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By John A. Baker

S EVERAL FACTORS have brought about a vastly greater interest in the gold-mining industry in the last two or three years. Outstanding is the fact that there is an open market at a fixed price for all that can be produced. a condition that holds for no other commodity. Costs of production have decreased greatly, owing to lower prices of supplies and equipment and lower wages. Improved metallurgical processes and equipment are also available. To big new gold district is being opened up but virgin ground is being prospected with some success in many of the more remote parts of the world and right here in the United States many old properties are being reopened 111 the light of present condition<, tailing dumps are being re- worked, and profitable leases taken on abandoned property. Many of the men who are becoming interested in gold are mining engineers whose experience has all been with base metals heretofore: some are engineers with no mining experience; some are not engineers at all but men who cannot find profitable employment in their usual field of activity and are attracted by the age-old lore of the yellow metal. Some are business men with a little money and an idea that under present conditions gold mining offers a safer investment for it than most other kinds of business. It is to those more or less inexperienced new- comers in the gold-mining industry that this article i4 ad dressed. Those who are connected with the large gold mines or who have had rears of experience with the small ones will find in the following pages little or nothing of interest but it is hoped that the newer generation of small mine operators, on whom the healthy growth of the industry depends so much, may find here some helpful hints.

Jan 1, 1932

By Elmer A. Jones

Development work in mines of St. Joseph Lead Co., Southeast Missouri, using trackless loading equipment shows definite advantages: Speed of cleaning, ability to work on steep grades and sharp crosscuts, good later tracking conditions, and possibility of wasting rock in old abandoned stopes.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. M. Woodall

GuAs crystals which have been grown in quartz boats by the horizontal Bridgman method in the pvesence of Ga20 vapov have beetz found to have carrier and donor distributions which do not correspound to those expected from simple dopant seg-vegation during directional freezing; Instead, the carrier distribution is determined by the heat-trentnzent history of the crystal, while the donor distribution, zohiclz is principally due to silicon, is fixed by the pozuth rate, the geo)tlet.ry of the crystal growth vessel, and tlze initial Ga20 pressure. WHEN semiconducting materials are made into doped crystals by the normal freezing method,&apos; they usually exhibit doping variations along the growth axis. If a) there is no dopant diffusion in the solid, b) the dopant is distributed uniformly in the melt, and c) the distribution coefficient, k, does not vary with composition, then the doping variation along the growth axis is represented by the equation: where C is the doping level in the solid at a point where a fraction g of the original liquid has frozen, and Co is the mean concentration. When the dopant is either a singly ionized shallow donor or shallow acceptor, C also represents the carrier concentration. Even though this equation accurately describes the dcping profiles of a large number of normal freeze systems, there are several special systems for which Eq. [I] does not apply. One such system is the horizontal Bridgman method for preparing oxygen-grown GaAs crystals using quartz vessels. Several workers2"* have shown that GaAs crystals grown by the horizontal Bridglnan method using quartz vessels are generally contaminated with silicon in concentrations in excess of 5 < 10lG atoms per cu cm. This contamination is ascribed to a reaction: occurring at the walls of the crystal-growth vessel which liberates silicon into the melt and Ga2O vapor. It has been shown4 that this reaction, and, hence, the silicon contamination, can be suppressed by the addition of oxygen to the crystal-growth apparatus. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a special apparatus capable of yielding single crystals of GaAs grown in the presence of oxygen and to describe both the kinetics of silicon suppression in this system and the relationship between the carrier concentration profile and the silicon concentration profile. EXPERIMENTAL-CRYSTAL GROWTH A schematic diagram of the apparatus used in the oxygen addition experiments is shown in Fig. 1. The most important features of this apparatus are: a) the use of a sand blasted quartz boat, h) a quartz rod of length 1, with a hole of cross section A, that is placed near the boat to limit the free space volume V, over the melt during the growth, and c) the temperature gradient at and near the solid-liquid interface. Sand blasting the boat is necessary to prevent wetting of the melt. The quartz rod retards the diffusion of the GazO vapor away from the melt to the colder portions of the ampoule. A crystal is prepared by first loading a 5.5-in. boat, which has been cleaned in aqua regia, with 40 g of 99.9999 pct Ga along with 1 to 8 mg of Ga203 powder. GazO3 is a convenient source of oxygen since it reacts with gallium at the melt temperature to form Ga20 vapor, the species which apparently controls the suppression of silicon contamination. The loaded boat, the quartz rod, and the 99.9999 pct As are placed in the ampoule as shown in Fig. 1. Generally, GaAs seeds were not used since most of the unseeded growths resulted in monocrys-tals. The ampoule is evacuated to 10-5 Torr and sealed off. The GaAs melt is synthesized by placing the ampoule into a two-zone horizontal Bridgman furnace. The two zones are separated by several sandwiched layers of -in. Fibre-Fax board drilled with holes slightly larger than the OD of the ampoule. This causes a very large temperature gradient between the two zones, which is necessary for single-crystal growth. The two-zone furnace is mounted on a stand fitted with a roller bearing which allows uniform motion of the furnace in a horizontal direction. A uniform velocity of the stand is achieved by the use of a windlass device which winds up a wire attached to the stand. Movement of the solid-liquid interface is accomplished by fixing the position of the ampoule and moving the stand. Growth rates investigated in this experiment were between 0.4 and 1.2 in. per hr. The composition of the melt is fixed by maintaining an arsenic reservoir at 618°C. The stand is moved away

Jan 1, 1968

By David J. Mack, Dennis R. O’Boyle

The mechanical properties of three polycrystalline intermediale Phases that have the y bvass structure were measured in compression between 400° and 900°K. At the lower testing temperatures— termed Region I— no plaslic deformalion occurred prior to brittle fracture. A1 higher temperatuves— lermed Region III—the three phases deformted plaslically for all strain rules from 1.5 to 36.0 x 10-4 sec-1. The homologous temperature for the inilialion of plaslic flow increased in the same order as tile atomic size difference between atoms in each plmse (0.50Tmp for y AgZn, 0.62Tmp for y CuZn, and 0.76 Tmp for y CuCd). The increased flow resistance oj. y CuCd above 0.50Tmp is explaitzed in terms of the more random arrangement of copper and cadmiwn atoms on the laltice sites of&apos; the y bvass slrilctlire. Plaslic deformation of the three intevmiediate phases in the smooth plaslic flow region appears to be controlled by oacancy-induced dislocation climb. RESULTS are reported in this paper on the mechanical properties of three binary intermediate phases having the complex cubic y brass structure (D82, 143m) containing fifty-two atoms in the unit cell. The structure of the prototype y brass phase, y CuZn, was first analyzed by Bradley and Thewlis&apos; based on the X-ray work of Westgren and Phragmen.2 The y brass structure can be visualized as an arrangement of twenty-seven body centered cubes (3 by 3 by 3) into a unit cell containing fifty-four atoms. From this cell the center atom and the four corner atoms are removed and the remaining fifty-two atoms are slightly displaced, resulting in the y brass structure. Approximately thirty-five binary intermediate phases that have an electron to atom ratio of 21:13 have been reported to form the y brass structure. The three y brass intermediate phases selected for this study are formed from elements in groups IB and IIB of the first and second long period. Each compound exists over a composition range that includes the stoi-chiometric composition A5BB (Cu5Zn8, Ag5Zn8, Cu5Cd8). y CuZn (a0 = 9.944A) has solubility limits extending from 57 to 67 at. pct Zn at 500°C apd melts peritecti-cally at 834°C; y AgZn (a0 = 9.326A) has a solubility range from 58 to 63 at. pct Za and melts peritectically at 661°C. y CuCd (a, = 9.596A) melts congruently at 563°C and has a maximum range of solubility extending from 58 to 64 at. pct Cd. In order to minimize coring and microporosity during solidification, the composi- tion of the compounds that form peritectically (y CuZn and y AgZn) was chosen so that the temperature difference between the liquidus and the solidus is only a few degrees centigrade. In selecting y brass compounds for this study, phases were avoided that contained a transition element or that had an electron to atom ratio greater than 1.70. Hume-Rothery et a1.3 has observed that, when the electron to atom ratio of y brass intermediate phases exceeds 1.70, atoms begin to drop out of the unit cell to maintain a constant electron to unit cell ratio. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Each of the three intermediate phases was prepared from elements having a purity >99.999 pct. Only trace quantities of impurities (<0.0001 pct) were detected by spectrographic analysis of the four elements. A master alloy of each compound weighing approximately 130 g was prepared by melting the elements in evacuated sealed quartz tubes heated in an electric furnace. Specimens having the desired diameter for the mechanical property measurements were obtained by remelting the master alloy in a Vycor tube under argon and drawing specimens from the melt into 4-mm-diam quartz tubes. To obtain a smooth surface on specimens drawn from the melt, the inside of the quartz tube was coated with a thin layer of graphite formed by thermally decompositing acetone. All specimens were imbedded in sealing wax and cut to the proper length with a diamond-impregnated cut-off wheel. The individual specimens (4 mm diam by 8 mm long) were then sealed in evacuated Pyrex tubes and homogenized at 500°C for 72 hr. Chemical composition, variations over the length of the rod (10 cm long) were generally less than 0.2 pct and the analyzed composition differed from the desired composition by less than 0.5 pct.4 Metallographic evaluation of the specimens after homogenization showed no evidence of a second phase in any of the compounds. The average grain size of the specimens after homogenization was 1 to 2 mm. All mechanical property measurements were carried out in an argon atmosphere using a compression apparatus described previously.5 Prior to applying the load to the specimen, the test apparatus was evacuated, back-filled with argon, and heated to the test temperature for 20 min to establish thermal equilibrium. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Mechanical properties measured as a function of temperature and strain rate for each of the three y brass phases were similar. From room temperature to the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, only elastic deformation was observed prior to fracture.

Jan 1, 1968

By R. W., Ludt

THE use of froth flotation for the separation of minerals has become one of the most important of ore dressing processes. Its particular adaptability to the enrichment of low grade ores has made the process an important factor in the national economy. The methods have been extended to the recovery of a great number of minerals. Among the few minerals which have resisted efforts toward industrial flotation is chrysocolla, a hydrated partly colloidal copper silicate. Chrysocolla, being a product of natural oxidation, has been found to occur in small quantities with many ores which are recovered by flotation methods. In present practice, these small quantities of copper silicate pass off with the tailings and are lost. The advantages to be gained by a satisfactory process for the recovery of chrysocolla is apparent. Any application of principles which points a way toward the satisfactory industrial flotation process for copper silicate would be of advantage. This paper presents an attack on this problem.

Jan 1, 1949

Jan 1, 1931

By W. H. Jr. Meyer

Although an aerial photograph is not a map, most of the information that is necessary for compiling a map is recorded in the photograph provided some form of radial-line method is used to determine the true position of images. The slotted-templet method, which is based on the well-established radial-line principle, has made it possible to construct accurate mosaic maps at a cost comparable with that formerly charged for the average mosaic. It makes possible the securing of these results with far less ground control, which is always expensive. It has expanded widely the possible use of aerial photographs for mapping. ALTHOUGH a vertical or oblique aerial photograph is not a map, most of the information that is necessary for compiling a map is recorded in the photograph. Some ground controls or data are needed, the number and accuracy to be governed by the mapping method to be used and the scale and final accuracy desired in the finished map.

Jan 1, 1939

By U. Andres

U. Andres (The Technion, Haifa, Israel)-The authors are to be congratulated on their research, new and interesting, in a field which, however, the present writer and his assistants have been trying since 1962 to bring to the attention of the scientific and technical world, by means of publications covering several different aspects of this many-sided problem. We announced, in these publications, the results of magneto-hydrostatic (MHD) separation of magnetic and nonmagnetic minerals which we made in magnetic fluids (in paramagnetic solutions and suspensions of magnetic particles) which interact with permanent" and impermanent" inhomogeneous magnetic fields. There is no doubt that the authors have succeeded in creating ferrimagnetic colloids made by dispergation of 10-30 wt % of magnetite in kerosene in the presence of 7-10 vl % oleic acid. It may be judged by [Figs. 3 and 4] that the suspensions represent great stability systems and also "hysteresisless" fluids [(Fig. 5)] which bear witness to the existence of superparamagnetic suspensions. If the viscosity of these colloids is not so high, and the cost of preparing them can be covered, the fluids which have here been received can possibly be of interest to the technology of mineral separation. The potential possibility and technological perspective of similar media is demonstrated in our joint work with G. Bunin18 in 1965. The research carried out on the pushing out of cylinders and spheres from magnetic fluid is impressive; it would, however, have been interesting if the authors had compared their results with those on the pushing out of bodies from magnetic fluids adduced from our work." In my books" there happens to be described an experiment on the pushing out of a sphere in magnetic wedge field, in which the pushing out force of suspension with 5 vl % of magnetite reached 125 g per cc. This testifies to interesting possibilities of these media. Our works&apos; shows also, on the basis of Laplace&apos;s equation the receiving of an interesting distribution of pushing out forces by selection of corresponding configurations of magnetic poles. Objection must be made to the authors&apos; introduction of the term "antigravity force." The direction of this force does not depend on the direction of the gravity force and their opposition, i.e., antigravity is only one particular case. I am in full agreement with the authors&apos; statement that magnetic pushing out forces "can be utilized to separate nonmagnetic objects according to variations in their densities." It is, however, necessary to make only one important addition, which can be found in our research on MHS at the Technion in Haifa, namely, that magnetic fluids in magnetic fields can be utilized in the separation of minerals according to variations in their magnetic susceptibility. The authors&apos; conclusion is especially important considering the fact that in our publications" (including one in English") some designs of MHS separators and some technological results received on MHS-separators have already been described. S. E. Khalafalla and G. W. Reimers (Authors&apos; Reply)We were aware (mostly through Chemical Abstracts of the American Chemical Society) of the use of solutions of paramagnetic salts such as manganous sulfate in agnetohydrodynamic separations by the Russian school headed by G. Bunin."n Professor Andres&apos; contributions to this school are also evident in his application of the ponderomotive forces in an electrolyte placed in electric and magnetic cross-fields to separate coal and other useful minerals." It must be realized, however, that the foregoing research by Bunin et al." involved the use of magnetic fields and field gradients of very large magnitudes, i.e., such that H • grad H - 101 Oe2 per cm. The magnetization of paramagnetic salt solutions range from 0.1 to 0.5 gauss (at fields of a few thousand Oersteds) and never reach saturation. The magnetization of our superparamagnetic ferrofluids ranges from 100 to 500 gauss and reach saturation at fields of a few hundred Oersteds. Hence, to effect the same separation, the quantity "H

Jan 1, 1974

By R. W. Heckel, R. A. Tanzilli

Treatment of the finite, diffusion-controlled, two-phase, moving-interface homogenization problem has been carried out by numerical methods for a wide range of input parameters. Solutions have been obtained for planar, cylindrical, and spherical diffusion geometries. The effects of parameters such as the interdiffusion coefficients (concentration-independent) of- both phases, the concentrations (time-independent) of each phase at the interlace, mean composition, initial size of the dissolving- phase, and initial composition of- the two phases are considered. The results are displayed to show both the position of the interjace and the degree of homogenization (expressed in terms of concentration at the matrix phase symmetry boundary) as a function of diffusion time. Typical exaw~ples to which the results may be applied are discussed. A limited number of exact, closed-form solutions to the multiphase, diffusion-controlled, moving-interface problem exists in the literature, e.g., Refs. 1 to 7. The exact, closed-form solutions generally consider the outermost phases to be infinite in extent and also assume an interfacial velocity function. It is through use of such boundary conditions that closed-form solutions are readily obtained. An extensive literature also exists on numerical solutions to the mathematically analogous solidification problem, e.g., Refs. 8 to 12. In addition, a numerical solution involving mass transfer with spherical interfaces and infinite boundaries has recently been carried out.13 A practically important class of diffusion problems exists, however, in which the boundaries of each phase away from the interface are finite. For example the finite boundary condition arises when one sets up a model for analyzing the homogenization behavior of two-component powder compacts in two-phase systems or for studying the solution behavior of precipitates. Although exact, closed-form solutions have as yet not been found to this class of problems, solutions are possible using numerical methods. The purpose of this paper is twofold: 1) to describe a numerical method for treating the two-phase, diffusion-controlled, moving-interface problem involving finite boundaries with planar, cylindrical, and spherical interfaces; 2) to present the results of a parametric study which identifies the role played by each variable appearing in the analytical model. R. A. TANZlLLI,Student MemberAIME,onleaveofabsence from the General Electric Co., Re-entry Systems Department and A. W. HECKEL, Member AIME, are Graduate Student in Materials Engineering, and Professor, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, respectively, Drexel Institute of Technology, Philadelphia, Pa. Manuscript submitted May 6. 1968. IMD MATHEMATICAL MODEL The three geometries analyzed are shown in Fig. 1. For each configuration a symmetry element is shown, across whose boundaries the mass transfer is zero. Mean composition, C, and the characteristic solute-rich phase half-thickness (or radius), 1/2, are the independent variables while the characteristic symmetry element half-thickness, L/2 (measured from solute-rich phase center to the matrix phase plane of zero mass transfer), is a dependent variable. The symmetry element for a planar interface accurately represents a real diffusion situation involving the stacking of symmetry elements of constant size. Because cylindrical and spherical symmetry elements of constant size cannot be stacked to fill space, the meaning of the dimension, L/2, for these situations may be considered in terms of the following approximations: and where NA is the number of parallel cylindrical elements per unit area on a surface normal to the cylinder axes and Nv is the number of spherical elements per unit volume. The model consists of a solute-rich phase matrix phase composite of limited mutual solubility. The concentrations at the interface are assumed constant with time; no assumption of local equilibrium at the interface is necessary except for the case where the

Jan 1, 1969

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke

That calcium will activate quartz for flotation with anionic collectors such as soaps has been known for a number of years,1 2 3 and the method has been applied to the concentration of various iron ore 4 5 6 as well as to other materials. Clemmer gives the permissible pH range for the activation of quartz by calcium as between 9.5 and 12.5 with an optimum value of 11.0, and Hertzog7 has determined the calcium abstraction of iron ores and of Ottawa sand, but otherwise little quantitative data are available. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine those conditions under which dilute solutions of calcium chloride will activate quartz for anionic flotation and to determine the amount of calcium ion adsorbed by quartz. Those variables, the influence of which was primary, such as calcium, sodium, and hydrogen ion concentrations, were studied. Other factors which influenced the results are discussed in the description of the experiments. Three different experimental methods were used to determine the activation of the quartz. The first method was to treat a sample of ground, deslimed quartz with solutions of calcium chloride and sodium hydroxide, and to determine the calcium adsorbed by chemical analysis of the solution. Ad- vantages are that a direct value for the

Jan 1, 1949

By Oliver Bowles

A HEAVY gel of bentonite clay has been proposed as an effective lubricant to speed down the ways to sea, river, or lake, the mighty cargo ships now hitting the water at the rate of about three a day. Another unusual application of a nonmetallic mineral is in food conservation, for the claim has been made that the next new item on the menu for poultry and rabbits will be vitamin tablets prepared from mont-morillonite clay. These uses have minor importance but illustrate not only the diversity in utilization, but the notable trend in 1942 toward mobilizing nonmetallic minerals for the war program. Although occupying less headline space than iron, steel, copper, aluminum, magnesium, and other metals, the nonmetallics are filling important emergency needs. Mica and quartz crystal are essential to communication; asbestos is urgently needed in fireproof heat and electrical insulation; and strontium minerals are utilized in the manufacture of signal flares and tracer bullets.

Jan 1, 1943

Held at San Francisco, Cal., Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 16 to 19, 1915 COMMITTEES Arrangements CHARLES W. MERRILL, Chairman EDWARD H. BENJAMIIN H. C. HOOVER FRED `V. BRADLEY W. C. RALSTON ABBOT A. HANKS G. H. CLEVENGER Excursion and Accommodations ABBOT A. HANKS, Chairman E. T. BLAKE R. H. BEDFORD C. G. DENNIS FREDERICK BRADSHAW C. E. GRUNSKY, JR. EDMUND JUESSEN ARTHUR B. FOOTE F. A. KEITH GEORGE 0. BRADLEY CHARLES JANIN E. N. ENGELHARDT R. S. HASELTINE N. CLEAVELAND

Jan 12, 1915

Arizona ROBERT W. THOMAS, Chairman &apos;ROBERT W. HUGHES, Vice-Chairman HUBERT O. WOODS, Secretary-Treasurer American Smelting & Refining Co., Hayden, Ariz. FRANK A, WARDLAW, JR., National Director THOMAS C. CHAPMAN P. D. I. HONEYMAN CARL H. COLE JOHN E. LANNING. JOHN H. DAVIS JOHN C. LOVING EDW. G. DENTZER ALBERT MENDELSOHN MORRIS G. FOWLER BRENT N. RICKARD H. C. HENRIECHARLES F. WILLIS Black Hills BANCROFT GORE, Chairman N. P. GOODRICH, First Vice-Chairman C. N. KRAVIG, Second Vice-Chairman C E. SCHMIDT,

Jan 1, 1941

By Paul Gordon

The distribution coefficient, k, of interest in zone refining is generally defined as the ratio of the solid to the liquid solubilities of one element in another at the normal melting point of the solvent. In practice, distribution coefficients are frequently calculated from solubilities at temperatures well below the melting point of the solvent, e.g., at a eutectic temperature. This is done because of the general lack of accurate data on the liquidus and solidus curves in most phase diagrams. The practice is equivalent to assuming that the liquidus and solidus curves are straight lines in the temperature range between the melting point of the solvent and the temperature at which data for the solubilities are known. It is recognized that the k values so derived may be in serious error; we have found evidence in recent zone-refining operations that a case in point is silicon in aluminum. The phase diagram found in the literature for silicon in aluminum indicates a eutectic on the aluminum-rich side at 12.5 at. pct Si and at 577°C,1 and a solid solubility of silicon in aluminum at this temperature of 1.59 pct.2 It also shows the liquidus and solidus as nearly straight lines from 577°C to the melting point of aluminum (660°C)1,2 The k value obtained from this data is 0.13. This is almost exactly the same as the k value (about 0.14)&apos; obtained in a similar way for copper in aluminum. Yet we have found by mass-spectrograph analyses* of three bars of zone-refined aluminum that copper is efficiently removed from aluminum by zone refining but silicon is not. Two of the three bars of aluminum were zone-refined in our laboratories, the other in the laboratories of AIAG Metals, Inc. The former two bars, designated bars PG2 and PG3, were 30 in. long by 1 in. in diameter during refining; each was processed in a high-purity graphite boat* and kept under refining stage of the process consisted of thirty unidirectional zone traverses at rates of about 1 to 2 in. per hr, with a zone length of 1 to 2 in. At approximately the middle of the refining period a 6-in. piece of the impurity-laden finishing end of the bar* was cut off and replaced with new start- ing material. Following refining, the purest 20-in. section of the bar (obtained by discarding approximately 2 in. of the starting end and 8 in. of the finishing end of the bar) was leveled and then analyzed. The AIAG bar was 16 in. long and about 1.2 in. in diameter; it was purified by eight passes of a 2-in. zone at a rate of 1.6 in. per hr, the bar being contained in a sintered alumina boat lined with loose alumina powder of the highest purity. Data for the silicon and copper contents of the three refined bars are given in Table I. Derived data for the efficiencies of the zone-refining operations are listed in Table 11. It is clear from these two tables that the copper is removed much more efficiently—by a factor of 10 to 50 times—from aluminum during zone refining than is silicon. For example, in bar PG3 the thirty zone passes reduced the copper content from 10 to 0.02 ppm, i.e., by 500 times, whereas the same treatment lowered the silicon content by only a factor of about 16. It seem virtually certain, therefore, that the distribution co efficient, k, for silicon in aluminum is well above that for copper and is very likely not much below unity. This also implies that the solidus line on the aluminum-rich side of the A1-Si phase diagram is very probably appreciably curved near the aluminum melting point since the phase-diagram data indicate such curvature is unlikely in the liquidus.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. A. Wagstaff

Since the time of the early Egyptians, the use of copper: has been a boon to the life of most of the civilized world. Its use has been varied; in many connections, the art by which it attained its greatest usefulness has been lost. In this paper an endeavor will be made to take into consideration some of the many changes that have occurred during the last 40 years of copper-smelting operations. During that period the copper blast furnace has been almost forced out of existence by new methods of ore concen-tration—first, gravity concentration, and then flotation. These new methods of concentration introduced many new factors into the metallurgy of copper. The product was wet, it was fine and it was high grade. To overcome all these factors many changes have been necessary throughout the smelting agenda. New equipment has been necessary for transportation, unloading, sampling, bedding and moisturing in all smelting plants, especially the custom smelter&apos; During the early days of "flotation," little was known about filtering or the use of an alkaline circuit; often the concentrate going to the smelter contained 2&apos; to &apos;5 Per cent moisture. It is easy to imagine the difficulty arising with a product of this nature when it had to be shoveled by hand labor. To meet these conditions, mechanical unload- ing and sampling devices were soon developed. In many instances such good progress was made that actual costs for handling this unfavorable product were lower than those formerly incurred on the old product. Today most sampling of copper ores and concentrates is being done by mechanical sampling, pipe or augur sampling, or shovel sampling. Where concentrates are uniform in metal content, a great many of the plants now use pipe or augur sampling. For spotty ores, the old shovel sample with cone and quartering during the final stages is still in&apos; use. Where big tonnages are handled, mechanical sampling of concentrates is being done, with satisfactory results. To curtail slow and tedious cutting and mixing procedure, mechanical mixing boxes, splitters and cutters are used to cut down labor costs. Milling As crude ores become scarcer, the use of milling operations increases. The few crude ores that are still smelted are used as fluxing types. To use these ores finer grinding has been found advantageous. This has made for better bedding and fluxillg conditions, which in turn makes for faster smelting, lower fuel consumption and better metal recovery. The degree of fineness is more or less determined by the nature of the product. Most plants have set a standard of through 3/8-in. mesh screen for roaster -reverberatory smelting and through 3/4-in. mesh screen for converter fluxes. For some refractory Ores, even finer grinding has been found to be advantageous for good reverberatory smelting-

Jan 1, 1944

By John M. Lovejoy

I take pleasure in transmitting herewith "Petroleum Development and Technology in 1927," in which we have attempted to set out in a series of 40 papers with attendant discussions the advances made in Production Engineering and Refinery Engineering during the year. The volume also contains a digest of round table discussions on Petroleum Engineering Research problems and Petroleum Engineering Education. In addition to the above we set out in 16 papers a review of production of each producing area of the United States and of the more important foreign countries, together with a review of the world&apos;s production and forecasts for 1928. We also include 8 papers on the Economics of the oil industry. The papers and discussions included herein represent the contributions of more than 200 engineers, including the foremost in each line. These papers were presented at technical sessions held in Fort Worth in October, 1927, and at the annual meeting in New York in February, 1928. We desire to express our thanks and appreciation to all those who have contributed to this volume. As in previous years, we have attempted to emphasize the value of both written and impromptu discussions. -We have made a practice of returning all impromptu discussions to the authors for correction and amplification, and because of this practice we feel that the discussions contained herein are in very presentable and readable form. It was decided by the nominat,ing committee when meeting for thc purpose of nominating officers for 1928 to eliminate the vice-chairrnanship for Transportation Engineering, as that branch of the industry seemed to come more naturally under the activities of the American Petroleum Institute. It was also decided by this committee to institute a new vice-chairmanship for Petroleum Engineering Research. Wc have had heretofore round table discussions on engineering research, but through the newly created vice-chairmanship, to which Mr. L. C. Uren was elected, we expect to have more comprehensive sessions on engineering research than heretofort.

Jan 1, 1928

By Howard S. Bryant

FROM the viewpoint of the oil producer, the oil refiner, the oil marketer, and the investor, in oil securities, a brief picture of the crude oil supply and demand in the present critical season of the year will be timely and interesting. Although crude oil production has been in a comparatively poor statistical position this year, increased sales and sustained refinery and crude oil prices have allowed increased profits for many oil companies. The large amount of crude oil going into storage during the present period of peak consumption, just previous to the major yearly fall decline in consumption, has caused oil producers to make plans to leave the oil in the ground for the present in several of the areas of large flush production. The present moment is looked on as the turning point in the current year.

Jan 1, 1929

By S. P. Barber, G. W. Cutting, V. Alesse, M. Ciriachi

Just what is happening in the preparation and mineral separation stages are questions frequently asked about most processing plants. It is unusual to find the answers readily available in the operating metallurgical data. Knowledge is nominally available from metallurgical balances about the head ore grade, grade and recovery of the concentrates, and the plant tailings. However, the mechanisms which control grade recovery and losses are seldom monitored in such a way as to permit specific analysis: Thus, when questions about the effectiveness of the process are asked, the answers are based frequently upon intuitive professional judgments and local expertise. Detailed investigations of process functions are extensive in terms of manpower, time, and interference with production. An investigation method in which process operating conditions could be provided in a cost effective manner would assist in local process assessment and control. Such a collection of process operating data is defined as a process audit and the development of the necessary techniques forms the subject of this paper. A typical application to a lead-zinc concentrator highlights both the manner of implementing a process and the plant data made available for local use.

Jan 1, 1980

By Oliver Bowles

PRICES of quartz sold in the United States in 1938 ranged from $1.15 to $36,000 a ton. This startling variation was due simply to the differences between glass sand and rock - crystal, materials that are virtually the same in composition. It illustrates the complexities in qualities, uses, and values of industrial minerals. It is generally stated that mineral deposits are exhaustible resources which can never be replaced when depleted. This statement is no longer true with respect to certain industrial minerals now recovered in increasing quantities from that most inexhaustible of all sources of supply, the ocean. Salt has long been obtained from sea water, particularly on the Pacific Coast, and reference was made a year ago to the large bromine recovery plant at Wilmington, N. C. Now the Westvaco Chlorine Products Corp. is operating a large plant at Newark, Calif., having a capacity sufficient to recover daily from the ocean raw materials that will produce 60 tons of various magnesium products. Lime is used to precipitate the magnesia from salt-water bittern. The products are chiefly magnesium carbonate for chemical uses, periclase and other refractories, and oxychloride cement for flooring.

Jan 1, 1939

By H. H. Stout

In the early fall of 1925, the writer was conducting, in the Ledoux and Co. laboratory, New York, experiments directed toward ascertaining the effect on its impurity content when cathode copper was subjected to a current of various gases at an elevated temperature below the melting point. The apparatus consisted of a vertical I-in. dia. silica tube about 12 in. long, heated on the outside. The cathodes were broken to pass 3/8-in. mesh, and a current of various different gases was passed up through a 4-in. long column of these loose cathode particles in the vertical tube furnace. Temperature was maintained to 1500º to 1600ºF. and the gas treatments lasted from 3 to 6 hr. The writer observed that whenever reducing gas (H2 or CO) was used, these cathode particles stuck together at points of contact with each other. The cohesion was so marked and tenacious that an examination was made of the fractured surfaces, when cathode particles were broken from the cluster. Crystal growth was always found to have taken place across the surfaces where separate particles were in contact, but only after all oxides, sulphates, etc., had been completely removed. The idea of a possible new process was then conceived and was disclosed to A. M. Smoot (V. P. Ledoux and Co.) with intent to obtain his views. The first conception as given Smoot was "to gas-clean broken cathodes, put them in an extrusion press, solidify and extrude them at around 1500ºF." Smoot&apos;s reaction, after a few moments considera- tion, was, "It looks perfectly all right to me.&apos;&apos; The writer and his assistants, W. H. Osborn and H. H. Stout, Jr., after conferring as to ways and means, decided to go ahead with preliminary laboratory experiments, which, it was thought, would move the new process from the possible to the probable. This program followed a course indicated by three basic considerations: 1. Since brittle cathodes were often unintentionally produced, it seemed probable that the laws controlling this type of deposition could be ascertained. 2. We had already proved the gas-cleaning feature. 3. There remained to prove: whether a sound, homogeneous metal billet could be produced with crystal growth established over the entire surface of each individual particle in the billet; and, if so, what would be the physical properties? Osborn arranged with Columbia University for conducting experiments in its research laboratory to prove or disprove the third item; Columbia assigned C. A. Phillipi, Jr. to assist in the project. A press with a cylinder 2 in. high and of I-in. dia. was used. It was surrouilded and heated by a resistance coil 01 Nichrome wire. Broken tough cathodes were used. Experimental Procedure The first run took place March 18, 1926. The resistance wire gave out when temperature of 1000ºF. was obtained. Pressure was immediately applied: perceptible ram movement stopped when 39,000 lb. per sq. in. on the copper was reached, with a maxi-

Jan 1, 1941