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By J. J. Gilman, T. A. Read

FOLLOWING the deformation 01 zinc monocrys-tals, sharply bent basal planes are observed near several types of inhomogeneities. Three of these in-homogeneities have characteristics which are quite regular so that they can be studied and analyzed. These are compressive kink bands, "deformation bands," and the inhomogeneities near end restraints. The present paper describes experiments in which "deformation bands" were artificially produced, and bend plane phenomena are discussed in terms of dislocation theory. Also, two new bend plane phenomena are described. The importance of bend plane phenomena in the deformation of crystals is not widely recognized. Many phenomena may be explained in a manner similar to the discussion in this paper. Jillson1 has pointed out that the "punching effect" in zinc is a bend plane phenomenon and is not caused by prismatic slip.' Bowles3 has suggested that they may be involved in diffusionless phase changes. Cahn4 has discussed the role of bend plane formation in the polygonization of zinc. Experimental Work Tensile Kink Bands: Because of the geometrical similarity between "deformation bands" and "kink bands" (compare Fig. 1 of this paper with Fig. 1 of the paper by Hess and Barrett"), the band shown in Fig. 1 of this paper will be called a "tensile kink band," and that shown by Hess and Barrett will be called a "compressive kink band." It is felt that the term "deformation band" should be reserved for banded structures in polycrystalline materials such as iron." Tensile kink bands seem to form spontaneously in aluminum crystals deformed by tensile loading.7-10 In zinc and cadmium crystals they do not form in good, carefully loaded specimens.'." However, tensile kink bands can be produced artificially in zinc crystals. The present authors did this by scratching one of the flat surfaces of triangular crystals transversely with a sharp needle. Natural tensile kink bands caused by inhomogeneities sometimes appeared in deformed crystals which were identical in appearance with the artificially produced ones. Zinc monocrystals were grown by the Bridgman method in graphite molds. Chemically pure zinc (99.999+ pct Zn) was used and the molds were sealed inside evacuated pyrex tubes during growth. The crystal cross sections were equilateral triangles with a typical base of 0.210 in. The artificial kink band shown in Fig. 1 is typical of tensile kink bands in zinc. The band lies between two bend planes which run from upper right to lower left and is inclined oppositely to the slip bands which are sharply bent at the two bend planes. The general form of the artificial tensile kink bands was independent of the scratch depth (1 to 5 mils deep) and also independent of which side was scratched. These variables did cause variations, however. Deep scratches produced more localized kink bands than light scratches. Also, if the angle between the slip plane traces and a transverse scratch varied appreciably among the three sides, then localization of the resulting kink bands also varied. Furthermore, if the slip direction lay nearly parallel to the scratched side, the band was more developed near the scratched side than at the opposite edge. Scratches produced tensile kink bands for crystal orientations from xo = 15" to x, = 75". Fig. 2 shows a scratched crystal after deformation. One triangular side lies in the plane of the photograph. The right hand tensile kink band was produced by a transverse scratch on the upper right side. The next two kink bands were the result of scratches on the front surface. The kink band at the left was caused by a scratch on the lower back side. All four bands have the same general form. A longitudinal scratch was also made on the crystal shown in Fig. 2 to determine the effect of a scratch on the critical shear stress. The critical shear stress of the scratched region was 33.9 g per sq mm compared to 24.4 g per sq mm for the un-scratched region above it. Fig. 3 shows Laue patterns of the crystal shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3a shows the pattern of the undeformed crystal. The orientation was x, = 21°, A, = 31". After deformation, Fig. 3b was made of the homogeneously deformed portion of the crystal. The spots are compact but split into two halves. This region was elongated 45 pct and its orientation was x = 14", X = 20"; the sine law predicts x = 14", A = 20.5". Fig. 3c was taken near the center of the middle tensile kink band of Fig. 2. The pattern shows a range of orientations and polygonization in this region. The spread in orientation was due to the fact that the basal planes were curved (see Fig. 1) rather than flat as in the ideal case. Some may also have been the result of elastic distortions and "local curvatures." The orientation range was x = 23" to 32", A = 30" to 42". It is apparent from Fig. 3 that the material inside and outside the kink band rotated in opposite directions with respect to the tension axis during deformation. The orientation calculated from the ideal configuration of Fig. 9,

Jan 1, 1954

By J. C. Gibson, C. H. Stockwell

"The San Antonio gold mine is at Bissett, Manitoba, on the north shore of Rice lake, 100 miles northeast of Winnipeg. Gold was discovered on the property in 1911, but intensive exploration was not undertaken until 1926. Milling commenced on May 1st, 1932. Total amount of ore milled from that time until the end of 1946 was 1,766,670 tons, having a value of $18,378,317.GENERAL GEOLOGYThe rocks in the vicinity of the mine are Precambrian and include three groups, namely, the Rice Lake series of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, basic and acidic intrusions, and a younger formation of sediments known as the San Antonio formation (Fig. 1). The lower part of the Rice Lake series, consisting of flows of rhyolite, trachyte, and andesite with interstratified beds of agglomerate, occupies an area extending southward from Rice lake. The lake itself and the country to both east and west of its northern end is underlain by the next succeeding beds of the series, which are chiefly tuffs, arkose, and conglomerate, but include a thin band of basalt. Northward from the lake, these are succeeded by the upper beds of the series, first a thin band of basalt and, overlying this, porphyritic andesite flows interlayered with beds of volcanic breccia or agglomerate.The Rice Lake series has been invaded on the east side of the lake by a body of basic rock ranging in composition from gabbro to diorite and quartz diorite, now much altered. This is cut by younger sills and dykes of basic rock, probably diabase, the original texture of which is largely destroyed by alteration. Numerous dykes of feldspar porphyry, quartzfeldspar porphyry, and a few of a rhyolite-like rock, occur south of the lake, but are uncommon to the north. They cut the diabase and older rocks.Extending westward from Rice lake and lying with marked angular unconformity against all of these rocks is the San Antonio formation, consisting of cross-bedded, arkosic quartzite."

Jan 1, 1954

By Geology Staff, C. H. Stockwell

"The Flin Flon base metal mine, owned and operated by the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company, is on the Manitoba-Saskatchewan interprovincial boundary at a point 400 miles north of the International boundary. The deposit was discovered in 1914 by Thomas Creighton and the Mosher and Dion brothers. Since production commenced in 1930, 25,000,000 tons of ore have been mined. On January 1st, 1946, reserves were estimated to be 26,000,000 tons, averaging 2.99 per cent copper, 4.i4 per cent zinc, and 0.089 oz. gold and 1.25 oz. silver per ton. In addition to the four metals named, others recovered from the ore include- cadmium, selenium, and tellurium. The mine workings extend to the 3,750-foot level, but little development work has yet been carried on below 3,250 feet.The known ore occurs in six lenticular to irregular bodies within a zone 500 feet wide. These bodies average 900 feet long, 70 feet wide, 1,500 feet in vertical depth, and 2,500 feet in length along the plunge. They were formed by replacement of the country rock and include ore of two types, solid sulphides and disseminated sulphides. Seventy per cent of the total known ore is of the solid sulphide type. This consists essentially of metallic sulphides- chiefly pyrite- with included remnants of the host rock, and additional quartz and carbonate. In places, the ore exhibits banding, inherited from pre-existing structures. The disseminated ore occurs usually on the footwall side, and along the bottom of the plunge, of the solid sulphide bodies."

Jan 1, 1954

By Fred H. Klaer

Water supplies dependent upon induced infiltration can be developed by vertical wells, by infiltration galleries, or by horizontal water collectors. Each method is described and the advantages of water obtained by induced infiltration with respect to cost, chemical quality, and temperature are shown by specific water supplies. THE subject of ground water in industry is assuming increasing importance as new processes and new industries are developed. Industrial specifications of chemical quality and temperature for process water and for cooling purposes are becoming more rigid, and water must now have many properties to meet these requirements. As ground water is usually more constant in quality and temperature, many industries are turning to ground-water supplies to satisfy their growing need. As many published articles have stated during the past several years, the ever increasing demands have caused shortages of water supply in many localities throughout the United States. Although such shortages are generally of a local nature, they have given rise to many attendant problems, such as increased pumping costs, salt water encroachment, and rising ground-water temperatures. One partial solution to the problems of overdevelopment of the ground-water reservoirs in many areas can be accomplished by developing ground-water supplies that are dependent upon induced infiltration and by planning the use of underground reservoirs. These reservoirs can be filled during periods of excess precipitation and stream flow and can be emptied during periods of drought, in a manner similar to the use of surface reservoirs. In this way water that otherwise would be wasted into the oceans is salvaged during periods of excess. The development of water supplies dependent on induced infiltration is a relatively new concept and should be defined. When a well is pumped, the water level around the well is lowered in the shape of an inverted cone or cone of depression. As pumping is continued, the cone of depression will continue to expand, horizontally and vertically, until the quantity of water crossing the perimeter of the cone plus the recharge within the area of the cone is equal to the quantity of water being pumped.

Jan 1, 1954

By H. W. St. Clair

This study was undertaken to provide a more adequate knowledge of the chemistry of the sulfide volatilization process for recovery of tin from low-grade Bolivian ores. The investigation was partly supported by the Department of State under its program for scientific cooperation with South American republics. The results of this investigation demonstrate the conditions under which cassiterite (Sn02) may be converted to stannous sulfide by reaction with pyrite or sulfur vapor, Quantitative data are given on the rate of sulfidization and on the vapor pressure of stannous sulfide.

Jan 1, 1954

By R. M. Treco

The effect of small additions of oxygen on the hardness, density, and lattice parameters of high purity zirconium has been investigated. Precision parameter values and density of oxygen-free zirconium are given as: a,, - 3.2258 kX units, C = 5.1373 kX units, O23 = 6.507 g per cc. THE effect of oxygen on the hexagonal-phase lattice constants of pure zirconium is of interest for several reasons. The extensive hardening effect of oxygen noted by previous investigators' must be due in part to the lattice distortion accompanying its introduction and possibly to the preferred position of the oxygen atoms. De Boer and Fast' have shown that oxygen is taken into solid solution in large amounts, appearing to occupy an interstitial position. These authors also found that expansion of the lattice was not uniform since the a axis attained a constant value after the addition of 10 atomic pct while the c axis continued to expand. It was thought in the present work that this expansion of the zirconium lattice with increasing amounts of oxygen

Jan 1, 1954

By F. D. Rosi, C. A. Dube, B. H. Alexander

The slip and twinning planes have been determined in deformed crystalsof titanium by an X-ray method of analysis. The slip planes are of the type {1010} and {1011}, while the twinning planes are of the type {1072}, {1121}, and (1122). In the case of the predominant (1010) slip, a type I digonal axis of indices <1120> was the effective slip direction. Microscopic observations on the appearance of the three twin types disclosed a distinct difference in their shapes, and an attempt was made to correlate this difference with the amount of twinning shear. The slip mechanism was discussed on the basis of the difference in c/a ratios for the common hexagonal close-packed metals. IT is a general rule that slip in metals occurs most easily on the planes of greatest atomic density and of the largest interplanar spacing, and that the direction of slip is a close-packed direction. Thus, of the hexagonal close-packed metals which have been investigated by the German school in the decade 1925 to 1935 (cadmium, zinc, and magnesium), it has been found that slip occurs on the basal plane (0001) and in a <1120> direction.&apos; In the case of magnesium above 225oC, slip occurs on a first-order pyramidal plane (1011) as well as on the basal plane.&apos; The hexagonal metals, moreover, deform in part by twinning, and, again with the exception of magnesium at elevated temperatures, the twinning plane has always been reported to be a second-order pyramidal plane {1012).&apos; In view of this consistency in the plastic behavior of these metals, it has been supposed that the same slip and twinning elements would be operative in the other important hexagonal close-packed metals (titanium, zirconium, and beryllium), although there are some reasons why this may not be so. Referring to the tabulation in Table I of the axial ratios of the important metals in this structural class, it may be seen that they can be categorized into three distinct groups depending on the value of their c/a ratios. In the first group are cadmium and zinc with large positive deviations from the ideal ratio for closest packing. This expansion in the direction of the c-axis would be such as to accentuate the basal plane as the slip plane, because it increases the interplanar spacing. The second group includes cobalt and magnesium, which closely approximate the ideal ratio. In the third group are zirconium, titanium, and beryllium whose axial ratios are decidedly less than the ideal. The lattice of the elements in this group is compressed along the c-axis which, in effect, tends to make the basal plane less favorable for slip inasmuch as it reduces the interplanar spacing and the atomic density of this plane. Thus, for metals in the third group, it may be said that there is a certain indefiniteness about the glide plane, in that planes other than the basal plane may be expected to operate. The fact that magnesium begins to exhibit planes other than the normal slip and twinning planes at elevated temperatures may indicate that this behavior will become more pronounced in metals of lower axial ratios. For this reason it might be expected that the slip and twinning behavior of zirconium, titanium, and beryllium would be different from that found in cadmium and zinc. One indication that there is a difference is reflected in the recent work which has been done on the deformation textures of these metals."&apos; As will be shown later, there is a significant difference between the rolling textures of cadmium, zinc, and magnesium on the one hand, and zirconium, titanium, and beryllium on the other, and this difference suggests that the mechanism of plastic flow is not the same in these two groups of metals. From these considerations, therefore, it may be seen that there are good reasons why it cannot be concluded that titanium will have the same crystal-lographic elements of slip and twinning as those exhibited by zinc and cadmium. For the complete determination of these elements it would be most advantageous to have single crystals. However, much valuable information can be obtained by using coarse grained polycrystalline specimens, provided the grains are sufficiently large to permit X-ray

Jan 1, 1954

By G. E. Parsons

"The Bidgood is a small gold mine about 5 miles east of the main Kirkland Lake camp. Since the beginning of production in 1934, gold having a value of $5,000,000 has been produced from the property. Practically all of this production has come from seven veins in a diorite stock that intrudes the Timiskaming sediments and lavas of the area. The veins consist of quartz, pyrite, and molybdenite with minor amounts of chalcopyrite, calcite, and tellurides, and occupy northeast striking and northwest dipping thrust fault fractures. They have no apparent direct structural association with the faults of the main Kirkland Lake camp or the Larder Lake 'break' to the south; however, the veins closely resemble the former in their mineralogical composition and in their close association with syenite intrusives.ROCK TYPES AND THEIR STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICSThe dominant and, from an economic standpoint, most important rocks in the ore area consist of two separate families of Algoman intrusivesa diorite and a later syenite group."

Jan 1, 1954

By John F. Knudsen

Following the flowsheet from the primary crushing plant of Ray mines division through the final products sample mill, there are eight exhaust systems ranging in size from 12,000 to 30,000 cfm. Where possible, hood face velocities are kept around 500 ft per min, permitting branch velocities of 2500 ft per min. Tight-fitting enclosures are provided over all ore drops, crushing operations, and vibrating screens. All enclosures are exhausted either primarily or secondarily, except those around conveyor head-pulleys where the ejector effect of the falling ore creates sufficient indraft to abate dust dissemination. IN 1947 an Industrial Hygiene Department was organized to represent and assist the four western mining divisions in industrial hygiene problems. Department headquarters are located at the Utah Copper Division, Magna Plant, Magna, Utah, with a branch office at the Chino Mines Division, Hurley, N. M. The headquarters staff includes a director, a department secretary, an industrial hygienist, a supervising ventilation engineer, and two ventilation designers. To be in closer association with work at the Southwest properties, a field engineer at the branch office conducts field studies which include ventilation problems at the New Mexico and Arizona properties;i.e., the Chino and Ray mines divisions. Functions of the department are to discover and evaluate existing hazards and to develop protective measures, either by personal protective devices or by proper ventilation, depending on the nature of the contaminant. Other than dust counting, all air samples collected at the four properties are processed at the home office. If through plant surveys or by suggestion of management some type of ventilation or air conditioning is required, the problem is usually handled by the ventilation section of the headquarters department, where general arrangement or line drawings are prepared, showing hoods, ducting, and equipment. Some hood and special parts detailing is done at headquarters; otherwise, required detailing is done by the respective plant engineering departments. Prior to the design of industrial ventilation, either new projects or the revamping of old ones, a thorough survey is made of existing conditions. In so far as possible weighted average exposures are determined and adequate ventilation provided on the basis of maximum allowable concentrations of the contaminant in question, as well as medical case histories, if these are available.

Jan 1, 1954

By R. C. McMurchy

"The Powell mine is in western Quebec about 2 miles northwest of the adjoining towns of Noranda and Rouyn. It is the original discovery of the area, its gold-bearing quartz vein having been discovered in 1922. Considerable work was done on this vein by several companies and discontinued because the grade, when gold was $20 an ounce, was too low for profitable extraction. Between 1922 and 1924 an inclined shaft was sunk to 225 feet and drifts were driven 240 feet on the 100-foot level.In 1929, due to the discovery and development of the Horne mine at Noranda, interest was revived in the property. Sulphide deposits of the disseminated and vein types were explored on the Powell claims. On the B copper 'showing', a vertical shaft, now known as the 'old copper shaft', was sunk to ·a depth of 167 feet and 300 feet of lateral work was carried out on the 150-foot level. As no orebody was discovered this work was discontinued.In 1933 the present company, Powell Rouyn Gold Mines, Limited, was formed and the gold-bearing quartz veins were again tested by drilling and trenching. In 1936, the price of gold having risen to $35 an ounce, operations were resumed. Since then the inclined shaft (No. 1) has been deepened to 500 feet, a second shaft (No. 2, vertical) on the main quartz vein has been sunk to 2,630 feet, and ll; shallow vertical shaft (No. 3) on the same vein but in the south claim has been sunk to 500 feet.Lateral work now approximates 9 miles, and to November 15th, 1946, 1,685,674 tons of ore, which averaged 0.129 oz. gold per ton and 73.6 per cent. Si02, had been extracted."

Jan 1, 1954

The Black Hills Mineral Atlas briefly summarizes all pertinent date available on the mines and mineral deposits in the Black Hills that have been explored, developed, mined, or located. The purpose of the atlas is threefold: First, from available date the general potentialities of the Black Hills region can be determined, although it is not possible to calculate actual ore reserves; second, it will provide the necessary basic information regarding a given property or commodity for further detailed study; and third, the compilation is a comprehensive directory of Black Hills deposits.

Jan 1, 1954

By Ramachandra Rao

THE occurrence of copper ores at Garimenapenta, 14 59 min 30 sec N Lat., 79 33 min 10 sec E Long., in Nellore district, Madras State, India, has been examined and investigated on numerous occasions during the past two centuries.&apos; No tangible orebody was ever located as a result of all the ex- tensive trenching and shafting done in the area by various agencies. However, during 1933 Messrs. Piepmeyer & Co., a German firm engaged by one of the leaseholders of the area, carried out an electrical survey using inductive methods.&apos; On the basis of certain strong indications found in their survey, they recommended that the prospect be proved by drilling or shafting. But for want of financial backing no further work was carried out. When the Madras government more recently proposed investigation, Dr. Krishnan, then Supt. Geologist of the Madras Circle, urged that before further costly ventures were carried out a test geo-

Jan 1, 1954

By G. E. McElroy

Economic solutions of problems of mine-ventilation improvement can be found by mathematical analyses of alternative methods of procedure, but, in the case of our older bituminous-coal mines, the airway network is usually so complex that mathematical solutions are too tedious to be practical. Recourse usually is made to extremely costly and uncertain trial-and-error procedures with the existing layout and equipment. The resulting errors often prove costly and sometimes create hazardous conditions. Both the economic and safely aspects of alternative methods of ventilation improvement may be rapidly and cheaply investigation with analogue computers. An electrical analogue computer, designed and built especially for analyzing mine-ventilation-distribution problems, has been placed in service by the Bureau of Mines at its Pittsburgh, Pa., Experiment Station. It is a nonlinear, low-voltage, fluid network analyzer of a type developed by Malcolm S. Mcllroy, professor of electrical engineering at Cornell University. It was designed in close coopera¬tion with Professor Mcllroy and built by the Standard Electric Time Co., Springfield, Mass. It is the seventh unit of this type to be placed in service and the first designed for mine airflow problems. The other six were designed for either water- or gas-distribution analyses. Three are much larger and more expensive units. The largest unit has a capacity of 20 sources, 576 mains, and 180 loads, or regulated-flow paths. The Bureau unit has a capacity of 5 sources, 128 mains, and 48 loads.

Jan 1, 1954

By C. W. Thompson

Paul D. Suloff (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Inc., Akron, Ohio)—I would like first to comment on problems of the conveyor belt discussed in Mr. Thompson&apos;s excellent paper, since that is what we hope we know most about. Twists in relatively wide conveyor belt unavoidably produce a lateral maldistribution of tension, raising tension at belt edges and reducing it at the center. They also produce a lateral collapsing force on the belt at the center of the twist owing to the inherent tendency of all the longitudinal elements of the belt to try to pass through a point at the twist center. Calculation of the twist geometry by the methods shown in Mr. Thompson&apos;s paper keeps these extraordinary forces within limits which the belt designer can tolerate. No reduction in belt life due to twisting need be contemplated when this geometry is maintained. There is a minor exception that belts of extreme lateral flexibility will tend to curl laterally at the center of the twist. However, any ordinary fabric construction will perform satisfactorily in this respect. These twists are always made in regions of low tension in the conveyor so that even in the edges of the twist, belt tension does not exceed the average tension found in highly stressed regions of the conveyor. Offsetting these out-of-ordinary belt stresses is the advantage that Mr. Thompson has brought out of getting the return run up out of the dirt where it can be seen. This not only makes it easier to train, but also, in the event that it is not properly trained, frees it of the normal return run edge wear hazard. It is well known that return run edge wear is a prominent cause of belt mortality underground. An interesting aspect of this two-way conveyor is that the belt may be made what is known as a Mobius Strip. A Mobius Strip is obtained by splicing a belt after turning one end of it 180" about its longitudinal axis. In other words, one end is turned upside down before splicing. A belt spliced in this fashion turns itself upside down every time it comes around, but the twist which has been put in the splicing, of course, stays at one location on the conveyor, in this case one of the twist sections at the end. Turning the belt over every revolution might have advantages in some cases. Belts could be made with equal covers and the two sides worn equally and simultaneously. In this case there would be no problem of getting belts on upside down by mistake. However, the two-way conveyor does not have to be a Mobius Strip. It can be twisted in such fashion that the same side is up on both runs. It is simply a question of which way the final 90" twist is made before joining the ends. Another interesting aspect of the two-way conveyor is the problem of operating two-way conveyors in series. Here the sequencing of starting brings up some new problems. It will be recognized, although not always at first glance, that if the starting sequence is planned for one run of the conveyor the reverse will result on the other run. With the two runs carrying bulk material in both directions a reverse sequence on one run would be intolerable. In this situation the only solution appears to be a simultaneous starting of all conveyors in the series. However, with the coal in one direction and intermittent supplies in the other it would be entirely practical to sequence the conveyors for the coal run and accept a reverse sequence on the supply run. The two-way conveyor also lends itself to new driving possibilities. First, it is quite possible to drive at the head end of each run, which of course, means a drive at each end of the two-way conveyor. Driving in this way a given belt can be extended to substantially greater lengths than a conventional conveyor with drive at one end only. In addition to this, under certain conditions the conveyor can be extended to extreme length by driving at one end and at some intermediate point on the most heavily loaded run. As a particular case, a belt carrying coal downgrade and supplies back upgrade could be extended to extreme lengths by driving at the head of the coal run and at an intermediate point of the supply run. Mr. Thompson has been a pioneer in belt conveyor transportation underground and his accomplishment here with the first two-way conveyor of any consequence is another notable addition to the art.

Jan 1, 1954

By J. Chipman, H. Towers, M. Paris

A simple radioactive tracer technique is used to measure the diffusion coefficient of calcium ion in molten slags. In a slag of 40 pct Ca0-40 pct Si0,-20 pct Al203, Dc " at 1450°C is 1.3x10-6 cm&apos; sec-&apos;. THE application of the principles of thermodynamics to steel and iron making problems has proved so fruitful that the kinetic approach has tended to be neglected. It seems probable that in some reactions the rate-determining step is the dif-fusivity of the reactants or of the products. But knowledge of the diffusion coefficients of the constituents of liquid slag and metal is singularly lacking. The present work was undertaken as a first step toward supplying such data for slags. Furthermore, any additional information on the physical properties of liquid slags might be expected to help in elucidating their structure. It is essentially a preliminary investigation, the course of which was determined more by the necessity of establishing a method than by the immediate intrinsic interest of the results. For example, the selection of calcium ion to be studied was dictated by the suitability of the isotope Ca45 in that it is a simple emitter with a long half-life. Of the other ions commonly encountered in slags, the isotopes of iron and manganese have relatively complex radiations as well as the normal disadvantage of requiring control of the oxygen potential of the atmosphere; Mg27 and Al29 have half-lives measured only in minutes; Si3&apos; has a simple decay process but its half-life of 2.8 hr is too short for preliminary studies; the only useful oxygen isotope is the stable O18; and there remain only sulphur and phosphorus both of which have suitable isotopes but were rejected as being of less fundamental interest than calcium. Similarly a lime-alumina- silica slag was used in preference to calcium silicate primarily because of its low melting point and its capacity to form a glass on fairly rapid cooling. Literature Review Very few studies of diffusion in liquid silicate systems have been reported. In order to determine the origin of diopside inclusions in felspathic rocks, Bowen1 investigated the diffusion between diopside and various mixtures of albite and anorthite. Platinum crucibles were used with diopside, the heavier of the two liquids, forming the lower half of the cell and diffusion taking place against gravity. Change in concentration along the diffusion path was found by measuring the refractive index of the quenched glass. Nearly thirty years later McCallum and Barrett2 used essentially the same method to determine the diffusion coefficient of lime in lime-alumina-silica slags. In this case the interest was to find the rate-determining step in the process of slag attack on refractory materials. In an investigation of the kinetics of the sulphur reaction, Derge, Philbrook, and Goldman8 determined the diffusion coefficient of sulphur in a typical blast furnace slag by the simple procedure of melting a slag containing 2 pct S over an identical slag sulphur-free. They make no claim to a high degree of accuracy but suggest that D, is of the order of 10-6 cm2 sec-l. Other high temperature liquid diffusion studies have been concerned with metals. Holbrook, Furnas, and Joseph4 determined the diffusion coefficients of silicon, phosphorus, sulphur, manganese, and carbon in liquid iron by immersing a small carbon crucible containing pure iron-carbon alloy in a large vessel containing iron with a high concentration of the particular element. Their results were confirmed by Paschke and Hauttmann5 using a similar method. Diffusion coefficients in silicates in the glassy state have been studied by Johnson, Bristow, and Blau6 Both Na24 and Ca45 were used as tracers but only the

Jan 1, 1954

By Robert C. Emmett, Donald A. Dahlstrom

FOR many years gravitational classification has been employed as a basic tool in beneficiation of minerals and coal. While improvements have been made to increase efficiency and fields of application, the basic flow pattern has remained relatively unchanged in most gravitational classifiers. Feed slurry is introduced into a settling pool wherein the coarser solids settle against either an upward or horizontal fluid current, or a combination of both, and are withdrawn in a concentrated underflow stream. The finer solids below the classification point possess too low a settling velocity and thus are primarily swept out through a weir overflow by the bulk of the fluid. Because of its simplicity, efficiency, and low power and maintenance costs, gravitational classification finds a wide acceptance for separations in the range of 20 to 325 mesh. Two factors resulting from the basic flow pattern employed in gravitational classification present difficult problems for certain installations. If classification at 60 to 200 mesh of separation is desired, capacity in terms of gallons of overflow per minute per square foot of settling pool area must be low to allow required solids to settle to the underflow. If a thousand or more gal per min of feed slurry must be handled, either a very large classifier or a number of smaller units must be employed, taking up floor space and head room. Examples of this are the large classifiers, wetting tanks, or settling tanks used in the coal industry for recovery of process water from fine solids. Units as large as 50 or 60 ft in diam and 60 ft high, requiring substantial amounts of steel, are not uncommon. A second factor is the lack of self-regulation in gravitational classification. As overflow rate increases, mesh of separation increases correspond-ingly. This normally heightens difficulties of bene-ficiation. If a fine mesh of separation is required at varying feed rates, the problem is more than doubled in complexity. One of the primary advantages of gravitational classification is low power requirement. Gravity feeds or very low pressure heads are employed. However, fluid energy is still present in the inlet stream and provision must be made to dissipate it properly to obtain uniform upward or horizontal currents. Rather than waste this energy, it would be desirable to utilize it to secure a greater degree of self-regulation and simultaneously increase classification capacity per square foot of area. A free vortex could be realized by a tangential entry of feed, resulting in generation of centrifugal force to complement force of gravity in its action. With greater force it should be possible to gain finer separation at any overflow rate per square foot of settling pool area as compared with conventional gravitational classification. Furthermore, as feed rate increases, centrifugal force will also increase and at least partially offset faster currents sweeping solid particles to the overflow. A more stable classification point should result. The liquid-solid cyclone is the most common application of a free vortex in the beneficiation field.&apos; Many previous papers have emphasized uniformity of flow pattern within the cyclone which is largely responsible for the sharp classification that can be obtained.&apos;-4 If a free vortex can be maintained in a non-pressurized vessel with a free surface it may be possible to realize a third advantage of sharper classification. This open-top cyclone would then achieve a minimum energy loss comparable to that with conventional classifiers, and a mesh of separation coarser than 150 mesh, extending the range of application of the free vortex. This is not presently possible with ordinary cyclones. To test the applicability of the free vortex to gravitational classification, a 30-in. diameter open-top cyclone was constructed at Northwestern University. The cylindrical section was 30 in. high and the conical section included an angle of 60". The feed nozzle was a standard 4-in. pipe entering tan-gentially, with centerline 17 1/2 in. below the top of the cyclone. The conical section was flanged near

Jan 1, 1954

By V. A. Nieberlein

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the reserves of columbium (niobium) minerals in Arkansas and to develop metallurgical methods for concentrating the minerals and extracting the metal. The columbium resources of central Arkansas were explored by drilling and trenching, and a number of samples were taken. On the basis of this exploration the known reserves of the metal were estimated to be over 78,000,000 pounds. The reserves could possibly be extended by additional exploration to 150,000,000 pounds.

Jan 1, 1954

By Arthur Baker III

The orebodies are long bedding-plane lenses of chalcopyrite and sphalerite, associated with garnetite masses. Most of the orebodies are within a 50-ft thickness of Cambrian limestone; other Paleozoic limestones and dolomites are locally metamorphosed but only slightly mineralized. Pre-mineral faults are numerous, but shallow folds were the main ore-localizing structures. JOHNSON camp is in the northwestern part of Cochise County, Ariz., about 50 miles east of Tucson. The nearest major mining districts are Tombstone and Bisbee, respectively 27 and 50 miles to the south, and the Superior-Miami-Globe-Ray porphyry copper group, about 90 miles northwest. Like many mining camps of the Southwest, Johnson camp is said to have been worked by the Spaniards. The first production on record was in the early 1880&apos;s, when an unknown amount of oxidized copper-silver ore in the Peabody mine was mined from replacement orebodies in the Pennsyl-vanian Naco formation. From 1904 to 1911 outcropping oxidized ores in the Cambrian Abrigo formation were worked, and an estimated 100,000 tons of copper ore were shipped. In 1912 the first large sulphide orebody of the district, the Republic Manto orebody, was discovered, and in the following few years some 250,000 tons of predominantly sulphide ore were shipped. The average grade of this ore was approximately 4.5 pct Cu, 6 pct Zn, 0.8 oz. Ag, and 0.001 oz Au. The Republic, Copper Chief, and Mammoth mines were the principal producers during this period. Mining ceased in the district after 1920, and until 1943 only small-scale leasing operations were carried on. In 1943 all the mines that had been productive were acquired by the Coronado Copper and Zinc Co., the present operators, and in the 10 years since that time the district production has amounted to approximately 350,000 tons of milling ore averaging 2 pct Cu and 6 pct Zn. Most of this ore was produced from the Republic and Mammoth mines, but since 1950 a large part of the production has been from the new Moore mine. The total known production from the district, then, is about 3/4 million tons of copper and copper-zinc ore of low grade. All of this ore was produced from orebodies associated with garnetite in the middle member of the Cambrian Abrigo formation. In addition to this known production, an unknown tonnage of ore was extracted from the Peabody mine orebodies that lie in the Pennsylvanian Naco formation. Published information on the geology of the district is limited. Aside from brief references in various mining journals, only three papers on the district have been published.1-3 One of these is a U. S. Bureau of Mines report on a diamond drilling program, one is a brief paper on the general geology of the district, and the third is a report on geochemical experiments, with a section on the occurrence of the orebodies. The last two are by John Cooper, of the United States Geological Survey, who has done much detailed work in the area. Stratigraphy The rocks of the mineralized area are Paleozoic sediments ranging in age from Cambrian to Penn-sylvanian. Several disconformities are present in the stratigraphic column, the most important one being between the Cambrian Abrigo formation and the Devonian Martin formation. There are no angular unconformities. Within the district, the Paleozoic sediments lie in a fairly uniform monocline, striking northwest and dipping 30" to 50" northeast. This local monocline is part of a domal struc-ture centered in the Little Dragoon mountains to the southwest. The Texas Canyon stock, a quartz monzonite body intruded probably during the Laramide revolution, lies south of the mineralized area (Ref. 2, p. 33). The Paleozoic rocks dip away from the stock, and on the surface are separated from it by at least 1500 ft of Pre-Cambrian rocks. The outcrop pattern of the northeastern edge of the stock suggests that it may dip gently northeastward, passing below the mineralized area at moderate depth. No quartz monzonite has been found in mine workings or diamond drill holes, which reach to depths of 1000 ft. The only igneous rock found in the mineralized area is a lamprophyre dike cutting the Naco limestone in and near workings of the Peabody mine. With the exception of the lowermost beds—the Bolsa quartzite and the shaly lower member of the Abrigo formation—the Paleozoic sediments are predominantly carbonate rocks, Fig. 1. The middle member of the Abrigo formation, which contains the principal ore-bearing beds, is limestone, with thin shale partings throughout most of its 250-ft thick-ness. Near the top of this member is a sandy bed some 25 ft thick. The upper member of the Abrigo formation and the lower half of the overlying Devonian Martin formation are dolomitic, with num-

Jan 1, 1954

By H. C. Gunning

The Privateer is the major mine of the Zeballos mining camp; with a total production from May 1937 through the first half of 1946 of $5; 610; 423 from 139; 254 tons of ore. This includes a small production from the connected Prident mine. The entire operation was closed from October 1943 to November 1945.

Jan 1, 1954

By M. L. Davis

The principal causes of many methane-gas explosions that have occurred in anthracite mines, especially in thick pitching veins, during recent years can be traced to lack of a satisfactory method of testing for such gas in areas adjacent to those in which blasting is to be done or other sources of ignition introduced. As coal-mine officials and inspectors are required to make examinations for methane in all accessible open workings, including high places, and permissible flame safety lamps have been used almost universally for making these examinations, considerable difficulty has been experienced in proper testing of atmospheres at elevations beyond the normal reach of the examiner, and resultant explosions have often indicated perfunctory tests. The accepted practice of testing for gas in voids or high places generally consists of raising a flame safety lamp, suspended from the end of a long drill, stick, or pipe, into the atmosphere to be tested. Disadvantages noted are: Action of the flame within the lamp cannot be seen readily when the lamp is more then 18 inches overhead, the flame will not be extinguished when less than about 4-1/2 percent of methane is present, and indications of small percentages of methane within the lamp may disappear entirely while the lamp is being lowered slowly to view; the examiner must usually be exposed unnecessarily to falling material; and the lamp may fall and be broken. Thus, the need for a more reliable, safe method of testing for gas in out-of-reach places is apparent. Several electrical methane detectors, tested and approved by the Bureau of Mines, have been used satisfactorily, though infrequently, for making the aforementioned gas tests. Some of these detectors employ a rubber aspirator bulb and rubber tubing of suitable length to draw the atmosphere from high places through and over energized parts of the detector. However, the original expense, susceptibility to damage, and awkwardness of tarrying these instruments in steep-pitch workings has precluded their general use in everyday examinations. Although not as efficient as the electrical detector for determining small percentages of methane or as reliable because of the limitations imposed by oxygen-deficient atmospheres, the modern per¬missible flame safety lamp can, it is believed, be used safely with the rubber aspirator bulb and tubing to greater advantage and with comparative reliability in testing for gas in out-of-reach places. Slight reference to this method of introducing air into a safety lamp is made in a Bureau of Mines publication of l921,2/ and it is quite possible that the method has been utilized in some manner by individuals in American mines during the intervening years. A similar method was used in connection with a nonpermissible Wolf flame safety lamp in at least one coal mine in Japan before World War II. A major change in the construction of this lamp would bar its approval by the Bureau of Mines. An American adaptation of the Wolf lamp, developed

Jan 1, 1954