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By W. R. Ingalls

WHAT proportion of the national wealth is represented by' the producing mines of the country?' Or by the- mining and metallurgical industry-as a whole, for it is impossible to make-an economic distinction between the mines that produce the ore and the plant that is used to get the metals from it. The total national wealth in fixed property is about $270,000,000,000. How much for the mines? I do not know that any one 'else has ever tried to furnish answers to these questions. In making such an attempt I am conscious that the result can be nothing more than a rough approximation. Yet even that will give an idea of relative values. No separate valuation for the mines of the country has appeared in any inventory of the national wealth previous to that which I compiled and published for 1916. -In earlier census estimates mines were supposed to be included under the head of real estate. However, an examination of the laws and practices of the several states with respect to mine taxation will make it evident that no good idea of the value of the mines of the coun¬try is obtainable from the assessment rolls. In my previous estimate for 1916, I computed the value of the mines at $8,000,000,000, which was approxi¬mately 10 times their net income as reported to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In making that estimate I fell grossly into error, for several reasons that it is unnecessary to explain, but chiefly because the net income of the mines of the country in that year was exceptionally large. The whole subject of valuing the mines of the country en bloc is extraordinarily difficult At the best, no one can hope to arrive at, anything more than a rough idea about it. However, elements of reason may be introduced and may be made to serve as chief bases.

Jan 1, 1921

By J. B. Woodworth

Under the above title it is desired to bring to the attention of assayers a short-cut method which has been perfected by Mr. A. S. Warren, of Buffalo, and the writer; has been used several years at three " Lake copper " refineries in occasional alternation with the regular " combination," or a wet and fire," assay; and has proved more rapid, and rather more accurate than the latter on all refined copper—namely, the direct cupellation of the silver chloride (+gold) precipitate, without scorification. No claim of priority is made for this direct method, as it has suggested itself to many others, and was mentioned by Mr. Warren in the symposium of assayers' results brought together in 1895 by the Secretary," after the plan and suggestions of Dr. A. R. Ledoux.† Lately, this important subject of assaying copper-materials seems to have been re-opened for discussion. The shortening of time by 'the direct method is so considerable (nearly 20 minutes on a batch)—to say nothing of the saving

Jan 1, 1902

By J. W. Freeman, D. N. Frey

Fundamental reasons for the improvement in creep resistance of an austenitic alloy by cold working were investigated mainly by X-ray diffraction. The creep resistance was found to be improved by the internal stresses in the lattice of the alloy induced by the cold work. THIS investigation was concerned with the fundamental reasons for improvement in creep resistance of an austenitic alloy as a result of cold working. Also, the investigation was carried out to elucidate the conditions under which cold working could be expected to improve the creep resistance. To achieve these ends, creep resistance and internal structure were correlated for a variety of cold-worked conditions. Since the aim of the investigation was not to obtain specific and extensive information on any one alloy, creep testing was done with a single stress at 1200°F. Structural studies were carried out primarily with X-ray diffraction characteristics. The alloy used, low carbon N-155, was selected on the basis of being representative of at least some of the alloys used in gas turbines. Low carbon N-155 alloy in the form of %-in. sq bar stock was used in this investigation. The chemical composition, in percent, was: C, 0.13; Mn, 1.43; Si, 0.34; Cr, 20.73; Ni, 18.92; Co, 19.65; Mo, 3.05; W, 1.98; Cb, 0.98; N, 0.14; and Fe, balance. The bar stock was produced from a 13-in. sq billet, finished to 7/s in. round cornered square between 2060" and 1910°F. Prior to use in this particular investigation, the bar stock was solution-treated 1 hr at 2200°F and water quenched. This procedure was used in order to put the stock in a condition where effects of prior processing were minimized. Experimental Procedure The specific approach to the problem was twofold. First, the influence of cold working, under various conditions, on the creep rate under a single stress at 1200°F and on the internal structure was in part determined. Second, the effect of annealing at various times and temperatures on the creep rate and internal structure of the cold-worked samples was in part evaluated. The first step was basic to the investigation—creep resistance and structure were to be correlated. The second step was taken to see if the annealed samples showed some internal changes which could also be correlated with changes in creep resistance. This it was felt would facilitate solution of the basic problem. The creep and structural studies were carried out on samples reduced approximately 5, 15, and 40 pct at room temperature and 15 pct at temperatures up to 2200 °F. Annealing of various of the samples was done at 1200°, 1400°, 1600°, and 1800°F for time periods up to 1000 hr. Studies of the annealed samples were concentrated on materials rolled approximately 5, 15, and 40 pct at room temperature and 15 pct at 1400°F. The creep tests were carried out at 1200°F under 40,000 psi, the latter being approximately the 1000 hr rupture stress of the material

Jan 1, 1952

By Yuri D. Tretyakov, Robert A. Rapp

The stoichiometry ranges ofNiOl+y and LiFe,O,-d were established by high-temperatwe electrochemical meas7rements in a stabilized-zirconia electrolyte cell. The results were consistent with doubly ionized cation vacancies in NiO,+y and interstitial lithium or iron ions in . The defect structure of the ternary ferrite was derived from the consideration of equilibration with respect to oxygen between the solid and the gas phase. The absolute magnitudes of defect concentrations were calculated. Pavtial molar enthalpies of oxygen in the compounds were calculated and interpreted in terms of the enthalpy of defect formation in these crystals. NICKEL oxide (NiO,,?) is a metal-deficient, p-type, extrinsic semiconductor whose properties are consistent with a structural model based on the presence of cation vacancies as the predominant ionic defect at sufficiently high temperatures and oxygen activities. A survey of previously reported conductivity studies and the presentation of some more recent conductivity measurements will be given in a later paper.' The absolute magnitude of the equilibrium vacancy concentration in NiO has been reported from combined conductivity and thermogravimetric data of ' However, disagreement exists concerning the state of ionization of the nickel vacancies in NiO. Some authors3-' have proposed that the predominant defects in NiO are singly ionized nickel vacancies and positive holes (h') formed by the reaction where, accorhng to the notation of Kroger and Vink,6'7 Oq represents an oxygen ion on its normal lattice site. Other authors"27E have proposed that doubly ionized nickel vacancies (V{i ) and positive holes are predominant and are formed by the reaction One purpose of the present investigation was to establish the nature of the predominant defect in NiO,+? as well as its equilibrium concentration and thermo-dynamic properties at elevated temperatures and known oxygen activities. To accomplish this purpose, the coulometric titration of oxygen into and out of NiO was accomplished using a galvanic cell involving the calcia-stabilized zirconia electrolyte. The ternary oxide, lithium ferrite (LiFe50,-6) is ferromagnetic and has the inverse spinel structure LiFe,O,-d Thus, in the ideal stoichiometric XY204 lattice, Fe3 ions occupy one-eighth of the tetrahedral (A) sites, and i' and Fe3' ions share at random one-half of the octahedral (B) sites within the fcc sublattice of oxygen ions.g The structure and thermodynamics of the spinel structures have been comprehensively decribed.'-' A recent compilation of literature for lithium ferrite is also available. 15 Oxygen-excess LiFe50sis not expected to exist because both i' and 17e3& ions are in their highest normal valency states (positive hole formation is not favorable). As will be discussed, equilibration of the ferrite crystal with oxygen of a surrounding gaseous phase will result in the introduction of equilibrium concentrations of ionic and electronic defects. In the Results and Discussion section a defect model for LiFe50,-d is proposed. This defect model is tested by high-temperature coulometric titration experiments. EXPERIMENT The oxygen activities in nonstoichiometric NiOl+, (and also LiFe,O,-d) were measured by means of coulometric titration with the high-temperature galvanic cell The critical characteristic of a suitable experimental cell is the complete isolation of the phase to be investigated in a minimum sized chamber which is free from extraneous sources and sinks for oxygen (leakage). Then oxygen is only admitted to the chamber or removed from it in known amounts by coulometric titration, which involves the passage of oxygen ions through the solid electrolyte with electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions at the platinum contacts to the electrolyte. The experimental cell is shown in Fig. 1. The cap of the cell was the tip from a closed-end alumina tube, which was found to be leak-free from a helium leak-detector test. This alumina cap was about 1.2 cm OD and about 1.5 cm high. A Zircoa calcia-stabilized zirconia tablet (crucible lid) of 1.5 cm diam and 0.3 cm thickness served as the solid electrolyte. A Pyrex ring of about 0.1 cm thickness was placed between the electrolyte and the cap. The electrolyte tablet was painted with platinum paste on the entire outer face and on that part of the inner face which would be within the enclosure; these electrodes were further prepared by heating in air at 1000°C for 2 hr. Nickel oxide powder, listed as 99.999 pct pure, was purchased from Leico Industries, Inc. Pills of the NiO were cold-pressed and sintered at 1050°C for 3 hr in a platinum crucible. This poorly sintered NiO was crushed, and chunks were wrapped in 52-mesh Pt gauze (to catalyze the solid-gas exchange) for place-

Jan 1, 1970

IN THE past, we have, perhaps, been somewhat careless in our furnace practice, in the use of high-grade material, lowering the production costs through demanding high-grade ores, increasing the size of units, and eliminating heat losses by collecting and returning unused heat to our furnaces. Further economies would seem to be possible through keeping out of the furnace those materials that appear to serve no useful purpose and carry with them heat that should be used in reduction operations. In the manufacture of pig iron, about three tons of inert nitrogen pass through the furnace for each ton of iron produced. This nitrogen serves no useful purpose in the chemical actions involved, but when discharged into the atmosphere it carries away a considerable quantity of heat. Can not this loss be eliminated, at least in part, through the use of more oxygen in the blast? Many metallurgical chemists, during the past 20 years, have stated that they thought it can and have urged that the plan be tried. Others have expressed doubt, not being able to visualize how more oxygen could be used in present practice; they have regarded it as impracticable, without trying to conceive of an entirely new practice based on a new reagent. That more experimental work has not been done is due to the fact that no cheap oxygen has been available, but the committee believes that there is strong reason to expect that, should a demand exist, 99 per cent. oxygen may be made at a cost not to exceed $3 per ton. The theoretical studies of the committee have indicated such marked economy by using oxygenated air in various operations that its members strongly recommend experimental work to verify the anticipated economies. The committee has developed plans for experimentally determining the effects of oxygen-enriched air on the operation of an iron, blast furnace. A furnace with a height of 30 ft. has been built and it is recommended that the plans be put in, effect as the first step in the research.

Jan 11, 1924

Organization Place Date 1917 Electric Power Club Hot Springs, Va. June 11-14 Society for the Promotion of Engineering Edu¬ cation Evansville,Ind. June 19-22 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Buffalo, N. Y, June 20-22 American Institute of Electrical Engineers Hot Springs, Va. June 25 American Society for Testing Materials Atlantic City, N. J. June 26-30 Mine Inspectors Institute of U. S. A. Indianapolis Ind. July 9-11 National Association of Stationary Engineers... Evansville, Ind. Sept. 10-15 National Exposition of Safety and, Sanitation .. New York City Sept. 10-15 American Iron, Steel & Electrical Engineers.... Philadelphia, Pa. Sept. 10-14

Jan 6, 1917

By W. L. Chu

It was observed that chromized coatings on low carbon steel could be embrittled by cooling slowly through the 475°C range. A higher chromium coating was more susceptible to embrittlement than a lower chromium coating. Coating structure and composition could be correlated with the chromizing process and prior carbon content of the steel. IT was recently observed that during the fabrication of rectangular tubings made with chromized thin gage 1010 steel, a high percentage of these parts were fractured readily in a brittle manner under the light impact-forming load employed. Ensuing investigation indicated the cause for such brittle failures to be the so-called 475°C embrittlement of the chromized coatings. The experimental work and results are briefly reported. Rectangular tube sections of normalized AISI C1010 steel, which had a cross-section of 0.5x1.5 in. and a wall thickness of 0.030 in., were chromized to yield coatings having several ranges of thickness, varying from 0.0005 to 0.002 in. Essentially, the chromizing process is similar to that described by Samuel and Lockington,' which consists of heating the parts in a sealed container at about 955°C for 4 hr in intimate contact with a chromizing mixture* samples in a hydraulic press, and the other employed a simple beam bending test of the flat sides of the tubing walls. Neither, however, was able to differentiate the relative brittleness of samples known to include both the brittle and tough types, since the impact-brittle samples were found to deform readily in a manner similar to the tough ones. Both the tough and brittle samples were studied by reflection microscopy. Observation showed that the microstructures of the steel cores were similar in content and distribution of inclusions as well as in the ferritic grain size. Results of Filar micrometer measurements showed that coating thicknesses+ of the brittle samples averaged 0.0007 in., whereas those of the tough samples averaged 0.0016 in. The micrographs of Fig. 2 illustrate the structural differences between coatings of both types of samples. By dissolving the steel cores in nitric acid, coatings of both the brittle and tough samples were isolated. Simple bending tests showed that coatings of the brittle samples cracked readily at about 90" bend, whereas those of the tough samples could be bent nearly 180° without cracking. The coatings as well as the steel cores were analyzed for carbon and

Jan 1, 1956

By Joseph W. Roe

MANY questions arising in the work of the mining engineer may be solved quickly and with sufficient accuracy by the methods of descriptive geometry; but, unfortunately, this subject is more often considered from a mathematical view-point than as an effective tool. for solving practical problems. Some of the principles involved are merged into the ordinary operations of mechanical drawing, and are used unconsciously by the engineer in his every-day work. The rest are stowed away on the book-shelf with his forgotten or rarely-used college text-books. One reason for this condition of "innocuous desuetude " may lie in the unfortunate and often cumbersome notation which it has been found necessary to introduce. If some of these principles can be recalled to the engineer's attention in terms of every-day use they may prove of practical bearing. Recently, in talking with several mining engineers, I used some of the drawing-room methods of a machine-designer, to the evident surprise of those around me. These men were perfectly familiar with the methods, but their application to mining-work had not occurred to them. At their suggestion the present paper is offered, not in any way as a treatise, but merely to suggest a certain point of view, in hope that it may lead others far more familiar with mining-problems to pursue the subject further. I. To FIND THE STRIKE. As the simplest and most fundamental problem, let it be required to find the strike of a vein when the location and elevation of three points on the outcrop are known. It will be assumed for the present that the vein is a plane.

Mar 1, 1910

By George W. Orton

i\- number of investigations have established that tungsten monocarbide (WC) forms throughout a wide range of temperatures (800° to 2200°C), but the di-tungsten carbide (W2C) forms only at the high end of this temperature range.1"7 In addition the decomposition of WC into WzC and C at elevated temperatures has been observed.8"10

Jan 1, 1964

By Frank Harwood Riddle

Products made from the ores of the sillimanite group, and synthetic substitutes for them, have unique properties, and service tests prove that they are playing, and will continue to play, a major part in improvements in metallurgical processes. Also, they are examples of how comparatively useless, rare, or "museum" minerals have been made available in commercial quantities. Until research developed uses for them, the minerals had been observed only in small, scattered masses, or crystals. Improvements in ceramic processes and compositions have come about very gradually. In the last 10 or 15 years, several outstanding developments have been made. Of greatest interest to the mining and metallurgical engineers are those affecting the composition, necessitating the mining of new minerals, and improvements in ceramic products used in metallurgical processes. Sillimanite and Mullite Sillimanite (Al2O3.SiO2), then known as Fibrolite, according to Dana,' was first reported in 1792. In 1796, cyanite (Al2O3.SiO2) was first described.2 In 1873, Behrens published results of his microscopic study8 of porcelain. He showed that it contained what appeared to be crystals, which dissolved less readily than quartz and glass in hydrofluoric acid. Hussak4 described the presence of needlelike crystals as occurring in some instances in small amounts in certain porcelains. In 1908, Plenske and Zoellner both studied porcelain structure.5 Plenske observed that "sillimanite" might be present in masses of exceedingly minute grains which apparently were amorphous. Zoellner advanced the theory that the needlelike crystals were formed by a molecular change in the clay,

Jan 1, 1932

R. W. NEWCOMB, New York, N. Y. (written discussion*).-0n page 1712, the middle paragraph states that, in industrial equipment, only the single-step method of automatic regulation has been applied. Quite recently, there has been developed an automatic temperature regulator, operating in conjunction with a pyrometer of the thermoelectric type, in which the control is a slow regulation, with a range capable of regulat-ing valves, dampers, rheostats, or any other rotatable member, through one or more complete revolutions. It can control two valves at the same time, with a fixed definite ratio between them. Aside from those conditions in which it is. necessary to control two valves with a definite ratio one to the other, the greatest advantage that this slow, even control will have over those controls that are either all on or all off, will be for use in connection with processes where a large temperature variation is required, extended over a considerable period of time; that is, where the temperature must be regulated along an in-creasing or decreasing time-temperature curve.

Jan 12, 1919

By Robert E. Green, T. Hinton

The velocities of the three possible modes of elastic-wave Propagation have been calculated for single-crystal aluminum at 1-deg intervals throughout the standard steveographic triangle. The results are presented as isospeed contours. The deviations between the direction of maximum energy propagation and specirzen axes are presented as arrows drawn within the standard triangle. The orientation factors associated with dislocation nzotion on the primary slip system only and also on all twelve slip systenzs have been calculated for all three elastic waves. The orientation factors associated with a longitudinal standing--7aue resonant specivnen hazle also been calculated. The relevance of these results to ultrasonic attenuation measurements is discussed. DUE to the widespread use of ultrasonics in the investigation of the properties of solids a number of authors15 have discussed in detail the theory of elastic-wave propagation in solids. In this paper the modes of wave propagation are evaluated according to the procedure suggested by reeen' for the case of single-crystal aluminum at 1-deg intervals throughout the standard stereographic triangle. The wave speeds are presented in the form of contour diagrams within the standard triangle. The deviations between the direction of maximum energy propagation and the normals to the wave fronts are presented as arrows drawn within the standard triangle. The orientation-de pendent factors (orientation factors) associated with dislocation damping as derived in the preceding paper6 have been calculated for the case of aluminum at 1-deg intervals throughout the standard triangle. The orientation factors for dislocation motion on the primary slip system only and on all twelve slip systems are presented in the form of contour diagrams, for both the traveling- and the standing-wave conditions. The relevance of these results to ultrasonic attenuation measurements is discussed. ELASTIC-WAVE PROPAGATION Three waves can be propagated in a linear elastic homogeneous anisotropic medium. The velocity of propagation v of each of these waves in a medium of density p can be obtained from the determination of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix equa- The A's are a series of moduli which are functions of the elastic constants cij and the direction cosines 1, m, and n of the specimen axis. In the case of cubic single crystals where there are only three nonzero elastic constants cll, c12, and C, the A's are, The solution of Eq. [I] will give the wave speeds (eigenvalues) and the direction cosines a, 0, and y of the particle displacements (eigenvectors). To obtain the direction of maximum energy flux requires the calculation of the energy-flux vector ET with com- w is the angular frequency, A, the amplitude, and v the velocity of the wave. The direction cosines a, b, and c of the energy flux vector are then given by

Jan 1, 1967

By C. C. Whittier

CIVILIZATION'S PROGRESS, which has multiplied man's comforts, conveniences, a n d happiness, is based upon the extensive employment of natural minerals and sources of energy. Mineral resources are basic factors in modern economic development, machine industry, international trade and world power. A survey of mineral consumption shows that the United States leads the world in the production and consumption of energy materials, of metals, and of the large and diverse array of earth materials that fall in the nonmetallic mineral group. The use of nonrnetallic minerals exceeded both the metals and the fuels in the long period before the industrial age, but it is only in the last two decades that consumption of non- metals has kept pace with and approximated in value the output of metals. Although the data of production in the first half of the last century are meager and fragmentary, the record of the past fifty years-the period of most rapid growth-is available, and reveals an astounding growth.

Jan 1, 1933

By G. D. Oxx, L. F. Coffin

The concept of using a phase that is liquid at service temperatures as a component of coatings for refractory metals has been described. The liquid, an alloy of gold and silicon, is retained on a molybdemum surface by a capillary system made of molybdenum disilicide. The coating has the advantage of good thermal shock and has a self-henling chracteristic. In order for highly stressed structures to exceed a service temperature of 2000°F, it has become apparent that a development that does not depend on the traditional iron, cobalt, or nickel-base alloy is needed. Alloys of the refractory metals, i.e., molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum. niobium (colum-bium), and rhenium are potentially useful at extremely high temperatures that more conventional alloys would never be expected to achieve. A new alloy of molybdenum has become available that has a 100-hr rupture strength of 35,000 psi at 2200°F.1 As a result of this work, it may be assumed that a material with adequate mechanical properties at 2200?F is now available. Unfortunately, this alloy and all other known alloys of the refractory metals suffer from not being; serviceable in an oxidizing atmosphere for a very long time. In order to permit general use of refractory metals at high temperatures, it is necessary to prevent destructive oxidation by appropriate alloying or by protective coatings. The liquid phase coating reported here is representative of a concept for the protection of metals that permits higher service temperatures and introduces a new group of materials for selection as coatings. Coating Requirements—Service conditions that represent potential applications for refractory metals vary considerably: however, it is possible to consider two conditions that are usually present. The refractory metal1 component must be heated to the service temperature at least once and usually frequently. When a solid coating is used, usually the coating and basis metal do not have the same coefficient of expansion. This difference causes thermal stress in the coating that is aggravated by rapid heating and cooling and eventually causes coating failure. The second consideration is the probability that there will be damage to the coating by some environmental condition. In jet engines, for example, it is expected that large particles, stones, metal parts, and so forth, will strike a bucket at high speed and cut a hole in the coating. In addition to the above considerations, the coating must also have other fundamental properties. Obviously, it must be oxidation resistant. In addi- tion, it must prevent permeation of oxygen and subsequent oxidation of the basis metal at the interface. Also, diffusion of the basis metal to the outside surface and subsequent oxidation there must be prevented. Finally, the coating must not react with the basis metal to form a weak bond at the interface. It should be noted that the coating need not support a load: it must only remain intact. Liquid Phase Coating Design Factors—In the use of a liquid as a principal coating constituent, it would be expected that the two service conditions mentioned above would be satisfied. A liquid would flow under the influence of the thermal strain developed by coating-basis metal expansion mismatch such that failure from this source would not be expected to occur. It is also probable that the ability of a liquid to flow would provide a self-healing effect. Thus, damage caused by particles in the atmosphere would be repaired. A third advantage is evident in that vapor pressure rather than melting point limits the service temperature. This latter advantage permits use of low melting but oxidation resistant metals such as gold or copper that would be quite useless if the solid state was required. A low viscosity liquid alone. however, is a totally unsuitable coating because it will simply flow off a component, particularly under the influence of a high acceleration field. A method of preventing liquid loss must be devised. In this case, it is desired that the liquid have a low viscosity so that it may easily flow into flaws; thus, raising the viscosity is not a satisfactory solution. One other inherent difficulty is caused by the high mobility of atoms in the liquid state as compared to the solid state. Because of this mobility, it would be expected that gases would diffuse more rapidly through a liquid. It is also probable that the solubility of oxygen in the liquid would be comparatively high. These factors would tend toward rapid permeation of oxygen and oxidation of the substrate. It is most reasonable that this problem could be solved by incorporating a solid phase, which is impermeable to gases, as a component of the coating. To overcome the tendency of a liquid to flow easily, it is possible to use surface tension to advantage. If the surface were made up of a large number of capillary tubes of sufficiently small diameter, then surface tension would hold the liquid even against the acceleration of a centrifugal field.

Jan 1, 1961

Organization Place - Date 1918 American Iron and Steel Institute New York, N. Y. May American Water Works Association :.. St. Paul, Minn. May 20-25 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Berlin, N. H.. June 19-22 American Concrete Institute Atlantic City, N. J. June 24-26 American Society for Testing Materials Atlantic City, N. J. June 25-28 New York Electrical Society New York, N. Y. June National Association of Stationary Engineers Cincinnati, 0. Sept. 9-13 National Exposition of Chemical Industries New York, N.Y.. Sept.23-28 American Chemical Society Cleveland, 0. Sept. National Petroleum Association Atlantic' City, N. J. Sept.

Jan 5, 1918

By Robert R. Walden, LeMont West

K ENTUCKY'S first acid-grade fluorspar flotation Kmill, shown in Fig. 1, was placed in operation Aug. 1, 1952, by the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. at Mexico, Ky. During 1951 a critical shortage of acid-grade fluorspar developed and it became necessary for the company to produce part of its fluorspar requirements. In 1951 the company purchased the Crider and Lennen metallurgical fluorspar mill and an adjacent stockpile of tailing at Mexico, Ky. The tailing, assaying about 26 pct calcium fluoride, originated from log washer and jig mill concentrators in the area. As the mill did not have a fluorspar dryer or convenient rail facilities, the company leased the Burleson concentrator at Marion, Ky., where these facilities were available. At Marion, Ky., on the Illinois Central Railroad, dry acid-grade fluorspar is transported direct to the company's Calvert City, Ky., hydrofluoric acid plant. The Mexico flotation plant was reconditioned and designed to produce acid-grade fluorspar from the jig tailing stockpile. The new plant flowsheet is shown in Fig. 2. The ore feed, old tailing, which contains 10 pct of waste rock and coarse gravel assaying approximately 8 pct CaF,, is bound together by sticky clay

Jan 1, 1955

By Charles Barron McIntosh

BECAUSE of the well known relationship between a low atmospheric pressure and increased amounts of methane in coal mines, attempts have been made to find associations between low pressures and coal mine explosions. An early study by F. Able disclaimed this relationship. He found that half the explosions took place during a rising barometer when methane content in a ventilated mine would be decreasing. A more recent study by C. L. Hosler revealed a close relationship between anthracite mine explosions and low atmospheric pressure. Bituminous coal mine explosions, where coal dust as well as methane can be exploded, were found to be more closely associated with a rising pressure following a low barometer than with the falling or low pressure period.

Jan 10, 1957

By D. A. Dahlstrom

In the paper, a comparison was made between flowsheets using the screen bowl centrifuge and disc filters, respectively, as the primary dewatering device. The authors very effectively show that by raising feed temperature, mechanical dewatering is enhanced through reduced viscosity of the water. When a final coal moisture of 10% is required, the net effect of heating the feed is a reduction in thermal requirements because of the lower evaporated load on the dryer. The flowsheet comparison on this, however, was not completely correct. Disc filters do not generally utilize enhanced mechanical dewatering through increased temperature. Horizontal belt filters, through the optimal use of steam heating of the filter cake, have shown significant cost reductions over disc filters where steam is not used. In addition, the authors forgot to mention that there is a certain fraction of the feed that is so fine that it cannot be recovered by the centrifuge economically. That is the function of the filtration device shown in [Fig. 4]. In subbituminous pipeline coals, this fraction represents more than 10% of the feed. Even after flocculation and belt pressing, the moisture content in the fine fraction is 30%-40. Recent tests on a subbituminous pipeline coal slurry, compared an Eimco-Extractor horizontal belt filter with the screen bowl centrifuge flowsheet shown in [Fig. 4]. Mechanical dewatering was enhanced through the use of a steam dry zone after the initial dewatering zone. Vacuum pump horsepower was reduced by more than 50% through the use of condensers, and heat recovery was utilized to minimize thermal costs. Thermal drying to 10% moisture by weight was required in both flowsheets. The 0.5 wt% fines in the filtrate were flocculated and recycled to the filter, thus eliminating the belt press and solids mixers. When the three major operating costs (which normally account for 50%-75% of the coal operating costs) of steam, electricity, and flocculants at current prices were calculated, the flowsheets utilizing the Eimco-Extractor had cost savings vs the centrifuge flowsheet of 89c/t (81c per st) of surface dry coal. This advantage increases with increasing thermal and electricity prices. I congratulate the authors for the strides made with the screen bowl centrifuge. However, filtration flowsheets continue to be improved and their simplicity and low thermal and electrical requirements should not be so quickly dismissed.

Jan 1, 1984

By David W. Wisecarver, James F. Reynolds

INTRODUCTION The Department of Energy is cooperating with Snowmass Coal Company near Carbondale, Colorado to introduce the longwall mining method in moderate to steeply pitching coal seams in the United States. This venture is part of a coal mining research program directed toward development, trial, and analysis of mining technique8 to improve production and recovery in the more difficult mining conditions such as thick, multiple, and steeply pitchly seams found in the Western U.S. The project at Snowmass is the first attempt in the United States to operate a longwall in a steep coal seam. Plans are to mine three adjacent, successively downslope panels in the eight foot thick seam which varies in pitch from 27 to 33 degrees. During this work, researchers and mine engineers are expected to obtain answers to many engineering questions relative to panel design and development, selection of face equipment and beet operating techniques and procedures. They are also committed to obtaining hard data on costs, recovery, production, safety, and behavior of underground mine structure as the three panels are mined. This information is essential to future mine engineering and profitable mining of pitching Western coal reserves. Development of the first trial panel was begun in 1979 and completed in June 1981. The longwall mining equipment was then installed in the starting room and retreat mining begun on August 11, 1981. Project duration is expected to be about five years during which over tm million tons of coal will be produced. TRAINING The longwall mining method is new to Snowmass. For years the mine produced coal by room and pillar methods using conventional techniques to mine upslope rooms and Alpine F6A miners to cut entries and rooms on strike. Miners were experienced in room and - pillar mining from other mines. News of the longwall demonstration was received enthusiastically by Snowmass miners. Employee interest in the project was 100%. However, there was minimal longwall experience on site. In fact, most of the work force had not even seen a longwall. Mine and company management were well aware of the immediate need to develop trained longwall face mining crews and maintenance people qualified to work on longwall equipment and also expertise in longwall planning, equipment selection, power distribution design, ventilation requirements and panel development. The first approach to answer this huge deficiency in longwall mining experience was obviously training. Hence a training program directed toward those mining specifics most urgent to the beginning mining phases was initiated in mid-1980. Classroom lectures and hands on training, using instructors from equipment suppliers and available company longwall expertise, was conducted in longwall subjects to include face mining procedures, panel development, operation of equipment, equipment assembly and maintenance, electrical circuitry and controls, ventilation, move of longwall equipment, and safety procedures. At the same time, responsible engineers and foremen were sent on a tour of European pitching longwalls to see first hand how other mines working under similar seam conditions conducted their operations. Development techniques, types of equipment, methods for transport of men and materials, and ground control techniques were discussed with engineers, foremen and officials at each mine. This look at European longwall mining operations gave Snowmass good insight into the unique problems associated with longwall mining on 30' pitch. Mining considerations such as face conveyor/ support system slippage downslope, panel development, maintenance, safety considerations, manpower requirements, and haulage methods were covered with European experts

Jan 1, 1982

By Robert Maddin

THE application of electrolytic polishing of metals introduced a new technique for preparing surfaces, especially for single crystals. This procedure has generally been assumed to eliminate the strain introduced by mechanical polishing and to result in a more truly representative surface, particularly in the case of soft metallic materials. However, apparently little information is available concerning specific characteristics of a surface prepared electrolytically. The conventional method of mechanical polishing is known to produce a layer of distorted metal which is usually removed by a suitable chemical etchant. To what depth the strain introduced by mechanical polishing penetrates into the lattice is still obscure. The present investigation illustrates the apparently anomalous appearances of glide ellipses on electrolytically polished surfaces of aluminum single crystals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS Aluminum single crystals, 99.975 pct pure, remaining from the investigation of Found,1 were polished electrolytically using a solution of fluoboric acid and a low current density. Laue back-reflection technique, interpreted after the manner of Greninger,2 was used to determine the orientation and the specimen axis rotation of the crystals. Three flat surfaces about 4 mm wide parallel to the specimen axis, one perpendicular to the theoretical slip direction and the other two 1200 apart, were polished mechanically and repolished electrolytically. A tensile load was applied using a Southwark-Emery tensile machine at a rate of about 40 lb per min. Elongation was measured by noting the initial and final gauge lengths. X ray diffraction was used to obtain the usual X and X values in order to calculate the elongation and shear by plotting stereographically the specimen axis rotation by means of the Schmid-Boas formula.3 In Table I may be found the value of the gauge diameter, measured elongation, calculated elongation and shear for the crystals investigated. Fig 1 shows the initial and final positions of the specimen axes of the crystals. [ ] At a low magnification the slip lines developed on specimen Al-I appeared straight and rather evenly spaced. However, at a high magnification, the slip lines were seen to be composed of small markings which were present throughout the length of the specimen (Fig 2). The distance between the markings was fairly constant and their directions all parallel to one another. Fig 3-5, photographed on different surfaces of the specimen, illustrate the interesting appearance of these lines. It may be noticed from Fig 4 that the markings, which present the appearance of

Jan 1, 1948