Search Documents

By W. D. Forgeng, P. F. Wieser

MnSi alloys containing from 2 to 24 at. pct Si have been investigated by metallographic and X-ray methods. Contrary to published data, the temperature of the ß-manganese to a-manganese transformation is lowered by the addition of silicon. The existence of two additional intermediate phases E and ( is demonstrated. E, ranging in composition from 12 to 15.5 at. pct Si, forms by a peritectoid reaction between ß manganese and the second new phase, (. The latter phase is homogeneous at silicon contents from 16.2 to 18 at. pct and forms peritectically from the 0 phase and liquid. The eutectic reaction occurs between the ( phase and MnsSi rather than the ß phase and Mn3Si. As a result of this investigation, a modification of the manganese-rich section of the MnSi equilihrium diagram is proposed. The binary diagram of Mn-Si, according to Hansen,' Fig. 1, exhibits in the low-silicon region (below 24 at. pct Si) a peritectic transformation at 900°C of 0 manganese + Mn3Si to a manganese as determined by R. Vogel and H. Bedarff2 as well as a thermal effect at 980°C between 16.2 and 22.6 at. pct Si reported by the same authors. The nature of the latter transformation was unknown. K. Amark, B. Boren, and A. westgren3 reported indications that possibly four more phases existed in the range of 10 to 27 at. pct Si. The present investigation deals with the phase relations in the range of 2.1 to 17.7 at. pct Si. A few spot checks were conducted up to 23.84 at. pct Si. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Small experimental heats were prepared by induction melting in a vacuum furnace using argon as a protective atmosphere. The crucible was of commercial-quality magnesia. The furnace charge consisted of silicon metal and dehydrogenated electrolytic manganese. The typical analysis for these materials is shown in Table I. The molten alloy was tapped into 2-in.-square, 7-in.-long ingots. After visual inspection, a small quantity of alloy in the middle portion of the ingot was separated for use in this investigation.MnSi alloys containing from 2 to 24 at. pct Si have been investigated by metallographic and X-ray methods. Contrary to published data, the temperature of the ß-manganese to a-manganese transformation is lowered by the addition of silicon. The existence of two additional intermediate phases E and ( is demonstrated. E, ranging in composition from 12 to 15.5 at. pct Si, forms by a peritectoid reaction between ß manganese and the second new phase, (. The latter phase is homogeneous at silicon contents from 16.2 to 18 at. pct and forms peritectically from the 0 phase and liquid. The eutectic reaction occurs between the ( phase and MnsSi rather than the ß phase and Mn3Si. As a result of this investigation, a modification of the manganese-rich section of the MnSi equilihrium diagram is proposed. The binary diagram of Mn-Si, according to Hansen,' Fig. 1, exhibits in the low-silicon region (below 24 at. pct Si) a peritectic transformation at 900°C of 0 manganese + Mn3Si to a manganese as determined by R. Vogel and H. Bedarff2 as well as a thermal effect at 980°C between 16.2 and 22.6 at. pct Si reported by the same authors. The nature of the latter transformation was unknown. K. Amark, B. Boren, and A. westgren3 reported indications that possibly four more phases existed in the range of 10 to 27 at. pct Si. The present investigation deals with the phase relations in the range of 2.1 to 17.7 at. pct Si. A few spot checks were conducted up to 23.84 at. pct Si. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Small experimental heats were prepared by induction melting in a vacuum furnace using argon as a protective atmosphere. The crucible was of commercial-quality magnesia. The furnace charge consisted of silicon metal and dehydrogenated electrolytic manganese. The typical analysis for these materials is shown in Table I. The molten alloy was tapped into 2-in.-square, 7-in.-long ingots. After visual inspection, a small quantity of alloy in the middle portion of the ingot was separated for use in this investigation.

Jan 1, 1964

By J. W. Matousek, C. S. Samis

me thermodynamic properties of the components in the Cu-Ni-S ternary system have been studied by measuring the H2S/H2 ratios in a gas phase equilibrated with the molten matte at 1200°C. The measured sulficr potentials have been extended by extrapolation and combtned with previously published data to permit the thermodynamic analysis of the ternary system by integration techniques. A simplifying assumption of ideality in the Ni3Sz-CuS pseudobinary has been made. SINCE copper and nickel metals were first extracted from their sulfide ores the interaction between the two metals and sulfur has been of industrial and theoretical interest. The processes developed to extract copper and nickel have been reported periodically in the literature. The theoretical studies on the Cu-Ni-S ternary have been restricted to problems directly associated with production. It is only within recent years that the binary systems related to this ternary have been analyzed thermodynamically and mathematical devices developed to permit a corresponding treatment of the ternary system. In 1910 an investigation of the role of nickel in Cu-Ni-Fe-S mattes was reported,' It was concluded from this work that nickel is not an element replacing iron in mattes, but rather that Cu-Ni alloys behave as a single metal during the matte converting operation. The laws which govern the converting of Cu-Ni alloys were found to be the same laws as those that govern the conventional converting of copper alone. Although considerable information has been reported on the theoretical aspects of copper smelting, little data is available on the smelting of Cu-Ni ores except for phase diagrams and process descriptions. The available information on the Cu-Fe-S ternary and related systems prior to 1953 has been summarized by Ruddle.2 Since Ruddle's publication, Rosenqvist and coworkers have completed phase equilibria investigations of the Fe-S, Co-S, and Ni-S binaries,3 the Fe-S-O ternary,4 and the Cu-Fe-S-O quaternary.4 An extensive investigation of the Cu-Fe-S ternary system at smelting temperatures has been made by Krivsky and Schuhmann.5 At these temperatures, the Cu-Fe-S system is very similar to the Cu-Ni-S ternary with respect to the location of the single-phase and two-phase liquid matte regions. In the former, however, the area of immiscibility is more extensive and the region of liquid matte-liquid metal-solid metal equilibria is much more extensive. Krivsky and Schumann observed that the Cu2S-FeS pseudobinary system is, for practical purposes, an ideal mixture. This investigation has served as a valuable guide in analyzing the Cu-Ni-S ternary. EXPERIMENTAL The experimental procedure employed in this investigation was the conventional technique of equilibration of the sulfide matte with gaseous mixtures of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at 1200°C. The thermodynamic properties of sulfur (S2) in the gas phase are determined by means of Eq. [I] and the activity of sulfur in the matte by Eq. [2].

Jan 1, 1963

By M. G. Fowler

A GENERAL decline in copper production for most American producers occurred during the past year as a result of shortage in available labor. Few noteworthy technical developments have been reported; undoubtedly, many changes and improvements have been made but have not been reported because of lack of time. During the war years through 1944 the pressure for sustained high production has been of prime importance and during 1945, with slackening of production, many operators were faced with the problem of catching up on repairs and maintenance of plants, with inadequate labor supply. In hydrometallurgy there were some important developments that undoubtedly will be reported during 1946. Several operators in the Southwest have instituted experimental leaching programs to exploit low-grade oxidized and mixed ore bodies. The Bureau of Mines is conducting pilot-plant experimental work to determine the possibility of producing a satisfactory sponge iron at an attractive cost from deposits of iron ore and coal in Arizona. The sponge iron would be used for the production of cement cop¬per. The cell house of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. at Inspiration,

Jan 1, 1946

IN my opinion antimony* is a composition made by Nature to create a metallic mineral that is overflowing with an undue proportion of hot and dry material and with its moisture poorly mixed, with an effect wholly contrary to the composition of metals. Therefore, it comes to be, like quicksilver, a mineral deformity and monstrosity among metals. Or it might be a material that is about to reach metallic perfection, but is hindered from doing so by being mined too soon. I am persuaded to this opinion by seeing in it so many parts similar to those of metals, considering first its clear and brilliant color and its great weight and then the regulus† that it leaves at the bottom of the vessel on melting. Obviously it has in it much earthiness, as is attested by the odor of its sulphurous burning, its imperfect blending, its defective mixture, its difficult fusion, and finally the character of its regulus, for although this is very white and almost more shining than silver, it is much more brittle than glass. [28] The practical philosophers make great use of it in their alchemistic work in order, they say, to make an oil that they believe gives the color of gold to fixed silver. For this reason many of them hold it in high repute, especially the kind that has long thin fibers like a bundle of bristles. And they say that they can obtain greater results with it than with sulphur. I believe this, however, in case it is aided by sulphur, since it is nearer the metallic species than sulphur is. This I know for a certainty because I have seen them extract from it a bloody liquor in the form of an oil. The alchemist who made that which I saw told me that it had not only the

Jan 1, 1942

ON FEBRUARY 4, 1952, the Phelps Dodge Corporation signed Contract GS-00P(D)-12068 with the United States Government. This interesting document dealt with the "Bisbee East" project as part of the Government's program to increase the supply of needed copper by encouraging private enterprise to expand production. The ore deposit involved was a relatively small body of low-grade ore lying east of the remnants of the old Sacramento Hill deposit that was exploited with indifferent success from 1923 to 1931, as related in THE PORPHYRY COPPERS. Planning for the entire enterprise had been directed from the start by Harrison M. Lavender, who in 1945, succeeded Percy G. Beckett as vice-president and general manager for all of Phelps Dodge's Western mines and smelters. The untimely death of Mr. Lavender in 1952 prevented him from seeing his plans brought to fruition; but in his honor the mine was fit- tingly named "The Lavender Pit" and was so dedicated on August 7, 1954. The Copper Queen Branch operates under- ground mines at Bisbee (production in 1955 was 28,000 tons) ; but, as this volume is concerned only with Porphyry operations, this chapter deals only with the Lavender Pit project, or as the Government knows it, Bisbee East. My reason for going into some detail regarding the floor-price contract is that it is fairly typical of contracts made by the Government in connection with a half-dozen other copper-expansion projects; and, incidentally, with various projects involving other strategic metals. Phelps Dodge did not seek a loan or other financial aid. The only encouragement asked consisted of (a) the privilege of a five-year write-off (commonly called rapid tax amortization)

Jan 1, 1957

By R. A. Vandermeer, P. Gordon

The study of recrystallization in cold-worked metals is complicated by the impossibility of making direct three-dimensional optical measurements. Metallo-graphically, theinternal three-dimensional features of samples must be inferred from their intersections with the two-dimensional plane of polish. The inherent difficulties involved in this procedure have led— particularly during the last few years—to some instances of rather doubtful interpretations of experimental data in terms of nucleation and growth rates in recrystallization. In the present paper an analysis ; is given of the recrystallization characteristics in a polycrystalline alloy containing 0.008 wt pct copper in ZONE-refined aluminum *and an effort is madf to reemphasize the necessity in such studies for attention to the proper statistical relationships between one- two- and three-dimensional features of opaque samples. It is shown that, in common with several recently described cases for other types of transformations,1-5 recrystallization in this alloy can best be rationalized on the basis that all nucleation took place essentially at time zero—i.e., there is no significant time-dependent nucleation during annealing—and that the kinetics are controlled exclusively by the growth-rate parameters. This is true despite the fact that the number of

Jan 1, 1960

By Rossiter W. Raymond

In the case of The Eureka Consolidated Mining Company v. The Richmond Mining Company of Nevada, recently tried at San Francisco, California, the real defendant was the Richmond Consolidated Mining Company, of London; but this being a foreign corporation, holds its mining property in Nevada through the Nevada corporation of similar name, in which the London Company owns all the stock, except the few shares necessary to " qualify" the American directors. The trial would naturally have taken place in the Circuit Court at Carson City, Nevada, and before a jury. But by stipulation of the parties, the case was tried in San Francisco, before Hon. Stephen J. Field, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Hon. Lorenzo Sawyer, United States Circuit Judge of the Ninth Circuit, and Hon. E. W. Hillyer, United States District Judge, for the District of Nevada. The hearing began July 23d, 1877. The witnesses occupied two weeks, and the argument of counsel three days. Very eminent lawyers were engaged on both sides; for the plaintiff, Messrs. Solomon Heydenfeldt, R. S. Mesick, John Garber, and H. J. Thornton; for the defendant, Messrs. S. M. Wilson, Thomas Wren, and J. J. Williams. The court held the case under advisement until August 22d, when Mr. Justice Field delivered its unanimous opinion in favor of the plaintiff. The action was a complaint in ejectment, and an appeal was taken to the United States Supreme Court. The questions at issue between the Eureka and the Richmond Company in this suit, comprised several points in the construction of the mining law of the United States, and its relation to the customs and regulations of the mining districts, which possess an importance and an applicability far beyond the limits of the case in which they arose. It is my purpose to state these points, the arguments

Jan 1, 1879

By William E. Greenawalt

Ever since electrolytic copper refining gave promise of success, about a half century ago, efforts have been made to apply the idea to the extraction of copper from its ores. The methods of attack have, usually, been to leach with a dilute acid and then to deposit electrolytically the copper from the resulting solution with the simultaneous regeneration of the solvent used in the process. Many efforts have been made, and many patents have been taken out, both in the United States and abroad, to give this idea practical application, but only within the past few years have the difficulties been surmounted. Leaching and electrolysis, as applied to copper ores, are among the most promising fields in modern metallurgy. New conditions are arising, which will bring the wet methods into prominence; while high freight rates and increasing cost of fuel will tend to limit smelting to highly favored localities. The possibilities offered by the installation of hydroelectric plants and the greatly enlarged range of power transmission will greatly widen the field of electrolytic methods. Electrolytic methods are ideally adapted to hydroelectric development, for the load is constant throughout the full twenty-four hours, and the cost of both installation and operation of hydroelectric plants is not appreciably greater when operating for twenty-four hours than when operating for eight or ten hours; whereas, in fuel-power generation, as also in smelting, the cost is more or less in proportion to the fuel and power used. Nevertheless, fuel-power generation presents advantages in electrolytic methods, as the power plant may be located in a favorable place while the leaching and electrolytic plants may be located at the mine. The ultimate possibilities of the wet methods have yet to be determined. The possibilities of smelting have been thoroughly worked out; there is no unsolved major problem in copper smelting, and it has practically reached the limit of its possibilities. It seems hardly probable that any future improvement, either of method or apparatus, will greatly

Jan 1, 1924

By AIME AIME

BY COMBINING the sessions on reduction and refining of copper, lead and zinc it was possible to devote an entire day to nonferrous metallurgy. Four interesting papers were presented at the morning session and four more in the afternoon. In the discussion of papers on copper, F. R. Pyne acted as chairman, with H. M. Shepard as vice-chairman, whereas for those on lead and zinc, F. F. Colcord acted as chairman, with C. R. Hayward as vice-chairman. The paper by P. D. I. Honeyman on the smelting of raw concentrates in the reverberatory furnace was presented by Mr. Pyne and discussed by Messrs. Mazany and Hayward. The interesting paper by E. S. Bardwell, com- paring the use of various fuels in copper-refining furnaces at Great Fails, Mont., was presented by Mr. Shepard and discussed by Messrs. Boggs, Gronningsater and Hayward. That by R. G. Knickerhocker, describing the stationary basic copper converter at Messina, Transvaal, was presented by Mr. Pyne, together with a written discussion by c. R. Kuzell, of the United Verde Copper co. It was an interesting illustration of how well-known processes may sometimes be modified to fit into unusual conditions.

Jan 1, 1932

By Carl Altstetter, Emmanuel deLamotte

The influence of an external stress and plastic deformation on the allotropic transformation of single crystals of a Co-30.5 pct Ni alloy was investigated. Experimental results were obtained from dilatometry, X-ray diffraction, and optical and electron microscopy. The effects of stresses could be conveniently divided into three stress ranges. In range I, from 0 to about 400 g per sq mm, the specimens exhibited a multi-variant phase change on cooling and a considerable amount of retained cubic phase. In range II, from 400 g per sq mm to the elastic limit, hexagonal regions of a given orientation grew in size and the cubic phase disappeared with increasing stress level. In range III, just above the elastic limit, specimens transformed into hexagonal single crystals. It was found that plastic deformation, not applied stress, was the factor which determined whether a single-crystal product was formed. The observed macroscopic shear directions were mainly (112) on cooling, but the behavior was more complicated on heating under stress. To explain these properties of the phase change, a model based on the nucleation of partial dislocations is proposed. IT is well-known1 that, on heating, hcp cobalt transforms into an fcc arrangement by shearing on close-packed planes. The crystallographic orientation relationship of the phases is as follows: the habit plane is (OOO1)hcp ?{lll}fcc and a (1010)hcp direction is parallel to a (112)fcc direction. The temperature at which the transformation occurs in pure cobalt is around 420.C 1,2This temperature decreases with increasing nickel concentration: and at about 30 pct Ni it reaches room temperature. However, many of the transformation characteristics remain essentially the same, particularly the crystallographic features.495 A convenient way of studying the transformation is to alloy cobalt with nickel, thus avoiding the difficulties of doing experiments at the high temperatures needed to transform pure cobalt. Due to the hysteresis of the transformation it is possible to choose a Co-Ni alloy with an Ms temperature below room temperature and an A, temperature above room temperature. Either structure of such an alloy could then be studied at room temperature, depending on whether it had just been heated or cooled to room temperature. The choice of nickel is further favored by the small difference in lattice parameters between cubic cobalt and nickel and the similarity of their physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Co-Ni alloys are reported to have neither long- nor short-range order.6 The main purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of an external stress on the transformation characteristics of Co-Ni single crystals. It may be expected that slip, twinning, and transformation should have many features in common in cobalt, because the (111) planes of the cubic phase operate as slip planes when plastic deformation by slip occurs, they are the twinning planes, and they are the habit planes for the transformation. Many previous investigators7-&apos;6 have concluded that dislocations must play an important role in the nucleation and propagation of the transformation, just as they do for slip and twinning propagation. An external stress will affect their motion, and a study of its influence should yield further information about the atomic mechanism of transformation. The present work extends that of Gaunt and christian17 and Nelson and Altstette18 in both qualitative and quantitative effects of stress. The basic concept underlying all the present theories of the transformation of cobalt and Co-Ni alloys is the motion of a/6<112> partial dislocations over {1ll} planes of the cubic lattice. The ABCABC... stacking of the close-packed planes of the cubic phase can be changed into the hexagonal ABABAB... stacking by the sweeping of an a/6 <112> partial on every second plane. Twinning, on the other hand, requires a shear of a/6 <112> on each close-packed plane. The reverse transformation can be effected in a similar way by a/3 (1010) dislocations moving over every other basal plane of the hexagonal phase. Transformation theories2, 7- 12,14 differ in the details of the nucleation of the transformation and the propagation of the partial dislocations from plane to plane. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Nickel and cobalt rods supplied as 99.999 pct pure were induct ion-melted together under a vacuum of about 10-5 torr in a 97 pct alumina crucible. An alloy containing 30.5 pct Ni was found to have the desired transformation range, with an Ms near -10°C and an j4s in the vicinity of +10O°C. The ingots were swaged to &--in. rod and electron beam zone-leveled in a 10-6 torr vacuum. This procedure resulted in 12-in.-long single fcc crystal rods (designated I to VII) from each of which several tensile specimens of identical orientation were made. Chemical analysis of the bar ends indicated no contamination or gross segregation and no micro segregation was seen in electron micro-probe scans. Tensile specimens with a 9/32-in.-sq by 1-in.-long gage section were spark-machined from the rods and then electropolished or chemically polished to remove the machining damage and to provide a flat surface

Jan 1, 1970

By R. W. Raymond

PROF. HENRY Louis, of Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, a distinguished member of this Institute and other technical societies, has recently sent to the Institution of Mining Engineers, and to the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, in Great Britain, a communication, the substance of which is as follows Prof. Louis calls attention to the absence of any recognized English term for the definite description of a frequent phenomenon-namely, the oblique position of an ore-body in the plane in which it. lies. In this connection, Prof. Louis says that in America the term " pitch " has been occasionally applied to this relation, and proposes that, in the literature of ore-deposits, it shall be hereafter restricted to this particular meaning, the angle of the pitch, like that of the dip, being always measured from the horizontal, and the dip being always taken at right angles to the strike, while the pitch is taken on the plane of the dip, in the direction of the strike. Thus, for example, in a vein or bed striking N-S., and dipping, say, 45° E., there might be an ore-body, the axis of which pitched northward, at an angle of 45° below the horizontal line, as measured on the plane of the inclosing vein or bed. If the term " pitch " had this universally recognized meaning, the situation could be simply and perfectly expressed by its use, in connection with the general data of strike and clip. As Prof. Louis says ?This suggestion has a certain practical value, and is not merely academic. Every mining engineer of practical experience in such types of ore-deposit will have met with cases, in which a vertical shaft has been sunk with the object of cutting the deposit, but has missed it, because the dip alone has been taken into account, while the pitch has been overlooked." He adds the acute observation that such an oversight is much likelier to occur with regard to a condition not definitely desig-

Mar 1, 1908

By M. R. Geer Olds, H. F. Yancey

THE increase in the number of coal-cleaning plants employing dense-medium processes occurring since 1946 is especially interesting when viewed historically. Both sand and magnetite were introduced as material for heavy mediums at about the same time, sand in the Chance process in 1921 and magnetite in the Conklin process in 1922, but from that point on their records diverge. The Chance process enjoyed a steady growth from its inception, whereas no additional magnetite plants were built in the United States for over 20 years. Then, following the close of the World War 11, magnetite was again introduced, this time with marked success. During the following years some 47 plants employing magnetite medium were built. This rapid growth of dense-medium cleaning has been concurrent with widespread adoption of full-seam mining on one hand and a return to a more competitive market on the other. At a time when changing mining practice has provided cleaning plants with dirtier coal and changing market conditions have simultaneously demanded a cleaner product, the industry has through necessity turned to improved preparation. The inherently greater sharpness with which dense-medium processes can separate coal from impurity is thus helping to hold the line against ever-increasing mining costs and at the same time assisting materially in retaining badly needed markets. Although dense-medium cleaning unquestionably offers a distinct advantage when the washing problem is difficult, other methods can provide almost equally high efficiency when the coal is easy to wash. Moreover, fine coal cannot yet be treated by heavy medium in a proved process, although the Driessen cyclone is in the pilot-plant stage. Most of the present types of dense-medium equipment have been in use only a few years, and the dearth of information in the literature concerning their performance characteristics is entirely understandable, Nevertheless this information is necessary if the process is to be intelligently applied to individual cleaning problems. Without data on the efficiency of a process in a particular type of separation, it is difficult to assess the advantage to be expected from it. Similarly, the role of particle size in heavy-medium separation is important in some cases, yet there is little published information on this aspect. To mention only one more of the numerous points on which essential information is lacking, the bearing of medium characteristics on performance has been discussed only in qualitative terms. It was with the hope of providing information on some of these points that the Bureau of Mines built a dense-medium pilot plant for cleaning coal at its Northwest Experiment Station in Seattle in 1950. The plant has been operated continuously since that time, and over 50 runs have been made on 7 coals exhibiting a wide range of washability characteristics. An idea of the magnitude of this work will be gained from the fact that examination of the plant products has involved some 600 float-and-sink separations and about 2500 ash determinations. A laboratory pilot plant is especially well adapted to investigate many aspects of performance because close control over test conditions can be exercised and because a large number of tests can be made rapidly. On the other hand, factors such as consumption of medium and other cost items can be investigated satisfactorily only in a commercial plant. Actually, the two forms of investigation should be complementary, with the laboratory work pointing the way for confirming tests in commercial units. Pilot Plant The dense-medium pilot plant employed for this work comprises a 24x30-in. drum-type separating vessel, a 12-in. densifier, a 12-in. magnetic separator, a 26-in. x 9-ft vibrating screen, and the necessary pumps and conveyors for handling materials. Arrangement of these units corresponds with the flowsheet used in most commercial plants, except that a thickener is not provided for the feed to the magnetic separator. Coal and refuse discharge from the separating drum to the vibrator, which is divided longitudinally down the center. Medium draining through the first 3 ft of the screen is recirculated directly to the drum. Sprays on the middle 3 ft of the screen rinse medium from the products, and the last 3-ft section is for dewatering. Dilute medium from the rinsing and dewatering sections is pumped to the magnetic separator, where magnetic solids are recovered. These are pumped to the densifier, from which they return to the medium-drainage sump by gravity through a demagnetizing coil. The drum-type separating vessel is a scale model of a commercial unit. Feed enters axially at one end of the drum just below the surface of the bath, and float material overflows through a circular opening at the other end. Particles sinking to the bottom of the bath are picked up by lifting flights bolted to the inner wall of the drum, elevated out of the bath, and sluiced to the vibrating screen. Baffles suspended in the bath prevent float material from entering the sink-lifting flights. About 8 gpm of medium is used to sluice the feed into the drum. An additional 15 to 24 gpm, depending upon operating conditions, is added through two pipes dipping into the bath behind the baffle on the side where the sink-lifting flights enter the bath. The bath available for separation is 2 ft long and 13 in. wide, giving an area of 2.08 sq ft. Depth of bath from the surface to the top of the sink-lifting flights, measured vertically below the axis, is 6 in.

Jan 1, 1954

By H. S. Price, R. L. Reed, J. E. Warren

The behavior of the reverse-combustion process in a linear adiabatic system is theoretically investigated by means of an idealized physical model. T his model is described by a pair of non-linear equations involving heat and mass transfer which are coupled by a concentration-dependent reaction-rate function of the Ar-rhenius type. The differential equations governing the quasi steady-state temperature and concentration distributions are approximately solved by using either physical or mathematical simplifications. It is shown that the reverse -combustion process can be mechanistically described by simple physical models whose behavior equations can be solved formally. It is further demonstrated that the derived reverse-combustion equations can be solved numerically within the error limits for the experimental data. The theoretically predicted peak temperature-flux-velocity relationship exhibits reasonable agreement with experimental data obtained from Athabasca tar sand. The principal contribution of this work lies in its usefulness as a starting point for developing a more comprehensive theory. A description of the vaporization-coking process must be obtained; then, the theory must be extended to three dimensions to include geometrical effects and heat losses. INTRODUCTION In another paper,&apos;" he physical processes visualized as occurring during reverse combustion have been described. In this paper, the extent to which an elementary theory can account for experimental observations is determined. Theoretical results that can be used to estimate some of the behavior characteristics of importance to this process are also presented. Since it is not possible to include all the features of the combustion mechanism of which we are currently aware, the mathematical formulation refers to the highly idealized system developed herein. This simplified physical model is based on the simultaneous transfer of mass and heat accompanied by a chemical reaction: it is described mathematically by a pair of coupled, nonlinear differential equations. Similar sets of equations have been studied extensively in the field of flame propagation; an excellent review of these investigations has been published by Evans.1 FORMULATION OF THE PROBLEM It will be recalled that the experiments are performed with a thin-walled cylindrical tube that is uniformly packed with sand and oil. The system is maintained substantially adiabatic by means of heat supplied externally in such a way that the radial temperature gradient in any plane normal to the axis of the tube approaches zero. Initially, the tube is at ambient temperature, except at one end where it is rapidly heated to a predetermined temperature. When the prescribed temperature is achieved, air is caused to flow into the cold end of the tube. As the oxygen in the air stream contacts the hot oil, a localized exothermic reaction takes place. The generated heat is conducted and convected away from the reaction zone so that definite temperature and concentration profiles are rapidly established and move uniformly in a direction opposite to that of the air flow (Fig. 1). As a consequence of this mode of oxidation, all of the oxygen in the air is consumed; then, the remaining nitrogen and the gaseous combustion products sweep out all vaporized hydrocarbons and leave an immobile hydrocarbon-coke on the sand.

By Warnie Flint

PERSONAL INJURY ACCIDENTS According to statistics compiled by the National Safety Council, US Bureau of Mines, American Medical Association, and other agencies, accidental injuries cause more deaths than all the leading diseases. NO one is immune to an accident. Probably the best way to describe an accident is to say that it is an unexpected happening. The automobile driver is not expecting a terrifying crash, the electrician does not expect to be electrocuted, nor is the coal miner expecting the roof to fall on him. All personal injuries will not result in death. There is a multitude of victims who are living proof of what accidents can mean to an individual-victims who are blind, paralytic, missing arms, legs, etc. In most instances the earning power of these individuals is gone, and they are utterly dependent upon family or welfare. For many years there seemed to be an attitude that prevailed in industrial America that accidents were inevitable, and that so many fatalities and injuries should be expected. This, of course, was utter nonsense. Since the birth of such organizations as The National Safety Council, American Society of Safety Engineers, and the US Bureau of Mines, much progress has been made in reducing accidents. The enactment of compensation laws greatly contributed to the progress that has been made. Does this mean that all accidents can be prevented? Unfortunately, it does not. Human psychology indicates that men will work unsafely or perform unsafe acts for the following reasons : 1) Lack of knowledge or skill. 2) Conflicting motivations, such as: (a) to be more comfortable, (b) to save time or effort, (c) to be accepted by a group. 3) Physical or mental condition. Nearly everyone desires his own safety, but not all individuals are willing to do what they know to do to insure their own safety.

Jan 1, 1981

By R. L. Minckler

PETROLEUM industry forecasts are constantly made and revised but are not in the nature of predictions. Particularly in the field of demand, many of the factors are far beyond control by the producing industry. Supply reacts on demand and demand reacts on supply. Competent economists in the oil business forecasted a year ago, on the basis of experience, that demand would now be at a much lower level than it is. This increased demand increased the price of crude oil and products, and in turn those increased prices have brought forth increased supply. A reduction in demand would lead to a reduction in supply. Shortages are now world-wide, and costs of secondary importance, so if there were extra supplies in California they would be moved into what are termed "unnatural markets." For example, Argentina is in the market today for California gasoline; that is an unnatural market because of the greater transportation distances from California to Argentina than from normal sources.

Jan 1, 1947

Jan 1, 1907

By H. R. Hanley

THE characteristics of alloyed anodes and their influence on the products of electrolysis and power consumption have been noted previously in the literature.1 This paper presents data in continuation of the subject given in an earlier paper by the authors.2 As noted in the authors&apos; previous paper, the objectives of this work are the reduction in the cell voltage and the purity of the cathode product resulting from the use of alloyed lead anodes. The fundamental facts developed in the previous paper were: (1) that the presence of a small amount of calcium lowers the anode potential approximately 50 per cent. below that of pure lead; and (2) that thallium when present to the extent of 4 per cent. rendered the anode practically stable, thereby lowering the contamination of the cathode by lead to a very insignificant amount. The specific features determined in this recent work are as follows: 1. The lowest limit of calcium in the lead which will still give maximum lowering of the anode potential. 2. The characteristics of the thallium-calcium-lead anode. 3. The characteristics of the silver-calcium-lead anode. 4. The characteristics of the thallium-silver-calcium-lead anode. It was determined that 0.1 per cent. calcium in the anode was sufficient to lower the anode potential approximately 50 per cent. Table 1 shows the characteristics of alloyed anodes tested. The anode composed of 0.1 per cent. calcium, 4 per cent. thallium, and 95.9 per cent.

Jan 1, 1931

By Karl S. Hughes

ANY one of the mining engineers who spent three years under the benevolent and protective custody of the military forces of His Imperial Nipponese Majesty will admit that he has survived a most disagreeable experience, but our friends here in the States all demand that we tell them something about our thrilling adventure. Many of the younger men who were on Luzon in December 1941 joined up with the Army, either as civilian technical employees or through their reserve officer status. They served through the Bataan and Corregidor defense and had five months of thrills and hardship, if that is what constitutes adventure. Unfortunately, too many of them are not alive to tell their stories. But for most of us, our internment as alien civilians was just one long, drawn-out pain in the neck. Yes, we starved; yes, we contracted beriberi, dysentery, typhus, dengue, and for a while had no quinine to fight the ever-present malaria; but these things are not exciting, neither is the account of them interesting. Our contingent from Mindanao, 250 .in number including 25 mining men, went through one period of starvation at Davao. When the activity of the Allied fleet interfered with the importation of staple foodstuffs, and the natives stopped bringing fruit and vegetables into the market, the food situation became acute, and in December 1943, with stocks in sight and in prospect insufficient to provision their own soldiers, our custodians decided that we must be moved to Manila. The story of that ten-day voyage in an antiquated Jap freighter is too disgusting to tell, but hardly more adventurous than the account of a game of solitaire.

Jan 1, 1945

By R. W. Mancantelli, J. R. Woodward

IN 1947 a large low grade deposit of uranium was located in the northwest corner of Saskatchewan, in the Beaverlodge property of Eldorado Mining & Refining Ltd. Most of the values occur as thin seams and as coatings on other minerals, and the ore, which is light and friable, is not amenable to the usual gravity methods of concentration. The acid leaching process developed to retreat the company&apos;s Port Radium tailings was also impractical, as the percentage of carbonates is high and the percentage of sulphides relatively low. Construction of the mill building and installation of equipment, both scheduled for 1952, awaited selection of a satisfactory ore dressing process on or before Oct. 1, 1951. An extensive research program on dressing of ores from the Ace mine therefore was undertaken by the Mines Branch in Ottawa, a research team at the University of British Columbia, and an ore dressing group at the company&apos;s Port Hope refinery. Pilot plant operations were conducted at the Ottawa plant of Sherritt Gordon Mines Ltd. under the general direction of C. S. Parsons, consultant on metallurgy and ore dressing for Eldorado. In mid-September, having compared results of the several research programs, Dr. Parsons recommended a process employing a carbonate or basic leach. He reported that, while the chemistry of the process had been proved, engineering of the flowsheet was incomplete, and he suggested that under normal conditions further pilot plant work at the Ace mine might be profitable. However, since this would involve a delay of 12 to 18 months in bringing the property into operation, he recommended that design of the concentrator proceed immediately. Concentrator capacity was determined by two considerations: 1) the amount of ore then available and 2) the expectation that continued improvements would be made in the ore dressing process as a result of the intensive research being carried out by the Mines Branch of the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys. As these improvements could affect both the chemistry and the en-

Jan 1, 1956

By B. C. Burgess

IN the first edition of this volume,44 feldspar was introduced as "the I commonest mineral of the crystalline rocks," usually in small grains associated with other minerals and commercially produced only from pegrnatites. Now other crystalline rocks, such as alaskites and granites, have become present or potential sources of feldspar. In addition, feldspar has encountered very vigorous competition from such substitutes as nepheline syenite and aplite. COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES The feldspars form a group of which the principal species are orthoclase, microcline, albite, and anorthite. These are aluminum silicates of potassium, sodium and calcium. There are also a barium feldspar, celsian, and barium orthoclase feldspar, hyalophane, rarely found and of no commercial importance. None of the minerals in the feldspar group are found pure or nearly pure. The potash feldspars, orthoclase and microcline, nearly always contain some albite (soda microcline, an- orthoclase); the soda feldspars usually contain some anorthite (lime feldspar). There is a series of soda-lime feldspars known as plagioclase in which the albite and anorthite molecules replace each other in varying proportions from albite through oligoclase, andesine, labradorite, and bytownite to anorthite. Theoretical chemical composition of the principal feldspars is given in Table 1. The Whiteware Division of the American Ceramic Society sub- mitted a list of definitions of ceramic terms, in April 1947, for use in technical literature. For feldspar it gives: "A group of igneous minerals consisting chiefly of the aluminum silicates of potash, soda and lime, in which one base generally predominates." Commercial feldspars are intergrowths of at least two species of feldspar, which occur associated with one or more accessory minerals such as quartz, muscovite, biotite, garnet and tourmaline as well as with small but varying proportions of the decomposition product, kaolinite. An intergrowth of quartz and feldspar frequently contains

Jan 1, 1949