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By Charles T. Malcomson

In the United States, improvements in methods of combustion have made possible the use of the smaller sizes of anthracite. This coal is now being reclaimed from the culm banks accumulated by the miners in the more prodigal years. To-day the freshly mined "slush" is segrega,ted and stored against the time when, through briquetting or some other means, it may be utilized as a commercial fuel. For many years Europe has achieved enviable results in the conservation of her small coal by briquetting. This profitable industry, first placed on a commercial basis in France in 1842, has grown to such magnitude that the production during 1913 exceeded 36,000,000 short tons. Briquets produced in Great Britain are used principally for steam purposes and the greater part of the output is either exported or taken by the Admiralty. On the Continent the briquets are sold in all branches of the coal trade. The French railways consume from 16 to 40 per cent. of their fuel in briquet form, and in Germany the lignite briquets (of which 20,000,000 tons were produced in 1913) are as familiar and interesting to the American traveler as the huge porcelain stoves in which they are burned. It is not strange, therefore, that aggressive and far-sighted promoters heralded this means of converting our ubiquitous coal waste into revenue. To the superficial student the briquetting process seemed so simple as to make success easy. It is for this reason principally that the path of the industry in America has been strewn with failures. The rash enthusiast had either not worked out the mechanical problems involved or had failed to grasp the local conditions under which the briquets must be made and sold. It may be confidently stated, however, that in spite of the many vicissitudes through which it has passed, coal briquetting is now an accomplished economic success in this country, and as a profitable adjunct to the coal industry it has come to stay. Several valuable contributions relating to coal briquetting are found in the Transactions. Charles Dorrance, Jr., has sketched briefly the history of the anthracite briquetting plants from the time of Loiseau's pioneer plant down to that of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co. at Lans-ford. Since then this phase of the industry has remained practically at

Jan 1, 1915

By Harry K. Ihrig

The hot-working of iron and steel is an art dating back to antiquity, but until about 25 years ago, relatively few alloying elements were used, and these were present only in small percentages. With the exception of sulphur, the amounts of other elements in steels did not markedly affect their hot-workability. The references in the literature on the effect of other elements on the hot-workability of steel are usually reports of failure of these steels in forging or rolling.1-8 With the increased use of alloying elements, and their use in larger amounts, it was observed that many of the new steels were red short in certain critical ranges or at all hot-working temperatures. The stainless steels are particularly difficult to hot-work. The determining of the correct conditions for piercing, rolling and forging of these alloys by experimentation in the mill often results in large losses of these expensive metals. It also is found that the hot-workability limits of many types vary from heat to heat, and hence poor results are obtained on changing to a new heat after a previous one has rolled satisfactorily. To determine the effect on hot-workability of iron to which various elements have been added, it was necessary to devise a method that could be used on small quantities of metal. In such a method, the minimum number of variables should be present, and the procedure should be simple, quick and correlatable with large-scale hot-working operations. Sauveur,9 in the first Henry Marion Howe lecture in 1924, described the effect of carbon on the ductility of steels in torsion near their critical points. He found that carbon increases the plasticity of gamma iron. In the 1930 Campbell Memorial lecture,10 he gives the effect of carbon, chromium, and chromium and nickel on the ductility of steels under 2000°F. in torsion. Ellis11 has studied the malleability of steels at various elevated temperatures by means of a single-blow drop-hammer test. In this test the percentage decrease in height of standard cylinders is taken as a measure of their malleability. He has shown that in the low-alloy steels studied, carbon has a greater effect than nickel, chromium and vanadium. In 1938 the first tests were run on a new quantitative hot-workability test in the laboratories of the Globe Steel Tubes CO. Thum12 mentioned it in 1940. An illustration of the apparatus was published in January 1942.'' The effect of a few alloying elements on the hot-workability of metals was shown in a description of the test in 1944.14 Description of Test Method The method adopted after a trial of several others is a rapid twisting of bars to failure in a furnace. The standard-size bar was chosen as 9/16 in. It is prepared from larger pieces by forging and cold-

Jan 1, 1947

By Harry K. Ihrig

The hot-working of iron and steel is an art dating back to antiquity, but until about 25 years ago, relatively few alloying elements were used, and these were present only in small percentages. With the exception of sulphur, the amounts of other elements in steels did not markedly affect their hot-workability. The references in the literature on the effect of other elements on the hot-workability of steel are usually reports of failure of these steels in forging or rolling.1-8 With the increased use of alloying elements, and their use in larger amounts, it was observed that many of the new steels were red short in certain critical ranges or at all hot-working temperatures. The stainless steels are particularly difficult to hot-work. The determining of the correct conditions for piercing, rolling and forging of these alloys by experimentation in the mill often results in large losses of these expensive metals. It also is found that the hot-workability limits of many types vary from heat to heat, and hence poor results are obtained on changing to a new heat after a previous one has rolled satisfactorily. To determine the effect on hot-workability of iron to which various elements have been added, it was necessary to devise a method that could be used on small quantities of metal. In such a method, the minimum number of variables should be present, and the procedure should be simple, quick and correlatable with large-scale hot-working operations. Sauveur,9 in the first Henry Marion Howe lecture in 1924, described the effect of carbon on the ductility of steels in torsion near their critical points. He found that carbon increases the plasticity of gamma iron. In the 1930 Campbell Memorial lecture,10 he gives the effect of carbon, chromium, and chromium and nickel on the ductility of steels under 2000°F. in torsion. Ellis11 has studied the malleability of steels at various elevated temperatures by means of a single-blow drop-hammer test. In this test the percentage decrease in height of standard cylinders is taken as a measure of their malleability. He has shown that in the low-alloy steels studied, carbon has a greater effect than nickel, chromium and vanadium. In 1938 the first tests were run on a new quantitative hot-workability test in the laboratories of the Globe Steel Tubes CO. Thum12 mentioned it in 1940. An illustration of the apparatus was published in January 1942.'' The effect of a few alloying elements on the hot-workability of metals was shown in a description of the test in 1944.14 Description of Test Method The method adopted after a trial of several others is a rapid twisting of bars to failure in a furnace. The standard-size bar was chosen as 9/16 in. It is prepared from larger pieces by forging and cold-

Jan 1, 1947

By MERLE HOWARD GUISE

WHEN I was a boy I walked into Fairbanks in 1905. I was but a soft chechako, and arrived with blisters covering my feet, as a result of "mushing" the 400-mile trail on foot. Because of them, the display windows of the trading posts were first to catch my eye-dog and horse collars, harness and sled parts! And because of my enthusiasm for things adventurous, I looked long upon the prospectors' gold pans, shovels, rifles, camp equipment, and what not. Today those windows are filled with motor car accessories, tires and repair parts; yes, even thermos bottles and vacuum cleaners! There were many chance meetings with little parties of prospectors in my youth, and it always set my blood to tingling. Sometimes it was a 70-year-old sun-baked son of the Arizona desert, wrangling his stubborn, faithful jenny away from some outfitting store, at others a shovel-ended poling b0at in northern Canada, \vith the partners and the dogs towing upstream along the bank, or an old sourdough, with tug-rope around neck and hand on the spruce sapling gee-pole, mushing along behind his two or three old, plodding malamutes, dragging a little Yukon sled piled high with rusty sheet-iron stove, pick and shovel, cross-cut saw and axe, rifle, bales of dog salmon, and other paraphernalia. These meetings envisioned the panning of old creek beds and draws in the search for as yet undiscovered pay-channels; they meant the toughest kind of work sinking a hole to bedrock in some far-away valley of promise; they suggested wood fires to thaw the frozen muck and gravel and crude windlass and hand-made tub to hoist the water and the mud; but loudest of all they spoke of Adventure.

Jan 1, 1929

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) The following members registered at Institute headquarters during the month of April: J. C. Ralston, Spokane, Wash. E. P. Ross, Johnson City, Tenn. C. H. James, London, Eng. F. L. Garrison, Philadelphia, Pa. E. H. Benjamin, Oakland, Cal. A. Radcliffe, Copiapo, Chile. W. H. Shockley, Palo Alto, Cal. S. S. Wyer, Columbus, Ohio. A. C. Mauney, Salisbury, N. C. W. B. Kunhardt, Reading, Pa. A. W. Newberry, Los Angeles, Cal. W. E. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pa.

Jan 5, 1913

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 F. E. Buch

The smelter is designed for a production capacity of 10,000 short tons of blister copper per month, when operating on the present concentrate grade. The :smelter lay-out is shown in Fig I. The major units of equipment comprise two reverberatory furnaces, three 13 by 30 ft Peirce-Smith converters, two straight line casting machines, one being served by a 13 by 30 ft holding furnace and the other by a ladle tilting quadrant, two converter aisle cranes and two converter blowers. The plant is compact and the general arrangement of standard gauge railway tracks and conveyor belts provides for a smooth flow of incoming materials and metallurgical products. Concentrate is received by conveyor belts and fluxes in standard railway trucks. The local track system is covered by an electric trolley locomotive. The Smelter treats a wet (10 pet moisture) flotation concentrate containing approximately 53 pct total copper and 0.9 pet oxide copper. The predominating minerals are chalco-cite, chalcopyrite and bornite accompanied by small quantities of malachite and cuprite. The gangue is highly siliceous and requires limerock as a flux. Metallurgy would be straightforward were it not for the necessity for eliminating bismuth which occurs as an impurity in the ore along with the copper. Directly or indirectly most of the Smelter problems can be traced to the necessity for bismuth removal. Copper recovery, based on new copper treated, averages 97.5 pct. General Description Flotation concentrate, containing 10 Pet moisture, is conveyed from the filter plant to the smelter storage bins by conveyor belts, the material being weighed in transit by a revolving drum type of weigh-hopper manufactured by Samuel Denison and Son, Ltd. The weigher consists of a steel drum with dished ends carried on a horizontal shaft and rotated by an 8 hp squirrel-cage motor through a worm and Spur reduction gear. A feed mouth in the drum permits of filling and discharging. The whole unit is supported on a framework resting on weighing levers, which in turn connect to transfer levers, thence to an indicator of the steelyard type situated 16 ft from the centre line of the drum. The indicator is of the "Denison" patent equilibrium controlled ticket stamping type, insuring mistake-proof records by a combination of electrical and mechanical movements which Prevent the operator from printing until the cover enclosing the steelyard is closed and until the poise-weights have been Set correctly to the weight of the hopper and contents. The machine is capable of weighing 30 short tons at a time but the usual load is 28 tons. After obtaining the gross weight the drum is rotated and discharged into a receiving bin situated below it. The empty drum is weighed and the net weight re-

Jan 1, 1949

By P. Pollard

A method has been developed for evaluating acid treatments in fractured limestone fields by breaking down pressure drawdown into three component parts: (I) pressure differcntial across "skin" near the borehole face, (2) pressure differential due to flow resistance in the coarse communicating fissures and (3) pressure differential between the fine voids and the coarse fissures. It is apparent that in most successful acid treatments the first term, skin resistance, has been reduced or eliminated. Further, it is often possible to estimate the volume of coarse fissures associated with the second term, coarse fissure flow resistance. In cases where this volume is comparable with practical acid volumes it seems likely that this resistance also may be attacked with a suitably retarded acid. INTROD UCTION Acid treatment has been successfully applied as a general practice in the limestone wells in the Mara/ Maracaibo districts of Venezuela for some 10 years. At the same time the need has been felt for a more precise method of: (1) evaluating the effect of an acid job and (2) selecting wells which should benefit from an acid treatment. The following method, based on an analysis of build-up curves for wells producing from fractured limestone, provides a means of forecasting the effect acid will have on a well and in many cases the probable order of production rate increase which may be expected. In certain cases it is also possible to calculate the fissure volume through which the acid has to be displaced for best results. Various approximations are introduced in the method, but within the limitations of these the analysis gives an indication of how a well, whether previously acidized or not, may be expected to respond to acid treatment. Suitable build-up curves cannot be obtained on "tight" wells which do not give sustained production and the method is not applicable to such wells. Figs. 1 through 7 illustrate various types of build-up curves obtained from limestone wells in Western Venezuela. Curves are included showing (1) both skin and coarse fissure resistance, (2) skin resistance only, (3 and 4) reduction of skin resistance by acidization, (5) fissure resistance only, (6) reduction of coarse fissure resistance by acidization, and (7) acidization failure. This theory has been successfully applied for over three years during which 22 acid treatments have been carried out specifically to reduce skin resistance and three treatments to reduce coarse fissure resistance. The method has been found to be a useful aid in the selection of wells for acidization.

By Frank J. Tolonen, Nicholas H. Manderfield, Paul Jasberg

EARLY in the study of the low grade iron formations of Michigan, wide variations in their structure and texture became evident. Because of these variations no simple method of concentration is possible, and those portions of the formations that can be exploited profitably under a given stage of metallurgical progress and existing economic conditions must be searched for carefully. Both structure and texture of the formations have an important bearing on their amenability to beneficiation. By structure is meant the banding planes of easy fracture, the porosity, and the degree of leaching. Texture, which includes grain sizes, shapes, and degree of interlocking, determines the amount of grinding necessary to liberate the mineral grains. Structure determines the liberation of portions richer in one mineral. Structure and texture may be termed the gross features of the formation

Jan 11, 1957

By M. A. Whiting, H. Kenyon Burch

One of the advantages presented by electric drive in many classes of work is the ease with which the electric motor can be controlled automatically. In a large number of cases certain features of the control are automatic—for example, the rate of acceleration may be limited automatically or the equipment may be stopped automatically at the limit of travel—but the equipment is started and ordinarily is stopped by hand. In other cases the motion of the machinery is utilized to start, control the speed, and stop the motor automatically, independently of any operator. A considerable proportion of the large mine hoists now in use have certain automatic features, particularly protective devices against overwinding, and, in some classes of electric hoists, devices for preventing excessive acceleration or retardation. The large automatic hoists discussed in this paper, however, are completely automatic, i.e., capable of making their trips without the presence of an operator at the control levers. According to circumstances, various advantages may be obtained . by automatic control, chief of which are decreased power consumption, increased precision and safety of operation, and decreased cost of attendance. The first step in the analysis of a prospective automatic mine hoist is to determine whether automatic operation is feasible at all. If men are to be hoisted, or levels changed, the attention of an operator is required for these purposes; but under some conditions it may be entirely practicable and advantageous to build the equipment so that, while provision is made for hoisting men or changing levels, ore can be hoisted automatically from any one level. If, however, an operator's attention is required every few minutes for changing levels, handling men or drills, or other work requiring hand control, it is obvious that automatic operation between times will not be of any practical benefit.

Jan 1, 1917

By C. G. Dunn

Many investigations have been made concerning the nature of plastic deformation and recrystallization of metals either in the form of polycrystalline materials or in the form of single crystals. However, similar work on strip materials composed of large grains as thick as the strip and having a high degree of preferred crystal oricntation has not been carried out extensively. Such materials are ideal not only for studying changes in single crystals under conditions where neighboring grains exert their influences but also for obtaining the complete change in orientation of a grain or group of grains during the course of plastic deformation and subsequent recrystallization. It is well known that first-order twins in the form of Neumann bands may be produced during the plastic deformation of ferrite crystals, particularly silicon ferrite crystals.l--3 Furthermore, it is believed that high-stress regions exist in the vicinity of these bands4. and it has been said that these banded regions would be active in recrystallization processes.5 Evidence to that effect in silicon ferrite had already been presented with photomicrographs showing recrystallization among Neumann bands during the early stages of recrystallizati~n.5,6 Similar evidence has been published for nonferrous metals5 Merging of fine parallel deformation bands during annealing to form twin bands of ordinary appearance in alpha brass has been offered not only as evidence of an active role being played by mechanical twins but also as evidence that such twins cxisted prior to recrystalli~ation.5 Proof that such new structures are actually first-order twins, or even twins at all, must be considered inadequate except for those cases where X-ray or optical data have been obtained to confirm the necessary oricntation relationship.7,8 A. B. Greninger has obtained excellent iliustrations of annealing twins in alpha iron.9 Since his material was previously deformed by sharp hammering, a process that generally induces Neumann bands, the existence of twins following annealing might suggest that they grew from mechanical twins. In connection with transformation twins in alpha iron, Greninger reported that grains containing three twin orientations occurred rarely and none occurred with three sets of well-developed bands.9 The work at the Pittsfield Works Laboratory on silicon ferrite in the form of large-grained strip steel deformed a small amount and annealed to partially recrystallize the grains indicates that the deformation and recrystallization processes that lead to annealing twins involvc more complex processes than the formation of Neumann bands and the growth of such bands. Some groups of annealing twins are obtained which contain not only three well-developed twin structures, but also contain more than one order of twins. It is also shown, in one case, that an interrelated group of twins did not arise within one single parent grain and, furthermore, orientations of grains in the group

Jan 1, 1944

By C. G. Dunn

Many investigations have been made concerning the nature of plastic deformation and recrystallization of metals either in the form of polycrystalline materials or in the form of single crystals. However, similar work on strip materials composed of large grains as thick as the strip and having a high degree of preferred crystal oricntation has not been carried out extensively. Such materials are ideal not only for studying changes in single crystals under conditions where neighboring grains exert their influences but also for obtaining the complete change in orientation of a grain or group of grains during the course of plastic deformation and subsequent recrystallization. It is well known that first-order twins in the form of Neumann bands may be produced during the plastic deformation of ferrite crystals, particularly silicon ferrite crystals.l--3 Furthermore, it is believed that high-stress regions exist in the vicinity of these bands4. and it has been said that these banded regions would be active in recrystallization processes.5 Evidence to that effect in silicon ferrite had already been presented with photomicrographs showing recrystallization among Neumann bands during the early stages of recrystallizati~n.5,6 Similar evidence has been published for nonferrous metals5 Merging of fine parallel deformation bands during annealing to form twin bands of ordinary appearance in alpha brass has been offered not only as evidence of an active role being played by mechanical twins but also as evidence that such twins cxisted prior to recrystalli~ation.5 Proof that such new structures are actually first-order twins, or even twins at all, must be considered inadequate except for those cases where X-ray or optical data have been obtained to confirm the necessary oricntation relationship.7,8 A. B. Greninger has obtained excellent iliustrations of annealing twins in alpha iron.9 Since his material was previously deformed by sharp hammering, a process that generally induces Neumann bands, the existence of twins following annealing might suggest that they grew from mechanical twins. In connection with transformation twins in alpha iron, Greninger reported that grains containing three twin orientations occurred rarely and none occurred with three sets of well-developed bands.9 The work at the Pittsfield Works Laboratory on silicon ferrite in the form of large-grained strip steel deformed a small amount and annealed to partially recrystallize the grains indicates that the deformation and recrystallization processes that lead to annealing twins involvc more complex processes than the formation of Neumann bands and the growth of such bands. Some groups of annealing twins are obtained which contain not only three well-developed twin structures, but also contain more than one order of twins. It is also shown, in one case, that an interrelated group of twins did not arise within one single parent grain and, furthermore, orientations of grains in the group

Jan 1, 1944

By Edward B. Durham

The refinery at the San Francisco Mint takes the bullion purchased by the receiving department, and carrying Illore than 200 parts of precious metals in 1,000, or, in mint parlance, over 200 fine, and separates and refines the various metals contained therein, using electrolytic processes exclusively. Bullion containing silver is treated in cells charged with a nitric electrolyte. These cells produce fine silver and leave a residue rich in gold. The residue from the silver-cells, together with crude gold-bullion, is treated in cells having a chloride electrolyte. These produce fine gold and leave a residue containing silver chloride. The latter is reduced to the metallic state with zinc and is then treated in the silver-cells. The various waste solutions and the wash-waters, after being freed from the bulk of their precious metals, still contain copper and other metals. These are removed by scrap-iron, and are then treated in the copper-cells, having a sulphate electrolyte. These cells produce pure copper, and collect a residue containing lead, some gold and silver, and all the metals of the platinum gronp that were in the bullion. This residue is relatively small, and is melted into bars and stored until suEcient accumulates to warrant treating it for platinum, etc. The refinery occupies three large and three small rooms. The large ones are, a melting-room, 30 by 34 ft.; a cell-room, 39 by 46 ft.; and a wash-room, 30 by 33 ft. The small rooms are used as foreman's osce, laboratory, and , re- spectively. The methods here described are those in use in December, 1909, when notes for the present paper were taken.

Jan 1, 1912

By D. J. Carney, E. Van Meter, J. J. Oravec

A study was made of combustion-air temperatures and factors affecting air temperatures in the open-hearth regenerative systems. Air-temperature surveys in the regenerative system revealed marked thermal gradients in the air above the checkers. The design of the fantail-uptake region plays a prominent part in increasing the heat recovery of the regenerative system. THE efficiency of the open-hearth regenerative system is one of the most important factors affecting open-hearth performance. Until recently, this factor has not received the attention in the literature given to many other items affecting performance, such as the type of charge, speed of charging, and the mechanical equipment of the open hearth. J. S. Marsh' emphasized the importance of the flame temperature and its dependence upon the combustion-air temperature. By means of measured air temperatures in open-hearth furnaces, data were presented which showed a remarkable degree of correlation between production rate and combustion-air temperature. This correlation was extremely good in view of the numerous factors, other than air temperature, which affect open-hearth production rates. In Marsh's work, a 100°F increase in air temperature reduced the heat time by approximately 45 min. Realizing the importance of combustion-air temperature, it is desirable to know which factors control the regenerative efficiency of the open-hearth furnace. B. M. Larsen recently discussed this subject.' The present paper illustrates a few of the more important items that affect regenerative efficiency and combustion-air temperature. In the latter part of 1951, a study of open-hearth combustion-air temperatures was begun at the South Works of the United States Steel Corp. In the initial work at open-hearth shop X, which produces low carbon steel products, temperatures were measured in the uptake in a manner similar to that used by Marsh' and the results obtained were very similar to the Bethlehem data. When it was decided to expand the study of combustion-air temperatures, open-hearth shop Y was selected because of the greater variety of furnace-design features, types of steel produced, and firing rates used. With the use of aspirating thermocouples, continuous gas analyzers, thermocouple and optical pyrometers, a study was made of: 1—effect of combustion-air temperature on open-hearth production rate, 2—thermal gradients present in various zones of the regenerative system, 3—effect of furnace-design variations on air temperature and heat recovery, 4-—effect of furnace-operating variables on heat recovery, and 5—variation in heat recovery with furnace age during the normal furnace campaign. Data collected on individual heats at 15 min intervals included air-flow rate, firing rate, checker temperature, combustion-air temperature, and furnace pressure. These data were collected on approximately 230 heats of steel. In addition, information was obtained at random on air infiltration and combustion-gas compositions. The data gathered have shown the desirability of closer control of open-hearth firing practices, a need for reducing air infiltration in the uptake zones, and a need for further study of design of checkers and of uptake-fantail areas. Equipment Air is practically a nonradiating medium. Consequently, in the measurement of air temperatures, the principle of heat conduction must be used rather than heat radiation. For this reason, aspirating-type thermocouple pyrometers normally are used to measure air temperatures. With these devices, air

Jan 1, 1956

By G. F. Loughlin, C. H. Behre

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSIFICATION WHAT is the use of a classification of mineral deposits? From the days of Agricola, the founder of the science of ore deposits, successive authors on the subject have attempted classifications, none of which have attained unanimous indorsement of miners, engineers, or geologists. The miner and engineer naturally have little regard for a classification that does not help them to find ore. Mining geologists may share this feeling, and deplore the overemphasis that may be placed on classification by their academic brothers. Apparent effects of such overemphasis may be reflected by students or new graduates who have grown to think that each deposit must fit perfectly into some pigeonhole of the more or less arbitrary scheme that has been drilled into them. Diversity in mineral deposits as in other natural phenomena, however, is too great to be fully expressed in the usual tabular classification, and experience is essential for the appreciation of the value or usefulness of a classification. The succession of classifications has closely followed the growth of the science of mineral deposits and reflects that growth, as well perhaps as the limited or comprehensive viewpoint of each proponent. The earliest classifications were based on metal content, and were superseded by those based mainly on form of deposit. Source of materials also became a basis, and was followed by physical and chemical conditions and processes. In spite of this development it is interesting to note that in many of the latest reports on mining regions the authors adopt special classifications suited for their particular districts. Some of these, like the earliest classifications, are based primarily on metal content, and others are most conveniently based on form, and it may be convenient to modify these by reference to source of material or temperature of deposition. Some, including the writers, after noting these different usages, have refused to worry much over classification as an ultimate objective, but,

Jan 1, 1933

By Albert Sauveur

(New York Meeting, February, 1913.) IT is delightful to read a technical paper like that of J. E. Johnson, The Effect of High Carbon on the Quality of Charcoal-Iron, presented in October, 1912, at the Cleveland meeting of the American Institute of Mining Engineers.1 The clear, simple, and straightforward manner in which he describes his experiments and results makes you feel as if you had been, so to speak, at his elbow during the course of his investigations, while his method of procedure is so rational that you can fairly anticipate each step in the logical sequence of the tests performed. The following notes suggested by Mr. Johnson's paper are presented here in the hope that they may help, if only a mite, towards the final solution of a problem of considerable scientific and industrial importance.

Jan 3, 1913

By W. D. Haselton, J. B. Newsom

SAFER, cheaper, and faster sinking of mine openings seems to have been realized with the completion of a borehole 5 ½ ft. in diameter and 1208 ft. deep, in Minnesota, during 1938. Moreover, as the opening is to be used solely for ventilation, its circular cross section, smooth walls and freedom from fire hazard recommend it in comparison with the usual timbered shafts of rectilinear cross section. It should be pointed out that a drill hole sunk without the use of explosives frequently will stand open without support, whereas a shaft sunk by standard procedure using dynamite usually must be timbered because of the wall-shattering effect of explosives. The saving in maintenance resulting from the elimination of timber is obvious. The work was done by Pickands Mather & Co. at its Zenith mine, Ely, Minn. This company wanted a ventilation opening capable of delivering 50,000 cu. ft. of air per minute to the fourteenth level, 1200 ft. below the surface. While several general articles1-3 have described the method used, detailed time and performance records have not been presented before. Moreover, with a method as new as this, it is important to compare the results attained under widely varying conditions. Among the new conditions faced at Ely were some extremely hard rock, a series of vertical fractures, seepage water, and some long stretches of sound rock which, combined with excellent equipment, gave a chance to operate without unusual delays. Developments in boring large holes have generally taken the obvious course of increasing the size of the equipment, a line of attack that has resulted in putting down 3-ft. diameter holes at damsites for studying the foundations4 and in drilling ventilation openings between levels at Butte.5 Such drills operate from the collar of the hole, and the power from the drill is transmitted to the cutting tool through drill rods or pipes. In order to keep down the volume of rock that must be ground to sludge, the cores in large-diameter drilling are made as large in diameter as possible. Their large diameter increases their weight per foot of length, which

Jan 1, 1939

By E. W. Davis

I . OPERATING TESTS 1. CHARACTER OF ORE UNDER INVESTIGATION On the eastern end of the Mesabi Range, in Northern Minnesota, is a large formation of siliceous rock which contains bands and fine grains of magnetite . The magnetite comprises about 35 per cent. of the rock. Fig.. 1 show's graphically that the tonnage of minus 200-mesh material produced varies directly with the tonnage fed to the mill. There is undoubtedly some limit to this relation, but there seems to be no indication of it at 18 T. per hr. Some of the conclusions drawn from this test are that: (a) The ball-mill is naturally a machine of very large capacity; (b) if it is not possible to deliver a large tonnage of original feed to the mill, a closed circuit should be provided so that the mill may crush its own oversize.

Jan 2, 1919

By Ira Joralemon

THE Ajo copper district is in the heart of the Arizona desert, near the western boundary of Pima county. Gila Bend, the nearest railroad point, is 43 miles north of the camp, and the little Mexican border town of Sonoita is 30 miles south. Between Gila Bend and Sonoita, Ajo is the only settlement save for one or two small cattle ranches and the uncertain villages of nomadic Papago families. The Little Ajo mountains rise a few hundred feet above wide desert valleys, beyond which are lava mesas. The camp itself lies at an elevation of about 1,900 ft. above sea level, in a little basin on the east side of the range, separated from the open desert by low hills. In the center of the basin the brilliantly iron and copper stained rocks of Copper mountain rise 150 ft. above -the village. Many varieties of cactus and low desert bushes cover the hills, while in the large valleys there are clusters of mesquite paloverde, and ironwood trees which furnish limited amounts of fairly good fuel. A scanty supply of water is obtained from wells in the desert and from prospect pits in the camp. The nearest abundant source of water is the Gila river, 50 miles north of Ajo. (See Fig. 1.) HISTORY OF THE AJO DISTRICT The Ajo, next to Santa Rita, New Mexico, is claimed to have been the first copper district in the Southwest worked by Americans. In the '60's or even earlier high-grade native copper and cuprite Ore was mined from shallow surface workings and hauled by bull team 400 miles across the desert to San Diego. From there it was carried in sailing ships to Swansea, Wales. Later, the ore was hauled to Yuma, floated down the Colorado river to the Gulf Of California, and shipped to Swansea. Bat-infested old workings and the massive axles of the bull carts are shown to prove the truth of the stories.

Jan 8, 1914

By Gilbert Santoro

In this study tantalum carbide filaments of various compositions in the fcc region were prepared by heating a tantalum wire in a measured amount of hydrocarbon vapor. Such properties as tensile strength, transverse-rupture strength, microhard-ness, lattice parameter, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of carbon content. Some of these properties showed a maximum or a minimum between a carbon-to-tantalum molar ratio of 0.80 and 0.85, the composition range at which the color changes from metallic gray to gold. The recent literature has shown that in the large homogeneity range for the fcc phase of the Ta-C system there is a marked variation for such properties as microhardness,' electrical resistivity, ' thermodynamic properties,z'3 lattice parameter and superconductivity. In addition to the technological interest of these variations within a single phase, important theoretical benefits may ensue from a continuous investigation of properties vs stoichiometry in tantalum carbide and other refractory defect compounds, for example the effect of the metal-metal distance and crystal structure upon bond formation and electronic structure. Whether there is a similar variation of the tensile strength is of practical importance. Of theoretical interest would be the knowledge of how the magnetic susceptibility varies with carbon composition. Both of these properties, as well as the transverse-rupture strength, were determined for tantalum carbide filaments in the fcc phase region. The lattice parameter, the electrical resistivity, and the microhardness were also investigated and compared with values appearing in the literature. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material Preparation. Tantalum carbide specimens of various carbon content were prepared by statically carburizing high-purity tantalum filaments in measured quantities of pure hydrocarbon gas. The filaments, which were 10 mil in diameter and 20 or 40 cm long, were heated by their own resistance at temperatures from 1800" to 2200°C using alternating current in some cases and direct current in others. Tantalum wire from two sources was used. One had a reported purity of 99.96 wt pct Ta. The ingot from which this wire was drawn had been electron beam-melted as the final step in its purification. The reported purity of the other wire, which was prepared by a powder metallurgical process, was 99.88 wt pct Ta. The impurities of both tantalum sources are listed in Table I. Spec-trographic-grade toluene or research-grade propane was used as the source of carbon. The apparatus for the carburization of the filaments is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The system was evacuated to 1 x l0-' mm of Hg when using the electron beam-melted tantalum and to less than 1 p when using the less-pure tantalum. Neither the difference in the base vacuum, nor in the hydrocarbon gas, nor in the tantalum filaments resulted in any detectable difference in the properties studied in this work. However, only the carbides prepared from the higher-purity tantalum were used in the magnetic-susceptibility determinations. Once the base vacuum had been reached, the system was flushed with the hydrocarbon and re-evacuated. For any desired composition of the carbide, hydrocarbon gas was allowed to leak into a constant-volume flask to a predetermined pressure. These pressures were measured by a Cartesian diver-type mercury gage with a range from 0 to 20 mm and with a scale expanded to nine times. The hydrocarbon gas was allowed into the reaction tube and the filament was quickly raised to the reaction temperature. The slack in the filament due to thermal expansion was taken up by drawing out the movable electrode with a screw mechanism. The filaments were kept at temperature from a few minutes to 200 hr. In the majority of cases the heating time was 6 hr. The reaction tube was cooled by cascading water on its outer surface. By means of an ammeter and a voltmeter the electrical resistance at the reaction

Jan 1, 1963