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By Ruder, W. E.

CONSIDERABLE interest has been shown lately in various types of furnaces for the production of high, temperatures, both for laboratory purposes and for small industrial uses. Dr. J. A. Harker1 described certain modifications of the Arsem graphite resistance helix for high-temperature work at the National Physical Laboratory. Dr. Northrup ,also has developed two interesting forms of high-temperature furnaces. In 1911, Messrs. Winne and Dantsizen2 described two forms, of resistance furnaces using ductile molybdenum or tungsten as resistors. Since the discovery, by this laboratory, of methods for producing these metals in ductile form, their use as resistance elements in the research laboratory of the General Electric Co. has grown to such an extent that they are now almost indispensable. These furnaces are used here for alloy research, annealing, heat-treating, and practically all f the thermal processes requiring temperatures above 900° C. Various types of furnaces have been developed to meet the general needs of laboratory work, and it is the purpose of this paper briefly to describe some of these furnaces. A tubular furnace wound with a metallic resistor is the simplest type to construct, and almost every laboratory has made such furnaces. The only essential difference between a furnace wound with platinum or base metal and one wound with tungsten or molybdenum is that the coils of the latter must be heated in a neutral or reducing atmosphere. It has long been our custom here to build our resistance furnaces with a metallic casing from which the tube could be easily removed for rewinding. The heat-insulating material-usually calcined magnesia, alumina, silica, or silex, depending upon the nature of the resistor-is used in powdered form so that it can he readily removed and replaced. In order to adapt this method to tungsten or molybdenum windings, it

Jan 2, 1918

By V. R. Garrias, R. V. Whetsel

The present study is intended as a preliminary statistical survey of the world's production of petroleum substitutes. The information presented is admittedly deficient. It is believed, however, that the increasing importance of these substitutes, particularly with Europe at war, justifies its presentation at this time, if for no other Table i.—Petroleum Subsiitues From Natural Gas Prom Coal Methane Liquid gas Liquid gas _ Manufactured gas Natural gasoline Gasoline Methyl alcohol Benzol Lubricants Etc. reason than to encourage enlightened pertinent discussion. The world's production in 1939 of petroleum substitutes—of which approxi-mately 97 per cent are direct substitutes for motor fuels—is tentatively estimated at 108,ooo,ooo bbl., or equivalent to the combined output of crude oil in 1939 of Rumania, Mexico and Colombia. With few exceptions, these figures of production represent also actual figures of consumption. The United States, owing mainly to its output of natural gasoline, leads all countries in the production of these products, with about 53 per cent of the total. In European countries, particularly Germany, the imminence of war in 1939 forced an increase in production and im- provement of methods of manufacturing motor fuels, largely from coal, with the result that this country produced in that year over 20,000,000 bbl. of substitutes. Since the beginning of hostilities, substitutes have offered more and more the means of meeting the unfavorable balance between supply and demand in European tes and Their Source Malerial From Oil From Molasses. Wood Shales Potatoes, Molasses.etc. From wood Shale oil Ethyl alcohol Producer gas Gasoline Methyl alcohol Gas oil Lubricants Etc. countries; the increase in production of these products being at least in part offset by the systematic bombing of synthetic plants and oil storage. The source materials and the resulting substitutes are listed in Table I. The following are the approximate gross heat equivalents of some substitutes to barrels of gasoline:

Jan 1, 1941

By R. V. Whetsel, V. R. Garrias

The present study is intended as a preliminary statistical survey of the world's production of petroleum substitutes. The information presented is admittedly deficient. It is believed, however, that the increasing importance of these substitutes, particularly with Europe at war, justifies its presentation at this time, if for no other Table i.—Petroleum Subsiitues From Natural Gas Prom Coal Methane Liquid gas Liquid gas _ Manufactured gas Natural gasoline Gasoline Methyl alcohol Benzol Lubricants Etc. reason than to encourage enlightened pertinent discussion. The world's production in 1939 of petroleum substitutes—of which approxi-mately 97 per cent are direct substitutes for motor fuels—is tentatively estimated at 108,ooo,ooo bbl., or equivalent to the combined output of crude oil in 1939 of Rumania, Mexico and Colombia. With few exceptions, these figures of production represent also actual figures of consumption. The United States, owing mainly to its output of natural gasoline, leads all countries in the production of these products, with about 53 per cent of the total. In European countries, particularly Germany, the imminence of war in 1939 forced an increase in production and im- provement of methods of manufacturing motor fuels, largely from coal, with the result that this country produced in that year over 20,000,000 bbl. of substitutes. Since the beginning of hostilities, substitutes have offered more and more the means of meeting the unfavorable balance between supply and demand in European tes and Their Source Malerial From Oil From Molasses. Wood Shales Potatoes, Molasses.etc. From wood Shale oil Ethyl alcohol Producer gas Gasoline Methyl alcohol Gas oil Lubricants Etc. countries; the increase in production of these products being at least in part offset by the systematic bombing of synthetic plants and oil storage. The source materials and the resulting substitutes are listed in Table I. The following are the approximate gross heat equivalents of some substitutes to barrels of gasoline:

Jan 1, 1941

By Oleg N. Tikhonov

Control of ball mill grinding circuits is important due to the enormous consumption of electrical energy in mineral processing and other industries. Optimal control requires preliminary detailed studies of static and dynamic characteristics of the process. In this paper a study of nonlinear dynamics is presented with a view toward application to automatic control and the achievement of maximum grinding rate at minimal energy consumption. The study begins with Zagustin's equation (1935) of grinding kinetics [ ]

Jan 1, 1984

By A. B. Parsons

PUBLICATION of this little volume is a luxury that the Institute itself could scarcely afford. In truth, no engineer nor geologist, no assayer nor metallurgist would be likely to enhance his knowledge, improve his technique, or cut his own operating costs by reading this excellent translation of two booklets first published circa A.D. 1520. It is doubtful if the present enterprise would, in a practical or tangible way, "promote the arts and sciences connected with the economic production of the useful minerals and metals." And such, is the prescribed purpose for which the funds of the Institute should be spent. Fortunately for the Institute, the Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund is not so circumscribed; and the Fund Committee enjoys, greater liberty of action. The sponsorship by the Mudd Fund in 1942 of the publication of The Pirotechnia of Vannoccio Biringuccio, as translated by Dr. Smith and Mrs. Gnudi, was an innovation-indeed something of an experiment. Not only was the content of the volume significant mainly for its "cultural" and "scholarly" attributes; -but the format, an outstanding example of the fascinating art of bookmaking, bore no resemblance to the ordinary technical book. The Committee, frankly, was surprised at the enthusiastic reception accorded the volume. When a second edition was required, the Committee became convinced that the publication of material of this type, particularly if printed and bound in attractive form, was an appropriate avenue for utilizing a moderate proportion of the monies available from the Fund. The Bergbüchlein and the Probierbüchlein antedate by some years the first publication of De la Pirotechnia and of De re Metallica; but Georgius Agricola, the author of the latter work, made good use of the material in the earlier volumes. As pointed out in the Introduction, both

Jan 1, 1949

By P. G. Chamberlain, E. R. Podnieks, R. E. Thill

Although published data on the physical properties of rock are voluminous, information is often lacking on the environmental conditions under which such data were acquired. Efforts are frequently directed to improve specimen tolerances and preparation procedures; but investigators often overlook giving the rock environment equally careful control during the testing program. Generally, tests are conducted at existing laboratory room conditions, and the prepared rock specimens are frequently, if not most commonly, air-dried for various lengths of time before testing. The standard testing atmosphere recommended by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM)1 is 73.4°F and 50% relative humidity. To maintain a rock at 50% relative humidity for testing purposes, however, requires special equipment and preconditioning procedures, as this study demonstrates. Relatively small variations in the moisture content of a specimen, for example, due to the coolants or lubricants used during specimen preparation, can cause significant variations in the physical properties measured. Such moisture variations may occur in the rock specimen even after it is air-dried, since laboratory humidity conditions commonly fluctuate from day to day. For these reasons, this study emphasizes procedures for preconditioning and maintaining a controlled environment during testing. Although the effects of moisture or temperature on rock properties have previously been studied, their combined effect on rock properties is unknown. In this study, uniaxial compressive strength, Young's and stiffness moduli, and longitudinal wave velocity were determined and compared under controlled conditions of temperature, moisture, and pressure for 11 environments considered to be of particular interest in laboratory, in-situ, and even simulated lunar environments. The following environments were selected for this program: -250°F under dry, 50%

Jan 1, 1972

By James A. Todd

Use of AN-FO in underground operations has greatly reduced the cost of primary explosives. AN-FO is also less sensitive than conventional dynamites, and when properly used, is safer. Maximum safety in the use of AN-FO, however, requires an understanding of potential hazards from toxic fumes as well as static electricity developed in pneumatic loading. Safe limits and guides have been established to permit most operations to pneumatically load holes that are bottom primed with electric blasting caps, but the toxic fume hazard is less widely understood. During 1959-1960 Du Pont cooperated with the U.S. Bureau of Mines to study the toxic fumes produced by prilled ammonium nitrate-NO. 2 fuel oil mixtures. The conclusions from this work were that oxygen balanced AN-FO, when thoroughly mixed, well primed and well confined in dry holes, produces no greater amounts of toxic fumes than conventional dynamites rated Class I by the Institute of Makers of Explosives. The study also showed, however, that any deviation from these guides tends to increase significantly the quantity of toxic fumes produced. This work was reported by the Bureau of International Symposium on Mining Research at Rolla, Mo., in February 1961.'

Jan 4, 1963

By C. W. Thompson

The two-way belt conveyor for coal mine service simultaneously carries coal from faces and transports men and supplies into the mine, largely eliminating the necessity for rubber-tired supply and man haulage equipment and the necessity of maintaining additional headings. SINCE 1920 use of belt conveyor transportation has increased steadily, and capacity in tons per hour per unit has increased at about the same ratio. Belt conveyor systems for simultaneous two-way material transportation have been widely discussed, but heretofore have proved impractical for specific operations. Studies of a proposed means of disposing of wash-ery waste on the return trip of a main haulage conveyor, as yet uninstalled, led to the application of two-way belt haulage to Weirton's underground supply and mantrip problems. Except for a single-tracked main haulage entry, Weirton mine is essentially a full-belt haulage operation with attendant problems of supply and man-trip haulage that could not be handled with conventional belt conveyors during the regular work shift. It was necessary, therefore, to maintain rubber-tired haulage equipment and haulageways serving multiple-shift continuous operations. The conventional underground belt conveyor is primarily intended to transport coal from working faces to surface. Belts are usually reversed to haul men to face areas at the start of the working shift or to transport supplies. The two-way belt conveyor for coal mine service is not yet offered for sale as a unit by any manufacturer and must be built on order. This conveyor, with return run traveling parallel but opposite in direction to the outgoing or coal haulage run, permits not only haulage of coal from faces, but simultaneously permits transportation of men and supplies into the mine at any time, see Figs. 1 and 2. This eliminates, to a great extent, the necessity for rubber-tired supply and man haulage equipment and the maintenance of additional headings. Unlike conventional installations the return belt is in the open for inspection and maintenance. It is less subject to edge wear, since it runs on regular troughing idlers, see Fig. 3. The only points where the edge of the belt can rub are at the drive unit and the tail units where improved design should eventually eliminate edge wear entirely. Individual conveyor sections are lighter, since all that is needed is a tubular stringer on each side to carry troughing idlers only, no cover plates being necessary. The return run is carried on an assembly identical to that carrying the coal haulage run. These assemblies are definitely easier to handle and are cheaper than installations for the same length of conventional belt conveyor. The four pipes required for the complete conveyor frame may serve only as supports, or, with proper couplings, may be used for mine water discharge line, pressure line for face spraying, telephone cable conduit, or any other purpose requiring a pipe line, see Fig. 4. Additional expense, if any, for the increased number of pulleys needed to turn the belt over for the return service is more than offset by reduced expense for rubber-tired supply and mantrip haulage. The two-way belt haulage system is confined to a single heading on intake air, isolated from all other headings by stoppings on each side, and open for air circulation only at the main haulage way and at the faces. One additional heading, also on intake air, is maintained as an emergency rubber-tired haulage way, all other headings being center-posted and used as airways only until retreat work begins. This method, of course, can and should be used with any belt conveyor, since it provides two independent intake airways for escape in case of fire on the belt or elsewhere. Belt heading is heavily timbered even under good top conditions and space between the two runs permits center posting for the full length

Jan 1, 1954

A letter from Mr. E. F. Cykler, Secretary-Treasurer, informs us that the Engineering Societies Club of Hawaii has been established, and that a member of any one of the following organizations is eligible for membership in the Hawaiian club: American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute of Mining Engineers, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers, American Railway Engineering Association, American Society for Testing Materials. The main purpose of this club is the entertainment of visitors from the various national organizations above mentioned, and the Secretary will be glad to hear from any one who is making a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Cykler's address is 2A Pantheon Building, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Jan 12, 1917

By Gerald Schroeder

The flow of gases, particularly radon and methane, into the mine atmosphere is a problem traditionally controlled by ventilation-dilution techniques. More recently, a preventative approach has been to seal underground surfaces with a polymeric coating to act as a barrier against the influx of dangerous gases. H However, a study by the Israel Government Research Station indicates that unless the rock surface is perfectly sealed, much of the labor to reduce interstitial gas flow is lost to the effects of barometric "breathing" from the rock pores. Previous research has reported the increased frequency of coal mine explosions during periods of barometric pressure minima,1 and the phenomena has been explained through correlation of the observed increase in mine gas concentrations during periods of low barometric pressure with the connective flow of interstitial gases from rock pores into the arsine atmosphere when pressure was actually falling.234 While changes ill barometric pressure arc rapidly transmitted to the mine atmosphere, response in the rock interstices is sluggish, momentarily creating a pressure differential between the mine atmosphere and the interstitial gases. Responding to the pressure gradient, this interstitial gas flows until pressures are equalized.

Jan 6, 1977

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

DIFFERENT methods of parting gold from silver, and, on the other hand, silver from gold, were discussed in the last book; also the separation of copper from the latter and further, of lead from gold as well as from silver ; and, lastly, the methods for refining the two precious metals. Now I will speak of the methods by which silver must be separated from copper, and likewise from iron.1 The officina, or the building necessary for the purposes and use of those who separate silver from copper, is constructed in this manner. First, four long walls are built, of which the first, which is parallel with the bank of a stream, and the second, are both two hundred and sixty-four feet long. The second, however, stops at one hundred and fifty-one feet, and after, as it were, a break for a length of twenty-four feet, it continues again until it is of a length equal to the first wall. The third wall is one hundred and twenty feet long, starting at a point opposite the sixty-seventh foot of the other walls, and reaching to their one hundred and eighty-sixth foot.

Jan 1, 1950

By Chester A. Rowland

INTRODUCTION Comminution is generally a feed preparation step for subsequent processing stages; exceptions being when a final product such as aggregates, specification sand, Portland Cement, and similar products is produced. Grinding, the fine product phase of comminution, requires a large capital investment and frequently is the area of maximum usage of power and wear resistant materials. Grinding is most frequently done in rotating drums utilizing loose grinding media, lifted by the rotation of the drum, to break the ores in various combinations of impact, attrition and abrasion to produce the specified product. Grinding media can be the ore itself (autogenous grinding -- primary and secondary), natural or manufactured non-metallic media (pebble milling) or manufactured metallic media -- steel rods, steel or iron balls. This chapter will discuss general mill design and the specific design and application of the following types of tumbling grinding mills. [Overflow Rod Mills Figure 1 Peripheral Discharge Rod Mills Figures 2 and 3 Compartment Mills Rod and Ball Figure 6 Ball Figure 6a Pebble Mill Figure 6b Overflow Ball Mills Figure 8 Diaphragm (Grate Discharge) Ball Mills Figure 9] I. GENERAL MILL DESIGN A. Liners The interior surface of grinding mills exposed to grinding media and/or the material being ground are protected from wear and corrosion by rubber, metallic, a combination of rubber and metallic, or non-metallic wear resistant materials. B. Drives Economics at the time of plant design and mill purchase determine the drive to be used. The simplest drive is the low speed synchronous motor with speeds in the range of 150 to 250 RPM connected to the mill pinion-shaft by either an air clutch or flexible coupling.

Jan 1, 1982

By V. Koump, R. H. Tien

An approximate mathematical solution is found for the problem of unidimensional solidification of a slab of a binary alloy with time-dependent surface temperature. For the model considered, the solid skin does not form until the liquidus front has moved a certain distance. This distance depends on the rate of cooling and can be as large as half the thickness of the slab when the cooling rate is small. Assuming that the THE process of unidirectional solidification of binary alloys with constant surface temperature was analyzed by the present authors in a recent paper.' In the previous analyses, the surface temperature was considered to be lowered instantaneously, at the beginning of solidification, from its initial value to some surface temperature decreases linearly with time and that the solidus and the liquidus lines are straight, calculations are made of the temperature and concentration distributions, movements of the liquidus and the solidus fronts, as well as changes of temperature, solid fraction, and solute concentration of the liquid at the center of the slab. arbitrary temperature, lower than the solidus temperature. Although the solution of the problem for the case of constant surface temperature has some practical applications, instantaneous changes of temperature are physically impossible. Present theoretical study of the unidirectional solidification of a binary alloy is based on a more realistic model, i.e., in this case, the surface temperature of the slab decreases from its initial value continuously with solidification time. The model of solidification within the solid-liquid region is the same as the one described in the

Jan 1, 1969

By J. A. Morgan, R. E. Lund, D. E. Warnes

The design, operation, and performance of an integrated pilot plant for recovering zinc and copper from a complex sulfide ore are described. Metallurqical processing comprised selective sulfate roasting in a fluid bed, leaching in a weak sulfuric acid solution, recovering copper by cementation with scrap iron, air oxidation to remove soluble iron, more-or-less conventional Purification for removal of impurities deleterious to zinc electrolysis, recovering zinc by electrolyzing solutions, and recycling spent electrolyte to the sulfating roaster. The effects of several feed preparation and roasting variables on the sulfation response of zinc, copper, and iron are set forth, together with the electrolyzing characteristics of the zinc solutions. SEVERAL years ago, St. Joseph Lead Co. undertook a research program to develop procedures for winning values from a complex ore. The deposit was a massive sulfide ore body containing upwards of 65 pct pyrite. Gangue, composed principally of quartz, calcite, dolomite, and alumina, comprised only 10 to 20 pct of the mineralized zones. Zinc, lead, and copper values were variable, but averaged about 6.7 pct Zn, 2.6 pct Pb, and 0.4 pct Cu. Early in the exploratory test work, it was established that the intimate physical association of the minerals in the ore made beneficiation by conventional flotation procedures difficult. Accordingly, in addition to a comprehensive program to investigate physical methods of ore beneficiation, a research program was established to develop a direct metallurgical method for processing the ore. After surveying a number of potential methods for recovery of both metal and sulfur values, effort was concentrated on the development of a sulfate roasting process. It is the pilot-plant development of the sulfate roasting-solution purification—electrolyzing procedures which forms the subject of the present paper. PREPILOT PLANT INVESTIGATIONS From a thermodynamic viewpoint, it is feasible to sulfate selectively a host of metals, including Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Co, in an iron sulfide ore without sulfating iron. Of course, a number of conditions such as roasting temperature and gas composition must be controlled. In addition, as first disclosed by Hybinette,' an alkali metal salt is frequently beneficial in promoting the sulfation reactions. The application of fluid bed roasting to the sulfate roasting of nonferrous metals was pioneered by Stephens of Battelle Memorial Institute.' Subsequently, Falconbridge Nickel Mines, Ltd. developed an unique process for selectively sulfating and recovering nickel, copper, and cobalt from their nickeliferous pyrrhotite, which recently has been described in an excellent paper by Thornhill.3 One of the unique features of the Falconbridge process is that the feed is introduced into the fluidized roasting furnace in a manner such that the feed slurry is broken up into droplets and the droplets lose their moisture before contacting the surface of the fluidized bed. The dried droplets do not tend to cake or fuse, but rather remain as discrete agglomerates of concentrate particles and roast without significant degradation. St. Joseph, aware that Battelle Memorial Institute had participated in the development of the Falconbridge process, obtained permission from Falcon-

Jan 1, 1962

By Raymond Mancha

WHEN calculating the pressure-volume characteristics of projected mine-ventilat-ing circuits by orthodox methods, certain basic assumptions are required in order to employ the various available empirical data. It is assumed, for example, that the mine air is an incompressible fluid subjected to isothermal flow, an assumption suffi-ciently accurate for practical purposes since pressure and temperature differentials are small throughout the average circuit. A more erroneous assumption, however, is that all air is accounted for as it travels throughout the mine. No attempt is usually made to evaluate stopping leakage as it occurs; instead, the air volume required at the last crosscuts is assumed to enter the mine, travel the vari-ous intake air courses intact, sweep the workings and travel out by the return air courses to the point or points of exit from the mine. Actually, there is a leakage of air from intake to return at every stopping, the quantity of this leakage depending upon the tightness of the stopping and the pres-sure difference across the stopping. Unfortunately, a lack of empirical data and knowledge of the condition of individ-ual stoppings makes an exact analysis of underground stopping leakage impossible. Generally, leakage is most severe through the old stoppings outbye the circuit. These are also subjected to higher pressure differ-ences than the newer inbye stoppings. Therefore the circuit air volume diminishes at a decreasing rate progressing from out-bye to inbye the circuit.

Jan 1, 1940

Albert SaUveur, Cambridge, Mass. (communication to the Secretary*):—On close examination I think it will be found that the evidence by which Mr. Corson claims to have shown the inaccuracy of a statement I made a few years ago, is far from convincing. This statement is: "Hot work as such has no influence upon the structure of the metal. Indirectly, however, by retarding crystallization until a lower temperature is reached, it may influence its structure most decidedly ; but the same results could be accomplished by heat treatment alone, i.e., by re-heating the unworked metal to the temperature from which the worked piece was allowed to cool undisturbedly." The Melallographist, vol. ii., p. 267 (under the head of "Changes of Structure Brought About by Work"). Of the two pieces of steel tested by Mr. Corson, one was worked and finished at a a cherry-red" and the other reheated to a cherry-red, and the assumption was made that in both cases the temperature was about 715' C., although no pyrometric device was used to record it. The possibility of considerable difference in temperature alone is so great as to invalidate Mr. Corson's inferences. The apparent temperature,

Jan 1, 1907

By D. K. Crampton, H. l. Burghoff, J. T. Stacy

THE effect of cold-working upon electrical conductivity of copper and of copper alloys appears not to be generally known in detail Although several papers on the subject have been presented, showing variable effects according to alloy composition, it is often assumed that the 2 to 3 per cent lowering of the conductivity of ordinary tough-pitch copper by severe cold-working is typical for copper alloys Because of this situation it was decided to carry out the present work upon several types of copper, copper-zinc alloys over the commercial range of brasses, other binary alloys, and numerous age-hardening alloys in the quenched, and quenched and aged conditions The large number of alloys investigated made it impossible to study every one in the detail it may have merited Inasmuch as several interesting points that could not be satisfactorily explained came to light, further work is contemplated by the authors It is usually considered that the normal effect of cold-work on ductile metals and unordered alloys is to decrease conductivity slightly In alloys that are in the ordered state, as annealed or otherwise heat-treated, cold-working tends to disorder the structure, resulting in very marked lowering of conductivity The random state of atomic arrangement produces lower conductivity than the ordered state for the same composition 1 PREVIOUS WORK previous work in the authors' laboratory has shown the electrical conductivity of several copper alloys to be decreased by greater amounts than might have been expected, in view of the general knowledge on the subject, when cold-worked Guillet and Ballay2 investigated the influence of cold-work upon the resistivity of several metals and alloys, including copper and some copper alloys The increase of resistivity due to severe working was less than 4 per cent for all pure metals tested, while the increases for the alloys were generally higher In the copper-zinc alloys, they found that the increase of resistance due to drawing increased with zinc content, and reported a 21 7 per cent increase of resistance for an alloy containing 67 9 per cent Cu as severely worked Masima and Sachs3 studied the change in electrical resistance of three brass crystals when stretched in the tensile test, obtaining increases in resistance of the order of 3 per cent for 30 to 40 per cent reduction of area of the specimens The resistance decreased again when the cold-worked crystals were subsequently annealed Bardenheuer and Schmidt4 found that the conductivity of copper was decreased by 3 to 4 per cent when reduced 50 per cent by working The conductivity of 72-28

Jan 1, 1941

By C. E. Meissner

The need for a practical method of deciding upon new alloy steel analyses to widen its markets was the problem facing the Chrome Steel Works at the beginning of 1927. In addition to determining the physical properties of the alloys under consideration, it was necessary to test their value in service. Small melts of steel in a crucible, from which test specimens could be made, were insufficient to determine more than physical properties, therefore actual castings and ingots had to be made before the products could be placed in service. Furthermore, to save further experimental work, it was desirable that these heats should be made on a "pilot" basis; that is, actually duplicating regular open-hearth furnace practice. Therefore a one-ton (2000-lb.) acid open-hearth furnace was built. Furnace Design There are no special features in the design of this furnace. Standard acid open-hearth practice is followed, with the reproportioning of the dimensions necessitated by its small size; notably, a considerably increased length in proportion to width in order to get proper flame propagation. After the first heat was made it was found that the check-ers were insufficient. The checker chambers were increased in size and the checker openings were made much smaller. The furnace was started late in March, 1927, and made 65 heats. Experimental work was then stopped unti1, the data accumulated could be worked up and summarized. The run was resumed in November and the furnace is still operating, having made at this writing 60 additional heats. For the last series of runs, there was some rebuilding of both the furnace itself and the checkers. Slag pockets were added. Fig. 1 shows details of construction; Fig. 2, the general appearance. All designing was done by the operating and engineering staff. Construction materials were those available around the plant. The reversing valve is a standard butterfly type taken from an old furnace. The slag pockets and checkers are cleaned by digging down to arched openings which have been bricked up.

By M. E. Gershon

A mixed-integer formulation of the mine scheduling problem is discussed and applied for the purpose of optimizing both the mine production sequencing and the mill blending and processing problem simultaneously. Previous attempts at solving these problem separately, although successful, fail to take into account the interrelationships between these problems. Project structure selves as the outline of this paper Generalized in its organization, this concept is useful for long, intermediate, and short range scheduling. Actual applications that show the concept also is applicable to mining a variety of ore are mentioned.

Jan 1, 1984

By A. A. Archer

Marine mining is here defined as the commercial recovery of minerals other than oil and natural gas from the surface of, or below, the seabed by operations connected only indirectly with the land. The number of operations falling within this definition and the number of countries involved are remarkably limited in view of the widespread interest shown in marine mining prospects during the last few years. Marine mining is still restricted to continental shelves, where the only superficial minerals currently being mined are sand and gravel, calcium carbonate in different forms, and tin and iron sands.

Jan 12, 1973