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By AIME AIME

APOCRYPHAL, no doubt, but widely entertained is the proposition that top-flight mining geologists never agree with each other on anything. Being rugged individualists, they frequently seem intolerant of opinions that conflict with their own. However, one may suspect that controversy is often more apparent than real. For example, at last summer's meeting of the American Mining Congress, Ira B. Joralemon and Reno H. Sales, discussing "Mining Geology, Today and Tomorrow," seemed to be in serious disagreement over various phases of the subject; but much of this arises from the different angles of approach of the two distinguished and successful ore finders.

Jan 1, 1941

By Michael S. Roscoe

In order to more accurately predict longwall surface subsidence over the Pittsburgh No. 8 Coal in Eastern Ohio, North American Coal Corporation's Quarto Mining Company undertook or participated in several subsidence studies. Due to the changing roof geology and rapid variations in the amount of cover two separate areas were investigated at two different mines to determine the subsidence response if any to these changes. Data generated from these studies were compared with NCB derived,data for accuracy and then used to predict subsidence under houses, gas lines and other critical man made structures. The following report summarizes the results of these studies as well as the subsidence case histories of gas lines, transmission towers, houses and water wells. Problems that were encountered during both phases of this process (investigation and subsequent application) are also included.

By Harrison Schmitt

SINCE the U. S. Geological Survey published the data on the Central Mining District collected by Lindgren and Graton1 and by Paige2 much new information has been obtained by development and mapping, but none of it had been published until recently when Kniffin3 published on Fierro, Lasky4 on the Ground Hog mine, Thorne5 on Santa Rita and Landon6 filed a thesis on the Fierro-Hanover-Santa Rita area at the Uni-versity of Chicago. During the years 1927-1930 much of the writer's time was spent in mapping the geology and ore deposits of this district, particularly in the area of the zinc deposits at Hanover. Some of the data collected are presented here. Previous publications have been freely drawn upon and additional data used that were generously supplied by L. M. Kniffin, Wilfred Wright and Gerald Ballmer. Thanks are due Augustus Locke, Samuel G. Lasky, Kniffin, Wright and Ballmer for suggestions and critical readings of the manuscript, and to the Empire Zinc Co. (a subsidiary of the New Jersey Zinc Co.) for the privilege of publishing material compiled largely at its expense. The relation of the Central. or the Santa Rita-Hanover-Fierro district to the Silver City district is shown on Paige's geologic map in the Silver City folio.7 Granodiorite porphyry and quartz-monzonite porphyry

Jan 1, 1933

By M. W. BERNEWITZ

ALTHOUGH many persons know that a lot of type metal and etchings are used in the U. S. Government Printing Office few would expect to find anything on metals in the annual report of the Public Printer, George H. Carter. Yet the report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1931, contains many interesting items. For example: Among the 57,500,000 lb. of materials and supplies delivered to the printing office was little new metal, but the metal in circulation is 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 lb. In the cost of production $31,523 is charged against metal, nearly one-third for salaries and wages. In miscellaneous sales were $4,696 from waste metal and $1,147 from waste gold (from books). Electrotype and stereotype covered 11,438,314 sq. in. The vaults and storage rooms contain 1,700,000 plates and 130,000 pages of type containing 4,600,000 lb. of metal valued at $275,000. In what was known as the Congressional Globe vault were 46,000 stereotype plates; these were salvaged by remelting for other platemaking service. The Congressional Record superseded the Congressional Globe in 1873.)

Jan 1, 1932

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The year 1939 witnessed the rapid development of several of the more important Rocky Mountain oil and gas areas and the discovery of new oil and gas fields. As a further result of an active year, many oil fields had their productive limits greatly extended or responded to deeper drilling with oil production in lower horizons. In Colorado there was a substantial increase in refinery capacity, with three new units constructed. Its contribution to the crude-oil supply was an important extension of the producing area of a Western Slope field and a deeper oil-producing horizon in an old field east of the Front Range. Occurrences of gas were reported in two wells in northwestern Colorado, but severe winter weather prevented tests and the value of these discoveries cannot be determined at this time. Montana's northern fields were extended and a number of record wells were completed. The North Cut Bank area gives promise of wide expansion in 1940. The gas-producing area of Wyoming's Elk Basin field was extended into Montana on the north plunge of the anticline. The most important developments in Wyoming oil fields in 1939 were extensions to the producing area of Lance Creek and the discovery of a deeper pay in the Tensleep formation at Wertz dome. A new gas field at Horn Valley in the south central part of the state was the only new field discovered, but wildcatting was at low ebb in Wyoming in 1939. Colorado In Colorado, the year 1939 saw the completion of several interesting tests, but largely with negative results. Oil was discovered, however, in a deeper sand in the old Fort Collins field and the productive area of the Wilson Creek field was extended. Gas had been noted in two Western Slope wells, at Yellowjacket-Buford and at Trull, but their volumes had not been determined at the end of the year. Of principal interest, however, were the failures, descriptions of which will be given presently. One of these established a new depth record for Colorado.

Jan 1, 1940

By C. E. Shoenfelt

The year 1939 witnessed the rapid development of several of the more important Rocky Mountain oil and gas areas and the discovery of new oil and gas fields. As a further result of an active year, many oil fields had their productive limits greatly extended or responded to deeper drilling with oil production in lower horizons. In Colorado there was a substantial increase in refinery capacity, with three new units constructed. Its contribution to the crude-oil supply was an important extension of the producing area of a Western Slope field and a deeper oil-producing horizon in an old field east of the Front Range. Occurrences of gas were reported in two wells in northwestern Colorado, but severe winter weather prevented tests and the value of these discoveries cannot be determined at this time. Montana's northern fields were extended and a number of record wells were completed. The North Cut Bank area gives promise of wide expansion in 1940. The gas-producing area of Wyoming's Elk Basin field was extended into Montana on the north plunge of the anticline. The most important developments in Wyoming oil fields in 1939 were extensions to the producing area of Lance Creek and the discovery of a deeper pay in the Tensleep formation at Wertz dome. A new gas field at Horn Valley in the south central part of the state was the only new field discovered, but wildcatting was at low ebb in Wyoming in 1939. Colorado In Colorado, the year 1939 saw the completion of several interesting tests, but largely with negative results. Oil was discovered, however, in a deeper sand in the old Fort Collins field and the productive area of the Wilson Creek field was extended. Gas had been noted in two Western Slope wells, at Yellowjacket-Buford and at Trull, but their volumes had not been determined at the end of the year. Of principal interest, however, were the failures, descriptions of which will be given presently. One of these established a new depth record for Colorado.

Jan 1, 1940

By L. W. Rowe, S. S. Cole

A laboratory bench scale unit is described whereby finely divided chlorinatable residues are held for a short period by a restraining bed of a coarse-grained ore of comparable composition to permit 'flash' chlorination of the high surface area powder. Results on chlorinating a finely divicled titania residue using rutile sand as the restraining bed showed that 92 pct utilization of chlorine and equivalent conversion of TiO2 in the fine residue to Ticl4 were attained with a dust loss of about 3 to 4 pct and an equivalent amount of ch1om'nation of the titanium values in the restraining bed. THE chlorination of coarse grain titaniferous ores; i.e., 20 to 150 mesh sizes in fluidized beds is practiced commercially.' One effective method found for the chlorination of a very fine material in a fluidized bed is the "flash" chlorination technique.' By charging the finely divided charge material into the bottom of an established bed of optimum sized rutile, ilmenite, titanium beneficiate, or even an inert material such as sand, chlorination occurs before the dust can pass through the bed. The major requirement is that the bed be less chlorinatable than the charge. In this process, the charge consists of a finely divided (between one and 50 µ) titania residue obtained from a titaniferous ore beneficiation process. The charge is blended with a 20 pct wt basis addition of 20 to 60 .mesh size low volatile coke (to minimize hydrogen chloride formation) and fed to the bottom of the bed with the chlorine gas stream. A ball check device is used to permit entry of the charge and prevent the bed from discharging when the gas flow is cut off. The coarse pieces of coke serve to reduce compaction in the charge mixture and permit sat]sfactory feeding without plugging or jamming. Feed and gas rates are adjusted to provide for complete reaction of the charge material, with 90 to 95 pct chlorine efficiency, and maintain a gas flow in the range of 0.4 to 0.6 ft per sec. The equipment consisted of a 3-in. diam mullite tube enclosed in an electric furnace. A bow-shaped 3/4 in. Saran tube fed the charge from an air lock type of feed hopper (to prevent the escape of the chlorine gas into feed bin) to the bottom of the bed. The charge rate was set by providing a small awiliary hopper below the feed hopper where a weighed portion of the charge could be discharged in a specified time interval into the main chlorine stream. The chlorine rate was measured by a flowmeter. The reaction tube was filled with a bed of Australian rutile ore, this restraining bed serving two purposes; i.e., it rapidly heated the fresh charge to the reaction temperature and retained the particles in the bed for a sufficient time for selective chlorination to proceed. Due to the fine particle size and open, porous structure of the charge, this reaction was almost instantaneous, and, with proper adjustment of feed and gas rates, very little fine material passed through the bed without reacting and only a very small fraction of the restraining bed was chlorinated. A typical reaction procedure was to fill the bench scale fluidized bed unit with a 1 kg charge of Australian rutile ore analyzing 95.5 pct TiO2, 0.6 pct FeO, a beach sand deposit 40 to 150 mesh size. When fluidized, the bed was approximately 2 ft in depth. The ore was fluidized with a 1:l mixture of chlorine and nitrogen at a rate of 0.40 ft per sec. This gas mixture was necessitated by the comparatively short bed depth; a larger unit, with a deeper bed, could be fluidized with chlorine alone without significant free chlorine loss. Feed rate was 8.0 g per min of beneficiated ilmenite analyzing 85.0 pct TiO2, 2.6 pct FeO plus 1.6 g per min of 20 to 60 mesh petroleum coke. The

Jan 1, 1962

By Pierre R. Hines

These notes are based on observations made while on a recent trip through the West, for the purpose of studying the practical operation of the ball-mill. The writer takes this opportunity to express his thanks for courtesies extended at the many plants visited as well as for the valuable data received: While there are several types of ball-mill on the market, particular attention will here be given to the diaphragm type, as the open-trunnion type, especially the conical mill, has been thoroughly discussed in the Transactions. There is a prevailing impression that the ball-mill is a recent development; however, ball-mills were used extensively in Montana and other western states for crushing ores for concentration as far back as 1808. Its present prominence is due in part to its recent successful application by one of the large copper companies. Without any reference to dry grinding, the first successful ball-mill for wet crushing, which is still in operation, was built 10 years ago.l This mill, designed by Erminio Ferraris for crushing Sardinian ores for concentration, is of more than passing interest. It embodies the peripheral discharge with grates, large forged-steel balls, and the principal features of the modern ball-mill. The results approach present-day practice, the chief differences being that the mechanical construction has been improved in the modern types. Crushing Action of Ball-mill The action of the balls and the principles of crushing have been studied by several investigators.2 Their conclusions are confirmed by results obtained by the writer in experimenting with a small machine built at

Jan 1, 1918

For the year ending February, 1919 PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS L. D. RICKETTS NEW YORK, N. Y. PHILIP N. MOORE ST. Louis, MO. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT C. W. GOODALE BUTTE, MONT. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 4, 1918

By Haley, D. F.

WHEN operations were first started at Climax in 1917 by the Climax Molybdenum Co., they were pioneering in the molybdenum industry for little was known relative to the uses of molybdenum or the metallurgy of molybdenite concentration. Concentration of molybdenite is relatively simple today but in 1916, when the Climax deposit first attracted attention, it presented serious difficulties. Little was known, in fact, even about the assaying of such low-grade molybdenum ores. Mine samples were sent to at least a dozen of the best laboratories in the United States and average values reported varied from 0.4 per cent to 1.0 per cent MOS2. Owing to the wide variations in MoS2 content obtained from reliable chemists, the actual value of the ore was most uncertain. This variation occurred repeat¬edly over a period of six months in 1917. It was finally decided, as a last resort, to cut several tons of sample from the tunnel and have a mill test made, using the recovered MoS2 per ton as the grade of the ore, for a small error in the assaying of the concentrate would not materially affect the results. These mill tests were made by the General Engineering Co. (Callow) at Salt Lake City. The results proved an ore of commercial grade and indicated the flotation process for the best metallurgy. Based upon these tests, the decision was made to build a 200-ton flotation plant. At this time, the art of flotation was

Jan 1, 1946

By George Bain

SOME problems concomitant with commercial exploitation of marble are presented as examples of interesting, useful and profitable fields for application of scientific knowledge. The marble industry is only one such field and is selected because its varying new aspects are familiar to the author. However, what is true for marble is equally so in principle for many industrial minerals. The problems of any stone industry are to maintain markets, create new outlets for stone already in demand, and develop varied uses for varieties that are not so popular. Here the geologist has a different role from most of his colleagues in metal mining. The producing branch may ask about the expectable variation in thickness or size of a deposit as development proceeds. The stock department may call for the available amount of a given type of stone before accepting a large order. The sales force requires data on the use for stone from certain parts of deposits in order to divert grades to the most suitable use. The service depart-ment wants defects rectified and the cause determined to avoid recurrence. The mills want data on durability and cutting quality of abrasives. The geologist occupies no special department; he is on general call, as may be illustrated by a few types of problems that may be classified as: (1) dominantly geological in character, (2) dominantly chemical in character, (3) dominantly physical in character.

Jan 1, 1940

By Henning Nielsen

SIX weeks ahead of schedule, the International Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd. has brought a 30-mile rail line into the newly born town of Thompson, Manitoba. Its construction spurs the development of a rich new mining region slated to become the world's second largest nickel-producing area-exceeded only by Inco's Sudbury, Ont., workings. Two mines, the Thompson and the Moak Lake, will be opened to meet International Nickel's scheduled annual production goal of 385 million lb of refined nickel by 1961. Accomplishment of this aim will mean an additional 75 million lb of the metal available to consumers. In addition, stepped-up out- put of Inco's Sudbury holdings may increase this figure by another 25 million lb. (For an earlier report on these developments see MINING ENGINEERING News, January 1957).

Jan 12, 1957

By W. L. Saunders

It has been estimated that the value of the mineral products of the United States is about $2,000,000,000 a year; that about $25,000,000 is expended annually for explosives and that about double this sum is paid in wages where blasting is done. The value of the mineral products does not adequately express the importance of the industry involved in the excavation of rock and ore because of the enormous sums of money expended in tunnel driving, in quarries, and in open-cut excavation generally. We know that the Catskill Aqueduct in the neighborhood of New York, which is now nearing completion, has cost some $165,000,000 and that about one-third of this may be rated as rock excavation. These illustrations are given in order to call attention to the great importance of an industry the extension and development of which in our industrial life depend so much upon the economics of rock drilling. Reference has been made to the new Catskill Aqueduct. There are three aqueducts leading into New York, each built at periods separated by some 20 years of time. The first one, known as the Old Aqueduct, conveys the waters of the Croton river to New York City in a manner which reminds one of the old Roman aqueducts, the ruins of which are still in evidence. The engineers who laid out these old conduits sought to direct their lines around the hills and into the valleys, at all times avoiding the rock. When it was necessary to cross a river or a deep ravine, a bridge or causeway was constructed. High Bridge, over the Harlem river, is an arched masonry viaduct differing in no essential features from the aqueducts of the Romans. When the second Croton Aqueduct was built, about the year 1890, the art of drilling rock had been so far perfected, and the use of explosives, through the invention of dynamite, had become so general, that this waterway was planned and executed on straight lines, following rather than avoiding the rock. The second Croton Aqueduct is a tunnel through rock, about 32 miles in length; material gneiss, almost as hard as granite. Its construction was made practicable by sinking

Jan 1, 1914

By Harry K. Ihrig

The hot-working of iron and steel is an art dating back to antiquity, but until about 25 years ago, relatively few alloying elements were used, and these were present only in small percentages. With the exception of sulphur, the amounts of other elements in steels did not markedly affect their hot-workability. The references in the literature on the effect of other elements on the hot-workability of steel are usually reports of failure of these steels in forging or rolling.1-8 With the increased use of alloying elements, and their use in larger amounts, it was observed that many of the new steels were red short in certain critical ranges or at all hot-working temperatures. The stainless steels are particularly difficult to hot-work. The determining of the correct conditions for piercing, rolling and forging of these alloys by experimentation in the mill often results in large losses of these expensive metals. It also is found that the hot-workability limits of many types vary from heat to heat, and hence poor results are obtained on changing to a new heat after a previous one has rolled satisfactorily. To determine the effect on hot-workability of iron to which various elements have been added, it was necessary to devise a method that could be used on small quantities of metal. In such a method, the minimum number of variables should be present, and the procedure should be simple, quick and correlatable with large-scale hot-working operations. Sauveur,9 in the first Henry Marion Howe lecture in 1924, described the effect of carbon on the ductility of steels in torsion near their critical points. He found that carbon increases the plasticity of gamma iron. In the 1930 Campbell Memorial lecture,10 he gives the effect of carbon, chromium, and chromium and nickel on the ductility of steels under 2000°F. in torsion. Ellis11 has studied the malleability of steels at various elevated temperatures by means of a single-blow drop-hammer test. In this test the percentage decrease in height of standard cylinders is taken as a measure of their malleability. He has shown that in the low-alloy steels studied, carbon has a greater effect than nickel, chromium and vanadium. In 1938 the first tests were run on a new quantitative hot-workability test in the laboratories of the Globe Steel Tubes CO. Thum12 mentioned it in 1940. An illustration of the apparatus was published in January 1942.'' The effect of a few alloying elements on the hot-workability of metals was shown in a description of the test in 1944.14 Description of Test Method The method adopted after a trial of several others is a rapid twisting of bars to failure in a furnace. The standard-size bar was chosen as 9/16 in. It is prepared from larger pieces by forging and cold-

Jan 1, 1947

By Harry K. Ihrig

The hot-working of iron and steel is an art dating back to antiquity, but until about 25 years ago, relatively few alloying elements were used, and these were present only in small percentages. With the exception of sulphur, the amounts of other elements in steels did not markedly affect their hot-workability. The references in the literature on the effect of other elements on the hot-workability of steel are usually reports of failure of these steels in forging or rolling.1-8 With the increased use of alloying elements, and their use in larger amounts, it was observed that many of the new steels were red short in certain critical ranges or at all hot-working temperatures. The stainless steels are particularly difficult to hot-work. The determining of the correct conditions for piercing, rolling and forging of these alloys by experimentation in the mill often results in large losses of these expensive metals. It also is found that the hot-workability limits of many types vary from heat to heat, and hence poor results are obtained on changing to a new heat after a previous one has rolled satisfactorily. To determine the effect on hot-workability of iron to which various elements have been added, it was necessary to devise a method that could be used on small quantities of metal. In such a method, the minimum number of variables should be present, and the procedure should be simple, quick and correlatable with large-scale hot-working operations. Sauveur,9 in the first Henry Marion Howe lecture in 1924, described the effect of carbon on the ductility of steels in torsion near their critical points. He found that carbon increases the plasticity of gamma iron. In the 1930 Campbell Memorial lecture,10 he gives the effect of carbon, chromium, and chromium and nickel on the ductility of steels under 2000°F. in torsion. Ellis11 has studied the malleability of steels at various elevated temperatures by means of a single-blow drop-hammer test. In this test the percentage decrease in height of standard cylinders is taken as a measure of their malleability. He has shown that in the low-alloy steels studied, carbon has a greater effect than nickel, chromium and vanadium. In 1938 the first tests were run on a new quantitative hot-workability test in the laboratories of the Globe Steel Tubes CO. Thum12 mentioned it in 1940. An illustration of the apparatus was published in January 1942.'' The effect of a few alloying elements on the hot-workability of metals was shown in a description of the test in 1944.14 Description of Test Method The method adopted after a trial of several others is a rapid twisting of bars to failure in a furnace. The standard-size bar was chosen as 9/16 in. It is prepared from larger pieces by forging and cold-

Jan 1, 1947

"NAME…""Utah"" is derived from the name of the Indian tribe, variously spelled ""Yuta, “Ute"" ""Youta,"" ""Uta,"" ""Eutaw,"" and finally ""Utah."" It means ""in the tops of the mountains,"" or ""on the heights."" The state emblem is the ""Beehive,"" typical of industry. State nickname is ""Beehive State.""AREA…Utah is the tenth state in area. It contains 84,990 square miles, of which 2,806 miles are water. When admitted as a territory in 1850, Utah included all the area from the east line of California to the summit of the Rocky Mountains between the 37th and 42nd parallels, which embraced practically all of the present state of Nevada, all of western Colorado, part of Idaho and part of Wyoming, in addition to the present area of Utah.TOPOGRAPHY…Utah is generally mountainous, with several main ranges and also detached groups of mountains. The valleys are broad and level. The mean altitude of the state is 6,100 feet above sea level, which makes the state the third highest of the Union. The highest point in Utah is King's Peak (13,498) in the Uinta range. The lowest point is Beaverdam Creek (2,000) in Washington county.CLIMATE…The climate is diversified between mild temperate in the northern portion to semitropical in the southern portion. There are four distinct seasons. Snowfall is heavy at the greater altitudes and rare in the southern portion. Rainfall is moderate throughout the state. Extremes of heat and cold are unusual."

Jan 1, 1925

By C. C. Griggs

From its inception, a limestone quarry or mine should be under the direction of a capable engineer. Before it becomes a reality, he should outlinc the future results, plan the most economical methods for moving the materials and the most efficient equipment, and pilot the undertaking along the narrow pathway of success, avoiding the pitfalls of uneconomical production and the precipitous walls of scanty profits. Inspection of successful limestone properties shows that all have had difficult engineering problems, the solution of which have required keen engineering ability. In approaching a subject of this nature, it is logical to follow the progress of the limestone operation from its inception to the end, as reflecting the engineering required. There are four major divisions: Investigation, equipment, development, and operation. Investigation On the reliability of the engineer's estimates and the soundness of his judgment depend the success or failure of the enterprise. When one visits a prosperous concern, realizes that the limestone is of a constant chemical composition, sees the mechanical devices installed, and watches the output leave the plant in trains of railroad cars or fleets of vessels, he may overlook the fact that in the remote past this great creation was born in some man's brain and evolved through competent engineering. Many factors must be considered before a promoter could procure the money necessary to launch such an enterprise, for a conservative banker will only recommend a successful producer while the promoter must provide funds on his own and his engineer's judgment. An engineering investigation must be made preliminary to expenditure for actual operation, which, for a limestone deposit, would' naturally embrace such subjects as : ' Readily available. 1. Tonnage available........ Possibly available. Chemical analysis.

Jan 1, 1925

By James T. Kemp

Some interesting and, to American eyes, rather unusual processes for refining impure aluminum derived from scraps were found by American and British investigators who went into Germany in 1945 for the Technical Industrial Intelligence Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. What was found was recorded in a series of reports (see page ), many of which have been released for general reading. This paper gathers under one title and summarizes the German work in refining light metal scrap. Reference must be made to the original reports for greater detail. Basically, the occasion and stimulus for the German developments in treating light metal scrap were hard necessity. Germany needed the metal for a rapacious war industry. Adequate supplies of new aluminum from reduction works were not assured. Great quantities of airplane and other light metal war scraps were forecast. It was evident that the scrap metal would have to be reabsorbed by the producing industry and would have to be kept of good quality. The normal current production of manufacturing scrap was being and could be consumed as generated. It offered no technical problem. The mixed scraps, especially those arising from crashed and decommissioned airplanes, however, presented problems of another kind. Airplane Scrap The recovery of usable aluminum alloy from the mixed assemblies that made up the piles of airplane scrap was attacked in different ways by different groups and with differing degrees of success. Three procedures actually were used on a commercial scale, one was in pilot-plant stage and another had come to a halt in the laboratory a year before Germany collapsed. Four of these five processes actually involved "refining"; that is, some measure of purification of the metal after melting. Sorting and Separation on a Sloping Hearth The simplest procedure for utilizing airplane scrap involved no refining in the strict sense of the word. This was the practice adopted by two representative plants visited by the author, the Leipziger Leichtmetalle Werke, Rackwitz, Saxony, and the Vereinigte Leichtmetalle Werke, Hanover. These firms did essentially the same thing that was done in England but not with equal success, to judge by their shorter experience, the smaller tonnage handled and by the number and quality of alloys produced. The two German firms named rough-sorted scraps by their easily recognizable alloys, essentially by part and shape. They used hand labor to chop and hack and tear apart. The easily separated heavy metal and nonmetallic scraps were discarded as they were found. Steel and the higher-melting-point metal parts riveted to aluminum or built into

Jan 1, 1947

By James T. Kemp

Some interesting and, to American eyes, rather unusual processes for refining impure aluminum derived from scraps were found by American and British investigators who went into Germany in 1945 for the Technical Industrial Intelligence Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. What was found was recorded in a series of reports (see page ), many of which have been released for general reading. This paper gathers under one title and summarizes the German work in refining light metal scrap. Reference must be made to the original reports for greater detail. Basically, the occasion and stimulus for the German developments in treating light metal scrap were hard necessity. Germany needed the metal for a rapacious war industry. Adequate supplies of new aluminum from reduction works were not assured. Great quantities of airplane and other light metal war scraps were forecast. It was evident that the scrap metal would have to be reabsorbed by the producing industry and would have to be kept of good quality. The normal current production of manufacturing scrap was being and could be consumed as generated. It offered no technical problem. The mixed scraps, especially those arising from crashed and decommissioned airplanes, however, presented problems of another kind. Airplane Scrap The recovery of usable aluminum alloy from the mixed assemblies that made up the piles of airplane scrap was attacked in different ways by different groups and with differing degrees of success. Three procedures actually were used on a commercial scale, one was in pilot-plant stage and another had come to a halt in the laboratory a year before Germany collapsed. Four of these five processes actually involved "refining"; that is, some measure of purification of the metal after melting. Sorting and Separation on a Sloping Hearth The simplest procedure for utilizing airplane scrap involved no refining in the strict sense of the word. This was the practice adopted by two representative plants visited by the author, the Leipziger Leichtmetalle Werke, Rackwitz, Saxony, and the Vereinigte Leichtmetalle Werke, Hanover. These firms did essentially the same thing that was done in England but not with equal success, to judge by their shorter experience, the smaller tonnage handled and by the number and quality of alloys produced. The two German firms named rough-sorted scraps by their easily recognizable alloys, essentially by part and shape. They used hand labor to chop and hack and tear apart. The easily separated heavy metal and nonmetallic scraps were discarded as they were found. Steel and the higher-melting-point metal parts riveted to aluminum or built into

Jan 1, 1947

By James Douglas

I had the good fortune to visit the Stockholm Exposition just before its close in October last, and to get a glimpse of the methods used in Sweden in making the wonderful steel and iron for which its furnaces are so famous. My time and opportunities for observation were limited, but some points which I noted may be worth bringing to the notice of the Institute. The Exposition itself was confined to the natural and artificial products of Scanclinavia, and therefore iron and steel held a very prominent place in it. There was a complete collection of the rocks and ores of the Peninsula made by the Geological Survey; and every iron-mine of note exhibited a glass model of its workings, as well as classified specimens, accompaniecl by thorough analyses of the ores. Another feature of interest was the display of models of the old mining-machinery, in the invention and introduction of which Sweden led the way, and of the old and new surveying-instruments and compasses devised for the exploration of the Swedish iron-ore bodies, all of which are more or less magnetic. The magnetometric collection and exhibit of methods of operation made by Prof. Nordestrijm were supremely instructive. The larger metallurgical works, such as those of the Kopparberg and Sandvik companies, exhibited their wares in separate pavilions, in which crude and manufactured objects were arranged most eflectively and tastefully; while the smaller companies erected in the Industrial Arts Building trophies, every one of which was an object of beauty. One was struck on all sides by the fine asthetic feeling exhibited in the ingenious installation of materials and objects not easily lending themselves to artistic treatment. Hammers, picks and drill-steel were grouped into mural designs which it was a delight to look at.

Jan 1, 1899