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By F. F. Schmidt, H. R. Ogden, E. S. Bartlett

Continuing tantalum alloy development studies have been concerned with a more detailed investigation of promising binary, ternary, and more complex tantalum alloys containing Groups IV-A, V-A, VI -A. VII-A, and VII-A metal additions. A primary objective of these studies was to improve the elevated temperature strength of tantalum with minimum degradation of fabricability and low-temperature ductility by alloying. Several alloys were found to exhibit hot tensile strengths in the excess of 25, 15, and 10 ksi at 2700°, 3000°, and 3500°F, respectively, combined with excellent cryogenic toughness and ductility. Particularly outstanding in this respect are alloys in the system Ta-Mo-W. Ternary parameter curves describing hot-strength, low-temperature ductility, recrystallization temperature, weld ductility, and fabricability are presented for the Ta-Cb-V, Ta-Hf-W, Ta-Mo-Hf, Ta-Mo-V, Ta-Mo-W, and Ta-V-W systems. At present, only four metals qualify for large scale structural applications at temperatures above about 1800°F. These are tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, and columbium. Research and development work on these refractory metals has progressed to the point where efforts are now primarily directed toward the improvement of high- and low-temperature mechanical properties through alloying. High melting point combined with excellent low-temperature ductility, fabricability, toughness, weldability, and high solubility and tolerance for both substitutional and interstitial solutes are important attributes of tantalum. Conversely, its high density and relative scarcity compared with other refractory metals are the major deterrents to the use of tantalum. Early studies in the Battelle alloy development program established base line data on the mechanical and metallurgical properties of high-purity tantalum.' These studies were extended to include a preliminary investigation of the effects of various alloying elements on the established base properties.2,3 Recent studies involved a more detailed investigation of promising binary alloys containing Cb, Hf, Mo, Os, Re, Ru, and W, and ternary Ta-Cb-V, Ta-Hf-W, Ta-Mo-Hf, Ta-Mo-V, Ta-Mo-W, and Ta-V-W alloys. Results of major importance obtained are given in this article. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Electron-beam-melted tantalum (Wah Chang) and high-purity alloying elements were consolidated as 150-g ingots by multiple nonconsumable arc melting under a partial atmosphere of helium. Homogeneity of the button ingots was checked radiographically. Alloy buttons measured about 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 in. in diam by about 0.35 and 0.50 in. thick. Nominal alloy compositions were checked on each alloy button by weighing after arc melting. In most instances, weight losses were within 3 pct of the total weight charged. Subsequent chemical analyses on a number of selected alloys showed interstitial contents to range as shown below: Range of Interstitial Content, ppm 0 C N H 25-75 50-100 10-50 1-5 Metallic alloying additions were found to agree well with nominal compositions based on weight change data. Fabrication directly from the cast button to sheet was conducted at low (75° to 900°F), intermediate (1800° to 2000°F), or high (3000°F) temperatures, depending upon alloy content and hardness. Evacuated stainless steel or molybdenum packs were used for fabrication at intermediate and high temperatures, respectively. The temperature required to complete recrystal-lization in one hour was determined by hardness measurements and metallographic observations (longitudinal test sections) after vacuum annealing at 180°F intervals in the range 2010° to 2910°F. All mechanical property evaluations were conducted on recrystallized sheet, nominally 0.04 in. thick. Weldability of the various alloys was screened using manual TIG welding techniques. Bend ductility (bend axis perpendicular to weld axis) was the criterion used for evaluation. Tensile specimens employed 0.200 by 1 in. gage lengths, and bend test specimens measured about 1 by 1/4 in. Low-temperature tensile tests were conducted using a crosshead speed of 0.02 in. per min up to the point of yielding, and 0.05 in. per min to fracture. High-temperature tensile tests were conducted in vacuum using a crosshead speed of 0.01 in. per min

Jan 1, 1963

By S. R. B. Cooke, H. S. Choi, I. Iwasaki

In magnetic taconite of the East Mesabi range, quartz, magnetite, and cummingtonite (OH}(Fe, Mg)(Si4O11)2) are the three major ore-forming minerals.' Fine grinding and magnetic separation of the taconite leads to a concentrate analyzing 64 to 65 pct Fe and 8 to 9 pct insoluble; the gangue content of the concentrate arising from the presence of locked magnetite-gangue particles, and of occluded gangue particles in magnetic floccules. To further upgrade such taconite concentrates, flotation appears to offer a particularly promising approach. To evaluate its effectiveness in separation, a knowledge of the flotation characteristics of each mineral comprising the concentrate becomes desirable. The floatability of magnetite and of quartz have already been reported in a previous paper,2 in which the flotation characteristics of the two minerals were correlated with the electrokinetic properties at the mineral-solution interfaces. Since cummingtonite has somewhat intermediate chemical composition between the above-named oxides, the electrokinetic and the flotation behavior of this mineral becomes of interest for both practical and fundamental reasons. In the present article the results of electrophoretic mobility measurements and of Hallimond tube flotation tests on cummingtonite are reported and are compared with those of quartz and magnetite. MATERIALS AND METHODS A sample of cummingtonite-rich taconite, received from the Mitchell pit, near Babbitt, Minn., was crushed and ground through 100 mesh, and the product was fractionated magnetically into three portions. First, a drum-type laboratory cobber was used to separate a highly magnetic portion, consisting mainly of free, but also containing locked, magnetite particles. The cobber tailing was then passed in two stages through a Franz isodynamic separator. The middle fraction was isolated, and, upon examination petrographically, was ascertained to be principally cummingtonite. The 100 to 150 mesh fraction of this sample was selected for the present study. It was cleaned by leaching briefly with hot, dilute HC1 and then by rinsing repeatedly with demineralized water. A ground and elutriated fraction of -5p cummingtonite was used for the electrophoretic measurements.

Jan 1, 1961

ONE of the fundamental reasons for the extreme rapidity with which the Porphyries developed after the trail had been blazed at Bingham was the amenability of the deposits to prospecting and proving of the ore either by churn-drilling or by diamond-drilling. At Ray churn-drill data formed the principal basis for early calculations of ore reserves; and in 1913, Inspiration floated its first bond issue for $6,000,000 on the strength of the estimate of 45,000,000 tons of sulphide ore assaying just over 3 per cent copper. The money was obtained in spite of the fact that no one ever had actually laid eyes on more than a minute fraction of that ore. The customary method of developing a copper deposit before the Porphyry era had been to sink shafts or drive adits and then to follow and expose the veins or lodes with horizontal and vertical underground workings-drifts, crosscuts, raises, and winzes. The excavated material sometimes was sampled in bulk; but always the walls of the openings would be channeled at intervals to obtain small samples representative of the ore left in place. This process was known as "blocking out" ore. It was costly and it required a great deal of time to prove the existence of immense tonnages. The early development at Utah was done in this way; likewise, at Miami. This fact helps to explain why only 3,000,000 tons of ore was reported as being developed when J. Parke Channing wrote the report on which the original Miami financing was based in March, 1908. Fortunately, his 3,000,000 tons averaged 3'per cent copper. At Ray, Seeley W. Mudd estimated 3,000,000 tons of ore in June, 1908, developed principally by underground working; but by the end of 1909, Henry Krumb was able to report 50,000,000 tons as the fruit of a little more than a year of churn-drilling.

Jan 1, 1933

By George S. Rice

Ten years ago: October, 1914, the author had the privilege of giving an illustrated address on investigations of coal-dust explosions1 to this Institute at one session of its fall meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa,. On the following day, the members had the opportunity of seeing a large-scale explosion test at the Experimental Mine near Bruceton, in which the explosion was made to follow a predetermined path by means of rock-dust barriers of various types, which had prevented the explosive waves from reaching the outlets of the mine by the shortest paths.2 There was also shown a ((home-made" rock-dusting machine discharging the dust from a flexible nozzle, and a cement gun operated for the quick erection of a fire or ventilation stopping, such as might be put up after an explosion. Following that paper, there was presented a paper by J. Taffanel, Director of the Lìévin testing station in the Pas de Calais, which reviewed the French coal-dust investigations.3 A paper4 by Howard N. Eavenson contains lists of explosions that occurred in North America and Great Britain, from early in the 19th century to 1912; in France to 1903, and Belgium to 1909. Although explosions still occur, we are hopeful that we have entered a happier freedom from these visitations, as the result of increased knowledge of the causes and means of prevention. Looking back over coal-dust investigations, there appear to have been periods of advance and of stagnation. Coal-dust Investigations From the earliest times of coal mining, which chiefly affected Great Britain as the first nation to take up coal mining on a large scale, to the beginning of the 19th century, no one thought of coal dust as an explosive agency; firedamp was the cause dreaded. It was believed, when Sir Humphrey Davy invented his safety lamp in 1815, that a solution had been found for the prevention of mine explo-

Jan 1, 1925

By George P. Hulst

Prior to 1914, there was little demand for antimony in this country; its use was limited almost entirely to the manufacture of type and bearing metals. Practically no antimony ore was mined here, the market being supplied principally from China, and the alloy was produced by a direct mixing of lead and antimony. The great world war, with its demand for shrapnel in hitherto undreamed of quantities, precipitated a great boom in the price of antimony. Nominally quoted at 6 c. to 7 c. in 1914, the price increased by leaps and bounds to 45 c. in March, 1916. Under the stimulus of high prices many small mines were opened, for it became profitable to work ores containing as low as 20 per cent. antimony. High-grade sulfide ores (stibnite), containing 55 per cent. to 60 per cent. antimony, were received from Bolivia, China, and Alaska. Low-grade sulfide ores, running from 20 per cent. to 45 per cent., were produced in Nevada, California, Idaho, Utah, and Mexico; much of this ore was fairly rich in silver. The principal oxide ores came from Mexico and Oregon. The following analyses are representative of various types of antimony ore: Sb Pb Cu AG AU SIO2 Be S CaO Zn As Oxide ore.......... 25.09 46.02 0.95 0.40 10.98 0.30 0.22 Sulfide ore......... 55.20 15.12 1.05 19.87 0.40 0.25 Sulfide ore......... 37.16 11.30 0.10 34.0 7.60 0.50 17.05 7.40 0.36 0.10 Sulfide ore......... 41.55 18.00 0.20 76.0 0.04 5.60 0.25 18.17 0.85 0.25 0.10 The International Lead Refining Co. fortunately was equipped to handle these ores through residue and blast furnaces. The charge consisted of a variety of sulfide ores containing Sb 20 to 60 per cent. and SiO2 6 to 45 per cent., oxide ores containing Sb 20 to 40 per cent. and SiO2 10 to 45 per cent. Secondary materials, such as battery plates, battery mud, lead oxide, paint, etc., together with refinery skims, softener skims, and other refinery byproducts, were treated along with the antimony ore to furnish the lead required. All silver-bearing antimony ores were treated in the residue furnace, the sulfur, iron, and copper forming matte that carried part of the silver, the balance going into lead bullion. The antimony slag produced was sufficiently low in silver to warrant being smelted in the blast furnace to antimonial lead.

Jan 1, 1921

By L. R. Blair

Many hydrated silicates have been synthesized and sold for commercial use. However, this paper discusses only hydrated calcium silicates and, to a lesser extent, hydrated magnesium silicates. Synthetic calcium silicates were first formed by man when he found that mixtures of silica or silicates and lime in water set up to form cements. The material which was responsible for the cementing properties was calcium silicate hydrate, although this fact was not recognized until early in this century. In the early 19001s, synthetic calcium silicates, reinforced with fibers and formed simply by reacting calcium hydroxide and silica in water with fiber at atmospheric or under low pressure autoclave conditions, found increased use in thermal insulations and in building products. These insulations were found to have a low thermal conductivity and would withstand temperatures up to 650°C. This, combined with their very low densities (from 8 to 50 Ib per cu ft) and fairly high strength, also made them suitable for use as building products. Following the disastrous Morro Castle fire of the 1930Js, calcium silicate board products were used as partitioning material in all shipboard construction in the U.S. As autoclaving techniques were improved and developed, it was: learned that under hydrothermal conditions new and useful calcium silicates which could be used under more extreme temperatures (up to 980' C) could be prepared. These had high surface areas and other unique properties which suited them for use as fillers, pesticide carriers, low temperature insulating materials, and adsorbents for the removal of fatty acids from various solutions. Hydrated magnesium silicates have not been studied as extensively as the calcium compounds. Their first important use was in the filtration of dry cleaning solutions for the removal of fatty acids. With the introduction of detergents, it was found that these products lost their advantage because of their high affinity for the detergent chemicals. However, in recent years these chemicals are finding increasing use as decolorizing agents for fats and anti-caking agents for resins. Some materials with very high surface are finding new use as adsorbents. CALCIUM SILICATE HYDRATE COMPOUNDS AND THElR CONDITIONS OF FORMATION Within the past ten years much has been done in the field of calcium silicate hydrate chemistry. As a result of this work it has been found that at least 25 different forms of calcium silicate hydrate can either be formed synthetically or found as naturally occurring materials. The stability and composition relationships among these 25 compounds present a very complicated picture, and many of these very closely resemble other forms and are difficult to dis-

Jan 1, 1962

By AIME AIME

THE third award of the W. L. Saunders Gold Medal for "distinguished achievement in mining" has been made to John Hays Hammond. The two previous awards were to David Brunton and Herbert C. Hoover. Since the principal events in Mr. Hammond's interesting life are not only well known to his many friends but were summarized in the April, 1928, issue of MINING AND METALLURGY (p. 186), it seems most appropriate to reproduce here the chronological record of his career that appears on pages 67 to 69 of "A Student Reverie," by his friend and fellow Freiberg student, F. G. Corning. Mr. Hammond, after graduating from Yale in 1876, was a student at Freiberg for the next three years.

Jan 1, 1929

By W. L. Staker

The Bureau of Mines investigated selective extraction of Au and Ag from a low-grade Au ore containing Hg. Gold and silver were extracted from the ore in cyanide slurries, and Hg extraction was suppressed with sodium or calcium sulfide. Maximum Au extraction and minimum Hg extraction were obtained using solutions containing 0.34 lb NaCN/ton of solution. Increasing the cyanide concentration increased Hg extraction without increasing Au extraction. Mercury extraction from the ore was suppressed with 0.5 to 2.9 lb CaS/lb Hg in the ore. Gold-to-mercury ratios of 100:l to 400:l were obtained in the leach solution, and on the activated carbon in a CIP circuit.

Jan 1, 1984

By Edmund Davenport

Tier; production of thorium of high purity by the Ca-CaCl2 reduction has been described by Marden and Rentschler,1 who also reported some of the properties of the coherent, ductile metal obtained from this pure thorium powder. The present paper describes the properties of thorium produced by the Ca-CaCl2 process modified in some details to meet commercial conditions. The principal effect of these changes in process has been an unavoidable increase in the oxide content of the thorium.

Jan 1, 1929

Terminology Relating to Nonmetallic Elements in Metals. See IRON AND STEEL Ferromagnetism in Metallic Crystals. BY L W MCKEEHAN (Tech. Pub 554, Metals Tech , August; also Trans, vol 111. 20,500 words ) The directions for easiest magnetization of ferromagnetic single crystals are those of simple crystal- lographic forms and the extra energy needed for magnetization in other than these preferred directions depends upon the material selected for test The history of magnetic tests upon metallic single crystals, reviewed in detail, shows that crystals of one metal agree rather well as to the magnitude of such energy differences. This makes ~t probable that these differences are really charactenstic of the ferromagnetic

Jan 1, 1935

The Delegation of American Engineers constituted by the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, that visited France in December, 1918, in acceptance of the invitation extended by the Congrés General du Genie Civil consisted of the following: Representing the American Society of Civil Engineers, Major James F. Case, past president, Geo. F. Swain, vice-president, Nelson P. Lewis, treasurer, Geo. W. Tillson, past director, Geo. W. Fuller, director, A. M. Hunt. Representing the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, president, Chas. T. Main. Representing the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, past president, L. B. Stillwell. Representing the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers past-president, E. C. Spilsbury. The delegation organized on the way over by the choice of Major James F. Case as chairman, and Geo F. Swain as secretary. On arriving at Bordeaux, the Delegation was met by Mr. S. D. Brown, associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; and on its arrival in Paris it was joined permanently by the following attaches: Captain P. Charton, of the French Engineers, Delegate of the Commissariat-General to accompany the Delegation and serve as liaison officer; Captain Carpenter of the American Army; and Mr. Geo. Herdt, representing the Society of Civil Engineers of France. The object of the visit was to discuss with the French engineers the large engineering, problems now facing France. Engineering problems in their restricted technical sense came up for discussion practically not at all, for the French do not need advice nor assistance along strictly scientific lines. It was in the -larger and economic aspects of engineering, to aid in building up the industries and commerce of France, that our French associates desired to learn from the experience of the American Delegation.

Jan 9, 1919

By Howard L. Hartman

The past 15 years have seen rapid advances in the metallurgy of materials for drill machinery and bits, but rock drilling itself continues to be largely an art. Jet piercing, roller bit rotary drilling, and rotary percussion are all promising new techniques, but the percussion rock drill, still used for 90 pct of the blastholes in U. S. hard-rock mining, has under- gone no major modification since pneumatic machines were first used successfully in the 1860's. This singular lack of progress stems directly from ignorance of the nature of impact failure of rock and the fundamentals of rock penetration in general. For nearly three-quarters of a century, mining engineers did not know what went on at the bottom of a drillhole.

Jan 1, 1959

By Young C. Kim, William C. Cassun

A proper economic analysis of pit slope design must reflect the trade-off between the benefits and the increased risk of slope failure inherent in steeper slope angles. This paper describes the results of a case study in which a newly developed probabilistic economic analysis procedure was applied to the selection of a pit slope design at a large porphyry copper mine in the southwestern U.S. The paper also demonstrates the availability of the required data such as the probability of failure schedule and cost of failure models, under "real-life" conditions.

Jan 1, 1978

By B. H. Bergstrom

In reading this article, it was difficult to follow through the example given as a starting point in the derivation of the theoretical equation which relates ball size to feed size. A discussion with F. C. Bond led to the following clarification: Bond postulates that "the breaking force exerted by a ball varies . . . as the cube of its diameter . . ." and that the force in pounds per square inch required to break a particle varies . . . as its diameter squared."

Jan 5, 1959

GENTLEMEN: Submitted herewith are the report of the Treasurer for the year 1940 and reports for the same year of the following standing committees: Admissions, Membership, Pa¬pers and Publications, Mining and Metal¬lurgy (Magazine), Library, and Student Relations. These reports present additional details. MEMBERSHIP For the third year in succession member¬ship reached a new high level for all time, as indicated in the accompanying tabula¬tion in which "Members" includes all categories except Student Associates.

Jan 1, 1941

By Henry Carlisle

W. W. Mein: One of the most amusing things in Nevada City – I was born and was going to school there - was that my mother made overcoats for us, and because they were different from other boys’ overcoats, we’d hide them under a bridge and pick them up on the way home. I left Nevada City with my parents when I was about eleven years old, and moved to Oakland. This was caused by the closing down of the hydraulic mines and my father being send to the El Cayo mine in Venezuela, which was then one of the richest gold mines in the world. Hamilton Smith operated the hydraulic mines in California, and when they were closed down by the Sawyer decision, he was persuaded by the Rothschilds to go to London. There, together, they formed the London Exploration Co.

Jan 1, 1964

FOREIGN WAR RELIEF COMMITTEE Chairman, MRS. JESSE SCOBEY The task of the committee since Oct. 17, 1918, has been to stimulate and foster interest in the work of the Dispensary in France, to aid and further the work, and to that end has centered on the inauguration of an "Engineers' " day, once a week, at the headquarters of the American Fund for French Wounded, where members of the Auxiliary might join in sewing for this "Dispensary of the New York Section of the Woman's Auxiliary to the A. I. M. E.," recently established at Briey, France. Letters and pledge forms asking for workers were sent to all members of the Auxiliary in New York City and vicinity, and a most gratifying response has assured the success of the undertaking. The meetings in December, pending the completion of better working facilities at Fund headquarters, were held at the home of Miss Madeline P. Stone, to whom the committee extends its grateful thanks for her hospitality large, well-equipped room at Fund headquarters has now been assigned to the committee for Tuesday of each week, from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m., with Mrs. Percy E. Barbour of the committee as director of work room. All members of the Auxiliary and others whose interests are with the mining profession will be welcome on "Engineers'" day-Tuesdays-at 73 Park Ave.

Jan 2, 1919

Oscar Rohn was born in Jackson, Wis., June 27, 1870. He attended the University of Wisconsin and there gained from Professor Van Hise his inspiration for scientific effort and useful attainment. While a student at Wisconsin he was interested in athletics and was a member of the first eight-oared crew that Wisconsin sent to compete with Eastern crews at Poughkeepsie. He was an instructor in the gymnasium for several years. He received his B. S. in 1895 at Wisconsin, specializing in engineering and geology. 1229

Jan 1, 1924

By John D. Morgan

THE tense international situation prevailing in the postwar period, and the outbreak of actual hostilities in Korea, directs attention to the status of United States reserves of strategic and critical materials for war. Geologists and mining and metallurgical engineers are particularly interested in this problem, since, with a few important exceptions, almost all of the materials on the official list of strategic and critical materials for stockpiling (see top of page) are metals and minerals.

Jan 3, 1951

Although the mining industry faced ever-increasing risks and uncertainties in 1974, it nevertheless pushed ahead with considerable rapidity in exploring and developing new orebodies-while expanding and improving the technologies of mining and exploration. Prepared by the SME Mining and Exploration Division, this section of the annual review covers the pertinent worldwide developments in the fields of geochemistry, geology, geological engineering, open pit mining, underground mining, rock mechanics, operations research, and solution mining.

Jan 2, 1975