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By Albert D. Brokaw

THE accompanying chart was devised to provide a rapid and simple method of correcting for temperature and compressibility (deviation from Boyle's law) of gas under relatively high pressures and temperatures, such as are encountered in many deep reservoirs. The chart was prepared by interpolating for the desired values in the experimental data of Burke and Keyes1 and Kvalnes and Gaddy2 on the compressibility of methane, after adjusting their results from 0°C. to 60°F. and combining the correction factors for compressibility and temperature into a single multiplier, which, applied to the product of pressure and reservoir volume, gives at once the volume at one atmosphere (14.7 lb. per sq. in. abs.) and 60°F. The relationship 0f this multiplier to the compressibility factor Z, as used in most discussions, is simply: [Multiplier = 460° + 60°ZT –] where Z is the compressibility factor and T the absolute temperature (Rankine). Fahrenheit temperatures are shown on the vertical axis and pressures in pounds per square inch absolute on the horizontal axis. Correction factors or multipliers at intervals of 0.05 from 0.55 to 1.40 have been plotted on the chart and are calculated t0 give volume of gas at one atmosphere pressure (14.7 lb.) and 60°F. The operation is as follows: The reservoir volume, times the number of atmospheres pressure, times the multiplier, gives the volume of gas measured at one atmosphere (14.7 lb. per sq. in.) and 60°F. For example, a reservoir is estimated to have a volume of 10,000,000 cu. ft., bottom-hole pressure is 2940 lb. per sq. in. and temperature is 184°F To make the correction for methane, follow the 184° line horizontally to the 2940-lb. pressure line. The intersection lies between the 0.85 and 0.90 correction lines, and by interpolation we may estimate the multiplier at 0.863. The computation is simply: [ ] Using the chart for methane prepared by Prof. G. G. Brown3 and his associates, the multiplier is found to be 0.867. Details 0f computation are as follows: Correction factor to apply to PV to correct for deviation from Boyle's law and adjust to measurement basis of 60°F.: [ ]

Jan 1, 1941

By Thomas T., Read

THE education of adolescents to perform the duties and assume the responsibilities of maturity has been a characteristic of human society since the dawn of history. In the beginning the members of the immediate family performed this function, and in modern life they still have an important part in it. Possibly religion was the first field in which education began to be functional; young people were sent for instruction to a teacher who had a broader and deeper knowledge of the subject than was possessed by the family. It does not seem necessary for our purpose to attempt to determine how, when, or where instruction in the practical arts first' began to become functional, and the brief outline which follows must suffice. The discovery and utilization of mineral substances to improve and maintain the conditions of human living is a practical art, which must have had an almost accidental origin and have been developed by empirical experiments. We do not know, nor would it be useful to try to fancy, how men first learned that they could make use .of mineral substances to their benefit, but how- ever that knowledge was initially gained it was certainly trans mitted through instruction in the family. At first such activities must have been merely a .minor part of the making of a-living, but in time those who excelled found it better to devote them-

Jan 1, 1941

By H. C. Weed

THE Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co., located in the Globe-Miami district at Inspiration, Ariz., became a producer of copper in 1915. From 1915 until 1948, 116,278,000 tons of ore were produced from underground workings by the block-caving system of mining. In April 1948, open-pit ore production from portions of the ore body was started and earlier plans for block-caving in these areas were abandoned. The change was due to economic conditions.

Jan 8, 1950

By Kefton H. Teague

Olivine is a mineral containing a mixture of forsterite (Mg,SiO,) and fayalite (Fe,SiO,) in solid solution. The name "olivine" was first applied by Werner in 1790 (Hunter, 1941) because of the olive-green color of the mineral. Uses The principal use of olivine is in various foundry applications. Perhaps the largest tonnage is utilized as a special foundry sand for mold-making in brass, aluminum, and magnesium foundries (Schaller, 1957, 1958; Snyder, 1957). Olivine was first used as an industrial mineral in the early 1930s for a refractory material (Anon., 1970; Hunter, 1941). As a refractory raw material, olivine was first introduced in the United States as handcobbed, selected, shaped blocks of crude olivine. This use met with limited success. More recently, finely ground olivine blended with MgO and pressed into bricks, which are then fired, have found use in glass tank furnaces and open-hearth furnaces. Ramming or gunning mixes for basic furnace linings also utilize olivine. Olivine has been used in ladle linings with varied success. In Europe, substantial tonnages of olivine are utilized in refractory brick for night storage heaters (Anon., 1970). A limited amount of olivine has been used in the past as a fertilizer (magnesium source) and has been fused with rock phosphate to produce a magnesium phosphate as a plant food. The relatively high magnesia (MgO) content of olivine also attracted attention to it as a potential source of both magnesium compounds and as a source of metallic magnesium (Bengston, 1956; Hunter, 1941). Industries using olivine have not standardized specifications. Normally, producers supply a product which meets individual customer requirements. Such requirements involve type and amount of impurities, grain size of product, refractory characteristics, etc. Geology Olivine occurs commonly as accessories in basic igneous and basic metamorphic rocks. Economic deposits are of magmatic origin and are restricted to essentially the dunite variety of periodotite. Dunites are medium to coarse- grained crystalline rocks, generally reddish brown on weathered outcrop, and are composed primarily of olivine.

Jan 1, 1975

By Walter P. Jenkey

[ ] I. THE REDUCING ACTION OF CARBON AND OF HYDROCARBONS. Carbon has long been recognized as one of the most powerful reducing agents in the deposition of ores. Investigations, made by myself, of the zinc- and lead-deposits in Southwest Missouri, in the region centering about Joplin, where the formation of the metallic sulphides has been due to the action of bitumen, carbonaceous shales and bituminous coal, Lace afforded abundant evidence that the solid oxygenated hydrocarbons, particularly, when in fine powder and in suspension in the waters circulating through the ore-bodies, are the most energetic and powerful reducing agents known. Bitumen, liberated by the decomposition of the ore-bearing limestone, is found in the Joplin mines in all degrees of fluidity and hardness, dependent on the amount of oxidation it has undergone. From semi-fluid maltha it grades into partly oxidized mineral-pitch, which, by further oxidation, changes to hard asphalt, finally breaking up, from continued absorption of oxygen, into a fine powder resembling in appearance powdered coal. In this condition oxidized bitumen, from its light gravity, is transported readily in suspension in the underground circulating-waters. Bituminous coal and black carbonaceous clays and shales occur as surface formations, often in intimate association with

Jan 1, 1913

By Paul M. Tyler

YEAR after year, the kaolin industry of the United States has been setting new production records and making better products. High-grade paper, pottery, and rubber clays are produced in this country mostly in the South. Georgia alone contributes over 70 pct and South Carolina almost 20 pct of the total domestic output. Residual kaolin is mined in North Carolina, highly plastic but naturally sandy Tertiary (Eocene) potting clays are worked in north central Florida, and good white clays are produced in several other states, but the main sources of kaolin or china clay have been numerous deposits in the Tuscaloosa (Upper Cretaceous) formation. This formation of generally sandy sediments is called the Middendorf member in older geologic reports and corresponds in age with some of the New Jersey clays. As shown in fig. 1, it crops out almost continuously in a generally southwesterly direction across South Carolina and Georgia and into Alabama. Clay is mined from this formation in all three states but the principal producing centers lie within about 10 miles of a straight line drawn between Aiken, S. C., and a point about 10 miles south of Macon, Ga. The white kaolins of the South were recognized and used prior to the Civil War but suitable treatment processes were not introduced until World War I when imports, chiefly from England, were curtailed. Although imports of high-grade clays were resumed after 1918, the domestic industry managed to treble its prewar production record during the early 1920's and has continued to grow. Whereas the 1909 to 1913 average total production in the United States was only 132,104 short tons valued at $705,352 f.o.b. mines, the output in 1948 was 1,568,848 tons worth $19,756,738.

Jan 6, 1950

By N. J. Grant, B. C. Giessen, M. Morris

The slvuclures of alloys in the system In-Bi have been investigated after (levy vapid queuching from the mell (splat cooling) to -190°C. Tuo-phase fields could be suppressed over most of the tota1 concentvalion range; five melastable phases a1, a2, ?, ?1. and ß exisl, of which four have simple elementtike structures. For example, ß has the A5 struclure of white till. Crystal-tographic data and coordination numbers for these phases aye given, as well as addilional information on the equilibrium diagram, where a new phase In5Bi3 teas found. THE phase diagrams of binary combinations of B elements from the groups B2, B3, B4, and B5 are usually of a simple type and show considerably fewer intermediate phases than combinations of these elements with A metals, transition metals, or the B1 noble metals. Aside from phases such as the typical B3-B5 compounds with the ZnS-B3 structure type, few stoichiometric phases are known; among them are In2Bi and 1nBi.l Nonstoichiometric phases include ß (In-Sn), a1, (In-Pb), and the tin-rich ? phases in the In-Sn, Cd-Sn, and Hg-Sn systems.' The first two phases have a close relationship to indium, while the latter group are known to be structurally related to a Sn. Thus, there are generally no immediate experimental data for the correlation of the crystal structures of B metals and B metal combinations with certain monotonously varying parameters, such as the valence electron concentration (VEC), or the average atomic size. Such parameters have been recognized as structure determining, e.g., for the transition 4 Sn — y phase,2,3 where nonintegral valence electron concentrations are encountered. It should be possible to extend such correlations to other binary systems, if nonequilibrium single-phase alloys could be produced over broad valence electron concentration ranges, and if their crystal structures could be regarded as being imposed by their electronic states. It has been shown in the case of the tin-rich 7 phases3 that alloy phases with typical crystal structures can be produced in B metal alloys rapidly quenched from the liquid to -190°C by the splat cooling technique due to Duwez,3-8 and reviewed in Refs. 5 and 6. The In-Bi system was selected because it extends over a valence electron concentration range in which several metastable, nonstoichiometrir phases could be expected to occur. Further, the low melting points of the known intermediate phases, In2Bi and InBi, Fig. 1(a), indicated low binding energies and thus possibly low driving forces for the formation Of the equilibrium structures. EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES AND RESULTS The preparation of the quenched foils followed the practice described in Ref. 3. Master alloys were produced by melting of indium (99.97+) and bismuth (99.99+) in evacuated Vycor capsules or in an inert gas arc furnace; quantities of 20 mg were splat-cooled onto copper and silver substrates held at - 190°C; and crystal structures and lattice parameters were determined on a GE XRD-5 diffractometer using Cu Ka, radiation at -190°C and at room temperature. The duplication of each run with both substrates permitted the elimination of overlap of the substrate diffraction pattern and that of the investigated substance. The XRD patterns were usually taken from sin2 " = 0.03 to 0.35; the substrate was used as a means of internal calibration. The fractional accuracy of the lattice parameters of metastable phases is approximately 10-3 In the following, all percentages are in atomic percent. The stable and metastable phases found after rapid quenching to -190°C are listed in Table I, together with estimated concentration ranges and crystallographic data. The investigated alloys and phases present in them are given in Table 11. Except for the region between indium with 33 and 50 pct Bi, where a revision of the equilibrium phase diagram became necessary to include a new stoichiometric phase In5Bi3, the diffraction patterns taken after heating to room temperature agreed with those expected from the phase diagram, Fig. l(a). This suggests that the new nonstoichiometric phases are not stable at room temperature, thus following the observations made for the y phases based on tin.3 Results concerning the equilibrium phases In2Bi and In5Bi3 and the revision of the equilibrium phase diagram which is made necessary by the inclusion of In5Bi3 will be treated first. The Crystal Structure of In2Bi. Makarov7 had identified In2Bi as belonging to the AlB2-C32 type ; however, in a later paper the structure was revised.8 In2Bio was found to be of the Ni21n-B8ß type,21 with a = 5.496A, c = 6.57.9A, and N = 6 atoms per unit cell.9 This crystal structure was confirmed in the present work; definite evidence for the doubling of the c axis, as compared to the A1B2-C32 type, and for the proposed order structure, was found in the powder pattern. The observed lattice parameters agree well with those of Ref. 8; those measured at -190°C are given- in Table I. The Crystal Structure of In5Bi3. A new, equilibrium, intermediate phase was identified in slow-cooled, as-cast alloys; it was identified as In5Bi3. The structure has been worked out by Giessen and Grant;" lattice parameters at -190°C are given in Table I. This phase is probably identical with "In3Bi2", produced by vapor deposition techniques, but not recognized as an equilibrium phase by Palatnik et a1.11 After completion of the present work, the existence of In5Bi3 has also been demonstrated by superconductivity measurements on In-Bi alloys.20

Jan 1, 1968

By ROBERT E. HARDWICKE

THE QUESTION of whether the production of oil should be limited to market demand has been constantly discussed during the last two years. Oil men, legislatures and courts have reached highly conflicting conclusions. Opponents of limitation to market demand assert that it is a scheme of the big purchasing companies to fix prices and to create a monopoly. Proponents, on the other hand, declare that such a limitation is necessary to prevent physical waste and that the effect on prices is merely incidental. A brief review of market demand legislation will disclose the confusion existing. The laws of Oklahoma,' prohibiting waste of oil and gas, specifically' authorize limitation to market demand as a method of preventink such waste. These laws and the proration orders based thereon have been upheld by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, by several three-judge Federal District Courts, and by the Supreme Court of the United States.' Kansas has a similar law3 but no case has been found which discusses its validity. About a year ago the California Legislature passed a comprehensive conservation act, generally known as the Sharkey Bill giving authority to restrict production to an amount representing current requirements for use, taking into consideration oil and products in storage. This may be considered as equivalent to limitation to market demand. The Act was defeated upon referendum vote after a hard fought campaign in which it was charged that the Act would result in destruction of the independent operators.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. Schuhmann, J. Th. Overbeek, P. L. De Bruyn

W. E. Ewers (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research organization, Melbourne, Australia)— Any attempt to elucidate further the meaning of the contact angle, particularly if it deals with the magnitudes of those mysterious quantities rsa and YRL, is certain to receive attention from those interested in the fundamentals of flotation. It is imperative, therefore, that attention should be drawn to a serious defect in the treatment by de Bruyn, Overbeek, and Schuhmann. Their Eq. 5 dy = — ld/u — Th2odiH2n states correctly the relationship between the change in surface free energy dy, the surface excesses Tx and Th2o of the components x and H2O and the changes du, and dph2o in the chemical potentials of these components. This equation applies for constant pressure and con- stant temperature and for the interface of the solid in contact with the solution of X. The relation remains valid when 1.1 is defined so that TH2O becomes zero and the equation becomes dr = — r:dur [17] From this equation de Bruyn et al. correctly concluded that increased adsorption of the collector at the liquid solid interface would reduce the interfacial energy ysl. Their second conclusion, however, that an increase in the contact angle, corresponding to a greater decrease in rsa than in rsL can be attributed to greater adsorption of X at the solid-air interface than at the solid-liquid interface is quite unjustified. The portion of the solid surface from which the collector solution has been displaced by air must be considered in terms of the equilibria between the gaseous phase and the surface. If the pressure and temperature

Jan 1, 1955

By J. H. Swislzer

TWO-LIQUID miscibility gaps have been found to exist in both the CaO-SiO, system above 1705 and the Cr,03 system above 2200"c. Glasser and 0sborn3 studied the extension of these miscibility gaps into the Ca0-Si0,-Crz03 ternary system and reported that the two-liquid region is not present at temperatures below the monotectic temperature of 1705°C in the CaO-SiO, system. The present authors, in connection with other work on surface-tension measurements and foam stabilities in the same ternary system,4 observed that the miscibility gap exists at temperatures as low as 1600°C. A brief experimental study was devoted to deter- mining tie-line positions in the two-phase region. The technique used was to obtain a separation of phases at 1600°C, then to quench-in the high-temperature phases and obtain a chemical analysis of each phase. It was necessary to take special precautions in obtaining a phase separation because of a tendency toward emulsification of the two liquids. The procedure followed is described in the schematic drawing in Fig. 1. A small platinum crucible containing several pinholes on its sides was placed inside a larger platinum crucible. An excess of Crz03 was placed in the outer crucible, together with a prefused binary CaO-Si02 mixture, and the Cr203 was allowed to diffuse through the pinholes and saturate the same binary CaO-SiOl mixture in the smaller crucible. After equilibration at 1600°C, the inner crucible contained only the lighter liquid (liquid A) saturated with Cr203. The outer crucible contained layers of both liquids. Experimental data were obtained by analyzing the entire contents of the inner crucible and only the bottom layer of the larger crucible (liquid B). The upper layer of the outer crucible was not suitable for chemical-analysis purposes because dispersions of the second phase sometimes were found in the samples. The technique is described in more detail in Ref. 4. The same method was used by Grieveson and urkdoan' to study a miscibility gap in sulfate-ferrite melts, where the liquids were difficult to separate because of similarities in density. In addition to the phase-separation experiments, a few others were conducted to obtain information

Jan 1, 1964

ASIDE from the John Fritz Medal, in which the Institute participates through its representation on the John Fritz Medal Board, the Institute itself has three major awards to make annually and one special prize for excellence in technical papers, as follows: The Robert W. Hunt Medal and- Prize, The J. E. Johnson, Jr., Award, the James Douglas Medal, and The Lewisohn Platinum Prize to senior members. ROBERT W. HUNT MEDAL AND PRIZE The partners of Robert. W. Hunt established a fund which was presented to the Institute at a fitting ceremony on May 27, 1920, to establish an annual medal and a sum of money to be awarded under the following rules: 1. The award shall consist of two prizes; first of a gold medal, second of a sum of money; a certificate to accompany each prize. The money prize shall not be awarded to a member over 40 years of age, but under unusual circumstances, both prizes may be allotted to one person provided that he is not over 40 years of age. In general it will be understood that the Committee shall award the money prize to the younger men, rather than the medal. 2. The awards shall be made not oftener than once a year to that person or persons contributing to the Institute the best on al paper or papers on iron and steel. The scope of the term "iron and steel" shall determined by the sub-committee considering the awards. In general, papers dealing with the practical side of the subject have preference over those dealing with the theoretical side in recognition of the fact that Captain Hunt's main contributions to the industry have been in the improvement of production and quality of material. 3. A sub-committee of three to five, including the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Committee, shall be appointed by the Iron and Steel Committee annually to adjudge the award subject to approval. 4. The awarding committee shall submit its report to the Iron and Steel Committee at its October Meeting, and the award be certified to the Secretary of the Institute in time to permit the presentation to be made at the Annual Meeting of the Institute. 5. The recipient of the award shall be designated "The Hunt Medallist." This prize is administered by the Iron and Steel Committee. J. E. JOHNSON, JR., AWARD This award is made from' the income of a. fund of $3000 donated by Mrs. Margaret Hilles Johnson in memory of her husband, J. E. Johnson, Jr., who was a prominent engineer, author of two valuable volumes on iron blast-furnace construction and practise, vice-chairman of the Institute's Iron and Steel Committee, and a frequent contributor of papers. to the Institute's Transactions. This prize is administered by the Iron and Steel Committee. The intent of the donor is to encourage young men in creative work in branches of the metallurgy or manufacture of pig iron with which the professional activities of Mr. Johnson were chiefly concerned. The control of the fund and distribution of the awards having been vested in the Board of Directors of the Institute, this Board has made the following regulations concerning it:

Jan 1, 1925

By G. W. Tower

THE YEAR 1931 was for most American copper producers one of restricted output but extremely low production cost.. When compared with 1929, the marked reductions in costs achieved in 1931, operating at rates in many instances a third to a half of capacity, can only be regarded as remarkable. In fact, the recent shut-down of several large operations suggests the probability that 1931 costs represent a bare minimum for many properties. Before discussing the 1931 results a few remarks on cost data are appropriate. The type of cost tabulation here presented was first published in 1929, (A. B. Parsons. E. & M. I. June 8, 1929), and has appeared each, succeeding year following in general the calculation method and company set-up of the original article. (. G. W. Tower, E. & III. L, July 8. 1930; S. D. Strauss, E. & M. J.; July 27, 1931). As far as possible the leading American copper companies are included. In considering these cost tabulations it must be borne in mind that the information from which they have been prepared is entirely contained in the annual report of each company; and that a multiplicity of interests and a condensed income statement for some of the larger companies, such as Cerro de Pasco and Kennecott, make the cost figure an arbitrary one depending upon sundry metal credits, metal products, miscellaneous income, etc. For Granby, Howe Sound. Magma, and Noranda, sundry metal credits are important. Furthermore Andes, Chile and Greene Cananea give costs only against copper sold. Although the individual costs here figured are by no means absolute they are computed by the same method each year and offer a basis of annual comparison; and with attention to footnotes the premises on which the costs are based may be easily followed.

Jan 1, 1932

By Alan Stanley

THE MacIntyre Development of National Lead Co. is located at Tahawus, N. Y., in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Operations involve the mining and concentrating of a titaniferous iron ore to produce ilmenite and magnetite concentrates. A general description of the operation and metallurgy has been given by Frank R. Milliken.' Pigment plant production demands that the MacIntyre mill produce a 44.7 pct TiO, ilmenite concentrate. To achieve the required ilmenite grade and tonnage it is important that the table concentrate grade be closely controlled. Unfortunately, however, the titaniferous orebody which feeds the MacIntyre mill is not uniform. Ore dressing characteristics vary from one end of the orebody to the other, and from • one level to the next. The changeable nature of the mill feed precludes a single adjustment of the equipment for long periods of time. Thus the operators must constantly watch the equipment to insure a uniform concentrate from the fine and coarse tables and Wetherills, or dry magnetic separators. Chemical assaying of mill products requires about 4 hr from the time the sample is taken until assay results are obtained, and this is available only on a two-shift basis. The ore may change rapidly, even several times during a shift, so that assay results lose most of their control value by the time they are reported to the mill operating crew. Members of the crew have therefore tried to evaluate the table and Wetherill concentrate by visual inspection, since through long experience the shift operators, under most circumstances, can gage closely the grade of the mill products. However, there are times when the physical nature of the ore is radically different from normal. Under these conditions visual inspection is of no value, and at such times final ilmenite as low as 43 pct TiO, has been produced and shipped before the assay results have been received. The specific gravity method of assaying for TiO, has been attempted to eliminate the shipping of ilmenite below normal grade as well as to help control day to day and hour to hour mill production. Table I shows the minerals found in the MacIntyre ore along with their average weight proportions and specific gravities. The first two products considered for the specific gravity method were fine and coarse table concentrates. It was reasoned that these products were essentially ilmenite with the higher specific gravity gangue minerals. Since they were always produced the same way, and the desired grade of TiO, was always constant, the specific gravity of these materials would increase or decrease as the amount of ilmenite increased or decreased. Thus for table concentrates which assayed 40 pct TiOz a constant gravity would invariably be obtained, and as the TiO, value changed the specific gravity would change in direct proportion. The third product considered was Wetherill ilmenite. It was assumed that a desired grade of 44.7 pct Ti02 would also always contain the same amount and type of gangue minerals along with the ilmenite, and thus would always have the same specific gravity. As the TiO, value of the ilmenite concentrate changed so would its specific gravity. Dr. Kenneth Vincent, chief metallurgist of the Baroid Division of National Lead Co. at Magnet Grove, Ark., ran specific gravity tests on 17 samples of the desired products. The lowest specific gravity reading assayed the lowest in TiO, and as the specific gravity increased the trend was for the TiO, assay to increase, see Fig. 1. Since these results warranted further investigation, a 500-g capacity Torsion balance and 250 ml Le Chatelier specific gravity bottles were obtained. Shift samples of fine table concentrate, coarse table concentrate, and final ilmenite were tested. Each sample was split and 85 g weighed on the Torsion balance. The Le Chatelier bottle was filled with water to a zero mark. To avoid wetting the neck of the bottle it was found necessary to do this

Jan 1, 1953

By Alan Stanley

THE MacIntyre Development of National Lead Co. is located at Tahawus, N. Y., in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Operations involve the mining and concentrating of a titaniferous iron ore to produce ilmenite and magnetite concentrates. A general description of the operation and metallurgy has been given by Frank R. Milliken.' Pigment plant production demands that the MacIntyre mill produce a 44.7 pct TiO, ilmenite concentrate. To achieve the required ilmenite grade and tonnage it is important that the table concentrate grade be closely controlled. Unfortunately, however, the titaniferous orebody which feeds the MacIntyre mill is not uniform. Ore dressing characteristics vary from one end of the orebody to the other, and from • one level to the next. The changeable nature of the mill feed precludes a single adjustment of the equipment for long periods of time. Thus the operators must constantly watch the equipment to insure a uniform concentrate from the fine and coarse tables and Wetherills, or dry magnetic separators. Chemical assaying of mill products requires about 4 hr from the time the sample is taken until assay results are obtained, and this is available only on a two-shift basis. The ore may change rapidly, even several times during a shift, so that assay results lose most of their control value by the time they are reported to the mill operating crew. Members of the crew have therefore tried to evaluate the table and Wetherill concentrate by visual inspection, since through long experience the shift operators, under most circumstances, can gage closely the grade of the mill products. However, there are times when the physical nature of the ore is radically different from normal. Under these conditions visual inspection is of no value, and at such times final ilmenite as low as 43 pct TiO, has been produced and shipped before the assay results have been received. The specific gravity method of assaying for TiO, has been attempted to eliminate the shipping of ilmenite below normal grade as well as to help control day to day and hour to hour mill production. Table I shows the minerals found in the MacIntyre ore along with their average weight proportions and specific gravities. The first two products considered for the specific gravity method were fine and coarse table concentrates. It was reasoned that these products were essentially ilmenite with the higher specific gravity gangue minerals. Since they were always produced the same way, and the desired grade of TiO, was always constant, the specific gravity of these materials would increase or decrease as the amount of ilmenite increased or decreased. Thus for table concentrates which assayed 40 pct TiOz a constant gravity would invariably be obtained, and as the TiO, value changed the specific gravity would change in direct proportion. The third product considered was Wetherill ilmenite. It was assumed that a desired grade of 44.7 pct Ti02 would also always contain the same amount and type of gangue minerals along with the ilmenite, and thus would always have the same specific gravity. As the TiO, value of the ilmenite concentrate changed so would its specific gravity. Dr. Kenneth Vincent, chief metallurgist of the Baroid Division of National Lead Co. at Magnet Grove, Ark., ran specific gravity tests on 17 samples of the desired products. The lowest specific gravity reading assayed the lowest in TiO, and as the specific gravity increased the trend was for the TiO, assay to increase, see Fig. 1. Since these results warranted further investigation, a 500-g capacity Torsion balance and 250 ml Le Chatelier specific gravity bottles were obtained. Shift samples of fine table concentrate, coarse table concentrate, and final ilmenite were tested. Each sample was split and 85 g weighed on the Torsion balance. The Le Chatelier bottle was filled with water to a zero mark. To avoid wetting the neck of the bottle it was found necessary to do this

Jan 1, 1953

By S. Ramachandran, R. A. Walsh

Many investigations have shown that the manganese enhances the deoxidation power of silicon. Here it is suggested that this phenomenon could be explained in terms of the formation of impure silica. Data of Hilty and Crafts on the Fe-Mn-Si-O System has been evaluated on the basis of the reaction S_i + 20 = (SiO2) where (SiO2) denotes silica of variable activity. The activity of silica in this system is a function of aMn/aSi and the temperature, and can be described by the equation 12700 l°gaSiOz = -6.85+ - - 0.5 log aMn /asi PRACTICAL melting experience has shown that it is helpful to maintain a certain range of Mn/Si ratio in deoxidizing quality alloy steels. Herty,1 as early as 1932, reported a strong association between manganese and silicon as did schenck2 and Korber and Oelsen3 in later work. More recently, Hilty and crafts4 have studied the solubility of oxygen in the Fe-Si-O system, both with and without manganese. Their study confirmed the marked ability of manganese to increase the deoxidizing power of silicon. This phenomenon has remained unexplained in the liter,ature5 since it has been shown that manganese has virtually no influence on the activity coefficients of silicon or oxygen.= In this paper, an explanation for the role of manganese is suggested and equations are devised for quantitatively describing this influence. DISCUSSION Hilty and crafts4 equilibrated their melts under an argon atmosphere and the system established equilibrium with a self-generated slag which was not always the oxide of lowest free energy. Drawing on the early work of Korber and Oelsen,3 it was reasoned that the formation of complex Fe-Mn-silicates

Jan 1, 1963

By W. H. Bassett

IN the commercial annealing of cartridge brass there are four points regarding which definite data are essential. They have to do with the correct interpretation of grain count in its relation to annealing temperature and, incidentally, to Brinell hardness. These points are: 1. The comparison of the grain sizes of two cartridge-brass mixtures: 69 copper, 31 zinc, 0.376-in. (9.5-min.) gage; and 68 copper, 32 zinc, 0.130-in. (3.3-mm.) gage. 2. The comparison of the grain sizes of annealed metal that had previously been reduced by rolling varying amounts; for instance, 20.0, 36.6, 50.9, and 59.1 per cent. 3. The determination of standards for grain sizes on annealed brass of the composition 68 per cent. copper, 32 per cent. zinc and 69 copper, 31 zinc. 4. The comparison of grain size with Brinell hardness on identical samples of annealed metal. In their comprehensive and thorough investigation of the recrystallization of cold-worked alpha brass on annealing,1 Mathewson and Phillips have discussed the relations between temperature of anneal, degree of deformation, and structural alteration in alpha brass. They have also shown certain comparisons between the ordinary physical properties and the grain size of annealed brass. The purpose of the present investigation is mainly concerned with the grain size of cartridge brass, its relation to Brinell hardness, and the publication of sufficient data to enable those engaged in the inspection of such material to have a correct foundation upon which to work.

Jan 1, 1919

By E. N. Harshman

The Wind River Formation of Eocene age is the host rock for large high-grade uranium deposits in the Shirley Basin. The major deposits are in a northwest-trending belt of sandstones that were deposited in stream channels and that were lithologically favorable for uranium accumulation. Paleotopography influenced the character and position of the belt. The major deposits within the belt are at, or near, the margins of large tongues of altered sandstone formed in the most transmissive parts of thick sandstone beds. At least two tongues of altered sandstone are present in the belt, one of which is 5 miles long, 3 miles wide, and 70 feet thick; the other tongue is somewhat smaller. Ore bodies consist of a few hundred tons to several hundred thousand tons of material containing from 0.10 to about 2.00 per cent U3O8. The ore mineral is uraninite associated with pyrite, marcasite, hematite, and calcite. Deposition is believed to have taken place when neutral to slightly alkaline, oxidizing, uranium-bearing ground water, on entering the basin, encountered a reducing environment. The reductant may have been H2S of biogenic origin. Geology played an important role in discovery, exploration, and development of ore in the Shirley Basin.

Jan 1, 1968

By Ross Blake

THE St. Joseph Lead Co. became interested in the Tri-State district in 1921 through acquisition of prospecting and development rights on approximately 20,000 acres of land extending northeastward from the Picher mining field, mostly in Kansas. Prospecting with churn drills was begun the same year and the first commercial ore body was found on the Jarrett tract at the then northern limit of the main Picher field. Operations at this mine began in 1923. Kansas Explorations, Inc., was organized in 1923 by the St. Joseph Lead Co. as a wholly-owned subsidiary to carry on its operations in the Tri-State District from an office at Joplin, Mo. As prospecting of the original acreage proved largely negative, attention was subsequently turned to other sections of the district. Numerous additional leases were acquired and prospected. The Company was successful in developing into operating properties the Jarrett, Isherwood, Robinson, Sullivan and Lotson tracts and, in more recent years, the Ritz, Snapp, Buckingham, Gibson and Jasper mines.

Jan 1, 1947

By R. J. Hopkins, L. B. Haney

On the basis of limited experimental work conducted at the Port Pirie smelter, it would appear that, by increasing the specific surface of sinter, and possibly that of coke as well, a marked increase in the rate and degree of sinter reduction in the furnace shaft can be achieved. Fusion-point tests have shown that this increased reduction means a much higher sinter fusion point and narrower plastic zone, while the more efficient utilization of coke in the furnace is inherent in the intensification of reduction by the provision of a more reactive sinter surface. Investigations aimed at increasing the ability to operate the blast furnace with a higher lead tenor of sinter reducing fuel cost proportionately, and at eliminating the loss in reduction potential in coke entering the furnace, as shown by the presence of appreciable proportions of CO in the top gases, are reported. Several lines for future investigations that could result in improved smelting methods are proposed. A SOMEWHAT informal presentation of ideas on lead blast-furnace smelting will be given in this paper. These ideas have been developed during observations of furnace behavior at Port Pirie and earlier at Mt. Isa, and have been guided by the results of laboratory experiments at Port Pirie. The authors do not intend to propound any particularly new theories, but present their ideas as a basis for discussion which may help toward a better understanding and improved control of blast-furnace operation. Performance variations of considerable magnitude occur from time to time at most lead blast-furnace plants. While Port Pirie is fortunate in having a very regular supply of high grade concentrates, it is no exception in this respect. Such irregularities are of considerable economic importance and they constitute a challenge to present-day metallurgists in their efforts to obtain an ever greater degree of control over furnace operation. In operating as Port Pirie does with a relatively high lead charge, it has been recognized for a long time that shaft conditions are ,of the greatest importance. A practical, or engineering, attack on the problem of accretions consisted of changes in furnace design, e.g., by widening the shaft to 10 ft above the bottom row of tuyeres, and by the provision of curved ends and vertical walls.' That this attack has had a great measure of success is shown by the fact that barring down of these wide furnaces is rarely necessary, shaft conditions have greatly improved, and sensitivity to charge variations has been markedly reduced. These modifications, followed by some metallurgical changes (chiefly the incorporation of pig iron into the furnace charge in 1948), have brought furnace operation to a point where some variables which were previously masked can now be studied. Accordingly, over different periods of time during the last five years, such variables as could be given numerical values have been recorded and subjected to statistical examination. The objectives of this work were: 1—to reveal the true importance of the different variables and 2—to show the proportion of total furnace variation which is unexplained and therefore referable to causes not measured at present? e.g., shaft accretions, sinter structure, coke structure, and others. Statistical Study of Variables In this work factors relating to furnace speed and lead reduction have been examined: 1—slag com-

Jan 1, 1955

By D. R. Shoemaker

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION A 16.5 kt per day underground molybdenum mine is being developed at Questa in northern New Mexico by Molycorp, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Union Oil Company of California. Small scale underground mining first began in 1920 and large scale open-pit mining was initiated in 1965, but because of the high stripping ratio, surface mining is being phased out. Construction of the underground mine began in 1979, and first production is scheduled for 1983. Full production of 9 Gg of molybdenum per year will be reached in 1984. Access to the mine will be through a service shaft, development shaft, and a conveyor decline. 'The service shaft, 7.3 m in diameter and 396 m deep, will be used for personnel, supplies, development muck, and fresh air intake. It will be equipped with a large, double-deck man and material cage. A double-drum hoist will be used for cage hoisting and will handle up to a 27-t load in balance with a counterweight. Development muck will be loaded into skips in balance and a single-drum auxiliary hoist will provide secondary access. The 396-m-deep, 4.3-m-diameter development shaft will be used for initial mine development, mine exhaust air, and a slick line pass for concrete entering the mine. The development shaft is located 400 m north of the service shaft. Run-of-mine ore will be transported from one of two 1.4-kt storage pockets by a 1.2-m-wide conveyor belt located in the 10°, 1980-m-long, 5.0-m-wide, and 4.6-m-high decline. The decline conveyor belt has a centerline length of 2229 m and a vertical rise of 363 m. It will be powered by four 448 kw motors driving a single drive pulley. There will be two 1.2 m transfer belts on the surface with centerline lengths of 322 m and 542 m. All three conveyor belts will be reinforced with steel cables. On the surface, in addition to the headframes and hoist houses for the two vertical shafts, a large maintenance shop, warehouse, compressor house, change house, main office building and timber framing building have been constructed.

Jan 1, 1981