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By A. W. Fahrenwald

The physics and chemistry of the flotation process are not well understood. Many papers dealing with the theory of flotation have been published but most have been narrow in their viewpoint. No theory advanced has done more than explain, more or less satisfactorily, various isolated phenomena. Scientists have done little with the problem, doubtless because they have not seen sufficient of the practical side of the subject to have their interest aroused. Any attempt to explain the mechanism of flotation that considers only contact angles, surface tension, adsorption, the floating of needles, flocculation, or any other single and narrow phase of the question is sure to be disappointing. Flotation is a problem of colloid chemistry and must be studied as such. In a broad general way, flotation is a process involving and operating by virtue of surface reactions. The term "surface reactions" may be open to criticisms. Many chemists give the term "reactions" a definite and restricted meaning and to such the term may connote change in atomic grouping in strict stoichiometric ratios. While Langmuir looks upon adsorption as a reaction, and there is much evidence in support of this view, we may look on adsorption as a physcial process as far as this paper is concerned. The term seems well suited to the work in general. Presumably these reactions are reactions between the same kinds of forces (electrical) and differ only in degree and in the surface manifestations produced. This premise seems logical if we accept the theory that the atoms of dl elements are made up of grains of electricity, having mass and charge, called electrons; and that atoms differ from one another only in the number and arrangement of the electrons about a positive nuclear

Jan 1, 1924

(Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Mine Superintendent or Manager. Age 34, graduate mining engineer. Thirteen years' practical mining experience in Canada and United States holding responsible executive positions, mining engineer and mine superintendent. Experience in iron, gold, copper, and pyrite mining. Best references, can go anywhere but prefer location in Canada. At present engaged but desire change. Minimum salary $3600. A-2845. Manager or Superintendent for producing mine or new development. Institute member, 25 years' experience, mining, wet concentration, construction and examination. A-1173. Mining and Metallurgical Engineer. Technical graduate, 11 years' practical experience principally with copper mining, milling, smelting, and electrolytic refining, now holding an engineering executive position, wishes to change to place of more responsibility and opportunity. A-3785. Engineer with 11 years' experience in mining, civil, and industrial engineering, desires to become connected with a strong organization requiring services of thoroughly trained man. Graduated from University in 1909, now employed, having been with present organization nearly 7 years. Available about Sept. 15. A-4071. Metallurgical Engineer, age 31, married, A. M. and Ch. E.; 7 years' teaching and industrial experience, of which 3 ½ have been with electric furnaces. Desires position in investigative or executive work. Minimum salary $3000. A-4176.

Jan 9, 1919

By Douglas R. Piteau

Douglas R. Piteau (Engineering Geologist, De Beers Corp., Kimberley, South Africa; Presently Consulting Specialist at Nchanga Mine Open Pit, Chingola, Zambia)-Mr. Lutton is to be commeneded on his analyses and presentation of such practical data which can be used for predicting a preliminary optimum slope angle in rock. It appears that he assumes all slopes analyzed to be straight. Although there are overriding factors which affect the general slope configuration, such as structural discontinuities, ground water, and other environmental factors such as weathering conditions, regional stress, etc.,8 the affects of plan geometry under certain conditions also can be of outstanding importance. In investigation of natural slopes, for example, the effects of plan geometry are not entirely appreciated and it is in this respect that discussion is given. Experience in southern Africa has shown that the overall geometry of surface openings in rock, particularly those with dimensions of the order of 1500 ft or less, i.e., where radii of curvature of the slopes are less than, say, 700± ft, must be considered in rational slope-stability analyses. That is, the slope angle is not only a function of slope height, strength of the mass, and geometry of structural discontinuities, but also is dependent upon the plan geometry of the local slopes and the plan shape of opening. Technically speaking, adequate analysis of the slope must be three-dimensional, the third dimension being that of overall plan configuration and the analysis must incorporate its subsequent effects. However, current theories of slope stability all deal with the slope as a two-dimensional problem, i.e., a slice of unit length of an infinitely long slope is considered for a condition of plane strain. In this the tacit assumption is made that the plan radii of the crest and toe of the slope are infinite and no attention is given to the plan geometry of the slope. Clearly this is not the condition encountered in practice, particularly in open pit mining where excavations, relatively speaking, can be small and where these radii of curvature accordingly can have important affects on the slope stability. This is illustrated by the analyses of Piteau and Jennings 9 of the natural slopes which had developed around pipes of four diamond mines in the semiarid Kimberley area of South Africa. Although these slopes consist of dolerite overlying shale, the values of the slope angles of all the pits were corrected for a height of slope of 320 ft assuming that no dolerite occurred. This brought the data onto a comparable basis. These data were analyzed statistically and a clear empirical relationship, as is shown [in Fig. 4], is seen to have formed between angle of slope and curvature of slope, i.e., the angles of slope are greatest where the radii of curvature are least. Also, it can be seen that the slope of each line is different, indicating that the plan shape of the open pits also are significant, the curve being steepest for the open pits which are more circular in shape in contrast to those which are more elongated. The effect of slope curvature on the average angle of slope for the two extreme radii of 200 ft and 1000 ft for all four open pits is 39.5° and 27.3°, respectively. Hence, the concave curvature effect represents an average increase in slope angle of 12.2° from the essentially straight slope. In quantitative terms in Mr. Lutton's Fig. 2, this represents displacing the curve for a 320-ft pit from the second curve from the bottom (i.e., shale in subtropical climate) to that of the third from the bottom (i.e., quartzite in temperate environment).

Jan 1, 1972

By Henry M. Rowe

Professor Ruff's most illuminating paper' describing his extremely valuable investigation of the carbon-iron equilibrium diagram assigns definite temperatures to certain very important lines in the diagram, viz.: the eutectic temperature EB (Fig. 1) and the " near-eutectic " temperature E'B', but without indicating clearly enough the reasoning which warrants these assignments. These temperatures are of such primary importance that it is well to indicate the apparent gaps in the reasoning, in the hope that they may be filled in. In his diagram, Fig. 1, the point X and the liues B'D'lII represent the experimental results reached by Ruff and Goecke;a AB, AEB, and SE represent the liquidus, the solidus, and the solubility of the carbon in solid austenite in the absence of graphite according to Gutowsky,3 AB being also in accordance with Spiecker's data; S'E' the solubility of carbon in solid austenite in the presence of graphite according to Ruer and Iljin;5 GS the line A3 after Ooerens and Meyer; 6 and EBC the true eutectic line as inferred by Prof. Ruff from Gutowsky's data. B'D' is the carbon content found in cast-iron which had apparently saturated itself with carbon in the presence of the graphite of the enclosing graphite crucibles in which the determinations were made. From its straightiiess and its sharp inflection near 6.67 per cent. of carbon, the carbon content of

Jan 1, 1913

By G. Ansel, J. O. Betteron

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER is to give a brief picture of present day magnesium rolling practice, to elaborate on laboratory and development rolling experiments; and finally, to discuss the possible Future rolling of magnesium. The present production practice is so varied between various mills that it can only he concluded that no single producer is now using a process that is outstandingly superior to others. In view of this, only the general features of present day production practice have been presented and attention is focussed on the results of laboratory find development rolling of magnesium-base alloys as indications of the Future trend of magnesium rolling. MAGNESIUM ROLLING LITERATURE The literature relating to magnesium rolling is divided into three groups: the deformation mechanisms of the hexagonal magnesium crystals, the metallurgical aspects and laboratory type experiments in rolling, and finally, the articles on production rolling methods. This literature was reviewed and is summarized below. In the first group of references, the existence of basal slip in magnesium single crystals was shown by Schiebold and Siebel1 and of {102} twinning by Mathewson and Phillips2, Schmid3 predicted and partially established {101} slip at hot working temperatures. Bakarian and Mathewson4 confirmed the above and eliminated {101} twinning as a probable deformation mechan-

Jan 1, 1948

By Lennart Wellenius

LAISVALL - ONE OF THE BOLIDEN MINES Until the Aitik Mine (2,000,000 mtpy) started in 1968 the Laisvall Mine (1,200,000 mtpy) was the biggest unit of about 20 producing mines, belonging to the Boliden Company Ltd. As shown in Fig. 1 the mines are spread over a wide area. Most of them are small complex ore mines (50,000 - 300,000 mtpy), for which reason the total mine production does not exceed 5,500,000 mtpy. When our company was invited to present a paper, Laisvall was chosen because it is the biggest European galena-mine in production today. The Laisvall Mine is situated in the county of Norrbotten, Sweden, at the eastern border of the Caledonian mountain-chain. The road distance to Slagnäs, the nearest railway station, is 60 miles. The railway between Slagnäs and BOLIDEN's smelting plant, the Rönnskär Works, is 140 miles long. PRODUCTION STARTED IN 1943 In the Autumn of 1938 a boulder was discovered, consisting of sandstone with galena, on the shore of the Lake Stor-Laisan. The boulder came from an Eocambrian sandstone formation, which is overlain by Cambrian-Silurian rock.

Jan 1, 1970

By Eckley B. Coxe

Having been appointed, on February 19th, 1890, a member of the Commission created by the Legislature of Pennsylvania for the purpose of investigating the " Waste of Coal Mining, with the View to the Utilizing of the Waste" (waste in this case referring specially to the small sizes of anthracite heretofore thrown away), my attention was naturally directed to the mash economical method of burning these small sizes.* Although I had been Familiar with the burning of anthracite for • many years, I found when I came to study the matter carefully that I was far from thoroughly understanding it, particularly with reference to the hurning of the smaller sizes, and that the literature of the subject, which was not very extensive, had more of a tendency to confuse than to enlighten me. I began therefore to investigate the subject so as to arrive if possible at some definite principles applicable to the question. With the aid of my assistant, Mr. John R. Wagner, I began at Drifton a series of experiments upon the burning of small anthracites. We first erected a small furnace with a grate 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, with which we experimented about two months. From the information thus acquired, we designed and built another furnace of about the same size, which gave us facilities for extending our investigations still further. After experimenting several months with the second furnace, we built a third one, which was much larger, having a grate area of about 68 square feet, which was exactly the size of the grate used in the boiler-plants of' Coxe Bros. &

Jan 1, 1894

By Stanley Lefond

Industrial Minerals, often called the Cinderella Minerals or the Building Blocks of industry continued their growth patterns through 1973, although profits were slightly lower due to the cost-price squeeze. Most of the individual reports which follow indicate growth rates of 3-15%. Surprisingly such commodities as sulfur held firm in spite of the over supply in the Canadian gas fields; cement was in short supply while the asbestos industry reported a worldwide shortage of group 4 and 5 fibers. Talc and perlite production set new records. In synopsis, 1973 was a productive year for industrial minerals. However 1974 onward appears to be one of contradiction. The unsettled conditions of world economics, the energy shortage, compounded by the Arabs oil embargo have created great problems for all industries. The high energy consuming segments of the Industrial Minerals field will be under intense pressures. On the other hand limestone, lime and perhaps trona, nahcolite might be consumed in ever increasing tonnages in SO2 removal systems connected with smelters and coal-fired power stations. The effects of the proposed changes in the staking, claiming and exploitation of federal lands by the BLM may also have serious repercussions not only to the industrial minerals field but to the entire mining industry. 1974-1975 will certainly be ear-marked as a year of frustrations and difficult decisions.

Jan 2, 1974

By Orlando Romig

PART I-PREPARATION OP METALLIC SINGLE CRYSTALS WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO SINGLE CRYSTALS OP ZINC? As metals and alloys are composed, of, an aggregate of allotriomorphic crystals or grains, each possessing an individual orientation, the physical characteristics of a metal or an alloy are closely related to the properties of the individual crystals. The preparation and study of single metallic crystals are, therefore, matters of considerable importance. The advent of the X-ray spectrograph as a valuable metallurgical tool has magnified the importance of this subject, because the interpretation of some X-ray spectrographs is difficult unless single crystals are used in these studies. PREVIOUS WORK The first paper, as far as the writer knows, on the behavior or preparation of single crystals of metals is by Baker.1 He describes the behavior of extruded wires of sodium and potassium. These wires, when pulled in tension, instead of I showing the usual conical fracture common to most metals, had a chisel-shaped fracture when they were broken. I and II, Fig. 1, have a similar fracture. Baker checked his results by preparing single crystal wires from molten sodium and potassium and observing their properties. He prepared the wires by filling glass tubes, under oil, with the molten metal. The surfaces of the strained wires showed slip bands of remarkable clearness of which photographs are shown in his paper. He concluded that these wires were single crystals and "that the portions of the metal brought into play are cubes. Such cubes, when placed so that a plane through 'two opposite edges was parallel to the axis of the wire, would allow of lateral contraction by faces gliding over one another in one direction only and not in the direction at right angles."

Jan 1, 1927

By James W. Malcolmson

This paper treats of the history and development of the Sierra Mojada mines in the north of Mexico, the character and extent of the ore-deposits, and the methods of mining the ore. The growth of the smelting industry in Mexico in recent years is, to a large degree, due directly to the output of the lead-bearing ores from the Sierra Mojada mines, and at the present time (1901) new smelters are being built, looking to this district for their supply of lead-ores. These mines are located in the southern part of the State of Coahuila, in the Republic of Mexico, in latitude 27 24' N. and longitude 103O 43' W. of Greenwich. The last account of the Sierra Mojada published in our transactions was contributed by Mr. Richard E. Chism, in October, 1886.* Since that time some 3,000,000 tons of ore have been extracted from the mines, and much additional information has been developed regarding the mineral deposits. Since 1886, the Mexican Northern railroad, 78 miles in length, has been built from Escalon, connecting the camp with the Mexican Central railway, a trunk-line from El Paso, Texas, to Mexico City. The distances by rail from Sierra Mojada to the principal smelting-centers are as follows : To Torreon, Coahuila, Mex., 179 miles; to Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mex., 422 miles; to El Paso, Tex., U. S., 494 miles; to Aguas Calientes, A. C., Mex., 522 miles; to San Luis Potosi, 8. L. P., Mex., 644 miles; to Pueblo, Colorado, U. S., 1158 miles; to Argentine, Kans., U. S.,

Jan 1, 1902

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

Most metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un-soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample ap- peared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.' The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs, 2a and 2b, which are respectively a photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated_ lumps of lead. Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,l,2,3 but for clarity a brief resume will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a, layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation: where Il is the transmitted intensity, I0 is the incident intensity, µ1 is the linear absorption coefficient of the material, t1 is the thickness of the material.

Jan 1, 1944

By S. E. Maddigan, B. R. Zimmerman

Most metallurgists are well acquainted with the contributions already made to the study of metals by the use of X-rays. On the one hand, the radiographic method is constantly becoming of increasing importance as a nondestructive testing procedure, while on the other hand the techniques of X-ray diffraction have made important contributions to the fundamental knowledge in studies of phase diagrams, stress conditions, and so forth. A new, and as yet insufficiently appreciated, tool exists in the application of microradiography to alloy structures. This new procedure in many respects bears the same relation to microscopic investigations as does macroradiography to the gross inspection of metal surfaces. However, where macroradiography is used ordinarily to determine the soundness of the metal structure, this new method can be used not only to investigate micro-un-soundness but also to examine the distribution of the constituent elements within the body of the alloy. When combined with the normal procedures of microscopy, this offers a technique of great potential power. It is intended in this paper to present a few examples of copper-base alloys demonstrating the additional knowledge obtained from the microradiographic method. The detection of micro-unsoundness is demonstrated in Fig. I for a sample of cartridge brass as cast. The sample ap- peared quite sound when viewed under the microscope, but in reality was thickly populated with minute voids. This application of the method conforms in every way to conventional large-scale radiography and has been used to facilitate production of metal for vacuum devices.' The true potentialities of the technique are revealed by comparison of Figs, 2a and 2b, which are respectively a photomicrograph and a microradiograph of a cast alloy of 80 per cent Cu, 10 per cent Sn, 10 per cent Pb. The remarkable difference in appearance provides some concept of the additional information this method may yield when used as an auxiliary to microscopic studies. Fig. 2a shows two phases of the copper-tin system plus segregated_ lumps of lead. Fig. 2b, on the other hand, shows with exceptional clarity the actual dendritic growth of the metal crystals during solidification. The practice of microradiography depends upon the laws of absorption of X-rays. This subject has been reviewed thoroughly in recent papers,l,2,3 but for clarity a brief resume will be given here. As is well known, when a beam of X-rays is transmitted through a, layer of homogeneous material, the intensity is reduced according to the relation: where Il is the transmitted intensity, I0 is the incident intensity, µ1 is the linear absorption coefficient of the material, t1 is the thickness of the material.

Jan 1, 1944

By H. W. Graham

[ ] Even though we have a small audience, I am sure there are some here who are interested in sponge iron. It is a large subject, with a lot of economic interest, and one that will continue to grow in importance as the years go by and as the conditions that urge action in that direction increase. The authors have chosen to deal in this paper with one particular narrow phase of a long program of work by the Bureau of Mines. Before asking for any general discussion, I would myself like to ask Mr. Buehl if he would tell us just a little bit about the mechanism of discharge and the form in which the material was discharged; that is, when dolomite is added, what happens to the dolomite? R. C. Buehl (author's reply)-You are interested in the equipment that was used? H. W. GRAHAM-No, just the product. R. C. Buehl-The product was in granular form, of a shape very similar to that of the ore used. Using minus 10-mesh ore, the product is essentially minus 10-mesh, mixed with the coal and dolomite. It is then passed through a belt type of magnetic separator, which picks up the magnetic iron and allows the dolomite and coal to fall off. If the coal is sufficiently valuable, it can be separated from the dolomite and, provided the coal has a sufficiently low ash content, it can be reused. For instance, if a low-ash reducing agent like petroleum coke is used, it can be reused until all the carbon is consumed. H. W. Graham-That clears the point for me. I was not quite sure whether the experi-

Jan 1, 1947

By C. Baldwin Sawyer

During the last half century, much time has been devoted to investigations of the effect of nitrogen on the physical properties of steel, but in all discussions of results there is considerable doubt as to the accuracy and interpretation of analyses. No conclusions concerning the effects of nitrogen on the physical properties of steel can be more reliable than the methods used for determining the quantities of nitrogen present. The work described in this paper endeavors to establish some additional conditions required by the customary distillation method for reliable and nccurate determinations. Results by a combustion method of analysis for total nitrogen content are presented; these indicate that all of the nitrogen in steel, exclusive of that contained in blowholes, may be determined by the distillation method. Based on these more sound and more reliable analyses, results havc been obtained that bear on the following divisions of the general subject, nitrogen in steel: Nitrification of steel by melting in nitrogen, nitrification of steel by heating in ammonia, decomposition of nitrified steel by heating, and thermal analysis of nitrified steel. Consideration of Two Methods of Analysis and Some Results The details of the distillation and combustion methods are chemical in character and of little interest to most readers. They are therefore described in an appendix. The distillation method is essentially that described by Hurum and Fay1 and was generally used throughout this work. It is capable of the greatest accuracy and all results given are significant to the last, figure. Where analyses do not check, the samples

Jan 1, 1923

By C. Baldwin Sawyer

During the last half century, much time has been devoted to investigations of the effect of nitrogen on the physical properties of steel, but in all discussions of results there is considerable doubt as to the accuracy and interpretation of analyses. No conclusions concerning the effects of nitrogen on the physical properties of steel can be more reliable than the methods used for determining the quantities of nitrogen present. The work described in this paper endeavors to establish some additional conditions required by the customary distillation method for reliable and nccurate determinations. Results by a combustion method of analysis for total nitrogen content are presented; these indicate that all of the nitrogen in steel, exclusive of that contained in blowholes, may be determined by the distillation method. Based on these more sound and more reliable analyses, results havc been obtained that bear on the following divisions of the general subject, nitrogen in steel: Nitrification of steel by melting in nitrogen, nitrification of steel by heating in ammonia, decomposition of nitrified steel by heating, and thermal analysis of nitrified steel. Consideration of Two Methods of Analysis and Some Results The details of the distillation and combustion methods are chemical in character and of little interest to most readers. They are therefore described in an appendix. The distillation method is essentially that described by Hurum and Fay1 and was generally used throughout this work. It is capable of the greatest accuracy and all results given are significant to the last, figure. Where analyses do not check, the samples

Jan 1, 1923

By T. E. Leontis, F. N. Rhines

THE oxide scale that forms upon magnesium at elevated temperatures is nonprotective in the sense that the rate of oxidation is constant and thus does not decrease with the growth of the scale as it does with other common metals. This generality was first stated by Pilling and Bedworth1 and has been verified by Suzuki2 and by Scheil.3 Pilling and Bedworth argued that the nonprotective characteristic could be predicted from the fact that magnesium oxide occupies less space than does the metal from which it springs, wherefore the scale is not expected to cover the metal so completely as to exclude all direct access to the atmosphere. Linear oxidation is thought by Scheil to be common to all cases where the reaction occurs at the oxide-metal interface. According to Suzuki,2 the product of high-temperature oxidation in the air is MgO contaminated with no more than traces of a nitride. When the metal is allowed to burn freely a fume composed of cubic crystals of Mg04 is given off. Delavault5 observed that excrescences form upon liquid magnesium and alloys in the course of oxidation. Beyond this it is known that the use of atmospheres containing small quantities of sulphur dioxide6 or carbon dioxide serve to retard the oxidation of solid magnesium and that beryllium7and calcium8 minimize the oxidation of molten magnesium exposed to the air. Many studies have been devoted to the nature and rates of "protective" oxidation, as exemplified by the cases of copper and iron, wherein the rate is characteristically parabolic. The theory of parabolic oxidation is well developed.9 Linear oxidation, on the other hand, has received but little attention and the theories proposed by Pilling and Bedworth and by Scheil have yet to withstand careful examination. There exists no comprehensive survey of the high-temperature oxidation of magnesium (or of any other metal that exhibits linear oxidation) over a broad range of temperature, under a variety of atmospheric conditions and covering a large group of alloys. It has been the purpose of the present investigation to provide such a survey, with the object of gaining a fuller understanding of linear oxidation, especially as applied to magnesium. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS The experimental studies undertaken were of two kinds: (I) measurement of the rate of oxidation as influenced by the

Jan 1, 1946

By Rossier W. Raymond

John Birkinbine was born Nov. 16, 1844, at Reading, Pa., the eldest son of H. P. M. Birkinbine, widely known as a hydraulic engineer. The family removed subsequently to Philadelphia, where, as a young man he established with his father the office now, continued by his sons, after more than 60 years. His education was received at public schools, the Friends' High School in Philadelphia, the Hill School at Pottstown, Pa., and the Polytechnic College of Pennsylvania, where his studies were interrupted in 1863-4 by service in the Union Army, which included participation in the battles at and around Gettysburg. Later, he devoted two years to work in a machine shop; and subsequently he became associated with the late P. L. Weimer, under the firm name of Weimer & Birkinbine, operating the Weimer Machine Works at Lebanon, Pa. Much of his work was in mining, metallurgy, and blast-furnace construction. As manager for the South Mountain Mining & Iron Co. he carried on experiments with various fuels for iron-ore smelting while maintaining the furnace in constant operation. The carefully recorded results obtained were widely published, and are referred to in text-books by other metallurgists as most complete. From his Philidelphia office he was sent to nearly every State, and to Canada and Mexico, for examinations, reports, constructions or im-provements in iron-ore mines, blast furnaces, iron works, water supplies, hydraulic development, irrigation projects, etc., and his engineering knowledge was requisitioned by several Eukopean corporations. A number of business trips were made to Mexico, beginning with a visit to the Cerro de Mercado at Durango,,before railroads were established in that. portion of Mexico, to make a critical examination and report on this "Iron Mountain." Later visits covered other localities and engineering problems, familiarizing him with the major part of the iron industry in Mexico. The late disturbed political conditions in that Republic have retarded the probable enlargement, modernization, and improvement of much of the iron and steel industry of Mexico, upon which he investigated and . reported for various capitalists on both continents. One interesting subject included in these reports was a proposed electric furnace, to be operated by energy from water power.

Jan 1, 1916

By Arthur Green

A GROUP of 13 cities situated in Los Angeles and Orange counties in Southern California is engaged in constructing an aqueduct to carry water from the Colorado River at a point near Parker, Arizona, to a distribution point sear Riverside, California. The aqueduct will have a total length of approximately 241 miles, and is designed to deliver 1605 cu. ft. of water per second, or a little more than one billion gallons per day. The aqueduct crosses a barren, desert waste and the project includes approximately 91 miles of 16-ft. tunnel. The large amount of tunnel driving that has been done in this country in the past few years has resulted in some remarkable developments in equipment and methods. The building of the Colorado River Aqueduct, with its 91 miles of tunnels, has called on the best engineering knowledge in the country. New and better equipment has been designed for all phases of the work, and this equipment has been coordinated and adapted to the various conditions with a high degree of efficiency. The result has been that records for tunnel driving have been set under adverse natural conditions that exceed the estimates for progress under good conditions. All of the tunnels in the main aqueduct, except the Valverde and Bernasconi at the western end, have a finished diameter, inside the concrete lining, of 16 ft. Fig. 4 shows a section of the tunnel with the concrete lining in place. Fig. 5 illustrates the finished tunnel in three typical sections. The standard tunnel grade is 3.432 ft. per mile in the 16-ft. tunnels, but the Valverde and Bernasconi tunnels have a steeper grade and a finished diameter of 15 ft. 3 in. The rough bore of the large main aqueduct tunnels averages 12.95 solid cubic yards of material per foot of advance in timbered sections and 10.76 solid cubic yards per foot in unsupported sections.

Jan 1, 1936

By C. W. Nicolson

The Tri-State zinc and lead-mining district is in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the southeast corner of Kansas and the southwest corner of Missouri. The area throughout which active mining has been conducted is about 45 miles long and about 5 miles wide, extending northeasterly from Commerce, Okla., to Alba, Missouri. Although the lead ores were mined on a very small scale in the vicinity of Joplin, Mo., as early as 1848, nothing of any importance was done in the district until 1870, since when both mining and smelting have been prosecuted with considerable vigor. In the beginning the lead ores only were exploited, but within a few years extensive deposits of zinc ores were found and since that time the production of zinc ore has far exceeded that of lead. Both the surface and mineral rights in Missouri and Kansas were under individual ownership by the time ore was discovered. Although some of these rights were purchased by mining companies, most of the mining has been done under leases covering small areas, usually 40 acres, although in the past many leases were given on much smaller tracts. In Oklahoma most of the mineral land had been alloted by the Government to various Indian tribes and although the title to some of these lands had been acquired by various white men before the discovery of the rich Picher field, the title to most of the land has remained with the Indian tribes and the leasing of the mineral rights has been done by the Federal Government for the benefit of the Indians. The Indian allotments were of 200 acres each and some of the mining leases covered entire allotments, although many leases were granted for only 40 acres or even less. Practically all of the leases granted in the past required the erection of a concentrating plant on each lease, a condition that has had a pronounced effect upon the mining and milling methods of the district, since the apparent ore reserves on each tract were too small to justify large and elaborate mining and milling plants. Most of the leases were

Jan 1, 1940

By C. W. Nicolson

The Tri-State zinc and lead-mining district is in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the southeast corner of Kansas and the southwest corner of Missouri. The area throughout which active mining has been conducted is about 45 miles long and about 5 miles wide, extending northeasterly from Commerce, Okla., to Alba, Missouri. Although the lead ores were mined on a very small scale in the vicinity of Joplin, Mo., as early as 1848, nothing of any importance was done in the district until 1870, since when both mining and smelting have been prosecuted with considerable vigor. In the beginning the lead ores only were exploited, but within a few years extensive deposits of zinc ores were found and since that time the production of zinc ore has far exceeded that of lead. Both the surface and mineral rights in Missouri and Kansas were under individual ownership by the time ore was discovered. Although some of these rights were purchased by mining companies, most of the mining has been done under leases covering small areas, usually 40 acres, although in the past many leases were given on much smaller tracts. In Oklahoma most of the mineral land had been alloted by the Government to various Indian tribes and although the title to some of these lands had been acquired by various white men before the discovery of the rich Picher field, the title to most of the land has remained with the Indian tribes and the leasing of the mineral rights has been done by the Federal Government for the benefit of the Indians. The Indian allotments were of 200 acres each and some of the mining leases covered entire allotments, although many leases were granted for only 40 acres or even less. Practically all of the leases granted in the past required the erection of a concentrating plant on each lease, a condition that has had a pronounced effect upon the mining and milling methods of the district, since the apparent ore reserves on each tract were too small to justify large and elaborate mining and milling plants. Most of the leases were

Jan 1, 1940