Search Documents

By H. S. Rankin

THIS paper is condensed from several reports by members of the staff of the Minerals Testing Laboratory of the Tennessee Valley Author-ity, on a series of experimental tests in the beneficiation of barite of the Valley area. These experiments were conducted upon a large number of samples taken from several mines in three different districts. The area contains numerous producing deposits, nearly all of which are hampered by the high iron and silica content of the ores. Because of the small difference in specific gravity between the iron oxide and the barite, a gravity separation is generally poor. The removal of the iron thus offers a special problem. Some of the operators have turned to magnetic separation to meet the shipping requirements for less than one per cent iron. The present experiments were conducted to determine the application of decrepitation or flotation in simplifying the concentra-tion of the barite by removing the iron oxide and silica in one operation. Practically all the barite marketed in the area has been as "off-color" crude. The bleaching studies were made to determine the bleach-ability of the ores to alleviate this inferior grading, placing them on the market as bleached barite.

Jan 1, 1938

THERE is probably no phase of basic open-hearth steelmaking that is more of an art and less of a science than mold and pouring practice. It varies widely from plant to plant; consequently it is obviously impossible to set down in detail in this chapter the many ramifications of practice that are now used. The discussion that follows therefore attempts only to give an outline of the more common methods, with examples sufficient to indicate some of the variations in procedure, and to emphasize a few of the many underlying problems that face the open-hearth operator at the pouring platform. MOLD DESIGN Ingot molds are hollow castings of considerable wall thickness. Despite this, non-uniformity in wall thickness should be strictly avoided to prevent the setting up of unnecessary stresses. Molds are cast in various forms, sizes, and shapes depending on the type of steel, and on whether the ingot is to be withdrawn from the mold or the mold from the ingot. The selection of ingot-mold material, which is usually cupola or blast-furnace iron containing approximately 3.5 per cent carbon, 1 per cent silicon, 0.9 per cent manganese, 0.2 per cent phosphorus, and 0.07 per cent sulphur, is governed by numerous considerations that affect mold life. (1) Factors in addition to wall thickness that should be given primary consideration at the foundry are casting skin, shrinkage stresses, and casting temperature. Factors in Mold Design. In use, mold thickness is of greatest importance, for it must be heavy enough to freeze the molten metal rising in the mold and to reduce the temperature of the steel below that of the melting point of cast iron to prevent the inner surface of the mold from melting, which would result in the welding of the ingot to the mold. The skin of an ingot, which solidities immediately upon contact with the relatively cold walls of the mold, must soon become thick enough to contract on the fluid mass and pull away slightly from the sides of the mold. The separation of the ingot from the mold depends entirely on the heat taken up by the mold from the steel.

Jan 1, 1944

By James Norman, O. C. Ralston, John Dasher

Most mineral products are used in the finely divided state, but some are sold in larger sizes. Coal, gravel, metallurgical fluorspar, phosphate rock, hematite, chro-mite, and other products are sold in sizes coarser than can be treated by many mineral-dressing methods. Gravity separation of coarser sizes by log washing and jigging is probably as ancient as any process now in use. The performance of jigs on a feed with sufficient difference in density of the minerals is excellent, but many families of minerals are too similar in density to be separated effectively by this method. The use of heavy suspensions of fine solids to separate coarse coal from bone and slate has been in use for some years. This separation by sink-and-float was limited until recently to light minerals. Development of galena and ferrosilicon as suspension media, by Minerals Beneficia-tion, Inc., at Mascot, Tenn., Pitcher, Okla., and Crosby, Minn., under patents granted during and since 1938, has permitted excellent results to be obtained on minerals of very similar densities up to 3.3. This process has been put In the hands of American Cyanamid Co. for exploitation, and further research now in progress may increase the density of suspension obtainable so that separations at a density of 4.0 may be practicable before this is published. The Huntington-Heberlein dense-medium process, developed in England, is also being commercialized in the United States by Sink and Float Corporation. Du Pont has developed a sink-and-float separation using halogenated hydrocarbons as parting liquids; at this writing, the method is used commercially only on coal but has been successful in the pilot plant on many other minerals using tetrabrom-ethane at densities up to 2.95. While these processes were being developed to extend the range of separation by difference in density to the coarser sizes, the Bureau of Mines was engaged in developing a process that will extend the range of separation by difference in wettability up to 2-in. size. War work has pushed aside its further development indefinitely. The results are published here with the hope that some use may be suggested that will justify post-war development, and so that readers that may be able to make immediate use of the scheme may have the information. Earlier Work It has been known since the time of Herodotus (B.C. 484(?)-425) that water-repellent particles will adhere to sticky surfaces. That early historian reports the recovery of gold from the mud of a lake

Jan 1, 1943

By James Norman, O. C. Ralston, John Dasher

Most mineral products are used in the finely divided state, but some are sold in larger sizes. Coal, gravel, metallurgical fluorspar, phosphate rock, hematite, chro-mite, and other products are sold in sizes coarser than can be treated by many mineral-dressing methods. Gravity separation of coarser sizes by log washing and jigging is probably as ancient as any process now in use. The performance of jigs on a feed with sufficient difference in density of the minerals is excellent, but many families of minerals are too similar in density to be separated effectively by this method. The use of heavy suspensions of fine solids to separate coarse coal from bone and slate has been in use for some years. This separation by sink-and-float was limited until recently to light minerals. Development of galena and ferrosilicon as suspension media, by Minerals Beneficia-tion, Inc., at Mascot, Tenn., Pitcher, Okla., and Crosby, Minn., under patents granted during and since 1938, has permitted excellent results to be obtained on minerals of very similar densities up to 3.3. This process has been put In the hands of American Cyanamid Co. for exploitation, and further research now in progress may increase the density of suspension obtainable so that separations at a density of 4.0 may be practicable before this is published. The Huntington-Heberlein dense-medium process, developed in England, is also being commercialized in the United States by Sink and Float Corporation. Du Pont has developed a sink-and-float separation using halogenated hydrocarbons as parting liquids; at this writing, the method is used commercially only on coal but has been successful in the pilot plant on many other minerals using tetrabrom-ethane at densities up to 2.95. While these processes were being developed to extend the range of separation by difference in density to the coarser sizes, the Bureau of Mines was engaged in developing a process that will extend the range of separation by difference in wettability up to 2-in. size. War work has pushed aside its further development indefinitely. The results are published here with the hope that some use may be suggested that will justify post-war development, and so that readers that may be able to make immediate use of the scheme may have the information. Earlier Work It has been known since the time of Herodotus (B.C. 484(?)-425) that water-repellent particles will adhere to sticky surfaces. That early historian reports the recovery of gold from the mud of a lake

Jan 1, 1943

By William G. Pariseau

A plasticity theory for anisotropic geologic media has been applied to the problem of quasi-static wedge penetration of rock under confining pressure. Numerical evaluation of the governing system of stress equations in the transversely isotropic and orthotropic cases using representative material properties shows that the consequences of initial anisotropy for the penetration process are by no means trivial. In the transversely isotropic case, a threefold increase in the vertical force required for penetration to a unit depth occurs as the inclination of the axes of anisotropy are rotated through 90° with respect to the penetration path. The horizontal force required varies from zero to a maximum at approximately 60° then back to zero as the axes of anisotropy are rotated. The maximum is of the order of magnitude of the force required in the isotropic case. Similar results are observed in the orthotropic case. Practical aspects of the post-elastic phenomena associated with anisotropic rock indentation within the context of drilling problems include: bit yaw, hole deviation and bending stresses in the drill rod, all of which vary with strata dip but which can be quantitatively evaluated given the bit geometry, interface friction and rock properties. In a broader context, the analysis reveals the necessity for well conceived experimental work and sound theoretical research concerning post-elastic behavior of geologic media as a function of confining pressure, the effects of induced anisotropy, and the variation of strength parameters with loading path changes in the post-elastic range.

Jan 1, 1971

By John V. Hamme

ONE of Tungsten Mining Corp.'s Vance County, N. C., mill near Henderson was the installation of a new crushing plant with a capacity of 45 to 50 tph. During 1953 the milling rate was jumped from 650 tons to 800 tpd simply by expanding existing facilities, eliminating bottlenecks, and making changes in the existing and new circuits. Previous expansions in 1951 and 1952 raised mill capacity from 300 tons to 650 tpd. In its latest move, Tungsten Mining decided that expansion of existing facilities would be more economical than building that normal production was uninterrupted. For the engineering and design of the new crushing plant and mill expansion the services of the Southwestern Engineering Co., Los Angeles, were obtained. The Southeastern Construction Co., Charlotte, N. C., carried out construction, alterations to existing facilities, and the installation of equipment

Jan 10, 1954

By R. L. Tobie, E. K. Staley

Because of high production demands at San Manuel mine (approximately 40,000 tpd) and the relatively narrow grade range of the orebody, no attempt is made by the company to mine selectively. The caving sequence is laid out to meet the production demands, and proceeds in a manner to induce the least amount of weight on extraction openings. Once an area is undercut, draw control procedures are applied uniformly until the area has been mined to depletion. The orebody, located 50 miles northeast of Tucsoil, Ariz., is a low-grade deposit of chalcopyrite disseminated throughout a structurally weak, highly fractured, strongly altered granitic host rock over- lain by several hundred feet of relatively competent andesitic conglomerate. When undercut, the granite ore caves readily into fragments which usually pass through the grizzly without either excessive breaking or an undue amount of secondary blasting.

Jan 6, 1967

By A. J. Brown

THE causes that have formed fissures in the earth's crust, and the agencies that have converted them into metallic beds, are amongst the most important and interesting subjects that can engage the attention of the mining engineer or the scientist. They lie at the very base of the whole system of vein geology, and until something like a correct theory can be arrived at with regard to them, the science as such is necessarily very incomplete. The data for such a theory, owing to a lack of careful and systematic observations in countries pre-eminently metalliferous, like Mexico and the States of Central and South America, are almost entirely wanting. Doubtless there has been abundant speculation on the subject, from the earliest times down to the present, in every country where mining has been one of the leading industries of the inhabitants. Perhaps the theory of Elie de Beaumont more nearly approaches a satisfactory explanation than that of any contemporary authority. The most recent investigations, both in Europe and on this continent, tend to produce the conviction that the phenomena of metallic fissure lodes are in some way connected with, and- dependent upon, plutonic agencies-not, however, as the direct product of volcanic activity, but rather as the result of chemical agencies called into play through its aid. Active volcanoes generally produce only the well-known types of volcanic rocks, though, perhaps, well-marked cases can be shown where these contain ores of copper, etc., evidently derived from the same deepseated source as their hypogene gangue. To prove that there is a connection between metallic lodes and plutonic rocks, it is not necessary that the ores should in all cases occupy fissures within the limits of masses of propylite, rhyolite, or other like rocks, or be

Jan 1, 1874

By A. J. Brown

The causes that have formed fissures in the earth's crust, and the agencies that have converted them into metallic beds, are amongst the most important and interesting subjects that can engage the attention of the mining engineer or the scientist. They lie at the very base of the whole system of vein geology, and until something like a correct theory can be arrived at with regard to them, the science as such is necessarily very incomplete. he data for such a theory, owing to a lack of careful and systematic observations in countries pre-eminently metalliferous, like Mexico and the States of Central and South America, are almost entirely wanting. Doubtless there has been abundant speculation on the subject, from the earliest times down to the present, in every country where mining has been one of the leading industries of the inhabitants. Perhaps the theory of Elie de Beaumont more nearly approaches a satisfactory explanation than that of any contemporary authority. The most recent investigations, both in Europe and on this continent, tend to produce the conviction that the phenomena of metallic fissure lodes are in some way connected with, and dependent upon, plutonic agencies— not, however, as the direct product of volcanic activity, but rather as the result of chemical agencies called into play through its aid. Active volcanoes generally produce only the well-known types of volcanic rocks, though, perhaps, well-marked cases can be shown where these contain ores of copper, etc., evidently derived from the same deepseated source as their hypogene gangue. To prove that there is a connection between metallic lodes and plutonic rocks, it is not necessary that the ores should in all cases occupy fissures within the limits of masses of propylite, rhyolite, or other like rocks, or be

By Marius S. Darrow, William B. White, Rustum Roy

The PbS-PbTe systen has been studied by quench-ing and D.T.A. techniques f?om 400' to 1150°C. Runs were made in evacuated silica tubes so that all equilibria are at the vapor pressure of the system. Lattice parameters of the quenched salnples , measured by X-ray diffraction, show a complete crystalline-solution series existing over a narrow temperature range between approximately 805" and 871°C. An exsolution dome extends from a maximum of about 805"C (approximately 30 mole pct PbTe) to 1 and 96.5 pet PbTe at 400°C. A narrow melting region, deternined by D.T.A., extends form 918c (mp PbTe), The shapes of the liquides and solidus curves imply the existence of a minimum at 871°C at approximately 65 pct PbTe. THe exact composition of the minimum could not be established due to the very narrow two-phase region. At compositions containing less than 50 pet PbTe, liquidus temperatures begin to increase, while the solidus remains almost flat to about 15 mole pet PbTe before beginning to vise toward the mp of PbS (1075 C). LEAD sulfide and lead telluride are isostructural (NaC1 type) semiconductors whose electrical and optical properties have been extensively studied and used in recent years. If appreciable crystalline solution exists between these compounds, the variation of physical properties with composition could be of interest. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the extent, if any. of crystalline solution, and to obtain the phase diagram for the system. To the knowledge of the authors, only three studies of the system PbS-PbTe have been reported, and, in chronological order, each investigation found an increasing amount of crystalline solution. In 1956, Yamamoto reported finding no evidence of crystalline solution between the compounds. Sindeyeva and Godov-ikov,' in 1959, found very limited crystalline solution. but only under conditions of excess tellurium concentration. Finally Melevski s3 investigation in 1963 indicated that one solid phase exists in the region from PbS to 7 pct PbTe and from 82 pct PbTe to PbTe at 886'C, with an eutectic at 55 pct PbTe at that temperature. Detailed data on the solvus boundary were not given. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS Commercially produced PbTe and PbS powders were used as starting materials. Batches of specific mole percent composition were accurately weighed and mixed in a plastic bottle, in a shaker mill. An analy- sis of impurity content is given in Table I for pure PbS and PbTe and for two randomly selected batches after the powders were mixed. Individual samples, ranging in weight from 0.2 to 0.5 g, were sealed in evacuated silica tubes which had been thoroughly washed and rinsed with acetone and distilled water. Thus all data taken were at the pressure of the system. Subsolidus relations were studied down to 400°C by heating the samples in a vertical tube furnace for 24 hr. The sealed tubes were quenched in water with quench time from the hot zone not exceeding 1 sec. Temperatures were measured by a chromel-alumel thermocouple and controlled to 53°C for most runs. The number and composition of phases present were determined from powder X-ray diffraction patterns taken at room temperature on a Norelco diffractome-ter, using silicon as an external standard. Above 850°C quenching techniques were, in general, found to be unsatisfactory, and differential thermal analysis (D.T.A.) was used to determine melting relations. The evacuated tubes were recessed about 1 cm at one end to accommodate the differential thermocouple. Al203 was used as the reference material in a similar tube containing the other side of the differential couple. For temperature measurements, a separate thermocouple was placed in the recess of the tube containing the sample to be measured, thus providing an opportunity to obtain thermal, as well as differential, analysis. All thermocouples for these measurements were Pt-Pt 10 pct Rh. Temperature and differential curves were recorded separately on synchronized strip-chart recorders. Thermocouples and recording equipment were calibrated using NaCl and gold standards, using the melting points 801" and 1063 C, respectively, which span most of the temperature range of interest. Heating and cooling rates generally were from 4 to 7°C per min. It was found, in fact. that rates ranging from 1.5 to 25°C per min did not significantly change the data obtained.

Jan 1, 1967

By C. R. Hayward, H. O. Hofman

The aim of instruction in a metallurgical laboratory is to make real the principles on which metallurgical processes and operations are based, and to foster the spirit of investigation. The materials with which experiments are carried out are ores, metals, and metallic compounds. The method varies with the end sought. A class may work as a whole, each member contributing his share to the solution of a problem, or the students may carry on investigations independently; the former exemplifies class-research; the latter, individual research. It is with a branch of the former, with special reference to ore-treatment, that the present paper deals. In smelting an ore by a well-established process, the result is shown by analyzing the products to see whether their compositions correspond to those calculated in making up the charge; by taking account of stock to show the distribution of metal in the different products made and the losses from dust and volatilization; by casting a thermal balance to find the distribution and losses of heat; and by making a cost-sheet to ascertain, as far as possible, the necessary outlay of money. In lixiviation and amalgamation, the mode of operating has to be varied to adapt a process to the individual ore. Here a number of tests become necessary. Each will consist of a series of experiments with one variable, in order to find the conditions under which the variable gives the best result; a summary of several tests will give the best method of operating. Working a number of charges with the best method will furnish the data desired for ascertaining the recovery of metal,

Jan 1, 1910

By D. S. Eppelsheimer, D. N. Williams

The compression texture of iodide titanium is determined and found to consist of a [0001] texture rotated 15° to 30° from the axis of compression. As the amount of reduction increases, the angle of rotation decreases. The 0001 rotation showed a slight preference for a <1010> rotation axis. RECENT investigation of the cold rolled texture of titanium&apos; has shown this metal to exhibit a new type of rolling texture. This texture can best be described as a (0001) [10i0] with the 0001 planes rotated approximately 30" to the transverse direction around a <10i0> rotation axis. Rather good results in explaining the cold rolled texture have been obtained by other workers&apos; by examination of the tension and compression textures. No information was found giving the tension texture of titanium. Generally the tension texture of a hexagonal close-packed metal is identical with its wire texture. The drawn texture of titanium has been investigatedh nd has been found to be predominately [10?0]. Since this is the common tension texture of hexagonal metals of low c/a ratio, the explanation of the difference between the rolling texture of titanium and the rolling texture of other hexagonal metals is not indicated by examination of the tension texture. Therefore, the compression texture of titanium should be particularly important in the explanation of the unusual transverse rotation of the 0001 planes found in the cold rolled texture. The compression texture of titanium was examined by Yen.",&apos; His results showed titanium to exhibit the usual [0001] texture up to 85 pct reduction. At higher reduction a double texture appeared in which the 0001 planes were rotated from 10" to 30" from the plane of compression. This change in the compression texture seemed unusual since the tendency for hexagonal close-packed metals is to approach the [0001] texture as the idea compression texture. Mechanical twinning generally occurs over a considerable range of reductions beginning at a rather low reduction. The samples used by Yen in his investigations were prepared by two methods. Compression in a testing machine was used up to a reduction of 85 pct. Compression by compression rolling was used at higher reductions. Since the change in texture occurred at the same reduction as the change in the method of compression, a connection between the two seemed likely. To check this possibility and to locate the position of the change in texture definitely, if it was found to exist, the compression texture of titanium was re-examined. An iodide titanium crystal bar (99.9 pct Ti) produced by the New Jersey Zinc Co. and donated by the Titanium Alloy Manufacturing Div. of the National Lead Co. was used in this investigation. Procedure The investigation of the compression texture was carried out in three steps; compression, specimen

Jan 1, 1953

By J. A. Herbst, O. A. Bascur

Fine coal cleaning by froth flotation has become common practice in the US with more than 73 kt/d (80,000 stpd) treated in this way. In spite of this large tonnage, developments in the automated control of coal flotation circuits have lagged significantly behind those for mineral systems. The primary reason is that instruments have not been available for the online measurement of carbon ash content or other critical variables in coal slurries. A second reason is that the influence operating variables have on coal flotation are not completely understood. During the last few years, some of the needed instrumentation has been developed, while an improved knowledge of the flotation process itself has occurred through mathematical modeling. As a result, certain control strategies for coal flotation are beginning to emerge. This paper attempts to evaluate several control strategies using a detailed flotation dynamic simulator, Dynafloat. After construction of a process matrix for the system of interest, promising alternatives for linking manipulated and controlled variables were analyzed. To develop combined grade and recovery control strategies, it was necessary to construct a grade/recovery map with the aid of the simulator to drive the system to known, final, feasible grade/recovery operating conditions. Finally, an advanced strategy that uses an on-line model to identify disturbances and take control actions is proposed.

Jan 1, 1986

By H. R. Peiffer

Composite alloys of silver and alumina are shown to resist flow above the melting point of the continuous matrix. The ability to resist flow depends on the fineness of the dispersion and the oxygen content of the silver. It is believed that the oxygen influences very strongly the bond between the molten silver and the finely divided alumina. RECENT needs for materials with high strength and creep resistance at high temperatures initiated mechanical property studies on dispersed phase materials to near the melting point of the continuous matrix material. Results&apos; of these investigations have shown that certain of these materials do have promise for high-temperature applications. Experiments performed on composite materials of silver and alumina by the author have resulted in the discovery of an interesting effect above the melting point of the silver. In these materials the silver was continuous and the alumina very finely divided (Linde B). It was observed that these materials exhibited strength and resistance to flow above the melting point of the silver matrix. The purpose of this paper will be to describe these properties. METHOD OF PREPARATION The materials were prepared by mixing the proper amount of Linde B alumina and high-purity silver oxide. The alumina content was varied from 5 to 20 wt pct alumina in silver in 5 pct steps. The materials were mixed by blending the constituents in an ordinary food blendor using ethyl alcohol as a vehicle. Enough alcohol was added to the powders to form a mixture with the consistency of a thin mud. After blending for about | hr the material was dried and the silver oxide reduced by heating to 450 OC. The material was then pressed at 25 tsi into a -in. billets 3 in. long. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The specimens were horizontally supported at either end by knife edge supports of cold-rolled steel. This holder was then placed in a "globar" furnace and a chromel-alumel thermocouple placed very close to the specimen recorded its temperature to within 10°C. Each specimen was heated rapidly to 900°C initially. The specimens were held at temperature approximately 30 min and then the temperature was raised 50 deg. The procedure was repeated until deformation was noted. Photographs were made of the specimens at various temperatures and increments of time using a Polaroid Land camera. RESULTS Fig. 1 shows the 5 pct by weight "Linde B" alumina and silver material after reaching 980 °C. Failure occurred after 15 min at this temperature. There were two points of failure and silver collected at them. No additional flow of the molten silver was noted at any other place. Fig. 2 shows a 20 pct by weight "Linde B" alumina in silver specimen. After 30 min at 1400°C, bowing of this material was observed. Other concentrations of alumina were added to

Jan 1, 1961

By Courtenay de Kalb

So far as the writer is aware, no detailed investigation into the behavior of ores or rocks when subjected to crushing under digerent conditions has yet been made. He cannot himself claim to have carried such investigations very far; but the results of some studies which he has been pursuing for a couple of years, as opportunity permitted, seem sufficiently interesting and suggestive to warrant a brief statement of them, preliminary to nildertaking a more exhaustive course of experiments. Criticisms and suggestions are earnestly invited, with a view to making these studies as instructive as possible. As a part of the examination of ores, preparatory to concentration, my students have been required to take lots of 100 pounds each, and crush them. These are then screened through a series of hand-sieves, 15 inches in diameter. The products remaining on each screen are weighed, and from the results is plotted a curve, called the sizing-curve. It was assumed at first that different ores would yield, under like conditions of crushing, curves showing unlike characteristics as to the quantities remaining on the various sieves. After a number of such curves had been obtained it became evident, as often happens, that this a priori reasoning was faulty. The curves presented practically identical characteristics, and only by varying the crushing-conditions were variations in the curves obtainable. Another peculiarity, which was as little anticipated, appeared by inspection of these results, namely, that successive crushing to smaller sizes did not greatly augment the quantities of the filler products, so long as the machines employed applied the crushing-force to the ore-particles in the same manner. In these experiments the fines were not eliminated between successive crushings. I believe it will be readily admitted that rock can be crushed

Jan 1, 1899

By Morris Cohen

It has been known for several years that in certain age-hardenable alloys precipitation of finely divided particles occurs simultaneously with the changes in physical properties; while, in other alloys, these changes take place prior to, or without any, precipitation. The silver-copper alloys are generally considered to be the classical example of the first group, and the aluminum-copper alloys (duralumin) are typical of the second group. The two types of aging are explained by the precipilation theory and the knot theory respectively.‡ It is well recognized now that these theories do not conflict with each other; the one used for a given aging system depends upon which way the alloy in question happens to age-harden. However, previous work on the aluminum-copper al1oys1,2 has shown that if the aging temperature is raised sufficiently the hardening will be accompanied by actual precipitation. In fact, it is quite probable that all of the so-called knot-hardening alloys will harden by precipitation at elevated temperatures. Therefore, a combination of the knot and precipitation theories is necessary to give a complete picture of the agehardening of these alloys, and indicates that knot formation and precipitation are not independent processes. To test the generality of this concept, it is necessary to show that the alloys that commonly harden by precipitation will harden prior to precipitation if the aging temperature is sufficiently lowered. For this reason, it would be well to carefully re-examine the aging characteristics of the silver-copper alloys at aging temperatures somewhat below those used by previous investigators. If hardening can be detected prior to precipitation in these alloys, it will lend great weight to the idea that knot forma-

Jan 1, 1937

By L. L. Wyman

The resultant embrittlement caused by the exposure of oxygen-bearing copper when hot and exposed to reducing gases has been the subject of many studies.&apos; Little attention, however, has been given to the possible embrittling effects due to atmospheres or conditions that under some circumstances might be the source of a reducing gas. At rather infrequent intervals there occur reports of copper becoming embrittled during normal annealing cycles in commercial steam-atmos-phered furnaces such as customarily are used for this operation. As might be expected, several other factors exist—such as oil, dirt on the wire, or in the furnace, or metallic surface contacts—that might produce reducing gases and be the source of the trouble. However, in consideration of the statement made by Ruder,2 it would seem that under some conditions steam itself might prove to be the source of trouble. A consideration of the amount of the dissociation of water vapor up to temperatures of the melting point of copper shows that3 the amount of hydrogen that could come from this source is far too minute to account for any embrittlement. What such information does not tell is what will happen at the surface of copper when subjected to steam at elevated temperatures, for entirely different conditions may persist, which would account for Ruder&apos;s observation. Furthermore, there are no data as to what might happen at the surfaces of other materials present, the resultant of which might affect the condition of the copper present. For this reason, it was decided to make a series of experiments comparable to those previously conducted by the writer,&apos; which would clarify the effect of the steam on copper, and in copper in the presence of steel. Material The material used in these experiments was tough-pitch copper wire of rectangular cross section, about % in. thick, picked at random from the regular factory production of material used for windings, etc., in the electrical industry. Chemical analysis of this material gave the follow-

Jan 1, 1940

By L. L. Wyman

The resultant embrittlement caused by the exposure of oxygen-bearing copper when hot and exposed to reducing gases has been the subject of many studies.&apos; Little attention, however, has been given to the possible embrittling effects due to atmospheres or conditions that under some circumstances might be the source of a reducing gas. At rather infrequent intervals there occur reports of copper becoming embrittled during normal annealing cycles in commercial steam-atmos-phered furnaces such as customarily are used for this operation. As might be expected, several other factors exist—such as oil, dirt on the wire, or in the furnace, or metallic surface contacts—that might produce reducing gases and be the source of the trouble. However, in consideration of the statement made by Ruder,2 it would seem that under some conditions steam itself might prove to be the source of trouble. A consideration of the amount of the dissociation of water vapor up to temperatures of the melting point of copper shows that3 the amount of hydrogen that could come from this source is far too minute to account for any embrittlement. What such information does not tell is what will happen at the surface of copper when subjected to steam at elevated temperatures, for entirely different conditions may persist, which would account for Ruder&apos;s observation. Furthermore, there are no data as to what might happen at the surfaces of other materials present, the resultant of which might affect the condition of the copper present. For this reason, it was decided to make a series of experiments comparable to those previously conducted by the writer,&apos; which would clarify the effect of the steam on copper, and in copper in the presence of steel. Material The material used in these experiments was tough-pitch copper wire of rectangular cross section, about % in. thick, picked at random from the regular factory production of material used for windings, etc., in the electrical industry. Chemical analysis of this material gave the follow-

Jan 1, 1940

By Alfred Wandke

The problem of vein formation has been of particular interest to the writer for years. As his work for a long time was confined largely to districts showing large deposits of copper ore, it was natural that the efficiency of replacement, as one if not the chief control of the emplacement of the ore, seemed a particularly attractive hypothesis. Of late years, in almost daily underground work in the Guanajuato district, he has collected evidence which makes it certain that in a number of cases the ore solutions were under sufficient pressure to force the rock walls apart and to hold them apart, thus offering an open space for the deposition of vein and ore-bearing material. This paper will concern itself with conditions frequently met with in hypogene ore deposits of the vein type, and will deal in particular with ore occurrence in precious-metal veins of the type classified by Lindgrenl as epithermal deposits, or metalliferous deposits formed near the surface by ascending thermal waters2 and in genetic connection with igneous rocks. To account for the emplacement of this type of ore deposit various writers have suggested the following agencies: 1. Shattering of the wall rocks. 2. Pressure of growing crystals. 3. Magmation, as treated at length by Spurr3. 4. Replacement. 5. Openings produced by folding. 6. Shearing due to gravity. 7. Shrinkage produced by the passage of pre-ore solutions. 8. Contraction joints produced by lateral secretion. To this list there may be added another agency, a discussion of which forms the basis of this paper: 9. Pressure of the ore-bearing solutions.

Jan 1, 1931

By W. K. Lewis, Lombard Squires, W. I. Thompson

The authors presented an article2† last year on colloidal properties of clay suspensions in which they attempted to sustain the position that the behavior of clay suspensions is due primarily to the mechanical interference of the platy particles, the nature and extent of the interference being profoundly influenced by the character of the surfaces of the particles, which in turn is determined primarily by the nature and amount of adsorbed foreign materials held on the surface of the particles by forces which are predominantly chemical in type. The following discussion is a continuation of that article to extend these same interpretative points of view to the behavior of clay gels. Insight into the mechanism of gelation is certainly of outstanding importance in the handling of drilling muds. In the former article it was suggested that the thin, flat plates that constitute the ultimate clay particles may build up aggregates by the overlapping of the ultimate plates face to face much longer and perhaps also much wider than the ultimate plates themselves, but not appreciably thicker. Exhaustive microscopic examinations of characteristic clays show no tendency for the larger particles, clearly visible under the microscope, to orient themselves in this way. It is true that the gelation of the clays is due primarily to the smallest particles, unresolvable other than by the ultramicroscope, so that the possibility of the deve1opment by them of an overlapping structure is not excluded. Furthermore, as one approaches the limit of resolving power of the microscope, the difficulty of observing accurately the shapes and relative positions of particles incresses excessively. However, in the absence of any observable tendency toward overlapping orientation of the large, visible particles, one hesitates to ascribe such a tendency to the smaller particles beyond the range of visibility. Should it develop that one must exclude the assumption of overlapping orientation, the explanations offered in the previous article are changed in only one respect; namely, one would now have to assume that the ultimate particles themselves have length, and probably also width, very large in comparison with their thickness.

Jan 1, 1936