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By Charles E. McCarthy, MORTON T. PAWEL, E. A. GEE, FRANK S. RIORDAN

Large tonnages of the magnesium silicate mineral , olivine, are known to exist in the mountains of western North Carolina and in the Puget Sound region of Washington. The North Carolina deposits alone are reputed to contain at least 230 million tons of ore averaging 45 to 49 percent of magnesium oxide In both areas the mineral is readily accessible and can be mined by the simplest methods ; one of the largest of the Washington deposits is located at tidewater .

Sep 1, 1946

By D. S. Yantek, R. J. Matetic, A. K. Smith, E. D. Thimons, J. Srednicki

In a 2007 report to the U.S. Congress, the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research of the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH OMSHR) stated that built-in-place refuge alternatives (BIP RAs) provide significant advantages over mobile refuge alternatives. At present, the requirement to locate refuge alternatives within 305 m (1,000 ft) of working faces makes BIP RAs impractical in most coal mines. BIP RAs would be practical if three issues are addressed: (1) allowing BIP RAs to be located at greater distances from the working face, (2) developing a reliable process for the design and approval of BIP RA stoppings that meet the 0.1-MPa (15-psi) design criteria, and (3) developing systems that reliably deliver breathable air to the refuge alternative. In 2015, NIOSH OMSHR conducted a study of these three issues and issued a report. In the report, justification was provided for allowing the placement of BIP RAs at greater distances from the working face than the currently mandated 305 m (1,000 ft), guidelines were developed that could be used by industry when submitting BIP RA stopping design applications for approval which are patterned after the Mine Safety and Health Administration guidelines for coal mine seal design applications, and insights were provided into options for providing a reliable supply of clean, breathable air to BIP RAs. This paper presents a summary of the study’s findings and also addresses issues discovered during the building and designing of a BIP RA that OMSHR researchers constructed in NIOSH’s Experimental Coal Mine in Pittsburgh to research the testing and improving of BIP RAs. These issues include several issues related to the delivery, distribution and exhaust of ventilation air to the BIP RA and some general construction issues that require further investigation.

Jan 1, 2016

By R. S. Dean

[During the past fiscal year the Metallurgical Division has made important contributions along the lines dictated by the Bureau policy of conservation of domestic mineral resources through Its investigations include determining of fundamental data of metallurgically important materials improvement of standard ore-treatment method to eliminate waste and improve the grade or recovery of the products; and development o new metallurgical processes.]

Jan 1, 1940

By Louis H. Berkelhamer

"INTRODUCTION ""Free silica"" includes all free forms of silicon dioxide, such as quartz, chalcedony, tridymite, cristbbalite, opal, diatomaceous earth, and lechatelierite. The term, has been used rather loosely however, as synonymous with quartz, as quartz is the most abundant form of free silica. ""Combined silica,"" on the other hand, has been reserved to denote silica combined with other elements as silicates.Improvements in methods for the determination of free silica, and quartz in particular, have been the subject of considerable interest during the past decade, owing mainly to the accented and increased knowledge concerning quartz as a causative factor in silicosis. Analysis for quartz, however, is of importance in many other fields, including the determination of quartz in ceramic raw materials, such as feldspar and clay; the evaluation of a beneficiation procedure by the ore dresser, such as in the concentration of iron ore; control studies of a manufactured product, such as silica brick; and routine analysis of rock, mineral, and ore samples by chemists and petrographers."

Jul 1, 1944

By P C. Miclea

Transportation networks extend every day around the world, requiring safe and well-maintained structures for efficiency and for users’ safety. Due to specific features of the infrastructure, such as longer tunnels, increased traffic and marginal safety rules, fire safety in rail and road tunnels becomes more challenging.The situation becomes more critical due to the global economy and increasing worldwide tourism, with multi-national companies often involved in both design and construction of transportation routes or systems in other countries. Tourism brings the risk of visitors becoming victims in a foreign land; thus, international law becomes more and more applicable to transportation projects all over the world, requiring a consistent approach to safety (UN Economic and Social Council, 2001; US DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 2006; US Transportation Research Board, Committee on the Role of Public Transportation in Emergency Evacuation, 2008; UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 1997).There are significant differences between rail and road tunnels, both in their functionality and safety requirements. Most tunnels over a certain length are equipped with emergency ventilation systems capable to control the spread of smoke by creating an air stream in the desired direction. Besides ventilation, fire-life safety (FLS) includes smoke and heat detection by linear or spot detectors, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and public address systems with prerecorded announcements, as well as evacuation signage and monitoring capabilities (Vägverket – Swedish National Road Administration, 2004).There isn’t a consistent, worldwide approach to the design of emergency ventilation systems for tunnels, with significant differences from continent to continent (US DOT Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 2004, US Federal Transit Administration, Transportation Research Board, 2006). In North America US NFPA 130 and 502 standards for rail and road tunnels, respectively, represent the main criteria, however, they are continually revised and new versions issued every three years. For road tunnels the World Road Association PIARC issues guidelines, but they are not truly enforceable. There are no similar international guidelines for rail tunnels, except general recommendations by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) (IAPT, 2003).In Europe the Directive #54/EC adopted by European Community Parliament in 2004 requires a minimum level of safety for road tunnels users in all existing and proposed tunnels in the Trans-European road network that are greater than 500 m in length. Authorities having jurisdiction in many other individual countries, such as Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan and others, enforce specific safety regulations (Miclea et al, 2007). While it is impossible to summarise all aspects of this topic in a short paper, a review of the design approach, the existing differences in safety requirements, as well as applicable design solutions to meet safety codes for both rail and road tunnels are discussed below.

Mar 8, 2011

By M Ireland

Extensive use of diesel-powered mobile equipment in modern mines for materials handling, such as load-haul-dump machines, constitute a significant source of heat, exhaust gases and diesel particulate matter. Provision of sufficient quantities of fresh, cool air are required to remove such atmospheric contaminants from the environment for miners, particularly at depths where ventilation constraints and associated operating costs have an increasingly adverse impact. An alternative solution to diesel equipment to combat economic, environmental, social and health challenges, are battery electric vehicles (BEV), with the potential to expand production and substantially reduce ventilation and cooling demand, subsequently reducing operating costs. In this context, this paper focuses on the introduction of a battery electric loader to a diesel fleet at one of the deepest underground mines in Australia, the CSA Mine, a high-grade copper operation in Cobar, New South Wales. Analysis of a trial battery electric loader compared to existing diesel machines is performed with regards to infrastructure, technical and operational issues. Key benefits of battery electric vehicles over conventional diesel-powered vehicles are discussed, including lower energy consumption and greater efficiency, reduction of emissions and heat, reduced need for ventilation and lower operating costs. Challenges of introducing BEVs into an operation, along with the results from the comparative study are addressed under impacts to energy consumption, equipment selection, effects on ventilation and cooling, mine design and economic viability for future fleet implementation scenarios whilst meeting production targets.

Mar 29, 2023

By Mark W. Ryan

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a study to determine if commercially available automatic sprinklers could withstand the high static pressures in deep underground coal mines without leaking and if exposure to the mine environment affected their leak pressures. New sprinklers and sprinklers exposed to the mine environment were subjected to increasing pressures until leakage occurred. The average leak pressures of the new sprinklers ranged from 640 to 2,300 psig and were significantly different for sprinklers from different manufacturers and for different types of sprinklers. Generally, standard-response sprinklers withstood higher pressures than fast-response sprinklers. The results indicated that most commercially available sprinklers would withstand the high static pressures in deep underground coal mines; however, they would not provide the same reliability and safety factor as sprinklers used aboveground at or below their rated pressure of 175 psig. The average leak pressures of the sprinklers exposed to the mine environment ranged from 740 to 1,180 psig. The mine environment affected the ability of 66% of the sprinklers to withstand high static pressures. New sprinklers were also evaluated at pressures of at least 500 psig for 30 days to determine their ability to withstand long-term exposure to high static pressures; no leakage was observed.

Jan 1, 2010

By A. V. Aleksandrov, T. N. Aleksandrova, N. V. Nikolaeva

Using complex thermal analysis methods, flotation concentrates were classified depending on what the organic and nonorganic carbon form is. The possibility of ultrafine particles of valuable components (noble metals and diamonds) extraction using physical actions of different genesis in the processing of ‘unconventional’ mineral raw materials is considered in the paper. Electromagnetic treatment is one of new technologies in the field of mineral processing. The features of the electromagnetic effect on substances include uniform heating throughout of the volume, high speed and low inertia of heating, as well as the possibility of selective heating. A selection of studies including gravity, flotation and extraction methods of enrichment using energy effects, as well as thermal analysis was conducted to establish the availability and possibility of extracting valuable components. Due to microwave and high-temperature exposure, minerals and gas-liquid inclusions are decremented, and crystal-chemical water is released, resulting in additional defects. As a result, self-cleaning of sulphide minerals from atoms of scattered gold occurs by distilling it into peripheral parts of grains and intergranular space, where ultradispersed individuals are formed. Keywords: Refractory gold-bearing ores, physico-chemical properties, ore preparation, flotation, modelling, simulation, selection

Jan 1, 2020

By James W. Martin

This user's manual analyzes the application, selection and performance of front-end loaders in mining operations which can effectively utilize their load-and-carry capability. All aspects of the application are considered starting with a discussion of the load-and-carry system and alternate material handling methods. Site conditions such as the geology of the formation, material characterisitics, alternative mine plans and working conditions are identified. Selection considerations include machine design characteristics, production capabilities and ownership and operating costs. Typical operating practices and safety procedures are discussed. Comprehensive machine specifications, together with a series of checklists and worksheets, are included for preliminary analysis.

Jan 1, 1981

The request for proposal from the U.S. Bureau of Mines outlined the purpose of this study in the following terms. "High grade near surface deposits are largely a matter of history. Most of the current mineral production in the united States is from large low grade ore deposits mined by large scale methods. It appears likely that exhaustion of near surface deposits and public resistance to open pit mining will tend to reverse the present trend toward open pit mining and lead to increased reliance on large scale underground mining. In view of the long lead time needed to improve basic technology, an in-depth study of the major underground mining methods is needed. "This study is intended to provide a systematic review and analysis of large scale non-coal underground mining technology with particular emphasis on current practices and problems, needed technological improvements, existing or potential environmental conflicts, and possible modifications or innovations that will assist in the satisfaction of projected national mineral supply requirements."

Jan 1, 1974

By R. L. Taylor, S. D. Abbott

"INTRODUCTION Mines are filled with a mixture of gases, some of which are toxic, flammable, explosive. Others can be early reporters of potential problems. It has previously been shown that analysis by gas chromatograph can the most accurate conventional analytical tool for common mine gas mixtures when used correctly. There are some other detection methods (e.g hand held sensors), but they do not detect many situations which are immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). Examples include explosive hydrogen mixtures, toxic carbon dioxide levels, and some explosive mixtures of methane with oxygen. (Reference our previous paper). There are several reasons for mines to consider onsite GC analysis. (1) Timeliness of results. Samples can be taken and analyzed immediately. Samples do not have to be shipped to a lab and wait for results. (2) Ability to run greater number of samples a lower for the same cost. This allows mine to increase the number of samples taken to be more informed about the gases/conditions of the mine without the worry of financial constraints. (3) Fewer sample media needed, and there is no wear and tear or cost from shipping them offsite. When samples are shipped offsite, those sample media cannot be used to take until the lab returns them when the analysis is done onsite, the sample media can be used again almost immediately. However there are several challenges associated with using GC to analyze mine gas samples onsite. To date there has been a clash of the requirements for a successful analysis, the capabilities of the technology, and the practicalities of implementation. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the difficulties in getting accurate reliable data and doing so in an economic way. This whole measurement activity is a cost center for a mine, so there are economic concerns for the mine to address. These concerns are mainly staffing costs, capital costs, maintenance, and consumables costs. A properly staffed and equipped analysis lab, including burdened overhead, costs about $500K per year. At a sampling rate of 10 per day, this is about $140 per measurement for a proper onsite lab."

Jan 1, 2016

Mine drainage and mine reclamation are topics of major interest to the mining industry, federal and local governments, and the general public. This publication and its companion three volumes are the proceedings of a conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 24-29, 1994. There were twelve sessions (69 papers) that dealt with mine drainage, including modeling, geochemistry, prediction, treatment, control strategies, characterization, hydrology, and case studies. These sessions comprise volumes 1 and 2. The six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with reclamation and revegetation of disturbed lands are included in volume 3. Volume 4 includes the six sessions (34 papers) that dealt with such topical issues as fires at abandoned mine sites, subsidence, hydrology, mine wastes, and policy. Poster session presentations are represented by 49 papers and 92 abstracts that have been placed in the back of volumes 2, 3, and 4, consistent with the subject of that volume.

Jan 1, 1994

G. A. Moore—The tin-fusion method has been a very favorable possibility for many years. The authors apparently have settled the question that delayed the method for a long time by showing that no hydrogen is absorbed in the tin. This, of course, is very important. I want to make a few remarks concerning the absolute accuracy of analysis, which must be the final basis for deciding among the various methods. From the figures in the paper, there seems to be some re-maining slight discrepancy on the actual amount of hydrogen present in various samples which may be presumed essentially identical. (This is of the order of the precision of individual analyses but appears in averaged results.) From the analyst's viewpoint, the tally of hydrogen content can be regarded as occurring in three portions. First is a large portion which comes off easily and automatically during sample storage and later on heating in the apparatus. This is fairly easily analyzed. Second is an item which may be either positive or negative in the tally sheet. In warm or hot evolution, this is a portion which, in practice, can never be re-

Jan 1, 1951

By Arthur Gray

THE thermal analysis of a metal or alloy is ordinarily made with the aid of heating and cooling curves, in which transitions are indicated by the rapid changes in curvature that accompany .changes in the rate of heat absorption or evolution. Analysis by the method that depends on the change in thermal expansivity is not customary, partly, at least, because of the difficulties involved in making the necessary measurements. However, under certain circumstances, the dilatometric method of analysis may possess advantages over the thermometric method that will justify the additional trouble required. The addition of 1 per cent. of zinc to an alloy has been found to produce, upon the volume changes that take place during transition, effects that suggest the possibility of using the dilatometric method of thermal analysis as a rather sensitive means of obtaining chemical information. Although the illustrations presented in this paper are drawn from data obtained during an investigation of dental amalgams, similar phenomena can doubtless be observed with other alloys. Some of the results found during an investigation made in 19171 have been confirmed by data on the thermal expansivity of amalgams published by Souder and Peters of the Bureau of Standards in reporting tests of dental materials.2 Although the Bureau of. Standards made experiments for the purpose of discovering effects of including zinc as one of the constituents of a dental alloy-a matter much discussed in dental literature but without the presentation of reliable experimental evidence to support the views of ;either side-the reports of the test made by the Bureau give the impression that certain striking phenomena associated with the presence of zinc were not noticed. Among such phenomena are those connected with the conditions that determine whether or not a specimen of amalgam becomes covered with droplets from which crystals develop.

Jan 9, 1920

By J. H. East

THE RIFLE, COLO., oil-shale project of the Bureau of Mines was a facet of the re-search and development activities conducted under the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act (Public Law 78-290) of April 5, 1944. The principal objectives were to devise efficient methods to mine and retort oil shale and to refine shale oil into usable products, at a total cost low enough that shale oil could supplement the domestic supply of petroleum at competitive prices. The Rifle project included three major divisions: (1) Mining, (2) retorting, and (3) refining. The major functions of the mining program were to supply oil shale to the retorts, to devise mining procedures, and to develop an under-ground-mining method by which oil shale could be produced safely at an unusually low cost per ton. The selected mining procedures and direct mining costs were demonstrated by sustained test runs.

Jan 1, 1964

By Arthur W. Gray

The thermal analysis of a metal or an alloy is ordinarily made with the aid of heating and cooling curves in which transitions are indicated by the rapid changes in curvature that accompany changes in the rate of heat absorption or evolution. Analysis by the method that depends on the change in thermal expansivity is not customary, partly, at least, because of the difficulties involved in making the necessary measurements. However, under certain circumstances, the dilatometric method of analysis may possess advantages over the thermometric method that will justify the additional trouble required. The addition of 1 per cent. of zinc to an alloy has been found to produce upon the volume changes that take place during transition effects that suggest the possibility of using the dilatometric method of thermal analysis as a rather sensitive means of obtaining chemical information. Although the illustrations presented in this paper are drawn from data obtained during an investigation of dental amalgams, similar phenomena can doubtless be observed with other alloys. Some of the results found during an investigation made in 1917l have been confirmed by data on the thermal expansivity of amalgams published by Souder and Peters of the Bureau of Standards in reporting tests of dental materials.2 Although the Bureau of Standards made experiments for the purpose of discovering effects of including zinc as one of the constituents of a dental alloy—a matter much discussed in dental literature but without the presentation of reliable experimental evidencae to support the views of either side—the reports of the tests made by the Bureau give the impression that certain striking phenomena associated with the presence of zinc were not noticed. Among such phenomena arc those connceted with the conditions that determine whether or riot a specimen of amalgam becomes covered with droplets from which crystals develop.

Jan 1, 1921

By W. R. Herrera

A research effort was conducted to present or develop methodology for evaluating candidate potting materials intended for use in explosion-proof enclosures. The primary purpose was to develop acceptance guidelines based on arc decomposition products. Acceptance criteria can be based on: ? Inherent thermo-chemophysical, mechanical and electrical properties; ? Arc decomposition products: ? Nature of volatile products produced, e.g., flammability, explosivity, synergistic effects on existing environment in the enclosure, toxicity; ? Quantity produced as a function of arc power and duration; ? Acceleration aging tests to evaluate breakdown under electrical stress.

Jan 1, 1982

By S. S. Shen, M. J. Pool, P. J. Spencer

Heats of solution of gold and copper in dilute Au-Cu-Sn alloys have been determined using a liquid metal solution calorimeter. The self-interaction coefficient, Au - has been calculated at constant copper concentrations and n cu has likewise been determined at constant gold contents. Good experimental agreement is obtained between the interaction coefficients and nAu Cc thus demonsbating the reliability of the measured heat values. The measured data are compared with the Predictions of certain solution models. In previous publications,1,2 the results of calori-metric investigations of dilute Ag-Au-Sn and Ag-Cu-Sn alloys have been presented. The present work on the Au-Cu-Sn system concludes a program of studies of enthalpy interaction coefficients in dilute alloys of the Group IB metals with tin. Since the definition and derivation of an enthalpy interaction coefficient has been discussed previously,1,2 no restatement of this theory will be presented here. From the determination of the partial heat of solution of gold and copper in ternary alloys of various copper and gold contents, values of the interaction coefficients can be calculated. These coefficients give an insight into the various solute interactions that occur in the liquid solutions since changes in their magnitude and sign reflect bonding changes that are taking place in alloys of varying solute contents. EXPERIMENTAL Details of the design and operation of the liquid metal solution calorimeter used in this work may be found in a paper by Poo1.3 For the present studies copper of 99.999 pct purity was supplied by American Smelting and Refining Co., gold of 99.999 pct purity by A. D. Mackay, Inc., and tin of 99.99 pct purity by Baker Chemical Co. At the commencement of each series of experimental drops, a tin solvent bath consisting of between 70 and 90 g of the pure metal was inserted in the calorimeter. The weight of the bath was accurately determined and to it were added appropriate amounts of gold or copper to give alloys of the desired composition. For determinations of approximately 0.0015 g-atom samples of Cu were used and for measurements of ?HAu approximately 0.0025 g-atom additions of Au. The heat capacity of the bath was determined at regular intervals during a series of drops using tin calibration samples. Measurements were made of the heat of solution of copper in alloys containing a constant 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 mole fraction of Au, respectively, in order to determine ?HCu in each alloy, and the same mole fractions of copper were used to determine equivalent values for nAu at constant copper concentrations. The composition of the bath was maintained at the desired constant gold or copper content by making calculated additions of the appropriate solute throughout the experiments. The limiting values ?HAu in alloys of constant copper content and of %c, in alloys of constant gold content were studied as a function of the mole fraction of copper or gold respectively in order to determine and nCu. Heat content and heat capacity data used in calculating values of ?ºHAu and ?HCu at the experimental temperature of 720°K were obtained from Hultgren et a1.4 ' RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Determinations of ?HAu. The partial heat of solution of gold in pure tin as a function of gold concentration was determined in the previous study of dilute Ag-Au-Sn alloys1 and can be represented by the least-squares expression: ?HAu(l) =-8075 + 2413xAu [l] which is valid between XAu= 0.00 and xAu = 0.05. The standard error in the constant term, which represents the partial heat of solution of gold at infinite dilution in tin,?HºAu(l)is 35 cal per g-atom, while the standard deviation of the slope, which represents n Au is ± 619 cal per- agtom. Corresponding expressions for ?HAu(l) in alloys containing constant mole fractions of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 copper were obtained from the data listed in Table I and are themselves given in Table II. Fig. 1 illustrates the partial heat of solution of gold as a function of its concentration in each of the alloys. For the four alloys of constant copper concentration, the values obtained for ?HºAU(l) (in order of increasing copper content) are -8141 i 36 cal per g-atom, -8210 ± 42 cal per g-atom, -8202 ± 46 cal per g-atom and -8268 ± 51 cal per g-atom. The corresponding values of the self-interaction coefficient, n Au, for these alloys are 3103 * 644 cal per g-atom, 2425 ± 676 cal per g-atom, 2574 * 717 cal per g-atom and 2523 ± 899 cal per g-atom. In Fig. 2 these values of n Au are plotted as a function of the copper content of the alloys and are seen to remain approximately constant within the experimental limits. The addition of increasing, small amounts of copper to dilute binary Au-Sn alloys thus has no apparent effect on Au-Au interactions in these dilute liquid solutions, although more exothermic values of ?HºAu(l) do result from an increase in the copper content of the alloys. Analogous behavior was observed with additions of silver to dilute Au-Sn alloys.' By

Jan 1, 1970

By Fred C. Bond

MANY grindability tests have been made in the Allis-Chalmers laboratory since the tabulated results were last published.1 The lists of standard ball-mill and standard rod-mill grindability tests are brought up to date in this paper, and considerable new material is added. This includes a tabulation of open-circuit grinding tests, with impact and compression-crushing tests. The standard ball-mill grindability tests (Table I) were made in a standard laboratory ball mill, 12 by 12 in. inside, running at 70 rpm, with a charge of 285 iron balls ranging from 1 1/2 to 3/4 in. in diameter and weighing 20,125 grams. Seven hundred cubic centimeters of minus 6-mesh stage-crushed dry feed was used, and the circulating load was maintained constant at 250 pct by adjusting the number of mill revolutions for each grinding period. Tests were made at all mesh sizes from 28 to 200, and the grindability is the number of net grams of screen undersize produced per revolution. The table includes 479 tests. It has been calculated that the ball mill does 52.3 joules of useful work on the ore per revolution2 with 93 joules input to the mill. The standard rod-mill grindability tests (Table 2) were made in a laboratory tilting rod mill, 12 in. in diameter by 24 in. long inside, with a wave-type lining, running at 46 rpm. The grinding charge consisted of six 1 1/4-in. diameter and two 1 3/4-in. diameter steel rods, all 21 in. long and weighing 33,380 grams. The mill was rotated level for eight revolutions, then tilted up 5° for one revolution, down 5° for one revolution, and returned to level for eight revolutions. It was discharged by tilting downward at 45° for 30 revolutions. Feed consisted of 1250 cc of minus 1/2-in. stone and the circulating load was maintained constant at 100 pct by adjusting the number of mill revolutions for each grinding period. Tests were made at all mesh sizes from 3 to 65, and the rod-mill grindability is the number of net grams of screen undersize produced per revolution. The table includes 105 tests. The impact and compression-crushing tests (Table 3) are given in a table that is an extension of a previous publication3 in which the method of testing was described in detail. Two equal hammers weighing about 30 lb each were arranged to strike simultaneous blows on opposite sides of the test specimen. Broken pieces of rock passing a 3-in. square and retained on a 2-in. square were set up with the smallest dimension between the hammers, and this distance was measured. The height of the hammers was increased slightly before each blow until the specimen broke, and the foot-pounds per inch of thickness was calculated. Ten pieces

Jan 1, 1947

By AIME AIME

ON Thursday a most interesting symposium on "Gases in Metals" was held, with both morning and afternoon sessions. The morning was devoted principally to the considerations of the steel maker, the nonferrous field being taken up in the afternoon period. Dr. John Johnston, as chairman, introduced the subject with "A Short Analysis of the Gas-metal Problem and Its Practical Importance." He then introduced P. H. Brace who explained in considerable detail the various vacuum fusion and other methods in use at present, both here and abroad, in the study of "gases" in metals. He was fol¬lowed immediately by H. W. Graham on "The Effect of Oxygen in Steel." The papers elicited considerable discussion, the point being particularly noted by both Dr. Rawdon and Dr. Sauveur that a knowledge of "total oxygen" alone is not sufficient information for the metallurgist, distribution of oxygen being probably the more important. Dr. Johnston, in commenting on the lack of agreement among many of the methods now in use, such as the Ledebur and vacuum fusion, spoke of the contemplated plan of the Iron and Steel Division to have a number of standard samples analyzed by many laboratories by the various methods, the Bureau of Standards acting as a clearing house, so that more definite information may be obtained on the comparative accuracy of the method.

Jan 1, 1933