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By R. J. Miller, W. A. Bates

ALTHOUGH cresylic acids have been standard frothers in flotation for many years, there has been little discussion of their nature in the metallurgical literature. Aside from references in the patent literature, the paper by Landolt, Hill, and Lowy1 in 1930, which presented a study of the frothing and collecting properties of some of the constituents of crude cresylic acids, represents the only contribution of this type. The close froth control required in the delicate selective separations of present-day flotation operations have required the flotation metallurgist to choose his frothers with care, and have caused him to require of the manufacturer a closely controlled, uniform product. A background of knowledge of the chemical composition and physical and chemical properties of the frothers, by which their action may be correlated, should aid in selecting frothers for particular flotation requirements. Further, the recent almost complete replacement in flotation of coal-tar cresylic acids by those derived from petroleum makes it especially desirable to review the flotation behavior of the acids from the old and the new sources. In view of these facts the Milling Methods Committee of the A.I.M.E. suggested to the Oronite Chemical Co. of San Francisco the preparation of a paper on the subject, and this paper has accordingly been prepared as a contribution by the California Research Corporation, the research affiliate of the Oronite Chemical Co. The discussion is from the following aspects: (I) constitution and properties; (2) sources; (3) comparison of coal-tar and petroleum cresylic acids ; (4) characteristics as frothers, with particular reference to the effect of the substitution of petroleum acids for coal-tar acids. CONSTITUTION AND PROPERTIES Cresylic acids are commonly regarded as mixtures of orthocresol, metacresol and paracresol. This was, indeed, the former meaning of the term, but in recent years it has been loosely applied to any mixture of alkyl phenols boiling above 190°C.; that is, excluding only phenol itself. This means that cresylic acids, as they are known today, may consist of mixtures, not only of the three isomeric cresols, but of six xylenols and of a variety of higher boiling homologues. Generically the constituents of cresylic acids are alkyl phenols, and they are often so designated in the literature to avoid the more indefinite term, "cresylic acids." They form an homologous series starting with phenol, which has the familiar benzene ring, with an hydroxyl group in place of one of the hydrogen atoms. The series of alkyl phenols is formed by the substitution of alkyl side chains, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, etc., for hydrogen

Jan 1, 1946

By R. M. Murray

Although blister copper has been produced at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company's works since 1896, it is only during the past five years that electrolytic refining has been undertaken locally, this having been done previously at customs refineries, at first in the United States, and afterwards at Port Kembla, New South Wales. Left to right: smelter building, converter building, blower building (in which converter-generators are housed), tank house and anode dock. Wire-bar furnace building in background at center. Possessing a hydroelectric power plant capable of generating power considerably in excess of the requirements of its mines and works at the time, the company was in a favorable position to undertake its own refining work, provided this advantage was not offset by the high cost of coal, which would have to be imported from the mainland, and provided also that the capital cost of the plant would not be unduly large in regard to the relatively small amount of copper to be treated. A study of these several conditions led to the adoption of a high-density plant using blister-copper anodes and equipped with an electric boiler to provide any

Jan 1, 1934

Frank Firmstone was born Aug. 29, 1846, at Glendon Iron Works, near Easton, Pa., the residence of his father, William Firmstone, one of the pioneers of the anthracite-iron business. After preliminary school education at Easton, Pa., he attended the Saunders Military Academy in Philadelphia and subsequently entered the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated as Mining Engineer in 1865, at the age of nineteen. In 1865 and 1866, he was employed in railroad surveying. In January, 1867, he became draftsman and in 1869, assistant manager of the Glendon Iron Works, of which his father was manager until his death in 1875, when the son practically succeeded to that position, becoming formally in January, 1877, and remaining until February, 1887, the manager of the works and business agent of the Glendon Iron Company. In February, 1889, he became President of the Cranberry Iron and Coal Company, and held that position until November, 1897. He was a director of the Longdale Iron Company, Longdale, Va., from its organizationin 1870 until its dissolution in 1911. With the termination of this official responsibility, Mr. Firmstone retired from active business, although he continued to maintain an intelligent interest, and to play a helpful part, in the scientific progress of the iron industry, in which he had been a leader.

Jan 1, 1920

By R. Moldenke

Unlike the furnaces employed in the reduction of ores to mattes and metals, the foundry-cupola has only melting to do. This looks simple enough; and its development has progressed through centuries by cut-and-try methods; but there is still much to be learned concerning the causes which underlie the production of defective castings, even from first-rate materials. There are other differences between the smelter and the cupola. The former is usually, the latter rarely, run continuously. In the smelter there is some chance for experiment, since rich slags can be treated again; while in the cupola the metal must be good for casting from the first tap to the drop of the bottom ; otherwise, heavy damage will result. In the smelter, the object sought is the production of metal or matte with a minimum loss in the slag; whereas, in the foundry, a variety of castings of different compositions must often be run from the same heat, one after the other. Experience with the cupola has shown that the melting should take place, throughout the heat, in one zone, the zone of maximum temperature, which is clearly marked on the cupola-lining by the severe cutting action of the slag and iron oxide. The design and operation of the cupola must conform to this condition. This conformity having been secured, other considerations resolve themselves into those details of construction which will involve least trouble and cost of repairs. The very high temperatures required to melt iron and steel in the cupola, leaving the metal sufficiently superheated for casting, render the use of water-jackets inadvisable. It is always possible to patch up the lining at the melting-zone between daily heats; and the rest of the lining is seldom affected enough by abrasion and chemical action to require replacement oftener than once in nine months. The cupola is practically a shell of steel, lined with the proper refractory material, and provided with a sct of tuyeres for the admission of air to burn the fuel and melt the metallic

Jan 1, 1913

By Charles E. Packard

Many coal producers have been faced recently with the problem of arranging their production facilities to accommodate recent trends in the transportation of their product. Each operator is normally faced with a different problem requiring a system to meet his specific needs. It may be that he would be required to load a seven or eight thousand ton integral train each day which would naturally call for a large storage pile, high loading rate, accomplished in a minimum of time On the other hand, it may be that he is faced with furnishing coal to make up one-half of a unit train that is to be assembled twice a week. Whether the problem is large or small, many considerations must be given to each specific problem to be certain that the proper scheme is applied. The operator actually has several choices as to what type of storage and loading facilities he may consider. The storage pile, for instance, may be open type, conical in shape, kidney-shaped, or long and wedge-shaped. It may also be enclosed by steel or concrete

Jan 8, 1964

By Charles Baskerville

Shales containing "kerogen," or bituminous matter, which on destructive distillation yield oily and tarry matters resembling petroleum are here designated as oil-shales. They differ from oil-bearing shales from which petroleum may be obtained by so-called mechanical means. The educts obtained by the destructive distillation resemble some or all the varieties of petroleum, depending on the character of the shale and the mode of treatment. Some shale oils have a paraffin base, some an asphaltic base, or a combination; some run high in sulfur compounds. The methods of refining and cracking, therefore, are essentially the same as are used in refining petroleums. In 1860, in this country, over fifty companies were successfully distilling various natural bituminous materials for the production of " coal oil," used for illuminating purposes. The discovery of petroleum and the failure of these companies to save and utilize the valuable byproduct, ammonia, brought about their inevitable doom. Prior to that time, more or less successful efforts were made to produce from the shales of Scotland oils for illuminating and heating purposes. Competition of native petroleum from the United States early eliminated some of these companies and with the entrance of oil from the Russian and other fields into the world's markets, the Scottish oil-shale industry underwent serious and trying experiences until, in 1916, only four (Scottish) were paying concerns. These survived only through energy and the application of skill in saving valuable byproducts. A few companies have successfully operated in France and New Zealand. The Canadian Government showed active interest in the New Brunswick shales, which exist in quantity and are more valuable than the Scottish shales. The retarded development of that valuable asset of the Province of New Brunswick was most unfortunate, especially when the product was so much needed in the prosecution of the war. The economic success of a shale-oil industry depends on the following factors:

Jan 1, 1921

By George W. Mansfield

My plan in this paper is, first, to prove three general points, and then to take up the specific applications of the electric motor to nining work. The three poinb are: 1. The electric system is the simplest method known for transmitting and distributing any amount of energy from one locality to another, irrespective of the intervening distance. 2. The electric system with its applications is not in its infancy.

Jan 1, 1888

By S. Grinsfelder

Although wildcatting was hampered by the general overproduction and low price of crude, several developments, worthy of note in the history of the petroleum industry in the Rocky Mountain region, were made in 1927. This district records production from six new fields, two of these having been heretofore productive of gas. Deeper pay horizons were found in two other oil fields. In order to facilitate transportation from fields, six new oil pipe lines were completed or in the course of construction at the end of the year, and one line is proposed for 1928. Four gas lines were completed, one was under construction, and one was proposed for 1928. The total production in 1927 in the Rocky Mountain district was 29,591,379 bbl.,' a decrease of 7,771,991 bbl., or 21 per cent., fro111 the previous year. This was occasioned by natural decline and the general curtailment of production and drilling. A review of the development by states follows. Colorado Production from horizons in the Morrison and Sundance at Craig and at Ilrs Dome, and the bringing in of the deepest producing well in the Rocky Mountain district on North McCalluin anticline (Waltlrn) in Jackson County are the outstanding developments for the year in Colorado. In March the Midwest Refining Co.'s Parkinson 21 SD, SW SE, Sec. 22 T p. 4 N R 92 W, Iles Domr, Moffat County Colorado, found gas in sands in the Morrison estimated at 15,000,000 cu. ft., and at 3242 ft. an oil sand was encountered in the Sundance. Initial production from this horizon was 2575 bbl. in this well. This structure previously was only productive of water in the sands of the Dakota group but has been producing shale oil from horizons in the Benton. The second well completed by the Midwest Refining Co., No. 18 SD in Sec. 23 was also productive of gas in the Morrison and made an initial of 300 bbl. from sands in the Sundance. By the end of the year three other wells wrrc nearing the completion stage but none of them indicate that they will be as big producers as the discovery. To date the productive area has

Jan 1, 1928

By Roger W. Swindle

INTRODUCTION The Uravan Mineral Belt in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah is a uranium-vanadium mining district with a unique set of radon daughter control problems. This paper describes these problems and the methods that have been developed to deal with them. The greatest emphasis is placed on the problems caused by air stagnation because these are the most frequently encountered ventilation problems, and this is an aspect of uranium mine ventilation that is often misunderstood. VENTILATION PROBLEMS Most of the mine ventilation problems in the Uravan Mineral Belt are caused by one or more of the following conditions: (1) the highly irregular ore deposits are difficult to locate and delineate, (2) air stagnation occurs in many areas of the extremely irregular mine workings, and (3) it is often necessary to reactivate old workings with small airways that are often caved. Planning Problems Orebodies in the Uravan Mineral Belt are so discontinuous and unpredictable that they are difficult to locate and delineate. Data supplied by surface drilling and underground test holing are often misleading; very little ore may be found in the vicinity of an ore hole, and, conversely, an unmineralized hole may be adjacent to a high-grade ore deposit. Also, ore guides are often ambiguous, and their interpretation is usually a matter of opinion.

Jan 1, 1983

By J. S. Vanick

An extremely hard, tough, and strong, white or chilled cast iron has been applied for the past several years to industrial and mining services in which its unusual properties have been confirmed by its ability to deliver in many instances much better performance than plain chilled iron, or other wear-resistant materials. It is being produced regularly by alloying a good base composition of chilled or white cast iron with essentially 4 to 6 per cent of nickel and 1 to 2.5 per cent of chromium. Such a material can attain a hardness exceeding 600 to 750 Brinell as against 380 to 530 for corresponding grades of plain chilled iron. The strength is approximately doubled and the toughness significantly increased. These properties make it especially useful for many applications requiring a high hardness for resistance to wear, abrasion, attrition, deformation; to some extent to high compressive loading and to a lesser but important degree to corrosive action. A wide variety of commercial castings is being successfully produced from this iron, ranging in size from the small grain-grinding plates or burrs through medium-sized castings such as sand pumps up to large, heavy castings such as rolls for metal rolling or cement grinding. The composition of this white cast iron may be roughly bracketed within the range shown in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1933

No. 526.-At liberty about Mar. 1, 1919. Just returned from France, a Captain of Engineers. Member A. I. M. E., A. I. E. E., 35 years old, technical education. Last six years of civil life as electrical engineer, master mechanic and superintendent of construction with large mining company. Salary expected, $3600 per year. No. 535.-Member, 'mining engineer, technical graduate, age 34 years, experience as engineer for coal companies. Three and one-half years with one company and five years with another. Have good recommendations. Recently honorably discharged, First Lieutenant, U. S. Army. Desires position, preferably in West. Salary last received, $175 per month. No. 555.-Metallurgical engineer having 18 years' experience in positions from chemist to manager, specializing in the smelting of copper, gold and silver ores, and now returning to the U. S. Available about May 15. No. 556.-Manager or superintendent, member, technical graduate, age 44, married, desires position. Good references, 18 years' experience in positions of responsibility and administration. Familiar with development, mining, milling, operation, construction and management. Available on short notice. , No. 557.-Member, technical education, married, age 30. Five. years' experience in construction work, four years superintendent of mining and milling operations. Looking for wider experience. Free Apr. 1.

Jan 4, 1919

By S. H. Ash

Foreman remains key man in any safety program, as men attracted to the industry must be trained in safety thinking. Diesel engines underground aid safety and widespread use of roof bolting is reflected in reduction of roof-fall fatalities.

Jan 2, 1953

By J. J. Jakosky

The strategic importance of the metallic minerals in our industrial economy, and the declining rates of discovery have focused attention on means of exploration for new mineral deposits. A consideration of exploration techniques leads to an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of geophysics as a tool for mining exploration. One means of evaluation will be to compare the use of geophysics in petroleum exploration with its possible uses in mining. Geophysics in Petroleum Exploration During the past twenty years, the petroleum industry has established an effective exploration technique. Geology is the basic tool in those areas where reliable predictions can be made from surface conditions. In the other areas, where the geological studies are inadequate, they must be supplemented with geophysics or direct exploration, such as drilling. Since geophysical work is far less costly than any form of direct explbration, it is used almost exclusively as the means for obtaining the desired subsurface information. The geological and geophysical techniques are credited with locating sites which yielded one producer for three dry holes during the year 1947.' For the wells located without geology or geophysics, there is a ratio of one producing well to sixteen dry holes. From these figures it is seen that the geological and geophysical techniques are more than four times as successful as the nontechnical exploration. It will be in order to consider further this ratio of one producer to three dry holes. The geophysical methods in use today† do not pretend to locate oil directly; their function is to locate anomalies or structures favorable for the accumulation of oil. For a producing oil well we must have not only structure, but also other favorable conditions, namely: petroliferous source beds, the required porosity and permeability in the reservoir rocks, an impermeable cap rock over the reser- voir, and the necessary water or gravity drive to force the oil into the bore hole. Since the geophysical work can only detect and sometimes delimit the anomaly, these other necessary conditions can be determined only by direct exploration. The success of modern geophysical work in locating and limiting the structure itself is remarkably high, probably over 95 pct accurate. Geophysical work renders an important service in the delineation of the structurally unfavorable areas and their elimination from the drilling phase of the exploration program. When attempting to locate any material of scarce occurrence in the earth, it is of paramount importance to know where not to dig. This elimination of barren areas is the least appreciated but is of great economic importance. For illustration, the difference between one producer to three dry holes, and one producer to sixteen dry holes, represents a saving of thirteen drilled wells, which would require an expenditure many times the cost of the geophysical work that might have revealed the nonfavorable structural conditions. The percentage of geophysically-located wells necessarily will continue to increase in the statistics of future years, as the search for oil is extended

Jan 1, 1950

By Paul M. Tyler

YEAR after year, the kaolin industry of the United States has been setting new production records and making better products. High-grade paper, pottery, and rubber clays are produced in this country mostly in the South. Georgia alone contributes over 70 pct and South Carolina almost 20 pct of the total domestic output. Residual kaolin is mined in North Carolina, highly plastic but naturally sandy Tertiary (Eocene) potting clays are worked in north central Florida, and good white clays are produced in several other states, but the main sources of kaolin or china clay have been numerous deposits in the Tuscaloosa (Upper Cretaceous) formation. This formation of generally sandy sediments is called the Middendorf member in older geologic reports and corresponds in age with some of the New Jersey clays. As shown in fig. 1, it crops out almost continuously in a generally southwesterly direction across South Carolina and Georgia and into Alabama. Clay is mined from this formation in all three states but the principal producing centers lie within about 10 miles of a straight line drawn between Aiken, S. C., and a point about 10 miles south of Macon, Ga. The white kaolins of the South were recognized and used prior to the Civil War but suitable treatment processes were not introduced until World War I when imports, chiefly from England, were curtailed. Although imports of high-grade clays were resumed after 1918, the domestic industry managed to treble its prewar production record during the early 1920's and has continued to grow. Whereas the 1909 to 1913 average total production in the United States was only 132,104 short tons valued at $705,352 f.o.b. mines, the output in 1948 was 1,568,848 tons worth $19,756,738.

Jan 6, 1950

• Phelps-Dodge Corp. signed an agreement with the Defense Materials Procurement Agency to increase copper production from the east ore deposit of the company's Copper Queen branch at Bisbee, Ariz. The company agreed to undertake a $25 million expansion program, including construction of a concentrating and leaching plant at the Bisbee mine and enlargement of the Douglas smelter. The Government agreed to buy the first 112,500 tons of the first 150,000 tons produced at 22e per lb if the company could not sell at a higher price. The new facilities will have a yearly capacity of 38,000 tons and should be in production by late 1954 or early 1955. • American Smelting & Refining Co. has started construction of a new building to house the Central Research laboratory at South Plainfield, N. J. It will have approximately 75 individual laboratories and an equal number of offices and shops. Modern apparatus to be installed will include electron microscopes, electric and fuelfired furnaces, miniature copper refineries and zinc plants, wire drawing machinery, and large pilot plant laboratory. In the new building scientists study the base metals, and the development of new uses for a number of Asarco by-products, arsenic, and little

Jan 11, 1951

By W. M. Courtis

THIS district commences near Pigeon River, the northeastern boundary between Minnesota and Province of Ontario, and extends entirely around the north shore of Lake Superior, terminating for the present at the Bruce Mines on Lake Huron. The discoveries of mineral-bearing veins have been confined for the most part to the lake shore, or to the country opened up by the Dawson Red River road. As yet the country back from the lake has been but little explored, on account of its roughness, being intersected by steep, rocky trap bluffs, 1000 or more feet high, and alternating white cedar and tamarack swamps. The forests are exceedingly difficult for prospectors. In many places Titanic piles of rocks, protected by chevaux-de frise of dead cedars, with their hooked, tough, sharp branches, and- a covering of spongy moss, sometimes several feet thick, successively guard against the discovery of hidden treasure. The Hudson's Bay Company for nearly a century have maintained trading-posts at Fort William and other points, which probably opened the way to the first discoveries that were made at Prince's Bay, near the western limit of the district. At this point a large vein was worked by Colonel Prince, the owner, as early as 1846. The richest part of the vein seems to have been on Spar Island, but work was stopped on account of excess of water. Sir William Logan states that a mass of ore weighing several hundred pounds and carrying 3 per cent. of silver was taken out. On the mainland small quantities of native and sulphide of silver were found, together with iron and copper pyrites, zinc blende, and galena, in a large spar vein. On the main shore a drift 165 feet long and 90 feet in depth

Jan 1, 1877

By W. M. Albrecht, M. W. Mallett

The solubilities of hydrogen in titanium and several of its alloys were determined at 600 to 1000°C and pressures of 0.05 to 10µ of mercury. Solubility increases with increasing beta phase in the alloys. Factors found to affect degassing rates are specimen size and presence of thick surficial oxide. Removal of hydrogen by heating in vacuum and in flowing inert atmospheres was studied. Practical curves predicting minimum degassing times are presented. THE presence of hydrogen in titanium and titanium alloys has detrimental effects on the mechanical properties of the metal.'"," The hydrogen content of commercial titanium is sometimes of the order of 200 ppm by weight' and varies with alloy composition. As a consequence, titanium and some titanium alloys as normally processed are sometimes not ductile unless treated to lower the hydrogen content. The best known hydrogen-removal treatment is heating the material in a vacuum. The rate of removal (degassing) at a give temperature determines the duration of the treatment required to attain a satisfactory low hydrogen level.

Jan 1, 1959

Members of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgica Engineers can now secure copies of the Journal of the Institute of Metals of Great Britain at a special price of $5 for the two volumes issued during the year, postage extra amounting to approximately 25 cents. This Journal is one of the best books dealing with the subject of non-ferrous metals and alloys and this arrangement with the Institute of Metals permits our members to take advantage of this specially low price. Back numbers of the Journal can be purchased on the same basis. The Journal can be ordered directly through the office of the Institute of Metals, Great Britain 36 Victoria St., Westminster, S. W. I., London, England. The letter should be accompanied by an international money order and a copy sent to Secretary of the A. I. M. E. in order that the membership record may be checked.

Jan 9, 1919

By H. M. Howe

On commencing the construction of the Orford Company's copper smelting works, at Bergen Point, N. J., I endeavored to convince our President, Mr. W. E. C. Eustis, by actual tests, that at the pressure of from 15 to 18 ounces per square inch, employed by us in smelting, less power was consumed in delivering a unit of blast by a Baker blower than by a fan blower. I attempted to prove this in the following manner: Across the mouth of a No. 5) Baker blower I firmly fastened a board with two round holes, 6 inches in diameter, cut in it. The board was fastened so tightly that no air could escape except through the holes. I then drove the blower at several differerent speeds, observing the pressure at which the air excaped through the two openings for each different speed of the blower, and also indicating the engine, whose only work at that time was to drive the blower. From this I calculated the quantity of power required to deliver, with a Baker blower, sufficient air to keep the pressure at a given point, while it escaped freely through the two six-inch apertures into the open air; or, in other words, to deliver air at a given pressure through these two openings. From the total power so consumed it was, of course, necessary to deduct the power which was required to drive the engine itself. This was ascertained by removing from the engine the belt which drove the blower, and then noting the quantity of power consumed in simply turning the engine over without any

Jan 1, 1882

By W. L. Saunders

It is now generally admitted by experts that at least so far as rapid progress is concerned the Alpine system of tunnel-driving is superior to any other. This is perhaps natural in view of the record of experience in driving tunnels through the Alps. These great mountain-chains cannot be treated in the ordinary way by shaft-sinking and driving headings, thus multiplying the points of attack. The work must be done from the ends only, hence speed in driving is of the utmost importance ; and, as necessity is the mother of invention, the concentration of effort to make progress has resulted in an organization and in mechanical appliances that have produced results so much in excess of the usual practice, even in America, that a discussion of the subject in detail should be of much value to the engineer and contractor. The first Alpine tunnel mas the Mont Cenis, length 7.5 miles, driven with a progress that averaged about 7.75 ft. per day. Next came the Saint Gothard, 9.5 niiles long, 18 ft. per day; Arlberg, 6.5 miles long, 27.25 ft. per day; Simplon, 12.25 miles long, 36 ft. per day. The figures represent progress when driving from two headings, so that by dividing them in two we get the daily single-heading progress. The latest of the Alpine tunnels is the Loetschberg, now being driven. In this work the world's record has been beaten by a single day's record in one heading of 36 ft. and by an average daily record in one heading of 29.5 feet. The Alpine range forms a natural barrier between a large section of northern and southern Europe. This range extends from the southeast of Prance to the frontier of Hungary, betveen Italy and the plains of sonthern Germany. The contour

Jan 1, 1912