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By The Mill Staff

Professor H.E.T. Haultain: Table 4, on page 131 of this paper, gives the assays of sized mill products. I am sure that there are many others besides myself who would be very interested to learn how the sizes 0-3 and 3-13 microns were obtained. * * * Mr. Del Davis, Mill Superintendent, Flin Flon Concentrator, on behalf of the authors of the paper, has kindly sent us the following information in reply to Professor Haultain's enquiry. Sub-Sieve Sizing by Sedimentation Procedure (As used by R. J. Digney & J. E. Ryan, 1940) Fractionation of Sub-Sieve Sizes General Method: A 1,050-gram sample of the material was pulped to 3 liters; 10 c.c. of sodium silicate and 0.2 grams of Na2C03 was added and thorough agitation given for two hours previous to settling. The material was assumed to consist wholly of particles of the same density as the most abundant particles. The time required for a particle of the upper limit of the lowest size-range to be separated, to fall a specified distance was calculated according to Stokes Law. The pulp was poured into the settling apparatus and, when the calculated time had elapsed, the suspended material was drained. The settled sediments and the process repeated until no more suspended material was obtained. The next larger size fraction was obtained in a similar manner, using the settled sediments which had been stripped of all smaller sizes as above. The fractions were arbitrarily set at 0-3, 3-13, 13-23, 23-33, and 33-43 microns (43 microns = 325 mesh).

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

By Walter H. Bucher

This symposium is designed to lay the basis for a general discussion of the place of geophysics in the training of geologists. As there is danger that in the ensuing debate individual interests may be given emphasis out of proportion to their place, we shall do well to view the whole field of geological inquiry in order to see the problem in true perspective. The Nature of Geological Inquiry "Basic" and "Complex" Sciences It is convenient to divide all science into two major divisions, the basic and the complex sciences. The basic sciences separate out from reality such entities as "substances" and "movements," describe their behavior in terms of arbitrary units of measurement and derive from them by progressive abstractions concepts and patterns of behavior that exist between them, so-called general "laws" and "properties" of nature. The complex sciences, on the other hand, deal, with little or no abstraction, with those objects of reality that are accessible to man in the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere. Their work comprises two types of inquiry. One is concerned with abstractions to the extent of dealing with types rather than individuals—that is, with such things as plants, animals, protoplasm; clouds, streams, gla- ciers; volcanoes and mountain ranges. It comprises the search for general properties and patterns of behavior or "laws" that characterize the objects and their reactions to each other. These properties and laws apply always, everywhere. They are independent of the stream of time. We may call the results of this sort of inquiry timeless knowledge. The other type of inquiry is concerned with the objects themselves—that is, with this animal and that plant; this river system and that mountain chain; this glacier and that valley. Like all concrete objects in nature, they are subject to change with the passage of time, especially when it is measured in years, centuries, eons. The characteristics by which we recognize them —indeed, their very existence—are dependent on their position at this point in the stream of time. This we may call time-bound kntowledge. The so-called descriptive sciences are all bound to the past of which the objects of their study are the product and through which alone their present properties call be understood. They are historical sciences. This obvious fact is easily overlooked, which leads to serious misunderstanding, as we shall see later. Dynamic Geology With this broad picture in mind, let us now examine the nature of geological inquiry, defining, for the purposes of this discussion, geology as the science of rocks. Air is not a rock; water is. Meteorology and climatology are, correspondingly, gen-

Jan 1, 1946

This report deals with the Schmalfeldt gasification plant for making synthesis gas, the Fischer-Tropsch plant, the hydrogenation plant and the catalyst factory, and includes a report on lubricating oil. THE SCHMALFELDT GASIFICATION PLANT The information was obtained on May 9 and 11, 1945, from Dr. Schneeberger (director), Dr. Schneider (director and power plant manager), Herr Dassau (manager of gas plant) and Herr Schultz (manager of Fischer-Tropsch plant). The plant was shut down as the result of very heavy air raid damage to other parts of the works

Jan 1, 1946

HE Hose Memorial Lecture, in memory of Henry Marion Howe, Past President of the Institute, was authorized in April, 1923, as an annual address to be delivered by invitation under the auspices of the Institute by an individual of recognized and outstanding attainment in the science and practice of iron and steel metallurgy or metallography, chosen by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Iron and Steel Division. The following were the Howe lectures and lecturers for the years indicated: 1924 What is Steel? By Albert Sauveur. 1925 Austenite and Austenitic Steels. By John A. Mathews.

Jan 1, 1946

By H. Cecil Spicer

The results described in this article are based On field work conducted during the periods April-May, I939, and May-July, 1940. The United States Potash Co. is mining potash on Government land under a permit from the Department Of the Interior and the geophysical investigation was completed under a cooperative arrangemerit made between that company and the Conservation Branch Of the Geological Survey. The writer, a member Of the SeCtion of Chemistry and Physics of the Geologic Branch, was assigned to this investigation. Four definite objectives were in mind for the geophysical work in the studies over the salt deposits. The first was to determine the measure Of success that could be attained in this type of work with the resistivity methods that were to be employed. These methods had been introduced into the work of the Conservation Branch by Benjamin E. Jones for the investigation of dam sites, and have been used under his direction by the author for such work. If the method proved to be be an effort was to be made to contour the top of the salt beds and also the other formation boundaries known to be present in this area. Salt-water aquifers were to be studied in an effort to determine their boundaries, and an attempt was to be made to delineate the potash-bearing beds. Earlier Studies Others have made, and reported, restivity studies over saliferous deposits in different areas. Friedell and Messrs. Schlumberger2 reported geophysical work performed in the discovery of the salt domes of Alsace; Carrette and Kelly? described the geology of the same area. Leonardon and Kelly' published a resistivity curve obtained over the Hettenschlag dome, and a further discussion of this same area was given by the Messrs. Schlumberger6 in a communication. Messrs. Alty6 described studies on salt deposits in which the single-probe method was used. sinerez7 mentions that electrical methods were tried over salt deposits in Spain. Geoffrey and Charrin8 show a resistivity curve obtained over marl, gypsiferous marl and salt which is similar to that obtained over the New Mexico salt deposits. Kelly9 reported resistivity work performed with the ground Comparaor of Zuschlag over the salt deposits near Syracuse, N. Y., where the Salina formation is at a depth of 700 to 800 ft. Some structural studies on the potash basin of Alsace are described by Poldini.10 Another single-probe resistivity study, made over salt deposits in New Mexico, is briefly described by Heiland,11 through the courtesy of Harry Aurand, of the Midwest Refining co, Geological Features OF Area Covered The area discussed in this paper is in Eddy County, southeastern New Mexico, a

Jan 1, 1946

By William A. Longacre

In a previous paper the author discussed the problem described by the title of this paper, outlining and reviewing the Gish-Rooney method, with comparison and brief analysis of the interpretation techniques of Roman2 and Tagg.3 Some aspects of the simple type of two-layer system were reviewed from various sources.4, 5, 6 The Two-layer Problem For the configuration shown in Fig. I, and for any electrode separation A, the SurfAce of earth p, DepthH i P2 Infinite depth Fig. i.—Two-Layer system. apparent resistivity is a function of the relative depth the overburden resistivity pl, and a factor K defined by the equation P2 + P1 where p, is the resistivity of the lower bed. Thus, by the known theory of electrical images, p = pi [1+ */(*-7)] where The Multilayer Problem As the number of isotropic, homogeneous, horizontal layers increases, the difficulties of interpretation multiply. The theory becomes much more involved, and in view of the state of our knowledge, the general problem is virtually impossible of exact solution. However, certain types of multilayer problems can be worked out in terms of two-layer theory. Humme1,7 Pirson,8 Tagg,3 Watson,9 and others have pointed out the possibility of building up approximations of multilayer resistivity curves with suitable combinations of two-layer curves. Many three-layer curves can be constructed in this way to a good degree of accuracy, and special types of four-layer curves can be approximated. It is very likely that as the number of layers increases, the method of combination will not give good approximations except in very special cases. In the analysis of actual field data, the author has found that many obviously multilayer curves can be solved partially with a good degree of accuracy, using the theory that thin adjacent beds may be considered as one layer or zone, and applying two-layer theory to the extremities of the field curve. Modified Tagg Method of Interpretation Tagg's second method, though superior to his first, necessitates a large number

Jan 1, 1946

CONTENTSIntroductionNorthern ExplorationDrive ConceptionGeneralDriving CrewDrive Cross Section and Track DetailsVentilation by Electrically Driven FanTemperatures and HumidityFan PerformanceRock Drill Carriage and Rock DrillsStandard Drilling RoundElectric Firing from Power MainsExplosives and DetonatorsCharging and FiringMechanical Loading and Electric HaulageOperating CycleStatisticalEquipmentAcknowledgementINTRODUCTION.The driving project described in :this paper is one of greater magnitude than usual for the Broken Hill field, and in the execution of the work a departure was made from long-established local practice by the introduction of mechanisation. The primary object of the drive is to provide sites for gaining information regarding the behaviour of the ore-bodies well beyond the limits of the present exposures.Due to thermal conditions, the major portion of the work was done on a six-hour shift basis, in contrast to the normal one of seven hours, with a five-day week.

Jan 1, 1946

By Clarence Zener

IT is customary to regard the stress-strain relation as consisting of two parts, the elastic region and the plastic region. The essential attribute of the plastic region is the presence of a permanent set, which remains upon removal of all stresses. The essential attribute of the elastic region is the absence of such a permanent set. Absence of a permanent set does not imply a linear relation between stress and strain, nor even a single valued relation. In fact, in no real metal is stress a single valued function of strain in the elastic region. The property of a solid in virtue of which stress and strain are not uniquely related in the elastic range will be called "anelasticity." The purpose of the present article is to review and correlate the past work upon the anelasticity of metals. The following paper by W. A. West124 describes investigations upon anelastic properties of iron. Many manifestations of anelasticity have been observed, the first as early as 1835 by Weber.1,2 In his experiments Weber subjected a specimen to a constant load (or deformation) for a given time, and then suddenly removed the load. He observed that most of the deformation suddenly disappeared, but that there remained a residual deformation, which disappeared only gradually with time, as is illustrated in Fig. I. The occurrence of a residual deformation which only gradually disappeared, Weber called the elastic after-effect (Elastische Nackwirkung). An extensive review of the early work upon elastic after-effects has been given by Auerbach.3 Another manifestation of anelasticity is the dependence of the elastic constants-e.g., Young's modulus upon the method of measurement. Thus, if dynamic methods are used, the measured value will depend upon the frequency of oscillation. Still another manifestation is dissipation of energy attending vibration, called damping or internal friction. One objective of metallurgical science is the understanding of the plastic and fracture properties of metals in terms of their microstructure. Through such an understanding will come the ability to design microstructure to give the desired mechanical properties. A study of an elasticity will furnish an invaluable aid in the attainment of this objective. Such studies, when properly guided, yield information regarding the relation between stress and strain in the individual components of the microstructure. In order, however, that this type of information may be obtained, it is necessary that the experimental studies of anelasticity be interpreted by the appropriate mathematical analysis. This article, therefore, starts with the mathematical formulation of anelasticity.

Jan 1, 1946

By W. A. Mudge

This discussion will be limited to malleable, commercially pure nickel and some high-nickel alloys, containing more than 50 per cent of nickel, which are produced by The International Nickel Company, Inc. at its Huntington works, West Virginia, from electrolytic nickel or from a nickel-copper sulphide matte. The principal sources of nickel are sulphides of nickel, copper and iron, which are found in the large deposit of pyrrhotite-pentlandite-chalcopyrite ores in the Sudbury area of Ontario, Canada. Pentlandite, a complex nickel-iron sulphide, is the nickel carrier. These ores are concentrated, roasted, and smelted to remove considerable iron and sulphur and to produce a nickel-copper sulphide matte. Separation of the component sulphides of this matte, followed by electrolytic refining, results in the production of electrolytic nickel and electrolytic copper; direct refining of a selected portion of the matte gives the nickel-copper alloy, Monel. FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS Melting of the metallic materials is done in natural gas-fired, acid furnaces of the open-hearth, or reverberatory, type, having capacities of 6 to 20 tons; in three-phase, basic, electric-arc furnaces, having capacities of 7 to 20 tons; and in basic, high-frequency induction furnaces having capacities of ½ to 3 tons. Malleable, commercially pure nickel is melted in the acid open-hearth furnace. The charge is sulphur-free, electrolytic nickel, containing 99.9 per cent nickel* and clean mill scrap. Monel, containing approximately two thirds nickel and one third copper, is produced by roasting the nickel-copper sulphide matte to an oxide, smelting the oxide with charcoal in a 20-ton, acid open-hearth furnace, adding clean mill scrap, duplexing to a 20-ton, basic, electric-arc furnace, and refining in this furnace with a lime-fluorspar, carbide slag. Inconel, containing nickel, 80 per cent; chromium, 14 and iron, 6, is melted in the 7-ton electric-arc furnace or the 3-ton induction furnace. The charge is electrolytic nickel, ferrochromium and clean mill scrap. These are the fundamental operations. High-nickel alloys are produced from one of these three materials by additions of suitable amounts of manganese, aluminum, silicon or copper. For example, the age-hardenable alloy, K Monel, is produced from Monel by the addition of approximately 3 per cent of aluminum, and D nickel is produced from nickel by the addition of approximately 4.5 per cent of metallic manganese. For conversion to rods, bars, sheet, strip, tubing and wire forms, by hot-working and cold-working operations, the molten materials are teemed into ingots ranging in size from 14 by 14 by 60 in., 3300 lb., to 36 by 36 by 48 in., 18,000 lb. All ingots are overhauled mechanically before hot working.

Jan 1, 1946

By J. W. Gilbert

DuriNG the sinking of the Needmore shaft, on one of the leases of the Eagle-Picher Mining and Smelting Co north of Webb City, Missouri, a very strong flow of water was encountered at a depth of 140 ft. Because OF the speed at which the water rose in the shaft after pumping was discontinued, and in order to speed up sinking operations, a new type of shaft bar and drilling equiprnent was devised, which saved approximately one hour on each shift This bar is made of an ordinary scren type shaft bar with a common drill arm attached to the bar by clamps and welded Into place To this drill arm is attached an ordinary arm clamp with set collar below Through this clamp is attached another drill bar of ordinary length so constructed that it slides back and forth and rotates around the perimeter of the shaft on the set collar A tripod saddle with legs removed is welded to the rotating bar, which enables the drill operator to drill holes at any angle completely around the shaft and also, after an arm extension, permits the drilling of the corner holes without removal of the rig from the saddle Upon completion of the drilling of a shaft round, all that is necessary for the complete removal of the drill machine and shaft bar is to engage the hoist hook through a. ¾-in. eye provided for that purpose on top of the bar and disconnect the air and water lines from the machine, thereby making it possible to pull the whole apparatus out in one piece. At no time is it necessary to remove the machine from the saddle Screw jacks are installed on the vertical bar to further ensure the rigidity of the shaft and bar arm. The accompanying sketch illustrates the details and method of setting up.

Jan 1, 1946

By W. D. Robertson

A considerable quantity of experimental data is available on the effect of time, temperature, work-hardening and composition on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys. There is, however, little unity of purpose or generality in most of the studies and, because the number of variables is large, the results often are not applicable to the problems that arise in practice. Furthermore, the customary expression of the effect of different variables as separate curves or as three-dimensional diagrams with time, temperature and the dependent variables as coordinates, renders the task of selecting the optimum time and temperature of precipitation treatment, with respect to their simultaneous but unequal etfect on the various properties, exceedingly difficult. The introduction of precipitation treatments to raise the yield strength of 24s-type alloys has created a need for a method of correlating and summarizing the effect of time and temperature on the mechanical properties and susceptibility to inter-crystalline corrosion. Correlation is particularly desirable because the choice of time and temperature is of necessity a compromise to achieve the best possible combination of properties, and the optimum conditions cannot he accurately specified unless the data are in a form in which the alternatives can be readily compared. Therefore, the work described here was undertaken to find a common relationship that would be capable of expressing the effect of precipitation time and temperature on the various properties and by means of which the relative effects could be correlated and their interpretation facilitated. Review of Previous Work In connection with an investigation of the interrelation of age-hardening and creep performance of nickel-silicon-copper alloys, Jenkins and Bucknalll demonstrated that the time required to attain maximum hardness and tensile strength could be expressed by a relationship of the form: t = K • io"^ (i) where t is the time in hours and T the temperature of aging, expressed in degrees absolute, and m and K are constants. They also pointed out that this expression is analogous to that which describes the change of the diffusion coefficient D with temperature; namely, D = Ae-~/m (2) Later, Cohen used this relationship in studies of the mechanism of age-hardening of a silver.rich copper alloyZ and of duralumin.3

Jan 1, 1946

By Eleanor Haslem, Carl A. Zapffe

THE present investigation has three principal purposes: I. To develop a method for measuring hydrogen embrittlement that avoids certain errors complicating previously used methods. 2. To explore in a preliminary way some of the fundamental factors controlling embrittlement. 3. To apply the measurements specifically to stainless grades of steel, whose sensitivity or insensitivity to hydrogen embrittlement has never been clearly defined. SELECTING A TEST METHOD Hydrogen embrittlement is a condition of low ductility resulting from excessive absorption of hydrogen by the steel at some period in its history, and may be revealed by almost any test involving cold deformation. Tensile tests, impact tests, and bend tests are commonly used for detecting hydrogen embrittlement; although numerous other tests, such as cold-upsetting or extrusion, could be used. The simplicity of using a wire specimen for cathodic and acid pickling tests, and the especial adaptability of the bend test to wire specimens, led to selection of the bend test for the present research. Bend tests usually have been of three general types: (I) fatigue, (2) reversed bend, and (3) single bend. The first two types, though widely used, are inaccurate because their measurements are counteracted by an aging effect; and the third type has not been developed to its fullest utility. The effect of cold-working in removing hydrogen is well known. During a bend test hydrogen can be observed escaping from the convex side simply by coating the specimen with oil; and any technique employing flexing or reverse bending may therefore have its measurements masked because the mechanical action reduces the embrittlement during the test. This factor is so important that even elastic flexing of a hydrogen-charged wire specimen should be avoided before testing if accurate measurements are desired. DEVELOPING A MACHINE FOR MEASURING HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT As for the single-bend test, its theory is good, and recovery caused by mechanical work is kept to a minimum. With a given degree of hydrogen embrittlement, a specimen will break at a given angle if the bending is applied unidirectionally and uniformly. The radius of the bend must be kept constant; and the rate of bending should be a constant, slow enough to allow reading of the breaking angle, and yet rapid enough to prevent significant recovery from the escape of hydrogen during bending. A simple apparatus (Fig. I) was constructed using a type H Foxboro drive unit A, which is a synchronous motor with a gear-reduction ratio of 600 to I. A cord, fixed at one end to a wooden pulley B on the drive shaft of the motor, follows the pe-

Jan 1, 1946

By John E. Sherborne, William M. Newton

The value of the electric log as a means of interpreting underground structures has been increasingly demonstrated by its almost universal present-day use. It becomes important, therefore, to be able to evaluate the factors that affect the values obtained. By far the greatest number of electric logs are measured today in boreholes filled with rotary mud, the properties of which may exert an important influence on the electric log. In an effort to establish what the order of magnitude of such effects might be, a series of investigations was made in the laboratory and the field. Apparatus suitable for either field or laboratory use was designed and a procedure established for determining the factors that affect the resistivity of drilling muds over a wide variation in mud condition. Five muds representative of the types of clay-base muds employed in California were tested and the following observations were made: 1. The effect of raising the temperature from 8o° to i8o°F. is to decrease the resistivit~ of the mud or filtrate approximately 50 per cent. 2. The resistivity of the mud in most cases closely approximates that of its filtrate. 3. The change in the resistivities of muds caused by the addition of chemical is not the same function of the amount of chemical added for each mud. 4. The effect produced by increased sodium chloride content is to reduce markedly the resistivity of the mud and its filtrate. 5. Weighting materials, such as baroid and limestone, tend to increase the resistivity of drilling mud. 6. Cement and counteracting reagents reduce mud resistivity. The results of the investigation indicate that the mud resistivity is materially affected by the addition of electrolytes whether these are added for the purpose of conditioning the mud or enter the mud when salt beds or highly saline structures are penetrated. It should be observed, however, that the magnitude of the effect produced upon the electric log by changes in mud resistivity is also dependent upon the relative salinity of the water en. countered in the formation being logged. The laboratory data are supplemented by field data, which indicate that both the self-potential and resistivity curves are influenced by mud resistivity.

Jan 1, 1946

By R. A. Cattell

Every finding of the year's work, obtained under stress to meet present objectives, contributed to postwar needs, because the very nature and constitution of petroleum and natural gas require that research be conducted along the same general lines whether the results are applied in peace or war. More than 40 reports were submitted to the Petroleum Administration for War and others concerned with (1) evaluation of crude oils to determine their content of aviation-gasoline base stock, (2) evaluation of base stocks for blending with high-octane, synthetically manufactured components, (3) analyses of naphthas to determine their content of various types of hydro-carbons, such as benzene and toluene, and (4) the improvement of quality of marginal base stocks to meet future requirements of aviation gasoline. This upgrading of marginal stocks is being attained by selective distillation and chemical and catalytic removal of sulfur compounds. Asphalts were studied with respect to the characteristics of their various constituents in order to compound them, in the same way that aviation fuels now are being "built" to meet exacting requirements. The work previously initiated to give the industry fundamental data on thermodynamics of hydrocarbons progressed satisfactorily, and the heats of combustion of 10 hydrocarbons in the lubricating oil -range of petroleum were determined. Thermodynamic data requiring highly specialized techniques are so broad in application that their commercial usefulness is not yet fully appreciated.

Jan 1, 1946

Jan 1, 1946

1. How Does One Determine Whether an Ore Body Will Block-cave? Page Mark A. Smith......... 122 Harry A. Leidich........ 122 McHenry Mosier ...,.. 22 R. W. Hughes ........ 122 Sherman R. Burdick ....... 123 R. T. Gallagher........I 23 Benjamin F. Tillson...... 123 Lucien Eaton...........123 C. F. Jackson..... . .. 123 Philip B. Bucky........... 126 2. How Does One Determine the Block Dimensions and the Development Work Necessary to Make an Ore Body Cave? Mark A. Smith... 125, 127, 129 Harry A. Leidich..........126 McHenry Mosier......126, 127, 132 R. W. Hughes...........126 Sherman R. Burdick.........127 R. T. Gallagher...........127 Benjamin F. Tillson......127,131 L. E. Young............127 Robert D. Hoffman.......128, 132 Gerald Sherman..........128 Philip B. Bucky......130, 131, 132 K. S. McClellan..........132 Tell Ertl.............132 3. How Do the Forces Act and What Are the Stresses Developed in a Block That Cause It to Block-cave? Mark A. Smith.........132, 135 Harry A. Leidich........133 McHenry Mosier . .. 133 R. W. Hughes ....... 133 Sherman R. Burdick..... . 133 R. T. Gallagher..........134 C. F. . Price, Jr. ........134 Benjamin F. Tillson.........134 C. F. Jackson......134, 135,137 R. Taborelli...........135 Frank A. Ayer ... .....136 Philip B. Bucky . .........136 Rollin Farmin . . .......136 . . . Weysser.....135, 136, 137 George S. Rice...........137 4. What Determines the Procedure in Removing Caved Ore? Harry A Leidich...........137 McHenry Mosier........137,141 R. W. Hughes...........137 Sherman R. Burdick........138 R. T. Gallagher...........138 Mark . Smith...........138 Philip B. Bucky......140,141,143 C. F. B. Price, Jr..........140 R. H. Bennett...........141 C. F. Jackson..........141, 143 Gerald Sherman..........141 Tell Ertl.............141 .. .. ..................143 C. H. Shoemaker..........143 5. What Are the Criteria for Determining the Efficiency of a Block-caving Operation? Harry A. Leidich.......... 143 McHenry Mosier......... 144 R. W. Hughes........... 144 Sherman R. Burdick.......144 R. T. Gallagher . ......... 144

Jan 1, 1946

By Roger Potvin

Abstract The demand for pure zirconium and titanium metals in Germany increased considerably during the war. Pure zirconium was used in flash bulbs, in vacuum tubes, and in time fuses for bombs, where it has a decided advantage because it gives no gas in burning. Under the form of alloy, it was used with other rare elements for making substitutes for platinum; it was also used as a scavenging agent in high-grade steels. Metallic titanium was mainly used in connection with the manufacturing of special alloys. The authors were sent to Germany by the Department of Reconstruction and have investigated the German process developed for producing these rare metals. They describe the procedure and special equipment used for their commercial production in Germany during the war. General Metallic zirconium and titanium were .produced on a commercial scale in Germany by the thermal reduction, with metallic sodium, of potassium fluozirconate and titanium chloride, respectively, using a mixed potassium and sodium chloride flux. According to the information gathered, the sole German producer of these rare metals in pure form was the Deutsche Gold und Silber Scheideanstalt (commonly called Degussa), at their Werk II, 215 Gutleutstrasse, Frankfurt/Main, which was visited by the authors on September 18th, 1945. As far back as 1934, Degussa was carrying on active research on the manufacture of zirconium, and nearly one ton of the pure metal had been produced before September, 1939. Concurrently, a quite similar process was worked out for the recovery of titanium and it was in commercial operation in the year 1938, during which the production totalled about half a ton (metric). The demand, especially for pure zirconium, increased considerably during the war, attaining a total of about 48 tons during the period October, 1939, to the end of 1944, and reaching a peak of more than 15 tons in 1943. In 1944, the plant was slowed down due to the frequent and disastrous bombing by the Allies, especially in March and September.

Jan 1, 1946

By Charles H. Thurman

The data given herein were first included in a paper read before San Francisco Section, A.I.M.E., in October 1940, and are applicable to conditions existing until the gold-dredging industry was temporarily suspended by Order L-208 of the War Production Board in the fall of 1942. There is no doubt that gold dredging will be resumed at some future time, and on a scale equivalent to that of the recent past, but the cost data given herein will be affected to some extent by conditions existing at that time, and by labor rates and prices for materials then prevailing. Dragline vs. Bucket-line Dragline dredges should not be considered for mining large areas of low-grade placer gravel. In such deposits a dragline operator with a 5-cu. yd. dragline would be doing well to maintain an operating cost of 6¢ per cu. yd., while a bucket-line dredge with buckets no smaller than 7 cu. ft. each could be operated for less than 4¢ per cu. yd. By operating costs, I mean only field charges such as direct operating and overhead, which includes pay roll, power or fuel, repairs and maintenance, insurance, land clearing and general expenses, but not including such items as prospecting, depletion, depreciation of equipment, State Franchise Tax, or Federal Income Tax. It is not to be inferred that a dragline dredge cannot make a profit in small low-grade deposits, where the extent of a given property is too small to justify the use of the more costly bucket-line dredge. Consider small deposits of 106 gravel. It is obvious that a deposit of 5,000,000 cu. yd. of such gravel could not be mined profitably with a new 7-cu. ft, bucket-line dredge, costing upward of $250,000, and in operation costs at 4¢ per cu. yd., paying for land or royalties out of earnings; nor could a new combination 5-cu. yd. dragline and washing plant, worth upward of $125,000 and working at 6¢ Per cu. yd., make a profit. These comparisons are made because the hourly capacity of both types of dredges is nearly the same. The bucket-line dredge averages 93 per cent operating time in 24 hr., as against about 80 per cent or less for the dragline dredge. These Percentages of operating time are important factors in making a comparison of this kind- The bucket-line dredge has greater efficiency in cleaning soft bedrock, usually characteristic of dredging deposits, and a 7-cu. ft. bucket-line dredge can be efficient to a total digging depth of 80 ft- (65 ft. below water, 15 ft. above). A 5-cu. Yd. dragline dredge is limited to about 30 ft. of efficient digging depth, 5 ft. of which could be above water. In small areas of gravel not over 30 ft. deep, a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge could make a profit where a bucket-line dredge could not do so. As an example: compare the dredging of 3,000,000 cu. yd. of 10 gravel 28 ft. deep with bucket line, costin 4¢ Per cu. yd., and with a 5-cu. yd. dragline dredge operating at 6¢ Per cu. yd. Because of small yardage, new equipment is not warranted, therefore we can assume that the dredges of both types are used equip-ment, fully depreciated. Dismantling, mov-

Jan 1, 1946

By Nye P. B, Fisher N. H

At the second Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress held in 1927, the Empire Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutions was formed and it was proposed that the Council take steps to prepare a "Review of the Mineral Resources and Industries of the Empire." At the third congress in 1930, it was resolved that the proposal to institute the review should be submitted to the Imperial Conference held in 1930. This was done, and the Minerals Committee, of the Imperial Economic Committee compiled, an interimreport which was based on statistics of imports and exports, and did not consider resources and consumption.In 1942 the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, London, wrote to the Empire Council and stated that it was desirable that the Council should be in a position to take part in decisions affecting the future of the mining and metallurgical industries. The Council communicated with the constituent Institutions regarding the nominations of two members then in England. Subsequently the Mining, Geological and Metallurgical ,Institute of India prepared a review of the mineral resources and industries of India and their post-war development, and the Empire Council forwarded a copy to the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and asked if that Institute would submit a review on simjIar lines for Australia. The Australasian Institute arranged that the Australian review should be prepared by...

Jan 1, 1946