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By John C. McDonald

This report is a continuation of an earlier one with a similar titlell to which the reader is referred for such details of procedure as do not appear here. A brief summary will be given of the objects and methods of the research at this time. It was pointed out in the previous paper that properties of magnesium alloys, as reported by different workers, often differ. This was thought to be due to differences in the preparation of the specimens tested. The ideal way to compare alloys would be to prepare each of them in so many ways that reasonable assurance would exist that the best properties of each alloy had been developed. The alloys would then be compared on the basis of these properties. The treatment actually given the alloys of these studies is necessarily a compromise with completeness. Nevertheless, enough treatments have been given so that a considerable degree of assurance exists that the properties obtained are representative of the alloy as such, and not merely of the manner in which it was worked and heat-treated. Procedure The alloys were cast in the form of cylindrical ingots, which were extruded into bar before being rolled. Some of the ingots were made in 2-in. diameter molds whereas all of the alloys of the previous paper were cast in 4.in. molds. For the larger ingots, the extruded bar was 2 by 0.140 in.; lor the 2-in. ingots, it was I by 0.100 in. Preliminary work indicated that strip rolled from both sizes of the bars would have substantially the same properties. The bar was rolled at some temperature in the range 400' to 800°F., for a total reduction of 50 per cent. The temperature and reduction per pass were so selected that no cold cracking occurred, but were such as to leave the metal in a semihard condition. The hot-rolled metal was annealed at several temperatures in the range 400' to 800°F.; it was also cold-rolled, and given solution and aging treatments. Two standard test bars corresponding to each treatment were pulled in tension, and the average was obtained. Twelve treatments, in all, were given each alloy. The properties of the annealed specimen having the highest percentage of elongation were selected to represent the alloy in the annealed condition. The properties of the cold-rolled specimen having the highest yield strength were selected to represent the alloy in the cold-rolled condition. These properties were then plotted against percentage composition by analysis. Smooth curves were drawn among the points, thus graphically averaging the results over the entire range studied. The percentage of elongation in the cold-rolled state was not plotted, since it was always low, and varied in an irregular manner with composition. Alloys Studied Magnesium-calcium Alloys.—Fig. I presents the results on the alloys of the rnag-

Jan 1, 1941

By R. A. Stauffer

THE chief ore of lithium is spodumene, a lithium-aluminum silicate containing up to 3 pct lithium. The preparation of lithium salts from spodumene is costly because of the low concentration of the metal and the difficulty of separating it from the other alkali metals present. Dr. Kroll's and Dr. Schlecten's recent paper' has reviewed various methods proposed for preparation of lithium. It will be seen from this paper that the methods proposed to date have required one or another of the lithium salts as a raw material. The high cost of these salts has been the chief item of expense in the lithium metal produced. This situation has made it interesting to investigate the possibility of producing the metal directly from spodumene. When spodumene is calcined at 1000°C in the presence of lime, lithium oxide is replaced in the ore as is evidenced by the fact that it may be leached from the reaction mixture with water.2 Free energy calculations suggested that lithium oxide might be reduced with aluminum or silicon and the lithium produced distilled from the reaction mixture by heating to about 1000°C in a vacuum. These facts taken together suggested that it might be possible to prepare lithium metal directly from spodumene by heating a mixture of the ore, lime, and a suitable reducing agent in vacuum and distilling off the lithium metal as formed. THE REPLACEMENT OF Li20 IN SPODUMENE A series of experiments were undertaken to determine the ratio of lime to spodumene necessary to free substantially all the lithium oxide present in the ore. The spodumene used in these experiments was supplied by Foote Mineral Co. in the form of powder of about 200 mesh. Analysis of the spodumene was as follows: [ ] Lime (cp -200 mesh) was added in various ratios to spodumene and thoroughly mixed in a ball mill. Two hundred gram samples of spodumene-lime mixtures were charged loosely in fireclay crucibles and held at 1000°C in a gas-fired furnace for 5 hrs. The product in each case was ground to pass 140 mesh and then placed in a thimble in a soxhlet extractor. Extraction with water was carried on for 6 hrs. After this period the extract was reduced in volume by evaporation in order to precipitate dissolved lime and was then filtered and titrated with 1/4 normal hydrochloric acid. After correcting for residual calcium oxide in solution, the alkali present was calculated as lithium oxide. The results of these experiments are shown in Table I and Fig I. At lime-spodumene ratios less than 1.5, the products were invariably fused. At the ratio of 1.5 and above, the product was loosely sintered with little evidence of fusion. When the ratio of lime to spodumene was three, replacement of alkali oxides in the

Jan 1, 1947

By John C. McDonald

This report is a continuation of an earlier one with a similar titlell to which the reader is referred for such details of procedure as do not appear here. A brief summary will be given of the objects and methods of the research at this time. It was pointed out in the previous paper that properties of magnesium alloys, as reported by different workers, often differ. This was thought to be due to differences in the preparation of the specimens tested. The ideal way to compare alloys would be to prepare each of them in so many ways that reasonable assurance would exist that the best properties of each alloy had been developed. The alloys would then be compared on the basis of these properties. The treatment actually given the alloys of these studies is necessarily a compromise with completeness. Nevertheless, enough treatments have been given so that a considerable degree of assurance exists that the properties obtained are representative of the alloy as such, and not merely of the manner in which it was worked and heat-treated. Procedure The alloys were cast in the form of cylindrical ingots, which were extruded into bar before being rolled. Some of the ingots were made in 2-in. diameter molds whereas all of the alloys of the previous paper were cast in 4.in. molds. For the larger ingots, the extruded bar was 2 by 0.140 in.; lor the 2-in. ingots, it was I by 0.100 in. Preliminary work indicated that strip rolled from both sizes of the bars would have substantially the same properties. The bar was rolled at some temperature in the range 400' to 800°F., for a total reduction of 50 per cent. The temperature and reduction per pass were so selected that no cold cracking occurred, but were such as to leave the metal in a semihard condition. The hot-rolled metal was annealed at several temperatures in the range 400' to 800°F.; it was also cold-rolled, and given solution and aging treatments. Two standard test bars corresponding to each treatment were pulled in tension, and the average was obtained. Twelve treatments, in all, were given each alloy. The properties of the annealed specimen having the highest percentage of elongation were selected to represent the alloy in the annealed condition. The properties of the cold-rolled specimen having the highest yield strength were selected to represent the alloy in the cold-rolled condition. These properties were then plotted against percentage composition by analysis. Smooth curves were drawn among the points, thus graphically averaging the results over the entire range studied. The percentage of elongation in the cold-rolled state was not plotted, since it was always low, and varied in an irregular manner with composition. Alloys Studied Magnesium-calcium Alloys.—Fig. I presents the results on the alloys of the rnag-

Jan 1, 1941

By Kenneth B. Ray, George R. Gardner

The application of wet cleaning processes for the beneficiation of bituminous coal has created in some localities a problem in the recovery and disposal of fine solids in the washery water. The maximum allowable concentration of these solids in the washery circuit that is consistent with satisfactory operation of the cleaning units remains a controversial point. It has, however, been generally recognized for a number of years that some degree of control should be exerted over the concentration of such material. Early methods of control involved intermittent or continuous discharge of a portion of the plant slurry into near-by streams or settling ponds, and this persisted even after the adoption of settling tanks or cones. The practice is not always economical, for two reasons: first, because of the waste of coal, and, second, because it is sometimes difficult and expensive to obtain an adequate supply of water. The latter condition often is aggravated by chemical treatment of the make-up water that is necessary to prevent excessive corrosion of plant equipment. The modern approach to this problem has been the adoption of continuous thickening devices. However, because such equipment occupies considerable plant space and is somewhat expensive to construct, the practice of loading these thickeners beyond their rated capacity is widespread, therefore often the performance of such units is not altogether satisfactory. In recent years, European washeries have increased the rate of settling of the fine coal from the slurry by the addition of specially prepared starch solutions. These reagents cause flocculation of the solid particles and thereby increase the rate of sedimentation. The first important work on the flocculation and clarification of coal slurry was done by Henry, who developed the Henry process and used it successfully in Belgian preparation plants. Soon after the initiation in Belgium, the process was introduced into England, where subsequent investigation developed similar processes, which were successfully used in

Jan 1, 1940

By George R. Gardner, Kenneth B. Ray

The application of wet cleaning processes for the beneficiation of bituminous coal has created in some localities a problem in the recovery and disposal of fine solids in the washery water. The maximum allowable concentration of these solids in the washery circuit that is consistent with satisfactory operation of the cleaning units remains a controversial point. It has, however, been generally recognized for a number of years that some degree of control should be exerted over the concentration of such material. Early methods of control involved intermittent or continuous discharge of a portion of the plant slurry into near-by streams or settling ponds, and this persisted even after the adoption of settling tanks or cones. The practice is not always economical, for two reasons: first, because of the waste of coal, and, second, because it is sometimes difficult and expensive to obtain an adequate supply of water. The latter condition often is aggravated by chemical treatment of the make-up water that is necessary to prevent excessive corrosion of plant equipment. The modern approach to this problem has been the adoption of continuous thickening devices. However, because such equipment occupies considerable plant space and is somewhat expensive to construct, the practice of loading these thickeners beyond their rated capacity is widespread, therefore often the performance of such units is not altogether satisfactory. In recent years, European washeries have increased the rate of settling of the fine coal from the slurry by the addition of specially prepared starch solutions. These reagents cause flocculation of the solid particles and thereby increase the rate of sedimentation. The first important work on the flocculation and clarification of coal slurry was done by Henry, who developed the Henry process and used it successfully in Belgian preparation plants. Soon after the initiation in Belgium, the process was introduced into England, where subsequent investigation developed similar processes, which were successfully used in

Jan 1, 1940

By E. F. Johnson, F. H. Brinkman, H. J. Welge, A. L. Hicks

A method is presented for predicting the character of gas or water displacement in a radial system, which can be either horizontal or inclined. The latter case would comprise cone-shaped or dome-shaped symmetry. The method conriders the one dimension of radial distance, taken parallel to the bedding planes. Approximate allowance can be made for segregation of the two fluids perpendicular to the bedding planes. A complete saturation history can be obtained in about a day's time with the use of a desk calculator. Results of an example calculation agree well with the performance of simulated gas drive in a large model representing a section of a cone. This pie-shaped, sand-packed model was 8-ft long and 4-in. thick. The method of solution is useful in handling other partial differential equations of first order and first degree. INTRODUCTION A new analytical method has been developed for predicting the performance of gas or water drive in a reservoir having radial or cone-shaped symmetry (see Fig. 1). In addition, this new development offers a general method of handling partial differential equations of first order and first degree. This work extends those methods developed previously'- "or predicting the displacement of oil by gas or water in linear systems. The method of calculating oil recovery in a radial system involves two major parts. The first part is a calculation of the distribution of saturations at various times of depletion. The second part is the calculation of oil recovery and producing gas-oil or water-oil ratios through volumetric balance on the saturation distributions obtained in the first part. This second part differs only slightly in principle from similar calculations made with linear systems, for instance. The basic assumptions used in the calculations are as follows. 1. One-dimensional radial flow. An approach is explained later for approximating a second vertical dimension. (With- drawals of oil, and of the driving fluid after breakthrough, are assumed uniform around the periphery of the dome.) 2. Constant-volume fluid flow. Thus, in a gas drive there is no change in gas solubility, or in oil or gas volume due to viscous and gravity pressure drops. 3. Capillary forces are negligible. 4. Constant rate of injection. A program has been written for carrying out the calculations needed on a digital computer. However, a prediction can also be arrived at using a desk calculator; this latter method of work requires about a day's time for each prediction made. CALCULATION OF SATURATION DISTRIBUTION For definiteness, we describe the development of our method for the case of gas drive from the crest of the structure. The reader will note, however, that the method is just as applicable to an advancing radial water drive. The equation describing gas flow over an infinitesimal

By R. L. Rickett, W. C. Leslie

The influence of deoxidation practice, prior thermal history, and aging time and temperature on the strain-aging behavior of low-carbon open-hearth steels was investigated. The criterion of aging employed was the increase in yield strength in the tensile test, after straining and aging. Composition, prior heat treatment, and aging conditions were all found to be important in governing the strain-aging characteristics of these steels. THAT deoxidation changes the strain-aging propensities of low-carbon steels has been known for a long time, but there has been little agreement, and even contradiction, between results obtained by different investigators and between results obtained in the laboratory and in the mill. This investigation was begun in the hope that some of the uncertainties connected with the strain aging of commercial steels could be eliminated. In considering this problem, it was necessary to define strain aging and to examine the methods used to measure this property. Strain aging can be defined as the changes in properties of a metal or alloy with time, after cold working. The rate at which these changes occur increases as the temperature is raised above atmospheric. The requisite plastic strain is the principal distinction between strain aging and quench aging, the latter being due to precipitation from supersaturated solid solution. Strain aging is also characterized by rapid attainment of maximum hardness at high aging temperatures and lack of softening (overaging) at low aging temperatures. Several possible criteria of strain aging have been listed by Sachsl and by Davenport and Bain.' Because changes in mechanical properties are the most easily measured and the most commonly used, consideration of methods to be used in this investigation was confined to three tests: tensile, notch-impact, and hardness. Hardness tests are the most economical and easiest to perform, but produce only one measure of strain aging. Also, as pointed out by Felmly, Hartbower, and Pellini,³ hardness changes due to aging are not pronounced for steels containing more than 0.15 pct C. Notch-impact tests require careful preparation of large numbers of specimens. Above and below the transition temperature the test lacks sensitivity; furthermore, it is extremely difficult to impart a uniform strain to the specimens, followed quickly by aging and final testing; machining must generally take place after straining. For these reasons, the tensile test was selected for use. Although this test requires a considerable expenditure of time, labor, and money in preparation of the specimens and performance of the test, more information can be gained than from any other single mechanical test, information which includes upper and lower yield points, yield-point elongation, tensile strength, strain-hardening exponent, reduction of area, and elongation. Low and Gensamer' and Schwartzbart and Low5 lso used the tensile test, taking the increase in flow stress after straining in tension and aging as a measure of strain aging. In our work, as in theirs, each specimen was strained an arbitrary amount, sufficient to pass through the

Jan 1, 1954

By J. R. Long, T. R. Graham, C. W. Matthews, R. S. Dean

In a previous paper! the authors reported on the mechanical properties of a 65 per cent copper, 10 per cent manganese, 25 per cent zinc alloy as compared with, similarly processed cartridge brass. Additional investigations by these laboratories, on higher copper alloys, have demonstrated that at lower zinc concentrations even larger amounts of pure manganese may be added to copper-zinc alloys without exceeding the single-phase solid solution limits, and that similar increases in tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness may be obtained without excessive decreases in ductility. Several compositions in this range showed also a decided color change with increasing manganese. The normal "brassy" color was considerably lightcncd and reduced to a faint yellow cast at 15 per cent manganese. With higher manganese contents the alloys were essentially white and similar in appearance to the nickel-silver alloys. From this work it appeared that it would be desirable to determine more completely the properties of the wrought and annealed white alloys. Accordingly, a more detailed study was planned of an alloy having the composition 70 per cent copper, 20 per cent manganese, and 10 per cent zinc. This alloy remained single-phase throughout the working and annealing cycles of the preliminary tests and appeared to be' about the strongest of the white single-phase alloys. The project included also an investigation of additional alloys, deviating from this composition by 5 per cent of each of the three components to evaluate the effects of variation in composition and a study of the propertics of the central alloy made with silicothermic manganese. Material Preparation Electrolytic manganese, wirebar copper, and electrolytic zinc were used for the preparation of the alloys. Representative analysis of the electrolytic manganese seldom exceeds 0.01 per cent iron, 0.02 per cent sulphur and 0.02 per cent lead, with no silicon or aluminum. A typical sample of the silicothermic manganese metal contained 2 per cent iron, 0.81 per cent silicon, 0.16 per cent carbon, and 0.36 per cent aluminum. Melting and alloying were performed in a high-frequency furnace with magnesia crucibles. Melts were deoxidized with small aluminum additions and cast into 25-lb. slab ingots. Care was exercised in deoxidation to avoid excessive amounts of residual aluminum, which has been found to have significant effects on alloys in this system. All ingots were hot-rolled at 1200' to I300°F. and then cold-rolled with intermediate anneal-

Jan 1, 1945

By Theodore P. Holt

The Mines Operating Co.'s plant at Park City, Utah, was designed to treat the low-grade fillings in the old stopes of the Ontario mine. These fillings carry 6 to 14 oz. of silver, 1 to 2 lb. of copper, 0.01 to 0.015 oz. of gold, and a small percentage of lead and zinc. The treatment consists in mixing the crushed ore with coal dust and salt and then roasting in a new type of furnace by combustion of the contained fuel. The roasted ore is leached with an acid salt solution to dissolve the silver, gold, copper, and lead. At present these metals are precipitated together on scrap iron and the product sold to a refinery. The only new feature of importance in this scheme of treatment is the roasting process, which makes possible the chloridizing of ores without any loss of the valuable metals, and at a very low cost. History of the Development of the Process The roasting process- had its beginning in connection with research work at the Utah State School of Mines. N. C. Christensen, Jr., who held one of the School of Mines' fellowships, was engaged in some experimental work on blast roasting. At the same time I was doing some work on the insoluble gold in Mercur base ores. Mr. Christensen roasted some of this base gold ore in his pot furnace, and found that when he mixed a sufficiently low percentage of fuel with the ore, it did not sinter but roasted to a leachable product. We considered this a new application of blast roasting, and proceeded to test out a large number of ores in several different types of small roasters which we constructed.. This experimental work continued well into the summer of 1911. In August, 1911, the Consolidated Mercur Gold Mines Co. installed a small roaster of our design, which we proposed to operate on the counter-current principle, feeding mixed ore continuously on top, and at the same time drawing off the roasted ore from the bottom. By proper adjustment we hoped to maintain a permanent roasting zone near the center of the column, the ore moving downward as roasted. However, we

Jan 1, 1915

By C. W. Washburne

Recently, Messrs, Mills and Wells1 published a thorough chemical study of the waters associated with oil in parts of the Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia region. Many of their conclusions are of general application and the writer wishes to discuss some of these. Messrs. Mills and Wells show that the composition of the deep brines oi the Appalachian fields is such as would be produced by the evaporation of sea water and the precipitation of sodium chloride, combined with reactions with hydrocarbons and other substances. The brines are altered, also, by considerable mixing with meteoric water. They give good reasons for believing that the concentration of the brines was produced by evaporation in the rock pores induced by migrating gas, much of which probably escaped to the surface of the ground. This hypothesis was considered by the writer in a former paperJ2 in which main stress was laid on a second hypothesis, that the excess of chlorine in the deep brines may have been due to the entrance of solutions rich in magnesium and calcium chloride which ascended from a deep, possibly intratellurie, source. Messrs. Mills and Wells present good arguments for the first hypothesis. Underground evaporation by ascending gases probably will be accepted as the best available explanation of the concentration and composition of deep well waters. They have not considered the possibility that salt waters in deep sands may be concentrated by the diffusion of water vapor through gas into shale. The writer has given reasons3 for believing that capillary forces concentrate gas and oil in the larger openings of rock, such as the pores of sandstones embedded in shale. The gas underground must be nearly saturated with water vapor at all times, because it always is in contact with the interstitial water of enclosing shales and of the sandstone. Experimental studies of soil moisture have shown that approxi-

Jan 1, 1921

By Joseph Singewald

THE problem of the utilization of the low-grade red iron-ores has peen before the iron-mining industry of the South for several decades. the experiments by W. H. Coghill1 of the U. S. Bureau of Mines to determine the degree of liberation of minerals in the Alabama low-grade red iron-ores after grinding interest the writer very much because 10 fears ago, while a member of the U. S. Bureau of, Mines, he experimented similarly on the same ores using a heavy solution .2 Extensive experiments were made in the nineties by W. B. Phillips3 in association with H. A. J. Wilkens and H. B. C. Nitze. The ores were rushed to pass 15 mesh and were separated by magnetic machines into concentrates, middlings and tails. The experiments were made with carload lots in an experimental mill. Most of the ores tested, however, were soft, whereas the main problem is the utilization of the low-grade hard ores. Phillips gives the results of only four tests of hard ores; two of these are of self-fluxing ores of the grade now utilized and two of ower grade and less amenable to concentration than the average low-grade ore that underlies the self-fluxing ore of the Big Seam. The average of these least favorable samples shows the production, from an ore analyzing 32.30 per cent. Fe, 10.34 per cent. CaO, 33.40 per cent. insoluble, of a concentrate with 43.82 per cent. Fe, 8.90 per cent. CaO, 18.48 per Sent. insoluble with a ratio of concentration of 2 and an iron recovery of 39.2 per. cent. The grade of this concentrate compares favorably with the average grade of washed brown ores of the district which is given by Burchard4 as 45 per cent. Fe, 14.6 per cent. Si02. The slightly lower iron

Jan 2, 1927

By R. B. Tippin, J. S. Browning

The feasibility of multistage heavy liquid cyclone beneficiation of spodumene was successfully demonstrated in this investigation. The indicated recovery for the multistage circuits was mathematically estimated as continuous test runs would be necessary to determine the true influence of a middlings recycle. In the three-stage circuit, both the concentrate analysis and spodumene recovery exceeded 90%. The two-stage circuits were unable to simultaneously yield an acceptable produce with a satisfactory recovery. With the Nation's growing industrial mineral requirements, the U.S. Bureau of Mines has undertaken the task of investigating new mineral dressing techniques and improving the existing concentrating methods of ore beneficiation. One such project is the gravity concentration of minerals using heavy liquid separation (HLS).1-3 Heavy liquid separation is based on the simple principle that a material, whose specific gravity is less than the density of a solution, will float on top of the liquid and a material with a greater specific gravity will sink. Heavy liquid separation techniques were developed in the laboratory over half a century ago but the process has yet to be commercially adopted. In the past, commercial operations have failed because of numerous problems.4 Industrial interest has recently been reactivated because of engineering advances. The number and quality of the heavy liquids suitable for mineral processing has increased while the cost has sharply dropped. New and improved liquid recovery systems5,6 are under consideration with present emphasis on 1) solvent extraction, 2) thermo-evaporation, and 3) water washing. The toxicity of the heavy liquids7 presents a problem, but throughout the chemical and mining industries, many similar hazardous materials are safely handled. A distinct advantage of using heavy liquids is its ability to provide a near perfect separation of fine-sized mineral particles even when the specific gravities are close. Effective separations have been made on minerals down to 200 mesh and with a density

Jan 1, 1968

By Warren A. Sinsheimer

ProbDly there has never been a year during which the petroleum industry expended so much effort as in 1929 in an attempt to rectify its ills. Eventually good will undoubtedly result, but as yet there have been no marked changes from the unhappy conditions familiar to all. Throughout the year remedies were sought that would cure the long-existing troubles of overproduction and waste. Proration of production and voluntary curtailment of output, for a short time considered the means for stability, not only failed but contributed to further waste and created a false sense of security. It encouraged a high rate of field development, weakened the economic structure by excessive development of newly discovered reserves and absorbed large sums of capital yielding meager or negative return. The manufacturing of gasoline by refiners without regard for market requirements furthered the unsatisfactory condition by falsely stimulating the demand for crude and placed on the market an oversupply of finished products, particularly gasoline. The marketing section of the industry has made progress by its adoption of the Code of Ethics as promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission and by the formation of an Export Association. The year 1929 opened not only with a current supply of oil exceeding demand but with an additional daily shut-in and potential supply variously estimated at from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 bbl. This situation stimulated the industry, through the American Petroleum Institute, to attempt to work out an economically sound solution which would further conservation by bringing supply and demand into closer balance. Production Control After a thorough study of producing conditions, the committee of the American Petroleum Institute had for its recommendation that the production of crude oil in 1929 be held in check to an amount equal to that produced during the year 1928. The Federal Oil Conservation Board heard the appeal of the American Petroleum Institute and referred the matter to the Department of Justice. It was ruled that neither the Federal Oil Conservation Board nor the Department of Justice had the * Land and Oil Production Dept., Henry L. Doherty & Co.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. R. Coulter, F. O. Case, H. G. Satterthwaite, B. Harden

During the two years that the Henderson plant has been in operation, a number of technical improvements have been made by the staff of Basic Magnesium, Inc., the effects of which were realized subsequent to the writing of the paper by Major C. J. P. Ball (p. 28j, this volume). Pellet Mix The process as originally installed required the use of peat moss in the mixture going to the chlorinators. This had to be imported from Canada at a considerable cost, and, besides being expensive, constituted a serious fire hazard in the dry climate of Nevada. Experimentation looking toward its elimination had been going on for some time and was actively pushed as soon as operations commenced. It was found that a pellet mix containing no peat, which would chlorinate at a satisfactory rate, could be cast as a fluid slurry, which would set up into a hard mass having the desired porosity. For carrying out this operation, equipment similar to that used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizer at Anaconda, Mont., was installed and proved eminently successful. The dry materials, with peat moss and raw concentrates entirely eliminated, are mixed with magnesium chloride solution in two Pratt phosphate mixers and the resultant slurry is poured onto two 48-in. slowly moving rubber conveyor belts. By the time the slurry has reached the head pulley, the material has set su4iciently to be broken and sized as desired. The discharge from the casting belts is fed to the four rotary kilns in the preparation plant, where it is dried and coked to the proper degree for subsequent chlorination. With the peatless feed the capacity of the kilns was found to be about double what it had been before, so that the four rotaries suffice for a 10-unit operation, thus making it unnecessary to operate the extruders and tunnel kilns. In addition to saving the cost of the peat, the new system can be operated with about 85 per cent less labor than was formerly required in the preparation plant. The new pellet production system has also made it feasible to install centralized crushing equipment with suitable conveyors and a loading station. Containers of 8000 lb. capacity were substituted for small cubicles of 1000 lb. capacity which formerly were used for charging the chlorinators, and trailer trucks were substituted for the small trains originally provided for transportation from the preparation plant to the chlorinators. These changes resulted in a considerable saving in handling and transportation charges. Handling Molten Metal The molten magnesium originally was ladled from the electrolytic cells into small gas-fired brick-lined cars standing between the cell rows. From these cars the metal nes ium. into ''cheeses'' weighing from 150 to 300 lb. After solidification the

Jan 1, 1944

Smoky Valley Mining Company, Round Mountain, Nevada, was the pioneer operation designed for large scale heap leaching of crushed gold ores. It is located in the Big Smoky Valley which stretches 160 km (100 miles) through central Nevada west of the Toiyabe Mountain Range. Gold was first-discovered at Round Mountain, 88 km (55 miles) north of Tonopah, in 1905; and mining in the area included placer operations, which ran from 1946 to about 1960. Smoky Valley Mining Company is a partnership of Felmont Oil Co., Case-Pomeroy & Co., and Copper Range Co., with the latter being wholly owned by Louisiana Land and Exploration Co. In 1969, an option on the Round Mountain property was acquired by Copper Range, and during 1974 a decision was reached to proceed with mine development and plant construction. Ore reserves were reported at 10,537,000 mt (1 1,617,000 st) of 2.09 g per mt (0. 061 oz per ton) gold using a cut- off grade of 0.69 g (0.02 oz). Silver content was approximately 2.4 g per mt (0.07 oz per ton) and the waste to ore ratio was about 1: 1. By the end of 1976 heap leaching was in operation. The ore is a rhyolite tuff, sometimes described as a gold porphyry with highly abrasive qualities but which does not break down into slimes upon contact .with cyanide solutions. Gold is unevenly distributed through the ore but as a whole it is in a very finely divided state. Climatic conditions are extreme in central Nevada. Summers are hot and dry while winters are windy and cold with subfreezing temperatures. Elevation of the property is about 1,920 m (6,300 ft). Precipitation averages 203 mm (8 in.) per year. Until February of 1980, leaching was continued until the temperature reached minus 2ºC (28º F), and about 10 months leaching was the average. Water for the operation is drawn from the Toiyabe Mountains through a 13. 7 km (8. 5 mile) pipeline, originally installed in 1915, or from wells in the valley bottom. The plant requires make-up water at the rate of about 1,500 liters per min (400 gpm). On a schedule of three shifts, seven days per week, the daily output at Round Mountain amounts ,to 12, 700 mt (14, 000 st) consisting of 6,350 mt (7,000 st) each of ore and waste. Ore is hauled with a fleet of 45 mt (50 st) trucks and dumped into the 1,0.70 by 1,650 mm (42 by 65 in. ) gyratory primary crusher located near the pit. The primary

Jan 1, 1981

By Franz R. Dykstra, R. F. Tatnall

A ferroalloy is defined as: "An alloy of iron with some element other than carbon used as a vehicle for introducing such an element into the manufacture of steel. The element may alloy with the steel by solution or, as the carbide, -neutralize the harmful impurities, by combining with them and separating from the steel as flux or slag before solidification."a The most commonly used ferroalloys are: ferromanganese, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, ferrovanadium, ferromolybdenum, ferronickel, ferrotungsten, ferrocolumbium, and ferrophosphorus. Concern here is with the sources and markets of the major metallic alloying elements. The discussion is further restricted to those - ferroalloy ores, the principal use of which is in the production of steel. Phosphorus, silicon, and tungsten, for example, are ferroalloys of some economic significance, but other uses dwarf their alloying applications. Thus, this discussion will deal with the ores of managanese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, and columbium. As shown in Table 14.1B.1 ferroalloys serve to- facilitate processing and impart to the finished steel such characteristics as tensile strength, ductility, low-temperature impact, hardenability, high-temperature strength, corrosion resistance, toughness, and abrasion resistance. In the steel-making process, ferroalloys may be added in the charge, in the molten bath near the end of the finishing period, in the ladle, or in the molds. Timing of the addition depends on the effect of the addition on the temperature of the molten metal, the formation and elimination of reaction products, and the protection of subsequent additions from oxidation. MANGANESE General Approximately 95% of the manganese ore sold is consumed by the steel industry, either as ferromanganese or as manganese metal. Manganese is the universal alloy, without which good steel cannot be made. It serves as a scavenger, removing phosphorus, sulfur and, to a degree, oxygen from the melt. As an alloying material it makes steel hard, tough, and resistant to wear. Approximately 6 kg of manganese is required for every ton of common steel produced by United States steelmaking practice. The remaining 5 % of the manganese ore consumed consists of special or so-called "chemical" ores, including high-grade pyrolusite ores, electrochemically reactive "battery ores," and a number of special varieties, as well as those otherwise regarded as "metallurgical ores."

Jan 1, 1976

By J. Nagy, D. W. Mitchell, E. M. Murphy

In 1957 research was initiated in the U.S. Bureau of Mines experimental coal mine near Pittsburgh, Pa., to study factors affecting foam generation and transport, to evaluate the effectiveness of high-expansion foam for controlling mine fires, and to develop techniques for applying the method under U.S. mining conditions. These investigations showed that high-expansion foam containing at least 0.2 oz of water per cu ft of foam is effective in controlling experimental underground fires burning coal, wood, and oil. Sometimes the fire was completely extinguished, but more often, it was brought under sufficient control to permit either a direct attack on the fire with a stream of water or loading of the hot material into cars. A progress report' prepared in July 1958 summarized the initial achievements of the USBM experiments. Since then other phases of the foam-plug method for attacking fires have been studied in the laboratory and in the mine. Previous studies by British engineers' of the foam-plug method for fighting mine fires indicated that high-expansion foam was effective in controlling experimental timber fires in an underground passageway. Their subsequent workx-1 pertained to the practical aspects of fighting large fires within a mining area with a foam-plug. CONTROLLING EXPERIMENTAL FIRES In the USBM tests foam was formed by spraying a dilute solution of a foaming agent on a metal or cotton net of 1/8 to 1/4-in. mesh. Air passing through the continuously wetted net forms bubbles of 1/2 to 11/2-in. diam and produces a honeycomb of foam that fills the passageway. Under the ventilating-air pressure, this light-weight plug moves forward through the passageways, around sharp corners, and over obstacles. as illustrated in Fig. 1. High-expansion foam was transported to a wood fire, an oil fire, and 13 coal fires. Figs. 3 and 4 show a typical coal fire before and after attack with foam. In 12 of the 15 experiments the fire was brought under control when the water content of foam was 0.2 oz or more per cu ft. A fire was considered controlled when the flames were quenched and observers could cross the area without wearing breathing apparatus or protective clothing. In the other three experiments, conducted when the water content was less than 0.2 oz per cu ft of foam, the flames were retarded but the fire was not controlled. Coal fires have been attacked successfully by foam introduced at points varying from 155 to 1010 ft from the fire. The time of burning in coal beds 10 in. thick ranged from 11/2 to 5 hrs or more. Most of the experimental fire beds were 15 ft in length. However, in one experiment a floor fire 25 ft long and 5 ft wide was constructed $5 upwind from another fire 15 ft in length; in another instance, the fire was 100 ft long and 5 ft wide. Foam was applied to the fires for periods ranging from 7 to 36 min. The time required for foam application depends on the extent of the fire, time of burning, water content of foam, foam velocity, and degree of fire control desired. In addition to the coal fires, foam was transported to a fire covering 45 sq ft, produced by 15 gal of oil burning in metal trays on the floor. The foam extinguished the oil fire in about 1 min. In one other test, the burning of 1100 lb of dry sawmill slabs stacked in open cribs 4 ft high and 16 ft long was brought under control by foam in 2 min. Composition of Gases in Return Air: In several of the experiments samples of the return air from fire zones were collected; composition of the atmosphere before, during, and after foam application was then determined. Because of condensation in the relatively cool sampling tube, the amount of water vapor was not determined. Analyses showed that concentration of carbon dioxide and combustible gases increased as the foam began passing over the fire. This resulted from the decrease in the volume of air when foam generation started and from the formation of gases when water reached the fire.* The quantity of gases generated would not be greater than that from an equivalent amount of water applied directly to the fire. The highest total concentration of combustibles (CO, CH1, and H2 mixture) obtained during the experiment was about 2 pct; this occurred 6 min after foam reached the fire. This atmosphere was nonex-plosive, but calculations show that if the air flow were reduced to about 5 fpm and if the rate of gas liberation from the fire remained constant, the mixture would be explosive. The use of foam on a fire in all probability would affect the normal ventilation of a mine. If the mine is gassy, this factor must be carefully considered before the foam is applied. APPLICATION OF THE FOAM-PLUG TECHNIQUE IN MINES Equipment and procedures for applying the foam-plug methods must be adapted to the prevailing conditions at a particular mine. Some factors to be considered in developing equipment are: size or extent of the mine, dimensions and number of entries, ventilation system, mining methods, haulage facilities, availability of water, amount of methane liberated, and existing fire-control apparatus. • In most experiments the initial air velocity of 200 fpm decreased to 50 to 100 fpm as the foam plug increased In length.

Jan 1, 1961

By C. A. Stetefeldt

Steam-dRied sulphides, obtained in the lixiviation-process, are now almost exclusively sold to smelters, the old methods of melting (after roasting) in crucibles, or cupelling with lead at the mill, having

Jan 1, 1892

By Robert M. Dreyer

Although lateritic ore deposits are relatively flat-lying, surficial ore bodies, the evaluation of lateritic bauxite and nickel deposits is among the most difficult problems confronting an economic geologist. Laterite is a soil formed under tropical conditions resulting in the concentration, within the soil zone, of certain trivalent metals-principally iron and aluminum, but also, locally, nickel and manganese. The soil zone is divided into two parts: (a) the true soil or lateritic zone and (b) the zone of partially altered bed rock or saprolite. Whereas bauxite generally is confined to the lateritic zone, some nickel deposits occur in both the laterite and saprolite zones. The evaluation of bauxite and lateritic nickel deposits thus has both similarities and differences. These ores have been formed by supergene, soil-forming solutions moving downward through zones of widely varying permeability within the weathering rock. Because the permeability varies widely, both vertically and laterally, the extent of weathering may vary greatly within short distances. Because the weathering process varies widely, the degree of metal concentration may also vary widely. It is not at all uncommon for a laterite to change, within a few centimeters, from a virtually valueless rock to a high grade ore. Moreover, the depth of weathering, and hence the depth and form of the ore profile, vary greatly. Obviously, for this type of deposit, a few grab samples or a few drill holes are virtually worthless. The evaluation of such a deposit requires a sophisticated statistical study based on thousands of carefully selected samples. As a rule of thumb, the cost of evaluating a large bauxite or lateritic nickel deposit will be about one cent per ton of ore in the ground. Thus, the cost of evaluating a several hundred million ton deposit may be considerable.

Jan 8, 1978

By R. S. Archer

THE PROPER representation of equilibria involving graphitic carbon in the constitutional diagram of the iron-carbon system is admittedly an unsolved problem. The complete solution of the problem will probably require the establishment of more experimental evidence than is at this time available. The object of this paper is to present the author's observations on some of the phenomena in question and his interpretation of this and other recorded evidence. The chief of the recently disputed questions upon which the author has experimental evidence concerns the occurrence of graphitization at temperatures below the A1 point. In a paper1 presented at the September, 1919, meeting of this Institute, the following is found: "the results given would seem to indicate that the graphite eutectoid lies at a smaller value of carbon content than has been previously supposed. At least this is true unless there is either a marked formation of graphite eutectoid at these rates of cooling, or a decomposition of pearlite into graphite, both rather unlikely suppositions, but not impossible ones." In a discussion of this paper, H. A. Schwartz2 takes the position that the possibility of graphitization occurring below the A 1 point is an open question, but that complete graphitization (to less than 0.10 per cent. combined carbon) commonly occurs above this temperature. Another opinion from the malleable castings industry is found in a recent paper3 by Touceda: "Also the carbide of iron can be broken up into its two soft constituents at the temperature referred to. This temperature is called the critical temperature, or critical range, and for air-furnace hard-iron castings it is in the vicinity of 1440° F. It is the

Jan 2, 1920