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The Elk City district is in north-central Idaho about 60 miles east of Grangeville and near the headwaters of the South Fork of the Clearwater River (Fig. 1). At the height of its boom in the early sixties, Elk City had a population of more than 2000 people, Published estimates of the placer production from the district range from $10,000,000 to $18,500,000. Although the first quartz-vein location was made as early as 1870, very little gold was extracted from quartz ores until after the completion of the American Eagle mill in 1902. Between 1902 and 1932 a total of from $750,000 to $1,000,000 was taken from about six properties. General Geology Distribution of Rocks Banded gneiss (Fig. 2) is the most aburldant bedrock in the Elk City district. It is interbedded with schist and quartzite and ill some places these rocks have been intruded by sills and dikes. Banded gneiss prevails in the western part of the area whereas schist prevails to the southeast. Augen gneiss occurs for the most part as irregular bodies, which lie transverse to the trend of the banded gneiss and schist. It is largely confined to two areas; one of which extends from east of the American Eagle mine westward as far as the Black Pine mine, a total distance of about five miles, and another area of about two square miles in the vicinity of the California-Idaho placer mine. Quartzite is fairly abundant. In addition to the bands of the latter interbedded with gneiss and schist, some large lenses crop out in the southeastern part of the dik-trict near the southern contact of the area underlain by granodiorite. Granodiorite crops out over a large area and extends northeastward

Jan 1, 1935

By P. J. Shenon, J. C. Reed

The Elk City district is in north-central Idaho about 60 miles east of Grangeville and near the headwaters of the South Fork of the Clearwater River (Fig. 1). At the height of its boom in the early sixties, Elk City had a population of more than 2000 people, Published estimates of the placer production from the district range from $10,000,000 to $18,500,000. Although the first quartz-vein location was made as early as 1870, very little gold was extracted from quartz ores until after the completion of the American Eagle mill in 1902. Between 1902 and 1932 a total of from $750,000 to $1,000,000 was taken from about six properties. General Geology Distribution of Rocks Banded gneiss (Fig. 2) is the most aburldant bedrock in the Elk City district. It is interbedded with schist and quartzite and ill some places these rocks have been intruded by sills and dikes. Banded gneiss prevails in the western part of the area whereas schist prevails to the southeast. Augen gneiss occurs for the most part as irregular bodies, which lie transverse to the trend of the banded gneiss and schist. It is largely confined to two areas; one of which extends from east of the American Eagle mine westward as far as the Black Pine mine, a total distance of about five miles, and another area of about two square miles in the vicinity of the California-Idaho placer mine. Quartzite is fairly abundant. In addition to the bands of the latter interbedded with gneiss and schist, some large lenses crop out in the southeastern part of the dik-trict near the southern contact of the area underlain by granodiorite. Granodiorite crops out over a large area and extends northeastward

Jan 1, 1935

By N. A. Gokcen, John Chipman

D. C. Hilty (Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Niagara Falls, N. Y.)—This paper is a very nicely detailed analysis of a difficult problem. I would like to point out that the results that Mr. Crafts and I published a few years ago had no reference to activity, or anything else of a similar nature; our results were strictly empirical. It is quite gratifying that we now have a case where results involving activity coefficients and results derived from direct observations on actual steel melts are practically identical. When two different laboratories, working from two entirely different approaches, come out with results in such good agreement in their major significance, that is an achievement. It is something that was not possible 15 or 20 years ago. There is one question I would like to ask Dr. Chip-man. It has to do with a very minor point of disagreement in these results. When we reported the kink in the Si-O solubility curve I think you may recall that it came at the different temperature levels at about the order of 0.015 to 0.03 pct 0 and 0.03 to 0.07 pct Si—we also pointed out that we had difficulty in obtaining data at that level, although we finally did get some. I note in going through the data for the present paper, that there are no samples in those particular silicon and oxygen ranges. I wonder if that was purely accidental or was there a reason for it. D. E. Babcock (Republic Steel Corp., Youngstown, Ohio)—Mr. Hilty, do you have any explanation for that discrepancy between Dr. Chipman's curve and your own Mr. Hilty—Our explanation for it at that time was that for some reason our system probably was not in true equilibrium with SiO, that is, in equilibrium with the silica crucible at that level. We did observe, however, that that was the level at which both the metal and the slag became saturated with SiO,. On the average, in studying inclusion formation in small ingots permitted to solidify normally from the molten state, we observed pure silica inclusions at silicon contents over about 0.05 pct and FeO type inclusions at silicon

Jan 1, 1953

By T. Gleason

Problems involved in applying wet scrubbers to gas cleaning coal dust from thermal dryers are reviewed. Careful consideration of all the elements going into a modem coal preparation plant is required in view of the increasing difficulty of applying suitable gas cleaning equipment. This problem arises not only from the presence of finer coals to be handled, but also from the pressures applied by both the general population and the plant operators to improve the standard of gas cleaning performance. The Peabody scrubber is presented by the author as a machine designed to help improve this cleaning operation. Wet scrubbing of fine coal from thermal dryers poses a number of problems in adapting the gas cleaning equipment to the fine particulate matter. Among them are: 1) Dust in gases leaving the thermal dryer cyclones is often extremely fine with high percentages of total dust loading less than 1p in size. 2) Flue gas entering the scrubber is corrosive since the coal fired in the thermal dryer furnace is in the range of 0.7% by weight sulfur or higher. Therefore, comparatively high cost stainless steel alloys or corrosion resistant linings are required for a satisfactory service life. 3) Requirements for residual coal loadings leaving the gas scrubber are continually being lowered, while modern coal preparation operation is imposing heavier burdens on the collection system through introduction into the thermal dryer system of very fine coal previously not recovered. The advent of flotation systems in increasing numbers is typical of this trend. 4) Installation of a scrubbing system on thermal dryers is made primarily to reduce air pollution and product recovery value is of little or no value. Therefore, the operating costs of gas pressure drop and water requirements must be held to a minimum. We have, then, the basic situation which calls for comparatively high cost stainless steel alloy wet scrubbers, which must be highly effective in removing coal fines particularly in the 0 to 5-p size range. Further, the standards of scrubber performance are continually being raised towards the level where gas discharged from the scrubbers must be essentially free of any coloration due to residual dust. In view of the highly refractive nature of fine coal dust, residual loadings of 0.01 grains per cu ft or less are required to provide a color free discharge gas. In the present specifications under consideration a residual coal loading of 0.05 grains per cu ft would be considered color free, since the discharge gases are saturated in the range of 150°F. The steam plume acts as a masking agent at the point of discharge, and upon dissipation of the 150° saturated vapor stream, the effluent gas stream could be essentially color free. The specification under consideration calls for residual solids loading of 0.05 or less grains per cu ft, given a coal size distribution shown in the basic data in Table I. It is noted that the dust laden coal stream has a size distribution by weight of 33% in the 2 to 5-p size range and 55% in the 0 to 2-p size range. The particle size distribution given in the specifications does not detail the percent by weight less than 1-p in size, and more important, the size distri-

Jan 1, 1963

By C. O. Fairchild

ONE of the fundamental principles of efficiency is the use of adequate and permanent records. The rapid increase in the manufacture and use of recording pryometers is a proof of the appreciation of efficiency principles on the part of the manufacturers engaged in the various technical industries. Where recording pyrometers are not employed in an industry in which temperature measurements are necessary, one will generally find that a printed form is used upon which is written, periodically, the temperatures measured by an indicating instrument. It is no serious condemnation of the workman to state that such records are often "doctored," but it is rather a reflection upon the executive who puts such temptation in the way of a workman. One of the well-known "tricks of the trade" is to "force." a furnace so that it will be at the proper temperature during the periodic trips of the foreman or other official. Indicating instruments and recorders may be used together to great advantage. The recorder furnishes .a printed record and a check upon the operator of the furnace, and a record of value in correlating properties of the finished product with the heat treatment. The indicator should be of assistance to the operator in controlling the furnace or oven. Modern practice requires a temperature-recording instrument that is as simple as possible, rugged, reliable, and sufficiently accurate. Of these qualifications reliability is paramount, particularly in cases where the recorder is used for controlling the temperature automatically. By a reliable instrument is meant one that will run continuously with little attention and with a consistent degree of accuracy. That is, if it is in error by 5 per cent. one day, it must be in error by a like amount on any other clay, and not by 2 per cent. or 10 per cent. The earlier forms of recorders were complex and delicate, or mechanically unsatisfactory and inaccurate, and required considerable attention to keep them in operation. Within the past few years, however, the development in the manufacture of temperature recording devices has been highly satisfactory and many excellent instruments are now available. .

Jan 9, 1919

By R. U. Jackson

Belt conveying is a method of transportation that requires proper servicing and maintenance if completely economical results are to be obtained from the system. With a trucking system, it is common practice to deliver the trucks to a servicing station each day or at the end of each shift. With railroad transportation there is a similar procedure. Sufficient credit is seldom given to this periodic inspection and maintenance procedure, yet it is the key to the successful operation of trucking and rail haulage systems. How about the belt conveyor transportation system? Here is a system that requires no operator for each individual unit. It requires only a main switch and an adequate sequence interlocking system, and the system is so simple to operate that maintenance is considered as only a casual requirement-nothing is done about it until after trouble has developed.

Jan 1, 1956

By Robert Adams

Secondary or scrap materials appear at all stages in the industrial process and in a bewildering variety of forms, grades, and values. It is useful to begin analyzing them by dividing the broad concept of "Secondary Supply" into three parts First, the concept must encompass the stock, or pool, of secondary materials. In the process of satisfying his wants, man produces desired products from the materials and natural resources found around him. As long as the rate of production is greater than the rate of obsolescence of a given product, the total stock or pool of materials embodied in that product will increase in size This stock concept relating to secondary materials is directly analogous to the "resource" concept used for primary raw materials in the preceding chapter, and includes all materials embodied in existing products (Obviously, this excludes those materials which are destroyed in the consumption process, viz , fuel oil burned to provide heat.) Consumption of a primary material in a productive process tends to reduce the resource base of that primary material In direct contrast, however, the production or use of products increases the resource base of the secondary material. Thus, we find that a country which has no resource of a primary material can, by importing products that contain the material, build up a large enough stock to provide a basis for secondary recovery. The estimated growth of the pool of copper in use in the United States through 1967 is shown in Table 5.B.1.a The estimate of 39 3 million tons at the end of 1967 includes only technologically recoverable copper and is, therefore, somewhat less than the stock concept described previously, which does not distinguish between recoverable and unrecoverable material. Nevertheless, Table 5 B.1 does give an idea of how a nation's secondary resource of a material can grow over the years. A second aspect of the concept of secondary supply is the generation of secondary materials. This includes materials generated as scrap in production as well as the movement of a material out of the stock of existing products via wear, damage, or obsolescence The quantity of materials generated is usually either nearly or completely independent of the technologic capabilities and economic forces which prevail in the secondary recovery market.b The justifications for and the qualifications to this statement are considered later. The final aspect of the concept of secondary supply consists in the secondary recovery process It is at this point that the technologic and economic forces of the secondary recovery market become the controlling fac-

Jan 1, 1976

By W. L. Fink, L. A. Willey

During the war there was introduced a new higher strength aircraft alloy designated 75S.1,2,3 The properties of this alloy assure extensive applications in both military and commercial aircraft. It is therefore important to understand its limitations as well as advantages. The properties of 75.5 alloy in the heat-treated tempers, like those of many other aluminum alloys, are affected by the rate of quenching. In general, low quenching rates tend to cause low strengths and to adversely affect the resistance to corrosion. Commercial quenching procedures are usually sufficiently rapid to permit the development of maximum properties. However, in the center of heavy sections, such as large rolled and extruded shapes, the quenching rates may not be rapid enough to develop maximum strength or resistance to corrosion. The investigations of 75s alloy described herein reveal the most critical range of temperature and the effects of quenching sheet and extrusions at different rates through that temperature range, on the tensile properties and resistance to corrosion. Procedure Preparation of Specimens Sheet specimens (3 in. by 9 in.) were prepared from a commercial lot of 75s "as rolled" sheet (0.064 in. thick). The composition4 was as follows: Weight Percentage Cu Mn Mg Zn Cr A1 with Normal Impurities 1.64 0.16 2.58 5.66 0.27 Remainder The specimens employed for the determination of the time-temperature relations during quenching of sheet were prepared by the following procedure: the hot junction of a 28-ga. iron-constantan thermoelement (asbestos insulated) was brazed to a thin strip of aluminum which was in turn brazed into the end of a 3/16-in. id by %-in. od by 30 in. long aluminum protection tube. Before brazing, the tube was flattened to 0.064-in. thickness over the junction and adjacent lead wires for a distance of I 1/2 in. The flattened end of the tube was fitted into a slot cut from one edge to the center of the 3-in. by 9-in. by 0.064-in. sheet and brazed into place. The brazed joint was dressed to the thickness of the sheet and the entire specimen buffed to approximately the brightness of "as rolled" material. Because of the brazing operations required, these specimens were prepared using 3S alloy. For the investigation of quenching rates in heavy sections, there were used 75s extrusions which had compositions similar to that of the sheet. The specimens consisted of 14 in. lengths of 3i-in., 2-in., 3-in, and 4-in. diam cylindrical rods and a roughly rectangular extruded section which was approximately 4 in. by 7 1/2 in. Thcrmocouple~ were peened into the bottoms Of .1/8-in. diam wells drilled into one end and parallel to the axis to a depth of

Jan 1, 1949

R. G. BROWN, Bodie, Cal.: Mr. Rickard's paper, with its valuable illustrations, brings into fresh clearness the game of hide-and-seek which the miner must play with his ore-deposit; but, more than this, it goes far towards classifying those perplexing idiosyncrasies which, while unclassified, constitute a labyrinth almost without clue. Probably every engineer can add to the list by the mention of at least one fresh detail from his own experience, and I for one would like to comment on two of Mr. Rickard's divisions. To what he has written about " walls within walls" and " walls without walls," the accompanying Figs. 1 and 2 may be appropriate, the more so as they represent conditions obtaining in a part of the Butte copper-belt more typical of the copper-veins as a whole than the Gagnon, which, in some respects the most interesting mine in the camp, stands almost alone in many particulars. (See nuns., xvi., 62.) Fig. 1 was sketched in January, 1895, in the stopes above the 700-foot level of the Colusa-Parrot mine, east of the Parrot and southwest. of the Anaconda. The stope, the commercial foot-wall of which is shown at A, was 30 feet wide at this section, the pay-ore being massive chalcocite, jumbled with bornite, pyrite, quartz and thoroughly broken-down granite. A and At are inch-thick seams of black talc; B, B' and B" are also talc, possibly 1/8-inch thick. In the plane of the section the "banded quartz " and " quartz and pyrite " were both of too low grade for extraction, but 5 feet back along the stope had been of fair value. The granite with quartz and bornite between Bt and A' was pay-ore, but that to the right of B" was not. In both cases the ferro-magnesian minerals had been removed, leaving, where not obscured by ore, faint, dark patches. Between A'

Jan 1, 1897

By Eizo Yabuuchi, Yukito Imanaga

INTRODUCTION In treatment of mine drainage, it is well known that the neutralization by calcium carbonate is far better than by slaked lime because of cheaper cost and better precipitability of its deposit. However, in case of iron ion contained in the mine drainage consists of ferrous salt, the ferrous salt must be oxidized to ferric salt before neutralization, because the ferrous salt does not react with calcium carbonate. At Yanahara Mine, during the period of 1950 through 1956, ferrous ion in the mine drainage had been oxidized to ferric ion, simultaneously neutralized by adding calcium carbonate into the aerated drainage. During the period of 1961 through 1974, after passing through many kinds of treating methods, the neutralization had been carried out by addition of calcium carbonate into the drainage after oxidized its ferrous ion to ferric by using nitrous gas as an oxidizing catalyzer. Meanwhile we had made an experiment on the oxidation of ferrous ion by utilizing iron bacteria, and developed a method which oxidized ferrous ion in large quantities briefly by cultivating and concentrating iron-oxidizing bacteria. Since 1974, we have been operating successfully for treating the drainage at Yanahara Mine by means of utilizing these bacteria.

Jan 1, 1976

By Henry Rawdon

THE structure of wrought iron as usually described by metallographists and workers in metal in general is that of a fairly pure iron. Impurities, if present, are usually considered as being in solid solution in the crystals of the ferrite matrix or as forming part of the ever present "slag streaks." Attention is herein directed to one type of these dissolved impurities; to the detection of such impurities, particularly in low-grade irons, and to their possible influence on the physical properties of the metal. The attention of the Bureau of Standards was first directed to wrought iron of the peculiar and unusual characteristics to be described later, in material which had failed in service and was submitted for test. The examination was extended to other grades of wrought iron, to see whether such features are of common occurrence in this class of material. MICROSTRUCTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Usual Structure The general microstructure of wrought iron is so well known that a detailed description of it here is needless. There is shown in Fig. 2 the structure of a sample of Swedish iron which illustrates well the matrix of ferrite crystals in which are embedded the slag threads so characteristic of the puddling process and the subsequent working of the material. The usual commercial product contains varying amounts of the impurities commonly associated with iron and steel, i.e., manganese, phosphorus, silicon, and sulphur together with small amounts of carbon. Of these, the larger part of the phosphorus and some of the silicon present are held in solid solution in the ferrite while most of the remaining impurities, other than carbon, exist in the inclosures of slag. Aside from the discontinuities introduced by the slag streaks the ferrite matrix has the microstructure and appearance of a pure metal. No definite orientation of the various crystals or grains is apparent; deep etching of the specimens reveals no intracrystalline features (i.e., within the grains) other than those noted in "pure" metals in general (etching pits).

Jan 9, 1917

By J. C. Irvine

Meramec Mining Co. has put into operation a crushing and conveying system on its newly established 2475-ft level, 200 ft below the lowest production. To develop this level without interrupting hoisting or mine haulage, a 15.8% decline was driven from the 2275-ft level. A 5-cu-yd LHD diesel loader and a diesel-powered drilling jumbo were put into operation midway down the decline, and were used to develop the remainder of the decline and the entire level. Development of the ore pass system to the crusher required the construction of Swedish-type dumps on the main haulage-ways of all production levels with a minimum disruption of ore haulage. Concrete was handled by both rail-mounted and rubber-tired vehicles. The system features four Swedish-type dumps with control chutes at the lower three dumps, a 42-in. gyratory crusher with attendant feeders, and an 1800-ft long roof suspended conveyor feeding two 5000-ton ore bins. The crushed ore from these bins is conveyed to the lower of the mine's two original loading stations for hoisting. The retention of the original dumping and ore pass system as an alternate route has given mine production a unique flexibility. Operation for 22 months has permitted evaluation of the system from a long-term standpoint.

Jan 1, 1973

By W. M. Rust, W. D. Mounce

THE almost universal acceptance of electrical logging by the petroleum industry calls for a critical examination of the physical bases of the common methods. This is particularly needed for the natural potential log. The conventional explanations are based on the phenomena of electrofiltration and electro-osmosis. However, experimental data show that they fail to give a basis that is quantitatively sound. Moreover, they lead to interpretations of details of electrical logs that are erroneous. It was found experimentally that when a plug of shale is placed in a chain of dissimilar electrolytes, a current flow results. Experiments on oil-well cores and fluids similar to those existing in wells show that potentials are set up which are in reasonable agreement with those encountered in electrical logging. Doubt- less other sources of potential are important but this explanation not only accounts for much of the potential but also clarifies some fairly familiar examples of misinterpretations.

Jan 1, 1944

By Gust Bitsianes, Joseph H. M. Beaty

Successful blast-furnace operation depends upon securing an optimum balance between a number of important variables. This balance will vary somewhat from furnace to furnace in the same plant and with raw materials available in different plants. It is difficult to isolate the effect of any one variable unless it has a rather pronounced effect upon the efficiency of operation. The physical properties of iron ore and coke are known to affect the process, yet it is difficult to set up any definite yardstick by which these differences can be appraised. In recent years, whenever practicable, operators have taken steps to obtain better control over the absolute size and uniformity of size of the ore and coke. The size and physical character of the stone, however, have received comparatively little attention, emphasis being placed upon chemical composition, fluxing efficiency, and action as a desulphurizing agent. Since the stone occupies only about 10 per cent of the volume of the stock column, its influence upon permeability is less than that of the ore and the coke. The large pieces now used have a tendency to roll to the center and thus increase the permeability of this part of the stock column. Smaller pieces would be more effective in promoting the permeability of denser portions of the stock. The size and physical properties of blastfurnace stone are important also for reasons best understood by considering the results obtained by the crushing and the sizing of iron ore. Crushing ore to about 2 in. at Provo, Utah, and to about I in. in Alabama produced material somewhat less permeable to gases, even though sized. In spite of some sacrifice in permeability, the efficiency of the process was improved by crushing and sizing the ore, as indicated by a substantial saving in fuel and increased output. This saving in fuel is due in large measure to more thorough reduction of ore in the upper part of the furnace and to a corresponding decrease in the amount of carbon consumed prematurely above the tuyeres by the reaction CO2 + C = 2CO - 70,080 B.t.u. [I] The physical properties of stone, its size and rate of calcination are important because they influence the rate at which CO2 is released and the completeness of calcination before reaching a level in the furnace where the temperature does not exceed 1050°C. (1920°F.). Briefly, carbon dioxide from the limestone or from the reduction of ore may cause premature corn bustion of carbon above the tuyeres. Assuming that 1000 Ib. of limestone is used per ton of pig iron, about 435 Ib. of CO2 will be liberated during calcination of a good grade of stone. If all this CO2 from the stone were to oxidize carbon prematurely, about 120 lb, would be consumed above the tuyeres in a heat-absorbing reaction. The amount of carbon thus consumed when a

Jan 1, 1943

By Joseph H. M. Beaty, Gust Bitsianes

Successful blast-furnace operation depends upon securing an optimum balance between a number of important variables. This balance will vary somewhat from furnace to furnace in the same plant and with raw materials available in different plants. It is difficult to isolate the effect of any one variable unless it has a rather pronounced effect upon the efficiency of operation. The physical properties of iron ore and coke are known to affect the process, yet it is difficult to set up any definite yardstick by which these differences can be appraised. In recent years, whenever practicable, operators have taken steps to obtain better control over the absolute size and uniformity of size of the ore and coke. The size and physical character of the stone, however, have received comparatively little attention, emphasis being placed upon chemical composition, fluxing efficiency, and action as a desulphurizing agent. Since the stone occupies only about 10 per cent of the volume of the stock column, its influence upon permeability is less than that of the ore and the coke. The large pieces now used have a tendency to roll to the center and thus increase the permeability of this part of the stock column. Smaller pieces would be more effective in promoting the permeability of denser portions of the stock. The size and physical properties of blastfurnace stone are important also for reasons best understood by considering the results obtained by the crushing and the sizing of iron ore. Crushing ore to about 2 in. at Provo, Utah, and to about I in. in Alabama produced material somewhat less permeable to gases, even though sized. In spite of some sacrifice in permeability, the efficiency of the process was improved by crushing and sizing the ore, as indicated by a substantial saving in fuel and increased output. This saving in fuel is due in large measure to more thorough reduction of ore in the upper part of the furnace and to a corresponding decrease in the amount of carbon consumed prematurely above the tuyeres by the reaction CO2 + C = 2CO - 70,080 B.t.u. [I] The physical properties of stone, its size and rate of calcination are important because they influence the rate at which CO2 is released and the completeness of calcination before reaching a level in the furnace where the temperature does not exceed 1050°C. (1920°F.). Briefly, carbon dioxide from the limestone or from the reduction of ore may cause premature corn bustion of carbon above the tuyeres. Assuming that 1000 Ib. of limestone is used per ton of pig iron, about 435 Ib. of CO2 will be liberated during calcination of a good grade of stone. If all this CO2 from the stone were to oxidize carbon prematurely, about 120 lb, would be consumed above the tuyeres in a heat-absorbing reaction. The amount of carbon thus consumed when a

Jan 1, 1943

By F. M. Sandoval, R. E. Ries, J. F. Power

Returning the original soil material to the surface of smoothed mine spoils is a practical means of restoring agricultural productivity. Research has established that high-sodium spoils in North Dakota: (1) must be covered with about 70 cm of soil material to achieve maximum production; (2) top-soil must be segregated and spread separately from subsoil; (3) potential production depends on the quality of the soil material returned; and (4) erosion and upward salt movement must be controlled for sustained production. Erosion is best controlled by reducing final grades as much as possible during the smoothing process followed by prompt establishment of vegetation.

Jan 1, 1980

By Leo F. Reinartz

Part II of a four-part series on the history of steelmaking in the US, points out the inadequate safety and living conditions that existed in steel mills at the turn of the Century. Also defined are furnace and process developments. OPERATIONS in steel plants today are highly mechanized. Men work in light, clean, orderly melting shops, making it difficult for old timers to convince young men that primitive, hazardous conditions existed in steel plants at the turn of the century. Working conditions then were very poor as compared to present day standards. In small plants especially, sanitary, locker, and washroom facilities, first-aid practices and stations were un- known Accidents were frequent and severe. Workers had a fatalistic attitude toward getting hurt. He who had an accident was looked upon as a hero. A dirty bandanna often served as a bandage. Infections were frequent. Electric cranes were in their infancy and broke down often Cables had not as yet replaced chains. Pig iron and scrap iron were loaded by hand in the stockyard, and stockyard locomotives were un- known; mules served as the usual motive power. It was not unusual to see recorded a delay of ½ hr in charging a furnace because of a balky mule. Furnace operations A few plants had primitive charging machines, but most furnaces were charged by placing scrap or pig iron on the paddle of a long peel, which rested on a bar across the furnace door opening. Laborers at the handle end of the peel, using the bar as a fulcrum, would heave the material into the furnace by a down and sideward motion of the peel handle. In time they became expert in placing these materials in the furnace, but it was hard, hot work, and a long time was required for charging. Cold charges of 25 tons required more than 12 hr for melting and re- fining the steel. Ports, doors, and frames were not water cooled. The charging and working area in front of the furnace was covered with steel plates. They were hot and often warped by the intense heat of the un- insulated checker chambers directly below. In the summer, working conditions on the charging floor were almost unbearable. Silica refractories were of poor quality. Because of this, and the inadequate training of furnace men in fuel control and furnace operations, roofs, front and back walls, and ends burned out rapidly. Dolomite machines were unknown; consequently, furnace banks and hearths were fettled with dolomite by the use of hand shovels. The round system required six or more men. Each man took a shovelful of dolomite and, in his turn, deposited it on the back wall and bank by a dexterous forward swing and twist of the shovel. The upward swing of the shovel partially protected his face from the searing heat of the furnace coming out through the wide-open door. Considerable skill and stamina were required to do this job properly. Reverse valves, usually of the cast-iron butterfly type, were located below the charging floor. They were operated by long levers on the charging floor level men they became warped, because of heat and abuse, great strength and skill were required to reverse them. Furnace operations were difficult. The quality and quantity of producer gas coming from irregularly stoked, hand-operated gas producers was uncertain and unreliable. Furnace Linings and ports were quickly burned out. Poor bottom and side-wall refractories, indifferent and inexperienced crews, as well as irregular re-

Jan 1, 1961

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York Meets first Wednesday after first Tuesday of each month. DAVID H. BROWNE, Chairman, JOHN H. JANEWAY, Vice-Chairman. F. E. PIERCE, Secretary, 35 Nassau St., New York, N. Y. P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer. LEWIS W. FRANCIS. Boston Meets first Monday of each winter month. HENRY L. SMYTH, Chairman. ALFRED C. LANE, Vice-Chairman. HENRY A. WENTWORTH, Secretary-Treasurer, 60 India St., Boston, Mass. ROBERT H. RICHARDS, ALBERT SAUVEUR. Columbia Holds four sessions during year. Annual meeting in September or October. FRANK A. ROSS, Chairman. RUSH J. WHITE, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. FREDERIC KEFFER, FRANCIS A. THOMSON.

Jan 9, 1915

By Russell G. Wayland

THIS paper gives the author's personal idea of the general viewpoint of the world's largest mica consumer, the U. S. Army, toward the supply, uses, and conservation of mica. However, to cover so broad a subject in a brief paper will require the dismissal of many phases with little or no mention. For example, it will be necessary to omit further reference to phlogopite or amber mica, even though amber block and splittings for certain spark plugs and commutator segments present some supply problems. This paper will deal entirely with muscovite, or white mica. MUSCOVITE MICA Muscovite mica is available commercially in four general forms; namely, as block mica, as splittings, as washer punch, and as scrap mica.1 No strategic importance is attached to washer punch and scrap mica, even though scrap has found some use in military construction and in electrical ceramics. The use of washer punch as such has fallen off with the non-manufacture of household electrical appliances. Some qualities of block mica are also of little or no interest, but other qualities of block mica and all splittings are considered of vital importance. Army equipment requires large amounts of muscovite mica splittings in the form of built-up mica commutator segments and coil insulation in motors and generators. Other military items using significant amounts of muscovite splittings are transformers, switchboards, and blasting apparatus. Flexible mica tape, made from bookform or loose-dusted splittings cemented to paper, linen, glass cloth, and other backing, is widely used in coil insulation in heavy electrical equipment and in aircraft generators. All muscovite mica splittings come from India, principally because of the enormous amount of hand labor required in their preparation. In this emergency, the need for them was anticipated and large industry and government stocks were on hand, while shipments have continued to come by sea in spite of wartime hazards. With the possible exception of certain bookform splittings, no trouble is anticipated in supply. Accordingly, the remainder of this paper is devoted to block (or sheet) muscovite mica, including condenser film that is split from block. THE MICA PROBLEM Block muscovite mica is commercially classified into the following general qualities, beginning with the best quality: I. Clear and Slightly Stained (C & SS). 2. Fair Stained (FS). 3. Good Stained (GS). 4. Stained (S). 5. Heavy Stained (HS). 6. Black Spotted. The ratio of relative commercial abundance in the present new supply of these micas is approximately I C & SS to 4 FS to 10 GS to 14 S to whatever the

Jan 1, 1944

By J. M. W. Mackenzie, M. H. Buckenam

Flotation experiments using stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and ricinoleic acids and naturally occuring products rich in these acids as collectors for calcite are described. The results confirm the validity of the rule of Hukki and Vartiainen relating the collecting power and unsaturation of the C18 acids. Reasons for this relationship are discussed and a close relationship between mineral depression and critical micelle concentration is reported. It has long been recognized that the unsaturated fatty acids are in general superior flotation collectors to their saturated homologues. Whereas earlier workers concentrated on saturated and monoethe-noid acids, recent investigations have centered on oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and the substituted mono-ethenoid acid: ricinoleic. From studies of the collecting properties of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids on ilmenite, rutile, hematite, and magnetite, Hukki and Vartiai-nenl concluded that the collecting power of fatty acids increased with unsaturation of the hydrocarbon chain. Sun, Snow, and Purcel12 investigated the collecting properties of unsaturated fatty acids as collectors for phosphate ores and concluded that the collecting power increased with increasing unsaturation of the hydrocarbon chain up to two double bonds and that further unsaturation decreased the collecting power. More recently Sun3 studied the collecting power of the C18 fatty acids stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic on 37 minerals. The results of these experiments with a few exceptions showed that the collecting power of the acids increased in the order stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. The relative collecting powers of linoleic and linolenic acids were in many cases altered by the cleanliness of the mineral surface prior to flotation. Sun concluded that linolenic acid may become oxidized by atmospheric oxygen during flotation, a reaction which would reduce its effectiveness as a collector. This deduction is supported by Gaudin and Cole4 who concluded that oleic and linoleic acids do not undergo appreciable oxidation of the double bonds during flotation but that the linolenic acid double bonds are measurably affected. The most complete investigation on the influence of hydrocarbon chain unsaturation on the collecting properties of fatty acids is that of Kivalo and Lehm~svaara.~ These workers using linolenic acid of a higher purity than Hukki and Vartiainen showed that this acid was superior to oleic and linoleic acids as a collector for magnetite. They also found that ricinoleic acid was a more effective collector for this mineral than the other acids investigated, an observation particularly apparent at high collector concentrations. Seeking to explain the superiority of the unsaturated acids these authors considered the effects of critical micelle concentration, surface activity, hydrolysis, and cross sectional area of the hydrocarbon chain in relation to unsaturation. Using what, according to the results of Caviere are erroneous surface tensions of the soap solutions of these acids, they concluded that the surface activity decreases and the critical micelle concentration increases with increasing unsaturation. In view of the data of Cavier, whose results show that surface activity of these soaps increases with unsaturation, the deductions of Kivalo and Lehmusvaara are open to criticism. The degree of hydrolysis of the soap solutions as measured by Kivalo and Lehmusvaara decreases as the unsaturation of the fatty acid increases, a result which helps to explain the superiority of unsaturated acids as collectors. In view of the superiority of unsaturated acids as collectors for many minerals, attention has been directed towards the utilization of fatty acid raw materials such as tall oils and linseed oils which contain considerable quantities of these acids. This paper describes test work to determine the effect of unsaturation of the hydrocarbon chain on the collecting properties of fatty acids on calcite, and includes comparable test work using natural products rich in unsaturated acids. TEST WORK Reagents: The pure fatty acids used were oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. Of these, oleic was supplied by British Drug Houses Ltd. and the others were produced by the Hormel Inst. When not in use these

Jan 1, 1961