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By Archiblad MacMartin

The Kunigin-Marien-Hiitte is the only works in Germany where the Bessemer process is carried on by the direct method. The Besserner plant there, is arranged after the true English type, and the only resemblance to the Swedish mode of 'procedure is the dispensing with the use of spiegeleisen at the end of the "blow." In a new department of the establishment, started within three years, each of the converters is turned by means of a very neat and compact reversible engine, the steel shaft of which is an endless screw, which turns against the oblique cogs of a large wheel attached to the shaft of the vessel. An advantage which this arrangement possesses over the ordinary English hydraulic arrangement, is the fact that the endless screw suffices to turn the vessel, in either direction, any number of complete revolutions; while even the latest American improvements, so clearly explained to us by Mr. Holley at the opening session of this meeting, do not secure even one complete revolution without changing the angle of inclination of the hydraulic piston. In the endless screw arrangement, there being no limit to the working of the motor in either direction (no return-stroke necessary), the vessel can always, unless outside reasons demand the contrary, be turned around to any desired position by the shortest cut, whether backwards or forwards. Also, the diameter of the cogwheel attached to the vessel can be made sufficiently great to avoid all unevenness of motion. In the old department the motive-power still continues to be hydraulic. If reports be true, the new department produces spiegelized steel, for the manufacture of all-steel rails. But the old department is still, as from the beginning, devoted to the production by the direct method of steel for steel-headed rails. The most remarkable fact connected with this direct steel is the ease with which it welds to the iron 'of the rail-packets, although no borax or other fluxing agent is used to facilitate the welding. It is very rarely that an exception occurs, and an ingot or a charge is discarded by the rail-mill. The mixture of pig-iron used for the production of this steel is melted in cupolas of very interesting construction (not to be de-

By D. F. Haley

THE molybdenite deposits at Climax, Cool., have recently attracted considerable notice, because of their great size, as compared with other known deposits of the same mineral. Climax station, on the. Colorado Southern narrow-gage railway, was at one time the Fremont Pass station on the Denver & Rio Grande. It is 1412 miles northeast of Leadville, and exactly on the divide between the headwaters of the Arkansas and Blue Rivers. Climax station is 11,300 ft. (3444 m.) above sea level. The working tunnel of the molybdenum mine is about 1 mile from the railroad, and 900 ft. above it, at an elevation of 12,200 feet. The climatic conditions are severe, and snow can be expected during any month of the year. Winter sets in not later than Nov. 1, the snowfall is very heavy, and the ground remains covered with snow until June 1, and sometimes even later. From June 1 to Oct. 1, there is much rain and a little snow falls in the late afternoon nearly every day. In October, 1917, there was one of the biggest snowstorms and blizzards of the year. Being just on the divide, constant strong winds blow the fine, dry snow with such force that, during most of the winter, outside work of any kind -is accomplished under most trying conditions. Within a few miles of Climax, some of the richest gold placers of Colorado occur. One of them, McNulty Gulch, was just across on the northeastern flank of Bartlett mountain. This mountain, therefore; was well prospected, and the presence of a bluish mineral and a yellowish one resembling sulphur was known to the old prospectors. They thought for many years that the blue mineral was graphite, and it is difficult to say when it first became definitely known that it was molybdenite. Claims had been staked as .early as 1896, but it is evident that the prospectors at that time were looking for gold. In 1902; several claims were acquired by H. Leal, who drove a tunnel about 900 ft. (274 in.) long, probably to intersect a fault, which shows on the surface, and was thought to be a possible gold carrier. Gold was not found in paying quantities, but throughout its length the tunnel passed through a fractured silicified granite, showing a fairly uniform distribution of a fine-grained bluish mineral, which was finally determined as molybdenite. For several

Jan 8, 1918

By Richard E. Goodman

Rock slope stability assumes different roles in decision making as a mining venture develops and, accordingly, geological investigations vary in thought and in deed according to the project stage. During exploration, stability questions bear on the decision whether or not to mine, because their resolution affects the cost of mining. During the mine lay-out stage, stability is a key factor in deciding how to mine. Finally, during mine operation, stability affects safety and operating costs, and therefore, pit productivity. Among the many considerations influencing stability, rock mass classification and geological environmental factors count heavily. The rock mass behavioral class depends upon the rock character and its degree of fracturation. The loads on the rock are derived from the environmental factors of initial state of stress and the water regime. Of course, stability is also tied to a host of non-geological factors such as the pit geometry, mining style, relative wealth, philosophy of mine operation, and accident history. METHODS OF STABILITY EVALUATION AND CORRESPONDING INVESTIGATORY TOOLS The purposes of the geological investigation are to identify and evaluate the geological factors influencing stability so that the vital questions can be analyzed. The tools selected for stability analysis reflect the stage of development of the mining scheme and therefore the geological investigations, which must furnish data for the analyses and must vary with the project stage. For exploration and mine planning, the methods of resolving stability questions must meet the need to evaluate numerous parameters in limited time; examples of such methods are stereographic projections (1, 2, 3) charted solutions(4) and simple physical models (5, 6). An investigation program that employs geological mapping tools and aids to mapping, such as geophysics, with relatively few rock tests, is in balance with these analytical methods. First data about the water regime are obtained from observed piezometric levels, and the initial state of stress is queried simply through geological inference and experience. In the layout stage more elaborate physical scale models (7) and perhaps finite element models (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), will be relevant to the design process and therefore much more detailed geological investigation is required. The scale of observation of both rock material and joints will be significantly enlarged and mechanical tests of rock and joint strength

Jan 1, 1972

By Louis A. Riley

I DESIRE to submit, for the consideration and information of the members of the Institute, the following data, drawings, and tables, showing what I believe will be interesting information with regard to the diamond drill, and its uses in developing mineral lands. I would first say that the results given have been obtained during the past two years by means of two drilling machines belonging to the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, operating on their coal lands in the Mahanoy, Lehigh, and Wyoming regions. 1st. A tabulated statement, giving location of borings, date, progress, total cost, itemized cost per foot, etc. 2d. Section showing strata bored in Nos. 5 and 10 holes at Mt. Carmel, see Plate VI. 3d. Section showing strata bored in No. 19 hole at Hazleton, see Plate VI. 4th. Photograph and description of drill No. 2. From the first it will be seen that the total number of test-holes bored up to May 1st of this year is 24; 9 of these are in the Mahanoy region, 6 in the Lehigh region, and 10 in the Wyoming region, in all of which cores have been taken for the whole distance. The total distance bored is 9902 feet. The majority of the holes have been put down for the purpose of proving the lower veins of the coal series, and have had to encounter the harder rocks of the coal formation. Much of the distance has been through the lower conglomerates, going in some cases through the coarse egg conglomerate, the foundation of the coal deposit, and to the green sandstone and red shale which underlie it. These lower sandrocks and conglomer¬ates are among the hardest known to geologists, and present a formidable resistance to the exploring drill. This fact must be taken into consideration in comparisons of cost of drilling, and when considered will still further improve the very favorable results I am able to show in my statement of costs. In illustration, I will cite the work of one bit when boring in the upper or softer rocks of the Wyoming region, where 280 feet were obtained without resetting, while in the Lehigh and Mahanoy regions, in the lower and harder rocks, bits set with the same quality of diamonds would only bore from 3 to 20 feet before being worn out. In this connection it may

Jan 1, 1877

The following is an incomplete list of members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period May 10, 1919, to June 10, 1919. Victor C. Alderson, Golden, Colo. E. Fleming L'Engle, Joplin, Mo. H. Foster Bain, Washington, D. C. W. D. Mainwaring, Philadelphia, Pa. J. J. Beeson, Master Engr. Sr. Gr. W. G. Matteson, Fort Worth, Tex. Gunnar Bergstrom, Stockholm, Sweden. C. E. MacDonald, Toronto, Can. Corry T. Brown, Socorro, N. Met. Francis Nicholson, Charlotte, Va. Geo. W. Brymer, Scranton, Pa. Richard A. Parker, Denver, Colo. W. Burns, Santa Fe, N. Mex. S. B. Patteson, Jr., Allentown, Pa. H. C. Carlisle, The Pas, Manitoba, Can. G. W. Ponton, Ottawa, Canada. J. Carson Adkerson, Va. W. H. Reber, Ensign, Dallas, Tex. C. A. Cheney, Madison, Wis. T. C. Roberts, New York City. J. M. Clark, Toronto, Canada W. A. Rukeyser, Ensign, N. F. Corps. John J. Doyle, St. Louis, Mo. W. H. Staver, New York City. H. S. Emlaw, Grand Haven, Mich. D. B. Sterrett, Washington, D. C. E. Francis, Birmingham, Ala. T. V. Smirnoff, Russia. Rudolf Gahl, Denver, Colo. E. C. Templeton, New York City. Emit Gthmann, Baltimore, Md. H. A. Toblemann, Ajo, Ariz. A. B. Hardie, Philadelphia, Pa. Priestley Toulmin, Birmingham, Ala. Clarence M. Haight, Franklin, N. J. M. R. Walker, Baltimore, Md. N. V. Hansell, New York City. H. A. Wheeler, St. Louis, Mo. C. A. Heberlein, Nacosari, Mexico. D. B. Whitaker, Santiago, Cuba. Pierre Hines, Milwaukee, Wis. A. W. G. Wilson, Ottawa, Can. J. S. Hollings, Brymoba, Wales. Oba Wiser, Hanover, N. Mex C. Vey Holman, Maine. Harry J. Wolf, Denver, Colo. H. H. Howry, Denver, Colo. F. H. Wood, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. W. Spencer Hutchinson, Boston, Mass. J. P. Wood, New York, N. Y. W. B. Kunhardt, Reading, Pa. Lawrence Addicks sailed on May 17 for London; lie expects to be absent from this country for several months. Roy H. Allen has accepted a position in the research engineering department of the National Aniline & Chemical Co., Buffalo, N. Y. H. Foster Bain has gone to Shanghai, China, where he expects to remain for some time. Percy J. Bandy has accepted a position with the Cia. Minera del Mirasol S. A., at Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, Mexico. J. H. Batcheller is now with the North Midas Copper Co., St. Helena, Alaska.

Jan 7, 1919

SINCE I have told you of the distillation of waters and the extraction of oils from things-all ingenious and useful processes-I wish to continue to speak of the arts. I am reminded that I first wish to write down for you the discourse that I made to you on another occasion a few days ago concerning the operation of a mint, so that if you have lost it from your memory (and this would not be surprising since you have had no practice in it) you may repossess it if you should need to practice it or even to talk about it, and if you find yourself in this activity it may not be new to you. I told you, as I believe you will remember and so again I repeat, that a very great and constant diligence is required by one who wishes to operate a mint well, or to have it operated, because it has many parts which it is necessary for anyone who enters this work to understand very well; indeed, if he wishes that all the work of his helpers be done well, he will have to do it himself. And if it were possible, he should have a hundred hands and a hundred eyes together, and at the same time should be in different places, because some loss often occurs in what is handled because of the carelessness of the workers or because of their little real trustworthiness. It is understood that such things require great hard labors and many kinds of knowledge. The material handled in this work is most often either gold or silver all ready to be spent, and these things are very attractive to those who handle them. In addition to being made into pieces of money likely to disappear, it is very easy to lose, and whatever part is lacking for any reason whatever [132v] brings detriment and loss to the patron since it is a thing of value. Therefore, in short, anyone who wishes to exercise this art well, without being fraudulent therein, must watch the weights with all care because the essence of this art is naught but the division of a quantity of weight into many exactly defined pieces and the alloying of gold by carats and of silver by leghe, exactly established in accordance with what the prince grants you as remedy.* If through negligence you exceed in perfection

Jan 1, 1942

By Jos. J. Walsh

Ventilation within a coal mine is essential to the welfare of those employed therein, from the standpoint of health, safety, and efficiency. While the saving of life and the preserving of health are the chief reasons for ventilation, efficiency and production are increased. In spite of the fact that we speak of air as having a certain composition, the proportions of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide are not fixed, but vary between small limits. The different elements are not chemically united, they are merely mixed and each is free and can be separated with little energy. For this reason air in the mine workings is seldom found in a pure state. Factors that necessitate ventilation in coal mines are those that change the composition of pure air. Contamination of mine air results from the burning of oil-fed flames, the use of explosives, the oxidation of coal, and the liberation of gases by the coal. The extent to which these factors exist governs the size and general plan of the ventilating applianccs required. An efficient ventilating system is one that will furnish air at the working faces in sufficient volume to dilute and render harmless noxious gases and at the same time maintain an oxygen content closely approaching that of pure air. In a well-ventilated mine, the oxygen seldom falls more than 0.5 per cent. below normal. The carbon-dioxide content of the air in the average coal mine will vary from 0.1 to about 0.8 per cent., which amounts are not harmful. Three per cent. of carbon dioxide in air doubles the frequency and the depth of breathing; it is plainly noticeable and if breathed continuously for several hours its effect would probably be harmful. Slight reductions in the oxygen content of the air, such as occur in well-ventilated mines, have no debilitating effect on the worker. A person not exerting himself would fail to observe any unusual physical effect in an atmosphere: containing 17 per cent. of oxygen. This condition, however, or even a condition showing an oxygen content below 20 per cent., would indicate poor ventilation and that the elements which tend to reduce the efficiency of the worker are present, namely water vapor and a high wet-bulb temperature.

Jan 1, 1923

By Hans E. Gustafsson

INTRODUCTION The Kiirunavaara iron ore mine is situated in northern Sweden about 150 km north of the Arctic Circle. The ore body has a sheetlike shape, stretches about 4000 m N-S dipping 60°E and has an average width of 85 m. The ore body is known to a depth of more than 1500 m. Mining at present has reached a depth of about 500 m. The mineral is a magnetite containing 66-68% Fe. The ore body was originally mined as an open pit from 1900-1957. From then on the mining method has been sublevel caving. Production for the last few years has been 20-25 million tons /year. Sublevel caving is a mining method with many merits. One of the most valuable is the ability of using a high degree of mechanization. Today, 25 years after sublevel caving was introduced at Kiirunavaara, the advantages of the method have been more or less exhausted, and the disadvantages are more obvious as the rock pressure increases with depth. One of the disadvantages is the high degree of waste rock in the hoisted ore. Today the waste rock content is about 25% by weight of which 20% comes from the caved rock. Second, we are calculating a relatively high loss of ore (20%). Third, selectivity is unsatisfactory when mining different grades of ore. Field testing sublevel shrinkage caving (MSTM) is primarily aimed at lowering the content of waste rock compared to sublevel caving. ECONOMIC TARGET A simple calculation shows that if the waste rock content can be lowered from 25 to 15% the operational costs of mining will be lowered by about 40 million SEK/year (US $9 million) at a production level of 20 million tons/ year. A 15% waste content is the target of the field test. In the long range a decrease in waste rock dilution will mean lower investment costs for deeper levels. DESCRIPTION OF THE MSTM MINING METHOD One reason for decision to carry out the field test was that with MSTM the development drifts from sublevel caving could be utilized and thus the project could start without delay. The only additional development work needed was the loading level. Fig. 2 shows a profile through the MSTM area 66-68% Fe. and Fig. 3 shows the loading level.

Jan 1, 1981

By C. V. Millikan

New developments in air-gas lift practices in the Mid-Continent area since our Pall meeting in Fort Worth have done much to increase the efficiency of installations, and thus bring within economic limit of air-gas lift many wells which could not have been flowed profitably before. After the gas-lift had so thoroughly demonstrated its value in the Seminole field, its use spread to other areas and many installations were made of which the economy could be questioned. In the Seminole area, when production began to decline it was necessary either to increase the efficiency of the air or gas-lift or to put the wells on the pump, and pumping was not a process of lifting oil to which any operator looked forward with confidence. These conditions have resulted in the development of many practices which increase the efficiency and permit wells to be flowed with air or gas which earlier could not have been flowed economically, and wells which have been flowing to continue to a lower rate of production. The practices which have come into more common usage in the Mid-Continent area recently are mostly revivals of and improvements on practices which have been known in air-lift work for several years. Many arc peculiar to the individual well on which they are used. Intermittent Flowing Some interesting results are being obtained in Seminole and other districts by intermittent injection of gas. Gas is introduced during per-iods iods of 3 to 5 min. at a rate considerably over that necessary to acquire the production at a steady rate of injection, and is then cut off for a period of 3 to 15 min. Two to five wells are run from the same group of conlpressors. The total volume of gas required is sometimes reduced as much as one-third of that required when it is introduced at a constant rate, without changing the amount of oil production. The maximum pressure required is usually higher, but the average equal to or lower than that required for constant rate of flow. The effect on the wells is usually an irregular rate of flowing which may cause inconvenience where recycling is practiced. It would seem that this increase in efficiency is due to less slippage when the gas is introduced intermittently than when it is intro-

Jan 1, 1928

OF what use is the federation to me and why should I support it?" is a question that has been asked by many members of the constituent societies of the F. A. E. S. during the last year; a question that is asked because the speakers do not realize what the Federated is doing or what is the field of its activities. "What is it doing for the profession and for mankind?" would be a more appropriate question, the answer to which is found in the closing chapter of Prof. Cassius J. Keyser's "Mathematical Philosophy."' The chapter is entitled "Science and Engineering." Professor Keyser writes from the layman's point of view. He is looking at the profession and at engineers from the outside. We have in his thoughts the oppor-tunity that Burns sought when he wrote "Oh wad some power the giftie gie us to see oursels as ithers see us." With the permission of the author and the publisher, we quote the following paragraphs: A layman, viewing a profession from the outside, seeking thus to ascertain its proper relations to the common weal, may bring to the task a certain freedom, which, were he a member of the profession, he might have lost. "Men trained in a profession," said Prof. David Swing, "come by degrees into the profession's channel, and flow only in one direction, and always between the same banks. The master of a learned profession at last becomes its slave. He who follows faithfully any calling wears at last a soul of that call-ing's shape. You remember the death scene of the poor old schoolmaster. He had assembled the boys and girls in the winter mornings and had dismissed them winter evenings after sundown, and had done this for fifty long years. One winter morning he did not appear. Death had struck his old and feeble pulse; but, dying, his mind followed its beautiful but narrow river-bed, and his last words were: It is growing dark-the school is dismissed-let the .girls pass out first."' I shall not be so much concerned with the present status of the science as with its potency and promise. Of individual engineers the ideals may be high or low, worthy or unworthy; but of engineering itself the ideal is great and mighty. It is of that ideal that I intend to speak.

Jan 9, 1922

By J. O. Betterton, W. K. Noyce

I~JTI HE work on the indium-zirconium system is part A of a larger investigation of zirconium-phase diagrams with solute elements, silver, cadmium, indium, tin, and antimony, which is intended to provide information about the metallic valency of zirconium. The system is an ideal example since the sizes of indium and zirconium atoms are nearly the same, and the solute and the solvent occur in the same row of the periodic table. The only solute from Group III B which had previously been added to zirconium was aluminum' and it was of interest to determine whether indium would dissolve appreciably in alpha zirconium and stabilize this phase in the same manner. Experimental Procedure The experimental methods used in the indium-zirconium work are similar to those described earlier for the silver-zirconium system.' Reactor Grade 1 iodide zirconium of 99.95 pct purity* and indium of 99.99 pct purity were arc cast, and then annealed in silica capsules with protective foils of zirconium and molybdenum. Annealing temperatures and times varied from 1 day at 1300°C to 43 days at 550°C. The compositions of the alloys were detcrmined by an individual chemical analysis of the actual metallographic specimens after two or more sides were examined to insure the absence of solute segregation. Calibrated thermocouples were used throughout, and the uncertainty in the temperatures reported, owing to calibration error, furnace control, and measurement of the small temperature gradients near the capsules, is believed to be well within ±2°C. Typical impurities in the alloys were found by a neutron-activation analysis of four different alloys. The results are given in Table I where the ranges of values will be seen to compare favorably with the usual values for iodide zirconium. With respect to oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon the absence of any unusual amount of these elements compared to iodide zirconium was indicated by the alloy hardness values, since hardness is increased sharply by the presence of these elements. The value for 0 pct In, obtained from the alloys by extrapolation, is 58 2 7 VPN which is in the low part3 f the normal range of hardness found in iodide zirconium. Results of the Experiments The zirconium-rich portion of the indium-zirconium phase diagram from the annealing experiments is shown in Fig. 1. Indium was found to

Jan 1, 1959

By John C. Smock

THE question of the proper valuation of mines of iron ore was suggested to me by the difficulties experienced in getting answers for the United States Census Office, while I was engaged in the work of collecting the statistics of mines in New Jersey and New York The answers to the questions relating to values of real estate of mine properties varied so greatly that it was necessary to revise them according to some general principles of valuation. Generally the returns of mine proprietors Seemed to be too low. There were, however, examples of what would be termed excessive valuation. The Subject appeared to be of practical importance, and led to the paper here presented. The following table of selected mine statistics is given, prefacing the discussion of the principles of valuation. It is in part made up of census returns and partly of data obtained directly from mine owners and managers. The mines which were Selected for the Several groups and mining districts include nearly all of those from Which the more full and carefully filled returns were received, and are also representative of their respective districts. Hence the averages obtained from them become good types of these groups or districts. The mines of New Jersey appear in Six groups, each containing from three to eleven mines, or, in all, thirty-four mines. The magnetic iron ores of New York are in four well-marked groups, and there are twenty-six mines in them. Then follow the red hematite mines of St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties; and, lastly, the brown hematite groups of Dutchess and Columbia counties, and those of the adjacent parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The whole number of mines represented by the table is eighty-eight, of which twenty-eight are hematite mines. The first column gives the value of the real estate; the second that of the plant; the third is the sum of these two, or the capital invested. Then follow the number of men employed, the amount of wages paid during the census year, and the value of materials used in mining and preparing the ores for market.* The seventh column gives the total expendi- * The value of materials is somewhat uncertain in many cases, as royalties are included under this head. Likewise, under wages, the cost of explosives and light is often included. Hence it is impossible to draw the line sharply between these items of expenditure.

Jan 1, 1882

By Marcel R. Daly

EUGENE COSTS, Calgary, Alberta (communication to the Secretary*).¬This new theory to account for the accumulation of commercial deposits of oil and gas, is deliberately and admittedly based on the hypothesis that the origin of these products is organic. Mr. Daly says (page 1142), "Should the organic origin of the petroleum that is found in pools be granted, the following interpretation is offered for the mechanics of its accumulation." But suppose the origin thus accepted by definition be incorrect, then what becomes of the diastrophic theory, Mr. Daly's interpretation? As Mr. Daly remarks himself (same page), "It is obvious that the history of petroleum will have to be entirely different, dependent upon its origin, either from emanations coming from the depths, or from organic decomposition in the strata themselves." Then why should one propound a theory, through which he is endeavoring to trace the history of petroleum, by starting with a definition of its origin? The origin should be the deduction, the forced conclusion of the theory, and not its starting point. Facts alone should be considered first, in any theory worth the name, until sufficient proofs have accumulated to permit of the deduction of a complete explanation for these facts. This would lead one to the origin through a real theory founded on facts, and not based on a preconceived idea perhaps true, but possibly fanciful. Mr. Daly's way can only lead on one road, namely the organic road, and, I repeat, it may be the wrong road. In the case of the petroleum deposits, as .I have endeavored to show in several papers on the subject, to which the reader may refer, the facts clearly lead to the force conclusion that their origin is not one of accumulations of hydrocarbons at first disseminated in the sedimentary strata but the reverse process of subsequent local infiltrations and impregnations of hydrocarbon emanations from the depths. This new theory, therefore, founded on, an erroneous conception of origin cannot be a help in the solution of the petroleum' problem, not any more than were the anti-theory or the hydraulic theory, both of which were also based on the same error, although Mr. Daly is inclined to think that the authors of these two theories did not accept the misconception boldly enough (page 1142). -

Jan 12, 1916

By W. T. Hicks

Visual observation of the oxidation of columbium shows that the protective behavior noted previously in gravimetric work in the early stages of the reaction below 600°C and throughout the reaction at 640°C is associated with an adherent oxide. The fact that the oxide is seen to move outward from the metal at temperatures from 550° to 935°C implies that the reaction takes place at the oxide-metal interface throughout this temperature range. THE work described in this paper further clarifies the complex oxidation kinetics of Cb revealed, for example, by the continuous gravimetric studies of T. L. Kolski.1 Time-lapse motion picture studies reveal details of the reaction not provided by a study of the combustion products. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Cb specimens were prepared from material with the following typical analysis: 0, 0.03 pct; N, 0.002 pct; C, 0.006 pct; Ta, 0.04 pct; Fe, 0.01 pct; Ni <0.003 pct; and Cr <0.003 pct. Arc-cast ingots were swaged and cold rolled into slabs. These slabs were machined into blocks 7/16 by 7/16 by 7/16 in; 1/16-in. holes were drilled through the large face of the blocks for suspension. The samples were then de-greased and annealed 1 hr at 1200°C in vacuum. The sample was suspended by a platinum and Pt 10 pct Rh thermocouple inside a 1-in. quartz tube in a Kanthal wound furnace (2 in. OD by 4 in. long) equipped with windows 1/2 in. sq. A Cine-Kodak Special II 16 mm motion picture camera was trained on the sample through a Spencer microscope adjusted so that a magnification of X1.5 resulted on the film. Super Anscochrome film was used to record the events in color. Argon was flushed through the furnace while the sample came to temperature. The argon was then replaced by a stream of dry oxygen at 1 atm. Pictures were taken at the rate of eight per second for about 20 sec during the change of atmosphere. Then by use of a Stevens time-lapse device pictures were taken at the rate of four per minute starting within 1 min of the initial oxygen flow. In this manner continuous visual records of the oxidation of pure Cb

Jan 1, 1962

By Curtis L. Graversen, J. H. Hamilton, John C. Nixon, John R. Lewis

RECENTLY there has been much speculation concerning the advantages of using oxygen enriched air or pure oxygen in pyrometallurgical processes. The advantage of using oxygen in the iron blast furnace and elsewhere in ferrous production metallurgy has been given careful consideration and, as a result, several experiments have been tried and a number of papers have recently appeared on this subject.1.2 The use of oxygen in nonferrous smelting likewise poses interesting problems, therefore any experimental data obtained in this area should likewise be of general interest.3 Ashcroft4 in 1933 claimed to have obtained improved results when copper concentrates were roasted in pure oxygen. However, his&apos; paper gives neither data nor experimental details. A few years ago a research program was started in this laboratory which had for its objective the determination of the mechanism of oxidation of metallic sulfides under varying conditions. To date we have studied the oxidation of galena, 5 sphalerite, and chalcocite. It is a well known fact that copper sulfide minerals are oxidized slowly by weathering agents, so that the sulfides of copper which find their way into a tailing pond are gradually changed into watersoluble and acid-soluble compounds. Commercially, the oxidation of copper sulfide minerals is accomplished by roasting them at elevated temperatures in air using a suitable (usually multiple-hearth) roaster. Most copper smelters are equipped with such roasters. In this phase of the study we were especially interested in determining the effect of temperature on: (I) the air oxidation of chalcocite and (2) the oxidation of chalcocite using commercial oxygen. The amount of sulphur removed as sulphur dioxide, the percentages of water-soluble copper, and of acid-soluble copper were determined for the air oxidation tests. In the tests using commercial oxygen, the percentages of sulphur dioxide, water-soluble copper, acid-soluble copper, water-soluble sulphur and acid-soluble sulphur were determined. For these experiments the temperature was varied from 250 to 700°°C. EXPERIMENTAL Preparation of Chalcocite (Cu2S) Natural chalcocite is not pure. Minerals such as bornite, covellite, and chalcopyrite may be present. It was decided, therefore, to prepare some chalcocite in our own laboratory. An intimate mixture of sulphur and finely divided metallic copper in the ratio of 4 g of copper to I g of sulphur was prepared. To this was added a slight excess of

Jan 1, 1948

By Frederic A. Delano

In adding one more to the list of papers that have been presented on the subject of steel rails, I wish to explain at the beginning that in enumerating the steps in the manufacture which, I think, have an all-important effect on the wearing-qualities of the rail produced, I do so with no little hesitation. As a student in the field, I am anxious for the opinions of others, and have finally decided to ask for it in this way. I have not stated everything which I think affects, in one way or another, the life of rails, but have confined myself to those steps in the manufacture which I felt most sure did do so. Recognizing the danger of being carried away by enthusiasm, I have endeavored to make my assertions with caution, and to understate my case rather than to overstate it; but if I have succeeded in throwing a ray of light on this vexed question and placed it in the eyes of some railroad men in an aspect which they have not fully considered, my boldness will be more than justified. I. Uniformity in the quality of the material charged into the converter assists the attainment of uniformity in the steel produced.— This is the argument which is used by the champions of the cupolamelting or indirect process, and has considerable weight. It takes vastly more skill to make good steel if there is a great irregularity in the iron charged into the vessel than if there is not this irregularity ; but on the other hand, there are certain advantages in the direct method, such as a lower sulphur-percentage from the same furnace-iron, while it is possible to get as great uniformity in the iron charged by having the furnace-capacity enough in excess of the demands from the converting department, to allow for occasional " slips " in the furnaces, and permit the mixing of the iron from two furnaces which are respectively too " hot" and too "cold." 11. Care in pouring ingots at the proper temperature into warm moulds, and the treatment of ingots before rolling, have important effects on the rails made from them. In other words, many of the failures in rails and the uneven wear of rails are often traceable to

Jan 1, 1888

By J. R. Long, T. R. Graham, R. S. Dean

FOLLOWING the development of elec¬trolytic manganese production by the Bureau of Mines, an extensive program was planned to study the character of this high-purity product and its possible utilization in various alloy combinations. Previous work reported in the literature concerning alloys containing substantial amounts of manganese dealt largely with material prepared from relatively impure grades of the metal, and in many instances the impurities thus introduced did not permit true evaluation of manganese as an alloying element. One phase of the Bureau&apos;s program included a general review of the system and the establishment of the physical properties of copper-manganese-zinc alloys, using electrolytic manganese, and with particular emphasis directed to com¬positions within the alpha solid solution area. A number of reports of the work on alloys in this system, giving specific data concerning the equilibrium system and some of its alloys, have already been published. One study1 established the alpha solid solution area at various temperature levels and composition ranges up to 50 pct manganese. Other investigation reports presented the properties of selected alloys; namely, a 65 pct copper, 10 pct manganese, 25 pct zinc alloys&apos; a sensibly white manganese brass composed of 70 pct copper, 20 pct manganese, 10 pct zinc,3 and a series of alloys with a constant copper content of 60 pct and 5 to 25 pct manganese, balance zinc.4 In these reports tensile properties as influenced by cold-working and subsequent annealing were given in detail. Additional data are now available on other alloys of the alpha region up to 50 pct manganese, and these, together with previously published information, are sufficiently complete to establish the relationship between properties and composition for this portion of the ternary system. The present report is a summary of the tensile properties of wrought alloys in the form of sheet and rod stock. The summary is necessarily limited to data for only one condition of cold-work and a single annealing temperature, since a complete exposition of all the data available would be too extensive for this presentation. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a reasonable approximation of the tensile properties in other conditions of cold-working and annealing by a correlation of the data previously presented on specific alloys and the data given here.

Jan 1, 1947

By W. Edeburn, H. R. Fife

An extended study of dustproofing Freeport-seam coal has emphasized several fundamental features in the successful treating of bituminous coals. The extent of the exposed surface area and its absorption propcrties for the dust-retaining film were found to be the most critical factors affecting the efficiency of fly-dust prevention. From recently published screen data and specific surface-area measurements on United Kingdom coals, an approximation of the surface exposed by mine-run coal and by 1-in. slack was made. The total surface area exposed by an average tori of this mine-run coal was estimated at 3768 sq. yd., while a ton of 1-in. slack represents a total surface area of 8779 sq. yd. with no additions for porosity. It is important in coal treating to consider that in mine-run coal the fraction above 1/4 in. in size represents 79.5 per cent of the total weight, but only 4 per cent of the total surface, while the fraction below 150 mesh contains 47 per cent of the total surface and only 1.2 per cent of the total weight. Also, one should appreciate that, in a 1-in. slack, the domestic stoker fraction (1 in. to 8 mesh) contains 76.3 per cent of the weight and 8.2 per cent of the surface, while the fraction below 150 mesh represents 3.3 per cent by weight and 54.8 per cent by surface area. Wax extraction data on 1-in. to 0 slack from mine-run treated Freeport-searn coal showed that the coating was distributed uniformly as a function of exposed surface; hence, nonuniformly on a weight basis. This distribution of the coating on mine-run coal therefore limits the extent of treating that is desirable on bituminous coal at this point in the preparation. The treatment of Freeport mine-run coal before it reached the tipple gave a 70 to 80 per cent reduction of fly-dust in the tipple, a satisfactory treated commercial slack coal, and an indicated change in the trend of tipple degradation. The premium-treated domestic sizes required a supplemental treatment for complete dustproofness. The actual cost of the pretipple and supplemental treatments was very low per ton of coal treated, while the net or true cost was sufficiently

Jan 1, 1938

By T. T. Read

A SHORT time ago, one of the large steel companies courteously furnished the author with detailed records of the operations of a considerable number of iron blast furnaces over a period of two months. These will be made the basis of a subsequent study, but in beginning this study one of -the first points requiring consideration was the probable error of the records, for what otherwise might be regarded as significant differences of performance under different conditions were perhaps really due to errors of observation, or failure to observe and record variations. If it is assumed, in blast-furnace records and calculations, that known quantities or factors are constant, when as a matter of fact they are variable, the effects of these variations may erroneously be ascribed to some other cause. This is quite clearly expressed in the following quotation from E. Buckingham:1 Theory always operates on an ideally simplified picture of reality because real phenomena are unmanageably complicated. The results obtained are not exactly true for any, real phenomenon, though they may be for an ideal one; and the approxi¬mation with which a theoretical equation, however obtained, represents the actual facts, always depends on the approximation in essentials between the ideal picture and its real prototype. The purpose of dimensional reasoning is to find out how some quantity which is involved in the phenomenon under consideration is related to certain others; or to find the relation connecting two or more quantities which vary, or may vary, simulta-neously during the course of the phenomenon. Since we know that we must have a complete equation to start with, we begin by thinking the matter over, to see whether the quantities we have in mind are the only ones involved. Usually it is evident that they are not; so we next make a list of all the quantities we can think of which might under any circumstances be important. Upon considering this list, which is often a long one, it is usually evident that under the actual circumstances a number of these quantities may safely be ignored; so we cross them off the list and thus pass from our most general conception of the phenomenon to an ideal simpler one, in which these quantities are not involved at all.

Jan 3, 1925

By Herbert H. Uhlig

A STUDY of passivity in chromium-iron alloys holds considerable interest, both because of the present-day practical importance of the stainless steels, and because of the scientific importance attached to the mechanism of their corrosion resistance. Upon the discovery of the passive chromium-iron alloys in 1912, it seemed logical to attribute the observed phenomenal corrosion resistance to a thin, continuous, protective reaction product on the surface. The product was thought to be Cr2O3 or a similar oxide containing both chromium and iron. This mechanism seemed likely in view of Michael Faraday&apos;s conjecture that passive iron is not reactive in concentrated nitric acid because of an oxide on the metal surface.† Since 1912, data have accumulated that permit a further exploration into the nature of passivity and provide a new approach to the problem. A summary of the facts lends considerable weight to a mechanism based not on physical protection of an oxide or similar compound, although such compounds may be present on the surface, but to a change in tendency of surface metal atoms to react chemically. This change in reaction tendency is ascribed to chemisorbed films that effectively satisfy residual valence forces of the metal surface, but do not appreciably disturb the positions of metal atoms in the lattice. In other words, formation of a new lattice such as that of an oxide is not a necessary condition for this type of passivity. The decreased reaction tendency of the metal by reason of chemisorbed films can thereby account for low reaction rates of the stainless steels in many media, as well as a noble galvanic potential as is observed. Substances capable of adsorbing on the stainless steels, and hence accompanying the property of passivity, are typically oxygen, nitrites or chromates, but are not in any sense limited to these. Other elements and compounds can also chemisorb, and therefore may also play a major part in the mechanism of passivity in specific media. The mechanism of passivity based on chemisorption or activated adsorption begins with the interpretation Langmuir proposed for his experiments concerning adsorbed oxygen on tungsten.1 He found that adsorbed oxygen was tightly bound, remaining on the tungsten surface above temperatures at which WO3 rapidly volatilizes. The oxygen in such a state did not readily react with hydrogen even at

Jan 1, 1947