Search Documents

By B. H. Sage

IN recent years there has been an increase of interest in the flow of gases at relatively high pressures. Hydrodynamic calculation of the energy losses in the flow of gases in conduits, as well as through the porous solid materials constituting natural petroleum reservoirs, requires a knowledge of the viscosity of the fluid at the pressure and temperature involved. Although there are numerous publications concerning the absolute viscosity? of hydrocarbon gases at atmospheric pressure, there appears to be little information available relating to the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of these gases. Vogel28 determined the viscosity of methane at 32° F. and atmospheric pressure. His measurements at 32° F. were later substantiated by the measurements of Rankine and Smith17 at 63° and 212° F. Ishida12 also reported values for the viscosity of methane at atmospheric pressure. Trautz and Kurz26 measured the viscosity of propane at atmospheric pressure, from 83° to 530° F., by the use of a short capillary tube. Rap-penecker18 determined the viscosity of gaseous isopentane at elevated temperatures. Day' made an accurate investigation of the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of n-pentane and isopentane at pressures from 2 lb. per sq. in. ? to the vapor pressure at 77° F. (approximately 9.8 and 13.3 lb. per sq. in., respectively). Earhart5 reported data upon the viscosity of several natural gases measured by the long capillary-tube method. The viscosity of air, at atmospheric pressure and 73.4° F., was measured by Harrington7 by the rotating-cylinder method. Kellstrom13 has recently made an elaborate investigation of the viscosity of air at atmospheric pressure. The latter work is perhaps the most accurate investigation of the viscosity of a gas that has been made. .

Jan 1, 1937

By A. L. Blomfield

THE Golden Cycle Mining and Reduction Co. operates its custom mill at Colorado Springs on Cripple Creek ores exclusively. These ores are straight sulpho-tellurides, with practically no base metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, As, or Sb. Upon entering the mill, the ore all passes through the sampler to storage bins, where beds of 5000 tons each are made to insure uniformity in roasting. CLASSIFICATION OF ORES For efficiency, it has been found advisable to separate the ores into two classes according to their line content. Other constituents have their effect, such as alumina and magnesia, but, speaking generally, these are roughly proportional to the line, which, as CaO, is used as the indicator. Class A contains not more than 2 per cent. CaO and comprises about 66 per cent. of the ore treated. Class B contains over 2 per cent. CaO, and comprises 34 per cent. of the ore treated. Typical analyses of both classes are as follows: Class A Class B Insol 56.70 75.90 Al203 2.30 3.40 Fe 3.26 3.48 CaO 1.57 5.12 S 1.79 1.80 Mg0 0.21 1.08 Ignition loss 3.20 6.50 99.03 97.28 The beds of each class of ore are made as large as possible with the available ore as it comes in, to avoid changing from one bed to the other any oftener than necessary. Each roaster will handle 50 percent. more of class A ore than of class B, with practically the same results. This necessitates changing the rate of feed for each new bed and tends toward a poor roast and loss of tonnage at each change.

Jan 8, 1918

By Horace R. Graham

CHEMICAL nitrogen and the "nitrates" of commercial significance are derived mainly from three basic sources: (1) the natural deposits in the form of nitrate-bearing earth and clay, which, being largely water-soluble, can exist only in the most arid portions of the earth; (2) coal, which yields not only nitrogen but also the additional by-product hydrogen required for the synthesis of ammonia and its compounds; (3) the atmospheric air, which contains 75.5 pct by weight of pure nitrogen gas. NATURAL NITRATE DEPOSITS Occurrence Although natural nitrate deposits consisting principally of the salts of sodium and potassium have been reported in Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and the USA, the only known natural nitrate resources of commercial importance are the vast deposits found in the Atacama, Tarapaca and Antofagasta regions of northern Chile, lying in a narrow strip 10 to 50 miles wide and roughly 450 miles long, between latitudes [19O] and [26OS]. In addition to yielding nitrates of sodium and potassium, these deposits are the source of the major portion of the world's supply of iodine. The nitrate-bearing ores known in Chile as caliche are variable in composition and may contain from 5 to 30 pct each of nitrate, chloride and sulphate. While the deposits are present chiefly in the form of the sodium salt, potassium, magnesium and calcium also occur in percent- ages from 0.1 to 5; usually as double salts with sulphate, which are but slightly soluble in nitrate leach solutions. These double salts are bloedite(Na2S04.MgS04.4H,0), glauberite (Na2S04.CaS04), polyhalite (K2SO4.- MgS04.2CaS04.2H20). Some deposits contain up to30 pct of their ni-

Jan 1, 1949

By J. C. Reed, J. M. Hansell

Cinnabar was discovered in southwestern Arkansas on Little Missouri River in sec. 1, T.7S., R.26W., in April, 1930, and near Antoine Creek in sec. 28, T.6S., R.23W., some 15 miles farther east in May of the same year. It was not, however, until June, 1931, that cinnabar was identified as such in a specimen from the original discovery area sent to W. M. Weigell by Walter F. Hintze of Murfreesboro. Almost simultaneously2, in July, 1931, Moritz Norden of Hot Springs identified specimens from the Antoine Creek area as cinnabar. Immediate interest in the district followed the identification of cinnabar and by January, 1932, the district was known to extend as a mineralized belt about one mile wide trending east-northeast from sec. 13, T.7S., R.27W., in Howard County across central Pike County and into Clark County to sec. 19, T.6S., R.23W., thence extending southeast into sections 33 and 34 of the same township. Since then, cinnabar has been found in sec. 6, T.7S., R.22W., thus giving a total east-west length to the district of approximately 30 miles. Interest focused mainly on the two discovery areas, with the result that mining development has progressed most rapidly in those localities. In the Antoine Creek area the Arkansas Quicksilver Co. has done considerable exploration work and has retorted the high-grade ore so obtained. In the Little Missouri area the Southwestern Quicksilver Co. has had a 12-ton rotary furnace in more or less continuous operation since April, 1932, and has been the largest producer in the district. In March, 1934, the United States Geological Survey began a study of the Arkansas quicksilver district, which was made possible by an allotment of funds from the Public Works Administration. Until

Jan 1, 1935

By J. C. Reed, J. M. Hansell

Cinnabar was discovered in southwestern Arkansas on Little Missouri River in sec. 1, T.7S., R.26W., in April, 1930, and near Antoine Creek in sec. 28, T.6S., R.23W., some 15 miles farther east in May of the same year. It was not, however, until June, 1931, that cinnabar was identified as such in a specimen from the original discovery area sent to W. M. Weigell by Walter F. Hintze of Murfreesboro. Almost simultaneously2, in July, 1931, Moritz Norden of Hot Springs identified specimens from the Antoine Creek area as cinnabar. Immediate interest in the district followed the identification of cinnabar and by January, 1932, the district was known to extend as a mineralized belt about one mile wide trending east-northeast from sec. 13, T.7S., R.27W., in Howard County across central Pike County and into Clark County to sec. 19, T.6S., R.23W., thence extending southeast into sections 33 and 34 of the same township. Since then, cinnabar has been found in sec. 6, T.7S., R.22W., thus giving a total east-west length to the district of approximately 30 miles. Interest focused mainly on the two discovery areas, with the result that mining development has progressed most rapidly in those localities. In the Antoine Creek area the Arkansas Quicksilver Co. has done considerable exploration work and has retorted the high-grade ore so obtained. In the Little Missouri area the Southwestern Quicksilver Co. has had a 12-ton rotary furnace in more or less continuous operation since April, 1932, and has been the largest producer in the district. In March, 1934, the United States Geological Survey began a study of the Arkansas quicksilver district, which was made possible by an allotment of funds from the Public Works Administration. Until

Jan 1, 1935

Cinnabar was discovered in southwestern Arkansas on Little Missouri River in sec. 1, T.7S., R.26W., in April, 1930, and near Antoine Creek in sec. 28, T.6S., R.23W., some 15 miles farther east in May of the same year. It was not, however, until June, 1931, that cinnabar was identified as such in a specimen from the original discovery area sent to W. M. Weigell by Walter F. Hintze of Murfreesboro. Almost simultaneously2, in July, 1931, Moritz Norden of Hot Springs identified specimens from the Antoine Creek area as cinnabar. Immediate interest in the district followed the identification of cinnabar and by January, 1932, the district was known to extend as a mineralized belt about one mile wide trending east-northeast from sec. 13, T.7S., R.27W., in Howard County across central Pike County and into Clark County to sec. 19, T.6S., R.23W., thence extending southeast into sections 33 and 34 of the same township. Since then, cinnabar has been found in sec. 6, T.7S., R.22W., thus giving a total east-west length to the district of approximately 30 miles. Interest focused mainly on the two discovery areas, with the result that mining development has progressed most rapidly in those localities. In the Antoine Creek area the Arkansas Quicksilver Co. has done considerable exploration work and has retorted the high-grade ore so obtained. In the Little Missouri area the Southwestern Quicksilver Co. has had a 12-ton rotary furnace in more or less continuous operation since April, 1932, and has been the largest producer in the district. In March, 1934, the United States Geological Survey began a study of the Arkansas quicksilver district, which was made possible by an allotment of funds from the Public Works Administration. Until

Jan 1, 1935

By J. C. Reed, J. M. Hansell

Cinnabar was discovered in southwestern Arkansas on Little Missouri River in sec. 1, T.7S., R.26W., in April, 1930, and near Antoine Creek in sec. 28, T.6S., R.23W., some 15 miles farther east in May of the same year. It was not, however, until June, 1931, that cinnabar was identified as such in a specimen from the original discovery area sent to W. M. Weigell by Walter F. Hintze of Murfreesboro. Almost simultaneously2, in July, 1931, Moritz Norden of Hot Springs identified specimens from the Antoine Creek area as cinnabar. Immediate interest in the district followed the identification of cinnabar and by January, 1932, the district was known to extend as a mineralized belt about one mile wide trending east-northeast from sec. 13, T.7S., R.27W., in Howard County across central Pike County and into Clark County to sec. 19, T.6S., R.23W., thence extending southeast into sections 33 and 34 of the same township. Since then, cinnabar has been found in sec. 6, T.7S., R.22W., thus giving a total east-west length to the district of approximately 30 miles. Interest focused mainly on the two discovery areas, with the result that mining development has progressed most rapidly in those localities. In the Antoine Creek area the Arkansas Quicksilver Co. has done considerable exploration work and has retorted the high-grade ore so obtained. In the Little Missouri area the Southwestern Quicksilver Co. has had a 12-ton rotary furnace in more or less continuous operation since April, 1932, and has been the largest producer in the district. In March, 1934, the United States Geological Survey began a study of the Arkansas quicksilver district, which was made possible by an allotment of funds from the Public Works Administration. Until

Jan 1, 1935

By Richard E. Chism

Some years ago, when I was seeking an illusive fortune and gaining a precarious existence in the primeval forests of Brazil, there penetrated, even to my headquarters in that far-off land, the story of a new-found mining district, where mountain peaks were ribbed with silver, and valleys teemed with virgin gold. Such were the stories that caused hundreds of men to seek their fortune in Sierra Mojada, and to return heaping curses, loud and deep, upon the vivid imaginations that had evolved the glittering fiction. Nevertheless, the rumors had some foundation of truth. The ribs of silver exist, if not the placers of gold; and a flourishing town, of some three thousand people, with two leading mining companies and several smaller ones, in operation, represents what was permanent in the excitement of 1879. Geographical Situation. The town of Sierra Mojada is situated in the State of Coahuila, Republic of Mexico, in latitude 27' 24' N., and longitude 26' 40' W. of Washington, 4' 36' W. of the City of Mexico, and 103' 43' TV. of Greenwich. It lies about 70 miles, in an air-line, N. E. of Escalon station, on the Mexican Central Railroad; but by the present wagon-road, which makes a long detour to turn the mountain range, the distance to the station is about 105 miles. The nearest towns are Huajuquilla, in the State of Chihuahua, about 125 miles due west, and Cuatro Cienegas, in the State of Coahuila, 112 miles to the eastward. Between these points and the town of Sierra Mojada, and to the north of this town, the country is an immense desert, entirely uncultivated, almost uninhabited, and very little known. This

Jan 1, 1887

By Alden B. Greninger, Victor G. Mooradian

Microscopic examinations of quenched (beta) 60:40 copper-zinc and quenched (beta) 74:26 copper-tin alloys have frequently disclosed long, thin parallel bands or markings within the polyhedral beta grains. Apparently, it has been accepted that these markings are mechanical twin bands, although there is no published account of experimental data that might tend to substantiate this belief for the copper-zinc system, and only meager evidence has been submitted for the copper-tin system. Johnsonl0 commented upon the markings he observed after deforming a quenched brass of 55.6 per cent copper and 44.4 per cent zinc. Clark's papers4 on the heat-treatment of Muntz metal contain many photomicrographs of markings in beta brass; these she referred to as Neumann bands (inasmuch as repolishing and re-etching failed to remove them) and stated that markings present in Muntz metal as quenched were the result of shock imparted during the polishing operation. Van Wert18 first suggested that these parallel markings in quenched beta brass (60:40) might be alpha precipitated along certain crystallographic planes of the matrix lattice. He showed that upon reheating the specimens to temperatures below 800" C., obvious precipitation of alpha within the large beta grains first occurred at the markings. In a discussion of this paper, Phillips stated (pp. 505-507) that in his opinion the markings observed by Van Wert were mechanical twins resulting from contraction strains produced during the quenching operation. In a study of segregate structures in beta copper-tin, Smith17 observed that in the quenched beta phase (containing 74.92 per cent Cu) parallel . bands or markings very similar to those in metastable beta brass could be

Jan 1, 1938

By Alden B. Greninger, Victor G. Mooradian

Microscopic examinations of quenched (beta) 60:40 copper-zinc and quenched (beta) 74:26 copper-tin alloys have frequently disclosed long, thin parallel bands or markings within the polyhedral beta grains. Apparently, it has been accepted that these markings are mechanical twin bands, although there is no published account of experimental data that might tend to substantiate this belief for the copper-zinc system, and only meager evidence has been submitted for the copper-tin system. Johnsonl0 commented upon the markings he observed after deforming a quenched brass of 55.6 per cent copper and 44.4 per cent zinc. Clark's papers4 on the heat-treatment of Muntz metal contain many photomicrographs of markings in beta brass; these she referred to as Neumann bands (inasmuch as repolishing and re-etching failed to remove them) and stated that markings present in Muntz metal as quenched were the result of shock imparted during the polishing operation. Van Wert18 first suggested that these parallel markings in quenched beta brass (60:40) might be alpha precipitated along certain crystallographic planes of the matrix lattice. He showed that upon reheating the specimens to temperatures below 800" C., obvious precipitation of alpha within the large beta grains first occurred at the markings. In a discussion of this paper, Phillips stated (pp. 505-507) that in his opinion the markings observed by Van Wert were mechanical twins resulting from contraction strains produced during the quenching operation. In a study of segregate structures in beta copper-tin, Smith17 observed that in the quenched beta phase (containing 74.92 per cent Cu) parallel . bands or markings very similar to those in metastable beta brass could be

Jan 1, 1938

By H. H. Richardson, E. H. Dix

Of all the alloying elements used in commercial aluminum alloys, copper stands out as by far the most important, and it is perhaps for this reason that the constitution of the aluminum-copper system has received the attention of a number of experimenters covering a period of approximately 20 years. It would be expected that during this time the equilibrium relations would have been thoroughly and exactly worked out. In a general way this is true, but there is a surprising lack of agreement in the details of the high aluminum end of the diagram, particularly in regard to the solid solubility of copper in aluminum, which has been given variously as 2 per cent. to 5 per cent. at the eutectic temperature. The importance of this is much greater than might at first appear to one unfamiliar with modern commercial aluminum alloys. This is true because, with one exception, the susceptibility of the strong alloys to heat treatment depends, in part at least, upon the solid solubility relations of copper in aluminum. In 1919, Merica, Waltenberg, and Freeman1 published the first detailed information on these solubility relations. They found that the solubility of copper decreases with falling temperature from about 4 per cent. at 525" C. to about 1 per cent. at 300" C. and is apparently still diminishing at lower temperatures. In 1921 there was published a brief account of the results obtained in the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, England.2 This laboratory, however, reported that 5 per cent. of copper is soluble in aluminum at 540" C., and that this amount decreases to about 3 per cent. at 20" C. In the same year Ohtani and Hemmi3 reported a solubility of 4.8 per cent. copper at 520" C., 2.6 per cent. at 460" C. and 1.5 per cent. at 420" C.

Jan 1, 1926

By K. H. Heino

Two 200 T/da Lurgi Turbulent Layer fluid-bed roasters have been in operation at Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited since 1966. Zinc concentrate containing 52-54% Zn, 9-11% Fe,31-33% S is treated to produce calcine containing 60-62% Zn,10-12% Fe, .l-.3% S as sulphide and .8-1.2% S as sulphate. Each roaster train comprises a waste heat boiler, two cyclones in parallel and a two-field electrostatic precipitator. Distribution of calcine collected is 10-15 percent from bed overflow, 55-65 percent from boilers, 20-25 percent from cyclones and 2-6 percent from precipitators. A Monsanto designed contact plant produces acid at a rated capacity of 365 T/da (100% H2304 basis) from roaster gases diluted to 7.0-7.5% S02. The process steps are gas cleaning and cooling by weak acid scrubbing, acid mist removal in electrostatic precipitators, gas drying in 93.5-96.5% H2304, conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide in a four-pass converter containing vanadium pentoxide catalyst, and absorption of the sulphur trioxide in 98.1-98.3% H2S04. Product acid is 93.2% H2S04. Conversion efficiency is 97-98 percent and overall sulphur recovery from concentrate is 87-90 percent. The adjacent fertilizer plant has a capacity of 135 T/da of P205. The products are 54 percent phosphoric acid, run-of-pile triple superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate. The plant is of Ugine-Kuhlman design and consists of an air-cooled multiple tank reactor, a tilting pan filter, and a forced circultation vacuum evaporator. Triple superphosphate is made on a continuous belt and partially cured in a rotary dryer. Diammonium phosphate is produced by ammoniating phosphoric acid in a single stage reactor. The slurry of ammonium phosphate is granulated in a blunger and dried.

Jan 1, 1970

By H. D. Wilde

DURING 1934 conditions in the production division of the petroleum industry were reasonably satisfactory but nevertheless a decided feeling of insecurity existed largely because of the uncertainty of controlling production to consumptive demand. Over-production, especially in the East Texas field, threatened a general collapse of crude prices but in spite of this, posted prices were high. Stimulated by the prevailing posted prices, wildcatting activities were wide-spread. Although a number of small discoveries were made, particularly in the Gulf Coast belt and Oklahoma, no fields of major importance, unless it was the Fitts pool in Southern Oklahoma, were brought in. Meanwhile, the Petroleum Division of the A.I.M.E. continued its activities. It sponsored the collection of production and geological data on both foreign and domestic fields. The data on all but a few producing districts in the world were published in the "Petroleum Development and Technology" volume of the "Transactions" and comprise one of the most complete tabula¬tions of this sort ever published. Work of this kind is being continued.

Jan 1, 1935

By E. R. Helderman, C. Y. Ang, C. C. Nealey

Beryllium-base alloys have been successfully p7.-epared by the liquid-phase sintering technique. Depending orz the composition and amount of the intended liquid please, microstructures either single -phase or duplex in feature with randomly oriented grains have been obtained. Qualitative and semi-qualitative determination of distribution of alloying elements md microsegregations in some experi)uzental alloys haue been made by electron-micro-probe analysis in conjunction with microliardness testing and standard metallography. Tensile tests reoealed that some conzpositions possess attractive elastic properties with Young's mot1uli greater than 40 X 10' psi. In powder metallurgy, liquid-phase sintering is a process or phenomenon that has proven to be of practical value. For example, the heavy metals such as tungsten-copper-nickel, high-strength heavy gyro alloys,' heavy-duty electrical contacts,' and tungsten carbide tool materials are all products of liquid-phase sintering. Mechanisms involved in liquid-phase sintering, however, are not completely understood. Questions regarding the exact roles played by rearrangement of particles, liquid/vapor surface energy, solution and precipitation, and so forth, have not been completely answered. Evidence has been cited3 that at least volume shrinkage in the densification process is diffusion-controlled. It is possible that the predominant mechanisms for the complete densification and grain growth in a liquid-phase sintered system depend primarily on the alloy systems involved, in addition to processing conditions. Despite the lack of sound understanding of the mechanisms of the process, liquid-phase sintering has been and is being used to advantage either to synthesize microstructures for their special properties or to prepare alloys which are difficult to form by fusion process. Liquid-phase sintering of beryllium alloys was first attempted by Jones and Williams.4 They first tried infiltrating beryllium with magnesium, and then succeeded in preparing the alloy by sintering Be-Mg powder compact in molten magnesium bath. This investigation resulted in the identification of some Mg-Be intermediate phases. Crossley et a1.5 also used liquid-phase sintering technique in an attempt to produce ductile beryllium alloys for structural applications. The major liquid-phase components investigated by Crossley et al. were aluminum and silver with minor additives of germanium, calcium, lanthanum, cerium, and yttrium. The lack of wetting and the bleeding out of liquid phase were the difficulties encountered during experimentation. According to Hodge,6 the two compositions investigated by Crossley, which showed some promise based on compression tests, involved large amounts (over 35 wt pct) of silver, thus making them too heavy to be of practical interest to the aerospace industry and military users. The present investigation was prompted by the search for light-weight (density less than aluminum) beryllium alloys exhibiting small anisotropy in physical properties for precision inertial navigation instrument applications. In addition to isotropy, good structural properties such as high elastic modulus or desirable combination of mechanical and physical properties are also objectives of this investigation. The technique of liquid-phase sintering was chosen for its versatility in producing either duplex or homogeneous microstructures. This report is concerned with the use of copper and aluminum, with or without silicon addition, as the intended liquid phase, and the resultant micro-structures and some physical properties of the beryllium alloys. Qualitative and semiquantitative electron-microprobe analyses of some of the alloys are presented to illustrate the usefulness of this microanalytical technique for the identification of microconstituents and their distribution. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES The beryllium powder used was -200 mesh Brush Beryllium Co. QMV NP-50 grade. Typical chemical analysis of the powder is shown in Table I. Commercial high-purity copper, aluminum, and silicon powders all screened to —100 mesh were used as additions. Mixed powder compositions were ball-milled in ceramic jars for 1/2 hr to ensure thorough blending. Milled powder was loaded either in 3/4-in.-diam button die or in Metal Powder Association flat tensile specimen die and compacted under top and bottom pressure. No lubricant or organic binder was used. Sintering was carried out in a quartz tube under a vacuum of 50 to 100 µ pressure. Surface hardness and some microhardness readings were taken on sintered specimens. Sintered density was

Jan 1, 1965

By A. Springer

Chemists, physicists and others, whose occupations necessitate the use of fine scales, have heretofore regretted their inability to obtain any which would remain uniformly accurate. The difference between the theoretical and the actual results obtained in the ordinary balance (provided the pivot-distances are exact) is mainly due to the frictional resistance between the knifeedges and their bearings. This frictional resistance, although reduced to a minimum in the finest scales when new, constantly increases, thereby decreasing the sensitiveness proportionately. When examined under the microscope, neither the surface of the knife-edge nor that of' its hearings ever appears perfectly smooth. Soft kunife-edges are easily blunted, whereas hard ones are brittle and liable to crumble under the effects of over-load or shock. Prof. Frederick A. Roeder for many years attempted to discover some means by ,which the knife-edge could be replaced with some device free from the above-mentioned objections. His experiments convinced him that a torsion-joint was best suited for that purpose. After he had communicated his conclusion to me, we jointly developed the system to its present form. A torsion-wire had been used for the centre of rotation, prior to Prof. Roeder's invention, but it was found impossible to replace the terminal knife-edges with torsion-joints.

Jan 1, 1884

By Robert S. Shoemaker

Receiving the Richards Award is undoubtedly the most memorable event in my entire life. There should, however, be more names engraved on it. These are the names of men who were my teachers (but not all of the academic variety) and my friends, each of whom had a part in my ever continuing education and thus have a part of this award. There was Bill Caldwell who made me into a chemist, and Will Shorey who added a lot of ore dressing. There was Rush Spedden who put me to work in his minerals research lab, Joe Brennan who made me turn my research into plant practice, and Tom Meek who sent me all over the world on metallurgical jobs. Bob Cheatham and Abe Dor taught me to try to give the client what he needs rather than what he wants, while Ed Malouf and Casey Davis always gave their particular brand of advice at exactly the right time. And, lastly, there was Leo Abell and Frank McQuiston, both fine metallurgists and the best friends a man could have. In addition to those I have mentioned, there are literally scores of others I would like to acknowledge with my sincere appreciation.

Jan 6, 1974

By James Gayley

The development of blast-furnace practice in America in the direction of large yields is mainly the history of our working since the year 1880, as the advancement that has been made in the last decade is greater than that in the third of a century previous. A new era in the manufactnre of pig-iron began in 1880 with the putting in blast of the Edgar Thomson furnaces. These furnaces at once leaped to the front as pig-iron producers, and have maintained that position—with but one brief interruption—ever since. I shall, therefore, confine myself mainly to a description of these works, showing the changes in design and practice by which these results have been achieved. In order to show more clearly the progress that has been made since 1880, I shall refer briefly to the best work that was done in the ten years previous to that time. The Struthers furnace, in Ohio, was one of the first to attract attention in the matter of large outputs. This furnace was 55 feet high, 16 feet in diameter of bosh, 9 feet in the hearth, and about 8 feet 6 inches at the stock-line. The fuel was raw coal. This furnace, in December, 1871, made 1602

Jan 1, 1891

By William I. Watson

Problems encountered in beneficiating mineral raw materials become increasingly difficult as there is a shift to lower grade and more complex raw materials, and because of the economic need to strive for ever higher recoveries, higher grade products, and lower processing costs. Methods of attacking the many problems should include not only the familiar chemical and physical tests and equipment, but such techniques as X-ray analysis, infra-red analysis, differential thermal analysis, and the use of electron and X-ray microscopes. Many people in the mineral-treating field are unfamiliar with these newer methods and techniques. The differential thermal analysis method, in particular, does not seem to be very well known, even though it offers interesting possibilities in the study of many ore treatment problems.

Jan 7, 1959

By Erland Johnson

BRINE was discovered at Avery Island, La., in 1790, but it was not until 1862 that rock salt was found about 13 ft below surface-the first discovery of rock salt on the continent. Maximum elevation of the island is 152 ft and elevation at the shaft 31 ft. The mining level is 530 ft below elevation at the shaft and the shallowest salt about 12 ft below surface. A shaft was sunk in 1869 when the mining operation started. In 1898 the present shaft was sunk, and the mine has been operated by International Salt Co. ever since.

Jan 6, 1957

By Evan Evans

IT is appropriate to evaluate 1947 in review as a year of a peacetime record production of about 676,000,000 tons of coal (anthracite and bituminous), closely approaching the extraordinary wartime output in 1944. Considering the general price-wage inflation, it is in point to note that the coal industry sustained the highest wages paid to workers in any major industry, but that coal prices at wholesale levels have risen much less percentage wise than the average for all commodities. The sellers' market continues to prevail. In addition to serving our own country's enormous needs, our coal industry is exporting extraordinary tonnages overseas. This unusual export demand is likely to continue for a while. Moreover, the demand in Europe for American coal mining machinery is a real tribute to the management efficiency of our modern mechanized coal industry. Competitively, the petroleum industry is concerned over its long-term supply, and already a synthetic fuels industry is being publicly advocated. In due time coal and lignite are bound to be

Jan 1, 1948