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By Ernst M. Cohn

The demonstrations of the "Silent Sentry" by Union Carbide Corp. in 1957 and of a special tractor-plow by Allis-Chalmers in 1959 ushered in the technology era of fuel cells. The idea for direct conversion of chemical to electrical energy, first published in 1801 by Davy in England and Ritter in Germany, has been kept alive by a few people through 150 years: Grove built the first hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell in 1839; Mond and Langer made electrolyte contributions around 1890 that are still used today; Baur worked on coal-based cells from 1900; Bacon started his work in the '30's, which resulted in the first multi-kilowatt unit in the '50's; Davtyan studied molten-salt electrolytes in the '40's, followed by Ketelaar in the '50's; and Justi developed highly active electrodes in the '50's, to name only some of the pioneers. Despite the tremendous increase in research and development of fuel cells, these direct energy converters are still in their infancy. They will find their functional application in space, where power density must be maximized and product water utilized. These early systems will provide valuable experience in system engineering and reliability.

Jan 9, 1964

By P. H. Metzger, D. W. Fuerstenau

The activation of sphalerite was found to occur at a much lower rate with Pb++ then with Cut++ or Ag+. To prevent activation with Pb++, the ratio [m in solution must approximate 103. An example is given illustrating how this condition is met in practice through the addition of zinc sulfate and soda ash. In selective lead-zinc flotation, the mill operator, especially the one who is concentrating a partially oxidized ore, often must add zinc sulfate and/or soda ash for effective depression of the sphalerite. In the present paper the authors show how this practice prevents the activation of sphalerite in the presence of Pb++. A number of years ago Gaudin (1) postulated that Zn++ might control the activation of sphalerite with Pb++ through competitive adsorption. However, recent experimentation has shown the activation of sphalerite with Ag+ and Cut++ to be a chemical reaction in which silver or copper ions replace zinc in the sphalerite lattice through the formation of a more insoluble sul-fide (2,3,4) Thus, if activation with Pb++ is similar to that with Ag+ or Cu t+, zinc salts should control the activation of sphalerite not through competitive adsorption but because the ratio of [zn++/Pb++] in solution regulates the extent of the chemical exchange between Zn++ and Pb++ in the solid phase. The objective of this investigation has been to study the kinetics and equilibrium conditions for the uptake of Pb++ by sphalerite and to investigate the prevention of lead activation with zinc salts. BASIC PRINCIPLES Sphalerite activation has been shown to be a replacement reaction wherein a less soluble compound is formed at the expense of the more soluble zinc sul-fide (2,3,4) For example, if sphalerite is placed in an aqueous silver nitrate solution, ZnS gives to the solution more S= than can exist together with Ag+, and hence the following reaction takes place: ZnS + 2 Ag+? Ag2 S + Zn ++; k = [zn ++]/[Ag ++]2 = 10 26 (1) Therefore, ZnS will dissolve in the presence of Ag+ and activation of sphalerite with Ag+ will proceed after monolayer coverage by solid state diffusion until equilibrium conditions are reached in the system (2, 4) Because of the large difference in the solubility of ZnS and Ag2S, zinc salts cannot affect the reaction unless a complexing agent, such as cyanide ions, is present to complex Ag+ more tightly than Zn++ . By complexing Ag+ and Zn++ in solution, the uptake of Ag+ by sphalerite can be regulated by controlling the ratio m. . Experimentally (2) it was found that the activation of sphalerite by Ag+ could be prevented through the addition of NaCN if this ratio reached a value of approximately 10 26. The mechanism of sphalerite activation with copper salts is given by the following reactions: ZnS + Cu ++ ? CuS + Zn + + ; (2) k = [Zn++]/[Cu++] = 10 11 ZnS + Cu + ? Cu2S+ Zn++; (3) Experimentally Mao (3) found that the activation of sphalerite with Cu++ or Cu + was prevented if the ratios expressed in Equations 2 and 3 were approximately l09 and l022, respectively, with cyanide ions as the deactivator. Although zinc salts do not affect the activation of sphalerite with silver or copper ions in the absence of a complexing agent, activation with lead ions theoretically can be controlled by the addition of zinc salts because of the relatively small differences between the solubility of ZnS and PbS (5). Equilibrium

Jan 1, 1961

By D. L. H. Forbes

(New York Meeting, February, 1912.) Introduction.. THE application of the cyanide process to complex sulphide ores for the extraction of their bold and silver is no longer a novelty, but, as an example showing modern tendencies in this direction, the following description of the new milling process at the Lucky-Tiger mine is offered: The extraordinary richness of the ore in the upper workings of this mine made any thought of milling in its early hays seen unnecessary. Its location in an almost inaccessible part of the rugged mountains just south of the Arizona boundary-line, and 60 miles from the town of Douglas, made the expense of bringing in machinery and supplies a very serious consideration. But, after the property had been shipping high-grade ore on mule-back for a few years, there remained in the mine a considerable tonnage of vein-matter that was too low in value to ship, but which it was thought could be milled near the mine at a profit. The first milling-experiment consisted in the installation of Nissen stamps in conjunction with concentrating-tables and Frue vanners, but, as the ore from the upper workings contained most of its silver in the form of cerargyrite, this type of mill was not successful. The proximity of the mine to the great copper-concentrating mills of Cananea and Moctezuma naturally made the influence of copper-milling, ideas felt in the company's next installation. At considerable expense a stage-crushing concentrating-mill, with a capacity of 100 tons per day, was built. This mill was modeled along the lines of the most approved practice in copper-concentrators at that time, the main idea being that crushing by stages in rolls was necessary in order to prevent losses from ?sliming." Largely owing to the fact that, when the mill

Aug 1, 1912

By Ellsworth Daggett

In the first paper on the Russell process presented by Mr. Stetefeldt, in May, 1884 (Transactions, xiii.), the process was treated from a purely theoretical standpoint.. 111 his second paper of October, 1886 (Transactions, xv,), the details of the plant, the chemicals used, and the manipulation in both mill and laboratory were treated. The aim of the present paper is to present economical results recently attained, new data affecting the preparation and manipulation of ore in the mill, and a more complete and systematic scheme of laboratory work. This paper is compiled mainly from Mr. Russell's notes of his own experience. Many of these notes, particularly those relating to work at Cusihuiriachic,* Mexico, have been upon work directly under the personal observation of the compiler, who takes pleasure in thus presenting to the Institute, data and considerations of much interest and value pot only to users of the Russell process, but to mill men generally. The description of the chemicals used and of the preparation of the mill-solutions being' in part the same now as when Mr. Stetefeldt's second paper was published, some use is here made of portions of that paper. No theoretical matter is here given. For a treatise containing also the theory of the process the reader is referred to Mr. Stetefeldt's complete work on " Lixiviation of Silver Ores by Hyposulphite Solutions," now in preparation. To facilitate the consultation of this paper, the following synopsis and index is prefixed. The figures in parenthesis indicate the page of this paper on which the subject is treated.

Jan 1, 1888

Jan 1, 1961

Two sessions during the recent AMC Mining Convention in Los Angeles, September 23-26, served to update industry personnel on the status of health and safety regulations in the US. As reflected by the American Mining Congress resolution on mine safety and health, "Based on experience with the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, (AMC) does not believe that laws designed to force compliance with regulations through the imposition of criminal or civil penalties will result in safer mines. (AMC) feels that the government's participation will be much more productive if greater emphasis is placed on research, training, and inspections aimed primarily at assisting operators and employees in recognizing and eliminating hazardous conditions and practices.

Jan 11, 1979

By Ralph H. Sweetser

MUCH progress in -blast-furnace construction and in the manufacture of firebrick for furnace linings has been made since the publication of Bulletin 130 of the U. S. Bureau of Mines on "Blast-Furnace Breakouts, Explosions and Slips, and Methods of Prevention," by F. H. Willcox in 1917. At the time of publishing this report comparatively little information was available to blast-furnace men as to the fundamental facts relating to the character of blast-furnace refractories. Some of the accepted theories of only a few years ago have been completely reversed. The mortality of blast-furnace linings used to be so great that nearly every furnace plant had one or more complete linings in the brick shed ready for use in case of a lining suddenly "going out"; it was generally accepted that a furnace could not "keep her lines" more than two or three years at best, and often a hot spot in the shell would develop, or a breakout occur in the hearth or bosh within a year or two after blowing in on a new lining. In some respects these frequent relinings were not so detrimental as to he a complete loss because they afforded opportunities to take advantage of advances in blast-furnace practice. At present the cost of relining has greatly increased, but the life of a lining has also increased. Anything less than five years on a lining is now considered a short blast.

Jan 1, 1932

By B. C. Allen, R. I. Jaffee, D. J. Maykuth

Wrought unalloyed iodide chromium, containing 39 to 95 ppm total interstitials, has a tensile transition temperature of —15°C. Re crystallizing at 1100°C causes the transition to rise to 90° to 390°C, depending on the purity, grain size, and cooling rate after annealing. At about the 100 ppm level, individual additions of carbon or nitrogen raise the transition of both wrought and recrystallized chromium by as much as 210°C, while oxygen has a lesser effect, and sulfur essentially no effect. High transitzon temperatures are exhibited by recrystallized and quenched chromium, and appear to be associated with the amount and distribution of inter-stitials. The latter cm be either in solid solution or in the form of precipitates within the grains or at the grain boundaries. Quench hardening in chromium is primarily caused by nitrogen. The hardness, re crystallization, and grain growth behavior of chromium with and without impurity additions were also investigated. BECAUSE of low density and good oxidation resistance, chromium-base alloys are potentially useful for elevated-temperature applications. The main deterrent to the use of chromium in structural applications is its lack of low-temperature ductility, especially in the recrystallized condition. Accumulated evidence has shown that the ductility of chromium is sensitive to purity. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of common nonmetallic impurities on the tensile properties of high purity chromium. The separate effects of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur additions on the ductile-to-brittle transition were evaluated for wrought and recrystallized material after various cooling rates. EXPERIMENTAL WORK Unalloyed iodide chromium and seven impurity alloys containing individual carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur additions were prepared in rod form. Nominal additions were 100 ppm C, N, and S, and 100 to 500 ppm O. The additions were about a factor of ten greater than the residual amounts in the unalloyed material. The seven alloys and two unalloyed compositions were consolidated into four-pound ingots by conventional consumable arc melting of pressed and welded electrodes under 0.5 atm of helium. Impurity additions were made to the electrode in the form of crushed master alloys. The impurity alloys were double melted to improve homogeneity. The ingots were broken down by extrusion at 1200°C in evacuated steel cans at a reduction ratio of 18 :1, using a molten borosilicate glass lubricant and a ram speed of 80 in. per min. The cans were removed by acid pickling, and the chromium core ground free of surface undulations. Cut lengths were sheathed in mild steel and swaged at 900°C until the core was about 1/4 in. in diam. Two additional 15-lb ingots of unalloyed chromium (ICr-3, ICr-4) were prepared by arc melting and broken down by 26:1 extrusion at 1250°C without a steel can. The billet was lubricated and protected from contamination by a coating of molten glass. The resulting extrusion was then sheath swaged as described previously. Representative chemical analyses of each of the materials, after removal of a 10-mil surface layer

Jan 1, 1963

By Eugene Stephenson

CRITICAL analyses of the work expended in producing oil by the utilization of gas energy have appeared in the publications of Shaw,1 Pierce and Lewis,2 and Herold,3 authors who have ably discussed the factors which must be taken into consideration in comparing energy consumed per barrel in various wells which are flowed by means of gas-lift. However, two distinct phases of oil production are concerned with the ratio of gas energy consumed to oil produced. One of these phases is the gas-lift, which utilizes the differential gas pressures for the purpose of flowing oil, whether these pressures be natural reservoir pressures or be induced by artificial compression of gas or air. The other phase has to do with prorating oil production in pools which are operated either as units, or are subject to such restrictions as those imposed at Oklahoma City by the Corporation Commission, or, by similar controlling groups in other fields. An abundance of literature is available relative to the problems of flowing wells by gas-lift, but the first suggestion that the energy of the gas within the oil and gas pool might serve as a basis for proration, appeared in the timely article by McWilliams.4 Much of the. dissatisfaction with proration in certain fields is because some operators feel that besides the hazard to the wells which accompanies the test, the method of allocating production on the basis of the "potential" gage is inequitable and gives some operators a distinct advantage over others.5 The most severe penalty may be exacted from the most progressive operators or those who attempt to produce their oil with a minimum quantity of reservoir gas. If :no difficulties ever

Jan 1, 1931

By I. C. Edwards, G. E. Agar

INTRODUCTION Many research efforts over the past years have been devoted to the study of energy consumption in comminution and the characteristics of the broken material. The old "laws" have been superseded by more general methods of analysis1,2,3 but these methods have not received much attention outside the laboratory. The work to be described here was done in order to obtain scale-up information on wet rod milling of sylvinite. EXPERIMENTAL A 30 x 51 in. Denver rod mill with a scoop feeder was used for these tests. Ore was fed from a variable speed screw conveyor into the feed box along with saturated brine. The mill was filled to approximately 45% of its volume with 2400 lbs of a mixed rod charge. The minimum possible feed rate was 2.5 tph and the practical maximum for this mill was 8 tph. Individual tests were run by setting the solid feed rate, then adjusting the brine flow rate to give the desired pulp density. After steady state, as evidenced by constant discharge pulp density, had been reached, samples of the discharge were taken at 15-minute intervals. These samples were filtered, washed with alcohol, dried, then screened on Tyler screens using a Ro-tap shaker. The sylvinite feed was regular plant feed that had been scalped at 20 mesh and was tapped from the coarse ore bins. It had been previously passed through a roll crusher set at 3 inches and after scalping was essentially minus 1 in. plus 20 mesh. RESULTS The screen analysis of samples from each series of tests was plotted on double logarithmic scale paper to determine the reliability of the series. In some cases, a faulty sample or screening procedure dictated that the results of one test be discarded. The criterion is a simple one — if the slope of one plot was noticeably different from the others in the series, it was discarded. The only cases that caused difficulty were those in which the brine was not thoroughly displaced from the solids. When this occurred agglomerates were easily identified on the screens and the whole of the sample was retained on 3 or 4 screens. There were no border line cases. The number N given in Table 1 is the number of size analyses that were pooled to form the data shown in Fig. 1. While examining the reliability of the sizing and sampling by plotting the data, it became apparent that there was no significant difference between grinds made at 50 and 60% solids. For the analysis given here, these tests were regarded

Jan 1, 1967

By Wilbur S. Burbank, Robert G. Leudke

The impressive western San Juan Mountains of Colorado were carved by Pleistocene and Recent erosion from a thick blanket of Tertiary volcanic rocks that rests upon a basement of metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Tertiary. These rocks record a long, complex, and fairly complete sequence of geologic events that have affected the region through much of geologic time. The geologic history of the region includes several periods of deformation, erosion, and igneous activity; closely associated with two of these periods were two periods of mineralization. The older of these was related to Late Cretaceous-early Tertiary (Laramide) intrusive activity, and its deposits occur in the older sedimentary units. The younger, of later Tertiary age and related to the widespread middle Tertiary extrusive and intrusive activity, is the chief concern of this paper. Tertiary volcanism built a great plateau surrounding the San Juan volcanic depression, a complex of subsided crustal blocks in the vent areas. The Silverton and Lake City cauldrons, nested within the larger depression, were domed by resurgent magma that created keystone grabens along the distended crests of the domed floors and many postcauldron radial and concentric fractures, dikes, and intrusive plutons within and marginal to the cauldron sites. The postvolcanic evolution of large quantities of gases, chiefly carbon dioxide and water, propylitically altered the rocks in and around the volcanic depression prior to the younger period of ore deposition. The ore deposits, localized mainly in the radial and concentric fractures about the cauldrons and in the associated graben faults, include fissure veins, chimneys, replacements, and disseminations in volcanic and underlying basement rocks. Fissure veins, constituting the major economic source, yielded precious- and basemetal ores. Most veins are compound with sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite; some veins contain silver-bearing arsenical sulfosalts and free gold. These minerals occur in predominantly quartz gangue. However, gangues composed of several manganese silicates and carbonates and relatively· barren of metals are abundant locally and probably originated by alteration of rocks at roots of faults and fissures during evolution of carbonatic solutions. The bulk of the ores are hypogene and probably had their source in deep parent magmas of the shallow eruptive rocks. Total production since the early 1870's has exceeded half a billion dollars in recovered metals, with a ratio of precious- to base-metal values of about 3 to 2. Since 1930, improvements in metallurgical treatment and mining techniques have increased the base-metal yield.

Jan 1, 1968

By T. Wasson

The same limitations' that characterized 1931 existed in the old fields of Indiana and Illinois during 1932. Prices remained low. The average for the year for Illinois and southwestern Indiana was $1.032 as against $0.852 for 1931 and $1.616 for 1930. In September a curtailment of production of about 25 per cent became effective and was continued to the end of the year. There were no new discoveries and very little wildcatting was done. Considering the age of the wells, and the number still producing, there were few abandonments. The most outstanding thing about the old fields in these states is their long continued productivity. Illinois The fields along the southeast end of the LaSalle anticline had their peak of 33,686,000 bbl. in 1908. In 1932, with a 25 per cent restriction for 355 months, these fields produced 4,661,000 bb1.l There were 52 new completions (most of them in old territory) and of these 33 were dry, 8 were gas, and 11 were oil wells. The new oil wells had a total initial of 102 bbl., or an average of 9.3 bbl. per well. Nineteen of the new producers were in Crawford County. There were about 200 wells abandoned in the old southeast fields in 1932 as compared to 210 in 1931. The greatest number, 86, were in Lawrence County. To the end of 1932, the four major counties—Clark, Crawford, Lawrence and Wabash—had produced almost 394,000,000 bbl. from 92,160 acres. Better than one-half of this was produced in Lawrence County from 26,240 acres. The Dupo area of Sinclair County had no additions to production although four wells were drilled. On the Jacksonville structure in Morgan County, six gas wells with an average depth of 300 ft. were drilled to sands in the base of the Pennsylvanian. They produced an open-flow total initial of 2,000,000 cu. ft. This gas will be developed further to supply a local market.

Jan 1, 1933

By WALTER VOIGTLANDER

FOR nearly 100 years wire rope has been fabricated in much the same way. To the great majority of mine superintendents wire rope is just wire rope, little or no semblance of individuality or identifying characteristics. Such an impression was fairly justified until three or four years ago when a practical means was found of performing or preshaping the wires and strands. This discovery permitted a revolutionary change in wire rope manufacture. Instead of merely twisting a number of wires into a strand, then twisting several strands into a complete rope (which twisting would naturally result in great internal strain, thus reducing the resiliency and over-all efficiency of the completed rope), the preformed wires and strands were laid in place without force or twisting. The obvious result was a rope more nearly approximating mechanical perfection. The applied loads are more evenly distributed throughout the component wires and strands, thus reducing unbalanced wire stresses. This results in a higher safety factor. The fact that preformed rope will not unravel when untied at the ends proves the absence of a torsional stress that exists in ordinary rope. A greater useful allowable stress in the wires is therefore possible in actual operating service.

Jan 1, 1926

By D. K. Deardorff, H. Kato

THE transformation temperature of hafnium from hcp to bcc is 1750° + 20 °C in contrast to previously published values by Duwez and fast2 which are believed inaccurate. The Bureau of Mines determined this value by measuring the temperatures at which a sudden decrease was observed in the electrical resistance of hafnium alloys containing up to 18 at. pct Zr, and then extrapolating the temperatures to 0 pct Zr. Duwez1 previously reported a transformation temperature of 1310°C, obtained by use of a rapid-cooling thermal-analysis technique. Later, Fast2 published a much higher value of 1950° 100°C based upon: a) his own determination of 1690°C for the beginning of the transformation range for hafnium containing 5.7 at. pct Zr, and b) his belief that lattice parameters reported3 for Duwez' hafnium indicated i contained 19 at. pct Zr and that the 1310°C value should be associated with that composition. Russell4 subsequently stated that Duwez and Fast probably were reporting their lattice parameters in different units and reassigned a value of 6.0 at. pct Zr to Duwez' hafnium. If this assumption were true, Duwez' hafnium was of approximately the same purity as Fast's, but his transformation value was considerably lower. The reason for this divergence is not known. Fast's value for hafnium containing 5.7 at. pct Zr agrees well with our data. McGeary5 determined a transformation value of 1660°C by metallographic examination of heat-treated specimens, but the zirconium content of his hafnium was not definitely established. The specimens used in this investigation were 1/8-in.-diam rods 6 1/2 in. long, fabricated by hot-swaging bars cut from arc-melted buttons. These buttons were melted from crystal bar hafnium and crystal bar zirconium. The chief impurity in the hafnium

Jan 1, 1960

By J. M. Dahl, L. H. Van Vlack

STAFF: Editor, Gerhard Derge Associate Editor, Paul G. Shewman Carnegie lnstitute of Technology Schenley Park Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213 Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmerski Production Editor, Otto T. Johnson THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: Jack H. Scoff, President; Richard C. Cole, Post-President; Harold B. Emerick, President-Elect; Ralph L. Hennebach, Treasurer; Robert W. Shearman, Secretary; Donald A. Parks, Assistant Secretary; Leslie S. Wilcoxson, Assistant Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: R. E. Lund, Chairman; T. E. Dancy, H. B. Emerick, P. R. Gouwens, R. E. Grace, J. H. Jackson, H. H. Johnson, A. E. Lee, Jr., R. R. Nosh, R. D. Pehlke, and Paul Queneau. Review and selection of monuscripts is under the supervision of the following Publications Committees: Extractive Metollurgy Division: R. E. Grace, Chairman; G. M. Bell, D. W. Bridges, J. M. Cigon, G. W. Healy, T. A. Henrie, R. D. Holli-day, C. E. O'Neill, C. S. Sami s, A. W. Schlech-ten, and Charles Shull . Iron and Steel Division: R. D. Pehlke, Chairman; T. P. Floridis, Arnulf Muon, G. R. St. Pierre, E. T. Tuckdogon, L. H.Von Vlack, and J. M. Uys. Institute of Metals Division: H. H. Johnson, Jr., Chairman; J. B. Clark, Vice Chairman; M. R. Achter, G. F. Bolling, J. O. Brittain, G. P. Conard, II, L. A. Girifolco. G. T. Hahn, J.P. Hirth, L. Himmel, G. T. Horne, George Krauss, C. F. Leitton, Jr., J. D. Livingston, R. D. Monning, H. M. Otte, S. V. Radcliffe, R. E. Reed-Hill, H. C. Rogers, O. Sherby, M. T. Simnod, G. R. Speich, E. A. Steigerwold, R. A. Swolin, W. A. Tiller, W. R. Upthegrove, J. B. Wagner, Jr., Derek Walton, H. W. Weart, W. W. Webb, and D. WiIsdorf. Published monthly by the American lnstitute of Mining, Metollurgicol, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York, N. Y. 10017. Telephone PLAZA 2-6800. Subscription $30 per year for non-AIME members in United States and North, South, and Central America; $32, foreign; $7.50 for AlME members. Single copies, $6.00, single copies foreign, $6.50. The AlME is not responsible for any statement mode or opinion expressed in its publications . . . Copyright 1965 by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. . . . Registered cable address, AlME New York . . . Indexed in Engineering Index, lndustrial Arts Index, and Chemical Abstracts . . Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y., and Ann Arbor, Mich. Volume 233, Number 1.

Jan 1, 1965

By Thomas Donnelly

Introduction THE Province of San Cristobal is situated on the south side of the island of Santo Domingo about 25 miles west of Santo Domingo city, the capital of the republic. The copper mineralization is found about 1.-CAMP BUCARO. THE TOP OF THE RIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND MARKS THE CONTACT OF THE LIMESTONE AND TUFFS. S miles north of the town of San Cristobal, in the section known as Bucaro Hill; in San Francisco Hill; on the Nigua River; and on the Jaina (Liver. The district is reached by automobile from Santo Domingo city over an excellent road for 25 miles to San Cristobal, and then, by horse-back 6 or 8 miles up the Nigua River to what is locally known as "Camp

Jan 8, 1915

By Donald H. McLaughlin

THE activity and enthusiasm of pioneers still prevail among workers in applied geophysics1.- Within the year, new devices have .been tried out, instruments and technique have been improved and the methods of application to commercial problems have been increased in many ingenious ways. There is still great need for more skillful interpretation of results in terms of geology, but oil the whole geophysical prospecting is making encouraging progress toward finding its proper place and function in engineering and geological practice. Spectacular successes continue to be reported, particularly .from the Gulf Coast, where the race for salt domes has not slackened, and encouraging results have been giined elsewhere in the mapping of structures in the search for oil. In the mining field, however, it can hardly be claimed that the same measure of success has been obtained, for brilliant efforts worthy of wide recognition have been overshadowed to some eatent by the unfortunate outcome of surveys undertaken unwisely without recognition of the limitations of the work. Consequently, hopes were aroused that could not be fulfilled, and it must be admitted in an impartial survey that there are a few regions, chiefly in the far north, where the standing of geophysical prospecting is somewhat doubtful and where the course of public opinion regarding it shows a certain similarity to the history of the market during the past few months. Reliable work, however, is steadily going 011 and it can confidently be expected that the methods will eventually be regarded in many regions as an essential part of the technique of securing geologic data needed for intelligent exploration.

Jan 1, 1930

By E. C. Burke, W. R. Hibbard

Plastic deformation in magnesium single crystals was studied by tensile tests at room temperature utilizing an improved preparation and testing technique. Consistent critical resolved shear stress values for basal slip were obtained. The advent of pyramidal slip at room temperature was rationalized upon the basis of grip constraints. A bend-twinning hypothesis was advanced as an explanation of mechanical twinning which occurs as a complex stress-relief mechanism. INVESTIGATIONS of the plastic deformation of magnesium have been limited to the determination of the fundamental kinetics which may be summarized as follows: 1—Twinning on the {102).l 2— Slip on the (001) plane in the [loo] direction at room temperature.' 3—Slip on the {101) or {102) plane in the [loo] direction above 225°C." 4—Critical resolved shear stresses for basal slip in tension at room temperature of 83 g per sq mm with a variation from 57 to 127 g per sq mm." Bakarian' studied the compression of thin wafers of magnesium single crystals and classified the components of the deformation mechanisms as follows: 1—The Basal field: (001) at an angle of less than 20" to the compression surface. Fracture along {101} or slip on (001) followed by {101} fracture. 2—The prism field: (001) at an angle greater than 60" to the compression surface. Twinning on the {102) generally occurring during the early stages of loading, basal slip in the areas of original orientation and (001) slip within twins. 3—The central field: (001) at angles greater than 20" but less than 60" to the compression surface. Slip on the (001). 4—The critical resolved shearing stress for {101} slip above 225°C was 400 g per sq mm. Observations of mechanical twins in hexagonal close-packed metals have been summarized by numerous investigatorsb-' emphasizing a lateral or rotational atomic adjustment, in addition to the pure twinning shear, and the importance of reorienting the basal plane to a position more favorable for continued slip, rather than the resulting small dimensional changes. Criterion for the operative twinning planes has not been clearly established. Schmid and Boas hurmised that an energy condition related to the atom movements is the determining factor. MillerQ bserved that twinning stresses in zinc crystals decreased as the amount of prior deformation increased. Preparation of Specimens Magnesium single crystals % in. in diam x 8 in. long were grown from the melt under an argon atmosphere in a gradient furnace similar to that described by Jillson." Magnesium containing 0.018

Jan 1, 1953

By Richard P. E. Hermsdorf

IN the nonferrous sessions this year, magnesium wiggled its way into a dace of prominence such as it has never before enjoyed. This was evidenced not only by the number of papers presented on that metal but by the attendance at the meetings. The atmosphere permeating these magnesium meetings was similar to that which exists in a family with a new baby. Everybody crowded around to see what it looked like and then wondered whether it would be a success and credit to the family. Well. magnesium appeared to be a vigorous youngster, full of life, and raring to go. A close relative of maenesium named " aluminum, although much more grown up, also attracted much attention. From the activity and spirit in these sessions

Jan 1, 1944

By Francis B. Foley

In examining steel under the microscope, one is constantly confronted with structures that are difficult to interpret. Recently, in a collection of samples for exhibition purposes, the writer found a piece of open-hearth runner metal, 2 in. (50 mm.) in diameter, that had been fractured for use as a sample of cast-steel structure. On polishing and etching a section for the purpose of photographing a field to typify the microstructure of steel in the "as cast" condition, a variety of structures was found (Fig. 1) so arranged as to arouse interest at once. For a distance of about 0.065 in. (1.6 mm.) from the skin of the runner, normal ingot structure was found (Fig. 2); this was followed by a zone, about 0.215 in. (5.5 mm.) wide, of considerably lower carbon content in which occurred a most pronounced Widmannstattian structure (Fig. 3); from this point on to the center of the runner, the metal was again of normal ingot structure (Fig. 4). Representative samples taken from the metal in the three zones showed the following analysis: Carbon Nickel Chromium Per Cent. Per Cent. PeR Cent. Metal from skin........................... 0.34 1.26 0.63 Widmannstattian zone.................... 0.21 1.18 0.63 Metal from center......................... 0.34 1.32 0.67 Such a condition might result from decarburization followed by recarburization of the skin. This section came from one of the branch runners to the bottom of the mold, not from the main runner, and it is difficult to conceive of decarburization occurring in this portion of a runner. If the metal were stripped while quite hot, some oxidation would take place but the recarburization is unaccounted for. It could not occur by segregation after solidification—the tendency then is for diffusion and homogeneity. The following seems to fit the conditions and is offered as an explanation. The outside layer of normal structure 0.065 in. (1.6 mm.) thick was chilled on the walls of the runner brick when the molten metal first entered the runner. As the molten metal flows by, the outside of the stream

Jan 1, 1920