Search Documents

Ocean environmental factors are an intriguing new set of parameters to be dealt with in the prospecting and exploration phases of resource development for both the continental margins and the deep ocean. While information and data gathering programs for ocean minerals would parallel onshore procedures, their costs generally run higher. Commercial Prospecting-Identification of Mining Sites Two modes of prospecting can be identified-commercia1 prospecting (in which the ultimate objective is to define potential mining sites), and scientific prospecting, which is conducted with different objectives in mind. For ocean exploration, both types of prospecting are carried out prior to the obtaining of any exclusive rights to explore and exploit a specific deposit. Deepsea's John Flipse adds: "Any commercial prospecting program should by its very nature require the freedom to search wherever minerals might occur with maximum flexibility."

Jan 4, 1975

By Robert N. McIndoo, M. G. Woodle

10.5-1. Introduction. In the not-too-distant past, maintenance and the facilities for maintenance were considered a necessary evil to be given only secondary consideration in the development and planning of a surface mine operation. With the increasing sophistication of mining equipment and machinery, this concept has been replaced; and today's mine managers recognize that planning for adequate maintenance facilities is as important to a successful operation as a sound mining plan. This chapter will present the basic maintenance facilities and the fundamental considerations necessary to meet the varied requirements of surface mining. 10.5-2. Determination of Shop Facilities. The size, shape, and extent of maintenance facilities are contingent on the general mining plan, the location relative to outside facilities, and to the available capital. The type of construction employed is dependent on climatic conditions and preference. HAULAGE SYSTEMS. The type of haulage equipment used will dictate the kind of shops needed. Truck haulage requires entirely different facilities than rail haulage. Some mines will employ both systems, and can include hoists, skips, or conveyor belts in combination with locomotives or trucks. The requirements of each type will be discussed. MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION. The pre-planning decision as to centralized maintenance vs. area maintenance, or a combination of both, will greatly affect the maintenance facilities required. A single pit with relatively short travel from shops to pit will probably have a centralized maintenance system. Where more than one mine is involved, or where there are diversified sections or functions in a mine (mine equipment, mill, conveyor, or

Jan 1, 1968

By James R. Russell

Rock bolts are commonly used to support and stabilize the rock around excavated openings. The assumption is made that the less competent rock near the surface can be supported by bolting it to more competent rock away from the surface. Naturally, a rock bolt can be no more effective than its anchoring mechanism which induces a stress field into the surrounding rock. Details of various types of bolts have been described e1sewhere.l The purpose of the present investigation is to study the stress distribution around an expansion-type rock bolt anchor, using the theory of elasticity. The elastic stress distribution provides some insight into the behavior of rock bolt anchors which may eventually lead to improved designs. Very little information is available on the induced stress field which is rather complex; consequently, photoelastic techniques have been used to obtain a qualitative picture of the stress ditribution.2 The present work provides quantitative information on the stress field induced by an idealized distribution of surface tractions, provided that the assumptions of the linear theory of elasticity are approximately satisfied. FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM Consider an elastic region which extends to infinity and contains a circular cylindrical hole as shown in Fig. 1. The hole is assumed to be the bolt hole and the surface tractions shown are assumed to be caused by an idealized rock bolt anchor. The relationship between the idealized

Jan 1, 1972

By S. Yukawa, M. J. Sinnott

A high resolution autoradiographic study of the diffusion of a nickel isotope (NP3) into copper in the temperature range of 650° to 925°C, with particular emphasis on grain boundary diffusion, has been made. The extent of grain boundary diffusion is a function of the grain boundary angle and the diffusion temperature. The ratios of the grain boundary diffusion coefficient to the lattice diffusion coefficient ranges from 104 to 105. The activation energy for grain boundary diffusion decreases with increasing grain boundary angle. STUDIES and reviews&apos;-8 of metallic diffusion have indicated that grain boundary diffusion is a common phenomenon but quantitative studies of the many variables involved are not numerous. The present work was concerned with determining the influence of the crystallographic orientation of the grain boundaries and the temperature on the extent of boundary diffusion of nickel into copper. The study involved essentially three steps: 1—the production of grain boundaries of known crystallographic orientation, 2—the determination of the extent of diffusion into the boundaries, and 3—the analysis of the resulting data in terms of the usual diffusion concepts. The grain boundaries investigated approximated the simple tilt variety having l° of freedom. They were produced by controlling the solidification from a melt of Cuprovac (a high purity vacuum-melted copper obtained from Vacuum Metals Corp.) of a pair of seed crystals so that the bicrystals of copper produced had a common <100> axis. By rotating one seed crystal relative to the other, a simple tilt boundary was produced. The angle of rotation between the two crystals is the grain boundary angle 8, or what is sometimes termed the misfit angle. In all, some 16 boundaries ranging from 2" to 72" in 5" to 10" steps were investigated. The crystallographic orientations were measured with the use of both X-ray and optical goniometric techniques. The <100> axes in the crystals were found to be parallel within 2" to 3" with the exception of one crystal (8 = 12") in which the axes were 6" from being parallel. All bicrystals showed evidences of sub-grain structures. Laue analyses showed that these subgrains differed in orientation up to a maximum of 2". Because of these variations, and some curvature in the boundaries, the grain boundary angles listed are actually average values and deviate from the 1 o of freedom boundaries. The stripping film technique of high resolution autoradiography was used to detect the diffusion of the nickel isotope into the grain boundaries of the bicrystals of copper. Kodak experimental permeable stripping film with an emulsion layer 5 u thick

Jan 1, 1956

By Å. Sterten, R. Tunold, J. Brun, K. Dalatun

c axis compression behavior of beryllium single crystals at three purity levels under hydrostatic pressures up to 27 kbars was determined. Extensive non-basal slip, observed by two-surface trace analysis and transmission electron microscopy, occurred under a hydrostatic pressure of about 12 kbars (175 ksi) for the high-purity (twelve-zone pass) material and at about 19 kbar (275 ksi) for the lower-purity (zone-leveled) material. Prismatic loops with a (c + a) Burgers vector were observed in association with second-phase parti- A principal factor limiting the use of beryllium is its brittle behavior when tested at the usual strain rates (E = 10-4 sec- 1) at temperatures below about 200°C and under impact conditions at temperatures in excess of 200°C. It has been proposed&apos; that the brittle-ness of beryllium is associated with the lack of a sufficient number of independent slip modes and the absence of a slip mode with a Burgers vector out of the basal plane [presumably (c + a) pyramidal slip mode] and to the ease with which beryllium cleaves on the basal and second-order prism planes. The absence of pyramidal slip has been attributed to a high Peierls-Nabarro stress associated with the motion of dislocations with a (c + a) vector and the ease with which cleavage occurs on the basal and second-order prism planes. The experimental evidence in support of the proposed explanation for the brittleness of beryllium is far from complete; for example, that the ductile-to-brittle transition in polycrystalline beryllium is associated with the operation of profuse (C + a) slip has not been unequivocally established. The occurrence of (c + a) slip ({1122}(1123)) has been experimentally established2-5 under conditions where basal and prism cleavage are restricted in a c axis compression test. In these investigations (C +a) slip was found in high-purity beryllium single crystals tested in c axis compression* at 200°C and in Be-4.4 pct Cu and Be-5.2 pct cles in the lower-purity materials tested. The loops were related to surface "extrusions" observed on many of these same specimens. Nonbasal dislocations operating on (1122) planes with a (c + a) Burgers vector were observed. The presence of c and a dislocations together with (c + a) dislocations suggests that the (c + a) dislocations dissociate presumably on unloading or after failure of the test crystals to c and a dislocations. terial, (c + a) slip has only been observed near the the fracture4 surface in room-temperature c axis compression tests. Fracture in these tests occurs without measurable plastic flow, as determined with a strain sensitivity of 10"6. Since it has been shown for many metals that the application of hydrostatic pressure suppresses fracture,?-&apos; it was felt that studying the behavior of unalloyed beryllium single crystals stressed in c axis compression under a hydrostatic pressure would reveal whether (c + a) can occur if fracture was prevented, and that it might elucidate the role of (c + a) slip in the ductile to brittle transition. Evidence that (C + a) slip is associated with increased ductility in a high-pressure environment has been found in stress-strain tests on poly crystalline beryllium.10 The present paper describes a study on the influence of a hydrostatic pressure environment on the occurrence of (c + a) slip in beryllium single crystals. Material of two purity levels was tested in c axis compression over the pressure range ambient to about 27.5 kbars.* 1) MATERIAL PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION Two lots of low-purity single-crystal beryllium were used. The first lot was "ingot secondary refined grade" and designated lot A. The second lot (lot B) was produced by a two floating zone pass zone-leveling operation in an argon-filled sealed quartz apparatus on a 1-in.-diam by 12-in.-long bar of Pechiney secondary refined-grade vacuum-cast and hot-extruded material. The high-purity material (lot C) was made by traversing twelve floating zone passes through a similar bar of Pechiney secondary refined-grade vacuum-cast and hot-extruded material. In a series of spark cutting and lapping procedures,11 single-. crystal specimens some 0.12 in. sq by 0.30 in. high were made with the sides Parallel to the first- and second-order prism planes and the basal plane within 3&apos; of arc of the top and bottom surfaces of the specimen. Such an accurate orientation is necessary because of the large difference in resolved shear stress

Jan 1, 1970

By R. B. Moore

Page History................................ 708 What is Radioactivity?........................ 710 Disintegration Series.......................... 711 Radium Ore Deposits......................... 713 Metallurgical Treatment........................ 717 Methods of Ore Concentration..................... 722 Future Supply of Ore......................... 723 Uses of Radium............................ 723 Mesothorium as a Substitute for Radium................. 724 Discussion.............................. 725 Probably no other metal excites as much interest, among both scientific men and the general public, as radium. This is due partly to the high cost of radium salts and partly to the peculiar properties of the element. Since radium-bearing ores were discovered in the United States, the interest of American scientific men has been stimulated and, at the present time, more radium is extracted and refined in this country than in all the rest of the world together. HISTORY The property of radioactivity was discovered, partly by accident, by Henri Becquerel, the French physicist, in 1896. He was experimenting with certain fluorescent substances in order to find, if possible, a connection between fluorescence and the recently discovered X-rays. Among other chemicals which possess the property of fluorescence, he was using salts of uranium. His custom was to expose the fluorescent substance to the action of sunlight and then register the effect of possible penetrating radiation on a photographic plate protected from ordinary light. Bec-querel&apos;s experiments gave positive results at once, and he at first believed that he had discovered a relation between fluorescence and X-rays. Later he exposed a plate to a uranium salt which had not been previously exposed to sunlight. To his surprise, on developing this plate, he found that he had obtained the same effect as he had previously secured when

Jan 1, 1919

By Ralph A. Sherman, J. M. Pilcher

BY surface treatment of coal is meant the application of a material, either solid or liquid, to the surface of pieces of coal. The purposes of surface treatment are varied. They may be to identify or "trade-mark" the coal, to modify the burning characteristics, the coking tendencies, or the behavior of the ash, to prevent the freezing of wet coal, or to control the dust. The control of dust is the usual purpose of surface treatment. TRADE-MARKING COAL The application of color to the surface of coal for the purpose of identification and registration of the trade-mark has been practiced to some extent. In 1928, the Glen Alden Coal Co. began to color its coal and adopted the trade-mark, "Blue Coal." The Old Ben Coal Co. later followed a similar practice with "Green Coal." A commoner means of identification of coal has been the stenciling of designs or pasting labels on large lumps or in the distribution of small cardboard tags through the smaller sizes. The details of the method used to color coal have not been revealed. Usually all of the coal is not treated, because of the expense. Only enough pieces are colored to show clearly when distributed through the coal.

Jan 1, 1943

By P. M. Blair

This paper presents numerical solutions of the equations describing the imbibition of water and the countercurrent flow of oil in porous rocks. The imbibition process is of practical importance in recovering oil from heterogeneous formations and has been studied principally by experimental means. Calculations were made for imbibition of water into both linear and radial systems. Imbibition in the linear systems was allowed to take place through one open, or permeable, face of the porous medium studied. ln the radial system, water was imbibed inward from the outer radius. The effects on rate of imbibition of varying the capillary pressure and relative permeability curves, oil viscosity and the initial water saturation were computed. For each case studied, the rate of water imbibition and the saturation and pressure profiles were calculated as functions of time. The results of these calculations indicate that, for the porous medium studied, the time required to imbibe a fixed volume of water of a certain viscosity is approximately proportional to the square root of the viscosity of the reservoir oil whenever the oil viscosity is greater than the water viscosity. Results are also presented illustrating the effects on rate of imbibition of the other variables studied. INTRODUCTION The process of imbibition, or spontaneous flow of fluids in porous media under the influence of capillary pressure gradients, occurs wherever there exist in permeable rock capillary pressure gradients which are not exactly balanced by opposing pressure gradients (such as those resulting from the influence of gravity). The importance of such capillary movement in the displacement of oil by water or gas was recognized in early investigations and described by Leverett, Lewis and True in 1942.1 Methods advanced by these authors for studying the process using dynamically scaled models were rendered more general and flexible by the research of later workers.2"4 The influence of capillary forces in laboratory water floods has also been discussed by several authors.6 While imbibition plays a very important role in the recovery of oil from normal reservoirs, Brownscombe and Dyes7 pointed out that imbibition might be the dominant displacement process in water flooding reservoirs characterized by drastic variations in permeability, such as in fractured-matrix reservoirs. In water-wet, fractured-matrix reservoirs, water will be imbibed from fractures into the matrix with a countercurrent expulsion of oil into the fractures. If the imbibition occurs at a sufficiently rapid rate, a very successful water flood can result; if the imbibition proceeds slowly the project might not be economically attractive. Scaled-model studies have demonstrated the vital importance of imbibition in secondary recovery in fractured reservoirs. It is therefore important in the evaluation of waterflooding prospects to develop a thorough understanding of the quantitative relationships of the factors which control the rapidity of capillary imbibition. The imbibition process serves reservoir engineers in still another important way by providing a technique for studying the wettability of reservoir core samples. Such experiments are usually conducted by observing the rate of expulsion of oil or water from core samples submerged in the appropriate fluid. Several papers have been &apos;published on the experimental techniques involved?? Although Handy has recently published a method for calculating capillary pressures from experiments with gas-saturated cores, it has not yet been possible to deduce quantitative information regarding water-oil relative permeability and capillary pressure characteristics of the rock from the experimental results. Thus a technique is needed for studying the quantitative dependence of imbibition rate on oil and water viscosity, initial water saturation, relative permeability-saturation, and capillary pressure-saturation relations. The development of such information, including saturation and pressure profiles by laboratory experiments, would be very difficult. However, recent advances in the applica-

Jan 1, 1965

ON FEBRUARY 4, 1952, the Phelps Dodge Corporation signed Contract GS-00P(D)-12068 with the United States Government. This interesting document dealt with the "Bisbee East" project as part of the Government&apos;s program to increase the supply of needed copper by encouraging private enterprise to expand production. The ore deposit involved was a relatively small body of low-grade ore lying east of the remnants of the old Sacramento Hill deposit that was exploited with indifferent success from 1923 to 1931, as related in THE PORPHYRY COPPERS. Planning for the entire enterprise had been directed from the start by Harrison M. Lavender, who in 1945, succeeded Percy G. Beckett as vice-president and general manager for all of Phelps Dodge&apos;s Western mines and smelters. The untimely death of Mr. Lavender in 1952 prevented him from seeing his plans brought to fruition; but in his honor the mine was fit- tingly named "The Lavender Pit" and was so dedicated on August 7, 1954. The Copper Queen Branch operates under- ground mines at Bisbee (production in 1955 was 28,000 tons) ; but, as this volume is concerned only with Porphyry operations, this chapter deals only with the Lavender Pit project, or as the Government knows it, Bisbee East. My reason for going into some detail regarding the floor-price contract is that it is fairly typical of contracts made by the Government in connection with a half-dozen other copper-expansion projects; and, incidentally, with various projects involving other strategic metals. Phelps Dodge did not seek a loan or other financial aid. The only encouragement asked consisted of (a) the privilege of a five-year write-off (commonly called rapid tax amortization)

Jan 1, 1957

AN unprecedented expansion of the mineral industries began in mid-1950. There are few minerals on the strategic list for which some source of supply here at home has not been found. All types of inducements have been utilized, ranging from RFC loans to guaranteed-price purchase contracts. No one can deny that tremendous progress toward mineral self-sufficiency has been made. Despite the greatness of these accomplishments, made&apos; in the name of national defense, one cannot help but. have a feeling of uneasiness over the price which has been paid-in indebtedness, in freedom, and in the sacrifice of private enterprise. The people of the Soviet have been enslaved by a military state which attempts complete control of the economy. A similar yoke has been imposed on the business life of this nation. Of course, there is a difference in degree of control and in purpose. We are dedicated toward defense and the resistance of aggression. And, our personal liberties have not been usurped. The realization of the extent to which this nation has been forced by Communist aggression to adopt the practices of the socialized state is appalling.

Jan 1, 1952

By Frank Fahrenwald

I. INTRODUCTORY METALLURGICAL research has discovered many an alloy possessing properties not combined in any single metal, and progress still consists chiefly in the investigation and utilization of alloys. In the case of iron, the demands of automobiles, high-speed machines and high-duty engines have led to the production of special iron alloys which will meet any reasonable specifications in that field. In like manner, the bronzes, brasses and other alloys of copper have been brought to remarkable perfection, and for nearly every industrial purpose some alloy has been found more suitable than the pure metal. Less complete success has attended the attempt to find substitutes for gold, platinum, and the other precious metals. Indeed, it is not likely that a material can be produced which will possess all the properties of any one of them; yet it is reasonable to hope that, for any given use, the properties required may, be found in some less expensive material. Thus, in incandescent electric lamps, the wire passing through the thick glass neck of the bulb was, until recently, almost universally made of platinum, for the single reason that no other known material, suitable as a conductor, had the same coefficient of expansion as glass. But a comparatively recent investigation of the iron-nickel series&apos; has shown that alloys of those metals may be produced, the coefficient of expansion of which can be accurately controlled between that of iron or nickel and zero. Thus, in that particular industry, a substitute for platinum has been found. According to statistical reports, not only considerable quantities of gold and iridium, but also more than one-third of the annual supply of platinum, are used (and, in the nature of the case, irrevocably lost) by dentists. Platinum is thus employed in several forms. As a thin foil, it serves various purposes for which its high melting point, pliability, chemical resistance, and other properties-including the ease with which

Jan 1, 1916

By A. L. Sweetser

Experience has shown how difficult it is to obtain information regarding laboratory-tests in connection with the chlorina-tion-process for the extraction of gold from its ores, and I therefore present the following method, somewhat in detail, for the benefit of those who may desire to pursue research work in this field. The ore chosen was a partly-decomposed porphyry, extremely siliceous and comparatively soft, and of an average value per ton of from $25 to $26 in gold and $0.68 in silver. The chemical analysis gave: Fe,O,, 3.35; FeS, 1.5; MnO,, 0.75; ZuCO,, 4; A1,0,, 3.20; H,O, 0.7 ; SiO, and insol., 83.50 per cent. The ore, first crushed to pass a 5-mesh screen, was coned and quartered until a 45-lb. sample was obtained. Samples for assay and analysis, taken from this lot by means of riffles, were crushed to pass a 100-mesh screen. The original sample was divided into 10-lb. lots, of which one was crushed to pass a 10-mesh screen; another through a 12-; the third through a 20-, and the last through a 30-mesh screen. Because of the production of an excessive quantity of fine material it was deemed inexpedient to crush finer than 30-mesh size—a decision the wisdom of which is proved by the data in Table I., showing the increasing ratio of slimes, in proportion as the ore is crushed finer. In order to determine the percentage of fines in the sizes of mesh selected, a weighed sample of ore was taken from each mesh, and a sample from the 10-mesh lot was passed successively through 20-, 40- and 100-mesh screens, and the percentage remaining on each screen determined. This process was repeated with the 12-, 20- and 30-mesh lots, with the results given in Table I.

Jan 1, 1908

By Ronald D. Irving

The object of the present paper is to give an outline account of the mineral resources of the State of Wisconsin, so far as they are now known, including both metallic ores and non-metallic useful mineral substances. Tl~e only previous publication making ally attempt at such an account is one of a popular nature, prepared by the writer for Snyder and Van Vechten7s Historicccl Atlas of Wisconsin, which was published at Milwaukee in 1878. The data upon which the statements of the following pages are based are chiefly from the

Jan 1, 1880

By L. A. Panek, F. D. Wang, M. C. Sun

A method of stability analysis of underground opening by the limiting equilibrium approach is presented. The Coulomb shear failure criterion is employed to find possible fracture surfaces and to evaluate the shear strengths along them. The normal stresses required for the calculation of shear strength, and the shear stresses for the calculation of total shear force along the fracture surfaces, are obtained by the finite-element method of plane-strain analysis. The factor of safety against Coulomb shear failure is calculated as the ratio of the shear strength to the shear force along a fracture surface, similar to the practice in slope stability analysis. Four shapes of openings are analyzed, with three ratios of horizontal lithostatic stress and four coefficients of internal friction. The critical fracture surfaces found by this method of analysis are consistent with the arching of roofs and slabbing of ribs commonly observed.

Jan 1, 1972

By Suzanne T. Mathis, J. C. Ferm, J. T. Berger, W. Horger

A system of core logging and computerized entry and retrieval is described which permits accurate and rapid logging of core, cuttings and geophysical records derived from exploration and development bore holes. The system is so constructed that older drilling records can also be utilized. Output consists of conventional computer print out and graphic logs with a variety of scales, symbols and formats. Such logs can be used in constructing rock profiles which are necessary in property assessment and mine development.

Jan 1, 1983

By Eugene F. Poncelet

GLASS squares compressed on edge by steel jaws in poor contact with them developed jagged "partial-contact" cracks caused by the formation of local tensile stresses. Compressed by steel jaws in perfect contact, they developed smooth "release cracks" during release of the pressure, caused by the formation of local tensile stresses during the release of the pressure. All these cracks were parallel to the pressure. A Microflash photograph of a disintegrating specimen under sufficient pressure reveals a network of fractures roughly normal to each other, also "release cracks" and a disintegration cloud. The Griffith theory is amended to account for the formation of a first crack. A new theory, based on the theory of thermal agitation and wave propagation, is proposed to account for the progress, velocity and forking of cracks. The network of fractures is shown to have been caused by reflection at a free boundary of pressure pulses emanating from a first crack. Postulating equal distribution of energy in the pulses emitted on either side by a crack in particles, the smaller fragments are shown to continue fracturing preferentially while some of the coarser fragments remain as residual pieces. As comminution of the smaller fragments proceeds, the solid is reduced to a collection of residual particles of smaller and smaller sizes, accounting for the disintegration cloud. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Apparatus A crushing device was built, consisting of a steel frame and two polished, hardened steel jaws to crush plate-glass samples. This device was placed between the plates of a hydraulic press (Fig. 1). For centering the pressure, the upper jaw was guided vertically and provided with a rounded top. Later it was replaced by a steel jaw ground out of a 2 1/2-in. steel ball, the lower surface being ground to an optical flat (Fig. 2). Four rollers were used to eliminate side thrust. Screws and centering blocks served to center the specimen in the crushing device. Hard steel shims placed under the shoulder of the upper jaw limited the "follow through" of the jaw after failure of the specimen. Stress distribution was first examined with a polariscope mounted on an optical bench, using monochromatic light. It was found convenient to mount polaroid, quarter wave and monochromatic plates directly on the device itself. A Microflash unit* was used as light source for the photographs. A gold-paint pattern was fused on the plate-glass specimens and connected into the spark-

Jan 1, 1944

By Eugene F. Poncelet

GLASS squares compressed on edge by steel jaws in poor contact with them developed jagged "partial-contact" cracks caused by the formation of local tensile stresses. Compressed by steel jaws in perfect contact, they developed smooth "release cracks" during release of the pressure, caused by the formation of local tensile stresses during the release of the pressure. All these cracks were parallel to the pressure. A Microflash photograph of a disintegrating specimen under sufficient pressure reveals a network of fractures roughly normal to each other, also "release cracks" and a disintegration cloud. The Griffith theory is amended to account for the formation of a first crack. A new theory, based on the theory of thermal agitation and wave propagation, is proposed to account for the progress, velocity and forking of cracks. The network of fractures is shown to have been caused by reflection at a free boundary of pressure pulses emanating from a first crack. Postulating equal distribution of energy in the pulses emitted on either side by a crack in particles, the smaller fragments are shown to continue fracturing preferentially while some of the coarser fragments remain as residual pieces. As comminution of the smaller fragments proceeds, the solid is reduced to a collection of residual particles of smaller and smaller sizes, accounting for the disintegration cloud. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Apparatus A crushing device was built, consisting of a steel frame and two polished, hardened steel jaws to crush plate-glass samples. This device was placed between the plates of a hydraulic press (Fig. I). For centering the pressure, the upper jaw was guided vertically and provided with a rounded top. Later it was replaced by a steel jaw ground out of a 2 1/2-in. steel ball, the lower surface being ground to an optical flat (Fig. 2). Four rollers were used to eliminate side thrust. Screws and centering blocks served to center the specimen in the crushing device. Hard steel shims placed under the shoulder of the upper jaw limited the "follow through" of the jaw after failure of the specimen. Stress distribution was first examined with a polariscope mounted on an optical bench, using monochromatic light. It was found convenient to mount polaroid, quarter wave and monochromatic plates directly on the device itself. A Microflash unit* was used as light source for the photographs. A gold-paint pattern was fused on the plate-glass specimens and connected into the spark-

Jan 1, 1944

By Chester S. Conrad

SEVERAL years ago Pittsburgh Consolidation Coal Co. intensified efforts to combat the hazard of mine fires. The program consisted of three parts in the order of likely accomplishment: 1) Purchase and installation of newer and more practical fire fighting equipment. 2) Establishment of trained fire fighting teams at every mine plant. 3) A drive to remove the causes of mine fires. Experimentation with alternating current on section equipment is a major development in this part of the program. Use of alternating current to power mining equipment had been recognized as being most practical from the standpoint of safety. A means to re- place the d-c traction motor is all that has delayed complete section mechanization with a-c power.

Jan 1, 1958

By Eugene F. Poncelet

Glass squares compressed on edge by steel jaws in poor contact with them developed jagged "partial-contact" cracks caused by the formation of local tensile stresses. Compressed by steel jaws in perfect contact, they developed smooth "release cracks" during release of the pressure, caused by the formation of local tensile stresses during the release of the pressure. All these cracks were parallel to the pressure. A Microflash photograph of a disintegrating specimen under sufficient pressure reveals a network of fractures roughly normal to each other, also "release cracks" and a disintegration cloud. The Griffith theory is amended to account for the formation of a first crack. A new theory, based on the theory of thermal agitation and wave propagation, is proposed to account for the progress, velocity and forking of cracks. The network of fractures is shown to have been caused by reflection at a free boundary of pressure pulses emanating from a first crack. Postulating equal distribution of energy in the pulses emitted on either side by a crack in particles, the smaller fragments are shown to continue fracturing preferentially while some of the coarser fragments remain as residual pieces. As comminution of the smaller fragments proceeds, the solid is reduced to a collection of residual particles of smaller and smaller sizes, accounting for the disintegration cloud. Experimental Procedure Apparatus A crushing device was built, consisting of a steel frame and two polished, hardened steel jaws to crush plate-glass samples. This device was placed between the plates of a hydraulic press (Fig. I). For centering the pressure, the upper jaw was guided vertically and provided with a rounded top. Later it was replaced by a steel jaw ground out of a 2½-in. steel ball, the lower surface being ground to an optical flat (Fig. 2). Four rollers were used to eliminate side thrust. Screws and centering blocks served to center the specimen in the crushing device. Hard steel shims placed under the shoulder of the upper jaw limited the "follow through&apos;&apos; of the jaw after failure of the specimen. Stress distribution was first examined with a polariscope mounted on an optical bench, using monochromatic light. It was found convenient to mount polaroid, quarter wave and monochromatic plates directly on the device itself. A Microflash unit* was used as light source for the photographs. A gold-paint pattern was fused on the plate-glass specimens and connected into the spark-

Jan 1, 1947

By Eugene F. Poncelet

Glass squares compressed on edge by steel jaws in poor contact with them developed jagged "partial-contact" cracks caused by the formation of local tensile stresses. Compressed by steel jaws in perfect contact, they developed smooth "release cracks" during release of the pressure, caused by the formation of local tensile stresses during the release of the pressure. All these cracks were parallel to the pressure. A Microflash photograph of a disintegrating specimen under sufficient pressure reveals a network of fractures roughly normal to each other, also "release cracks" and a disintegration cloud. The Griffith theory is amended to account for the formation of a first crack. A new theory, based on the theory of thermal agitation and wave propagation, is proposed to account for the progress, velocity and forking of cracks. The network of fractures is shown to have been caused by reflection at a free boundary of pressure pulses emanating from a first crack. Postulating equal distribution of energy in the pulses emitted on either side by a crack in particles, the smaller fragments are shown to continue fracturing preferentially while some of the coarser fragments remain as residual pieces. As comminution of the smaller fragments proceeds, the solid is reduced to a collection of residual particles of smaller and smaller sizes, accounting for the disintegration cloud. Experimental Procedure Apparatus A crushing device was built, consisting of a steel frame and two polished, hardened steel jaws to crush plate-glass samples. This device was placed between the plates of a hydraulic press (Fig. I). For centering the pressure, the upper jaw was guided vertically and provided with a rounded top. Later it was replaced by a steel jaw ground out of a 2½-in. steel ball, the lower surface being ground to an optical flat (Fig. 2). Four rollers were used to eliminate side thrust. Screws and centering blocks served to center the specimen in the crushing device. Hard steel shims placed under the shoulder of the upper jaw limited the "follow through&apos;&apos; of the jaw after failure of the specimen. Stress distribution was first examined with a polariscope mounted on an optical bench, using monochromatic light. It was found convenient to mount polaroid, quarter wave and monochromatic plates directly on the device itself. A Microflash unit* was used as light source for the photographs. A gold-paint pattern was fused on the plate-glass specimens and connected into the spark-

Jan 1, 1947