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By I. J. Brown

Paper prepared for presentation at Industrial minerals and the environment, held in Leeds, 24-35 September 1990. The need to submit an environmental statement (EIS) has certainly increased the workload of those concerned with both its production and assessment. However, there is now good evidence that the system is enhancing public confidence in the minerals industry in particular and improving relationships between the developer, planning authority and those consulted such as statutory bodies, parish councils, civic societies, nature conservation interests and ramblers

Jan 1, 1991

By A. Singh

The control of flotation plants is by no means trivial. Flotation is one of the most interactive minerals? processing operations. The interactive nature of flotation circuits results in oscillations of levels and hence of grades and recoveries. Also, poor level setpoint tracking and disturbances have negative influences on grades and recoveries. The result is an unstable plant with limited scope for optimization. An advanced controller, FloatStarTM, has been developed to provide tight control and to reduce the amount of disturbances in flotation levels. It has been shown on a number of plants that the system results in faster and better setpoint tracking, better regulatory control and faster settling times after start-ups and disturbances. The successful stabilization provided by FloatStar has made it easier to investigate the area of optimization on flotation circuits. Mintek has identified the need for a more meaningful set of setpoints or aeration rates to use as a basis for control than levels and have advocated flow control by looking after residence times. When the feed conditions change, the ideal solution would be an algorithm or strategy that finds the new optimum conditions rather than just having an unguided hunt from the previous point. A multivariable flow-optimizing algorithm, a new module in FloatStar, has been developed to calculate optimum level setpoints and/or aeration rates that will aim to optimize the residence times, mass pulls and circulating loads within a flotation circuit. Keywords: flotation, regulatory, FloatStar, start-up, disturbance, residence times, circulating loads

Jan 1, 2003

By John Sleavin

As part of the Link Light Rail project in Seattle, WA, work was completed at the Pine Street Stub Tunnel (PSST) in early 2007 for the Central Link project. This tunnel was excavated using cut-and-cover construction within the limits of Pine Street. The stub tunnel provides a turn back via double crossover for light rail trains running in the Downtown Transit Tunnel (DTT), as well as a connection point for the next phase of the project, the University Link (Fig. 1). Designing the new University Link tunnel connection to the existing PSST was a tricky task. The on-site geotechnical conditions, buried obstructions, geometry, requirements for construction and balancing operational considerations and neighborhood stakeholder concerns associated with the recently completed PSST combined to create a uniquely challenging assignment.

Jan 1, 2010

By C. McLachlan, J. R. Donald

"Positioned at the forefront of the seafloor minerals industry, DeepGreen Resources is on track to becoming a leading producer of base and strategic metals obtained from vast high-grade seafloor polymetallic nodule deposits. DeepGreen believes the seafloor minerals industry is an opportunity for developing a more environmentally and societally attractive way to produce cleaner base and strategic metals. Polymetallic nodules contain nickel, manganese, copper, cobalt and other base and strategic metals. Polymetallic nodules represent an exceptional multi-metal-bearing resource, and no current metallurgical operation or flowsheet exists that can recover the primary metallic values while managing the distinct mineralogy. DeepGreen Resources is developing a new process to maximize the business outcomes consistent with the highest environmental standards, including targeting a near zero waste facility. The present paper discusses the history, context and driving forces of polymetallic nodule project development. An overview of DeepGreen?s Nauru Ocean Resources Inc. (NORI) project is presented along with a literature review of polymetallic nodule processing and the on-shore project development scope and plan at DeepGreen Resources is outlined.INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT Polymetallic Nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone Containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese, polymetallic nodules occur in most oceans of the world. The nodules lie on the seafloor sediment. The largest deposit in terms of nodule abundance and metal concentration occurs in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) on vast abyssal plains at a depth of 4,000 to 6,000 metres. The CCZ is located almost entirely in international waters as presented in Figure 1. It has been estimated that the CCZ contains (International Seabed Authority, 2010): •,>21 billion tonnes of nodules; •,>270 million tonnes of nickel; •,>6 billion tonnes of manganese; •,>234 million tonnes of copper; •,>46 million tonnes of cobalt. There are several active hypotheses for the mechanism of formation of the nodules including precipitation, hydrothermal decomposition of basaltic debris, and involvement of microorganisms. Nodules require a nucleus to start forming, which could be a piece of pumice, a shark tooth, old nodule piece, basalt debris or even microfossils like radiolaria and foraminifera. Nodules form concentrically with layers of iron and manganese hydroxides around a core. Although composed mainly of Mn, Fe, silicates and hydroxides, it is the significant content of Ni, Cu, Co, Zn and Rare Earth Elements (REE) that is generating the economic interest in harvesting these deposits. Nodules vary in size from micro-nodules to about 20 cm, the common size being two to eight centimeters. A typical polymetallic nodule and polished cross-section is presented in Figure 2."

Jan 1, 2017

By T. G. Carter, R. I. Miller

First, the influence of variation in the

Apr 1, 1995

Your assessment of the minerals business. The global mining industry is strong. I am convinced it will continue meeting the mineral needs of the world population for the foreseeable future. Two developments have greatly enhanced the industry’s ability to produce low-cost minerals. Technological innovations have resulted in increased productivity. And there has also been a dramatic expansion of the number of favorable countries in which to explore and mine. Capital expenditures have flowed to the low-production-cost mines and development projects as well as to the exploration projects and stable countries having the best potential for valuable mineral discoveries.

Jan 1, 2000

By Guillermo P. Selas

Perhaps this is the first time that an analysis of the industrial minerals panorama has been made in Mexico for that type of commodities. Because the non-metallic minerals lack the glamour of the metallic minerals and are usually of less unit value than metallics, a comparative study of these commodities has seldom been attempted. Sulphur, fluorite, barite and few others are an exception. Consequently, the statistics on the lowest per unit value industrial minerals, such as limestone, dolomite, gravels, sands, etc., are usually scarce and not always accurate. The following, then, will be an attempt to show a general status of the industrial minerals in Mexico with due reservations regarding volumes and values. According to Kruger (1971), this group of minerals surprisingly very little known, and called non-metallics because the lack of metallic luster, is the largest group of the mineral kingdom. It constitutes perhaps 75% of all the mineral varieties. For the most part, these minerals are compounds of common acids, sulphides, hydroxides and two elements carbon and sulphur. The list of non-metallic minerals is therefore very long. It includes the borates, carbonates, chlorides, fluorides, nitrates, phosphates, silicates, sulphates and less commonly arsenates, chromates, molybdates, sulphides, tungstates and vanadates. The latter group and many of the oxides are sought usually for their metal content.

Jan 1, 1974

By A. Wahab Khair, Nagendra P. Reddy

"This paper presents an analysis of preliminary tests on the effect of in-situ and operating parameters on fragmentation of coal using a specially designed unique automated rotary coal cutting simulator (ARCCS). In these tests coal blocks with an approximate dimension of 18 in. x 15 in. x 6 in. (45.7 cm x 38.l cm x 15.2 cm) were first. subjected to confining pressures, equivalent to in-situ conditions. Such. blocks were then cut by the cutting head of the ARCCS, thus simulating the action of the continuous miner in underground coal mining. During the tests under a particular set of in-situ and operating parameters a number of other parameters such as 1) penetration of bit into coal, 2) penetration resistance (thrust and cutting pressures), 3) rotating velocity of cutting head, and 4) acoustic emission activity in the coal block were monitored. After each cutting cycle the fractured surfaces were photographed and a velocity survey was conducted by using a sonic technique. At the end of each experiment the cutting paths of the bits in coal were photographed using an optical microscope with a camera attached to it. Furthermore, the coal fragments were collected in bags using a vacuum cleaner. These fragments were then sieved for size distribution analysis. The results of the preliminary tests indicated that underground coal cutting can be simulated in the laboratory and the effects of the important parameters, i.e. operating and in-situ parameters, can be studied successfully. INTRODUCTIONThe continuous-mining machines which were introduced in the 1950's now account for more than half the production of coal from underground mines. Unfortunately, these continuous miners, which were designed for increased productivity, have also increased the concentration of respirable dust in mines. As a result, the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 was enacted to enforce on the coal operators that the airborne respirable dust not exceed 2 mg/m3, and was intended to reduce the incidence of coal workers pneumoconiosis. This plus the other aspects of the legislation and the subsequent monitoring and enforcement by MSHA made it very imperative that the coal operators provide a relatively healthier and safer working environment for the coal miners. Since 1970, the Federal government has paid over 11.7 billion dollars to more than 470,000 miners with coal workers pneumoconiosis and their survivors (1). These regulations, coupled with the assessment of the continuing burden on miners, the mining industry and taxpayers appear to have provided an impetus for the mining .community towards comprehending the different parameters that influence dust generation and entrainment."

Jun 1, 1988

By Tim O’Neil

Upbeat, surprisingly so, might describe the mood at the2002 SME Annual Meeting and Exhibit in Phoenix, AZ. More than 4,000 mineral professionals gathered for three days of education, networking and product perusal. The Annual Meeting featured the theme, “Minerals for the Future@ SME” at the Feb. 25-27 gathering. Meeting attendance reached 4,039along with 479 exhibit booths show-casing 325 companies. Exhibitors found a good mix of industry types:37% from mining, 19% from processing, 20% from manufacturing and 28% from environment, education and government.

Jan 1, 2002

By H. H. Hasler

THE mining and removal of coal from two or more beds, either simultaneously or consecutively, in vertically adjacent areas have always been matters of concern to mine operators from both operating and recovery points of view. However, with the progressive introduction and use of electrical and mechanical facilities, such problems assume even greater proportions. In this paper typical cases occuring in Cambia County, Pa., are given and procedures whereby such problems may be .greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, are suggested. Throughout a considerable portion of the Central Pennsylvania bituminous coal region, particularly in Cambria County (Fig. I), the portion of the region to which references in this paper are made, large areas are encountered where two or more beds of coal occur and have been mined extensively since the earliest days of mining in the county. Generally, operations were commenced in one bed of coal on a property, following which, as conditions appeared to warrant, operations were commenced in another bed or beds on the same property, in some instances by the same operator. Operating results by no means have been uniformly successful, as the following review of some typical cases indicates, partly because of lack of experience in earlier cases and in certain later cases to disregard for the experiences of earlier operators. It is suggested that repetitions of such failures may be reduced largely, if not eliminated entirely, by adherence to a few basic principles founded upon past experiences. Geology and Stratigraphy The geology, stratigraphy, and relief of almost all of Cambria County have been studied and reported at length by the U. S. Geological Survey in its Johnstown, Ebensburg and Barnesboro-Patton Folios and other publications, by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey and by various individuals. All exposed rocks occurring within the boundaries of the county are of sedimentary origin, consisting of alternate beds of sandstone, slate, shale, fireclay, coal, limestone, etc., and all have been classified by the U. S. Geological Survey as extending from the upper strata of the Catskill formation, Devonian system, to and including, in a few hilltop areas, the lower strata of the Monongahela formation, Carboniferous system. Included within that range is the Allegheny formation, Pennsylvania series, which embraces all of the commercially important beds of coal that occur in the county, viz., the A, or Brookville, to the E, or Upper Freeport, both inclusive, shown in Fig. 2. The measures are traversed by a series of anticlines and synclines, extending in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction, which form broad, gently sloping basins (flat to 15 pct pitch, exceptionally to 25 pct). However, the topography of the surface is such that long lines of outcrops of all beds of coal overlying bed B, and to a limited extent bed B also, occur over large areas, a factor which contributed to the early and extensive development of mining activities in the county. Earliest mining developments of commercial importance were made in B, C', D, and E beds of coal, and it is in these beds that the principal mining operations are being conducted. To a limited extent, mining operations also have been conducted in local areas in the A, B rider and C beds. Coal beds being mined today range in thickness from approximately 28 to 60 in. Intervals between the respective beds of coal are variable but conform somewhat to the following general averages: A to B, 60 to 100 ft.; B to C, 50 ft.; C to C', 70 ft.; C' to D, 45 ft.; and D to E, 45 ft. The following are typical mining cases obserced over a period of years in various parts of the county.

Jan 1, 1952

By R. A. D. Pattrick, R. A. F. Ixer

Paper presented at Mineralisation in the Caledonides, the Mike Gallagher memorial meeting held in Edinburgh, 27-28 June 1996. At Calliachar Burn, 14 steeply dipping quartz-sulphide veins, with and without gold, infill master joints that crosscut gently dipping metasediments and metabasics of the Pitlochry Schist Formation. The wallrock is extremely bleached and enriched in sericite, chlorite and carbonate. Gold grades vary from high with quartz-galena-pyrite to low with galena-chalcopyrite; the gold forms electrum inclusions smaller than 20 micrometres in pyrite or, rarely, arsenopyrite. At Urlar Burn, gold is present in small amounts in 4 quartz-galena-chalcopyrite veins. Although much of the mineralogy is similar to that at Calliachar, there are significant differences in Sb-, Te-, Bi- and Hg-bearing phases. Fluid inclusion data suggest mineralisation occurred over the range 320-140 degrees C, from fluids with significant CO2 and 2-13 wt% equiv. NaCl. Mantle-derived fluids appear to have been generated during the late Caledonian and focused by the Urlar Burn fault

Jun 19, 1905

By M. Laliberte

"Gold-mine effluents are often characterized by high concentrations of copper, ammonia and cyanide derivatives (mostly cyanates and thiocyanates). While not acutely toxic to birds, this water can be acutely toxic to fishes and invertebrates. In many jurisdictions, the effluent requires further treatment in order to pass a mandatory requirement to be nonlethal to species like the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) or Daphnia magna. Using actual mine water, it has been demonstrated that aerated moving bed biofilm reactors will biodegrade the ammonia, cyanides, cyanates and thiocyanates, thereby removing the toxicity associated with these components. By removing copper by precipitation the water can be made to pass acute toxicity tests. Tests have demonstrated that the process is stable between 4 and 25°C, with no significant changes in the treated water composition. Once the biomass is acclimatized, the process is resistant to upsets and requires very little inputs except for phosphorus and air. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that an anoxic reactor can be added downstream of the aerated reactors to remove nitrates if required.IntroductionThis paper will demonstrate that gold-mine effluents, which are toxic to fishes and invertebrates, can be made nontoxic by using a combination of chemical precipitation and biological oxidation.The typical composition of gold-mine effluents will first be described. The applicable legislation will then be introduced, with its requirement that the treated effluent be nontoxic. The toxicity of a typical untreated effluent will then be confirmed, and the sources of the toxicity identified. After that, a number of toxicity reduction treatment methods will be presented, and the selected method will be described.The lab tests that confirmed the efficiency of the treatment method will be presented, with three phases of testing as the understanding of the process gradually improved. Toxicity test results showing that the water is nontoxic after treatment through the temperature range will be presented."

Jan 1, 2015

By John Blatchford, H. O. Hofman

The leading antimony mineral is stibnite. In smelting stibnite ore two processes are available, precipitation and roasting-reduction. The former is suited only for high-grade ores. As low-grade ores are more common than high-grade, roasting-reduction is of greater importance than precipitation. In the roasting process the aim may be to leave the oxidized antimony in the ore, or it may be to volatilize as much of the antimony as possible, collect the volatilized oxide as a rich intermediary product and smelt it for antimony, leaving the gangue poor enough to be considered a waste product. Whichever way the roast is conducted certain difficulties inherent in stibnite are encountered. These are: 1. The low melting point of stibnite which, according to Pélabon,' is 550°C., according to Wagemann2 540°C., and according to Borgstroma 546°C. 2. The ignition temperature: According to Friedrich,4 stibnite, if heated in air, begins to oxidize at 290°C. if the size of a grain is 0.1 mm. in diameter; at 343", if 0.1 to 0.2 mm.; and 430" if 0.2 mm. 3. The fusibility of a mixture of Sb2S33 and Sb203 which in the form of kermesite (Sb2S3)z.Sbz03 melts at 517°C.6 4. The volatility of Sb2Ss and SbzOs, for which no numerical data appear to exist, although practical experience has shown that they are volatile at low temperatures. As regards the oxidation of metallic antimony, we have the experimental evidence of C. F. Plattner6 that when fused and brought to a red heat, it burns with a bluish-white flame to Sb2Oa which passes off as a

Jan 1, 1916

By John Naughton

At the General Electric ResearchLabora-tories, we have been interested in the iron-manganese system and the effect of hydrogen on the properties of these alloys. Dr. H. H. Uhlig previously has presented some of these results.' We wish now to offer some other of the data that have a bearing on the subject of this symposium. In the determination of hydrogen in the iron-manganese system by any heating Method we are presented with the problem of the evaporation of volatile manganese and the consequent adsorption of hydrogen by this evaporated metal. It seems wise. therefore, to extract gas at as low a temperature as feasible. Consequently we chose the vacuum or hot extraction method for the analyses of these alloys. The apparatus used is shown in Fig. I. The design is a modification of the apparatus described by Holm and Thompson. To limit loss of hydrogen, samples are stored in a chamber immersed in liquid air. We recommend this procedure whenever there is a question of loss of hydrogen at room temperature. Thence they are moved to the quartz furnace by means of a small magnet, where they are heated by induction to 700' to 800°C. The extracted gas is removed by the circulating pump and placed in the known volume VI (or V2). The circulating pump has been described.3 It is so designed that in spite of the fact that the outlet portion of the pump is part of the known volume, this volume is affected neither by the speed of pumping nor by the pressure of stored gas. The pump also serves to circulate the gases for analysis. The analytical system consists of a

Jan 1, 1945

By Herman Poole

When finely divided ferrous sulphide, FeS, is roasted at a moderate, carefully-regulated temperature, the iron and sulphur are oxidized, the first products being probably ferrous oxide and sulphurous acid. In the presence of oxygen of the air the ferrous oxide soon becomes ferric oxide, and, in the presence of oxygen and the ferric oxide, the sulphurous acid oxidizes to sulphuric acid. These facts are well known, having been established by Plattner many years ago. As a further reaction, some of the sulphuric acid parts with a portion of its oxygen to oxidize more ferrous oxide to ferric oxide, and a portion of it escapes uncombined, or else unites with the iron oxides to form sulphates. Ferrous sulphate is usually soon oxidized to ferric sulphate, and if the heat becomes sufficient, this is then decomposed into sulphuric acid and ferric oxide. As a result of these reactions a mass of more or less pure ferric oxide is formed which is generally made porous by the escaping gases and, if rabbled properly, practically all the sulphur is expelled. If ferric sulphide or ordinary pyrites, FeS2, is roasted, a portion of the sulphur sublimes and usually burns to form sulphurous or sulphuric acid, although at times and under favorable conditions, some of the sulphur is driven off uncombined, and can be collected as such. Under ordinary methods of roasting, however, only a small portion escapes combustion. By the combustion of the sulphur an increase of heat is developed and, as a consequence, the reactions mentioned take place more rapidly and actively,—more sulphuric acid is formed and the oxidation is more complete—nearly all the iron being left as ferric oxide with practically no sulphate or ferrous oxide. When the iron sulphide is in lumps the roasting proceeds generally as with fines, but with some changes due to mass. The

Jan 1, 1906

By W. C. Lilliendahl, H. W. Highriter

THE method developed and used in this laboratory for the production of metallic uranium of such purity that it is ductile and can be cold-worked to fine wire or thin sheet by rolling has already been described1. It consists, briefly, in the electrolysis of potassium uranous fluoride (KUF6) in a molten bath composed of equal parts of sodium and calcium chlorides. The bath is contained in a graphite crucible, electrically heated to about 775° C., the crucible serving as the anode for electrolysis. The uranium deposits in finely divided form mixed with salts upon a molybdenum cathode suspended axially in the crucible. Upon completion of the electrolysis the cathode is removed and cooled, the deposit broken and leached to remove salts. The metal powder is washed with water and dilute acetic acid and dried in vacuo to reduce oxidation. Suitable amounts are then pressed into pellets and heated in vacuo by high-frequency induction, using a thoria crucible. The uranium melts and flows away from the pellet, leaving a shell, which is largely oxide. In general, this method produced a satisfactory metal, although at times the uranium was not ductile. The investigations recorded here were made to find the cause of this embrittlement. It was known that the metal generally contained carbon, derived from disintegration of the graphite crucible in which electrolysis is conducted, in amounts dependent upon the thoroughness of washing the metal powder. Accordingly, analyses of several samples, both ductile and brittle, were made by combustion and absorption of CO2 in Ascarite, using air instead of oxygen to reduce the temperature and rate of oxidation. Several of these metals were made with special precautions to reduce carbon content. The results show no relationship between ductility and carbon content in the range investigated (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1935

By H. W. Highriter

THE method developed and used in this laboratory for the production of metallic uranium of such purity that it is ductile and can be cold-worked to fine wire or thin sheet by rolling has already been described1. It consists, briefly, in the electrolysis of potassium uranous fluoride (KUF5) in a molten bath composed of equal parts of sodium and calcium chlorides. The bath is contained in a graphite crucible, electrically heated to about 775° C., the crucible serving as the anode for electrolysis. The uranium deposits in finely divided form mixed with salts upon a molybdenum cathode suspended axially in the crucible. Upon com-pletion of the electrolysis the cathode is removed and cooled, the deposit broken and leached to remove salts. The metal powder is washed with water and dilute acetic acid and dried in vacuo to reduce oxidation. Suitable amounts are then pressed into pellets and heated in vacuo by high-frequency induction, using a thoria crucible. The uranium melts and flows away from the pellet, leaving a shell, which is largely oxide. In general, this method produced a satisfactory metal, although at times the uranium was not ductile. The investigations recorded here were made to find the cause of this embrittlement. It was known that the metal generally contained carbon, derived from disintegration of the graphite crucible in which electrolysis is conducted, in amounts dependent upon the thoroughness of washing the metal powder. Accordingly, analyses of several samples, both ductile and brittle, were made by combustion and absorption of C02 in Ascarite, using air instead of oxygen to reduce the temperature and rate of oxida-tion. Several of these metals were made with special precautions to reduce carbon content. The results show no relationship between ductility and carbon content in the range investigated (Table 1).

Jan 1, 1935

By B. Woyski

MANY writers, in discussing defects caused by oxidation and gassing of bronzes and red brasses advocate substantially the same cure for both. But from its nature, oxidation cannot take place if there is an excess of fuel in the furnace, while the gases absorbed by some alloys are products of incomplete combustion of the fuel. Hence the metal can be either oxidized or gassed, but it is doubtful whether these actions can take place simultaneously. Oxidation can be easily overcome by the use of deoxidizers or it may be avoided by protecting the molten metal with suitable fluxes. Absorption of gases is more difficult to overcome. The regulation of the air and fuel, so as to produce complete combustion, and the protection of the bath by mineral fluxes are the most important factors. Gas expulsion, resulting in gas holes, porosity, unsoundness, and swollen or cauliflower-headed risers, is said to have several causes. One writer' lists the most common causes in the order of their importance, as follows: Superheated metal, dirty or slaggy furnace conditions, using metals low in quality or those previously subjected to bad melting practice, poor grade of fuel, use of newly lined or damp ladles, indiscriminate mixing of scrap or illogical combinations of metal. Superheating the metal usually occurs when the heat is ready to be poured but for some reason must be held in the furnace. In this case, a careful furnace tender tries to avoid overheating the metal by keeping a mild fire; that is, a reducing fire which, unfortunately, results in gassing the metal. A dirty, slaggy furnace may result in gassing the metal by retarding the heating and prolonging the time necessary to bring the metal to the proper temperature, thereby increasing the chances of gassing in uncertain furnace atmosphere.

Jan 5, 1922

By E. M. Wise

THE practice of dentistry, particularly the construction of artificial dentures and "bridges," involves a unique and difficult application of the precious-metal alloys. Appliances used in the mouth are continuously exposed to corrosive agencies which can hardly be described as mild, and must remain free from tarnish and be substantially immune to corrosion. Limitations with respect to space and weight demand high physical properties, while complexity of form requires ease of working. The high corrosion resistance required necessitates the use of alloys of high precious metal content. The usual expedient of resorting to mechanical working to produce the requisite strength and stiffness cannot be utilized because of the frequency of annealing and soldering operations. To meet these difficult conditions manufacturers of dental goods were early led, unknowingly perhaps, to the production of precipitation-hardening or temperable alloys. The excellent properties of iridium-platinum may have suggested the addition of platinum metals to the conventional gold-silver-copper alloys to produce greater strength and hardness. It was found that such quarternary alloys retained their high physical properties after passing through the usual soldering process; i, e., heating to 7500 to 8000 C. and cooling naturally in the air. Later it was discovered that they could be softened and rendered more ductile by heating to the same temperature and quenching, in water. These early examples of precipitation hardening, for years the common knowledge, of dental practitioners and laboratory technicians, escaped the attention of the scientific world and discovery of the transformation which was responsible for this hardening was discovered by the Russian investigators of the system Au-Cu, Kurnakow, Schemtschushny and Zasedatelev,(1) § although the optimum conditions for securing good properties in aged alloys were not given attention.

Jan 1, 1932

By J. T. Eash, W. S. Crowell, E. M. Wise

The practice of dentistry, particularly the construction of artificial dentures and "bridges," involves a unique and difficult application of the precious-metal alloys. Appliances used in the mouth are continuously exposed to corrosive agencies which can hardly be described as mild, and must remain free from tarnish and be substantially immune to corrosion. Limitations with respect to space and weight demand high physical properties, while complexity of form requires ease of working. The high corrosion resistance required necessitates the use of alloys of high precious metal content. The usual expedient of resorting to mechanical working to produce the requisite strength and stiffness cannot be utilized because of the frequency of annealing and soldering operations. To meet these difficult conditions manufacturers of dental goods were early led, unknowingly perhaps, to the production of precipitation-hardening or temperable alloys. The excellent properties of iridium-platinum may have suggested the addition of platinum metals to the conventional gold-silver-copper alloys to produce greater strength and hardness. It was found that such quarternary alloys retained their high physical properties after passing through the usual soldering process; i. e., heating to 750° to 800" C. and cooling naturally in the air. Later it was discovered that they could be softened and rendered more ductile by heating to the same temperature and quenching in water. These early examples of precipitation hardening, for years the common knowledge of dental practitioners and laboratory technicians, escaped the attention of the scientific world and discovery of the transformation which was responsible for this hardening was disclosed by the Russian investigators of the system Au-Cu, Kurnakow, Schemtschushny and Zasedatelev~,(~)$ although the optimum conditions for securing good properties in aged alloys were not given attention.

Jan 1, 1932