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By John B. Hastings

CHIEF among the varied problems facing the mine-manager is that of vein-structure and origin, which is highly important as a guide to successful discovery and development. If metalliferous deposits can be traced to the intrusion of waters along definite lines, then is there something tangible for him to study. But when he is told by a geologist that metalliferous deposits are due to some other cause, like magmatic differentiation, while not perhaps discouraged, he is impressed with a vague sense of new worlds to be conquered. In 1897, while manager of the War Eagle mine at Rossland, B. C., where, previously, the ore-bodies had not been supposed to occur as veins, I suggested to visiting members of the Canadian Geological Survey that, perhaps, the structure of the pyrrhotite-bodies of that mine, which had been proved to occur along well-defined fractures, might throw some light on the similar deposits of Sudbury, then held to be basic aggregations from the original magma. Later investigation has at least provoked discussion of this last deduction, questioning its correctness and suggesting that, perhaps, the deposits are actual veins. The following extract from a paper by J. E. Spurr 1 is quoted, because it sets forth Mr. Spurr's theory of the quartz-occurrences of the Silver Peak mines, which will be discussed in this article. It also graphically describes the attendant geological features. '' The Drinkwater group of mines, which is the most important part of the Blair gold properties, and which has produced practically all of the million dollars' worth of ore, as above stated, may be taken as typical of the gold-veins which, though widespread and numerous, show a wonderful similarity of character. On the surface two adjacent veins outcrop, the Crowning Glory and the Drink-

Jan 1, 1913

By Cleveland Dodge

THE present organization of Copper Queen employ-ees, known as the Employees' Conference Com-mittee, is really an outgrowth of the former Grievance Committee, which, in turn, had developed from the original Hospital Committee. The relatively small membership of these older organizations, the practical limitation of their activities to the presenting of grievances, and their lack of initiating powers, were the principal defects which the plan now in operation seeks to overcome. A somewhat parallel scheme was instituted in our Sacramento Hill division about four years ago; this gradually developed into the Ways and Means Committee, which, in addition to providing a forum for the discussion of operating problems, was instrumental in establishing an excellent and mutually satisfactory bonus system. Before recommending adoption of the plan now in force, we made extensive inquiries among those who have had any experience in such matters, and ended by proposing a modification of a scheme developed by John Leitch,1 which was characterized by its similarity to the constitution of the Federal Government. As finally remodeled, the. plan was submitted to vote of the entire working forces at the Copper Queen mines, and was adopted by them in May, 1920. Mining opera-tions since that date have been so interrupted that it is scarcely possible to state exactly what the results have been. The following quotations are from a printed pamphlet containing the constitution of the organization, as finally adopted. The first extract is from a letter addressed by the management to the employees: The plan submitted for your approval and adoption is modeled after the constitution of our own country, under which every individual is given an opportunity for advancement, according to his ability and determination, and every citizen is given a voice in the laws that shall govern him. So it is to encourage the individual employee in advancement, and to give him a voice in making the rules that shall govern his conduct, that we favor the adoption of the proposed constitution.

Jan 1, 1923

By J. M. Toguri, H. Flood

The application of the mass action law to the thermodynamic treatment of metal-slag equilibria is discussed. The consideration of the reactions essentially as ionic exchange equilibria is shown to be both an advantage and an aid for the elucidation of the theoretical treatment. This is illustrated by several examples. In general two different methods of application of the mass action law to metal-slag equilibria have been used by different groups of investigators. These could be called the oxide reaction and the ionic reaction approach respectively. At the recent discussion in the metallurgical section of the I.U.P.A.C. Congress in Montreal, 1961,' divergent opinions prevailed regarding the most rational way of applying the mass action law to metal-slag equilibria. This question is of fundamental importance in the treatment and understanding of theoretical chemical metallurgy. Consequently, the following is an attempt to contribute towards its clarification. As an example, the distribution of iron and manganese between molten iron and slag will be considered. I) THE OXIDE EXCHANGE REACTION APPROACH The equilibrium between iron and manganese between molten iron and slag is frequently formulated as an oxide metal exchange reaction as follows:

Jan 1, 1963

By Calvin Pierson, R. S. Dean, E. P. Barrett

MANY studies have been made of the properties of steel produced by adding varying amounts of sponge iron to the charges used in steelmaking furnaces.1-3 The results of these previous studies, however, have failed to disclose a reason for the belief of steelmakers that steel made in this way is definitely different from steel made entirely from scrap or iron melting stock. This paper deals chiefly with the structure of the sponge iron, of the wrought iron made by welding the sponge iron into blooms, and of the steel made by melting the forged and rolled blooms. It is believed that the structure of the final steel is inherited from the ore and that this inherited structure produces marked differences in the properties of the steel and explains the feeling of steelmakers which is based on their experience. Three kinds of sponge iron were used in this investigation: One made from a limonite ore reduced with natural gas, one made from a hematite ore reduced with natural gas, and one made from a magnetite ore reduced with charcoal. The sponge iron made by reduction with natural gas

Jan 1, 1935

By J. E. Owen

A model of a porous body is presented in which the pore space consists of a system of voids and interconnecting tubes. Relationships between porosity and resistivity formation factor are determined partly by calculation, partly by experiment. Con triction effects characteristic of the model are shown to be sufficient to account for high formation factors. It is shown that constriction may be combined with moderate amounts of tortuosity to give model pore systems exhibiting to a first approximation porosity and resistivity properties similiar to those of natural porous bodies. INTRODUCTION The relationship between the electric resistivity of a fluid-filled porous body and the geometry of its pore space is so complex that the calculation of the resistivity of a natural porous rock is a practical impossibility. Both the resistivity of a body and its porosity are measurable quantities, however, and previous successes at relating them have been reached by an empirical approach. Efforts at obtaining theoretically derived formulae relating them have generally been unsatisfactory. One of the reasons for this may lie in the pore geometry that has been assumed. THE TORTUOSITY CONCEPT A Parameter called the formation factor is useful in dis-cussing the resistivity of a fluid-filled porous body. This parameter is the ratio of the resistivity of a fluid saturated porous body to the resistivity of the saturating fluid. Formation factors are often available from measurements on cores or from electric logs, and many attempts have been made to correlate formation factors and porosities of geological formations. Whenever a successful correlation is found, the engineer working with electrical logs has a useful tool for the determination of porsities of pay section?. One of the more successful formulae applicable to these correlations is the familiar equation empirically obtained by Archie.' which F is the formation factor. $ is the porosity, and rn is an exponent called the cementation factor. When the for- mula applies, the cementation factor usually is found to be between 1.3 and 2.2. The values for formation factors experimentally obtained are often higher than simple pore geometry would lead one to expect. In an effort to account for such high values certain formulae have been derived based on a so-called "tortuosity concept." In deriving these formulae a synthetic porous body is usually assumed in which the solid material is an electrical non-conductor. and in which the pore system consists of three sets of fluid-filled tubes of uniform diameter connecting opposite faces of the body which, for convenience, is considered to be cubical in shape. The three sets of tubes account for the whole of the effective porosity of the body, and usually, it is specified that they do not interconnect. By considering that the pore tubes are not straight but tortuous, their resistance to the flow of electric currents can be made as high as needed to explain high formation factors. Such an explanation has some basis in fact, but it appears that the tortuosity concept is often incorrectly applied when other factors are largely responsible for observed high resistivities. Recently, Wyllie and Spangler have recognized that tortuosity as calculated by conventional formulae has little if any physical significance.' RESISTIVITY AND THE CONSTRICTION CONCEPT Any explanation of high formation factors which depends solely on tortuosity of uniform pore paths necessarily ignores the effect that variations in the cross-sectional area of the conducting paths have on the resistivity of a body. Although, as previously pointed out, the calculation of such paths for an actual body is impossible, it will he shown that a synthetic pore network can be devised which will yield to analysis, and lead to results in agreement with the experimental data represented by Equation (1). The porous body to be considered is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic or, for present purposes, identical in its characteristics in the three directions parallel to its coordinate axes. It will he assumed to be built of identical unit cubes, each of which contains a single pore network connecting all faces of the unit cube. A unit of such a pore network is shown

Jan 1, 1952

By J. Blodget Britton

To the question, "Do the Pennsylvania anthracites contain phosphorus ?" asked at the last meeting of the Institute during the discussion on the metallurgical value of Western lignites, I can now give a definite answer. Through the kindness of a gentleman connected with the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, and another connected with one of the principal ironworks on the Lehigh, there was sent to the Iron-masters' Laboratory a number of samples of the coals now largely shipped from the Schuylkill and Lehigh regions. Seventeen of these I examined for their contents of ash and phosphorus, and obtained results as follows

Jan 1, 1873

MARCEL R. DALY (communication to the Secretary?).-The fundamental disagreement between Eugene Coste and the writer proceeds essentially from the contradictory views they hold on the origin of petroleum. This difference cannot be bridged, nor can inorganic and organic theories be discussed here. The writer has suggested that the proper thing in such a case would be to agree to disagree. Coming to the detailed objections further presented by Mr. Coste, the writer feels that, in the main, they take their source in a wrong interpretation of the theory, and the writer is sometimes too generously invested with views that are not his own. 1. The only requirement for the theory is that the oil proceeding from organic remains be distributed in a water-laden sediment, and that this sediment be submitted to the increasing compression due to the continuous accumulation of superimposed strata, which would tend to squeeze out the liquid contents (p. 1152). This squeezing out would be further aided by the distortion of the strata (p. 1148, a). Nothing here makes impossible the slow formation of the oil, if this is considered necessary, as the piling up of the strata in the syncline would require by itself a protracted length of time, and, further, the squeezing-out process is a slow one. Possibly the formation of the oil may even continue during part of the process of distortion. But the mode of formation of the oil and the time and temperature required for it are left to the chemist to decide. The diastrophic theory, which is essentially a theory of motion and accumulation dependent on the laws of mechanics, is not directly concerned with them, provided the general points heretofore outlined be agreed upon. Perhaps it would be wise not to claim too many "eons" for the formation of the hydrocarbons, if the statement made by Sir Boverton Redwood is correct that "the coral reefs of the Red Sea are charged in places with recent petroleum, formed in that torrid climate from the swarming organisms occupying the shallow pools."1

Jan 5, 1917

CONTENTS PAGE UREN, LESTER C.-Increasing Production of Petroleum by Increasing Diameter of Wells. Discussed by A. Beeby Thompson 1 LAHEE, FREDERIC H.-Comparative Study of Well Logs on the Mexia Type of Structure. Discussed by W. A. I. M. van Waterschoot van -der Gracht.... 4 Increasing Production of Petroleum by Increasing Diameter of Wells Discussion of the paper of LESTER C. UREN, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1925, and issued, as Paper No. 1364-G, with MINING AND METAL-LURGY, October, 1924. A. BEEBY THOMPSON, London, Eng. (written discussion).-The subject discussed in this paper has long been debated by operators in European fields, where very strong views are held regarding the advisability of controlling gas pressures by shutting in wells. While unwilling to theorize on the subject of restricted flow, the writer has always been disposed to associate himself with those who hesitate to impose any obstruction to a natural transitory state that breaks up the oil-containing strata and establishes a feeder system which no subsequent events, natural or artificial, can approach in intensity. In both Russia and Roumania, where the oil is concentrated in discontinuous, disturbed, and irregular lenticles of sand varying, within short distances, in coarseness of grain, extent of impregnation and degree of cementation, it has been the practice to let the wells run wild in order to provoke disruption of strata. By encouraging violent eruptions, an extended feeder system is created and the ejection of enormous quantities of sand, rock, and clay creates a sump and seepage area that it would be difficult to imitate by any artificial means, not excluding actual mining. Before discussing the somewhat novel method suggested for enlarging the infiltration area, the writer would like to confirm the fact that many valuable data applicable to oil are forthcoming from a study of water phenomena. Long association with water-supply problems in many parts of the world has shown how closely the phenomena of underground movements of water and oil are related, so that it is pleasing to note the author's use of water formulas. But there is one great distinction;

Jan 7, 1925

By Harry Roeser

Short cuts for determining the constants of oil decline curves, with the method of least squares as a starting point, are presented and applications made to practical examples. The nature of the raw data does not justify rigid adherence to the orthodox theory but does lend justification to convenient methods of approximation within reasonable limits. If the conventional form y = kxn were changed to y = k(x + c)', methods of determining the curves would be simplified and greater uniformity in calculated results would probably follow. As A result of the publication, several years ago, of some articles on determining the constants of empirical formulas, the determining the constant's of types of curves used for estimating the production decline of oil wells was brought to the writer for study. Methods requiring a minimum of time and labor and a maximum of rigor were sought, as it appeared that the nature of the data from which such curves are computed and the relative uncertainty of occurrence of the events predicted from them did not justify close adherence to the theory on which the solution of such problems is ordinarily based. The technical deficiencies of the solutions presented in this paper, from the standpoint of the method of least squares, are readily apparent to those familiar with that method, but their presentation in detail here is irrelevant to the subject matter. However, it is the author's conviction, after a rather exhaustive study of the problem, that the value of the solutions lose little by the approximate application of the conventional theory. It must be understood by those who use these formulas that the solutions herein given, and the formulas based on them, are merely facilities to aid the valuation engineer in forecasting future events. It is assumed, also, that before application is made of them, prescient judgment based on the circumstances in each case, shows that the forecast has some probability of realization. On this basis only will these formulas be found useful.

Jan 6, 1924

By Oswald J. Heinrich

In the coal review for the United States for 1875, the Engineering and Mining Journal, January 1st,, 1876, remarks about the Richmond coal basin: "It has contributed but little to the supply of fuel during the year past, notwithstanding the fact that it is the most favorably situated of all our coal-fields, and possesses a fuel of good quality, well adapted to many important uses. An unaccountable lethargy seems to have fallen on all who have touched this field ; and yet, in the future it can scarcely fail to become one of the great sources of coal supply." In most respects indorsing the above remarks, I take occasion to lay before the Institute the following facts in defence of the Richmond basin; and not willing to criticize other mining enterprises in this field, I will make this one remark in general for all of them. While it is true that very little coal has been raised during the year in this field, it is equally true that even the little that has been raised could hardly be sold. When the output of the largest coal districts in the United States decreases, in consequence of the state of the market, it is not to be wondered at that the former small output of this basin dwindled down to almost nothing. But a far deeperseated evil, under which this field is suffering, may be discerned from the following remarks, which I hope will show that the latter part of the above remark in the Journal is not altogether fair. As the history of one mine in this district very nearly represents the history of the whole field, I will endeavor to give an account of the development of the Midlothian Mines, ranging amongst the oldest in the district, partially taken from a report of Col. Wooldridge, in 1811. Coal was mined in this neighborhood as early as 1700, and used (then so-called extensively) in the vicinity in 1775. A

By E. B. Harden, J. H. Harden

The practical use to which topographical models or relief-maps have been put, has within the last few years taken a wider range. They are rapidly coming into favor for other than purely scientific purposes, and their value for illustration and instruction is being more fully appreciated. Topographical maps; representing by contour-curve lines the elevations and depressions of the earth's surface, are now demanded in engineering work of nearly every description, and afford a ready means of bringing out the configuration of the country in a simple manner. A beautiful example of recent topographical mapping is seen in the seventeen sheets just issued by the Geological Survey of New Jersey. By reason of the inability of unskilled persons to understand the nature of a topographical map, it is sometimes necessary to con struct the same in relief, with the rivers, canals, railroads, etc., delin eated upon it. With the aid of such a map, problems in engineer ing science which would otherwise require expert assistance to explain them, are reduced to a simple and understandable form. Relief-maps are also of value to the geologist in working out the geological structure. To the instructor they present the most ready and efficient means of imparting clear and accurate knowledge of topography and kindred subjects. To the lawyer they are invalua ble in enabling him to bring into the court-room a representation of a part of the country with all its features accurately shown, to ex plain to the court and jury the special points about which litigation is pending and which would otherwise require long and laborious description. The application of the topographical map to business purposes is shown in a relief constructed by the writers for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company and used by that company in the various ways of calling attention to the desirability of its route. This model is based partly on actual survey and partly on sketch topography. The horizontal scale is ,%, the vertical 1/19,200 of

Jan 1, 1888

By George Smith

The Australian Broken Hill Consols mine is situated within a third of a mile eastwards of the famous Broken Rill Proprietory mine; but, so far as has yet been proved, the respective lodes have no connection whatever. The Proprietory line of lode, striking N.E. and S.W., is coincident with the bedding-planes of the inclosing gneiss, and, according to Mr. E. F. Pittman, A.R.S.M., government geologist, is undonbtedly a saddle-formation. This opinion, which met with much opposition at the time it was advanced, is now, I understand, being generally confirmed as the work of development opens out fresh areas for observation along the line of lode. The lode is of immense thickness—in places over 300 feet and though it has been found to contain sufficient quantities of secondary silver compounds to yield phenomenal outputs of silver, its principal constituents are various lead and other ores, and it would appear more correct to regard it as an argentiferous lead-deposit than as a silver-lode proper. The Consols lode differs from its gigantic neighbor in every respect. With an average thickness of not more than 18 inches, it has been worked along its course for upwards of 1300 feet, and at every point yet explored has been found remarkably well-defined and persistent. With a strike E. and W., it cuts obliquely across the bedding of gneiss and schist, continuing uninterruptedly through various bands of eruptive amphibolite. The dip, which is to the south, ranges from 24 near the surface to nearly vertical in the lower levels; but the alteration is not regular, as in places the lode is almost flat, and this at a vertical depth of over 300 feet. These changes of inclination have had no effect on the ore-deposits, which, as I shall endeavor to show, have been governed entirely by " cross-

Jan 1, 1897

By Eugene B. Wilson

The development of coal-mines has kept pace with the facilities at command for ventilating and lighting. In fact, it was formerly • customary to leave unworked those mines, or portions of mines, in which naked lights could not be used without danger. Attention was then turned to the ventilation; but even with improved ventilation, the naked light was often unsafe. The new era in coal-mining dates, we may say, as far back as 1815, when Sir H. Davy and Mr. George Stephenson discovered the principle of the safety-lamp. Since then many improvements have been added to their lamps, but

Jan 1, 1885

By R. J. Wysor

SINCE the outbreak of the European war, few problems of raw-material supply have commanded more nation-wide attention than potash. It is well known that before the war the domestic production of potash was an insignificant percentage of the imports. The average annual importation of raw potash salts for several years prior to 1914 was slightly over 300,000 net tons, and f other potash manure salts about 700,0000 tons. The sudden and almost total cessation f these imports created a unique and stringent situation. Methods of recovering potash from feldspar and other native mineral sources, and reclamation from hitherto waste products, have received a marked impetus. Soaring prices have been a keen-incentive to research and industrial development. Although several brief articles concerning the possibilities of potash recovery have appeared in recent trade journals, it still may be a matter of some surprise to the average technical mind that potash might be reclaimed as a profitable byproduct in the manufacture of pig iron. At the present time it may be of special interest to present some data, largely of a technical nature, on this subject. A fairly thorough search of the literature reveals a number of articles concerning salts of the alkali metals in the blast furnace. Many of them deal with the-theoretical role f alkali cyanides in the furnace. Several discuss the, probable effect of the alkalies on the furnace brickwork. Two or three ambitious patents have been granted for reclaiming potash or other products from blast-furnace gas. However, we have heard nothing further as to the practical application of these patents. Little literature of importance has appeared during the last 10 years concerning alkalies in blast-furnace practice, and I have discovered no record whatsoever as to the actual sale or commercial disposal f flue dust for its , potash content until this was inaugurated in our plant at Bethlehem. A bibliography of the most important articles discovered is appended.

Jan 1, 1917

By Chester Fulton

IN Polk County, Florida, the mining of raw phosphates began some 50 years ago with dredging operations on the Peace River, and in other near-by places by removal of shallow overburden with negroes and wheelbarrows, or with mules and scrapers, and the excavation and screen-ing of deposits found close to the surface. There were many individual operations of comparatively short life. Later steam shovels removed the overburden, and still later hydraulic methods were substituted for the steam shovel. Within the last 10 years large electrically operated drag-lines have almost entirely replaced hydraulic mining for overburden removal. The matrix is still mined by hydraulic giants and pumped to the washer or recovery plant. The many small operations have long since disappeared and the most desirable phosphate lands have gradually been acquired through purchase or merger by the seven companies that are operating in the field today. These companies are producing and selling about 2,000,000 long tons of phosphate per annum, or about two-thirds of what the industry likes to think is the normal output, with 1929 and 1930 in mind. To produce these 2,000,000 long tons of raw phosphate, they mine and treat about 1,000,000 tons of tailings from older and less efficient opera-tions, about 11,000,000 tons of matrix, and remove from above this matrix some 22,000,000 tons of overburden. The mining practice that has made possible the excavation and handling of 34 million tons of material to win but 2 million tons of merchantable product, selling for probably an average of only $4 per long ton when dried, should be of interest to the mining profession, though little has been written of it. The Florida Pebble Field, as it has come to be known, comprises an area (Fig. 1) within a radius of about 18 to 20 miles centering around Mulberry in Polk County, a small town 30 miles east of Tampa, Florida's largest port on the gulf coast.

Jan 1, 1936

By F. P. Bullen

Empirical relationships between fracture stress, orientation angle, and diameter of crystal have been determined at 77°K. Orientation ranges of markedly different behavior were found—a law of constant normal stress&apos; of value a (diameter)-1/2 for the fracture of ductile crystals, and a condition of shear stress (or strain) for more brittle crystals. The observations are not consistent with current theories. An interpretation is advanced which is also applicable to observations on the effect of prestrain at room temperature on the subsequent fracture stress at 77°K and to the effect of cyclic stressing on the cleavage strength.&apos;&apos; The law of constunt normal stress&apos; and the brittle ductile transition are also explained. The interpretation is more consistent with the initiation of cracks by intersecting dislocations than with theories based on stress -concentration by dislocation arrays. ZINC single crystals are particularly suited to the study of cleavage because fracture occurs on the basal plane over a wide range of crystal orientations. Analysis of the conditions of stress and strain at fracture in crystals of different orientations should indicate which parameters control the cleavage process. Unfortunately, controversy has arisen over the correct empirical relationship between tensile fracture stress and orientation. Schmid&apos;s observations1,2 favored a &apos;law of constant normal stress&apos;, as observed in other materials.2 For zinc, however, the observed values are far below the theoretical strength and cannot represent the true limit of cohesion between neighboring atomic planes. Hence, the interpretation of such a &apos;law&apos; is not straightforward. Deruyttere and Greenough3,4 found a complex variation between tensile fracture stress and orientation; this variation did not agree with a &apos;law of constant normal stress&apos;. Two theories have been advanced to account for their observations: a) the propagation of cracks from low-angle boundaries,5 and b) the release of energy from piled-up dislocations during crack-propagation.4 The present work resolves the apparent discrepancy between the observations and shows that neither of the above theories are applicable to the tensile fracture of zinc single crystals. A phenomenological explanation, along the lines suggested by Gilman,&apos; is advanced and successfully applied to previously unexplained effects. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS &apos;Crown Special&apos; redistilled zinc was used, except for one comparison series op tests using &apos;Tadanac&apos; electrolytic zinc. Crystals of 1 mm diam, subsequently called &apos;1 mm crystals&apos;, were grown from the melt in vacuo in precision-bore Pyrex tubes internally coated with graphite. Several specimens 1 in. long were cut from each crystal and chemically polished. Jigs were used to minimize handling strains, and crystals were mounted in the Polanyi machine the day prior to testing to allow recovery from any such strains. One-mm crystals were chemically polished for long periods to obtain 0.1 mm (approx) crystals. One-mm crystals were cemented into miniature gimbals by &apos;Araldite&apos; casting resin. The Appendix gives the reasons for using gimbals and the results obtained by other methods. More complete details of all techniques are given elsewhere.7 The symbols and terminology used are as follows: X = orientation angle (angle between tensile axis and line of greatest slope in the basal plane). T = tensile stress (on true cross-section) S,N = shear and normal stress (components of T with respect to the basal plane) ? = shear strain D = crystal diameter. The subscript &apos;f&apos; will be used to denote values at fracture. PART I-ANNEALED CRYSTALS EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS One-mm crystals were used to establish the variation of fracture stress at 77°K with orientation at fracture (Xf), Fig. 1. For 18 deg = Xf = 55 deg, a &apos;law of constant normal stress&apos; was observed. For Xf > 55 deg, the fracture condition approximated to a constant shear stress. At Xf< 18 deg, twinning occurred before fracture so that the results were not typical of homogeneous single crystals,4,8— such specimens will not be considered herein. The dependences of fracture stress upon Xf were of similar type for 6 mm,* 1 mm, and 0.1 mm crystals,

Jan 1, 1963

By William J. Potter, Roger N. Pyle

Introduction The primary ingredient for survival of mining companies during a recessionary period is to be innovative and resourceful in the structuring and financing of operations. Over the past decade, many mining companies have had to retrench and restructure their operations and to redeploy their assets just to survive. During the same period, traditional sources of financing for mining companies -- commercial banks, subsidized export credit loans and long term straight debt financing in the public markets -- became less available and more expensive. Meanwhile, new markets and new financing instruments provided new alternatives for mining companies. Those companies which exploited these alternatives greatly enhanced their capacity for survival and even for profitability. This article considers the strategies adopted by some companies to adapt to changes in this recessionary environment; the inadequacy of traditional sources of financing; certain of the new financing instruments, structures and markets which have become available; and how several mining companies have utilized these new instruments, structures and financial markets to improve their competitive positions. THE IMPACT OF RECESSION ON MINING COMPANIES AND TRADITIONAL FINANCING SOURCES In its 1983 year-end article "The New Economic Order" Mining Journal characterized many of the large private sector mining companies with operations in the industrialized countries as being "gripped between the jaws of high working costs and stagnating metal commodity prices." The article went on to characterize the Canadian mining industry in particular as being "in the difficult position of having to seek to sell the bulk of its output in a world market characterized by over-capacity, where production costs were determined by internal political and economic factors while prices were set by external competitive forces of supply and demand." Miners of a wide range of commodities in the industrialized countries have come to realize that their domestic mineral resources are in many cases no longer competitive with global sources of supply. To compete and survive they would have to rely on their technical and financial expertise in mineral exploration and development and in mining and processing. Strategies For Survival Global competition has compelled management in the extractive industries to improve their worldwide cost position. This is the only means whereby a mining company can differentiate its product and attain a substantial competitive advantage. During the past decade, for example, ASARCO Inc. and Inco Ltd. chopped their payrolls, postponed expansion plans and otherwise retrenched. ASARCO reduced its capital expenditures and cash requirements for operations in 1984 to a level almost equal to its internally generated cash. The company&apos;s finances were also strengthened by increasing total lines of credit from outside sources, by selling common stock, and by reducing annual pension funding through a change in actuarial assumptions. Other companies returned to their traditional organizational structure where they had a demonstrated competitive strength. Consolidated Gold Fields, for instance, resumed its operation as a mining finance house. Its capital investment programs are now devoted solely to resource development. In mid-1984, at a time of firming zinc prices, Union Miniere S.A. used the opportunity to integrate its smelting capacity and to direct investment to certain subsidiaries at the expense of less viable operations. Smaller corporations realized that it was not enough just to be the low-cost producer. For example, Drummond Coal Company in Alabama, which dominates its regional market due to its low-costs, has also developed a world-wide trading capability and has placed incremental tonnage from its own mines as well as brokered coal produced by others, thereby minimizing capital risk. In Canada, Campbell Resources has exploited difficult times by acquiring assets cheaply. In the process it improved its capacity to withstand cyclical economic swings by diversifying from solely a copper and gold producer to a company based upon asbestos, coal, copper, gold and natural gas.

Jan 1, 1985

By R. C. Buehl, J. P. Morris

ACTIVITY values for sulphur dissolved in liquid iron and slags as functions of composition and temperature are needed in applying thermodynamics to sulphur-control problems in iron- and &apos; steel-making. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of carbon on the activity of sulphur in the metal phase. The method employed was the same as that used in an earlier investigation&apos; concerning the effect of silicon on sulphur activity in liquid iron. A study was made of the conditions of equilibrium in the reaction between hydrogen gas and sulphur dissolved in iron-carbon alloys. The chemical equation for this reaction can be written as follows: S (in liquid Fe-C alloy) + H2 (gas) = H2S (gas). It was found that the activity coefficient of sulphur in liquid iron increases as the carbon content increases. At 2.3 pct carbon and 1600 °C, the activity coefficient of sulphur is twice its value in carbon-free iron, and at carbon saturation it is more than six times as great. The effect of temperature on sulphur activity was found to be small. Previous work on the reaction between hydrogen gas and sulphur dissolved in liquid iron has been reported by several investigators2,³,4 but only recently have studies been made of the effect of alloying elements. Silicon1 is known to have a pronounced influence on the activity of sulphur in iron, its effect being similar to that shown by carbon as described in the present report. Kitchener, Bockris, and Liber-man5 recently have published a preliminary report of their work on the effect of carbon on sulphur activity in iron. Their experiments were made at 1570°C and carbon saturation in the melt. Under these conditions they found that the activity coefficient of sulphur was approximately doubled by the presence of carbon. This is a much smaller effect than that found in the present work. Experimental Method: The apparatus and procedure were essentially the same as those used in the earlier investigation of the effect of silicon on sulphur activity.&apos; Briefly, the method was as follows: A molten iron-carbon alloy was brought to equilibrium at constant temperature with a mixture of H2 and H2S of constant composition by bubbling the gas through the metal. Samples of the melt were

Jan 1, 1951

By J. B. Wagner, B. Swaroop

The atomic ratios of oxygen to iron in zlarious corn-posilions of wustite in the vicinity oj the reported p to n transformation were determined in the temperalure range between 950" and 1250°C. For these conditions, equilibrium vacancy concenrations have also been determined at vatious mixtures of C0,-CO. The data show a continuos introduction of iron vacancies as oxygen is introduced into wuistite. No phase change is observed with in the wuustite field. However, the value of n in the isothermal oxygen pressure dependence, the weight change shifts to 1ower values as the concentration of oxygen increases. WUSTITE is a metal deficit semiconductor with the majority lattice disorder being cation vacancies. Using the notation similar to that of Kroger and ink,&apos; the dissolution of oxygen into wiistite using C02-CO mixtures is represented by, WHere v+! denotes a cation vacancy with k effective negative charges and kh • denotes k electron holes, h -. Applying the law of mass action and assuming a dilute solution of defects in the wiistite yields Where the square brackets denote concentrations. Furthermore, when k = 2 the cation vacancies are completely ionized, and both the concentration of cation vacancies and the concentration of electron holes are proportional to the third root of the ratio, PC /PCo. This analysis is valid for one particular mael based on an ideal solution at elevated temperatures (in this case t > 1000°C). At lower temperatures, it has been shown2 that the pressure dependence of the electronic conductivity changes in a manner which suggests that vacancies interact with or "trap" electron holes. At the very high concentrations of defects, 10&apos;&apos; to 10" per cu cm, these simple models no longer hold. Recently Tannhauser,3 Geiger et a1.&apos; Bransky and Tannhauser; and Hillegas&apos; have found an apparent p to n transformation in wiistite in the temperature range of 950" to 1300°C. This junction was found by thermoelectric and electronic conductivity measurements. Geiger eta1.&apos; found that the electronic conductivity became almost independent of the oxygen pressure at high temperatures and oxygen concentrations within the experimental error. In addition, Vallet, Raccah, and coworkers6&apos;7 have reported the existence of several "varieties" of wiistite which were reported to exist within what was heretofor presumed to be a

Jan 1, 1968

By E. S. Machlin, C. W. Chen

RECENTLY Chen and Machlin&apos; proposed a mechanism for intercrystalline cracking in metals during high-temperature stressing. According to this mechanism the formation of voids at grain boundaries is primarily responsible for intercrystalline cracking. A model has been provided to demonstrate the initiation of submicroscopic cracks and voids at jogs of grain boundaries where grain boundary sliding is inhibited. Submicroscopic cracks can grow as a result of either further grain boundary sliding or localized tensile stress. In the former case, it is believed that grain boundary sliding produces more voids which link together to produce macroscopic cracks and which may lead to the eventual failure of the metal. Concurrently, Nield and Quarrell2 reported their interesting results obtained in a systematic investigation of intercrystalline cracking in two aluminum alloys under various creep conditions. Their observations are generally in agreement with the above mechanism, especially the conclusion that voids are formed as a direct consequence of grain boundary sliding. On the basis of the volume fraction occupied by voids, they could find no confirmation of vacancy condensation as the mechanism for void growth. Furthermore, an important feature of intercrystalline cracking has been likewise pointed out by them that the majority of cracks are not formed at grain corners. Nield and Quarrel1 meanwhile emphasized the importance of grain boundary migration by designating it as one of two main processes operative in the mechanism of crack formation during creep. The designation seems unnecessary because overemphasis of grain boundary migration only complicates the mechanism of void formation. There are two reasons which militate against the inclusion of grain boundary migration in the mechanism of void formation. In the first place, the formation of intercrystalline voids per se does not require grain boundary migration. Secondly, in addition to grain boundary migration, void formation may be minimized by any other process such as plastic deformation which is capable of relieving localized stresses around jogs. Chang and Grant3 have shown that intercrystalline cracking is prevented in aluminum by lattice bending in high stress regions. The influential role played by grain boundary migration in creep has also been realized in our studies. In several cases, voids did not appear at all in grain boundaries whenever grain boundary migration took place prominently during creep. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of grain boundary migration on the formation of intercrystalline voids and other related rupture properties. Experimental evidence indicates that in an unstable grain structure void formation may be markedly modified by structural changes. The abnormally high ductility and the transcrystalline mode of fracture observed in copper at elevated temperatures reveals that effective grain boundary migration minimizes void formation. Grain boundary migration has long been known as a common high-temperature phenomenon in metals with the grain configuration in a nonequilibrium state. Its effect on ductility and mode of fracture has not been recognized until recently.4 Since the introduction of the term "Equicohesive Temperature," the conventional belief has been that below the equicohesive temperature the ductility of metals increases moderately with decreasing temperature until the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature of fracture is reached. In this temperature range, metals fracture in a ductile mode with a "cup-and-cone" fracture surface. Above the equicohesive temperature, ductility remains invariably low and decreases slightly with increasing temperature. The mode of fracture is strictly brittle and intercrystalline. Typical examples have been shown for a brass and copper in Fig. 1 and 9, respectively, in the paper by Greenwood, Miller, and Suiter.5 The observation in the upper temperature range that ductility of metals is low and insensitive to temperature may be explained in terms of void formation at grain boundaries. It is also in accordance with the findings of McLean6 and Fazen, Sherby, and Dorn7

Jan 1, 1961