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By G. W. Healy, W. Craft, D. C. Hilty

By means of a theoretical extension of the Cr-C temperature relation in molten chromium steels to low chromium contents and by a correlation of the ratios of chromium to iron in the slag and metal, a method has been developed for estimating the amount of metallic oxidation during the oxidizing period of a chromium steel heat. Application of this method has indicated that due to temperature limitations metallic oxidation may be excessive for very low carbon steels charged with more than a small amount of chromium. IN the melting and refining of chromium steels the oxidation of carbon to a low level is accompanied by the oxidation of chromium and iron in considerable amounts. For the subsequent recovery of chromium and associated iron from the slag, the amounts of metal oxidized must be known for efficient reduction and control of composition. Further, in order to arrive at an accurate understanding of the process, so that chromium-bearing scrap can be used effectively, information is required on the relation between composition of the charge and weight of metal oxidized to reach the desired carbon content. Crafts and Rassbach1 recently developed an empirical relation between chromium, iron, and manganese oxidized per ton of steel charged, and final carbon content and temperature. This relation did not show any dependence on amount of chromium charged. However, it was felt that such a dependence might be present, so a further analysis of the data was undertaken. Cr-C Relation at Low Chromium Levels Crafts and Rassbach's results were based on temperatures estimated from the Cr-C relation previously established experimentally by Hilty,2 and on a single temperature observation (immersion thermocouple) on a heat made at low temperature from a charge of carbon steel scrap containing only a small amount of residual chromium. The temperatures estimated from the Cr-C relation were for heats charged with chromium-bearing scrap and which contained substantial amounts of chromium (2 to 10 pct) at the end of the oxidizing period. No data, other than that from the low temperature heat just mentioned, were available for the low and intermediate chromium ranges. In order to extend the range in which temperature may be estimated, the Cr-C relation requires further consideration. The Cr-C relation, expressed as suggests that carbon is zero at zero chromium in the bath. This is obviously absurd, because as chromium approaches zero the carbon content must approach the limit established by the Fe-C-O equilibrium. It is evident, therefore, that the Cr-C relation as defined by Eq. 1 is not valid below some minimum chromium content that may vary with temperature. On the other hand, it is probable that any such limiting chromium content is less than 4 pct at 3200°F, since the experimental data from which the Cr-C relation was derived included several observations at that level with no deviation. In any event, it is apparent that further evaluation of the results presented by Crafts and Rassbach is dependent upon a means for estimating the Cr-C temperature relation in the low chromium region. From the observations of Chen and Chipman9 and thermodynamic data given in Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking,4 the following relation can be calculated for melts containing small amounts of chromium and carbon assuming a carbon monoxide pressure of 1 atm: % Cr -21,250 K' = (%C)2; logK1 == —t— +13.88 [2] Moreover, by plotting Eq. 2 for any given temperature on cartesian coordinates, it can be extrapolated graphically to the limiting carbon content at zero chromium for the specified temperature without serious complications. By means of Eq. 2 and its extrapolation, the Cr-C temperature relations originally established experi-

Jan 1, 1954

By T. A. Rickard

The Cripple Creek district occupies a cluster of foot-hills on the south side of Pike's Peak and is a portion of an extensive, though uneven, plateau which unites the eastern range of the Rocky mountains with the Sangre de Cristo. It is essentially a small volcanic area, of about 20 square miles, amid the granite of the Front range. But though, when regarded as a rich mining district, it may be considered as an isolated area,* yet, geologically, it is, as Whitman Cross has pointed out, only an outlying portion of a much larger volcanic region, which stretches to the south and west, around Silver Cliff and the Rosita hills, forming the picturesque country cut by the deep cañons of the Arkansas river and its tributaries. The mines are situated amid a volcanic complex, consisting of tuffs and breccias which have been penetrated by an extensive system of dikes and other intrusive masses. The prevailing formation is an andesite breccia, which lies upon the worn surface of the granite and fills the deep basin around a volcanic vent. The breccia, since its deposition, has been broken into by several eruptions of phonolite and, later still, by a series of thin dikes of basalt and other allied rocks of a highly basic composition. The successive sedimentary formatione which, elsewhere in Colorado, lie upon the basal granite, are not represented in the district; whatever sediments were laid down before the volcanic period must have been removed by erosion, and there is very little evidence which affords a datum-line whereby the geological age of the volcanic eruptions can be determined. Whit-

Jan 1, 1901

By Robert F. Mehl, Edward L. McCandless

Oriented overgrowths and intergrowths among both metallic and nonmetallic substances have been recognized and studied for well over a century. The work of Widmanstätten in 1808 on the geometrical structure in meteorites, a structure known by his name, demonstrated that oriented intergrowths can occur in purely metallic systems. This fact led to much of the early microscopic study of alloys, contributing greatly to the advance of physical metallurgy. The problem has been attacked again in recent years in a comprehensive fashion, with the object of discovering what atomic movements may occur during phase changes in alloy systems. Much of this work has appeared in the A.I.M.E. Transactions in a series of papers published by Mehl and coworkers beginning in 19311. Although many aspects of this general problem remain unsolved, it may be said that the orientation of a new phase forming by precipitation from solid solution or by transformation invariably bears a unique relationship to the orientation of the phase from which it formed, and that similarity in atomic patterns on atomic planes in the two phases play an important part in determining the orientation relationship. Analogous orientation relationships exist in oriented intergrowths in nonmetallic systems—mineral or inorganic. In 1827 Haidinger2 discovered natural intergrowths of hematite and magnetite, and demonstrated that the rough form of the magnetite octahedrons was delineated by small crystals of hematite, of which the basal (00.1) planes lay parallel to the octahedral cleavage planes of the magnetite. The description of this orientation relationship was later completed by von Rath3, who showed that the edge (00.1): (10.1) in hematite lies normal to the [Ill]

Jan 1, 1937

By J. F. Myers, F. M. Lewis

The selection of the proper type of flotation machine involves the consideration of a wide variety of factors. Under any condition, all types of machines will promote some kind of separation. Obviously, the correct way of deciding which type of machine is best suited for a particular problem would be to set up all types of machines and test them out in a competitive manner, but the vast number of small concentrating plants are unable to make such complete and exhaustive tests. The experience of the authors of this paper indicates that if all the factors involved in any particular problem can be determined, and if all the flotation-machine characteristics are understood, some basis for selection could be arrived at other than actual comparison. This paper is presented to show how the process factors and machine characteristics have been combined at the mills of the Tennessee Copper Co. from studies of several types of flotation machines. At the two mills of the Tennessee Copper Co. in the Ducktown Basin of Tennessee, four distinct flotation separations are made on the complex sulphide ore. Three different concentrates are produced from the ore—in the order of their importance: iron concentrate, copper concentrate, and zinc concentrate. Four different types of flotation machines are used. The selection of these four machines, for the plant operation, was based upon the study and operating experience of the machine units shown in the following list: Fagergren machine; square cell, size 56 inches Fagergren machine; level type, size 56 inches Denver machine; conical disk impeller, size 24 inches Denver machine; receded disk impeller, size 24 inches Minerals Separation Sub-A, size 24 inches Munro-Pearse deep cell, pneumatic Southwestern air machine, Hunt principle To date the study of flotation machines has been confined almost entirely to the rougher circuits. The various cleaning operations, being relatively a much simpler matter, have not been investigated so thoroughly. Table I shows a typical analysis of the two ores as well as of the mineral content.

Jan 1, 1947

By T. A. Wright

THE SAMPLING of waste materials containing copper, lead and tin has taken on a new significance within recent years, and is of increasing importance, on account of the entry of some of the copper refineries into this field and the tendency towards consolidations among the smelters. In the past, such material was sold on the basis either of a rough or grab sample or of casual inspection of the lot. The two principal sources of this waste are the processes of fabrication and the scrapping of automobile, electrical, plumbing, railroad and other equipment. In both cases much material can be sorted, salvaged and sold by classification and grade to be melted "as is" or with the addition of new or virgin metal. The increasing care in classifying exercised in the large manufacturing plants tends to increase the proportion of this usable scrap; on the contrary, the increasing use of more complex and special non-ferrous alloys tends to make sorting and grading more difficult in turnings, borings, clippings, etc., and consequently is making sampling of more moment. In tin, lead, aluminum, and zinc furnace by-products such as ashes, drosses, skimmings, etc., the trade practice of evaluation has not varied much. For instance, tin drosses, battery lead, and aluminum skimmings are ordinarily sold on what is called "metallic button" or "metallic recovery" or "metallic yield." Copper and lead waste, however, is being sold more and more on actual copper and lead contents based on sample and chemical analyses. This paper will be devoted chiefly to the sampling of materials suitable only for refining and recovery of one or more of the metals present. The methods described are often based on the fact that but one metal, such as copper, is to be paid for. The loss of volatile constituents in melting does not appreciably affect the final copper result, as the "after-melting" assay can he readily calculated to the "before-melting" basis, but if smelter efficiency continues to increase, so that in time zinc, for instance, may be recovered on a paying basis, the method of sampling dirty brass, for example, will have to be changed also. As a matter of fact, we may expect that improved refining processes will make possible the partial recovery of lead and tin which are now lost.

Jan 1, 1928

By D. D. Pollock, D. I. Finch

Relationships between the compositions of specially prepared manganin-type alloys and some of their electrical properties have been established. Empirical equations, based upon the electronic configurations of the alloying elements, are given which describe the resistivity, temperature coefficient, peak temperature, and thermoelectric power of Cu-Mn-Ni-Fe alloys at approximately room temperature. Calculations based upon these relationships are correlated with experimental data. SECURING suitable alloys for the construction of stable resistors, for use in precise electrical measuring devices, has been important ever since the art of electrical measurement was begun. German silver, Pt-Ag, and Platinoid are examples of some of the alloys in early use. These early alloys were un- satisfactory for one or more of the following reasons: l—insufficient stability of electrical properties with time, 2—poor reproducibility of electrical characteristics from melt to melt, 3—excessive temperature coefficients of resistance, and 4—excessive cost. Weston introduced the Cu-Mn-Fe and Cu-Mn-Ni-Fe alloys of the type now generally known as manganins. His patents are believed to represent the first disclosure of any alloy with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance. After this work, the German company, Isabellenhutte, in conjunction with Feussner and St. Lindeck, produced alloys of

Jan 1, 1957

By Norman Pilling

The effects of lead and tin up to maximum contents of about 0.1 per cent. each, in the presence of oxygen between 0.04 and 0.30 per cent., have been studied. Tin is retained efficiently in the oxidized condition, whereas lead is not. An approximate relation between the lead-oxygen and tin-oxygen contents is deduced which, if observed, permits the presence of these elements without detrimental effect. Excess of lead beyond this limit affects ductility and rolling properties adversely and an excess of tin correspondingly diminishes the conductivity. It is shown that copper carrying a combined lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet fully equal in quality to electrolytic wirebar, may be produced under commercial conditions. TIN is not normally found in more than bare traces in current grades of American electrolytic copper, and lead is rarely found to more than a few thousandths per cent. In the electrolytic refining of copper these metals do not present great difficulty in separation and their presence in any considerable amount in copper that has been refined by this method need not be tolerated. On the other hand, the effect of these elements is not entirely academic, as a considerable tonnage of scrap copper liberally contaminated with them has been reclaimed by the fire-refining process into metal with a residual lead and tin content of several hundredths per cent., yet having excellent working properties and fully equal in quality to current grades of electrolytic wirebar. Such copper has been found entirely suitable for use in the manufacture of electrical apparatus. In the absence of oxygen, tin is known to depress the conductivity rapidly, and lead to impair ductility and the rolling properties, yet the effects of these metals on commercial grades of copper-i. e., copper containing from 0.03 to 0.10 per cent. of oxygen-apparently has not received systematic attention. Occasional reference is made to the fact that in the presence of oxygen lead may be tolerated, yet Addicks says,1 in regard to overpoling: "The unstable condition can be controlled by adding certain substances, notably lead, in small quantities, but as mere

Jan 2, 1926

By T. Egleston

THE materials containing copper which are refined in the United States, are, for the most part, the native, coppers of Lake Superior. Until quite recently but little pig copper was made for sale, and that came principally from the pure sulphurous ores of New England and the South, and was generally sold to refineries not far from the ore furnaces. A small amount found its way into the market which was produced either as the by-product of the treatment of gold and silver ores, or as the result of the treatment of impure copper ores; but both these grades, on account of the impurities they contained, were looked on with suspicion, and were not sought for. All the grapes of pig copper are sold by the unit of copper contents, a great reduction being made in the price when impurities are present. There are at the present time only three works which treat native copper, the two of the Detroit and Lake Superior Copper Company, and the works of C. G. Hussey & Co., in Pittsburgh. There are a few works which smelt sulphurous ores and refine their pig; besides these there are a few small works where pig copper is refined only. Some of these purchase black copper, refine scrap, or simply refine such grades of ingot copper as are found in the market, but mostly that from Lake; Superior, for the purpose of getting it into such shapes that can be handled commercially to advantage, such as in making large plates or high grades of wire for electrical purposes. A number of such works are situated in the Naugatuek Valley and elsewhere in New England. The recent discovery, of valuable ores in Arizona makes it probable that within a few years the refining of copper in the United States will make great developments. Up to the time of the discovery of the mines on Lake Superior, only a very small quantity of native copper had ever been found, not sufficient to justify the erection of works for its special treatment. It had, besides, never been found in very Large masses, so that the discovery of great-blocks of it presented serious difficulties, not only in mining it,† but in bringing it into a merchantable condition. It seemed a very simple process to melt these large masses, * Road at the Lake Superior Meeting, August, 1880. †Transactions American Institute Mining Engineers, vol. vi, page 2S2.

Jan 1, 1881

By B. C. Allen

Liquid surface tensions of copper and 18 Group IV-A to VIII transition metals (Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Cb, Ta, Mo, W, Re, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, Fe, Ni. Co) have been measured by the static pendant-drop and dynamic drop-weight methods on the same rod sample. The drops were formed by electron-bombardment heating in high vacuum. Application of necessary corrections enabled determination of surface tensions to k2 pct and agreement between methods to * 1 to 4 pct for all the metals studied. Evidence is presented that the liquid surface was well screened by metal vapor, suggesting negligible adsorption of gaseous impurities and that the surface tensions measured are characteristic of the metals involved. Correlations between liquid surface tension and melting point, molar volume, heat of vaporization, and atomic number are presented and discussed. Temperature coefficients of surface tension were calculated using Eötvös' law. SURFACE tension and interface energies of metals are the result of incomplete atomic coordination resulting in a force perpendicular to the boundary, tending to minimize its area. These energies are important in many phases of metallurgy, including microstructure, sintering, joining, electronic emission, and lubrication, which in turn affect many physical and mechanical properties of metals. Liquid surface tension refers to the interface between the liquid and its own vapor or nonreactive atmosphere, and is considered a physical property of the liquid. Since equilibrium shapes can be readily obtained with liquids, the units of surface tension (force per length) and interface energy (energy per area) are interchangeable. Thermo-dynamically, the surface tension ?LV is given by the change in free energy F with surface area A at constant pressure P, temperature T, and composition N: for commercially important refractory metals, vanadium, columbium, tantalum,13,14 molybdenum,14 and tungsten,l5 and none for the rare platinum-group metals and rhenium. Measuring the surface tensions of transition metals is difficult because of their high reactivity and melting points. Of the many techniques available,16-18 the pendant-drop 19-21 and drop-weight methods17,22 are considered superior because they can be modified to eliminate persistent sources of contamination such as supports and capillaries necessary in the popular sessile drop, capillary rise, and maximum-bubble-pressure techniques. The necessary modification is to melt a drop on the tip of a vertical rod, which provides support through a solid of the same composition.13,15 The object of the work was to study the surface-tension behavior of copper and transition metals, having reasonably low vapor pressures. Liquid surface tension of each pure metal was systematically determined by using a combination of the static pendant-drop and dynamic drop-weight methods on the same rod. Liquid drops were formed by electron-bombardment heating in high vacuum. EXPERIMENTAL WORK As indicated in Table I, the metals studied were high purity and generally were obtained in rod form. The exceptions were titanium and zirconium, which were machined from crystal bars, and molybdenum (tot 11, osmium, and ruthenium, which were sintered and arc cast into rods. All the metals were ground or swaged to desired sizes between 1- and 7-mm diam, and centerless ground round and smooth to a finish better than 50 µ in., rms. Each rod was thoroughly cleaned with steel wool, degreased, acid etched, and dried. In a typical run, the rod was vertically clamped in a modified floating-zone electron-bombardment furnace designed after Calverley23 and Carlson.24 The specimen was outgassed and maintained positive at several kilovolts in a dynamic vacuum of 10-5 to 10-7 mm. The bottom end was enclosed by a tantalum pillbox and heated by electrons emitted from a hot concentric tungsten filament mounted on a movable bracket. The bombardment power was slowly raised until melting was observed. Power requirements ranged from 30 w for copper to 1300 w for 4-mm tungsten. The stabilized and out-gassed drop of near-maximum size was photographed at 4. 1X on panchromatic film at desired time inter-

Jan 1, 1963

By John Griffen

THEORY HYDRAULIC classification as explained by Rittinger and others was largely restricted to conditions wherein the free-falling velocities of the particles were conceived as governing the separations effected (see chapter 9). The laws governing classification under free-falling conditions have been summarized by Chapman and Mott as fo1lows:l Nomenclature r represents, in a particle of irregular shape, the round-hole screen through which the particle would pass, or some other linear dimension of the particle equivalent to d, the diameter of a sphere. s, the specific gravity of the particle. 1, the specific gravity of the water used as a medium. K, a constant. W, the velocity of the water. In an Upward Current of water 1. A particle will move upward if [V > K dr(s - 1)] and, by suit- ably regulating the speed of the water current, the larger and heavier particles may be made to fall downward against the current, leaving the smaller, lighter particles in suspension in the current. 2. Particles such that [- = -] cannot be separated in an upward- current classifier with any one velocity of current. Coal particles having a specific gravity of 1.35 cannot be separated from refuse particles of [2.5 - 1 2.5 sp. gr.] unless the ratio of diameters is less than [ 4.3 to 1, 1.35 – 1] and the raw coal must be screened to size limits within this ratio if they are to be separated. Cone-shaped vessels or vessels of other shapes that allow the use of different velocities of current at different points in the flow are used to modify this limitation.

Jan 1, 1943

By D. Harker, M. J. Murphy

The mechanism by which age-hardening takes .place is still not completely understood. The principal theories range from the extreme of "precipitaiion-hardening" to that of "order-hardening," with many intermediate gradations. In the hope of obtaining new data on which to base a choice among the many theories, the authors have made electron micrographs of formvar replicas taken from metallic specimens at various stages of age-hardening. The results so obtained on an alloy of 2 per cent beryllium in copper and one of 20 per cent molybdenum in iron will be described in the following pages, as well as the technique used in preparing the replicas. Preparation of Formvae. Replicas of Metallic Specimens This section is concerned with the techniques that have roved successful in preparing formvar replicas for studying the microstructure of metals with the electron microscope. Because of its simplicity and accuracy, the formvar replica1 method developed in the General Electric Research Laboratory has been used exclusively, since it is much simpler than the silica replica method of Heidenreich and Peck2 and produces as good results. The formvar method to be described requires a technique acquired only by practice, and no foolproof set of rules can be given. it is a rapid method and a replica can be obtained in less than five minutes under favorable conditions. This does not mean that perfect replicas can be produced every five minutes, but rather that one can well afford to take several strippings* in order to produce a replica of high quality. The metallographic technique required for replica work—very fine polishing and etching with very dilute solutions—is described here. It can be said, in general, that almost any surface that has been carefully prepared for a photomicrograph at 1000 or more diameters can be used to obtain a replica for the electron microscope. Preparation of Metallographic Specimens The preparation of the metallographic specimens is somewhat more exacting than that usually given to samples to be used for inspection under the light microscope. After much experimentation, it was concluded that the best method consists in polishing the metal through to the coarse cloth, then etching and repolishing on final cloth until the layer of distorted metal is removed. After this procedure has been completed, a dilute etch—to approximately the depth necessary for a micrograph at 1000 diameters—usually produces a sur-

Jan 1, 1945

By G. C. Fryburg, H. M. Murphy

ThE rates of oxidation of metals are usually obtained by heating the metal specimens in furnaces. Such a procedure is satisfactory for most metals. However, there are several metals that oxidize according to the reaction.

Jan 1, 1959

By Thys B. Johnson

Traditional mine planning concepts are discussed and suggestions for improvement through use of the developed model are proposed. The approach developed in this paper allows optimal planning of the complete mining-concentrating-refining system over the entire planning horizon and permits the system to dictate how and when to process a block of material, i. e., a dynamic cutoff.

Jan 1, 1969

By H. M. St. John

MAINTAINING a satisfactory structure in brass and bronze castings has always been a foundry problem of great practical importance. While metallurgists and scientific investigators have not entirely ignored this matter, it has received less of their attention than has been given to iron, steel and the wrought copper and aluminum alloys. Investigation in this field has probably been discouraged to some extent by the complicated nature of the alloys involved. Hundreds of alloys are in more or less common use, most of them containing copper, zinc, lead and tin in-widely varying proportions. They also contain appreciable percentages of iron and antimony as impurities, and often phosphorus, which has been added as a deoxidizer and fluidifier. Small amounts of sulfur are usually present. It is not uncommon to find nickel, sometimes in rather substantial quantities. Traces of other metals are frequently present. So complicated and variable a mixture obviously offers difficulties in. any investigation of the various factors that influence the structure and other properties of the casting.

Jan 1, 1930

By George Rice

THE A.I.M.E. Ground Movement and Subsidence Committee, pro-posed in 1920, held its first technical meeting in February 1923, under the able chairmanship of Mr. H. G. Moulton. The following list of papers and discussions, indicating the scope of the problems and relation to various conditions and method of mining, were given at that meeting by the distinguished mining engineers: J. Parke Channing, on Subsidence at Miami, Arizona; Howard N. Eavenson, on Mining an Upper Bitu-minous Seam after a Lower Seam Has Been Extracted; J. J. Rutledge, on Subsidence in Two Oklahoma Coal Mines; Benjamin F. Tillson, on Caving Cracks at the Franklin Mine, New Jersey; Dr. F. W. McNair, on the Dome Theory; William Kelly, on disadvantageous effects in Mining and Back-filling Working Upward a Steep-Pitching Iron-ore Bed; Eli T. Conner, on the good results of Back-Filling by Hydraulic Means in Preventing Destructive Subsidence in the Anthracite District; Thomas H. Claggett, on the merit of Systematic Pillar Drawing in Preventing Cracks in an Upper Seam; Henry H. Otto, successful results in the anthracite district in Mining Lower Seams before Upper Seams; Douglas Bunting, on Leading Factors Incident to Successful Mining of an Overlying Seam; Edwin Ludlow, on there being "less damage to buildings when there was complete removal of coal with complete packing than when room and pillar is used without extracting the pillars"; Edward O'Toole on "bumps" in eastern Kentucky mines, which he thought were the result of geologic stresses: H. A. Buehler, on Upheaval of Surface in an Illinois Case in Advance of the Face; and R. Dawson Hall, on The Mechanics of Subsidence from Mining. The author of this paper discussed various kinds of problems of ground movement and subsidence in both metal mining and coal mining; the production of great landslides by workings near an outcrop, as at Turtle Mountain, Alberta, Canada; and general

Jan 1, 1939

By James F. Kemp

In earlier gears, the custom prevailed of regarding the anthracite basins as cases of folding with slight development of faulting. Folding is so pronounced and, in the eastern and western Middle Fields, at times so violent, that the inference was a natural one and led to the widespread impression that practically all the disturbances of the seams could be explained in this way. The cross-sections and maps prepared forty or more years ago for the Second Geological Survey of P ennsylvania, by Mr. Ashburner under Prof. J. P. Lesley, exhibit little else than folds.' So far as I can discover faults fail in the charts, except in one small case in the Henry colliery near Plainsville on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre. Some years ago, while spending a day or two in Wilkes-Barr, under the guidance of R. V. Norris, I looked over some recent and accurate cross-sections of a numbcr of the large collieries and was deeply impressed with the peculiar behavior of some of the seams and the intervening shales. Thus, a seam might present a small, more or less overturned fold, rising 30 to 50 ft. (9 to 15m.) above its general course, and yet the movement would be taken up in the overlying shales, so as hardly to be noticeable in the seams next above or below. These and similar anomalies, especially when shown with the accuracy of engineer's surveys, possess great scientific and practical interest, bearing as they do, not alone on coal mining, but on theoretical geology and the actual behavior of strata under great compressive stresses. In preparation for the semicentennial meeting of the Institute, an effort was therefore made to secure some of the most interesting sections for presentation to the members. The collection of illustrations here shown is mainly due to Douglas Bunting of the local committee, to whom and to the contributing companies acknowledgments are due. The illustrations are taken from all four of the main basins, but are chiefly from the portions nearest Wilkes-Barre. The first are in the

Jan 1, 1922

By J. A. Woolf, E. S. Leaver

The presence of soluble base metals in precious-metal ores usually precludes cyanidation as the best method of treatment. The laboratory experiments described in this paper show the possibility of cyanidation of gold-silver ores containing less than 0.5 per cent. of cyanide-soluble copper and the effect of zinc in the cyanide solution. Part I.—Copper in Cyanidation The proposed process of cyanidation of precious-metal ores containing copper is based on the regeneration of about 80 per cent. of the cyanide used in the dissolution of the copper. The method of regeneration involves a combination of the sulfide and the acid precipitation of the copper and silver. The resultant solution is made alkaline with lime, and the gold is precipitated with zinc dust. Solubility of Copper Minerals in Cyanide Solution In order to determine the solubility of copper minerals, including metallic copper, under the usual conditions for cyanidation, experiments were conducted with synthetic ores. Each ore sample was prepared by mixing the particular pure copper mineral with barren sea sand. Both the mineral and sand were ground to pass 100 mesh before they were thoroughly mixed. The percentage of copper in each head sample was determined by direct assay, excepting the metallic copper sample, which was computed on weights before mixing. Table 1 gives the results. Azurite, bornite, chalcocite, cuprite, malachite and finely divided metallic copper are readily and completely soluble under the usual conditions for cyanidation. Enargite and tetrahedrite are sufficiently soluble to cause an excessive loss of cyanide, and they also cause fouling of solutions with arsenic and antimony. Precious-metal ores containing small percentages of chalcopyrite or chrysocolla may give satisfactory returns with the usual cyanidation.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. F. Johnson, C. S. Harloff

The Nichols series system of electrolytic copper refining has successfully maintained its strong competitive position in the copper-refining industry of today; therefore the improvements made in accomplishing this result are of interest. While additional interest would lie in specific comparisons of results obtained in series operation with those in multiple, we have refrained from such a comparison because it can be fair to both only when they are operating under similar conditions on the same grade of materials. Historical The Nichols Copper Co. started a small refinery at Laurel Hill, using its present system, about 1892. The details of the process in its early stage of development were kept strictly secret, so that no information was published or interchange of ideas permitted with the staffs of other copper refineries, where the multiple system was being developed at the same time. However, the fundamentals of the process and type of cell used today differ very little from their earliest form. All operations including loading and unloading of tanks, and all transportation as well, were carried on by hand. The plant remained in this condition with a gradual expansion taking place until the World War forced such a rapid development that little time or thought could be devoted to modernization or mechanical improvement requiring careful design or detailed planning. Considerable progress was made, however. (1) Large refining furnaces were developed. (2) The old expensive air-lift type of circulation was abandoned in favor of the present system. (3) Operating technique was gradually developed to a high point of efficiency. (4) Tank construction and lining were greatly improved, the first concrete tank being installed in 1915. (This tank is still in operating condition.) (5) A new power plant was constructed. (6) Fuel oil was substituted for lump coal on the refining furnaces. (7) Mechanical casting of the finished product was accomplished. During this entire period the plant was particularly fortunate in receiving only high-grade, clean copper bullion coming principally from the Phelps Dodge mines in Arizona. This, together with the lack of

Jan 1, 1934

By R. R. Unterberger

Three different physical techniques have been used to see through or probe into rocks, so miners might know what is ahead or overhead. These are radar, sonar, and a unique type of sonar called nonlinear sonar. Five radar systems have been developed. The highest frequency used is 4300 MHz for detecting small fractures at close range. This gives the best resolution. For longest range (over 2000 m, or 6560 ft) we use the 30 MHz radar for finding faults ahead of mining or ranging to salt dome flanks. Two types of salt, dome and bedded, are recognized. Radar works well in dry (dome) salt, but not in bedded salt which contains small amounts of water. The dipole moment of water absorbs energy from the radar. Thus was born the 30 MHz radar system and sonar probing systems. These can probe to 100 m (328 ft) even into wet salt. All probing systems measure data in time, which are converted to distance by measuring the time of travel of radar or sonar through salt pillars of known thickness. Ranges of probing in salt are from less than 1 m (3.3 ft) to more than 2000 m (6560 ft). Uses of radar and sonar probing in mines include mapping the top of salt above a mine; mapping salt dome flanks; finding impurities in salt such as anhydrite, sandstone, or potash stringers; locating old boreholes in salt pillars; locating fractures in salt; and finding faults or water zones ahead of mining.

Jan 1, 1985

By J. H. Nead

OBJECT THE experiments herein described were undertaken with a view to investigating thoroughly the influence of carbon on the tensile and impact physical properties of carbon steel. The original comprehensive plan included investigation of a series of steels with varying carbon contents over a wide range of heat treatments. These were to be studied as to their static tensile qualities, and also their resistance to shock as measured by the Charpy impact bending test. A thorough metallographic examination was likewise included in the schedule. The Charpy tests and the metallographic examination have not been completed to date, and are accordingly withheld for another report. All heat treatments, however, have been made, and the static tensile tests have been completed. A description of the procedure of the experiment and the results thus far obtained are therefore reported herein. CONCLUSIONS No attempt is made to draw general conclusions from these experiments, but the curves and the data are submitted as being of general importance and wide applicability.

Jan 12, 1915