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By A. P. Miller, T. S. Washburn

Improved procedure in the manufacture of rail steel has come as the rail user demanded better wearing qualities combined with greater unit weight. With each weight increase per lineal yard has come greater difficulty in making a product that would successfully withstand all tests that modern rails must meet. With these facts in mind, and with a sincere desire to produce a rail whose service in track would be satisfactory in all respects, the steelmaker was quick to realize that all of the factors entering into his process would have to be more closely controlled. Control of rail-steel slags was recognized as one of the most important of many interdepending factors. The object of slag control is to hold the slag compositions within a range that gives the best results with respect to economy of production, uniformity of analysis, and quality of the finished rails. The most important component of the slag from the standpoint of these production and quality factors is the ferrous oxide content. This component is a good indicator of the basicity and oxidizing power of the slag, and these largely govern the effect of the slag on the steel. Consequently, the

Jan 1, 1935

By Robert Mehl

RELATIVELY few data have been collected on the rates of diffusion in ternary solid solution systems. In general it does not seem worth while to gather extensive data for such systems until the factors that determine the rates of diffusion in binary systems are better understood. But the rates of diffusion in a ternary system of limited solid solubility, in which the terminal solid solution is in equilibrium with an intermediate phase and may thus be represented as a quasibinary system, represents a case of special interest. In this case, where by reason of the association of the two solute metals in an intermediate phase a special attraction of the two solute atoms may be safely assumed, some interaction of these atoms during simultaneous diffusion in the solvent lattice might be expected. It has frequently been proposed that molecular solid solutions exist in quasibinary and in other ternary (and binary) solid solutions. There is no direct evidence for such solid solutions; arguments based upon the supposed anomaly in certain physical properties1 are hardly important; unexpected density relationships have proved deceptive ;2 suggestions of molecular solid solutions have been made on the basis of solution laws in their application to certain systems, but without result;3 attempts to find lattice parameters in the solid solution Al-MgZn2, which cannot be calculated from the separate effects of magnesium and zinc and might therefore be taken as evidence for a molecular aggregation, have given negative results.4 Fundamentally, methods for the determination of the state of molecu¬lar aggregation in solution depend upon the kinetic behavior of the par-ticles constituting the system. If it could be shown that the two solutes in a quasibinary ternary system diffuse in molecular proportions, despite a radical difference in the separate rates of diffusion of each solute when diffusing alone in the solvent lattice, some basis for the concept of molecu-lar solid solution would be afforded. Freche5 examined the rates of independent and simultaneous diffusion of magnesium and silicon in

Jan 1, 1939

By William A. Edmiston, R. E. Grace

A simplified model for the theory of reaction rates near equilibrium has been applied to the reduction of wustite. A linear relationship between the net rate of reaction and the Gibbs free-energy change, ?F, is predicted. The reduction of wustite in H2 -H2O gas mixtures was studied with a microbalance technique at temperatures from 850° to 950 °C. The predicted model was found to be valid to -?F/RT = 0.1 or approximately -200 cal per mole away from equilibrium. ThE theory of reaction rates near equilibrium has been developed by a number of authors. Prigogine, Outer, and Herbo1 have studied the catalytic hydrogena tion of benzene in an attempt to deduce some intrinsic connection between reaction rates near equilibrium and thermodynamics. Manes, Hofer, and weller2 have derived more general expressions for reaction rates near equilibrium from classical thermodynamics. Hollingsworth3,4 has commented briefly on the work of Manes et al. Benson5 has summarized in a general way the results of the earlier contributions. It is the purpose of this paper to apply the theory of reaction rates near equilibrium specifically to the reduction of wustite in H2-H2O gas mixtures. The basic premise is that the reduction of wustite proceeds by a surface reaction, rather than by solid-state diffusion ,or gaseous diffusion. Richardson and Dancy6 and Gellner and Richardson7 have suggested that the reduction of wustite may be governed by iron diffusion in wustite. Mckewan8-11 has proposed that reduced iron layers on various oxides are sufficiently porous to offer a negligible impedance to the reducing gas. The linear motion of interfaces reported by McKewan and discussed by Themelis and Gauvin12 indicates the lack of diffusive control during reduction. The reduction studies of magnetite reported by Quets, Wadsworth, and Lewis13 give additional evidence that reduction rates are linear when the reaction products are porous and nonprotective. The interpretation of measurements reported in this paper is predicated upon a surface-controlled reduction reaction, at least in the earliest stages of reduction when the reduced iron layer is thin.

Jan 1, 1967

By Harry A. Lipsitt, Attwell M. Adair

A number of papers have appeared in the past several years concerning the nature of the fatigue limit. The hypotheses presented in those papers fall into three groups. Some authors attribute the fatigue limit to the distribution of interstitials prior to testing (static group). Others consider the fatigue limit to be due to dislocation-interstitial reactions during testing (dynamic group). Still other propose that the fatigue limit results from a characteristic peculiar to the iron (bee) lattice (inherent group). This communication is an attempt to digest the salient features of each of the hypotheses, discuss them, and present some constructive criticism. It is shown that each of the extant ideas has some merit, and that each of the mechanisms thus far proposed is necessary, but individually insufficient, to provide the desired level of understanding of the fatigue-limit behavior of metals. Static Group. The data of Oates and wilson1 on finegrained (=0.022 mm diam) low-carbon steel indicate that the fatigue limit exists in the absence of sufficient plastic deformation for any dynamic strain-aging mechanism to be operative. Specimens tested just below the fatigue limit showed yield-point behavior typical for unstrained material when removed from the fatigue machine and tested in tension. These results led them to the conclusion that initial dislocation locking controls the fatigue limit in this material, which has a yield stress higher than the fatigue-limit stress. Prestraining this material just prior to fatigue testing would be expected to lower the fatigue-limit stress; this they observed experimentally. Yoshikawa and sugeno2 are of the opinion that the sharp fatigue limit in fine-grained iron is caused by

Jan 1, 1967

By G. C. Waterman, W. E. Hawes

Mr. Grieves' paper on "Shaft Sinking Today --A Boring Business Tomorrow" in the Dec. 1981 issue of MINING ENGINEERING is an excellent description of recent improvements in speed and costs of shaft sinking. However, shaft boring techniques are not a recent development. In 1935-36, the Idaho Maryland Co. (gold), Grass Valley, CA, bored the vertical 1.5-m-diam Idaho No. 2 ventilation and supply shaft to a depth of 346 m. The equipment was designed and perfected by Branner Newsome and was, I believe, described in "Transactions." Pickands Mather later bored a 1.8-m-diam shaft to a depth of about 305 m using Newsome's design. The Idaho No. 2 shaft cut through hard gabbro, diabase dikes, soft serpentine, very incompetent ankeritized serpentine and a strong fault zone. The completed shaft did not require timber support; the fault zone was cemented. Equipment consisted of a rotating 1.5-m or 3-m core barrel with a slotted bottom which cut a 76-mm kerf. The cutting agent was chilled steel shot introduced into the slot as needed. The driving mechanism and core barrel were lowered into the shaft, the former secured to the wall and the inshaft "engineer" operated the motors which controlled core barrel rpm and advance. After an advance of 1.5-3 m the equipment was lifted out of the shaft, a half(?) stick of powder cut off the drilled core, and it was hoisted to the surface with a cable attached to an eye bolt at the tope of the core. A "shift" consisted of three men: hoistman, equipment operator (down the shaft), and a surface laborer. Advance was variable as equipment and techniques were perfected. Near the end of the job advance was, as I remember, 1.5-3 m per shift. Costs were, as I recall, about $115/m. Up to 4 m cores were lifted out in one piece and swung to the dump by a stiff leg derrick. The Newsome equipment was relatively inexpensive to build and operate and his method should be (more than?) competetive with the methods described by Grieves.

Jan 1, 1983

By C. H. Samans, G. F. Tisinai, J. K. Stanley

The times at which the first detectable amount of a phase forms at temperatures between 900° and 1800°F were determined. Both X-ray diffraction and metallography were used to detect a in highly strained filings; metallography alone to detect it in annealed bulk samples of six different types of stainless steels. The a phase was found to form in accordance with the C-type reaction curve in both austenitic and ferritic alloys. In filings of types 304, 347, and 446, a formed in a few hours, and in types 316, 309, and 310, it formed in a matter of minutes at temperatures corresponding to the knee of the C-curve. Only in the bulk type 309 steel, after 500 hr, and in the bulk type 310 steel, after as short a time as 25 hr at temperature, was n detected; in both instances at approximately the same optimum temperature as in the filings. The annealing temperature affected a phase nucleation only for the filings of type 304 and 347 steels, and for the bulk samples of type 309 and 310 steels. KNOWLEDGE of both the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of the new phase is required for a complete description of metallurgical rate phenomena. However, data on the time for nucleation alone may frequently be useful in evaluating the tendency of commercial stainlcss steels to form s under various conditions. Very little correlated information of this type is available in the literature. Shortsleeve and Nicholson' indicate that s forms in ferritic 24, 27 and 30 pet Cr steels according to a C-type of reaction curve, and Emmanuel's' data for austenitic type 310 steel also suggest this type of solid state reaction. In addition, significant, though fragmentary, information has been given by Binder, Dulis and Smith,4 Payson and Savage,.; Guarneri, Miller, and Vawter,8 rerichs and Clark,7 Wilder,5 Lismer, Pryce, and Andrews,' Smith, Dulis, and Link,10 Dulis, Smith, and Houston," and Henry, Cordovi, and Fischer." The bearing of these data on this work is covered in the discussion. The purpose of this paper is to present such correlated data on s formation in AISI type 304 (18 pct Cr-8 pet Ni), 347 (18 pet Cr-10 pet Ni-Cb), 316 (18 pet Cr-12 pet Ni-2 pet Mo), 309 (25 pet Cr-12 pet Ni), 310 (25 pet Cr-20 pet Ni), and 446 (27 pet Cr) stainless steels. Materials and Test Methods X-ray diffraction and metallographic methods were used to determine the first appearance of the s phase in cold worked filings and in annealed bulk samples of seven steels, under various combinations of time and temperature. The rate of growth of the s particles was not determined. Commercial heats of six AISI steels and a low carbon laboratory experimental heat containing about 28 pet Cr were studied. Analyses are given in Table I. Because cold work greatly accelerates the nucleation of s particles, the relative rates of s nucleation in mechanically strained samples, i.e., filings through 120 mesh, were determined for direct comparison with those in annealed bulk alloys of the same composition.

Jan 1, 1957

By H. J. Ramey, I. S. Bousaid

Experimental results on the oxidation reaction kinetics in the forward combustion oil recovery process are presented. A total of 48 runs were made wherein a stationary thin layer of coked, unconsoli-dated sand was burned isothermally in a combustion cell. Individual runs were made at various temperature levels to permit determination of the effect of temperature upon the reaction. An expression was obtained for the burning rate of carbon as a function of carbon concentration, combustion temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The carbon burning rate for two types of crude oil indicated a first order reaction with respect to both carbon concentration and oxygen partial pressure. The effect of combustion temperature on the reaction rate constant matched the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy was similar for the two crude oils examined. The activation energy decreased for a porous media containing clay. The rate of oxidation of crude oil at reservoir temperature was found to be significant. Other significant findings included information on hydrogen-carbon content of fuel residues, fuel reactivity and the products of combustion. INTRODUCTION The production of crude oil by underground combustion has been studied in the laboratory by many investigators.1-5 Results of laboratory and field experiments have been reported in the literature describing the forward combustion process. But as yet, no qualitative or quantitative study of the kinetics of fuel combustion involved in this process has been reported. The fuel concentration and the rate at which fuel is burned at the front are important factors governing the air requirement in a forward combustion operation. Although the fuel is essentially unrecoverable crude, the air required to burn the fuel is an important economic factor in this process. Because fuel is burned, the heat transport associated with forward combustion is a key and unique feature of this new oil recovery method. Many investiga-tors5-9 have presented information on the heat transmission and fluid mechanics involved in forward combustion. Berry and Parrish10 demonstrated the utility of considering reaction kinetics in reverse burning. From differential thermal analysis, Tadema11 presented a qualitative discussion of the nature of reactions between oil and oxygen in combustion oil recovery. Although little quantitative work has been done on the reaction kinetics involved in forward combustion oil recovery, an extensive literature does exist on combustion of carbons and oils, and carbonaceous residues from cracking catalyst pellets. Dart, et al., 12 studied the combustion rate for oxidation of carbonaceous residues on clay catalyst pellets, and found the reaction to be second-order with respect to carbon concentration, and first-order with respect to oxygen partial pressure for carbon concentrations less than 2 weight percent of the catalyst weight. The reaction appeared to be first-order with respect to carbon concentration for concentrations greater than 2 percent. Metcalfe13 noted that other workers had found that aging of the fuel during the combustion process was responsible for changing coke properties, and it accounted for the apparent second-order carbon concentration effect found by Dart, et al. It appears that burning of residues from cracking pellets is first-order with respect to both carbon concentration and oxygen partial pressure. Dart, et al., also observed that hydrogen in the hydrocarbon residue appeared to react faster than the carbon. Lewis, et al.,14 studied oxidation of charcoal, coke and graphite in a fluidized bed. Gas velocities were high enough to partially lift and circulate the carbon particles. Their results indicated first-order reaction dependency with respect to both carbon concentration and oxygen partial pressure. One

Jan 1, 1969

By G. S. Hume

Petroleum is produced in Canada in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. The total production, however, is relatively small in comparison with the consumption, the value of imports exceeding 40 million dollars a year. Production figures are given in Tables 1 and 2. In Turner Valley, still the largest producing gas and oil field in Canada, five wells were completed during the year. The largest of these

Jan 1, 1936

By G. S. Hume

Petroleum is produced in Canada in the provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. The total production, however, is relatively small in comparison with the consumption, the value of imports exceeding 40 million dollars a year. Production figures are given in Tables 1 and 2. In Turner Valley, still the largest producing gas and oil field in Canada, five wells were completed during the year. The largest of these

Jan 1, 1936

By J. S. Kasper, R. M. Waterstrat, B. F. Decker

THE existence of v phase in the Mn-Mo system was discovered in this laboratory several years ago,' but neither the conditions of its formation nor its composition were known, and preliminary attempts to reproduce the phase were unsuccessful. We wish now to specify the information appropriate to phase formation on the basis of experiments performed since that time. The starting materials were in every case electrolytic manganese and high purity molybdenum. Two methods of preparation were employed: l—arc-melting varying combinations of the elements in an inert atmosphere and subsequent heat treating, and 2—sintering compressed mixtures of finely divided powders of the elements. In the latter method, the powders were first passed through 200 mesh screen and then compressed into cylinders of % in. diameter and % in. length, which were sintered at elevated temperatures in an atmosphere of dry hydrogen. For some samples, the sintering temperature was 1200°C (for 1 hr), and these were then heat- treated at lower temperatures for times up to 24 hr. Eventually it was found, for the proper composition, that essentially pure a phase could be produced by sintering at 1125°C for 3 hr. Quenching to room temperature was effected by means of a stream of cold, dry hydrogen in a water-cooled chamber. The arc-melting procedure was found to be unsatisfactory after an investigation of many samples at different compositions and temperatures. Large quantities of manganese were vaporized during melting and none of the products were homogeneous or contained extended regions of pure phase. Nonetheless, these experiments established that no formation occurs in the Mn-Mo system below 1115oC, and indicated, at least roughly, the composition range of interest for further exploration. The more definite results obtained from samples produced by the second method are given in Table I. A portion of sample 2 heated for 16 hr at 1000°C in a Vycor tube transformed to molybdenum plus unidentified phases of complex X-ray pattern. From these few results it appears that the region of phase is quite narrow in composition. It is of interest that the composition is such as to make for difficulties in correlating this structure on an electron atom basis with other a structures of iron, cobalt, and nickel. In that respect Mn-Mo shows the same anomaly as Mn-Cr and Mn-V systems.' A second feature is that in common with the two other known molybdenum (Fe-Mo and Co-Mo), Mn-Mo v exists only at elevated temperatures. The X-ray powder pattern of the pure a phase of Mn-Mo is given in Table 11. It agrees well with the patterns established for other structures, especially with that for Fe-Mo as given by Goldschmidt.An attempt is being made to establish whether an ordering of the respective atoms occurs and such information will be reported in a future publication. Acknowledgment The authors acknowledge gratefully the assistance of Mrs. J. R. Belanger in some portions of this work. References 'J. S. Kasper, B. F. Decker, and J. R. Belanger: Journal of Applied Physics (1951) 22, p. 361. 2 A. H. Sully: Journal Inst. Metals (1951) 80, p. 173. H. J. Goldschmidt: Research (1949) 2, p. 343.

Jan 1, 1954

By W. Mckewan, W. M. Fassell

The oxidation rates of copper have been determined at temperatures from 600" to 900°C in oxygen from 14.7 to 400 psi total oxygen pressure. The oxidation rate of copper is unchanged by oxygen pressures within the range studied. The observed data extend Feit-knecht's conclusion concerning the pressure independence of copper from atmospheric pressure to 400 psi. All samples studied in the above-mentioned temperature and pressure range have both Cu2O and CuO present in the oxide film. NUMEROUS papers have been published on the oxidation of copper, some of which have noted the effect of oxygen pressure on the oxidation rate of copper. It must be noted, however, that no data on the oxidation rates of copper at pressure in excess of 1 atm have been reported in the literature. (Le Chatelier¹ reported that a black oxide of silver was formed at 300°C and 15 atm pressure.) This is likewise true for the other metals. This investigation was initiated to obtain experimental oxidation rate constants for pure metals at elevated temperatures and high oxygen pressure. Copper was selected as the first metal since probably more reliable data are available on its oxidation rates and related physical and chemical properties than for any other metal or alloy. As a general summary, the following conclusions appear well established for the oxidation of copper: 1—The oxide coating consists of Cu2O with a superficial coating of CuO providing the ambient oxygen pressure exceeds the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO.² The following sequence of phases is then Cu/Cu2O/CuO/O2 (gas). The Cu2O consists of large crystals that have no relation to the orientation of the metal crystals, except for a very thin layer adjacent to the metal." The CuO consists of very fine crystals randomly oriented. If the oxygen pressure is below the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO, the coating consists of Cu,O only. 2—The rate-determining factor in the parabolic oxidation of copper is the diffusion of Cu+ ions through the Cu,O layer.4,6,7 The Cu+ ions are accompanied by electrons to maintain electrical neutrality. The mechanism of the reaction at the Cu2O/CuO interface and the method of growth of the CuO is in some doubt. 3—On copper, there are three reported pressure effects: (a) At pressures below 0.3 mm Hg oxygen pressure, the oxidation rate increases directly with pressure.', ' .Vxygen starvation at the surface may account for this effect. (b) At oxygen pressures from 0.3 to 63 mm, the oxidation rate increases as the 7th root of the oxygen pressure providing the temperature is such that only Cu2O is present in the film. (c) At pressures from above the equilibrium pressure for the coexistence of Cu2O and CuO (varies with temperature) to atmospheric pressure, the oxidation rate is independent of the oxygen pressure.' Equipment In order to determine the oxidation rates of metals in an oxidizing atmosphere at pressures up to 400 psi, the equipment is somewhat different than for low pressure work as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A Leeds and Northrup Micromax recording controller (A) is used to control the temperature of the Ni-chrome furnace winding in conjunction with a Micromax electric drive unit. The drive unit adjusts a 20 amp Variac (variable transformer) to control the power input into the Nichrome furnace winding. Due to the "self heating" of the sample by oxidation, frequently encountered in oxidation rate studies, it is essential that the sample temperature be measured independently. This is done by means of a series of six chromel-alumel calibrated thermocouples located spirally around the oxidizing metal sample. Each thermocouple is partially shielded from the direct radiation of the furnace wall by

Jan 1, 1954

By M. Tsunekawa, T. Takamori, T. Hirajima

In spherical agglomeration in water, the pattern of the growth behaviour of agglomerates is essentially determined by the surface chemical properties of the particles and the oil-water interface. When particles are suitably hydrophobic and oil-water interfacial tension is not too low under an adequate condition for agglomeration, large agglomerates are formed in the initial stage and micro- agglomerates do not appear. When particles are poorly wetted by oil and the interfacial tension is low, initially micro-agglomerates are formed and, after certain aging time, they grow to large agglomerates in a relatively short time without formation of intermediate size agglomerates. Under adequate conditions, the amount of oil and power input do not produce any remarkable effect on the pattern of growth.

Jan 1, 1980

By David H. Y. Tang

The reinforcement mechanism of suspension effect is analyzed based on beam-column theory. The equations of the maximum bending stress, deflection and transferred bolt load for the bolted roof strata are derived. In the analysis, the bolt load is assumed to be point load and the horizontal stress is uniformly applied to each stratum. The reinforcement mechanism of friction effect is also analyzed. The major function of roof bolting in this case is to create the friction- al resistance by tensioning the roof bolts, thereby the individual thin strata are "welded" into one single thick stratum. Based on the results, equal spacing of roof bolts is used in the suspension effect while for friction effect, the bolts should be spaced based on equal shear force concept. The design nomographs for the proper bolting pattern and bolt tension of mechanical roof bolting systems are presented for practical applications.

Jan 1, 1984

By LOWELL LAWRENCE

MAGNETITE minim and milling in the Eastern States continued at a low rate of production during 1934. The year's output was 50 per cent greater than in 1933, but when one considers that the 1934 output was only 1.5 per cent of the combined plant capacities of the eastern iron ore producers, the far-reaching effect of unrestricted importation of foreign ores and pig iron is apparent. The Chateaugay Ore and Iron Co., at Lyon Mountain, N. Y., produced 1.00,136 gross tons of concentrated and sintered ore up to Nov.1, when operations were closed clown. At Mineville, the Witherbee, Sherman Corp. confined its productivity to part-time operation of its Old Bed and Harmony mines front May 1 Lo Oct. 27. This period of activity was brought about by the use of Mineville ores in the recent blast made by the Green Island furnace at Troy, N. Y. The Forest of Dean property at Fort Montgomery, N, Y., has continued closed down during the year.

Jan 1, 1935

By AIME AIME

THE joint symposium on gases in metals on Tuesday: Feb. 16, between the Iron and Steel and the Institute of Metals divisions opened the technical sessions for both of these bodies. After a few words of introduction by P. D. Merica, R. S. Dean presented a paper by V. H: Gottshalk and himself on the solubility of gases in metals.

Jan 1, 1932

By Richard Akerman

(Translated by FREDERICK PRIME, JR., Professor of Metallurgy in Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.) [THE attention now being paid both in this country and Europe to the greatest economy in the working of the blast furnace, and the eagerness with which all thoughtful men in the iron business look for any new information which will tend to throw light on this sub¬ject, is a quite sufficient excuse for presenting this paper to the Amer¬ican Institute of Mining Engineers.] I. It must be borne in mind that when two bodies unite to form a chemical compound, heat is almost always evolved. In order to

Jan 1, 1873

By W. E. Pugh

The object of the following is to discuss a few of the problems encountered in the practical field application of reflection seismology. Very little has been published on this phase of the work and it is to be hoped that discussions will be presented by many seismologists who have met with these problems in the field. No attempt will be made to discuss the general principles of reflection prospecting, nor to outline the general field procedure. These phases have been presented more or less in detail in previous publications1 while economy of space and time prevents their being repeated or amended here. If, in the following pages, some criticism is offered of those who have already given their time and efforts to present valuable papers on reflection shooting, we trust that it will be accepted in the constructive light under which it is offered. We do not wish to give the impression that the following paragraphs represent ultimate achievement in field procedure; they are presented more to illustrate methods we have found satisfactory thus far. We believe that the following three subjects are inexorably linked with the continued future successes and more widespread use of the reflection method which, at the present time, is the most

Jan 1, 1934

By L. Burris, G. A. Bennett, P. A. Nelson

Staznless steels ave rrzuch less seuel-ely attacketl by zinc lapov than by molten zinc systems. To determine the applicubility of stainless steels fov equipment items which would be exposed only to zinc vapor, the corvosion resistance of several stainless steels to zinc vapor was investigated in 500-hr- exposuves at 900° C. Two austenilic stainless steels, Types 304 and 3-17, suffered severe intergranular attack. Loss of nickel from these steels and micro-probe crnalyses indicated the probable formation of low-melting zinc-rich phases. Good vesistance to attack by zinc vapor, as determined by metallo-9-rpaphic excr)rtination and physical testing, Loas exhibited by Type 405 stainless steel, a jevvitic steel. Type 440C stainless steel, a tnartensitic steel, although suffering considevable loss in weight, was not structurally weakened. At Argonne National Laboratory liquid zinc and zinc-rich alloys are being employed as solvent media in pyrometallurgical processes under development for recovering and purifying discharged reactor-fuel materials.' Because of the high solubility of most metals in liquid zinc,' there are few metals which can serve as container materials for liquid zinc at temperatures much above the melting point. The poor corrosion resistance of the common metals and alloys to molten zinc has been discussed by Eldred.3 DeKany, Lavendel, and Burris4 tested some of the less-common alloys of the nonrefractory metals and found that they also have poor resistance to attack by liquid zinc and Zn-Mg solutions. Of the metallic materials, only some of the refractory metals such as tantalum, tungsten, and molybdenum and their alloys have shown resistance to attack by liquid zinc.4-7 In the process-development work at Argonne National Laboratory, tantalum and tungsten vessels have been used to hold liquid-zinc alloys. These vessels are housed in stainless-steel equipment, principally to permit maintenance of an inert atmosphere and operation at various pressures. In this experimental work, it has often been observed that Type 304 stainless steel suffers little attack by zinc vapor at temperatures up to about 800 °C. In contrast, severe attack occurs in areas where zinc condenses as a liquid. The extent of attack by zinc vapor on several stainless steels was investigated because there are possible useful applications of stainless steel for equipment items which would be exposed only to attack by zinc vapor. These applications include, for example, housings around processing equipment as indicated above and vapor lines leading from zinc stillpots or retorts to condensers. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE The experimental procedure consisted in exposing stainless-steel test coupons to static zinc vapor for 500 hr at a temperature of about 900°C. The apparatus, shown in Fig. 1, consisted of a 12-in.-long closed tantalum tube jacketed in Type 304 stainless steel to prevent oxidation of the tantalum. A Zn-10 wtpct Mg* alloy charge of 293 g in the bottom of the

Jan 1, 1965

By Mark Malamphy

DURING colonial times, Brazil was famous for the richness of her alluvial gold deposits. Paul Ferrand has estimated that the gold produced during the period from 1700 to 1820 was the equivalent of some 64 million pounds sterling. Since that time, most of the more prolific alluvial deposits have been exhausted. A few gold mines are still func-tioning, notably the Morro Velho mine, which is one of the deepest mines in the world. Today, the gold production of Brazil is insignificant when compared with world figures, but there are still many gold-bearing regions and it is probable that in at least some of them profitable returns would result from an exploitation program taking advantage of all the most modern innovations in gold mining and ore treatment on a large scale. In order to demonstrate the value of some of these abandoned pros-pects and stir up interest in increasing the national gold production, the government has stimulated research. Experimental plants have been and are being established in various places, and tests on large quantities of ores are being carried out on a semicommercial basis. The Geological Survey of the State of Minas Geraes is very active in this line and the Federal Institution is also showing an increased interest in the matter. One of the lesser known gold-bearing regions of Brazil is in the vicinity of Lavras, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Gold was first reported from this region in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1811, D. João VI sent an experienced prospector from Minas Geraes to investi-gate the validity of the reports. According to the reports of Baron

Jan 1, 1934

The following very cordial letter, addressed to the President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers by the President of the graduates of the School of Mines of Saint-Etienne, will he deeply appreciated by all American engineers and will perhaps be of use to engineers going "Over There." Members are requested to communicate the substance of this letter to friends or acquaintances in France: Dear Mr. President: Now that the American armies are crossing the ocean to come to our side in the defence of the liberty of the world, and the intellectual elite of your great country is very ably cooperating with us in this supreme struggle, we ardently desire to give them a whole-hearted reception upon their arrival on the shores of France. The representatives of your illustrious association will be more especially welcome among their French colleagues, and both at Saint-Etienne and at Pans, we desire that their sojourn he rendered comfortable and congenial in every way possible. We therefore put ourselves unreservedly at their disposal. At Paris especially those of our colleagues

Jan 7, 1918