Search Documents

By David R. Hargis, John W. Harshbarger

The Upper Santa Cruz Basin lies in the drainage area of the Santa Cruz River in Arizona, and extends upstream from the community of Rillito to the international boundary [(Fig. 1)]. The principal water use area lies between, and includes, the cities of Tucson and Nogales. A subsurface geologic barrier near Rillito provides a reasonable dividing line between the ground waters of the upper and lower Santa Cruz basins. The upper basin contains the Tucson and Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water areas. The Tucson water use area encompasses the Tucson metropolitan area and extends from the northern boundary of the basin south to the boundary between the Tucson and Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water areas near San Xavier. The San Xavier use area is the San Xavier Indian Reservation. The north and south boundaries of the Continental use area coincide with the limits of the Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water area. The first study of ground water in this valley was initiated by Dr. G. E. P. Smith in 1905, and the results were published in 1910, followed by a series of bulletins of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arizona, covering the general field of ground water development and utilization. Beginning in 1939, the ground water branch of the US Geologic Survey, in cooperation with the Arizona State Land Department and the Arizona Water Commission (AWC), published a series of bulletins concerning ground water occurrence and utilization in various areas of the state. In 1975 and 1977, the AWC published the Arizona State Water Plan (Arizona Water Commission, 1975) comprising a detailed inventory of water availability and use in Arizona and a study of alternative futures. The importance of ground water supplies in the Upper Santa Cruz Valley cannot be overemphasized. Metropolitan Tucson, surrounding agricultural areas, and the mineral industry are completely dependent upon ground water. Agriculture has been the largest user of ground water. The land distribution of the Upper Santa Cruz Basin is rural in character with large tracts of land included in national monuments and national forests. The Upper Santa Cruz is one of several state basins that does not depend upon one single industry as its major economic activity. Agriculture, mining, tourism, international commerce, and manufacturing all contribute to a viable economy. The city of Nogales, on the Mexican border, and the city of Tucson, to the North, are the centers of commerce in the basin.

Jan 1, 1982

By Shiou-Chuan Sun

THE fact that coals of different ranks and even of the same rank differ greatly in their amenability to iroth flotation is well known. In recognition of the need for an explanation of this phenomenon, two hypotheses have been suggested. Wilkinsl reported that the floatability of coals increased with an increase of the carbon content or rank. This postulate is handicapped by the fact that bituminous coals that possess moderate carbon contents are actually more floatable than anthracite coals that have high carbon contents, as shown in columns 6 and 9 of Table I. Taggart and his associates' implied that the difference of floatability between bituminous and anthracite coal was caused by the variation of carbon-hydrogen ratio. This is not applicable to the relative floatability of other coals and carbons. For example, column 11 of Table I shows that the carbon-hydrogen ratios of low-floating lignitic coal and non-floating animal charcoal are not only smaller than the moderate-floating anthracite coal, but are also similar to the high-floating bituminous coal. Furthermore, according to this hypothesis, high temperature coke-A (464), Ceylon graphite (1238), and lamp-black (357), all possessing extremely high carbon-hydrogen ratios, should be less floatable than other substances having much lower carbon-hydrogen ratios such as high volatile-B bituminous coal (11.9 to 22), anthracite coal (35.7 to 60.5), lignitic coal (15.6 to 33.6), and charcoal (13 to 26.2). However the former group is actually more floatable than the latter group. In this paper, a surface components hypothesis is Proposed to explain the different floatabilities of coals, carbons, and hydrocarbon minerals. The validity of the hypothesis is experimentally supported by the actual floatability, natural floatability, wettability, and adsorbability for neutral oils of coals, carbons, and hydrocarbon minerals tested. The combustible recovery of the flotation results, as used in this paper. was calculated from Eq. 1: P (100-Ep) 100 RWCP Rc= [1] F (100-E,) C, where R, is the percent combustible recovery; F and P are, respectively, the weight of feed and the weight of concentrate or product; E, and Ep are, respectively, the total percent of ash plus moisture in feed and in concentrate; Ru. is the percent weight recovery: and C, and C, are, respectively, the percent of combustible in feed and in concentrate. Except for ash and moisture content, all chemical components of a coal are assumed combustible. The experimental work included studies on flotation, ultimate and proximate analyses, contact angle tests, extractions of bitumen-A with benzene, adsorptions for liquid hydrocarbons, and wetting tests. Most of the flotation experiments were performed in a laboratory Fagergren machine; others were tested in a small Denver machine. The solid feed for the former was 300 g and for the latter was 30 g. The solid materials used for flotation were crushed to —48 mesh. After the mineral pulp in the flotation cell was agitated for 6 min and the pH was adjusted to 7.5 & 0.2 with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid, a petroleum light oil having a viscosity of 5.73 centipoises at 77 °F was added and conditioned for 2 min. Finally, pine oil was introduced and the froth was collected for exactly 3 min. The weight ratio of petroleum light oil to pine oil was kept constant at 1.5 to 1. Tap water was used for all flotation tests. Contact angles were measured with a captive bubble machine. For each coal sample, three specimens were mounted in transoptic mounts and polished with levigated alumina, first on a sheet glass, then on a cloth-covered metal polishing wheel. The polished specimen was first washed with distilled water and wiped thoroughly on a cleaned linen pad, then transferred into the pyrex cell of the captive bubble machine and conditioned for 6 min., and finally measured for contact angles at three or more points. Except where otherwise stated, the induction time for each measurement was 1 min. The contact angle representing each material was obtained by averaging the measurements of three specimens. The linen pad was first washed with warm distilled water, then boiled 30 min in a 2N sodium hydroxide solution, and finally washed with distilled water until no trace of sodium hydroxide could be detected in the decanted solution. The cleaned linen pad was stored under distilled water. Immediately before using, the pad was rewashed and transferred into a clean pyrex petri dish partly filled with distilled water. The glassware and rubber gloves used were cleaned by soaking in sulphuric acid-potassium dichromate cleaning solution, followed by rinsing with distilled water. The polished specimens were handled only by glass forceps. The ultimate and proximate analyses were made in accordance with the ASTM standard procedures for coal and coke. The extractable bitumen-A was determined by weighing 1 g of —100 mesh sample and placing it in a desiccated and weighed ASTM aluminum-extraction thimble. The thimble was placed in condenser hooks and inserted into an extraction flask containing 100 cu cm of benzene. The flask was heated and the benzene vapor was condensed by water coils. At the end of 24 hr of percolation, the thimble was removed, desiccated, and weighed. Loss in weight of sample was taken as bitumen-A and calculated to dry and ash-free basis.

Jan 1, 1955

By J. D. Mooney

(San Francisco sleeting, September, 1915) THE accompanying chart has been drawn for the convenience of engineers as a means of quickly determining the correct number of plies of conveyor belts operating under specific conditions. The calculations are based on the average safe strength (factor of safety, 15) of the various standard rubber conveyor belts. The, calculations assume maximum loading conditions; that is, the belt is considered as carrying the greatest load that it will handle without spillage at ordinary belt speeds. This not only produces the most economical operating conditions, but also the maximum tension in the belt. The chart is a graphical representation of the formula: p = kgW (L + 1OH) Where, p = the correct number of plies k = a constant, depending on the type of drive g = the weight in pounds per cubic foot of material handled W = the width of the belt in inches L = the length of the belt in feet (approximately twice the center distance). H = the difference in elevation between the head and tail pulleys, in feet. For a simple drive, with a bare pulley, k = 1/250,000 For a simple drive, with a rubber-lagged pulley, k = 1/300,000 For a tandem dive, with bare pulleys, k= 1/375,000 For a tandem drive, with rubber-lagged pulleys, k = 1/455,000 The chart is drawn for a simple drive, with a bare pulley (k =1/250,000;

Jan 9, 1915

By James E. Hoffmann

This paper reviews the chemistry of selenium and its compounds as it applies to the recovery of selenium from electrolytic copper refinery slimes. Based on this chemistry various processes for the extraction and recovery of selenium from refinery slimes are explained and developed. The optimum selenium technology processes is dependent upon many factors including copper refinery location, environmental and regulatory conditions, local markets for selenium or selenium chemicals, and other plant processes. For this reason there is no one best process but rather a variety of useful processes for winning selenium. Those which have demonstrated consistent utility in both ease of recovery and reliability are discussed in more detail. Recovery of selenium by Doré furnacing of slimes is the topic of a separate paper. The companies that have developed selenium extraction technology are not being cited in this paper for the following reasons: o Their current technology may be different o The actual inventor of a process is difficult to credit since many different organizations have pursued parallel inquiries in developing better processes. Finally, some selenium extraction processes have been omitted; not because they are unworthy of consideration but rather due to limitations of space.

Jan 1, 1984

By Pol Duwez

The effect of the rate of cooling on titanium, zirconium, and thallium has been measured. For titanium-molybdenum alloys, it has been shown that for molybdenum concentration up to 8 pct the rate of cooling has no effect on the transformation temperature, but this temperature decreases progressively with increasing molybdenum content. HIGH strength to weight ratio and remarkable corrosion resistance have often been advanced as the main reasons for the present widespread interest in titanium. For the physical metallurgist, the existence of an allotropic transformation in titanium is another important factor. As in the case of iron, an allotropic transformation may be the fundamental property upon which the response of Ti-base alloys to heat treatment will depend. It is therefore important to study the mechanism of the allotropic transformation in pure titanium and the effect of alloying elements on this transformation. The existence of an allotropic transformation in titanium was reported in 1931 by Schulze.' Later, De Boer et al.' determined the transformation temperature from a discontinuity in the electrical resistivity at 882"42O°C. According to recent work," the transformation temperature is 882.5"&1°C. The crystal structure of the room temperature a phase is hexagonal close-packed and the high temperature fi phase is body-centered cubic.' It is well known that the high temperature /3 phase of pure titanium cannot be retained by quenching to room temperature. Several investigators'-' have shown that in alloys of titanium with metals which are soluble in the @ phase (for example, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, or manganese), the /3 structure can be retained, providing the concentration of the alloying element is greater than a certain critical value. Below this critical value, the alloys transform during quenching, at least partially, into a supersaturated solid solution having the a. structure. This behavior is very similar to that found in some iron binary alloys (Fe-Ni and Fe-Mh, for example) and is an indication that the transformation might occur by means of a shear mechanism analogous to that observed in the austenite-martensite reaction. The present investigation is mostly concerned with the effect of the rate of cooling on the /3 to a transformation. In the first portion of this paper, the results obtained on pure titanium are described. Two other pure metals, zirconium and thallium, were also investigated, because they both have an allotropic transformation like titanium, from an hexagonal close-packed to a body-centered cubic structure. For purposes of comparison, the effect of rate of cooling of the y to a transformation of iron was included in the experimental program. The second part of this paper deals with Ti-Mo alloys. The equilibrium phase boundaries involving the solid state reactions on the Ti-rich side of the system were determined and a study was made of the effect of the rate of cooling on the transformation of the high temperature /3 solid solution. Experimental Procedure Since the main object of the present investigation was the determination of the effect of the rate of cooling on a transformation temperature, the best technique available was that used by Greninger" in his study of the martensite arrest in carbon steels. This method consists of heating a very small sample of metal to which fine thermocouple wires are .attached, cooling the sample rapidly by means of a blast of helium, and recording the temperature vs. time curve on an oscillograph. The apparatus used in the present experiments was very similar to that described by Greninger, except that the heating coil was made of molybdenum wire (0.040 in. in diam) and the assembly was placed in a bell jar under vacuum of 10" mm Hg or less. The specimen con-

Jan 1, 1952

• A new curriculum for combined liberal arts-engineering education has been announced by 6 middle western colleges. The plan involves three years of ;study at one of the 5 liberal arts colleges and two years and a summer of 'engineering work at Case; graduates receive both the A.B. and B.S. degrees. * A new kind of mining is being pioneered by a pest Virginia coal operator which enables four men to produce 800 tons of coal a day. The machine that makes this possible is a giant auger, 5 ft in diam and 100 ft long. Together with the carriage in which it is moved about, it weighs 60 tons. A mobile, but separate power plant of 1000 hp drives it. ' * The Sorel smelter, which will reduce Allard Lake titanium ores, will utilize five 6-electrode rectangular electric furnaces. Furnace hearth size will be about 18x50 ft, and the furnace will smelt about 300 tons of ore per day, producing 100 tons of iron and 130 tons of 70 pct Ti02 slag. The furnaces will be fed continuously by gravity from charge bins, and tap at intervals of 4 hr or more. Slag will be transferred to a high speed casting machine, using cast iron molds, then crushed for shipment to pigment producers. The iron will be treated to reduce its sulphur content to 0.03 to 0.05 pct, and then cast into small pigs or ingots for shipment to steel mills. • Flying of North Africa's first airborne mangetometer survey was completed this month, covering approximately 20,000 sq km in north central Tunisia for Gulf Exploration Co.'s program there. Mapping was completed in less than 30 days. •Yore than 9000 employees of 11 electric companies are enrolled in a 6-hr program that successfully informs workers on the principles of the American economic system. The course is given by the Middle West Service Co. which claims that before and after employee opinion polls show that the course instilled a better understanding of free enterprise and consequently a favorable response to it. •According to a report issued by the American Geological Institute there will be 2865 graduates in geology, including advanced degrees from U.S. colleges in 1950. This supply of geologists compares with requirements for 1278 at the professional and subprofessional levels. The report contains a detailed statistical study of the supply and demand situation for geologists in the 1949-50 period. •The dark cloud of over-production in the bituminous coal industry has a silver lining, according to Natural Resources Notes. Closing marginal mines, mostly strip and truck mines, will result in lower average costs and higher quality of the coal still produced. The producers that will then constitute the industry will be properly equipped and adequately financed to carry forward an intensive campaign to holdd and increase the markets for bituminous coal. •A light, compact, highly reliable blasting machine which does not rely for its effectiveness on the operator's skill is being tested by the Army Engineers. Operating under all climatic conditions from -65 to 125F, the 50-cap machine consists of a springwound do generator and is waterproof.

Jan 8, 1950

By Rossiter W. Raymond

BY the courtesy of Mr. Charles W. Jenks, of Boston, one of the owners of this interesting mine, I am enabled to lay before the Institute a suite of specimens, illustrating its peculiar formation and the paragenesis of mineral species which it presents; and a recent brief visit and rapid reconnoissance of the locality permit me to supplement this exhibition with a general description, based upon personal observation. The mine is situated upon the Culsagee Fork of the Tennessee River, in Macon County, North Carolina, a few miles from Franklin. The most practicable route by which it can at present be visited is by wagon (or preferably on horseback) from Seneca City, S. C., a station on the Charlotte and Atlanta Air Line Railroad. The itinerary is as follows: to Walhalla,* nine miles; Walhalla to Highlands, twenty-nine miles; Highlands to the Culsagee, fourteen miles. By passing the night at or near Highlands, the mine can be reached and examined and the return to Highlands made on the second day; and the round trip, if performed in the saddle, can be completed in three days from Seneca City. It is not easy, with due regard to steed and rider, to do it in less time. The rough and precipitous mountain roads do not permit rapid travel ; and the journey is at best a fatiguing one. But its slight hardships are overpaid by the stimulating effect of the climate and the great beauty of the scenery, both of which are destined to become more widely known than at present, to seekers for health and pleasure. Indeed the town of Highlands, already named, is almost entirely made up of northern immigrants, attracted by these advantages and by the inducement of cheap land for agriculture and stock-raising. The Culsagee or Sugartown fork of the Tennessee traverses the belt of ancient crystalline schists on the west flank of the Blue Ridge. This belt abounds in valuable minerals. Among those of the nonmetallic class may be mentioned graphite, soapstone, serpentine, ashes- * A branch or cross railroad is in operation as far as Walhalla ; but the single daily train runs at an hour not convenient for this expedition ; and Seneca City is probably the best starting-point. At all events, I obtained there an excellent mount for the trip.

Jan 1, 1879

By F. P. Haver, M. M. Wong

When a mixture of chalcopyrite concentrate and lime is heated in air, the following reaction takes place: 2CuFeS2 + 4Ca (OH)2 + 8 ½ 02 ; 2Cu0 + Fe203 + 4CaS04 + 4H20. Ca (OH)2 is the only common reagent that will adequately control SO2 evolution in roasting. Other additives tried, including CaO, CaCO3, Na2CO3, NaOH, MgO, Mg (OH)2, and MgCO3, were not effective. All reacted with sulfur, but not to the extent that will be required to meet the new control regulations for sulfur oxide emissions. For example: when the concentrate was heated with the theoretical amount of limestone (CaCO3), about 55% of the sulfur was retained in the calcine; whereas use of the stoichiometric amount of Ca (OH), converted approximately 99% of the sulfur to CaSO1. In most of the experiments, Ca(OH)2 was formed by adding CaO to concentrates containing enough water to simulate filter cake from flotation circuit. This eliminated the need for drying the concentrate and utilized the heat of hydration of CaO.

Jan 6, 1972

By Amitava Gangulee, Michael B. Bever

The effects of changes in short-range order on some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions have been investigated. The heats of formation at 273°K of several alloys after two different thermal treatments were measured by liquid metal solution calorimetry. Their electrical resistivities were measured at temperatures ranging from 4° to 773°k. Tensile tests and microhard-ness measurements were carried out at room temperature. An effective short-range order parameter and an effective interaction energy are defined. The measured changes in the properties are interpreted in terms of these quantities. The short-range order parameter is evaluated separately from calorimetric and X-ray data; the results are in fair agreement. Increasing short-range order lowers the resistivity of- the silver-rich Ag-Mg alloys but does not measurably affect the temperature dependence of the resistivity. Short-range order increases the yield stress of these alloys but does not affect the ultimate tensile stress. Changes in the effective short-range order parameter independently obtained from measured changes in the heat of formation, resistivity, and yield stress are in fair agreement. THE thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of solid solutions have been investigated as functions of composition in many alloy systems, but the effects of configurational variables, such as short-range or long-range order, on these properties have received much less attention. The silver-rich terminal solid solutions in the system Ag-Mg are well-suited for the investigation of the effects of order. The composition of these solid solutions may be varied over a range extending to about 27 at. pct Mg.1 Appreciable short-range ordering is likely to take place in these solid solutions; the degree of short-range order can be varied by suitable thermal treatments. In the alloy Ag3Mg long-range ordering is possible.2 This paper is primarily concerned with the effects of short-range order on some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions.-The long-range ordering transition is the subject of a concurrent paper.3 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 1.1) Preparation of Specimens. Ag-Mg alloys containing up to 26.4 at. pct Mg were prepared by melting 99.99 pct pure Ag (obtained from Baker Chemical Co.) and 99.99 pct pure Mg (obtained from Eastman Chemi- cal Co. or Johnson Mathey & Co.) in graphite crucibles under molten potassium chloride. The solidified ingots were homogenized at 823°K for 10 days in evacuated Vycor capsules. A surface layer 6 in. thick was then removed by machining. The ingots were swaged into rods (2.5 mm diam) which were drawn into wires (1.0 mm diam). The wire specimens were annealed at 773°K for 24 hr in vacuum and either quenched into iced brine or cooled to room temperature over a period of 15 days. The average grain diameter (obtained from the linear intercepts) was about 0.1 mm. 1.2) Calorimetry. The heats of formation of the alloys were measured in a tin solution calorimeter as the difference in the heat effects of alternate additions of samples of an alloy and the mechanical mixture of its component elements. The additions were made from 273°K to the bath at about 623°K. The heat effect on addition of the alloys was approximately 5.5 kcal per g-atom. The procedure and the method of calculation have been described.4 1.3) X-Ray Diffraction. Short-range order parameters of two alloys were calculated from diffuse scattering intensities,' obtained with briquettes made from powdered specimens. A GE-XRD 5 diffractometer with filtered copper radiation was used. The absolute intensities were based on calibrations with paraffin. 1.4) Resistivity Measurements. The electrical resistivities were measured by a potentiometric method in which the potential drop across the specimen was compared with that across a standard resistance. For measurements below room temperature, the specimens were immersed in liquid helium (4°K), liquid nitrogen (78°K), dry ice and trichloroethylene (195°K), or ice and water (273°K). Measurements above room temperature were made on specimens held in a furnace under helium or in vacuum. The resistivity measurements were reproducible to ±0.5 pct or less. 1.5) Mechanical Tests. Tensile tests were carried out at room temperature with a Tinius-Olsen XY elec-tromatic Universal testing machine. Wire specimens (nominal gage length 1 in.) were used. The strain was measured with an extensometer, which had a sensitivity of 4 x 10-5; the strain rate was 10-3 min-1. Microhard-ness measurements were made with a square-pyramid indenter and a 100-g load.11 2) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION All measurements were made on two parallel sets of specimens, one quenched and the other slowly cooled from 773°K. The reported values are the averages of at least three measurements. In the range of magnesium concentration substantially below that of the composition Ag3Mg, quenched alloys have less short-range order than slowly cooled alloys. As the magnesium concentration approaches that of Ag3Mg, slow cooling develops long-range order. Quenching sup-

Jan 1, 1969

By P. G. Mason

The upswing in the price of gold in 1979 prompted renewed interest in the Mercur gold property by Getty Oil Company, owner and operator, and Gold Standard Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, currently retaining a 15% net profits interest. Extensive geological exploration work resumed to delineate the ore reserves, and metallurgical test work was initiated under the direction of A.H. Ross & Associates. This led to the development of an aqueous pressure oxidation process suitable for treatment of the refractory ores. Subsequent geostatistical studies revealed that the distribution of high refractory ore was less than previously estimated, and thus a higher return on investment could be realized if a direct carbon-in-leach process were used despite a sacrifice in overall recovery. This paper reviews the geological and metallurgical studies that led to this final process selection.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. R. Troiano, W. J. Barnett

IN recent years the demands of space limitations and increased loads, particularly in the aircraft industry, have accelerated the trend toward utilization of ultra-high strength steels. The increased application of such steels has focused attention on the phenomenon of delayed failure or static fatigue. Parts subjected to a static load, after successfully sustaining the load for an extended period of time, may fail in a brittle manner. Subsequent examination of such failed parts by conventional laboratory tests in many cases reveals no apparent signs of embrittle-ment. That is, the material exhibits good ductility and impact resistance. Furthermore, consideration of the service conditions (environment and temperature) under which this brittle failure occurred eliminates its classification as a stress-corrosion or creep type of failure. Recently this unique time dependent fracture process has been the subject of numerous investigations. The most significant result of these studies was the recognition of hydrogen as the source of embrittlement. While the effect of numerous variables on the occurrence of static fatigue failure has been defined, an adequate explanation of these behaviors is lacking. The occurrence of this phenomenon in steels generally has been limited to strength levels in excess of 180,000 lb per sq in. Although steels at high hardness levels have exhibited delayed failure in the absence of hydrogen introduction after heat treat-ment,'.' this behavior was most prevalent when the material in processing had been subjected to an environment conducive to the absorption of hydrogen. Delayed failures have been produced in high strength steels by the introduction of hydrogen

Jan 1, 1958

By C. M. Smith

PILOTED by Cadwallader, Evans, Jr., as chairman, the Coal Division got under way Monday morning for the first of three consecutive sessions. N. F. Patton started the ball rolling with a paper on the economics of anthracite distribution, which was ably discussed by H. J. Rose, W. S. Blauvelt, and others. Mr. Patton pointed out many incongruities in freight rates, dealers' margins, and other factors which are disturbing the distribution of anthracite, one result being that trucks are hauling at least six million tons of anthracite annually, half of which is stolen. In the discussion of the papers the desirability of greater uniformity in the production and shipment of coal from month to month was urged; with larger summer price concessions as a means toward this end. "Performance Expectancy of Domestic Underfeed Stokers for Anthracite," by Allen J. Johnson, brought this important platter down to date by showing the range in capacities and efficiencies to be expected from well-made stokers, and by detailing other of their operating characteristics. One of his most interesting points is that the efficiency of domestic stokers is practically equal to that of handfiring for good installations and operations of both

Jan 1, 1935

By V. F. Zackay, W. A. Goering

ALLOYS of iron and aluminum up to 35 wt pct aluminum are single-phase solid solutions, and are of potentially wide applicability.1-3 In spite of early and continued interest1-4 little progress has been made until recently in the preparation and evaluation of sound alloys containing more than 6 wt pct aluminum. Vacuum-melting techniques for the production of ductile Fe-A1 alloys have been described recently.1-7 A. procedure for air melting these alloys is presented here. Low-carbon iron is induction melted without a slag in a rammed magnesia crucible. At the beginning of melt-down, aluminum pig (99.95 pct Al), charged in a clay-graphite bottom-pouring crucible is placed in a pot furnace at 1800°F. The primary deoxidation of the molten iron after melt-down is effected by the addition of 0.1 pct aluminum and 0.5 pct manganese. (Hilty and Crafts" have reported a significant increase in the deoxidation efficiency of the aluminum and manganese combination over that of the aluminum alone.) A more drastic deoxidation designed to reduce the oxyen content to the lowest possible level is accomplished by plunging metallic calcium to the bottom of the melt. This is done by wiring small cubes of the metal to a steel rod. A circular shield larger than the diameter of the crucible opening is attached to the rod so that any spa'ttering of the molten metal will not endanger the operator. Since the temperature of the molten metal is above the boiling point of calcium, the bath is vigclrously purged by calcium vapor. It is believed that the calcium-vapor treatment permits a homogeneous distribution of calcium in the melt. Owing to the vigor of the reaction the temperature of the molten metal should be kept below 2900°F prior to the calcium addition. A total of 0.05 pct calcium is added in two stages in this manner. The second calcium deoxidation is made just before charging the molten aluminum into the iron, in order that an excess of calcium be present for the remainder of the melt. The aluminum, which has been removed from the holding furnace, is then hydrogen degassed by bubbling chlorine through a quartz tube immersed in the molten aluminum. The hydrogen-chlorine reaction is an exothermic one preventing the solidification of the aluminum during the 5-min chlorination. Approximately 0.1 pct calcium, based on the amount of aluminum, is then added to the aluminum. A further excess of calcium is introduced into the melt in this manner. The oxide dross is removed, fluorspar is added to the molten iron, and the molten aluminum is poured through the fluorspar slag. The fluorspar should be dried thoroughly prior to its use, as any water present will react with the aluminum. Aluminum oxide formed during the pouring operation reacts with the fluorspar slag to form gaseous aluminum fluoride and calcium oxide. A forced-draft ventilating system is required for this operation as aluminum fluoride is toxic. As soon as the molten aluminum has been added, vigorous manual stirring of the melt is required because the slag-aluminum oxide reaction is highly exothermic and tends to take place near the top of the melt. The combination of high temperature and the slagging action of the fluorspar quickly erodes the crucible at the slag line if the aluminum is not stirred uniformly into the melt. It has been found that at least 4 min of manual stirring combined with induction stirring are necessary to ensure homogeneity. The power is shut off 1 min prior to pouring to allow metal and slag to separate. As much slag as possible is removed from the melt, which is then poured directly into cast-iron molds. A mold wash of aluminum oxide is used to prevent ingot sticking. For slab ingots which are to be rolled into sheet, a carbon-tetrachloride vapor atmosphere or a chlorinated-pitch mold wash is desirable, as the aluminum oxide formed in the pouring operation is subsequently removed by the chlorine in the presence of carbon." As in vacuum melting, a pouring temperature of about 2900°F is recommended. Adequate hot-topping is important as iron-aluminum ingots are subject to very deep piping. Ingots are removed from the molds and buried in vermiculite, where they are allowed to cool slowly to room temperature. The ingots are radiographed,

Jan 1, 1959

By L. J. Murphy

The production of crude oil in the United States is exceeding consumption by one-quarter million barrels per day and, with the possibilities of West Texas, this condition of overproduction, unless controlled, is likely to continue for some time. The resulting low price of oil has caused the operator to observe closely his lease operating costs. The installation of more efficient and reliable machinery has followed and it can well be said that the art of producing oil is on the threshold of a new era. In this advancement electricity has played a leading part. This paper covers only the problem of electricity as applied to lease operation and does not consider other phases of the industry, such as drilling and pipe-line pumping, in which electric power has been utilized economically. In considering electrification of pumping wells, the first question the operator asks is whether or not his costs will be reduced and the second question is whether or not the production will be increased. The third question, although in effect it is closely allied to the first, is the cost of power. The last question can be answered only after a thorough analysis of operating conditions and a study of the power rates prevailing in the particular field under consideration. Within the past few years, the power companies have realized the desirability of a steady 24-hr, pumping load, have made their rates for oil-field service particularly attractive, and in general have shown splendid cooperation in assisting the oil companies in the satisfactory application of electric power to their leases. When everything is taken into consideration, the first cost is practically the same for electric drive as for gas engines when pumping on the beam with individual motors. This cost, at prevailing prices, should aver-age approximately $2200 to $2400 per installation when using 15 to 35-hp., two-speed pumping equipment, including motor and control, countershaft, motor house, belt, installation charges, and a prorated portion of the cost of transmission lines and transformers for serving a number of wells. Since there is practically no difference in the cost of the two installations, it is evident that electricity, to justify its consideration, must have a lower operating cost or produce more oil.

Jan 1, 1928

By E. P. Pfleider, Rolland L. Blake

IT is generally believed that the amount of diamond drilling will increase appreciably in the next decade, as the seaarch for minerals throughout the world becomes more difficult and intense. An attendant problem may be one of short diamond supply, resulting in higher bit and drilling cost. With this background, the U. S. Bureau of Mines' and the School of Mines at the University of Minnesota' have established comprehensive research programs in diamond drilling. One of the several aims is the design of a more efficient bit, which would lower diamond consumption and increase rate of advance, both essential in reducing drilling costs. The objective of the specific research problem" discussed in this paper was an investigation of the cutting action of the cliamonds set in a diamond drill bit, cutting action meaning the manner in which the diamonds cut or. loosen the minerals in the rocks being drilled. In the literature on cutting action such descriptive terms are used .as: grinding, wearing, cutting, breaking, shearing, scraping, melting, and chipping. These actions were seldom described or defined. Grodzinski describes the cutting action of a single diamond in the shaping of certain types of material as "breaking out chips of the material." Brittle mate-. rials break as small separate chips, and tough materials, because of heat generated, give a continuous chip. Deeby said about diamond drills: "When diamonds are forced into the formation and rotated, they either break the bond holding the rock particles together, or they cause conchoidal fracture of the rock itself. The former action occurs when drilling in sandstones, siltstones, shales, etc. and the latter action when drilling in chert, flint, or quartz." He said that diamonds cut on the "grinding principle" but he does not define or elaborate on this action. The cutting action of diamonds on glass was first investigated about 1816 by Dr. W. H. Wol-laston, an English physicist. The best glass-cutting diamonds have a natural or artificially rounded cutting edge. This edge first indents the glass and then slightly separates the particles, forming a shallow and nearly invisible fissure. Since none of the material is removed, this action is one of splitting rather than cutting. No other reports of research work on the cutting action of the diamond were found, and further work was considered justified and advisable. It is impractical, even if possible, to observe directly the cutting action of a diamond drill bit in rock; therefore it was necessary to devise an indirect method. It was believed that a study of the following three observations would lead to a better understanding of the cutting action: 1—the appearance of the minerals or rock surface in the bottom of the hole, 2—the size, shape, and other characteristics of the drill cuttings, and 3—the condition of the diamonds in the bit. The cutting action in a particular rock probably varies with bit pressure and speed. If the bit were slowly lifted off the rock, the effect of decreasing pressure might obliterate those bottom hole characteristics that are specific at the test pressure. Likewise, if the drill were stopped with the bit still in contact with the bottom of the hole, then decreasing speed effects would tend to obliterate the characteristics at the set test conditions. Therefore, in order to preserve those cutting effects impressed on the rock at test conditions, it seemed necessary to lift the bit off the bottom of the hole almost instantaneously once drilling conditions, i.e., revolutions per minute, pressure, and water flow became constant. In addition to observing the cuttings, the bit, and the bottom of hole, it seemed desirable to collect some quantitative data for purposes of correlation with the observations and for a record of bit performance. Consequently such data as revolutions per minute, force applied, and rate of advance of the bit were recorded. Six rock types, listed in Table I, were chosen for the tests. It was felt that these rocks had most of the variable characteristics of texture, bonding, and mineral hardness met in the common rocks generally being drilled. The sandstone was so poorly cemented as to be friable, even though most of the cement was silica. The limestone, though well cemented, was quite porous. Originally it was planned to conduct the tesk work with a full-scale drill unit, using EX bits, 7/8-in. core, 11/4-in. OD. The drill worked well, but was too cumbersome for rapid, accurate drilling of many short holes (1 ½-in.) in varied rock types. A new

Jan 1, 1954

By Willard P. Ward

HAVING been engaged during the past year in the manufacture of ferro-manganese in a blast furnace, I have imagined that some further information on this subject might be of interest to that large number of members of the Institute who are engaged in the iron and steel industries. The great question of the economical production of good steel, ingot metal, or homogeneous iron (we scarcely know now what to call it) from good materials, and at reasonable prices, has, thanks to the intelligence and energy of a few American engineers, been successfully solved in this country. Nearly all first-class railroads, and many that would riot rank so high, have adopted the Bessemer rail. Martin boiler-plates are rapidly gaining ground, in competition with

Jan 1, 1877

By AIME AIME

AMONG the European nations Germany is the center of interest economically as well as politically, and of prime importance for Europe as a whole is Germany's capacity to produce mineral products for armament and for export in exchange for the import of the essential supplies to maintain its industries. So far as minerals are concerned, Germany is worse off than any other great power except Italy, and deficiencies are being met by attempts to increase output from local deposits and by greater use of substitutes derived from domestic raw materials to replace imported metals, petroleum products, and other minerals.

Jan 1, 1939

By AIME AIME

THE annual meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary to the A.I. M.E. is always held in New York, in con- junction with the annual meeting of the Institute in February. Business sessions, teas, dances, a theater party, luncheons, excursions, and many other interesting activities filled the four days to overflowing. In all ,216 women were present, from all parts of the United ,/ mates, and there were several from Canada. On Mon- ' day not only the visitors, but the New York members also, gathered around the registration desks, where Mrs. E. N. Wolfes, Mrs. S. J. Jennings, and Miss Georgene Davis saw that everyone was properly registered and provided with tickets to whatever functions she desired to attend. Greetings were eagerly ex- changed as friends met at the luncheon on the fifth floor, where the hostesses of the day were Mrs. J. D. Handy, Mrs. T. T. Read, Mrs. Sidney Rolle and Mrs. H. J. Wolf. In the afternoon, there were visits to art galleries and other interesting exhibits, arranged by Mrs. Frederick Laist. Mrs. W. H. Bassett was the hostess at a very delightful Thé damant at the Italian Gardens of the Ambassador Hotel. Many of the men attended this function also. In the evening the visiting ladies were entertained at a theater party, with Mrs. Wilbur Judson as hostess. The play that was seen was Gorki's "At. the Bottom."

Jan 1, 1930

By F. W. Newhall

DURING the latter part of the year 1931, the Republic mine of the Republic Steel Corporation, at Republic, about 4 miles south of Browns-ville, Pa., was mining coal along four rib or fracture lines. One of these lines, the west butt rib line, was retreating towards a concrete-lined air shaft, 320 ft. deep, which had been sunk in 1911 for ventilation purposes. With the normal rate of mining at that time, it was expected that this rib line would pass the shaft in three or four months and the shaft would then be abandoned and allowed to cave. Realizing the opportunity presented for the study of an unusual case of ground movement, the question of conducting the study was presented by the junior author to the chairman of the Institute's committee on Ground Movement and Subsidence, Mr. George S. Rice, who presented the matter to Mr. G. H. Morse, General Manager of the Northern Mines, Republic Steel Corpora-tion, and he agreed to cooperate with the Bureau of Mines in making the study, the results of which are presented in this paper. Acknowledg-ments are due to Mr. Morse for his full cooperation in this work and to Mr. G. S. Rice and Mr. J. W. Paul, both of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, for their advice and guidance during the course of the work. The authors are indebted to Mr. B. F. Herbert, mining engineer, Northern Coal Mines, Republic Steel Corporation, who assisted in all the surveys, and Mr. W. H. Smith, draftsman, U. S. Bureau of Mines, who prepared all illustrations for publication.

Jan 1, 1934

By C. J. Ramsburg

The construction and operation of by product coke-oven plants in America are essential to strong national defense and of the greatest importance to many widely diversified undertakings as well as to safety and health. Carbonization Process Coal used under a boiler or in a locomotive is consumed by combustion. Coal used in a by-product oven is distilled or carbonized, meaning that heat is applied to the coal, out of contact with air, causing a distillation that removes the volatile matter in the coal in the form of gas and vapor, leaving coke as a final product. From the gas and vapor distilled from the coal, many valuable substances can be secured, known as by-products. Hence the name "by-product oven." The simplest example of this principle can be shown by means of an ordinary clay pipe. If powdered coal is placed in the bowl of the pipe, the opening of the bowl is plugged with clay, and the bowl placed in a flame, the bowl will become hot, transferring the heat through the wall of the bowl to the coal within. When this coal attains a temperature of about 750°F., gas will begin to pour out of the pipe stem, and this gas may be lighted. A black liquid also will exude from the stem of the pipe, This is tar mixed with certain other products. What remains in the bowl after distillation is coke. A coke oven corresponds to the bowl of the pipe. A modern oven of the latest type is a refractory brick chamber approximately 42 ft. long and 14 ft. high, averaging 18 in. in width. The oven is filled with coal through closable charging holes in the oven top. Each end of the oven consists entirely of a self-sealing door, the removal of which permits the finished coke to be discharged by means of a power-operated pusher machine. The ovens are built in batteries, and the heating is effected by gas burned in vertical flues in the oven walls, each set of flues heating the walls of two adjacent ovens. Such ovens carbonize a charge of approximately 18 tons of coal in 18 hr., or have a daily throughput of 24 tons per oven, producing about 17 tons of coke. In times of need, the output may be increased by raising the temperature of flues, thus shortening the coking time. There is one great essential difference in principle between distillation in a clay pipe and in a coke oven. In the 18-in. oven, the distillation proceeds from two parallel walls held at a high temperature (over zooo°F.) and instead of all the coal being heated at once, the distillation is a progressive one creeping inward. The average travel of this heating is 35 in. per hour from each vertical wall, and as the volatile products are formed progressively they must push away from the interior toward the wall through the previously formed hot coke, then up the walls and Over the top of the coal charge, finally escaping through the outlet pipe. This results in a cracking of the components into many different and valuable substances not formed when the carbonizing temperature is low.

Jan 1, 1942