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By Walter Kauenhowen

Germany's crude-oil production during 1937 totaled 3,174,157 bbl., an increase of 1.9 per cent over the 3,112,494 bbl. produced in 1936. According to official published data, and using a conversion factor of 1 metric ton = 7 bbl., the oil production of Germany in 1937 by fields was as follows:

Jan 1, 1938

By L. O. Howard

The practice of using acid-lined converters at the plant of the Old Dominion, Copper Mining & Smelting Co. was discontinued early in January, 1913, and replaced by basic-lined converters. The new equipment consists of one electrically operated 12-ft. upright converter stand and two basic-lined shells for same. These shells are provided with twenty-four 1 1/4-in. tuyeres. The mouths are 5 ft. in diameter. Owing to the fact that there is no bedding system or other large storage capacity between the mine and the smelter, the furnaces must handle as fast as produced ore and concentrates, which may vary considerably from day to day, both in tonnage and copper content. Consequently the converter is often crowded to its utmost capacity by the frequent fluctuations in the daily matte supply. From the foregoing, it will be seen that in no way can the 'converter be favored by running light charges or by transferring to it from other stands in operation. Neither can it regularly be allowed to cool between blows, and only occasionally can it be run at as low a temperature as might be wished. No copper precipitate or other foreign material high in copper is available to help out the tonnage. Repairs and alterations or the removal of defective tuyeres must wait until such time as a slight falling off in.the matte supply allows the converting operations to ease up. These variable conditions all combine to interfere with the systematic operating of the converter. The first 12-ft. shell was blown in on Jan. 6, 1913, and ran until June 27, 1913, when it was removed to patch the brick. A record of operations covering this period follows: Shell No. 1. First Campaign, Jan. 6,to June 27, 1913 Commenced blowing............................Jan. 6, 1913. Taken off stand for patching.....................June 27, 1913. Total blowing time..........................2,689 hr. 40 min. Total number of, blows made.............................. 664 Average time of blow............................ 4 hr. 3 min. Tons matte charged.................................. 18,157 Average copper content of matte................ 43.9 per cent. Average time blowing one ton. copper................ 22.5 min. Total copper made............................... 7,250 tons

Jan 1, 1915

By Wallace Ralston

DuRing the year of 1937, the East Texas district produced 211,194,467 hbl. of oil and marketed more than 22,329 million cu. ft. of gas; 3377 oil and gas wells were completed. During this same period 106 exploratory wells were drilled, discovering three new oil fields and one gas-distillate field. Fields East Texas Field.—The East Texas field again led the district as to production and number of wells completed. During the year, 2420 oil wells were completed, making a total of 24,382 producing wells, which produced 171,336,854 bbl. of oil, for a total of 1,156,352,834 bbl. since the beginning. During the year the average bottom-hole pressure dropped 49 lb., making the average bottom-hole pressure 1119 lb. Approximately 3500 wells are making salt water, 20 per cent of them making over 80 per cent of the water. During the month of December, the daily average production of salt water was 119,000 barrels. Talco Field, Titus and Franklin Counties.—The Talco field produced 9,780,948 bbl. of oil during the year, from 637 wells. During the year 472 wells were completed. All of the wells are pumping and 241 are making salt water. This field has followed a normal development and did not exceed the estimated number of acres reported last year. Rodessa Field, Cuss and Marion Counties.—The Rodessa field was extended about 13 miles southwest into Marion County, which added approximately 4000 acres to the field. During the year 260 wells were completed, making a total of 416 producing wells, which produced 12,646,-970 bbl. of oil. The author was unable to obtain figures for the amount of gas produced. The field has two gasoline plants, which had a daily average of 16,558,000 cu. ft. of gas during December, averaging 0.83 gal. per M cu. ft. As of Jan. 1, 31 wells were making salt water. The bottom-hole pressure varies greatly, depending upon the pay from which the well is producing. The average bottom-hole pressure from the Young

Jan 1, 1938

By S. C. Carapella, E. A. Peretti

DURING a literature survey of the indium-zinc phase diagram, controversial reports on the composition of the eutectic point were encountered. The value reported in the investigation of Wilson and Perettil and in a later investigation by Valen-tiner' was 4.0 wt pct zinc. The most recent work recorded on this system consisted of an exhaustive survey of alloys by Rhines and Grobe8 in which they indicate a value of 2.8 wt pct zinc for the eutectic composition. To clarify this aspect of the diagram, a series of alloys were prepared by melting the respective constituents in a glass test tube under a covering of mineral oil and slowly cooling the melt in a furnace. The zinc used was Baker's C.P. and had the following analysis: insoluble in H2SO4—0.0l pct; pb—0.001 pct; Fe-—0.001 pct. The indium, which was supplied by the Indium Corporation of America, had a purity of 99.9'7 pet with the following impurities: Cu—0.002 pct; Pb—0.006 pct; Sn—0.01 pct; Zn—0.01 pct. The alloys were prepared for metal-lographic examination using a technique already reported' and a new value of 2.0 ± 0.1 wt pct zinc was observed. An alloy containing 2.00 wt pct zinc was also made by melting the constituents under a vacuum. In both of these methods of alloy preparation the losses can be kept extremely small. Again, the characteristic eutectic structure was obtained, assuring confidence in this value. The accompanying micrographs are presented in support of this point. Fig. la represents an alloy containing 4.00 wt pet zinc, and reveals excess zinc particles, which precludes the value of both Wilson and Peretti, and Valentiner. Fig. lb, gives the structure of an alloy containing 2.2 wt pct zinc, also showing the presence of excess zinc. Fig. lc is a micrograph of a typical structure of the eutectic observed in several sections of the 2.0 wt pct alloy. In the 1.8 pet zinc alloy, fig. id, the definite presence of the primary indium can be noted. From these re-

Jan 1, 1951

By L. J. Erck, T. E. Ban

A discussion of laboratory procedures used to determine pellet quality and to simulate handling and firing conditions. Strength-temperature relationships in pelletizing; effect of chemical additives on agglomeration; and crushing, abrasion, and impact resistance of the pelletized products are discussed with respect to five different iron ore concentrates. IN most routine experimental work on products and processes, method:; of operation and product evaluation are established from accurately controlled laboratory tests. With particular emphasis on the pelletization of fine iron ore concentrates, standardized procedures of laboratory production and product testing have been established at Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. Research Laboratory at Ishpeming, Mich. A program of this nature was used for investigating the agglomeration characteristics of various iron ore concentrates. The factors which control the process were studied and subsequently controlled for these investigations. Pelletizing as applied to iron ore agglomeration involves the preparation of spheroidal masses from a fine moist concentrate, followed by high-tempera-ture firing to produce a final product. The preparation of moist spherorids is generally designated as balling. This produces the so-called green pellets or balls. After, these have been fired they are called pellets. Balling is accomplished by rolling moist concentrates in a revolving drum until small spheroids form by a snow-balling action. These balls are then heated in a shaft furnace, or a modification of this device, to a temperature high enough to cause agglomeration within the individual balls while they descend countercurrent to hot oxidizing gases. By this process the lour strength balls are converted through various chemical and physical-chemical processes into hard pellets. With correct balling and firing, the pellets are strong, resist abrasive action and handling treatments, and provide a suitable blast furnace and open hearth feed. In 1950 Tigerschiold and Ilmoni developed a working hypothesis to explain the formation and stability of green pellets.' Their work was presented on the basis of geologists' discoveries concerning the soil-water system and C. V. Firth's early postulates of green pellet formation.' Fundamental reactions oc-curing within fired pellets have been described by Cooke and Ban, who showed the microstructure changes caused by different firing temperatures." All these investigators have provided scientific clarifications of agglomeration by the pelletizing process and have opened avenues for greater development. Mineral grain growth and ceramic bond formation are the two basic phenomena imparting coherency to particles within a fired pellet of iron ore. Each of these is established by the transfer of thermal energy to the mineral particles. Grain growth mechanisms are chiefly physical reactions wherein smaller particles consolidate into larger ones, with resulting decrease in surface energy conforming with the second law of thermodynamics. Ceramic bond formation is a chemical reaction usually between basic and acid metallic oxides of the gangue and ore minerals. CaO, MgO, A1203, and FeO of Fe3O4, react in varying proportions with SiO, or Fe2O3, to form a great series of compounds or amorphous solid solutions. These product bond iron mineral particles together by a bridging action or by direct reaction with the surfaces of the particles. The result of the grain growth-ceramic bond formations is a consolidated, coherent compact of gangue and iron minerals formerly held together by much weaker bonds of interstitial water and forces common to dry, unconsolidated particles.4 With respect to iron ore agglomeration, these high temperature bonding reactions have been described by Schwartz, who referred to the bonds in sinters," and by Cooke and Ban, who referred to the bonds in fired pellets." The extent of the bonding phenomena and the consequent strength of fired pellets is governed by

Jan 1, 1954

By G. B. Misra

Though resistance to flow offered by mine airways supported with timber sets has been an object of study over the last half century, no accurate relation has yet been established from which prediction of the resistance coefficient of a projected timbered airway can be made. Zenofontowa et al. developed an empirical relation, but this relation has not been found to satisfactorily correlate experimental data obtained by Sales and Hinsley. This led the author to develop a set of simple theoretical relations between the resistance coefficient of timbered airways and the various parameters affecting it, such as the type and spacing of sets as well as the shape and size of members forming the set. Experiments were designed with the help of a laboratory model airway to verify the validity of the relations developed. With the experiments conducted so far with 4, 3 and 1-piece sets of 3.4 x 3.4, 2..5 x 2.5, and 4.5 X 4.5-cm square-section timbers in a 45.8 x 38-cm model airway, the theoretical relations have been shown to hold.

Jan 1, 1972

By A. Boltax

Precipitation processes occurring during both furnace cooling and aging of copper-iron albys were studied by means of electrical and magnetic measurements. On furnace cooling, two distinct stages in the precipitation process were detected; one occurring above and the other below 850° C. The kinetics of precipitation from quenched alloys were studied between 200° and 700°C. The reaction appears to be consistent with the concept of tmcleation of precipitate particles at dislocation loops formed by the clustering of quenched-in vacancies. A study Of in copper-iron alloys is particularly interesting because the combination of magnetic and electrical properties in these allovs provides a quantitative means of following the course of the precipitation reaction. (The details of precip-

Jan 1, 1961

By K. Stout, L. Friel

Some rock mechanics theorists believe that if a hydraulically placed backfill can be introduced in a stoped out area, which will minimize wall closure by taking high stresses across the fill with minimum compaction, then heavy ground and rock burst phenomena will be minimized. The paper will discuss a large scale laboratory project when fill strength was increased over four times by the head vibrated method and up to well over 20 times by the double placed, cemented, vibrated head method when compared to conventionally placed fills. The only preconditioning of the 60% solids by weight slurry was the addition of cement in some tests.

Jan 1, 1983

By A. Gatti

Studies were made on the system iron plus alumina. Various methods of dispersing and various amounts of alumina were used. Powder metallurgy techniques were used to produce the final product. Microstructures and some mechanical properties are presented. Alloys containing up to 16 pct alumina by weight are ductile at all temperatures tested. The ivon-alumina materials have a higher yield stress and improved creep resistance over that of pure iron. SINCE the development of SAP' an A1- Al2O3 powder metallurgy product, great interest has been shown in the development of a SAP-like structure in metals and alloys other than aluminum. The outstanding properties of this class of materials are: 1) Good creep resistance at high temperature. 2) High yield strengths and high hardness at high temperatures. 3) High recrystallization temperature. However, the lack of ductility and formability has thus far limited the applications of SAP-like materials. The following report deals with methods of dispersing A12O3 in Fe, processing of powders into rod, structures produced after processing, and mechanical properties of the iron-alumina material produced. Methods of dispersing the alumina and also the volume fraction of alumina added were varied. MATERIAL Powder Processing— Four methods of obtaining dispersions of alumina in iron were studied. 1) Oxidation-reduction of a Fe + 8 pct Al alloy. .2) Coprecipitation of Fe(OH)3 + Al(OH)3 from aqueous solution. 3) Colloidal mixing of Fe,O3 and Al2O3. 4) Colloidal mixing of Fe powder and A1,O3. Fig. 1 is a processing flowsheet which outlines the processing steps taken to produce a final extruded bar 1/4 in. in diameter and about 30 in. long. The - 100 mesh iron-aluminum alloy was oxidized by placing a thin layer of powder on an alumina plaque. The reduction step was modified to include 1/2 hr at 1000°C since the powders tended to become pyro-phoric unless sintered slightly after low-temperature reduction. Compacting was done in a 1-1/8-in.-diam pressing die. The slugs produced averaged 1 in. in length. The billets were encased in low-carbon steel cans shown schematically in Fig. 2. The blank is included for structure and property comparison purposes. TESTING PROCEDURE All tests were made on as-extruded material.

Jan 1, 1960

By Lewis A. Delano, Harold Rabling

It has been generally recognized that, owing to the extreme friability of galena, fine grinding has a tendency to cause excessive sliming of the mineral, so operators of lead mills have attempted to avoid this condition by commencing concentration at as coarse sizes as any mineral is freed. Jigging has been the basis of the milling process, making a clean coarse concentrate and a large amount of tailing, which was considered sufficiently low-grade to be rejected. However, developments and improvements in concentration processes are everywhere changing the low-grade tailing of yesterday into material worth re-treating today. Investigations of the work of the Hancock jig on the Bonne Terre ore have shown that the best results to be expected will give a tailing assaying 0.75 per cent. lead; the average for all conditions and grades of ore will be between 0.80 and 0.90 per cent. By crushing the jig tailings in ball-mills and retreating by tables and flotation, a tailing of considerably lower grade can be made; the problem then becomes an economic one of increased crushing costs versus higher recovery. In considering the entire elimination of jigging, the increascd smelting charges due to a greater amount of slime galena will be counterbalanced by the lower operating cost, increased recovery, and the many advantages of a simpler flow sheet. In developing these problems in the Bonne Terre mill of the St. Joseph Lead Co., a long series of tests has been carried out covering every stage of crushing and concentration, and a large number of possible flow sheets were considered and tried. Only the final results and a few comparisons will be given here. At the same time, a careful and detailed cost-keeping system has enabled us to compare milling costs with the various Bow sheets, and to calculate the economics of the problem with great accuracy. Concentration Problem The ore occurs as widely scattered deposits of galena disseminated through limestone; it has a specific gravity of 2.8 and the following composition: Pb, 4.00 per cent.; Fe, 3.00 per cent.; Zn, 0.32 per cent.; S, 3.10 per cent.; MnO2, 0.73 per cent.; SiO2, 4.20 per cent.; Al2O3, 3.20 per cent ; CaO, 28.60 per cent.; MgO, 16.85 per cent.; CO2, 36.00 per

Jan 1, 1922

MINING ENGINEERING presents the annual membership report of the Society of Mining Engineers; see page 109.

Jan 7, 1963

By H. H. Wade, N. F. Schulz

The large quantities of iron-bearing materials, including taconite, semi-taconite," and other low-grade ferruginous materials occurring in Minnesota and elsewhere, constitute an important potential source of iron. Satisfactory grade and recovery of iron ore concentrate cannot ordinarily be obtained from these ferruginous materials by simple methods of beneficiation. Iron is distinctive in that the free metal and two of its oxides [magnetite (Fe,O,) and maghemite (gamma-Fe,O,) ] are strongly ferromagnetic. The successful magnetic separation of natural magnetite from taconite has already been established on a commercial scale. The iron in semi-taconite, how- ever, occurs largely as goethite (Fe,Os.H,O) and hematite (Fe90,) which do not respond to ordinary magnetic separation methods. Magnetic roasting converts these iron oxides to magnetite, which can, after liberation, be magnetically concentrated.

Jan 11, 1960

By K. E. Starling

Phase equilibria data were used to develop an equation-of-state correlation for complex hydrocarbon mixtures, thereby circumventing difficulties associated with use of pressure-volume-temperature data. Equilibrium phase data for two condensate reservoir fluids were used to determine equation-of-state parameters for hydrocarbons as heavy as C22H46 in a modified form of the Benedict-Webb-Rubin equation of state. Comparative tests of K-values from the resultant correlation were made with data for condensate reservoir, separator and gas plant absorber mixtures. Generally, for temperatures above OF and computed liquid densities below 0.55 Ib-mole/cu ft, the modified BIVR equation predicted K-values in close agreement with the experimental data. INTRODUCTION Accurate predictions of thermodynamic behavior for complex hydrocarbon mixtures are necessary for many calculations in the petroleum industry. Because of the relatively high cost of extensive experimental data, many correlations for prediction of phase behavior have been developed. Some of these, such as the correlation of K-values presented in the NGAA Equilibrium Ratio Data Book, are totally empirical.l Others, such as the Benedict-Webb-Rubin (BWR) equation-of-state method, are semitheoretical.2-4 Unfortunately, published correlation methods often do not accurately predict the phase behavior of complex hydrocarbon mixtures, principally because of inadequate representation of the effects of components heavier than decane. This paper presents a new approach to this problem in which basic equation-of-state relations including heavy hydrocarbon effects are applied. Equilibrium phase data for two condensate reservoir fluids containing hydrocarbons as heavy as C22H46 are used to correlate component K-values. The BWR equation was chosen as the prototype equation of state for this study because of its proven capability for accurately predicting phase behavior and thermodynamic properties of light - hydrocarbon mixtures? Research was directed toward development of BWR parameters for the heavy hydrocarbons and modifications of the mathematical form of the BWR equation for application to complex hydrocarbon mixtures. The new equation-of-state approach presented differs considerably from previous methods in that phase equilibria rather than PVT data are used for determination of equation-of-state parameters. It is an explicit approach since the parameters are determined directly from mixture data. As such, it does not encounter problems inherent in the implicit method used by Benedict, Webb and Rubin 2-4 and numerous other investigators—one in which mixture parameters were postulated to be functions of the pure component parameters. The pure component BWR parameters, in turn, were determined from experimental PVT data. This method has been limited to mixtures containing components lighter than decane because of lack of vapor phase PVT data. Studies have been reported in which BWR parameters have been determined explicitly from PVT data for binary mixtures.6-8 However, since small concentrations of heavier components have only a minor effect on PVT behavior, it is doubtful that these explicit methods would yield useful results for condensate systems. Ellington and Eakin9 have shown that the accuracy of K-values predicted by an equation of state developed from mixture PVT data probably would be more than an order of magnitude lower than the accuracy of the PVT data. On the other hand, an equation of state utilizing parameters developed from phase equilibria data should predict K-values with accuracy comparable to the accuracy of the experimental phase compositions. This work applies this explicit approach with the objective of improving hydrocarbon mixture phase behavior predictions. Results are evaluated by comparing predicted and experimental K-values at reservoir, separator and gas plant

Jan 1, 1967

By C. Hanford Henderson

The belt of copper-bearing rocks of the South Mountain has attracted Attention principally iii the townships of Hamilton Ban and Liberty in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and in the southeastern portion of Franklin County. As the developments, thus far, have been almost exclusively limited to that area, the examination here described extended only within those boundaries. The region, being one of considerable interest geologically, has been the subject of careful study and description, both on the part

Jan 1, 1884

By John M. Loveioy

EVERY producer of crude oil knows what is meant by the Rule or Law of Capture. It means that the ultimate ownership of a migratory substance such as oil is not determined until that substance is reduced to physical possession. Unless, therefore, the producer moves quickly to capture his share from the common pool, he may lose to any neighbor who is drilling and producing more rapidly than he a portion of the oil originally underlying his property. And there is no recourse open to him if his property is so drained. Under this rule it is obvious that the owner of an oil property, if he is to protect his' ownership, must be governed in his development and production policies by the activities of his neighbor rather than by his own business requirements. He must drill as densely and as fast as the other operators in the field or lose part of the oil to which he should be entitled.

Jan 1, 1936

AUGUST began with a reminder that warfare was still in progress in the world, in that the Greeks, still at war with Turkey, threatened Constantinople in spite of the small British and French forces of occupation and opened a vista of international dangers. There was in this, moreover, a recollection that religious questions in India had prevented the British from permitting a real settlement of the Turkish question, wherein the absence of Russia as a great power is missed. Civil warfare also continued in Ireland and China. Even in the military way the world is far from being at peace. Bloody fighting between the Fascisti (anti-communists) and the com-munists in Italy led to several provinces being put under martial law, but after a while these disturbances were quelled. In the latter part of the month the assassination of Michael Collins in Ireland produced a great shock. From China, however, there came rather favorable news, indicating the early reintegration of that country, which sooner or later ought to play an important part in world affairs. Economically, instead of there being any improve-ment, there grew a clearer perception of how bad things really are. Italian politics were in chaos through inability to find anyone to accept the premiership and assume the all but hopeless task of averting national bankruptcy. The French, too, began to see their own position in true colors, and especially to see how in reconstruction they had incurred debts on the strength of what they hoped to collect from Germany, with at last the understanding that the Germans could not pay and that France herself was thereby put in a desper-ate economic position. As for the Germans, them-selves their Reichsbank defaulted on ordinary bills early in August. As the month wore on the value of marks fell more and more and at the end it appeared that Germany was on the verge of economic collapse. On Aug. 7, another international conference (with America again absent) was assembled in London, this being the thirteenth since the war, and there was a general feeling that it would be the last. The prime question was what is to be done about the German reparations, but underlying was the whole subject of the entente. The conference opened like a meeting of importunate creditors, doubtful whether the debtor had any tangible assets. On Aug. 14 this conference broke up without coming to any useful conclusion. Indeed, the acrimony among the premiers was so sharp that even the entente between Great Britain and France was endangered. The international situation was saved only by the Reparations Commission excusing the Germans from the payment of 50,000,000 gold marks that come due on Aug. 15 But although the entente was nominally preserved there is no longer any illusion about the interests of Great Britain and France being different and that henceforth they will play their own hands. The London conference was really an effort to maintain the partnership, and it failed.

Jan 9, 1922

By Richard McCaffery

CONTENTS PAGE 1. Research on Blast-furnace Slags (A Progress Report). By Richard S. McCaffery 5 2. Determination of Viscosity of Iron Blast-furnace Slags. By Richard S. McCaffery, Clarence H. Lorig, Ira N. Goff, Joseph F. Oesterle and Oscar O. Fritsche 27 3. Effect of Magnesia on Slag Viscosity. By Richard S. McCaffery, Joseph F. Oesterle and Oscar O. Fritsche 55

Jan 1, 1931

By Royal B. Jackman, Carle R. Hayward

Two comprehensive papers have appeared regarding the forms of copper that occur in smelter slags, one by Frank E. Lathe1 and the other by C. G. Maier and G. D. Van Arsdale.2 These authors comment on other published results and draw conclusions from their own investigations. The development of X-ray examination of minerals and improvement in high-power microscopic methods make it possible today to get additional evidence by means that were not available to earlier investigators. The present work was confined to reverberatory slags obtained from five different plants. Some definite conclusions were reached regarding the forms of copper present in these slags. In most cases these agree with some of the findings of Maier and Van Arsdale but new methods of attack were used in the investigation. Conclusions of Previous Investigators Various important conclusions reached by previous investigators are summarized in the following paragraphs, arranged chronologically. William A. Heywood:3 Slag losses increase with grade of matte but with the same grade of matte losses decrease as the acidity of the slag increases. Lewis T. Wright:' Slag losses are only partly due to prills of matte. It is suggested that part of the copper is dissolved in the slag. J. Parke Channing9 A considerable part of the copper enters the slag as silicate or oxide and not as sulfide. C. A. Grabill:6 Slag losses are both physical and chemical. Physical losses, due to poor settling, gas flotation and slight differences in specific gravity, are small under normal conditions. Chemical losses may- be due to formation of oxides or to solution of metals and sulfides. The last is considered the most important. John W. James:' The copper in converter slag is largely the oxide and as such enters the reverberatory slag when converter slag is added to the charge.

Jan 1, 1934

By D. H. Baldwin, R. E. Reed-Hill

DURING the course of experiments involving oxygen equilibrations with a high-purity Pd-5 at. pct Rh alloy, the appearance of a subscale was noted. Most of the heat treatments in a pure oxygen atmosphere were performed at 900°C. The presence of the subscale was noted when the oxygen partial pressure was in excess of approximately 95 mm, up to 1 atm, the highest pressure used. According to available thermodynamic information' on the free energy of formation of Rh2O3 (the only reliably reported solid oxide of rhodium), this oxide should not be stable under these conditions, nor, of course, any oxide of palladium. Extraction of the subscale from the matrix was affected by treatment with aqua regia, and the resulting X-ray diffraction powder pattern is shown in Table I. This pattern is not that of Rh2O3, nor that of any known rhodium or palladium oxide. It can be indexed on a hexagonal lattice with a. = 5.22Å and co = 6.0Å. In addition to this unknown material, there was a weak Rh2O3 pattern. An X-ray fluorescence analysis of the powder gave 3214 palladium counts per sec and 5381 rhodium counts per sec, thus indicating the likelihood of a double oxide of palladium and rhodium. In view of the fact that the above result was obtained on a single sample, it is perhaps best not to insist upon the above ratio of about 0.6, but possibly to tentatively assume 0.5 or 1/1. The small amount of Rh2O3 in the X-ray pattern might have occurred on cooling, and it seems possible that the double oxide, below some temperature level, is not as stable as Rh2O3. To examine this point, some of the extracted double oxide was heated on a sheet of pure palladium in air at 900°C, and allowed to furnace-cool over a period of several hours. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the powder showed approximately the same intensity of Rh2O3 and the "hexagonal" oxide as before, but, in addition, a rather faint pattern of another crystalline species made its appearance. This finding again suggests partial transformation of the major (double) oxide to other oxides on cooling from 900°C. Application of the phase rule shows that only one equilibrium oxide (subscale) could have been present at temperature. Vacuum-fusion, oxygen analysis of the extracted subscale showed 7.7 ± 0.7 pct O. Combining this information with that of the X-ray fluorescence analysis suggests the formula PdRhO. This compound should have an oxygen content of 7.07 pct, which is within the range of error of the oxygen analysis. However, until a more careful stoichiometric study is made, it is suggested that the formula be written

Jan 1, 1965

By M. P. Dalton

THE problem at the Morning mill is to separate the galena, which contains a great percentage of the silver, from the sphalerite, making each into a commercial product. The ore as received from the nine is dumped into hopper-bottomed bins of 1200 tons capacity. These are divided into five sections, the first section being the regularly used section and the re-mainder used as a reserve bin. The ore is first passed through a 9 by 15-in. Blake jaw-crusher with an opening of 4 in. This allows a ham-mer head to pass through without damage. The crusher discharges to a conveyor that delivers the ore into a two-section punched-plate trommel screen with 1 ½ and 2-in. openings. The undersize is carried by means of conveyors to the mill bins. The oversize passes over a shaking feeder and through a spray or high-pressure water to a picking-belt, where waste and crude ore is hand-sorted. About 4 per cent of the ore by weight is picked out as waste, assaying about 0.6 per cent lead, and this is discarded over the dump. About 4 per cent of the ore by weight is removed as crude ore, assaying 10 oz. silver, 30 per cent lead, and S per cent zinc, and is shipped direct to the smelter. The remainder of the oversize from the picking-belt is con-veyed to a 4-ft. Symons cone crusher with 1-in. opening, which is interesting as a new introduction in this dis-trict. The machine consumes approximately 40 hp. and the pinion shaft travels 555 r.p.m. The horsepower is rather high, but the machine has an extraordinarily large capacity, and, due to the unique construction, there is no danger of tramp steel causing any damage, as in that case the discharge "opening" is automatically

Jan 7, 1927