured into a preheated cast iron mold. The cast microstructure is shown in Fig 2. The casting, 10 X 4 X ¾ in., was annealed at 750°C for 21 brand furnace cooled. About 1/16 in. was milled from all surfaces. The plate was cut in half longitudinally and the bottom half analyzed by A.S.T.M. methods.9 The composition by weight was as follows: copper 94.24 pct, silicon 5.56 pct, iron 0.11 pct.

Jan 1, 1948

By H. E. Lee, P. C. Feddersen

Greenockite is the only known cadmium mineral of importance. It occurs rather universally, in minor concentrations, as a secondary mineral in sphalerite deposits. The world's cadmium output is obtained through the processing of metallurgical by-products, largely from the treatment of residues from electrolytic zinc, retort zinc and lithopone plants. These sources are supplemented by the processing of fumes from lead and copper smelting operations. The development of modern selective flotation practice in the decade 1920-1930, which permitted the economical mining of complex lead-zinc ores, resulted in significant increases in the quantities of cadmium entering lead smelting systems. Being closely related to zinc as to occurrence, properties and production, most detailed description of cadmium recovery methods are to be found recorded in connection with zinc metallurgy. Other than occasional articles pertaining to particular operational procedures, literature offers but little in the nature of a balanced survey of lead smelter cadmium recovery practices. While many of the basic operations described for the recovery of cadmium from zinc by-products are applicable to the treatment of lead plant products, the inherent problems involved differ widely. In general the cadmium content of related by-products from routine lead smelting operations is present in lower concentrations, exists in a less soluble state and is associated with both a greater quantity and a greater variety of detrimental impurities. To cope with these problems, lead smelter practices are found to follow the general outline: Preparatory Processing 1. Concentration operations 2. Sulphation operations Cadmium Plant Processing 1. Leaching operations 2. Purification operations 3. Sponge precipitation operations 4. Metal recovery operations 5. Refining and casting operations As in the case of related zinc plant operations, cadmium recovery practices at lead smelters are not standardized. They not only vary as to type, but also extent. Depending upon prevailing conditions, lead smelter cadmium operations range from simple concentration campaigns, for the purpose of sufficiently "up-grading" products for shipment elsewhere, to complete processing steps for the production of refined metal. Preparatory Processing The cadmium content of lead smelter receipts is low and, as a rule, proportionate to the zinc content; the usual range of cadmium contained being of the order of 0.01-0.05 pct. Were it not for the low boiling point of cadmium, such small concentrations would, no doubt, be lost in the large tonnages of slag, metal and other smelter end products. However, the ready volatility of cadmium and its compounds at prevailing lead smelting temperatures results in its concentration in fractional portions of fume collected. This collected fume comprises a circulating load within the smelter system. Thus, the cadmium content of blast furnace fume* increases with each successive circulation until an equilibrium value is reached when the sum of the cadmium losses, due to handling and in slag, waste gases and other end products, becomes equal to the intake as ore. With ore receipts averaging, say 0.03 pct cadmium, the concentration value obtainable, through fume circulation in a routine manner, approaches 10-12 pct. In such operations, cadmium concentrations in blast furnace fume of from 3-5 pct are readily .attainable. However, the concentration gain beyond this range, with each additional circulation, is progressively decreased as a result of mounting losses occurring through handling and in end products. Therefore, to avoid excessive cadmium loss and to enhance the ultimate concentration anttainable, it is customary practice to isolate blast furnace fume at some intermediate cadmium content for special concentration procedure. The most common type cadmium concentration "campaign" involves special smelting operations wherein a relatively high portion of blast furnace fume at 3—6 pct cadmium is incorporated into the sinter charge. This type practice is roughly illustrated by the diagram on p. 111. Cadmium fume collected from lead blast furnace operations is not amen-

Jan 1, 1950

By Robert E. Brand, Strathmore R. B. Cooke

For a study of the bonding that occurs in magnetite pellets during oxidation, cubes of magnetite, hematite, and quartz were prepared, each with one surface polished and nearly optically plane. These faces were fired together under pressure and at various temperatures to determine whether bonding would occur. Sections of surfaces that bonded were examined microscopically. An attempt was made to measure the strength effected by this treatment. EARLIER work1,2 has shown that the strength developed by fired magnetite pellets containing silica or silicates is due to three separate effects. Two of these are associated with the formation of slag in the interior of each pellet at temperatures above 1000°C, where the atmosphere is substantially though temporarily neutral. The third is independent of the silica content and is responsible for the development of a hard shell around the pellet during the initial stages of firing, a condition which permits the pellet to assume the increasing load of the overlying burden and prevents extrusion of the slagged and semi-liquid interior. Pellets made from hematite concentrates do not show these effects unless specific additives are incorporated, and it is these differences in behavior which in large part account for the difficulty in producing satisfactory pellets from such concentrates. Elsewhere it has been stated that "the most important factor responsible for the development of strength in fired magnetite pellets containing no additive is the oxidation of magnetite to hematite and the subsequent recrystallization and grain growth of this constituent."' The object of the investigation reported in the present paper was to study in detail the mechanism described above and to evaluate its contribution to the strength of the fired pellet compared with other possible mechanisms, excluding slag bonding. This was effected by placing together polished faces of two cubes prepared from specific minerals and then heating them under constant pressure at different temperatures both in air and in nitrogen. The materials used were magnetite, hematite, and quartz. The magnetite was coarsely crystalline material from western Montana, the hematite was Itabira ore from Brazil, and the quartz was of optical grade but of unknown origin. A high-grade Lebanon (Pennsylvania) magnetite concentrate was used to prepare briquets for the investigation of bonding strength. Analyses of the iron oxide materials are given in Table I. The specimens for furnace treatment were prepared with a carborundum cut-off wheel, which cut the minerals into cubes approximating % in. along each edge. Care was taken to make the sides as parallel as possible. The edges of the faces to be polished were beveled, and the cubes were mounted in brass rings with sealing wax, this being essential to prevent the specimens from rocking during polishing. To prevent excessive friction, the wax was recessed so that only the brass ring and the face of each specimen would be in contact with the polishing lap. Each specimen was then ground with No. 600 carborundum to produce a level surface before polishing. The Graton-Vanderwilt process was not used for polishing because of the long time required by this method, but several other methods were tried. Cloth laps using levigated alumina or chromium oxide did not produce the desired polish. Satisfactory results were obtained by means of a pitch lap: which was used for all the mineral cubes, with levigated alumina as the polishing medium. The lap was operated in a machine similar to those used in the preparation of single optical surfaces. It was run at low speeds and moderate pressures, and polishing was stopped occasionally to prevent overheating of the lap. A good polish with flat surfaces could be obtained in about 5 min. After polishing the sealing wax was removed either in hot water or in a solvent such as turpentine.

Jan 1, 1955

By Willis Carrier

PARTICULAR interest in the ventilation of deep mines, especially those in South Africa, has been created by a very complete system of cooling of the world's deepest mine, the Turf shaft of the Robinson Deep ill Johan-nesburg. The writer visited this mine in January, 1936, and again in 1937. During these visits and subsequently, a considerable part of the theory involved in rock cooling in tunnels was developed and this has been checked by practical observations of the rates of rock cooling made within mines. The purpose of this paper is to set forth the method of attack of the mine problem. The cooling or air conditioning of mines by the use of mechanical refrigeration was not wholly new 1-5 when the Robinson Deep installation was made. The first mine to be cooled was the Morro Velho mine, in Brazil. The first installation in this mine was put into operation in December 1920, the refrigerant being ammonia.5 The surface cooling gave considerable benefit but it proved inadequate as greater depths were reached, therefore in 1929 two centrifugal refrigerating machines were installed at the 6000-ft. level. These were used in conjunction with the surface cooling system to furnish additional cooling at the lower levels. This later installation used Carrene as a refrigerant. This nonflammable refrigerant, having a boiling point of 104° at sea level, insured reasonable safety, since all parts of the machine operated At subatmospheric pressure. Very favorable reports have been received on the effectiveness of this installation, but no recent data are available. An interesting feature of that plant is that the condenser water is cooled by spraying it into the exhaust air from the mine at the base of the ventilation upcast, which permits the water to be cooled within a few degrees of the wet-bulb temperature of the air entering the upcast, and the only water that has to be supplied for condensing purposes is that lost by evaporation, or about 0.5 per cent of the volume circulating through the condenser. This plan affords an ideal means for the removal of the heat load from the refrigerating system, and of course also from the mine itself. In many mines, however, especially those in South Africa, there is no

Jan 1, 1938

By Oliver B. Hopkins

The Peruvian production increased over 3 million barrels from 1933 to 1934—from approximately 13¼ million barrels to over 16¼ million barrels—bringing the cumulative production of the country up to 171 million barrels. Most of this production, as well as most of the increase in 1934, came from La Brea-Parinas Estate, the property of the International Petroleum Co., Limited. In 1932 Peru stood eleventh among the oil-producing countries of the world, but in 1933 her production exceeded that of Trinidad, Argentine and Colombia, which placed her in eighth position. In 1934 Peru's production was exceeded by that of Colombia by about one million barrels, and by that of the Argentine by about 1½ million barrels, thus placing her in tenth position. After several years of relative inactivity in drilling and exploration there was a noticeable increase during 1934 in both of these lines of activity. Oil Fields La Brea-Parinas Estate.—Production on the La Brea-Parinas Estate. reached a significant total of 85,080 bbl. as early as 1891. It increased to over one million barrels in 1912, and to over 10 million barrels in 1929, and in 1934 it reached an all-time high of over 14 million barrels. The total production from 1890 to 1934 was 133,784,609 barrels. Practically all the drilling on the property has been done with cable tools, but during 1934 three strings of rotary tools were introduced. One was a heavy outfit for drilling a deep test and the other two were lighter outfits for deepening wells in the newer section of the field, where the gas pressure was too high to permit safe drilling with standard tools. During 1934 a total of 28,127 ft. was drilled, 66 wells were deepened, and 6 new wells were completed. At the end of the year 2844 wells had been drilled on the Estate, of which 1814 were still productive. The remaining 1030 wells represent abandoned producers or dry holes. The total area that has been productive up to the present time is estimated at 13,369 acres. An interesting article on the various phases of operations of the International Petroleum Co. was written by Arthur Iddings and published in The Oil and Gas Journal (Dec. 27, 1934).

Jan 1, 1935

By J. W. Paul, J. N. Geyer

The measures overlying some coal beds are under stress as the result of geological movements after the measures have been deposited. The removal of the coal in the process of mining induces additional stress in the roof measures. Certain types of deposits have sufficient inherent strength to be self-supporting over definite width of excavations and the stress is adjusted without appreciable movement of the material, to the extent that no part of the material will become detached and fall. The uplifting of the measures in geological time often results in the establishing of cleat planes or planes of weakness in the measures overlying the coal, and these planes generally have a uniform direction. Measures that have not been subject to uplifts are less liable to have noncompensable stresses, although any method of underground mining results in the creation of stress in the roof measures over the excavations and over the coal pillars. The immediate roof measures extending upwards of 10 to 15 ft. above the coal give the greatest concern in maintaining the roof in the advance work in the solid coal. Immediate measures which are inherently weak often may be scaled and supported for indefinite periods by a system of timbering. As an excavation is made, the pillars adjoining must take on the weight previously supported by the coal removed. The roof over the excavations takes on the function of a beam and if too weak to be self-supporting it will fail either through shearing or bending, and the roof cavity may enlarge until a self-supporting arch is formed. As support is removed by taking the coal away, there is a tendency for the roof members to move toward the excavation in an effort to compensate the stress; particularly is this true where there is an overlying bed of clay, which may act as a lubricant on which adjoining members may slide. Unstabilized stresses, plus the force of gravity, plus the inherent strength of the material, govern the tendency of mine roof to fall when not supported by timber. In general, most mine roof depresses when the coal is removed. This depression may be in the nature of a sag as the result of bending, or the edges of the pillar may break away or the floor may come up or heave.

Jan 1, 1934

By George H. Ashley

The Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at its last session passed a new act dealing with barrier pillars, which may have a wide interest in other states. In the past the laws of Pennsylvania have required that the superintendent of a mine "shall not permit the mining of coal within 50 ft. of any abandoned mine containing a dangerous accumulation of water, until said danger has been removed by driving a passageway to tap and drain off said water, as provided for in this act: Provided, That the thickness of the barrier pillars shall be greater aid shall be in proportion of one foot of pillar thickness to each one and one-quarter feet of water head, if in the judgment of the engineer of the property and that of the district inspector it is necessary for the safety of the persons working in the mine." Thus it has happened that a thickness of several hundred feet has necessarily been left in pillars in mining. It has seemed to many in the mining industry that this left an unnecessary amount of coal in pillars, and did not provide that the pillar be left equally on the two sides of the mine. As a result the General Assembly of 1927 by Joint Resolution authorized the Governor to appoint a Commission of "seven prominent citizens, of whom four shall be recognized mining engineers, one shall be a hydraulic engineer, one a geologist of recognized standing in his profession, and one a State mine inspector from the bituminous coal mining district, to investigate and report upon barrier pillars in the bituminous coal region." The Governor appointed the following Commission: Morris Coulter, Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp., Indiana, Pa.; A. E. Roberts, Monroe Coal Mining Co., Revloc, Pa.; George T. Lewis, Westmoreland Coal Co., Irwin, Pa.; Morris Knowles, hydraulic engineer, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Thomas A. Mather, State Inspector of Mines, Tyrone, Pa.; A. B. Jessup, Anthracite Coal Operators Association, Jeddo, Pa.; George H. Ashley, State Geologist, Harrisburg, Pa. Mr. Coulter was elected Chairman and Mr. Ashley, Secretary. This Commission held meetings in Harrisburg, Johnstown and Pittsburgh. It obtained and considered the laws and experiences of other states and European countries. Some of its members conferred at length with the directors and other members of the U. S. Bureau

Jan 1, 1930

By Colin M. Sargent

ALTHOUGH annealing twins are frequently observed in many fcc metals, their occurrence in aluminum is relatively rare. ~ahn' in his review of twinning has listed only a few references to observations of twins in aluminum, e.g., Refs. 2 and 3. They have also been shown to occur in evaporated aluminum layers.4 During the present work, several annealing twins were studied in aluminum. The specimens of 1099-grade aluminum had the following thermomechanical treatment: deformed 90 pct by rolling, partially re-crystallized, further deformed 60 pct to a final thickness of 100 p, then annealed for 24 hr at 120°C. This treatment produced several annealing twins—-about ten per electron microscope specimen. The specimens were produced by the window technique and examined in a Phillips E.M. 200 operating at 100 kv. A typical twin boundary is shown in Fig. 1. For several of the twins studied the twin plane could be tilted so that it was parallel to the electron beam, e.g., Fig. 2. The associated diffraction pattern, Fig. 3, shows the twinned relationship between the grains. The twinning plane in each case was (111). Use of a reflection common to both the twin and the matrix,* i.e., using reflecting planes parallel in the twin and the matrix, the coherent twin boundary becomes invisible and only the noncoherent segments of the stepped boundary are seen, e.g., Fig. 4. Trace analysis of the boundaries showed that the long straight portions were invariably the twin plane; i.e., these portions are coherent. The planes of the shorter segments are shown by Fig. 5 to be (551 1, (7111, and {211).

Jan 1, 1969

By Richard Dunmore

Tests of the MRDE firedamp prediction method have been carried out in a number of longwall districts with different conditions. The method itself and its development have been described previously At many test sites the prediction has been good, i.e. the calculated gas emission levels have agreed with measured values, averaged over a period of many weeks, within a few percent. In other cases, where there have been larger discrepancies between calculation and measurement, investigations have shown that these may be attributed to particular conditions of mining or geology. Recognition of these conditions in advance of mining is clearly desirable to improve the accuracy of the initial prediction. It has been shown that variations in gas emission rates depend largely on coal production in terms of the weekly advance of the coal face. Although there appears to be a random element present, variations in gas emission levels calculated from changing face advances agree well with measurement. The accuracy of prediction therefore depends on how well face advance can be forecast and needs to be updated as the working proceeds in the light of the face performance actually achieved. Continuous monitoring of the mine environment provides the information necessary to compare actual gas emission with predicted levels, and computerised systems make it possible to carry this out in real time. Predictions can thus be adjusted to take account of emission levels measured in previous weeks These adjustments, whether they are made after the first few weeks or subsequently during the district life, would also be used to alert management to particular abnormalities or significant changes in gas emission.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. F. Hollis, C. K. McArthur

PRIOR to the application of anion exchange, all recovery of uranium from acid leach liquors precipitated an impure product requiring further upgrading before it could be refined. The ion exchange process, on the other hand, provides excellent selectivity for extracting soluble uranium from leach liquors, so that high grade concentrates can be produced directly. The discovery that uranium is readily adsorbed by anion exchange resins, together with the experience of resin and equipment manufacturers in water treatment, led to rapid development of ion exchange in a multiple column operation. Many processing plants using fixed bed ion exchange are in operation or under construction in Africa, Australia, and Canada. There are a limited number in the U. S. Although the fixed bed process has been highly successful, the feed to the ion exchange columns must be a clear solution, which is obtained by filtration or by countercurrent decantation of leached pulps. With some ores, poor filtration or settling characteristics make production of a clear solution difficult. Most processing plants in the U. S. receive their ores from a number of small mines, and there is considerable variation in the settling and filtering behavior of the ores. An ion exchange process was therefore desirable in which the uranium could be recovered directly for the leached pulp by adding ion exchange resin, which could be then separated from the pulp by a screening operation. The process would thus resemble the cyanide-charcoal process in which gold is adsorbed from cyanide pulp by means of activated charcoal. Preliminary tests in which leached pulps were directly contacted with resin beads led to the development of the RIP process.

Jan 4, 1957

By W. L. Price

Since they were first introduced in the United States in 1964, rail mounted bucket wheel stacker-reclaimers have gained wide acceptance by the coal burning power plant group. Other installations include those in phosphate and steel mill ore storage areas. First Installation in the U.S.A. Three basic types of bucketwheels for handling stored bulk materials are now being used in the U.S. Bucketwheel stacker-reclaimers came into use in the U.S.A. in 1964 at the Chalk Point power station built by the Potomac Electric Power Co. It was decided, after serious study, to install the first slewing-boom, rail mounted bucketwheel stacker-reclaimer at this installation. It was designed with a separately counter- weighted wheel boom because the fixed counterweight of the European designed bucketwheel made it possible for the machine to overturn backwards if the wheel rested on the ground due to a possible failure of the luffing system.

Jan 1, 1970

By George W. Maynard

In the biographical notice of Thomas F. Witherbee, published in.Bulletin NO. 32, August, 1909 (p. xxv), it is said that "he is believed to have been the first manager in America to use the chemical laboratory for the purpose of controlling the regular running of the blast-furnace." Since the year is not given, I cannot decide as to Mr. Witherbee's priority; but the statement leads me to contribute a bit of history, showing an early departure from the " rule-of-thumb " blast-furnace work to the employment of a chemist. In the autumn of 1868 the department of mining and metallurgy was established at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In connection with the assay-department a laboratory was equipped for making general commercial analyses. In January, 1869, Alexander L. Holley, the manager and builder of the Bessemer plant at the Rensselaer Works of John A. Griswold & Co., the first plant erected in the United States under the Bessemer patents, began to send me samples

Jan 1, 1911

By W. R. Roser, F. E. Rizzo, Wu Hu

An insight into the mechanism of electrocrystallization of copper in simulated commercial acid electrolytes has been surmised from scanning electron microscope analysis of laboratory prepared specimens. The growth takes place in three overlapping stages. In he first, lasting approximately one hour at 200 amps/sq m, a propensity to epitaxial growth is observed. During the second stage a preferred orientation developed. The crystallography of the deposit showed a strong preferred orientation with the [111] direction normal to the surface. Triangular pyramids with (111) faces and (111) texture is a common result. In the third stage, occuring at longer deposition times, side growth, dendrite-like branching is common. The obsermtions have some elements in common with published results for highly purified electrolytes. Several significant differences were observed. The truncated pyramidal and block type growth discussed in he literature is suppressed under the conditions studied. The results are briefly discussed in terms of the screw dislocation, fault, and layer type growth mechanisms of crystal growth.

Jan 1, 1973

By Oliver B. Hopkins

Peruvian production for the year 1935 amounted to 17,064,879 bbl., a record amount for any year, bringing the cumulative production of the country up to 188 million barrels. The 1935 figure is an increase of 785,769 bbl. over the 1934 total. The property of the International Petroleum Co. contributed 636,812 bbl. of this increase, and the Lobitos property 158,625 barrels. Exploration work in the country was again active, with attention focused on three areas, the Huallaga River, Lake Titicaca and the Coastal Zone of the Province of Tumbes. It is reported that in the Huallaga River area the Selden Breck Construction Co. has completed geological and engineering studies on its Pachitea River concessions and has ordered a drilling rig. In the Lake Titicaca region further studies in the vicinity of Pusi were made by Government geologists. During the period from 1906 to 1915, the Pirin anticline in this area produced 285,936 bbl. of low-grade crude. The Government holds 120,000 hectares of reserved lands in this area. In the Coastal Zone of the Province of Tumbes explorations by the Government were continued on the National Reserve, and a test location has been selected in the Quebrada Zapotal about 10 miles from the Port of Zorritos. An order has been placed in the United States for drilling equipment. LaBrea-Parinas Estate.—Production on the LeBrea-Parinas Estate reached an all-time high in 1935 of 14,756,914 bbl., an increase of 636,812 bbl. over the 1934 record. The total production from 1890 to 1935 was 148,541,523 bbl. During 1935 a total of 63,021 ft. was drilled in new wells and 5449 ft. in deepening existing wells; 23 wells were deepened and 29 new wells were completed, of which 27 were producers and 2 were dry holes. At the end of the year 2873 wells had been drilled on the Estate, of which 1838 were still productive. The remaining 1035 wells represent abandoned producers or dry holes. Practically all the drilling on the property has been done with cable tools, but during 1934 three strings of rotary tools were introduced. Experience with these outfits has shown that rotary equipment can

Jan 1, 1936

By Joseph E. Pogue

The petroleum industry has been involved in Lore collective planning than any other American industry, with the exception of the railroads and utilities, and therefore is of interest as a case study in the experimental attempts to regulate the economic consequences of free competition. Planning is of course an integral part of effective management, hence at the outset a distinction must be clearly drawn between competitive planning and collective planning. By competitive planning is meant the aggregate of plans drawn up and prosecuted by the competing units occupying a field of enterprise; by collective planning is meant a collusion of plans, either originating among some or all competitors, or else imposed upon them, whether accepted or resisted, by some superior authority, usually the state. The prevailing popular concept of "planning" as applied to industry appears to be a program of conduct superimposed upon an industry unwilling or incapable of achieving a socially and economically desirable result under free competition. In this brief and tentative analysis of the subject, competitive planning is left to one side and attention is focussed upon the matter of collective planning as defined above. A basic functional difference between the two categories of planning is that in the case of competitive planning the individual plans are small, numerous, and tend to offset one another when in error; whereas in the case of collective planning, the separate plans are larger in scope, fewer in number, and tend to escape the incidence of the principle of compensation. In viewing the evolution of collective planning in the petroleum industry we find that during the past 20 years there have developed four more or less well defined collective plans and that at the present time the industry is deeply involved in a collective planning trend pointing toward further varieties. The four plans, which are to some degree transitional, may be conveniently named from the chief incidents that led to their formulations. The first collective plan was the program of control developed during the World War and hence called the war plan. The second plan was one originating within the industry in the period between the war and the inflation of the late twenties and called the inventory

Jan 1, 1935

By Oliver B. Hopkins

Peruvian production for the year 1935 amounted to 17,064,879 bbl., a record amount for any year, bringing the cumulative production of the country up to 188 million barrels. The 1935 figure is an increase of 785,769 bbl. over the 1934 total. The property of the International Petroleum Co. contributed 636,812 bbl. of this increase, and the Lobitos property 158,625 barrels. Exploration work in the country was again active, with attention focused on three areas, the Huallaga River, Lake Titicaca and the Coastal Zone of the Province of Tumbes. It is reported that in the Huallaga River area the Selden Breck Construction Co. has completed geological and engineering studies on its Pachitea River concessions and has ordered a drilling rig. In the Lake Titicaca region further studies in the vicinity of Pusi were made by Government geologists. During the period from 1906 to 1915, the Pirin anticline in this area produced 285,936 bbl. of low-grade crude. The Government holds 120,000 hectares of reserved lands in this area. In the Coastal Zone of the Province of Tumbes explorations by the Government were continued on the National Reserve, and a test location has been selected in the Quebrada Zapotal about 10 miles from the Port of Zorritos. An order has been placed in the United States for drilling equipment. LaBrea-Parinas Estate.—Production on the LeBrea-Parinas Estate reached an all-time high in 1935 of 14,756,914 bbl., an increase of 636,812 bbl. over the 1934 record. The total production from 1890 to 1935 was 148,541,523 bbl. During 1935 a total of 63,021 ft. was drilled in new wells and 5449 ft. in deepening existing wells; 23 wells were deepened and 29 new wells were completed, of which 27 were producers and 2 were dry holes. At the end of the year 2873 wells had been drilled on the Estate, of which 1838 were still productive. The remaining 1035 wells represent abandoned producers or dry holes. Practically all the drilling on the property has been done with cable tools, but during 1934 three strings of rotary tools were introduced. Experience with these outfits has shown that rotary equipment can

Jan 1, 1936

By N. M. Parikh, T. J. Koppenaal

The strengthening mechanism of fiber-reinforced silver has been investigated as a function of fiber density and fiber material. Stress-strain curves were determined in the range 2 x 10-6 to 2 x 10-3 plastic styain and slip lines were examined. The yield strength at 0.2 pct permanent strain is markedly dependent upon fiber density but the stress necessary to initiate plastic deformation is independent of fiber density. The strengthening mechanism of the fibers is shown to be malogous to grain boundary strengthening in poly crystalline metals. The variation in strengthening with different types of fibers is also noted and discussed. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanical properties of two-phase systems, particularly in the classical dispersed-phase alloys where the separation between the dispersed phases is 0.01-0.1µ. However, little work has been done on fiber-reinforced metals where the dispersed-phase separation is considerably larger than this. Parikh1 investigated the mechanical properties of many fiber-reinforced metals and found that two general relationships are always observed, as follows: 1) A fibrous network incorporated into a second weaker metal strengthens the latter, and the amount of strengthening increases with fiber concentration. 2) At a corrstant fiber concentration, the amount of strengthening in a given matrix can vary considerably, depending upon the type of fiber employed. The object of the present investigation was to examine the fuiidamental factors controlling these two observations. procedure: Fig. 1 shows the initial step in the fabrication of the specimens. The sieve is shaken so that the fibers fall into a mold with the longitudinal axes of most fibers in the X-Z plane. The fibers are then compressed to a predetermined density, thus forming a "felt", and the necessary amount of matrix metal is added to the top of the felt. The mold is heated, in vacuum or hydrogen, to above the melting point of the matrix metal; the molten metal flows into the felt, and the entire assembly is cooled. This produces a "composite" that is essentially free of voids. A number of composites were prepared in this manner using 1/4-in. kinked lengths of mild steel

Jan 1, 1962