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By Frank Hall

THE needs of the World War showed the necessity of a metal stronger than cast iron which would supplement the supply of steel. So patriotic metallurgists were spurred to new efforts to improve the status of that half-breed of the metal world that had been, more or less erroneously, christened semisteel. As a result, it was developed that for certain purposes semisteel was superior to steel in the manufacture of shells. Steel, because of its greater strength and toughness, is able to carry a greater charge of explosive, weight for weight; consequently, a steel shell can be expected to cause greater destruction when used against fortifications or other inanimate objects, while semisteel, because of its comparative brittleness and its resulting greater fragmentation, is capable of inflicting more serious loss of life when used against opposing forces of men. Therefore, each has its proper place in the economy of war. For the present purpose, steel may be defined as a comparatively pure iron whose physical nature is modified by small amounts of carbon, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, manganese, and possibly other rarer elements; while cast iron generally is limited to approximately 93 per cent. of iron, the remainder consisting of larger percentages of carbon, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, and manganese. Semisteel may be defined as cast iron in which the carbon and silicon have been reduced to as low a point as is consistent with maintaining the nature of gray iron, and in which the remaining elements are manipulated so as to give the greatest strength.

Jan 1, 1920

FOR four years your Committee has been engaged in the study of problems connected with the educational preparation of professional geophysicists. The present report represents the conclusions drawn from the investigations and deliberations undertaken since it was first organized. These studies have shown that the evolution of geophysics has proceeded along lines that differed from those marking the advance of classical geology. The latter science developed as a descriptive one, dealing with directly observable terrestrial phenomena, and the elementary, rational explanations that could be offered therefor. The fact that these phenomena were also chemical and physical in nature was seldom given more than passing acknowledgment. During the last half century, however, a new approach to problems of terrestrial phenomena has become of greater significance. This new attack has come through the sciences of physics and chemistry, as the people trained therein have investigated the facts of the earth as problems in their respective sciences. This development has been chiefly at the hands of European investigators, and European universities have long recognized it by establishing departments or institutions of geophysics. In the universities of North America, their arbitrary departmentalization into fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, etc., has prevented the academic recognition of such domains of science as geophysics and geochemistry. In consequence, the development of these subjects in the United States has been largely at the hands of nonacademic institutions, while the universities themselves are evidently in a state of confusion as to how the subject should be handled. In some places an attempt to teach geophysics is made in the physics department, in others in the geology department, in some in the engineering school, and occasionally as a cooperative effort; a Department of Geophysics is seldom found in North America. In some instances, proper academic planning has been precluded by interdepartmental jealousies, or by lack of appreciation of the significance of the subject. For the background upon which these conclusions are based, the reader is referred to reports previously issued or sponsored by your Committee. These reports are available from Institute Headquarters. The "First Report of the A.I.M.E. Mineral Industry Education Division's Committee of Geophysics Education, 1939," summarizes the replies received to question-

Jan 1, 1942

By AIME AIME

THE American copper mining industry is threatened with disintegration and destruction. This threat is not one which may only materialize in the distant future. The destruction has already commenced. At present, many domestic mines have already closed down. .Others are operating on a greatly curtailed basis. Those operating are doing so only at tremendous loss-because the selling price of copper is below the cost of production and rapidly diminishing financial resources and credit clearly forecast the early suspension of operations in most of the industry. Unemployment in the mining districts is increasing by leaps and bounds. While this condition is due in some measure to the present unsatisfactory state of business in general, the copper industry, unlike other lines of business, sees no possibility of recovery without definite aid. The fundamental, underlying cause of present conditions in the American copper mining industry is the unprecedented rise in foreign production, and the basic change which has taken place in the world copper industry in the last three years. The American industry had begun to feel this change early in 1929 long before the general collapse of business in the fall of that year. While the distress in the industry is undoubtedly aggravated by the present economic depression, it nevertheless would have arrived and. have been present at this time, regardless of general business conditions.

Jan 1, 1932

By Ralph D. Parker

A STRIKING testimonial to the value of safety was contained in an ad- dress given in May, 1936, by A. R. Young, vice-president of the United States Steel Corp.: In the period from 1906 to 1935 we have spent $24,860,540 on safety work. By comparing the cost of "prevented" accidents by the cost of settling similar accidents, we found that we had made a saving of $117,224,238. Even if those figures are 50 per cent wrong, at least we got back every dollar we paid for safety and another with it. I don't think anyone has to blush before his board of directors for an investment of that kind.

Jan 1, 1937

By E. H. Roberts, L. G. Swenson, F. C. Nix, R. A. Morgen

The binary system lead-antimony has been the subject of comprehensive investigations in these laboratories by Dean1 and his associates. The effect of a third constituent on this system, particularly on the lead-rich alloys in which dispersion hardening was found, has a commercial value as well as an academic interest. This paper covers the effect of the addition of copper, bismuth and tin, all of which are likely to be found in commercial lead-antimony alloys, and is divided into three parts, as follows: I. The System Lead-A~ili~r~ony-Copper II. The System Lead-Antimony-Bismuth III. The Lead Corner of the System Lead-Antimony-Ti11 These three systerrls are of three different types, and hence may be considered as covering three general kinds of additions. Bismuth forms no compounds with either lead or antimony and forms solid solutions with both. Copper forms several compounds with antimony as well as solid solutions but with lead it forms a two liquid layer system and no appreciable solid solution. Tin is soluble in both lead and antimony in the solid state and also forms a compound with antimony. The effect of small amounts of bismuth on the lead-antimony alloys is small, having no appreciable effect on the solubility of antimony. The temperature of the solidus floor is lowered appreciably by the presence of bismuth, cutting down the range of heat treatment. Copper, on the other hand, due to compound formation, increases the apparent solubility of antimony. The excess antimony is tied up with the copper finally and so is not available for dispersion hardening. The net result of addition of small amounts of copper is to shift the dispersion hardening peak of the

By Jack Washburn, E. R. Parker

Kinking in zinc single-crystal tension specimens was observed under conditions of low stress and high temperature. Kinking is discussed in relation to other plastic bending phenomena on the basis of dislocation theory. Experiments on the stress-induced motion of small angle boundaries are reported. KINKING was first reported by Orowan1 as a new deformation mechanism. He observed the phenomenon in cadmium single crystals loaded in compression. Glide lamellae in a local region of the rod were observed to snap over suddenly to a tilted position, resulting in a sudden shortening of the specimen. Between the tilted portion and the rest of the crystal there were fairly sharp boundaries, with the slip plane assuming approximately mirror image positions on opposite sides of these boundaries. Orowan considered the boundaries to be regions where dislocations had concentrated. Hess and Barrett' observed the formation of kinks in critically oriented zinc compression specimens. It was found that the sudden snapping over of the tilted region was not an essential part of the kinking phenomenon but rather was associated with the method of loading. Kinking was explained on the basis of the accepted mechanisms of slip and flexural glide. It was also suggested that a kink can be considered as a special type of deformation band. During a recent investigation of the effect of surface condition on creep of zinc single crystals," a similar phenomenon was observed in crystals which were loaded in tension. The specimens were 0.4 in. diam cylindrical rods with a free length of 4 in. between end connections. All of the crystals were tested at a constant load. adjusted to give an extension rate of approximately 0.05 pct per hr. Kinking, as shown in Fig. 1, occurred in some of the tests performed at temperatures above 200°C. Kinking was observed in specimens varying widely in initial orientation, scattering about a 45" angle between the slip plane and the specimen axis. The condition leading to kinking in tension appeared to be non-uniform distribution of flow along the gage length combined with the restraint imposed by the tensile load. At low temperatures and fast strain rates, the distribution of strain throughout the midsection of tension specimens was generally quite uniform; therefore, bend planes developed only near the ends as described by Miller.4 However, at high temperatures under creep conditions it was difficult to obtain specimens in which the distribution of flow was uniform. Some of the factors which may have caused differences in flow stress along the length of the crystals are: Nonuniform distribution of impurities, accidents of growth (lineage structure), slight bending or other damage during handling, surface conditions, and strain-aging characteristics due to dissolved nitrogen." Plastic flow, once started in a local region, often continued to a relatively large strain before other parts of the gage length became active. Under these conditions a series of kinks, such as those in Fig. 1, were produced. Fig. 2 illustrates how a nonuniform distribution of slip produces bending moments which- are responsible for kink formation. If no plastic bending were to occur while the rod extended by pure slip in two separate sections of the rod, it would assume a shape such as that in Fig. 2a. A specimen having this shape and being subjected to a tension load would have concentrations of stress at the concave surfaces C and lower than average stress would exist at the convex surfaces D. Therefore a bending moment is superimposed on the average stress in the regions between C and D. The positions of potential bend planes under these conditions are shown as dotted lines. Actually no such shape as Fig. 2a develops because plastic bending in the region C-D occurs simultaneously with pure slip in the intervening regions. The observed structure of a tension kink is indicated by Fig. 2b. Perhaps the best approach to an understanding of kinking as well as other related plastic bending phenomena, such as the bend planes discussed by Miller,' cell formation studied by Wood et al.,6 and polygonization,7 is consideration of the dislocation model of a bent lattice. Current theories of the slip process postulate generation or multiplication of dislocations at certain lattice imperfections. The mechanism proposed by Frank and Read8 results in continuous generation of concentric dislocation loops which spread out

Jan 1, 1953

By R. M. Raymond

THE Mining Section of The National Safety Council recently sent out a questionnaire to operators, regarding the class of rope used, specifications required or obtained, factors of safety observed, methods of fastening ropes, lubrication, inspection, and points observed when rope is to be discarded. The answers received from this questionnaire, largely from metal mines, give interesting information, from which recommendations for safety practice on hoisting ropes are drawn. DEPTH OF MINE The depth in the majority of cases noted is from 1000 ft. to 1500 ft. (304 to 457 m.) and records come from a number hoisting from depths of 2000 to 3000 ft. Hoisting is generally done in balance, with a few companies using counterweights. Seldom, more than two shifts are occupied in hoisting. A number of large operators limit the shift for engineers to 6 hr. A few of the larger operators have separate hoists for men and supplies, with a higher class rope for men. The range of loads varies from 7 to 17 tons and greater in a few cases, with a balanced weight of 4 to 7 tons.

Jan 2, 1922

By Andrews Allen

THE large increase in the wages of mine workers makes it imperative that all factors tending to limit production per miner be eliminated, if possible. The trolley and storage-battery locomotive, mining machine, hoisting engine, mining system, etc. have increased the possible output per man. But this output is still limited by the capacity of the hoisting engine and cable and by the size of the mine car. The superiority of skip hoisting in metal mining is shown by its almost universal adoption. By varying the size of skip and the rope speed, any desired hoisting tonnage can be secured and, since only one kind of material is handled and breakage is unimportant, the loading of the skips can be easily and cheaply effected from bins into which the cars are dumped. The cars may then be designed to fit the conditions in the mine instead of being a compromise between hoisting and mining conditions, very likely suiting neither. In coal mines, the usual practice has been to hoist the car to the surface, either on platform or self-dumping cages. Of late years the number of skip-hoisting plants in coal mines has been rapidly increasing, but there is more or less inertia to overcome in establishing so radical a change in practice; also the earlier skip operations were not uniformly successful. As a result, it became evident that metal-mining practice would require radical modification before skip hoisting could be successfully used in coal mining.

Jan 2, 1921

By T. A. Rickard

Do not write until you have something to say. Think first; then write. In order to be understood, you must know what you wish to say. Clear writing is the consequence of clear thinking. Therefore consider your subject well before you begin to write; ruminate on it; marshal the salient facts in your mind; saturate yourself with the ideas you wish to express and with cognate ideas; then express yourself deliberately. If you are bubbling over with your subject the words will come, but you might as well expect to sail without a breeze as hope to give life to words without the living thought. Here I may advert to the fact that among the uneducated it is a common expectation to acquire the knack of writing without taking the trouble to study the art of literature. I overheard a woman in a suburban train remark to her neighbor: "I'd like to be able to write well without stopping to think about it". She was one of many that would like to do a thing well without the trouble of thinking; but it cannot be done in respect of anything to which thought is essential. The possession of a good voice does not justify a person in expecting to sing successfully to a large audience; before singing in public one has to master the technique of singing; one has to learn first how to breathe properly, how to enunciate, and many other things. The successful singer is an artist, not a megaphone. Most of us would regard a man or a woman without any training in the art of singing as a fool or an impostor if he or she were to give a public concert, yet we do not recognize the equal foolishness and imposture of persons that write books before they have studied the technique of writing. That is why so many books are unreadable, and why many books by clever men are difficult to read. They start to write books before

Jan 1, 1931

By Roswell Johnson

THE prevailing system of wells on a rectangular basis, as shown in Fig. 1-A, has developed because of the exigencies of offsetting at boundary lines. When, however, a very large tract is, being drilled, it is often possible to abandon this inferior method for the superior arrangement C- PROPER STAGGERING FIG. 1.-THREE SYSTEMS OF SPACING WELLS. known as "staggering," which is illustrated in Fig. 1, B and C. The advantages of the triangular over the rectangular method are evident from Fig. 2, computed on the basis of one well to 10 acres (4 ha.). With the triangular system, no land is more than 409.4 ft. (124.8 m.) from a

Jan 8, 1918

"Located on the Big Hole River, three miles from Divide, Montana, and 21.75 miles from Butte.Built in 1899.DAM: Rock-filled wooden crib, 512 ft. long and 57.5 feet high.SPILLWAY: Equipped with flash-boards 189 ft. long, 8 ft. 10 inches high.PENSTOCKS: Two 8 ft. diameter of steel, each branching and supplying two wheels.WHEELS: Four double horizontal, double discharge turbines, made by The James Leffel & Co., 1,000 h-p., 180 r. p. m., direct connected to generators, operating at 60 ft. head. GENERATORS: Four G. E., revolving field, 750 k-w., 180 r. p. m., 800 volt, 3 phase, 60 cycle alternators.EXCITERS: Two water-wheel driven exciters.TRANSFORMERS: 12 250-k-w. G. E. air blast, primary 15,000 volts, Secondary 800 volts.OPERATION: The plant operates essentially as a peak load plant. Except in flood period, there is insufficient water to operate at full load continually. In December its average output is about 500 k-w."

Jan 1, 1913

By William P. Blake

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) A DEPOSIT of manganese-ore near Tucson, Ariz., merits notice by reason of the peculiar form in which it occurs, and as a striking. example of ore-deposition by vadose upward capillary flow of metal-bearing solutions with concentration at the surface of the country-rock. This deposit occurs at the northern end of the Coyote mountains, about 40 miles west of Tucson, upon the outcropping beds of porphyritic rock, which appear to be partly-metamorphosed strata of volcanic tufa, probably of late Secondary or of Tertiary age. The strata dip northward at a low angle, and present a series of basset-edges in parallel lines of outcrop, east and west, facing the south and extending over many acres. Successive groups of these outcrops, from 5 to 20 ft. in breadth, are coated with oxides of manganese in lustrous black films and crusts, shining in the sunlight like polished ebony, and covering the whole surface of the rock above the soil. Seen at a little distance, these croppings look like solid ledges of massive and pure ore; but closer inspection and a few blows of the hammer reveal their true nature as a superficial coating allied in origin to the blackened shining surface of rocks exposed in desert-regions, familiarly known as " desert paint" or "desert varnish,"' similar to the phenomena described by me in a former paper, but much thicker and heavier. * By reason of the death of the distinguished author, this communication, probably his last communication to technical literature, is published without revision of the proofs by him. A term first given y G. K. Gilbert. See Rocks, Rock-Weathering, and Soil; by George P. Merrill, p. 256 (New York, 1897). Superficial Blackening and Discoloration of Rocks, Especially in Desert Regions, Trans., xxxv., 371 (1905).

Sep 1, 1910

By E. H. Roberts, L. G. Swenson, F. C. Nix, R. A. Morgen

THE binary system lead-antimony has been the subject of comprehensive investigations in these laboratories by Dean' and his associates. The effect of a third constituent on this system, particularly on the lead-rich alloys in which dispersion hardening was found, has a commercial value as well as an academic interest. This paper covers the effect of the addition of copper, bismuth and tin, all of which are likely to be found in commercial lead-antimony alloys, and is divided into three parts, as follows: I. The System Lead-Antimony-Copper II. The System Lead-Antimony-Bismuth III. The Lead Corner of the System Lead-Antimony-Tin These three systems are of three different types, and hence may be considered as covering three general kinds of additions. Bismuth forms no compounds with either lead or antimony and forms solid solutions with both. Copper forms several compounds with antimony as well as solid solutions but with lead it forms a two liquid layer system and no appreciable solid solution. Tin is soluble in both lead and antimony in the solid state and also forms a compound with antimony. The effect of small amounts of bismuth on the lead-antimony alloys is small, having no appreciable effect on the solubility of antimony. The temperature of the solidus floor is lowered appreciably by the presence of bismuth, cutting down the range of heat treatment. Copper, on the other hand, due to compound formation, increases the apparent solubility of antimony. The excess antimony is tied up with the copper finally and so is not available for dispersion hardening. The net result of addition of small amounts of copper is to shift the dispersion hardening peak of the

Jan 1, 1928

By Alan Stanley

R. T. Hukki (Finland Institute of Technology, Helsinki, Finland)—In the analysis of mill products containing minerals of appreciable difference in specific gravity the well-known principle of the method described by Stanley is applied in a number of ways for a variety of problems. The use of Le Chatelier bottle as explained in the paper may be a dependable and sufficiently accurate way, although no information is given as to the reproducibility of the specific gravity determinations. In the case of MacIntyre ore the method is applied for three separate products produced apparently without reagents and relatively free of fine slimes. Should it be applied for flotation products carrying a substantial amount of slimes, difficulties should be anticipated in the process of eliminating air inclusions from the sample. The difficulties mentioned above may be overcome by the use of a volumeter, an instrument designed for specific gravity determinations of finely divided solids in dry state. This instrument, see Fig. 4, is manufactured by F. Süffert-Bürner A. G. in Basel, Switzerland. Its operation is based on the law of Boyle and Mariotte. With the use of the volumeter, the specific gravities of test samples having a total volume of about 30 cm are easily reproducible within ±2 units in the second decimal of the specific gravity figure, and even better than that with utmost care. This accuracy is sufficient for ordinary operational control. How closely the specific gravity determinations follow the respective chemical assays depends primarily on the nature of the sample itself. In this respect no specific gravity instrument can give better results than those justified by the consistency of mineral distribution in samples analyzed.

Jan 1, 1954

By Albert G. Zima

ACCORDING to recently published statistics, it is predicted that as much oil must be produced during the next 16 years as has been produced during the past 75, in order to satisfy the high rate of consumption of petroleum products. During 1934, over 17,000 oil wells were completed in the United States, and it is expected that over 20,000 additional wells will be drilled during the current year. Were it not for the remarkable progress made during recent years in the improvement of drilling technique and in the development of equipment used in the production phase of the oil industry, it is doubtful whether sufficient oil could be produced to meet present requirements. A few years ago, wells seldom were deeper than 3500 to 4000 ft., owing to the limitations of the drilling methods and equipment employed.. Today, 'however, through the application of scientific drilling methods and the adaptation of modern equipment and improved materials, many wells range from 6000 to 8000 ft. in depth, and a few recent completions exceed 10,000 feet. DRILL TOOLS Modern rotary drilling tools are the product of ingenious design and careful selection and adaptation of materials used in their construction. They must withstand terrific abrasion and, because of their compactness, must be designed to resist exceedingly high unit stresses. In bits, core drills and reamers, the bodies are made of either forged or cast alloy steels, heat-treated to develop a combination of high strength and toughness. To provide sufficient strength to the threaded portions and to protect the threads from distortion or damage, the box or pin sections of the tools are hardened to approximately 310 to 330 Brinell hardness

Jan 1, 1935

The following communication has just reached the Institute, from the office of the Provincial Geologist, Department of Lands,-Forests and Mines, Ontario, Canada: During the autumn of 1917 gold was discovered in unsurveyed territory south of Lake Abitibi in northeastern Ontario. This area lies about 70 miles almost directly east of the well known Porcupine area. During the coming summer, the Ontario Bureau of Mines is to make a geological survey of this new gold area. Following the custom of Ontario, this area is being divided into townships, 6 miles square. These townships have recently been given the following names in honor of men well known in the mining and geological world. In alphabetical order the names are as follows: Frecheville-Prof. Wm. Frecheville, Professor of Mining in the Royal School of Mines, London; Past President of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. Garrison-Mr. F. Lynwood Garrison, Mining Engineer, Philadelphia, Pa. Harker-Dr. Alfred Harker, F. R. S., immediate Past President of the Geological Society of London.

Jan 6, 1918

By J. Campbell

The hydrostatic tensions in pure metals and long freezing range alloys are evaluated theoretically considering the viscous flow of residual liquid and the general plastic collapse of the casting. The former mechanism operates until the radii of the remaining liquid channels are of the order of 10-3 cm radius, after which the second process limits the attainable negative pressures which range from —1500 to -4200 atm for nickel, aluminum, copper, and iron. In previous reports1'2 the maximum possible hydrostatic tensions developed during solidification have been evaluated employing spherical symmetry. This inevitably involves the concept of totally confined liquid regions, the reality of which has recently been brought into serious doubt3 following observations of the freezing of various transparent materials. Regions of interdendritic liquid which are apparently about to be isolated by the growth of dendrite arms are observed not to be cut off because the advance of the dendrite tips is arrested until the region has completely solidified. Although this may be the result of the very low melting point liquid available at this late stage in freezing, or the result of a higher rate of heat transfer to the dendrite tips because of the acceleration in liquid flow rate near the completion of solidification, this point need not concern us. In this paper an attempt is made to approximate more closely to real conditions; thus the assumption of confined liquid regions is abandoned and cylindrical symmetry adopted. It has also been necessary, therefore, to consider the viscous flow of residual liquid through the remaining channels in the pasty zone. Furthermore, the rather special conditions of spherically symmetric solidification led to extremely high solidification rates and hence unusually high tensile stresses as solidification neared completion; the cylindrical Symmetry appears to yield solidification rates and stresses which are more typical of real castings. The rate of solidification is first considered since this critically affects both the flow of the liquid and the creep of the solid.

Jan 1, 1969

By authority of the Secretary of War, and in response to frequent requests, the following suggested list of reading is issued by the War Department for the information of civilian engineers desiring to inform themselves on military subjects: These references have been selected, first, with a view to giving to engineers unfamiliar with the art of war a general survey of that sub-

Jan 1, 1916

By Jack A. Simon, M. E. Hopkins

Coal is defined as a combustible rock that originated in the accumulation and physical and chemical alteration of vegetation. Coal can be ignited and burned like the wood that was man's earliest fuel, but coal gives more heat than the same amount of wood and has many industrial uses. Unlike wood, coal is not generally found on the surface of the ground but is mined from the solid rock of the earth. Before taking up the occurrence, formation, and the unique character of coal in the rock sequence, let us briefly consider the general character of all rocks in the crust of the earth. Relatively little is known about the very earliest history of the earth, although a number of logical theories have been developed. Manned exploration of the moon and the rocks returned to earth continue to provide some answers to questions concerning the earth's origin and history. The period of earth history with which we concern ourselves here begins after great areas of water had evolved on earth and substantial land areas of once molten (igneous) rock existed. Weathering and other processes that attacked the surface of the rocks reduced them to small particles. Water provided by rainfall transported this material, ultimately, to large bodies of water where it was deposited. Thus was initiated the geologic sequence of sedimentary rocks that lie above the once molten igneous rocks. The crust and upper mantle of the earth are made up of several large plates along which differential movement (primarily horizontal) takes place. Such movements, although small, are occurring today. These horizontal movements are accompanied by vertical movements causing important changes in the relative position of the continents and oceans. Low-lying coastal swamps with favorable climates are ideal locations for coal accumulation and burial by river-borne sediments, and large areas

Jan 1, 1981

By Arthur B. Cummins

Diatomite is a siliceous rock of sedimentary origin, which may vary in degree of consolidation, but which consists mainly of the fossilized remains of diatoms. These are microscopic algae of the order Bacillaria. Diatomite is a unique form of silica, there being nothing else found in nature or produced by the manufacturing arts, that has its characteristic physical structure. There are numerous sediments which contain some diatom residues, admixed with a substantial amount of other materials-clay, carbonates or silica. While these are classified as diatomaceous silts, shales, or mudstones, they are not properly diatomite, a designation which is restricted to material of such qualities that it is suitable for commercial uses. The terms diatomaceous earth and kieselgur are synonymous with diatomite. The expressions infusorial earth and tripolite are obsolete. Diatomaceous silica is a definition best used to distinguish the basic component of diatomite, that is, the substance of the silica shell itself and is the major constituent of beneficiated diatomite or processed diatomaceous products. Some highly indurated materials, such as cherty shale, porcelanite, and opaline cherts which have resulted from diagenetic changes cannot be considered as diatomite although they may have been derived therefrom. On the other hand, diatomaceous oozes or loose sediments consisting mainly of diatom residues with or without much organic matter are source materials in process of becoming diatomite. Composition and Properties Pure diatomite is composed of opaline or hydrous silica, with small amounts of associated inorganic components-alumina, iron, alkaline earths, alkali metals, and minor constituents, all of which may occur in solid solution or as an essential part of the opal complex. Crude diatomite on the other hand may contain variable amounts of organic matter and soluble salts, and the usual contaminants of sedimentary formations-particles of rockforming minerals, sand, clay, or carbonates. As occurring in nature, diatomite contains an unusual amount of free water, which may vary from 10 to 60 pct or more. Diatomite, in the dry deposits which are characteristic of most of the important world deposits, occurs as a lightweight, comparatively light colored, "chalklike" material. The apparent density (dry basis) in situ varies from 20 to 40 lb per cu ft. The structure may be either massive or finely stratified. The earth is highly porous, usually soft and easily friable. It is nonreactive with acids and may be tentatively identified by the above characterizations. Confirmation is by microscopic examination which readily reveals the nature of the material. In deposits which contain organic matter the appearance of the material is totally different. The color may vary from light tan or gray to brown, greenish or nearly black. There is frequently difficulty in distinguishing it in the field from peatlike materials, but the difference is readily apparent after calcination. Powdered diatomite or diatomite products have an apparent density (loose weight) of 5 to 16 lb per cu ft, wet densities of 10 to 30 lb per cu ft, specific gravities 1.9 to 2.35, index of refraction 1.42 to 1.48. Diatomite is essentially micro-amorphous, but does show some tendency toward orientation in structure after a cristobalite pattern. Amorphous silica has been considered as a random association of cristobalite crystallites, the size of which are only slightly larger than a unit cell.20 The prop-

Jan 1, 1960