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By John E. Conley

The great demand for metallic aluminum for the prosecution of World War II caused the consumption of bauxite, the common ore of aluminum, to increase greatly. Prior to the war, the domestic deposits 'of bauxite, which occur chiefly in Arkansas and less extensively in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, supplied only: about 30 ,percent of the ore required for aluminum-metal production and approximately 40 percent of alumina for all purposes. Enemy activities during the war seriously interfered with shipment of bauxite from the normal peacetime source in Surinam, Netherlands Guiana, South America, and focused attention on the necessity for increasing production from known domestic deposits. Even in peacetime, the production of aluminum ore in the United States could not satisfy requirements. Field drilling and exploration by Bureau of Mines engineers resulted in the discovery of important tonnages of high-grade bauxite suitable for treatment by the conventional Bayer process, Although an ore containing approximately 55 percent Al2O3 and only 2 to 4 percent SiO2 is preferable, it was necessary to use ores containing up to 8 or 10 percent SiO2. Because of the lower recoveries of aluminum with increased silica content, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, through the Metals Reserve Company, established a base price of $4 for a 50-percent Al2O3 ore, containing 13-percent silica, with a premium or penalty of 14 cents for each percent of Al2O3 over or under 50; each percent of SiO2 under 13 was awarded a 20-cent premium, and each percent over 13 suffered a penalty of 43 cents; all prices were on the basis of 1 long ton of ore, dry basis.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. R. Long

The Federal Bureau of Mines has pioneered the work of preparing ductile titanium on a large scale and has also determined the basic properties of this new and most interesting metal. A number of reports (1, 2, 3: 4, 5) have al-ready been published, and considerable interest has been aroused in a number of industrial and research laboratories. Some of these laboratories have also published results of their work on the pure metal. Although the properties of titanium itself are quite promising, it is apparent that considerable improvement may be expected by alloying titanium with other metals. That is, pure metals in general have shown relatively large improvements in properties when alloyed with other metals and titanium is not considered to be an exception to the rule. Therefore, the emphasis of the investigations now under way in the Federal Bureau of Mines Laboratories has been placed on the study of the alloys of titanium, particularly the titanium-rich alloys. While the main interest is in the properties of such alloys, proper direction and evaluation of the work require at least a rough outline of the phase boundaries of the alloy systems involved.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. R. Long

The investigations described herein are concerned with a portion of a systematic research, by the Federal Bureau of Mines on ductile titanium. The Bureau's work on the metal has resulted in development of a semi commercial process for the preparation of titanium and has also made available significant information on the fabrication and physical properties of this new strong, light, corrosion-resistant metal. Considerable interest has been aroused by this work, and a number of other laboratories have begun similar investigations. However, the necessity for Consolidating titanium by normal powder metallurgy methods presents difficulties in producing commercial forms and shapes on a large scale. This investigation was therefore undertaken for the purpose of improving the technique for consolidation of titanium powder into solid nonporous metal.

Jan 1, 1949

By H. W. Busch

In the course of examinations by representatives of the Bureau of Mines of several compressed-air systems in which explosions had occurred, samples were obtained of the carbon deposits that are formed normally in various parts of the systems by decomposition of the compressor lubricating oil. Experimentation with these carbon deposits has demonstrated that they contain a "carbon-oxygen complex" similar to that formed on coal and on other carbonaceous materials and generally recognized as being the cause of spontaneous heating of coal. The exothermic properties exhibited by such a complex are considered significant in relation to the possible initiation of combustion reactions that may lead to explosions or formation of carbon monoxide in compressed-air systems. This report discusses the occurrence of explosions and formation of carbon monoxide in the use of compressed air and presents results of experimentation conducted with carbon deposits from air compressors.

Jan 1, 1949

By K. C. Dean

During the investigation of the occurrence of manganese deposits in western United States, the Bureau of Mines collected 2-ton samples from three oxide manganese ores in the Columbia and Elberta Mining Districts, Tooelo and Juab Counties, Utah. To determine the amenability of these ores to standard ore-dressing methods: of concentration, extensive laboratory tests were made. The Wildcat property, one of those sampled, is 7 miles east of Fairfield, Tooele County, Utah. The ore is described as a replacement deposit and occurs along fracture and bedding planes of shale and limestone. Experimental work was done on a sample taken from a stockpile at the mouth of the shaft. The Wildcat manganese ore is intermediate in grade (25.7 percent manganese) and contains clay as the principal gangue constituent. A high-grade product was obtained with high recovery of Manganese by simple washing.

Jan 1, 1949

By Norma Golumbic

The primary purpose of the Bergius (hydrogenation of coal) and Fischer-Tropsch (hydrogenation of carbon monoxide) processes is the production of synthetic liquid fuels. This objective is of importance in insuring an adequate supply of motor fuels and lubricating oils in the United States. In the urgency of the basic research and process development work on synthetic liquid fuels, the possibilities for the production of synthetic chemicals inherent in these processes have hitherto received little attention in this country. However, the by-products, as well as the primary products, from the Bergius and Fischer-Tropsch processes are rich source materials for organic chemicals. The overhead oil from liquid-phase hydrogenation of coal, for example, contains benzene, toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, aromatic solvents, about 20 percent tar acids (largely phenol, cresols, and xylenols), and 3 percent nitrogen bases. Wax, alcohols, and acids are by--products of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. In addition, techniques have been developed which make possible the production of aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, and other oxygenated organic compounds. These chemicals are more valuable on a unit basis than gasoline. Because of continued rapid expansion of the plastic, resin, lacquer, and solvent industries, larger amounts of many of these chemicals will be needed in the near future.

Jan 1, 1949

By A. M. Cummings

During August 1943, the Bureau of Mines undertook sampling and measuring of the Kennedy zinc tailing pile near Hazel Green, Lafayette County, south-western Wisconsin, as part of a general investigation of this lead-and zinc-producing area at a time when it was extremely important to increase the production of metals for the Nation's War program. The tailing pile was the residue from old jigging plants that treated ore from the Kennedy mine, one of the oldest and. largest mines in the district. Because retreatment of tailing by modern milling methods was proving economically successful at other sites in the southwestern Wisconsin field, the Bureau?s investigation was designed to assist the potential operators in evaluating the feasibility of a retreatment operation at this site. The study involved measurement of the tailing pile and sampling by means of auger to determine the average metal content within the narrowest possible limits. A total of 46 auger holes ranging in depths up to 40 feet and aggregating 886.5 feet of bore were drilled in the tailing pile, and weighted samples from each hole were analyzed and averaged to determine the zinc and iron content of the tailing.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. T. Millar

Magnetite mines in the Sterling tract, Orange County, N. Y., were operated almost continuously from pre-Revolutionary days until 1923. The Red-Back mine, one of several in this tract, was discovered in 1780; operated briefly in 1880; and abandoned, presumably because the iron ore contained considerable sulfur. The mine is in rough, mountainous country, with altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,100 feet. The magnetite deposit occurs in complex metamorphosed pre-Cambrian formation and is thought to be a replacement of limestone by magnetite. A dip-needle survey, completed in 1916, traced magnetic anomalies for a mile along the outcrop. A preliminary examination of the Red-Back mine was made by W. T. Millar, Bureau of Mines engineer, in December 1942. The Bureau of Mines bored seven diamond-drill holes aggregating 2,727.6 feet during the winter of 1943-44. A zone of magnetite mineralization was intersected in each of the holes.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. M. Traver

During World War II, the Bureau of Mines investigated a large number of ore deposits in the United States and Alaska in a search for domestic sources of strategic minerals. Deposits chosen for exploration included those expected to contain metals of importance in the successful prosecution of the war. This report describes exploration of a district of known antimony occurrence on Coyote or Antimony Creek near Antimony, Garfield County, Utah. A preliminary report by Paul T. Allsman, Chief of the Bureau's Salt Lake City branch made in August 1941, recommended further investigation, and proposed methods for performing the work. The project, begun in November 1941 and completed in January 1942, included trenching and sampling in four of the most promising parts of the area The Federal Geological Survey cooperated in the work by detailed mapping and assisted in the interpretation of geologic data.

Jan 1, 1949

By William H. King

Preliminary examination of the Virgin River manganese deposit was made by C. H. Johnson, Bureau of Mines engineer, in March 1941. During, April and May 8 trenches were dug, a 48-foot inclined shaft was sunk, and 719 linear feet of channel samples were cut. McKelvey and Wiese, of the Federal Geological Survey, completed mapping the deposit, including the entire area of overlying formations comprising the point of land between the outcrop and Lake Mead. The geologic maps, maps, and ore estimates resulting from these examinations formed the basis for a preliminary report by C. H. Johnson, who recommended further exploration by diamond drilling.

Jan 1, 1949

By C. C. Popoff

The development of glass-making industries in the Pacific Northwest as well as other industries that use pure silica has been retarded by lack of local supplies of low-cost raw material. Several quartz deposits along the Skagit River constitute the only known source of relatively pure silica within the range of cheap transportation to the Seattle industrial area. Although some silica has been mined from these deposits, very little information regarding their size, grade, and other physical characteristics has been available to the general public. As a part of its program of investigation of the mineral resources of the Pacific Northwest, the Bureau of Mines assigned the writer to examine the Skagit River silica deposits in October 1946. This report presents the factual data obtained from an examination of the so-called Stoner, Bacon Creek, and Pressentin deposits. These deposits are the largest and most easily accessible known to exist in the area. The deposits are near Marblemount, which is on State Highway 17A. They are within 1 mile to 1-1/2 miles of the Skagit. River Railway, which provides transportation to Seattle, a distance of 130 miles. None of the deposits has been developed thoroughly. The Stoner deposit, however, has been developed by a quarry about, 5,0 feet square and has been exposed by hydraulic removal of the overburden throughout a distance of 180 feet along the hanging wall of the vein

Jan 1, 1949

By G. W. Jones

The operation of combustion engines of various types at high altitudes and other combustion processes at reduced pressures have made it desirable to determine limits of flammabilities -under these conditions. Experiments carried out by the Bureau of Mines have shown that although natural gas-air mixtures become more difficult to ignite as the pressure is reduced below atmospheric, with a suitable source of ignition the limits of flammability are as wide at 175 mm mercury absolute as they are at atmospheric pressure.

Jan 1, 1949

By J. A. Herdlick

The Star mine, near Neihart, Cascade County, Mont., has been in continuous operation since the construction of a 50-ton bulk flotation mill in 1939. The mine was examined by G. N. Bennett, an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, in November 1942. At that time the life of the operation appeared to be limited and a program of crosscutting and core drilling were recommended. The program had as its objective the investigation of a promising undeveloped area lying west of the Star vein and, if possible, the development of enough reserves in this area to insure continuous operation during the war emergency. Development of additional reserves would then justify necessary changes in the mill in order to eliminate the heavy penalties imposed for excess zinc in the bulk concentrates. The Bureau of Mines work began in February 1944 and was completed in September 1944. The project was started by Wilder R. Brinton and continued by Thomas W. Oster, mining engineers in the Bureau's Montana district office. Beneficiation tests on are and concentrates were made after completion of the underground work. This report presents the factual data obtained during all phases of the Bureau's investigation.

Jan 1, 1949

By D. W. Butner

As a part of the Bureau of Mines program for the discovery and development of critical and essential mineral deposits, the Darwin district, Inyo County, Calif., was chosen for investigation as a possible source of, tungsten ore. Two properties were active in the district at the time. One was producing tungsten concentrate and the other was preparing to produce tungsten concentrate as a byproduct in the milling of lead-zinc ore. The objective of the project set up by the Bureau was to investigate promising areas and to sample, thoroughly those which preliminary inspection indicated contained tungsten ore. Work was begun November 17) 1941, and completed January 19, 1942. In the course of the project, 18 localities were inspected and 9 were sampled. The following pages brief the history, note the location, and outline the physical features and geology of the district. The work performed by the Bureau of Mines is described and supplemented with assay maps.

Jan 1, 1949

By Paul T. Allsman

The vanadiferous deposits of the Sublette Ridge and Salt River Range, 2 miles east of Raymond, Idaho, in western Lincoln County, Wyo., were examined August 24 to August 30, 1942, by an engineer of the Bureau of Mines, who was shown these properties by W. W. Rubey of the Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. The Sublette Ridge deposits are owned by the former U. S. Phosphate Co. H. F. Chaney, Portland, Oreg., is the representative for the company. The following report covers the history of the district, outlines the physical features and communications, mentions the property, and notes the ownership. The deposits and ore are described, and work performed by the Bureau of Mines is explained in detail. Ore-dressing tests and methods are explained.

Jan 1, 1949

By K. E. Stanfield

One of the initial projects under the oil-shale research and development phase of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act, Public- Law 290, 78th Congress, approved April 5, 1944, was a survey of oil shales of the United States for the selection of a site for an oil-shale demonstration plant. The oil shales were assayed by the conventional Bureau of Mines retort method proposed by Karrick and described by Guthrie in a more recent publication. From previous experience and that had in making these assays, it became evident that the assay method should be modified or replaced by a more satisfactory one. There are several outstanding objections to the Bureau of Mines oil-shale assay method: (1) the oil yields are frequently smaller than those obtained by other types of assay equipment and by commercial retorts; (2) the assayed oil yield represents only a portion of the organic matter in the shale, which under more favorable conditions, may, Jae converted, more completely into oil; (3) the retorting procedure is controlled mainly by trial-and-error methods; and (4) the assay requires approximately 6 hours for completion.

Jan 1, 1949

By Frank J. Wiebelt

The Mohawk lead-zinc mining in San Bernardino County, Calif., was examined by D. W. Butnor, an engineer or the Bureau of Mines, at the request of Dunton, Ray, and Greenwood, leaseholders. Current operations were on a marginal economic basis, and government aid was sought in an endeavor to outline ore reserves so that production might be maintained.

Jan 1, 1949

The Waukon iron deposit comprises about 210 acres situated 2-1/2 miles north of Waukon, in Allamakee County, northeastern Iowa. The deposits have been exploited intermittently since 1899 and have produced about 67,000 tons of concentrated iron ore. From January to May 1943, the Bureau of Mines investigated the deposit to determine the extent of the ore-bearing material and its amenability to concentration, Seventy-one test pits were sunk. Those that indicated are of a grade high enough to warrant concentration tests were sampled. Average grade of ore was indicated to be 37.02 percent iron and 27.78 percent silica on a dry basis. Beneficiation tests indicated that the percentage of recovery might be relatively low.

Jan 1, 1949

By Louis C. Brichta

The rapid depletion of known deposits of high-grade ore and the need for development of additional reserves, together with increased interest in open-pit mining of low-grade zinc-lead ores in the Tri-State District, led the Bureau of Mines to examine likely mining sites. Underground operations failed to remove all of the ore in a number of areas, and it appeared possible that some of them might be reworked successfully by low-cost open-pit methods. The South Carthage or Hull tract in Jasper County, Mo., was selected by Bureau engineers as favorable for the development of an open-pit mine.

Jan 1, 1949

By N. L. Wimmler

The Metaline mining district was examined in 1942 by Bureau of Mines engineers with the cooperation of geologists of the Federal Geological Survey. Because the demands of war production were rapidly depleting reserves in some of the older zinc-lead producing districts of the United States, it was decided that an attempt should be made to increase the proved or indicated ore reserves of the Metaline district. With this objective, certain areas to be explored by diamond drilling were selected. The Bureau of Mines began work on this program. January 15, 1943; work terminated September 8, 1945. Forty-five holes were drilled in seven areas, The holes ranged from 154 feet to 2,050 feet in length. Their combined length was 38,150 feet. Thirty-three of the holes were drilled in. the North Pend Oreille and the West Bella May areas.

Jan 1, 1949