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By Milton F. Goodrich

The idea of using water-only cyclones to scalp clean coal from the feed to other devices has recently been gaining in popularity.l,2,6 An indication of this popularity is that water- only cyclone scalping is already employed in a few commercial plants. Water-only cyclones scalp the feed to a heavy media vessel in the Warwick plant,3 to Deister tables in the Rowland plant,4 and to a heavy media cyclone circuit in the Amherst Coal Company's McGregor plant.5 Despite this trend, we found surprisingly little information in the literature on the performance of water-only cyclone scalping. Therefore, we undertook a study of its technical merits, limiting our investigation to a water-only cyclone scalper in conjunction with heavy-media cyclones. We felt this to be a reasonable combination of equipment, since both processes operate well on the same size coal. First, we developed simple mathematical relationships revealing general characteristics of the system. Next, we compared the clean coal yield and quality obtainable by the system on four different coals with that obtainable by heavy-media cyclone circuit alone and water-only cyclones middlings recirculation circuit alone. This was done by using computer program to simulate the operation of the three systems. Finally, we considered the effect that implementation of the system would have on a typical preparation plant circuit.

Jan 10, 1978

By David White

Attention has been given to the sources and supply of the raw vegetal matter and the conditions of its submission to the process of sedimentation. An original and most valuable review has been made of the more important or significant chemical compounds originally contained in the organic dct,ris, and of the biochemical changes undergone by the latter during deposition. Consideration also has been given to the factors controlling the selective biochemical decomposition, in whole or in part, of this debris, and the deposition, as sediments, of the undecom-posed plant structures and compounds, together with more or less of the so-called "ulmic," or "humic," organic decomposition products in colloidal so1ution. Biochemical Changes End in Peat Formation The biochemical process terminates in the peat stage of coal formation, and with the cessation of this process organic sedimentation is completed. All subsequent changes result from geological causes and conditions. The deposits are in the form of peats of different types, organic muds, oozes, etc. They are essentially uncompressed and are wholly uncon-solidated, and their water content is great, amounting to over 85 per cent, near the surface of the deposit. Many of the chemical compounds remain as in the once living organisms; others are biochemically broken down and new ones formed. Geochemical and Geophysical Changes in Buried Deposits Subsequent Changes " Dynamochemical" The changes which subsequently take place through dehydration, lithification, and simultaneous progressive chemical alteration, by which organic sediments are advanced to brown lignite, subbituminous, bituminous, semianthracitic, and graphitic ranks, are geochemical and geophysical, and the process, which really is metamorphic,2 takes place under dynamic influences. In fact, the essential changes, including loading,

Jan 1, 1925

By C. R. Johnson, R. A. Greenkorn, E. G. Woods

A new method of reservoir evaluation called pulse-testins has been developed for describing formation properties between wells. Pulse-testing utilizes a sensitive differential-pressure gauge at a responding well to measure and record the response generated by a series of flow rate changes (pulses) at an adjacent or pulsing well. Since the pulse-test instruments have a sensitivity of about 0.001 psi, pulses of several hours or less in duration will generate a measurable response in most reservoirs. For this reason, many well pairs can be tested in a short period of time with little interference in field operations. Comparison of pulse-test results to conventional testing methods shows that the pulses obey unsteady-state, compressible-flow theory and thus provide a measure of both transmissibility (kh/µ) and storage (Fch). In additian, the method can be used qualitatively to describe communication across faults and between zones, and direction and tnagnitude of fracture trends. INTRODUCTION To obtain maximum usefulness of new reservoir analysis methods as well as to aid the field engineer in understanding local reservoir anomalies, improved methods are needed to describe heterogeneities in specific reservoirs. Optimum well spacing, equipment specifications, well completion design and especially the economics of pressure maintenance and secondary recovery programs depend on the extent and location of the heterogeneities that affect flow behavior in the field. One method for obtaining a measure of areal reservoir heterogeneity is an interference test. In the simplest interference test. constant-rate production or injection is initiated at one well and the effect of this flow is measured as pressure vs time at another well. Thus, during interference tests the flow characteristics of the formation are determined in situ. Despite their obvious usefulness in reservoir delineation. interference tests have not enjoyed frequent usage. Reasons for this have been the weeks or months required in many fields to obtain a pressure response measurable with conventional gauges, and the interruption of routine field operation during the field-wide shut-in normally required during these long times. Also, only average properties of the relatively large volume of the reservoir disturbed during these long times can normally be obtained — variations in properties between individual wells cannot be delineated. To eliminate these drawbacks of conventional tests, a special reservoir description technique called pulse testing' has been developed. Pulse-testing has several advantages that make it more convenient and practical for field use than interference tests. Valid tests are more certain because use of a series of flow disturbances gives rise to a diagnostic pressure response that can more readily be distinguished from unknown trends in reservoir pressure and other "noise." The time required is only a fraction of that for an interference test because a special, high-sensitivity differential pressure gauge can detect a much smaller pressure change. Variations in properties between individual wells can be delineated because of the relatively small volume of the reservoir disturbed during these short times. Finally, wells other than the pulsing and responding wells do not have to be shut in or carefully regulated.

Jan 1, 1967

By H. A. Baumann, A. J. Rostosky

EVER since the first installation of wet-washing methods of coal preparation, the removal of the water added by the washing process has created serious technical and operating problems. The rapid development and widespread adoption of wet washing has necessitated a corresponding development of dewatering methods and equipment. The amount of water retained by coal varies with the size of the coal. The moisture that is largely on the surface of the particles is easily shaken off coarse coal; thus coarse coal can be dried comparatively easily and quickly. Fine coal presents a larger surface area than does coarse coal, so its capacity for retaining moisture is greater. In fine coal, moisture below about 5 per cent is held between the coal particles and its removal is difficult. Draining and drying of the finer sizes is a major problem at many washeries. Two common problems of coal-washing practice that are intimately connected with dewatering and drying are the clarification of washery water and the prevention of stream pollution. The first field has been studied from many angles, including the use of coagulating and settling agents followed by vacuum filters to remove the solids, and the use of sludge tanks with dewatering screens incorporated therein. In many districts, the disposal of sludges into streams has been stopped by law. The lack of space for impounding sludges has created problems of disposal in other districts. Reduction in moisture means a saving in freight costs as well as the elimination of difficulties in unloading and storing. Excess moisture in coal causes it to freeze in localities where severe climatic conditions pre¬vail. Excess water in coals to be used in the production of coke and manufactured gas has a chilling effect on the walls of the oven or retort. Dryness of coal is important in producing good briquettes.

Jan 1, 1943

Here are the details . . . . . of how a $2.5 million research gamble, now backed by five years of intensive development in cooperation with the Chemical Construction Corp. resulted in a hydrometollurgical process that yields pure metal powders from sulphide concentrate - a process that offers potential savings of $2.5 million a year.

Jan 6, 1953

By W. Jolley

Decarburized iron and Fe-3.28 pct Ni alloys were impact and tension tested in the temperature range of ambient to 4°K. It was found that alloying with nickel improves the fracture properties of the ferrite matrix. The improvement in toughness of iron alloyed with nickel is attributed to the effect of the nickel addition on the temperature and strain rate dependence of the yield stress as well as on slip behavior. The Fe-Ni alloy exhibits wavy slip when strained at temperatures down to at least 50°K. This behavior contrasts with that of the unalloyed iron where a change It is a generally accepted fact that of the common alloying elements of steel only nickel and manganese improve both the room-temperature yield strength and the notch impact properties. It has been argued for a number of years that manganese refines the ferrite grain size, the pearlite spacing, and the grain boundary carbides in medium- and low-carbon steels and thereby increases resistance to brittle fracture.''' This hypothesis recently was confirmed for a 0.04 pct C iron containing manganese, but at the same time from wavy to planar slip occurs at about 120°K. The observed lower temperature and strain rate dependence of the lower yield stress in the Fe-Ni alloy as compared to the unalloyed iron may be attributed to this difference in slip behavior. In contrast to suggestions published previously, transmission electron microscopy showed that the uniform dislocation distributions and the lack of dislocation tangles which are produced by low-temperature straining of bcc materials cannot be attributed to the absence of cross slip at these temperatures. no increase in notch toughness was observed in a decarburized Fe-Mn alloy.3 It thus appears that manganese only increases the toughness of Fe-Mn-C alloys by refining grain boundary carbides and has no toughening effect in carbon-free iron. On the other hand, the mechanism whereby nickel improves toughness has not been established. Hodge et a1.4 have clearly shown that a 3.28 pct Ni addition lowers the impact transition temperature of 0.02 pct C steel approximately 35°C when the grain size is maintained constant. Recently, Wullaert and Tetelman6 stated that nickel refined the grain boundary carbides of an Fe-C alloy and consequently increased the toughness. They also observed the previously reporteda-'

Jan 1, 1969

By T. A. Wilson, S. L. Hoyt

THE plastic deformation of slender single crystals of zinc has been described in some detail in the paper by Mark, Polanyi and Schmid,1 which has become a classic, and also by one of the present authors in a somewhat shorter account.' The study of single-crystal zinc is termed classical because zinc single crystals offer, perhaps, the best material yet available for the study of atomic behavior during deformation and the effect known as "strengthening" in metals. A considerable amount of additional work has also been done on single-crystal zinc, but as it is not closely related to the present paper it will not be considered. Throughout all the former work, the mechanism of plastic deformation first described by Mark, Polanyi and Schmid has been assumed to hold. This may be said to offer the strongest confirmation of its correctness. Even so, the picture of the process has never been as completely portrayed as is desirable. The first object of the present paper is to describe work that has been done in this field, and which is even yet being carried on, in the hope that a more complete picture may be obtained. Mathewson and Phillips' have recently described a new mechanism of the deformation of zinc based on their study of large rectangular crystals. One of their conclusions was that deformation produced twinning with a rotation of some of the basal planes into positions 94° removed from their original position; a position almost the same as that of the prismatic planes before twinning. A second conclusion was that fracture occurred along these basal planes in their new position, and, therefore that fractures previously regarded as prismatic were in reality basal. Such findings are of great significance and they raise a question as to the generality of such behavior. Professor Mathewson's opinion is that even the slender cylindrical single crystals behave in the same manner as his large rectangular crystals when strained by simple tension.

Jan 1, 1928

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

Most metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un-soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample ap- peared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.' The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs, 2a and 2b, which are respectively a photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated_ lumps of lead. Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,l,2,3 but for clarity a brief resume will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a, layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation: where Il is the transmitted intensity, I0 is the incident intensity, µ1 is the linear absorption coefficient of the material, t1 is the thickness of the material.

Jan 1, 1944

Activity with the legislation proposing to liberalize War Minerals Relief Act has now started before the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House. They are considering House Joint Resolution No. 170, which brings out the fact that war minerals claims in excess of $15,000,000 had been filed but that a considerable portion of the claims are being denied because of the Attorney General's. interpretation of the Act. The resolution states that it was the intention. of Congress in passing the War Minerals Relief Act "that all producers of the minerals mentioned should be repaid such sums as they are in equity and good faith entitled." The Attorney General's opinion is that the request or demand must have been made on the claimant direct. The resolution provides. that all claimants "who in response to any personal, written or published request or demand from any of the Government agencies-mentioned-in said Act in good faith expended money in producing or preparing to produce any of the ores or minerals named-therein *-*-* and have heretofore filed their claims within the time and-in the manner prescribed in said Act" are to be reimbursed for the n t-losses-incurred.

Jan 12, 1919

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

Most metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un-soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample ap- peared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.' The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs, 2a and 2b, which are respectively a photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated_ lumps of lead. Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,l,2,3 but for clarity a brief resume will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a, layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation: where Il is the transmitted intensity, I0 is the incident intensity, µ1 is the linear absorption coefficient of the material, t1 is the thickness of the material.

Jan 1, 1944

By T. E. Kihlgren, N. B. Pilling, E. M. Wise

Systematic data are presented on the relation of composition of nickel silvers to color, tarnish resistance, hardness and liquidus temperatures, for alloys containing up to 30 per cent nickel and 50 per cent zinc, further modified at certain nickel and zinc contents by 0 to 8 per cent of tin and 0 to 10 per cent of lead. Attention has also been directed, using a still more limited range of alloys, toward a study of tensile properties and such casting properties and characteristics as fluidity, shrinkage and pressure tightness. In some of these, rather broad ranges of composition are dealt with; in others, it has been expedient to focus attention on the Federal Specification 20 per cent nickel silver casting alloy, WWP-541. Introduction The demand for an alloy essentially white in color, which could be cast and worked by simple methods and which possessed strength and corrosion-resisting properties superior to the usual brasses, led to the discovery and early use of cupronickel alloys containing zinc, and sometimes tin, lead and other metals. This type of alloy was generally known as 'German silver until the war, when the term "Nickel Silver" became generally accepted. The element principally responsible for the white color of the alloy and for its strength and corrosion resistance is nickel, which may constitute from 8 to 30 per cent of the alloy. The functions of the other elements will be described later. The manifold uses of nickel silver are largely due to its color, corrosion resistance, ease of casting, fabrication, joining and rather moderate cost. In many instances the alloy is finished by grinding and polishing while in others it may be finished with a silver or nickel plus chromium plate. Electroplates applied to a nickel silver base behave more satisfactorily than those applied to the softer and less resistant alloys, and owing to the white color of the underlying metal the article will retain a pleasing appearance despite local failures of the plating.

Jan 1, 1935

By E. M. Wise, T. E. Kihlgren, N. B. Pilling

Systematic data are presented on the relation of composition of nickel silvers to color, tarnish resistance, hardness and liquidus temperatures, for alloys containing up to 30 per cent nickel and 50 per cent zinc, further modified at certain nickel and zinc contents by 0 to 8 per cent of tin and 0 to 10 per cent of lead. Attention has also been directed, using a still more limited range of alloys, toward a study of tensile properties and such casting properties and characteristics as fluidity, shrinkage and pressure tightness. In some of these, rather broad ranges of composition are dealt with; in others, it has been expedient to focus attention on the Federal Specification 20 per cent nickel silver casting alloy, WWP-541. Introduction The demand for an alloy essentially white in color, which could be cast and worked by simple methods and which possessed strength and corrosion-resisting properties superior to the usual brasses, led to the discovery and early use of cupronickel alloys containing zinc, and sometimes tin, lead and other metals. This type of alloy was generally known as 'German silver until the war, when the term "Nickel Silver" became generally accepted. The element principally responsible for the white color of the alloy and for its strength and corrosion resistance is nickel, which may constitute from 8 to 30 per cent of the alloy. The functions of the other elements will be described later. The manifold uses of nickel silver are largely due to its color, corrosion resistance, ease of casting, fabrication, joining and rather moderate cost. In many instances the alloy is finished by grinding and polishing while in others it may be finished with a silver or nickel plus chromium plate. Electroplates applied to a nickel silver base behave more satisfactorily than those applied to the softer and less resistant alloys, and owing to the white color of the underlying metal the article will retain a pleasing appearance despite local failures of the plating.

Jan 1, 1935

Curiously enough, considering the relative accessibility of the two places, coal was reported at an earlier date in Saskatchewan than in British Columbia. Henry and Thompson were on the Saskatchewan River in February 1811, and on the 4th of that month recorded, while on Jack's Branch of North Brook, "I observed in one of the bends on the north side a bank of yellow clay, on which there appeared several horizontal veins of pure coal, of the best quality I have seen along this river." Later at Rocky Mountain House it was said: "a quantity of coal is tumbling into the water, as the current washes away the earth underneath. This coal abounds along the Saskatchewan, in some places forming solid beds several feet thick for several acres, which are washed by the river. In its pure state our smiths use it for the forge with equal proportions of charcoal made of birch or aspen, which answers every purpose for making and repairing our axles and other tools."1 It is needless to say that it was many years before this coal was used for any commercial purposes. Coal was first found on the northern end of Vancouver Island in British Columbia in 1835 at Beaver Harbor, where later Fort Rupert was established, where Indians had advised some of the Hudson Bay Company officials it would be found.2 The coal was used by smiths, and later on by the steamer plying along the coast.3 A report to the government in 1845 called attention to the coal reported in the neighborhood of Puget Sound and on the Cowlitz River, and that probably the samples used by the Hudson's Bay Company were obtained from the surface and. were not good. On September 7, 1846 a report on the coal situation was submitted by Ogden and Douglas, and a naval vessel was sent to investigate the report and was loaded with 62 tons dug out by the Indians, the seam outcropping along the shore.2 In 1847 some samples were sent to England by a returning war vessel. In 1849 the Hudson's Bay Company established a

Jan 1, 1942

By Roy A. Lindgren

Since the year 1643, when the first blast furnace in America for treating iron ore was built at Saugus, Mass., out of mica schist quarried in the neighboring district, the procurement of a suitable refractory for furnace lining has been a problem of concern to the operators of furnaces. The stacks built of mica schist continued to smelt iron ore until about 1836, when, according to F. H. Norton, the first firebrick were produced1, at Queens Run, Pa. Other writers speak of brick having been molded and burned in Massachusetts about the year 1834. In 1841, Andrew Russell began to produce medium refractory plastic clay brick near East Liverpool, Ohio, that were used for lining blast furnaces1. The well-known Kentucky clay-producing district was not opened up until the year 1871, but since then it has produced a large percentage of the linings for iron blast furnaces. While some strides have been made by the refractories industry during the 100 years that have passed since the first firebrick were produced, it has been only during the last two decades that any real progress has been made towards bettering the product, even though the method of production had improved. Perhaps the fault lies with the user of the brick rather than with the producer, for not sooner demanding a superior product. During the past 15 years the tonnage produced per lining has increased from 500,000 gross tons to 1,000,000 gross tons, and now some furnaces are producing 1,600,000 gross tons and better on a single lining. It is true that enlarged capacity of furnaces and improved practice have accounted for some of this increase in tonnage, nevertheless better quality in firebrick must be given credit for its share. However, we are not yet ready to say that we have reached a maximum life of furnace lining. We believe that a better product can be produced and that the refractories industries of America will, through their extensive research depart-

Jan 1, 1937

By T. R. Graham, J. R. Long

This report is concerned with part of a series of investigations carried on by the Federal Bureau of Mines on alloys, particularly nonferrous alloys, made with electrolytic manganese. A broad general program instituted after commercial quantities of electrolytic manganese became available was necessary in order to compare the effects of electrolytic manganese with those of the ordinary commercial grades. Representative analyses of these two materials show the commercial manganese metal to contain up to 2 per cent iron, a maximum of I per cent silicon and 0.06 per cent carbon, while the electrolytic manganese rarely exceeds 0.01 iron, 0.02 sulphur, with no silicon or aluminum. In the literature, the emphasis has been largely on high-strength casting alloys containing up to 5 per cent manganese, and few data are available on wrought manganese alloys. These factors, coupled with the strategic position of copper and zinc, have given impetus to the Bureau's War Research Program for the development of alloys containing nonstrategic manganese for the purpose of supplementing or providing alternates for the more strategic metals. The alloy reported here was studied, along with several other ferrous and nonferrous alloys, as possible cartridge-case material, and was chosen after a review of the properties of the ternary alloys of copper-manganese-zinc. Preliminary Work In a cursory survey of this system, alloys ranging from 60 to 95 per cent copper, o to 50 per cent manganese, and 5 to 40 per cent zinc were investigated. The alloys containing 60 per cent copper were found to fall into the two-phase alpha plus beta region of the system, and since those containing 70 per cent would not permit a saving, only alloys containing 65 per cent copper were considered. The tensile properties of these 65 per cent alloys are plotted in Fig. I as a function of manganese content for annealed material and for four conditions of cold-work In the annealed condition the increases in strength and decreases in elongation are minor up to 15 per cent manganese; beyond this, the changes become more significant. In the cold-worked condition, the first 5 to 10 per cent of manganese appears to have the greatest strengthening effect, the rate of increase dropping off as the manganese increases beyond this amount. These effects are more pronounced with moderate than with severe cold reduction. It is also interesting to note that while the elongation of annealed material drops regularly with increasing manganese, the elongation in the cold-worked state is relatively little affected by increasing manganese content, particu-

Jan 1, 1944

By J. R. Long, T. R. Graham

This report is concerned with part of a series of investigations carried on by the Federal Bureau of Mines on alloys, particularly nonferrous alloys, made with electrolytic manganese. A broad general program instituted after commercial quantities of electrolytic manganese became available was necessary in order to compare the effects of electrolytic manganese with those of the ordinary commercial grades. Representative analyses of these two materials show the commercial manganese metal to contain up to 2 per cent iron, a maximum of I per cent silicon and 0.06 per cent carbon, while the electrolytic manganese rarely exceeds 0.01 iron, 0.02 sulphur, with no silicon or aluminum. In the literature, the emphasis has been largely on high-strength casting alloys containing up to 5 per cent manganese, and few data are available on wrought manganese alloys. These factors, coupled with the strategic position of copper and zinc, have given impetus to the Bureau's War Research Program for the development of alloys containing nonstrategic manganese for the purpose of supplementing or providing alternates for the more strategic metals. The alloy reported here was studied, along with several other ferrous and nonferrous alloys, as possible cartridge-case material, and was chosen after a review of the properties of the ternary alloys of copper-manganese-zinc. Preliminary Work In a cursory survey of this system, alloys ranging from 60 to 95 per cent copper, o to 50 per cent manganese, and 5 to 40 per cent zinc were investigated. The alloys containing 60 per cent copper were found to fall into the two-phase alpha plus beta region of the system, and since those containing 70 per cent would not permit a saving, only alloys containing 65 per cent copper were considered. The tensile properties of these 65 per cent alloys are plotted in Fig. I as a function of manganese content for annealed material and for four conditions of cold-work In the annealed condition the increases in strength and decreases in elongation are minor up to 15 per cent manganese; beyond this, the changes become more significant. In the cold-worked condition, the first 5 to 10 per cent of manganese appears to have the greatest strengthening effect, the rate of increase dropping off as the manganese increases beyond this amount. These effects are more pronounced with moderate than with severe cold reduction. It is also interesting to note that while the elongation of annealed material drops regularly with increasing manganese, the elongation in the cold-worked state is relatively little affected by increasing manganese content, particu-

Jan 1, 1944

By Allen Rogers

THERE are few natural monopolies comparable with the nitrate industry. Perhaps the only other one is, curiously enough, also an essential fertilizer material, viz., potash, of which the Germans have heretofore held practically a-monopoly due to the existence in their territory of the most important known deposits of potash salts. And although nitrates in minute amounts are found in many desert regions, the only deposits callable of being worked commercially exist in Chile. Combined nitrogen in the oxidized form is an essential for plant life. Nature provides it mainly through the agency of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. But where lands are cropped artificially this supply is too small; and gradually the nitrogen supply becomes exhausted. In order to continue farming, it is necessary to furnish a supply of nitrogenous plant food, and this is clone by putting on various substances containing combined nitrogen. These consist of various animal wastes, ammonium sulphate, the ammonia of which is obtained in the destructive distillation of coal, and Chile saltpeter. The latter is immediately available as a plant food, the nitrogen being in the required form. The other substances must oxidize before they are available. Besides its use as a fertilizer, Chile saltpeter is the source from which the bulk of the nitric acid of commerce is derived. The use of nitric acid in the manufacture of almost, all modern explosives is, of course, well known.

Jan 2, 1918

By H. R. Stahl

THE disseminated lead district of Southeast Missouri lies 70 miles south of St. Louis. The only metal of economic importance in the ore is lead, but minor amounts occur of iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, nickel, silver and cadmium. These minor metals, as might be expected, tend to concentrate in both the flotation and table middlings. In the past, some zinc has been recovered by differential flotation. The silver and cadmium tend to associate with the zinc, and some recovery is made of these two metals at the smelter. The lead occurs as galena, or lead sulphide. The minor metals are also present as sulphides. The presence of oxidized lead is suspected, but has not been definitely proved. The gangue is chiefly dolomitic limestone, with small amounts of sandstone and shaly glauconitic and chloritic minerals. The ore contains about 3.25 per cent lead, occurring as galena disseminated through the gangue. Some of the galena is very finely disseminated, and the mineral in the gravity tailings, or chat, is seldom or never in the free state. The method of treatment of the ore has been evolved over a period of 75 years; hence probably is not far from correct. The milling processes have tended toward simplification during the past 15 years, but recoveries have never been sacrificed for the sake of simplicity. In many cases, simplification of flowsheets has led to better recoveries and operating economies. A simplified flowsheet is shown in Fig. I. The St. Joseph Lead Co. operates four mills in the Flat River district, with a normal total capacity of about 21,000 tons per day, divided as follows: Federal mill, 11,000 tons; Leadwood mill, 4500 tons; Desloge mill, 3400 tons and Bonne Terre mill 2400 tons. The methods of concentration used at these plants are similar in principle; they differ mainly in details and in the type and size of the equipment used. The process of concentration may be divided into five main steps; i.e., dry crushing, wet grinding, classification with its attendant desliming, tabling and flotation. A brief description of these processes will be given, noting important differences in the various plants, and also noting the more important changes or developments of the past few years. DRY CRUSHING The run-of-mine ore is hoisted in skips, the capacity of these skips ranging from 2 ¾ tons to 8 ¼ tons. At the Desloge plant, the ore is hoisted in 2-ton mine cars on self-dumping cages. All ore is hoisted at shafts adjacent to the various crushing plants, no ore being transported on the surface. Primary breaking at all the mills is accomplished with 9E Telsmith breakers. Preliminary screening is provided ahead of most of these crushers, either by station-

Jan 1, 1943

By F. E. Calkins

THE following presentation of the more important accumulated facts and probabilities involved in copper ore deposition is based on my experience in examination work and study of the extensive litera-ture of the subject; to make personal mention of all sources of information would require the naming of a small army of able geologists and other investigators who have contributed to, building up the science. I have tried to present the salient features of the subject in logical order and condensed form, and to point out the relative importance of processes involved. Doubt-less many geologists could suggest some changes and many additions. ORIGINAL SOURCE The original source of all copper was in the earth's interior; it has been brought to the outer part of the earth, within reach of man, in three ways: (1) By intrusions and flows of basic igneous rocks containing copper in minute quantities, presumably as silicate or sulfide. No orebodies have been formed by this method. (2) As segregations within intrusive igneous rocks, the copper minerals having solidified at the same time as the rock itself. The few deposits known to have been formed in this manner have been of little or no importance. The oft quoted Sudbury nickel-copper deposits are now known to belong to the class following. (3) By gaseous or liquid aqueous emanations from ,large deep-seated masses of intrusive molten rock. These emanations, or mineral solutions, ascended through zones of connected openings in the earth's crust and dropped their load at points far above their source. Deposits formed in this manner were the primary source of nearly all, if not all, of the world's copper production.

Jan 10, 1923

By David White

ATTENTION has been given to the sources and supply of the raw vegetal matter and. the conditions of its submission to the process of sedimentation. An original and most valuable review has been made of the more important or significant chemical compounds originally contained in the organic debris, and of the biochemical changes-undergone by the latter during deposition. Consideration also has been given to the factors controlling the selective biochemical decomposition, in whole or in part, of :this debris, and the deposition, as, sediments, of the undecomposed plant structures and compounds, together with more or less of the so-called "ulmic," or "humic," organic decomposition products in colloidal solution.1 BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES END IN PEAT FORMATION The biochemical process terminates in the peat stage of coal formation, and with the cessation of this process organic sedimentation is completed. All subsequent changes result from geological causes and conditions. The deposits are in the form of peats of different types, organic muds, oozes, etc. They are essentially uncompressed and are wholly unconsolidated, and their water content is great, amounting to over 85 per cent. near the surface of the deposit. Many of the chemical compounds remain as in the once living organisms; others are biochemically broken down and new ones formed.

Jan 2, 1925