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On the following pages are abstracts of papers published by the Institute during the year 1936 as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS and CONTRIBUTIONS, papers in bound volumes appearing for the first time, and papers in MINING AND METALLURGY For abstracts of papers that appeared in bound volumes in 1936 but that were published as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS in 1935, see the YEAR BOOK dated January 1936.

Jan 1, 1937

By Hugh S. Spence

IN the winter of 1941-42, muscovite mica was discovered by a young prospector, Justin Purdy, in the township of Mattawan, Nipissing District, Ontario, a few miles north of the small settlement of Eau Claire, which lies on the main Transcontinental Highway (No. 17) between Mattawa and North Bay. Muscovite had been known for many years to occur in the general Mattawa region, and various small efforts at production had previously been made by individuals working scattered deposits in the area. These minor activities, however, had never led to production of any consequence or the discovery of any important mica bodies. The Purdy finds were made in a heavily timbered, mountainous area lying about three miles north of the low-lying settled land along the highway, and in a section not hitherto prospected. The mica taken by Purdy and two partners from surface outcrops proved so remarkable in point of size of trimmed sheets that the find attracted considerable attention, and the area surrounding the three claims taken up by the prospectors was quickly blanket-staked by various interests. Though a number of other mica-bearing pegmatite dikes were 'found later on these stakings, none proved as rich as those on the original Purdy ground; very little commercial mica was obtained from them and attempts to develop them were short-lived. Purdy and his partners sold their initial production to dealers in Ottawa and Hull, where the Canadian mica industry long has centered. Young Purdy, unfortunately was killed in a motor accident in the early summer of 1942. His father continued mining operations for a few months and produced and sold a considerable amount of mica. In October 1942 the Purdy holdings were acquired by Inspiration Mining and Development Co. of Amos, Quebec, which had been active in staking in the area. This company formed a subsidiary, Purdy Mica Mines, Limited, to develop the property. Under the energetic management of Joseph R. Norrie, rapid progress was made, and production soon attained important proportions. Realizing from the outset the unusual character and potential value in the war effort of the Purdy discovery, the Metals Controller, Department of Munitions and Supply, at once arranged with the Department of Mines and Resources for an official geological report on the area, and also drew the attention of the War Production Board in Washington to what seemed likely to prove a highly important source of strategic-quality mica. Officials of WPB were sent up in the summer of 1942 to inspect the property,

Jan 1, 1947

By B. A. Rogers

ACCORDING to petrographic investigations, 1-4 cooled steel furnace slags contain a number of substances that have been shown to be ferro-magnetic5,6 and hence capable of undergoing appreciable changes of susceptibility with temperature. Since any alteration of the suscepti-bility of a constituent affects the average susceptibility of the sample, information concerning the nature of the substance should be deducible from its magnetic behavior. The possibility of obtaining information concerning slags in this way led to the construction of the apparatus to be described. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF APPARATUS The most convenient method of observing changes in mass suscepti-bility? with temperature is the one employed by Curie7 in his original investigation of the changes in magnetic properties of substances at elevated temperatures. As the method has been described frequently in the literature and in textbooks, only a brief review of the fundamental principles need be given here, but the particular arrangements used in the present work require a more detailed description.

Jan 1, 1939

By H. S. Kalish, F. J. Dunkerley

INTRODUCTION AND PREVIOUS WORK THE determination of the low temperature tensile properties of tin and tin-lead alloys was initiated as part of an extensive research program on the phasial equilibria of tin binary systems below 13.2°C and the property changes associated therewith. A survey of the literature revealed that, although some room temperature tensile data were available for tin and a few tin-lead alloys, there existed no survey report of the low temperature tensile properties of these alloys. Accordingly, the tensile data for tin and a series of pure tin alloys containing from 0.01 to 50 pct lead were measured at eleven temperatures from -196 to +20°C and are presented here in survey form. In addition to the importance of these tensile data as a preliminary to certain fundamental research, this information promises also to be of commercial importance because of the 'extensive use now being made of tin-lead solders in refrigeration and gas liquefaction equipment. Occasional failures of the solders in low temperature service have been attributed by some metallurgists to low temperature mbrittlement, while others hold that failure results from the transformation of the tin-rich phase of the solder from the solid white (beta) to the powdered gray (alpha) form. From the data previously available in the literature, neither of these explanations can be completely corroborated. Cohen and van Lieshout1 have established the beta to alpha tin transformation at 13.2°C and have shown that strain accelerates the transformation. Further, they showed that although I pct lead retarded the transformation, it was not eliminated. It will be pertinent, then, to note whether the beta to alpha transformation of the tin-rich phase will occur in a short-time tensile test. Polanyi and Schmid2 studied the tensile . properties of tin single crystals at -185°C and report that tin is brittle at-this temperature. In 1946, Kostenets3 reported that pure tin was brittle at -196 and -253°C, while lead remained ductile at both these temperatures. He also studied the tensile properties of tin-lead alloys containing from 10 to 75 pct lead at -253, -196 and +17°C. The ultimate tensile strength increased more than two times in going from room temperature to -196°C and about three times that value on further cooling to -253°C. All the alloys were brittle at -6°C except those containing more than 75 pct lead. Even at -253°C, the 75 pct lead alloy retained 36 pct elonga¬tion in a 30 mm-ga. length. Creep is also an important phenomenon

Jan 1, 1948

By Thomas Fraser, David R. Mitchell

THE primary purpose of the loading plant is to transfer the finished product from the preparation machines to the railroad car, truck, or barge in which it is to go to market. Secondary purposes of the loading plant are: to prevent excessive degradation of sizes during loading, to reduce segregation as much as possible, and to prevent excessive quantities of very good or off-grade coal from entering any one car. Nonuniformity of consignments is one of the chief sources of com- plaints by consumers and coal merchants. A properly designed loading plant will do much to reduce complaints and ensure uniformity, not only from shipment to shipment but also in each individual consignment along the length of the car and in cross section. DEGRADATION IN STORAGE, LOADING AND SHIPMENT The object in loading is not only to handle the coal without breakage and segregation, but also to produce a well-trimmed load that will ride to its destination without spillage or breakage en route. The small sizes present in a car of prepared coal as received by the purchaser consist-of: missed small sizes not screened out in the preparation plant, breakage during loading, and breakage caused by handling en route. For domestic sizes of anthracite shipped from the Pennsylvania anthracite field to Atlantic coast cities, the dealers' lass because of breakage in loading and shipment amounts to from 2 to 5 per cent and for anthracite shipped to Middle West cities, the loss is 8 to 9 per cent. This difference is in part because dealers in the Middle West rescreen their coal more thoroughly than is usual in the East. One dealer handling Illinois No. 6 coal shipped from southern Illinois mines to Chicago reports an average size loss of 10 per cent when lump coal is unloaded with a fork. This runs as low as 5 per cent for carefully loaded coal and as high as 15 per cent for carelessly loaded coal.

Jan 1, 1943

By T. Lane Carter

It is a curious fact that while in our Transactions there are papers dealing with mining-districts in all parts of the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, there is not one which describes the mining possibilities of Nicaragua, our near neighbor. To be most interested in distant objects, like the moon, and to neglect what lies at our feet, appears to be a trait of human nature. The neglect of Nicaragua is not confined to the American Institute of Mining Engineers. In no other transactions am I able to find papers dealing with mining in Nicaragua, some parts of which are as much in need of discovery and research as the North Pole. I hope this paper will be the precursor of many others to be printed in our Transaclions, dealing not only with the miniilg possibilities of Nicaragua, but with the whole of Central America, where there are vast areas a,waiting skill and capital for their development. Much of this capital and skill should come from the United States in the future, although it is probable that European capitalists, when they appreciate fully the possibilities, will investigate more and more the mining-resources of Nicaragua and ot'her Central American republics. Fig. 1 is a sketch-map of Nicaragua showing the principal mining-districts. 11. History. Mining in Nicaragua did not begin yesterday. It was commenced by civilized man when the Spanish conquerors pene-' trated into the interior and forced the natives to procure the precious metal for them. It is strange that the Spaniards did not find more gold, and work on a scale as extensive as in Colombia and other parts of South America. Probably in Nicaragua the Indians covered up most of the rich prospects

Jan 1, 1911

By R. J. P. Lyon, A. E. Prelat, H. Lawrence

Introduction In 1977, the US Bureau of Mines awarded a grant to the state of South Carolina to explore the possibility of using Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) data as an aid in monitoring surface mining activities in selected counties of the state. Work had been done in Aiken County prior to the grant by USBM and state personnel at the EROS Data Center using both the GE Image 100 and ESL IDIMS systems. The initial work on the 1:100 consisted of locating and measuring the areas of various kaolin mines. The results were excellent on location, identification, and accurate area measurements of several mines as compared with aerial photos of each mine. The effort also included locating and measuring the size of all mines (including sand and gravel) within two US Geological Survey (USGS) 7 % - min quadrangle maps. Line printer overlays using the IDIMS equipment and software resulted in the location of all known mines within an estimated error less than zt 91.4 m. Mine acreage was calculated by counting each symbol (which represented one pixel) and multiplying by 1.1 (the number of acres per pixel). [Fig. 1] shows a portion of one quadrangle overlay. [Table 1] gives a comparison of acreage measured for several mines from the 1-100 and IDIMS system vs. aerial photo measurements. The success of the preliminary work resulted in the South Carolina Land Resources Conservation Commission submitting a proposal to USBM for funding to expand the scope of work to other mineral mining operations within the state and determine if Landsat Imagery could be used to accurately locate and measure mining and reclamation activity on a continuing basis. Three separate tasks were proposed for selected kaolin mines in Aiken County: Task 1, to measure changes in active mine developments over the period 1974-77; Task 2, to measure reclamation activity, and, if time permitted, seasonal changes in mine signatures over the same period of time; and Task 3, to classify one complete mining operation (i.e., differentiate between active, spoil, overburden, water, reclaimed portions and surrounding terrain. The major effort was centered around J.M. Hubeis Richardson mine. Mining operations were progressing in a northerly direction and included three areas of reclamation: one prior to 1974; one started during early 1974; and one reclaimed during 1976. A discussion of all work done under the grant is available in the March 1979 Final Report listed under References. Computer compatible tapes (CCTs) containing MSS data from Landsat Path 18, Row 37, were purchased from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) covering the period February 1974 through January 1977. The MSS data were processed on the General Electric Image 100 using parallelepiped classification at the EROS Data Center's Data Analysis Laboratory, Sioux Falls, SD, and at the Stanford Remote Sensing Laboratory, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, utilizing both an unsupervised classification (ISOMIX) and a supervised classification (sequential discriminant analysis). Studies at Stanford University Remote Sensing Lab (SRSL). In Feburary 1977, initial work was begun at Stanford using the STANSORT computer program running on a DEC PDP-10 (Honey, Prelat, and Lyon, 1974). This software is fully interactive and designed to study Landsat CCT data at high resolution (small areas) on a pixel-by-pixel basis (Lyon, 1977). Unsupervised Classification. The initial step was to locate the Richardson mine on the positive print of the full Landsat scene from CCT 1644-15252, dated 6/17/74. This was relatively easy due to a large abandoned kaolin mine and a long narrow pond clearly visible in the scene. Two unsupervised classifications of the Richardson mine were run using ISOMIX clustering (Honey, Prelat and Lyon, 1974). (ISOMIX essentially follows the interactive clustering procedures of ISOCLS Kan, Holley, and Parker. 1973). Although the classifications were successfully accomplished, it was apparent from the TV display that the results did not clearly define the mine areas. A supervised classification would have to be made in order to clearly separate each portion of the mine. Supervised Classification. This classification was done using the Stepwise Discriminant Program (BMDO7M) which is part of the BIOMED package (Dixon, 1970) and involved the following steps: Training group populations were selected and the digital

Jan 1, 1982

By Klaus Schwerdtfeger

In order to test the performance of ZrO, (CaO) and Tho,(Yz03) electrolytes in the electrochemical determination of oxygen activities in liquid metals at steel-rrzakitng temperatures , electromotive force measurements have been made with the following cells: The oxygen-- activities are calculated from the electmrnotive forces for the investigated systems. The standard free energy of- formation of MnO and the activity of manganese in Fe-Mn melts are derived. Indications are that the Zr 0z(Ca0) electrolyte exhibits little electronic conductivity at oxygen pressures as low as 10'a atnz at 1600°C; however, the partial electronic conductivity may become noticeable at lower oxygen activities. The Tho,(Yz03) electrolyte is found to be an ionic conductor at the oxygen pressure as low as that for the Mn + MnO equilibrium, but exhibits partial electronic conductivity at oxygen pressures higher than 10"1 atm (1500°C). fi. better control of oxidation and deoxidation reactions in steelmaking may be facilitated if the oxygen activity in the steel is known during various stages of the process. In the present work oxygen activities have been measured in liquid iron, manganese, and iron alloys with galvanic cells using ZrOz(CaO) and s solid electrolytes with the object of establishing the range of oxygen pressure in which these materials can be used as electrolytes at steelmaking temperatures. Calcia-stabilized zirconia and Tho2-Y203 solid solutions are oxygen ion conductors. Such electrolytes were first used by Kiukkola and Wagner1 and Peters and ~ann' in galvanic cells for the determination of thermodynamicquantities of oxide systems in the temperature range 700" to 1200°C. At these moderate temperatures calcia-stabilized zirconia has been found to exhibit predominantly ionic conductivity at oxygen pressures as low as those for the Cr + Crz03 equilibrium,394 but at lower oxygen pressures elec- tronic contribution to conductivity becomes significants4 The Th02-Y203 solid solutions are ionic conductors at oxygen pressures lower than those applicable to zirconia base electrolytes.5'6 At high oxygen pressures Thoz base electrolytes exhibit significant p-type semiconduction. At the time the present experiments were carried out several papers1'-* were published on the electrochemical determination of oxygen activities in liquid iron using the ZrOz(CaO) electrolyte. The results of different authors do not agree well. For instance, according to Fischer and ~ckermann" stabilized zirconia can be used to measure oxygen contents in liquid iron larger than 0.02 wt pct, but according to Baker and west1' ZrOz(CaO) cannot be used for the determination of oxygen content in liquid iron because of high electronic contribution to the conductivity. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus used. About 500 g of liquid metal is contained in a crucible into which a stabilized zirconia or Th02(Y203) tube is immersed. A platinum contact wire is pressed (with a spring mechanism) against the inside bottom wall of the electrolyte tube. The tube is flushed continuously with a stream of air, CO-CO, (or Hz-C02) (at 0.96 atm and at a rate of about 300 cu cm per min), via an alumina tube inserted inside the electrolyte tube. This alumina tube also contains the Pt-Pt/10 pct Rh thermocouple. A capillary alumina tube shielding the other contact wire is immersed in the melt. The molybdenum contact wires were used mostly; in some cases platinum wire was employed. Molybdenum has the advantage that it dissolves more slowly in the melt than platinum. The whole cell was contained in the alumina reaction tube of a resistance furnace with molybdenum winding. The reaction tube was closed gas tight at both ends and flushed continuously with argon. Because of the poor thermal shock resistance of the electrolyte tubes the cell had to be assembled in the cold furnace. The electrolyte tube and alumina sheath

Jan 1, 1968

By Frederic Dewey

IT IS common to blame irregular assay results upon volatilization and much has been written upon the subject, but there is no. real evidence that, in a properly conducted assay, the loss of either gold or silver by volatilization is sufficient to affect appreciably the result, even when, arsenic or antimony may be present. Bulk assays of flue dust from assay muffles have been published, but the data given are totally insufficient to even approximate the volatilization from a single assay; and such figures as we have indicate the volatilization to be extremely small. Diligent search in the literature and wide inquiry among assayers and instructors have failed to produce a single case where the litharge volatilized in making an assay has been collected and assayed for gold and silver. Having attempted to do this, with most indifferent success, I am not surprised that this has not been done. While various textbooks give volatilization as a cause of loss in cupellation, it may safely be said that in the rare cases where this volatilization is sufficient to affect appreciably the result it is due to excessive temperature. Percy1 says "The loss of silver by volatilization during cupellation is very slight (unless the temperature has been much too high), and may be disregarded." This statement is repeated by the Beringers2 and Smith,3 who includes gold with silver. Mitchell4 says the litharge fume rarely contains over one ten-thousandth of silver. Campredon5 says that at a proper temperature no silver is lost by volatilization.

Jan 2, 1920

By F. Pošepný

Part I.—General Facts and Theories. PAGE 1. Systems of Classification Employed Hitherto, . . 199 2. Standpoint and View of the Present Paper, . . . 206 3. The Xenogenites in General, ...207 4. The Subterranean Water-Oirculation, . . . 212 A. The Vadose Underground Circulation, . . . 213 Filling of Open Spaces Formed by Vadose Circulation, . . 217 B. The Deep Underground Circulation, . 220 Ascending Waters Encountered in Mines, , 222 Related Phenomena near the Surface, . 225 Mineral Springs at the Surface,. . 230 Chemical Constitution of Mineral Waters, . 232 Minute Metallic Admixtures in Mineral Waters, . . . 238 Alterations Produced by Mineral Springs, . 240 Structural Features of the Deposits of Mineral Springs, . . 244 5. Origin of Ore-Deposits in the Deep Region, . . . 247 Manner of Filling of Open Spaces in General, . . . 254 Part II.—Examples or Classes of Deposits. 1. Ore-Deposits in Spaces of Discission, .. 264 General Features and Illustrations, a. Ore-Veins in Stratified Rocks, .. 269 Clausthal, 269; Andreasberg, 270. b. Ore-veins in the Neighborhood of Eruptive Masses, 271 The Erzgebirge, 271; Przibram, 272. c. Ore-Veins Wholly Within Large Eruptive Formations, 274 Hungary, 274; Dacian Gold-field. 275; Verespatak, 276; Vulkoj, 276 ; Comstock lode, 278.

Jan 1, 1894

By T. C. Campbell

Copper is extracted from the Chuquicamata oxide ore by a hydro-metallurgical process. The ore is crushed to 3/8-in. sizing, and leached with a sulfuric acid electrolyte. Chlorine is precipitated. and the ferric iron reduced in the enriched electrolyte, after which the copper is recovered by electrolysis with insoluble Chilex and lead-antimony anodes, the spent electrolyte being returned to leaching. Cathodes are melted and refined in market furnaces and cast into commercial wire-bar and cake shapes. Sulfuric acid for the process is supplied by the brochantite in the ore. Water for washing the ore is advanced through the solution system and finally after cutting by electrolysis to from 6 to 16.0 grams per liter is completely stripped by the cuprous chloride method and run to waste. The cuprous chloride so obtained plus that resulting from precipitation of chlorine from strong solution is dissolved in ferrous chloride brine and the copper cemented on scrap iron. The cement so obtained is in part used to reduce ferric iron in electrolyte, and as it is of exceptional purity is also furnace refined and cast into an exceptional quality of fire-refined copper. Fig. 1 is flow sheet of the operation. The reduction plant is composed of seven divisions as follows: (1) crushing, (2) leaching, (3) tailings disposal, (4) dechloridizing, (5) sulfur dioxide treatment, (6) electrolytic tank house, (7) smelting and melting. A brief description of each of these divisions will be given. Crushing Ore that is frequently blocky and up to 5 ft. in section is crushed in four stages to 3/8-in. mesh. The first stage of crushing is called primary and the next three stages are known as secondary crushing. The first stage is accomplished with two 60-in. Superior McCully gyratory breakers by which the ore is broken to 9 in. The second coarse gyratory breakers crush the ore to 3-in. sizing. There are seven No. 10 McCully gyratories in this service, for one of which recently has been substituted a No. 7 cone crusher. The third and fourth stages of crushing are accomplished by fifty 48-in. disk crushers. In the third stage 14 disk crushers break the ore to 1 in., and in the last stage 36 disk crushers turn out the final product of 0.371-in. sizing. Reference to the flow sheets of Figs. 2 and 3

Jan 1, 1934

By Anthony Anable

THE definite trend to stricter specifications with respect to hydraulic concrete has become increasingly manifest in the last six years or so; but it remained for the vast reclamation projects of the Bureau of Recla-mation of the Department of the Interior of the last few years to focus attention on this trend, and to demonstrate how thousands of tons of concrete-making aggregates can be produced continuously and auto-matically with a control of fineness comparable with that obtained with small samples in well equipped private and governmental laboratories. Pioneer work in this direction was done, to be sure, by private com-panies, notably the Kaiser Paving Co. of San Francisco, prior to the present vast public works program. Then in 1931 came the first great, aggregates-preparation plant of the Six Companies, Inc. to supply construction materials for Boulder Dam' in Nevada, and now, in 1936, the aggregates plant of the Mason-Walsh-Atkinson-Kier Co., general con-tractors on the Grand Coulee dam in Washington. At Boulder dam and to an even greater degree at Grand Coulee dam, sand production is recognized as probably the most important single element affecting the physical characteristics of the concrete. For in the construction of dams accurate grading of the fine aggregate has consider-able bearing on the attainment of a uniform and homogeneous concrete of a high degree of workability and placeability and, at the same time, combining high density and low cement content. Low cement content is of value not only from the standpoint of economy but also because the use of an unnecessarily rich concrete causes certain undesirable characteristics to develop. This paper will relate how at Grand Coulee dam methods that are more advanced than ever before are producing four sizes of gravel and a sand having a fineness modulus of 2.5-3.0. The design capacity is 1000 tons an hour. Significantly, the methods and equipment employed are broadly those that have been used for a generation in metallurgical mills for accurately sizing and grading both precious

Jan 1, 1936

By J. A. Richardson

J. A. RICHARDSON[t]-Mr. Stuckey's account of the geology of the kaolins of North Carolina suggests that they exhibit some features similar to those of the Malay Peninsula. About one half of British Malaya (some 26,000 square miles) is occupied at the surface by igneous rocks, of which granite and its associated derivatives constitute fully 90 pct. The average granite is a biotic variety. It is predominantly potassic but carries, in addition, notable amounts of soda and lime so that albite and albiteoligoclase are generally common constituents of the rock. The minor derivatives from granite "magma" likewise include potassic and sodi-potassic members. Decomposition of the granitic rocks has led to the formation of kaolin in many localities, but, in general, the deposits are rather small and, at present, none is exploited commercially. True primary or residual kaolins (as defined by Stuckey; p. 48 Vol. 173, p. 2 TP 2219) have been developed from feldspar veins, pegmatites and from other granitic differentiates which cut through the larger masses of granite; they are usually small and narrow. Kaolin has been derived from aplite, quartz porphyry, quartz micro-porphyry, felsites and microgranites belonging to a complex known as the Chegar Perah-Pulai intrusion in northwest Pahang and southwest Kelantan. The bulk of the component rocks has been more or less strongly sheared. Kaolin-like end products have been formed from both sheared and nonsheared varieties. Kaolin has been formed also by the complete breakdown of trondjemite flanking the northwestern and western margins of the complex Bukit Ranjut syenite intrusion in northwest Pahang. These trondjemites range in composition from essentially quartz-free albiteplagioclasites to quartz-free microcline rocks; they are, in effect, the syenitic homologues of white sodic and potassic granite-aplites. The granites in Malaya have generally undergone more or less severe surficial weathering leading to the production of a spongy and rather cellular or a soft "mealy" material (sandy clay) down to depths of about 100 ft; in places the granite is strongly decomposed down to 150 ft. There has occurred, therefore, widespread partial kaolinization, but, in general, no extensive deposits of good quality kaolin seem to have been formed by these processes of decay. Frequently, the katamorphic processes of desilicification have advanced beyond the production of kaolin towards the formation of lateritic end products. The more important Malayan kaoiins seem to be confined to the western alluvial plains, particularly in areas either where granite crops out at surface, or where it forms the bedrock of the alluvium. There are numerous excellent examples around Gopeng and elsewhere in the Kinta Valley of Perak. Such kaolins belong to Stuckey's groups of secondary deposits, and, like them, these also may be bedded. Field observations have established the existence of what for want of a better name is referred to by the Malayan Geological Survey as "granite wash." It is believed that granite, undergoing extensive deeply penetrative and probably rather rapid destruction under humid tropical weathering (temperature around 90°F; rainfall about 100 in. per annum; high humidity) "flowed," was moved by "creep" and, in addition, probably slumped in large waterlogged masses of sandy clay from topographic salients onto the adjacent flats. Either during this period of transmigration or later when the sludged granite detritus, after having more or less come to rest, was attacked by flowing water, differential sorting and erosion took place with the result that the resorted debris was moved and later deposited as bedded alluvium. In this way, banded "granite wash" was produced comprising alternating bands of clayey sand (resorted granite sludge) and white

Jan 1, 1947

By Max W. Ball

THE geologist or mining engineer, whose work takes him into the western United States, whether for the Government or private enterprises, is likely to be called upon to classify public lands as to their mineral character, or to review such classification already made, usually by a Government geologist or mineral inspector. The public-land law covering the matter is clear and logical, and a knowledge of its simpler principles is necessary to intelligent classification work. There are two classes of cases in which a classification of lands as mineral or non-mineral may be required: .first, cases in which lands classified as mineral will be retained by the Government and lands classified as non-mineral alienated; second, cases in which lands classified as mineral will be alienated and lands classified as non-mineral retained.

Jan 1, 1921

By Henry D. Hibbard

FoR the purpose of this paper all steels will be divided into two divisions: effervescing and non-effervescing. This classification must be borne in mind as many statements true of one class are not true of the other. Effervescing steels are those that effervesce in the molds, evolving large volumes of gases, which, in escaping, throw up a spray of molten particles of steel and give the molten metal in the mold a rapid stirring or churning motion until it freezes, or, at least, becomes pasty. This effervescing is intended and proper. The non-effervescing steels, which are more or less completely killed, should not evolve any gas in the molds. Many years ago the writer proposed to call the two classes of steels evolution and solution steels, depending on whether the gases in the molds are evolved or kept in solution, but the present designations seem to be better. In America, at least, effervescing steels are in a class by themselves and include steels made for boiler, tank, and ship plates, steel pipe, soft steel wire, wire nails, soft machincry, and structural steels. These are all low-carbon steels with less than 0.40 per cent. carbon. Low-carbon steels that do not effervesce but are killed are also made; these are put into ingots and castings but they are outside the limits of this paper. Effervescing steel is cast into square or slab molds, either top or bottom poured. Most of the effervescing steel is made in the basic open-hearth furnace, though much is made by the acid Bessemer process and a little is made in the acid open-hearth. It is not made by the crucible or electric-furnace process, in which the volume of gas required cannot be produced in the steel and evolved from it in the mold to give the effervescence desired. Any steel ingot, when teeming is finished, is of a certain size or volume. Leaving out of consideration for the moment the lessening of the over-all dimensions of the ingot through contraction due to loss of heat, the ingot may be placed in one of three classes: It may settle, losing in volume; it may stand, that is, remain constant in volume; it may rise, that is, increase in volume. Into which class an ingot will fall depends on the gases of the steel,

Jan 1, 1920

By V. Jares

DESPITE the fact that a combination of metals-aluminum-zinc-tin, and sometimes aluminium-zinc-cadmium-is extensively used for aluminum solders, as well as for die-castings, the constitution of these alloys has not yet been made clear. I. BINARY SYSTEMS The system aluminium-zinc is the basis of the ternary alloys under consideration. Their composition was made sufficiently clear by the investigations of Roscnhein and Archbutt,1 Bauer and Vogel,2 Sander .and Meissner,3 Hanson and Gayler4 and Isihara.5 Only the temperature of decomposition of the crystals s seems still to be doubtful, whether it is considered as a compound of Al2Zn3 (according to Bauer and Vogel) or as an intermediate phase of variant composition (according to Hanson and Gayler). This temperature is given by most of the authors, as in the neighborhood of 256° C., only Isihara giving 280° C. As its accurate determination is of special importance in the study of the ternary alloys under consideration it was experimentally controlled in the following manner: An alloy corresponding in composition to the formula Al2Zn3 was made, in which the temperature effect was found to be the greatest. This was drilled and a silver-constantan thermoelement inserted into the cavity so as to be in direct contact with the alloy. The whole was then very slowly heated and the heating and cooling curves determined. The transition temperature from the heating curve was found to be 281° C., whereas-from the cooling curve it was 252° C.

Jan 10, 1926

By G. C. Fryburg, H. M. Murphy

ThE rates of oxidation of metals are usually obtained by heating the metal specimens in furnaces. Such a procedure is satisfactory for most metals. However, there are several metals that oxidize according to the reaction.

Jan 1, 1959

By Albert H. Chester

During the summer of 1875 I visited some of the iron mines of Houghton County, Mich., and was quite interested to observe the progress made there within a few years. Working in open pits is gradually giving place to underground work in most of the mines where this system is practicable. In some cases, as in the Lake Superior Mine, the body of ore is so irregular, and the deposit so liable at any time to be pinched out, or nearly so, that it. has been found impractical, if not impossible, to lay out any plan for systematic underground work. But in many other mines the deposit is so regular in character, that the work can be laid out in shafts at regular intervals, and a series of 60 feet levels. The Michigammi Mine, opened in 1872, and first worked in 1873, is arranged on this plan, though some quarrying is still done. But the men are being put at overhead stoping as fast as it can be got ready for them, and before long it will all be worked in this way. The New York Mine is undergoing a similar change to the pillar system, and several others have either been changed, or it is about to be done. My principal object in visiting this region was to obtain samples from some of the important mines, so as to be able to answer the question: "What is the average percentage of iron in the Lake Superior ores?" Most iron furnaces work on mixtures of ore, so that it is impossible to tell, from their records, just the percentage in each one.

By Albert H. Chester

DURING the summer of 1875 I visited some of the iron mines of Houghton County, Mich., and was quite interested to observe the progress made there within a. few years. Working in open pits is gradually giving place to underground work in most of the mines where this system is practicable. In some cases, as in the Lake Superior Mine, the body of ore is so irregular, and the deposit so liable at any time to be pinched out, or nearly so, that it has been found impractical, if not impossible, to lay out any plan for systematic underground work. But in many other mines the deposit is so regular in character, that the work can be laid out in shafts at regu¬lar intervals, and a series of 60 feet levels. The Michigammi Mine, opened in 1872, and first worked in 1873, is arranged on this plan, though some quarrying is still done. But the men are being put at overhead stoping as fast as it can be got ready for them, and before long it will all be worked in this way. The New York Mine is undergoing a similar change to the pillar system, and several others have either been changed, or it is about to be done. My principal object in visiting this region was to obtain samples from some of the important mines, so as to be able to answer the question : "What is the average percentage of iron in the Lake Superior ores?" Most iron furnaces work on mixtures of ore, so that it is impossible to tell, from their records, just the percentage in each one.

Jan 1, 1876

This brief resume of the events transpiring in Mexico, culled from the daily New York newspapers since the last Bulletin went to press, does not show any degree of improvement in the situation. U. S. WITHDRAWS ARMY FROM MEXICO The American invasion of Mexico lasted less than 24 hours. The troops which crossed the Rio Grande June 15 to put a stop to the firing that was causing death and injury in El Paso were back in their billets on the American side of the border the next night. They had broken up the battle between Villa rebels and the Carranza garrison and driven the rebel forces headlong out of Juarez and into the hills. The Carranza Consul, Garcia, and Gen. Francisco Gonzales are reported by American officials to be pessimistic, if not indignant, at the swift reprisals made by the Americans against the stray shots which were falling in El Paso during the Villa attack on Juarez. In announcing his action in ordering Americans into Mexico Brigadier General Erwin in a formal statement said he had done-so to prevent the indiscriminate firing into El Paso by rebel soldiers, endangering the lives of Americans. "But on no account were they to undertake an invasion into Mexico," continued the statement. Americans with interests in the vicinity of Chihuahua are alarmed lest Villa, smarting under the defeat administered his troops by the American forces, should make a campaign of destruction. General Candido Aguilar, President Carranza's confidential ambassador to the United States, issued to the press, on June 17, a formal statement that "the government and people of Mexico consider as a violation of Mexican sovereignty the crossing of United States soldiers into Mexican territory" and expressing the hope ?that the situation created by the latest occurrences in Juarez will be satisfactorily adjusted between the two countries." Discussion of Mexican affairs was evoked in both houses of Congress by the crossing of the Rio Grande by American troops.

Jan 8, 1919