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By E. W. Davis

IF the tonnage of merchantable iron ore remaining in the Lake Superior district is divided by the average of the annual shipments for the past 20 years, it will be found that this ore supply will be exhausted in approximately 35 years. This computed exhaustion period would be an indication of the future activities of the iron-mining industry if it were not for the fact that merchantable ore is being manufactured from low-grade ore, of which there is an almost inexhaustible supply in the Lake Superior district. It is true that at present only the simplest of these low-grade ores are being concentrated to any considerable extent, but progress is being made with the treatment of the more complex ores, and now, in addition to 20 washing plants on the Mesabi Range, three plants are equipped with jigs for the treatment of ore that cannot be concentrated simply by washing. The latest addition to the ore-treating plants of the Mesabi Range is a magnetic roasting and concentration plant at Cooley, Minn., in which ore that cannot be concentrated either by washing or by jigging is roasted to the magnetic state and concentrated on magnetic separators. This plant is beginning its third season of operation, and while it is too soon to make definite predictions, there are strong indica-tions that this new process may make commercially possible the manu-facture of high-grade, merchantable iron ore from large quantities of low-grade ore now considered worthless. After the iron oxide contained in an ore has been converted to mag-netite, almost any desired grade of concentrate can be produced, using magnetic-concentration equipment of the types now in general use for the concentration of the natural magnetites of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The conversion of hematite (Fe2O3) to magnetite (Fe3O4) is easily accomplished by heating the ore to a dull red tempera-ture in a reducing atmosphere. The reaction is slightly endothermic, and while it requires 200 B.t.u. to heat to 900° F. one pound of hematite ore containing 45 per cent Fe, it requires only 100 B.t.u. to convert the oxide into magnetite. In the laboratory, using small quantities of ore, this conversion is very simple, but large furnaces suitable for commercial

Jan 1, 1936

By E. W. Davis

If the tonnage of merchantable iron ore remaining in the Lake Superior district is divided by the average of the annual shipments for the past 20 years, it will be found that this ore supply will be exhausted in approximately 35 years. This computed exhaustion period would be an indication of the future activities of the iron-mining industry if it were not for the fact that merchantable ore is being manufactured from low-grade ore, of which there is an almost inexhaustible supply in the Lake Superior district. It is true that at present only the simplest of these low-grade ores are being concentrated to any considerable extent, but progress is being made with the treatment of the more complex ores, and now, in addition to 20 washing plants on the Mesabi Range, three plants are equipped with jigs for the treatment of ore that cannot be concentrated simply by washing. The latest addition to the ore-treating plants of the Mesabi Range is a magnetic roasting and concentration plant at Cooley, Minn., in which ore that cannot be concentrated either by washing or by jigging is roasted to the magnetic state and concentrated on magnetic separators. This plant is beginning its third season of operation, and while it is too soon to make definite predictions, there are strong indications that this new process may make commercially possible the manufacture of high-grade, merchantable iron ore from large quantities of low-grade ore now considered worthless. After the iron oxide contained in an ore has been converted to magnetite, almost any desired grade of concentrate can be produced, using magnetic-concentration equipment of the types now in general use for the concentration of the natural magnetites of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The conversion of hematite (Fe203) to magnetite (Fe3O4) is easily accomplished by heating the ore to a dull red temperature in a reducing atmosphere. The reaction is slightly endothermic, and while it requires 200 B.t.u. to heat to 900' F. one pound of hematite ore containing 45 per cent Fe, it requires only 100 B.t.u. to convert the oxide into magnetite. In the laboratory, using small quantities of ore, this conversion is very simple, but large furnaces suitable for commercial

Jan 1, 1939

By E. W. Davis

If the tonnage of merchantable iron ore remaining in the Lake Superior district is divided by the average of the annual shipments for the past 20 years, it will be found that this ore supply will be exhausted in approximately 35 years. This computed exhaustion period would be an indication of the future activities of the iron-mining industry if it were not for the fact that merchantable ore is being manufactured from low-grade ore, of which there is an almost inexhaustible supply in the Lake Superior district. It is true that at present only the simplest of these low-grade ores are being concentrated to any considerable extent, but progress is being made with the treatment of the more complex ores, and now, in addition to 20 washing plants on the Mesabi Range, three plants are equipped with jigs for the treatment of ore that cannot be concentrated simply by washing. The latest addition to the ore-treating plants of the Mesabi Range is a magnetic roasting and concentration plant at Cooley, Minn., in which ore that cannot be concentrated either by washing or by jigging is roasted to the magnetic state and concentrated on magnetic separators. This plant is beginning its third season of operation, and while it is too soon to make definite predictions, there are strong indications that this new process may make commercially possible the manufacture of high-grade, merchantable iron ore from large quantities of low-grade ore now considered worthless. After the iron oxide contained in an ore has been converted to magnetite, almost any desired grade of concentrate can be produced, using magnetic-concentration equipment of the types now in general use for the concentration of the natural magnetites of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The conversion of hematite (Fe203) to magnetite (Fe3O4) is easily accomplished by heating the ore to a dull red temperature in a reducing atmosphere. The reaction is slightly endothermic, and while it requires 200 B.t.u. to heat to 900' F. one pound of hematite ore containing 45 per cent Fe, it requires only 100 B.t.u. to convert the oxide into magnetite. In the laboratory, using small quantities of ore, this conversion is very simple, but large furnaces suitable for commercial

Jan 1, 1939

The papers discussed in the following pages were presented during two sessions of the Geophysics Education Committee of the Mineral Industry Education Division on Feb. 17 and 18, 1941. At the first meeting, to consider the "Influence of Geophysics upon Geology Curricula," this Committee was joined by the Geophysics and Mining Geology Committees of the A.I.M.E., the Society of Economic Geologists, representatives of the American Geophysical Union, and delegates from the Committees on College Curricula and on Applications of Geology of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Quentin D. Singewald and Sherwin F. Kelly presided. At the ensuing session, especially emphasizing the integration of geology, physics and chemistry for the solution of earth problems, the joint participants with the Geophysics Education Committee were the Geophysics Committee, and representatives of the American Geophysical Union and of the Committee on College Curricula of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Richard M. Field and W. R. Chedsey presided. In the following summary of the discussion at the two meetings, written discussion submitted subsequently is not differentiated from that offered orally at the session. A provisional report of the Geophysics Education Committee was presented at the second session, and some of the following discussion refers to it. This report has not been printed (it is anticipated that a more comprehensive, final one will be rendered at the 1942 annual meeting). A few mimeographed copies of this provisional report were made. Dr. W. P. Haynes presented some notes prepared by Dr. F. H. Lahee, Chairman of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' Committee on College Curricula. This Com- mittee's inquiries reveal the general opinion that a four-year academic preparation is inadequate, five or six being advisable. The fundamentals, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English composition, should be stressed in the first three years, with specialization in the last two or three years. Some companies provide an apprenticeship period, and themselves give additional training. During academic years more attention needs to be given to engineering training, to field mapping, and in geology to stratigraphy and sedimentation. The amount of mere memory work should be cut, and men trained to observe and reason. Dr. Lahee emphasized the need of more adequate preparation in English composition, because of the inability of many graduates to compose acceptable reports. Sherwin F. Kelly pointed out that much time in university training, which ought to be devoted to technical subjects, was taken .up with English courses. He emphasized that it is the part of the universities to demand of the high schools that the students they send to the university be properly trained to speak and write English. Prof. W. T. Thom protested against the crowding of high-school material into already overcrowded college curricula. C. E. Dobbin, chairman of the Committee on Applications of Geology of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, described briefly the work of his committee in publicizing geology, and said that it found a widespread popular interest in the subject but a lack of appreciation of its importance. He recommended that attempts to coordinate the works of geologists and geophysicists be expanded somewhat toward the further developing and encouraging of a "species of geopolitician" capable of assisting the progress of geology and geophysics by more vigorous advertising of

Jan 1, 1946

The papers discussed in the following pages were presented during two sessions of the Geophysics Education Committee of the Mineral Industry Education Division on Feb. 17 and 18, 1941. At the first meeting, to consider the "Influence of Geophysics upon Geology Curricula," this Committee was joined by the Geophysics and Mining Geology Committees of the A.I.M.E., the Society of Economic Geologists, representatives of the American Geophysical Union, and delegates from the Committees on College Curricula and on Applications of Geology of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Quentin D. Singewald and Sherwin F. Kelly presided. At the ensuing session, especially emphasizing the integration of geology, physics and chemistry for the solution of earth problems, the joint participants with the Geophysics Education Committee were the Geophysics Committee, and representatives of the American Geophysical Union and of the Committee on College Curricula of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Richard M. Field and W. R. Chedsey presided. In the following summary of the discussion at the two meetings, written discussion submitted subsequently is not differentiated from that offered orally at the session. A provisional report of the Geophysics Education Committee was presented at the second session, and some of the following discussion refers to it. This report has not been printed (it is anticipated that a more comprehensive, final one will be rendered at the 1942 annual meeting). A few mimeographed copies of this provisional report were made. Dr. W. P. Haynes presented some notes prepared by Dr. F. H. Lahee, Chairman of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists' Committee on College Curricula. This Com- mittee's inquiries reveal the general opinion that a four-year academic preparation is inadequate, five or six being advisable. The fundamentals, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English composition, should be stressed in the first three years, with specialization in the last two or three years. Some companies provide an apprenticeship period, and themselves give additional training. During academic years more attention needs to be given to engineering training, to field mapping, and in geology to stratigraphy and sedimentation. The amount of mere memory work should be cut, and men trained to observe and reason. Dr. Lahee emphasized the need of more adequate preparation in English composition, because of the inability of many graduates to compose acceptable reports. Sherwin F. Kelly pointed out that much time in university training, which ought to be devoted to technical subjects, was taken .up with English courses. He emphasized that it is the part of the universities to demand of the high schools that the students they send to the university be properly trained to speak and write English. Prof. W. T. Thom protested against the crowding of high-school material into already overcrowded college curricula. C. E. Dobbin, chairman of the Committee on Applications of Geology of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, described briefly the work of his committee in publicizing geology, and said that it found a widespread popular interest in the subject but a lack of appreciation of its importance. He recommended that attempts to coordinate the works of geologists and geophysicists be expanded somewhat toward the further developing and encouraging of a "species of geopolitician" capable of assisting the progress of geology and geophysics by more vigorous advertising of

Jan 1, 1946

By H. K. Shearer

Oil production in South Arkansas in 1936, estimated to have totaled 10,654,940 bbl., showed a decline of 484,400 bbl., or a little more than 4 per cent from 1935. There are no proration restrictions, as practically all wells reached the pumping stage years ago. Although a new shallow field was discovered in Nevada County, and a deep producing horizon

Jan 1, 1937

By R. W. Raymond

The sudden death of Dr. Drown, on Nov. 17, 1904, brought to multitudes the pang of personal loss. Of all those who, as students at Lafayette College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Lehigh University, were brought under his influence, not one can have forgotten him, and all will now acknowledge, with an unfading gratitude, what they owe in professional equipment to his wise, clear, skillful guidance, and in character to his sympathetic, stimulating personality. Outside of this wide circle, the experts of both hemispheres will lament the departure of one who, in his department of scientific investigation, both knew what work was needed, arid how to do it so that it needed not to be done again. The older members of the Amierican Institute of Mining Engineers will remember with gratitude the part he took, as Secretary from 1873 to 1884, in promoting the interest of that organization, and in shaping the plan and policy which it has followed with such noteworthy success. And, in addition to all these (though partly included among them), there are a host of friends, who can scarcely think of the public loss by reason of their own. Thomas Messenger Drown was born March 19,1842, at Philadelphia, Pa. His parents were natives of New England; and he was the youngest of their three sons. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and the High School of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1859. Be-

Jan 1, 1906

By Richard W. Lodge

Several methods, both wet and dry, for the assay of zinc-box residues from the cyanide process, have been described in recent years, and each of them has been claimed to be superior to all others. In the year 1901, a paper, entitled "Assay of Zincy Precipitates," was published ill the School of Mines Quarterly to the purport that the scorification method for the assay of zinc-box residues was absolutely unreliable. In order to shed light on this matter, the following experiments were undertaken by Messrs. C.B. Hollis and F. D. Kehew, undergraduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The zine-box residues used were obtained through the courtesy of Mr. H. R. Batcheller. The samples were very rich and varied greatly in the fineness of their condition. SCORIFICATION-ASSAYS. In the preliminary tests, the charge, which was weighed on a chemical balance, consisted of 0.1 Assay Ton of residues mixed with from 30 to 35 grammes of test-lead and placed in a 3-in. scorifier, over this an additional quantity of test-lead (from 30 to. 35 grammes) was placed for a cover, and borax-glass, varying in quantity from 3 to 15 grammes, was sprinkled over the top of each charge of the various assays for a cover. The charges were scarified in a muffle-furnace heated to the ordinary temperature which is used in scorification; in some cases the door of the muffle was left open, while in others it remained closed. Generally, the charges spit badly, especially in the assays that were made with door of the muffle left open, or in those in which the door was opened too quickly. The results of the preliminary assays showed: 1. That in order to obtain approxi-

Jan 1, 1904

By Robert D. Gunn, John E. Boysen, Dennis D. Fischer

The second underground coal gasification experiment conducted by ERDA's Laramie Energy Research Center at a site near Hanna, Wyo., was completed on Jul. 30, 1976. During the experiment production reached 0.32 blm3/d (12 M cu ft/d) of 6.9 w/m3 gas (175 Btu per cu ft). Approximately 6100 tonnes (6700 tons) of coal were gasified during the experiment. Energy return ratios of 4.5 to 5.3, coal gas thermal efficiencies of 76 to 89%, and overall process efficiencies of 65 to 74% were achieved during the second Hanna experiment. This paper describes the experiment and the results obtained with emphasis given to the determination of the energy recovered relative to energy consumed in conducting the test. Data from this determination are compared with previously published data from the first test conducted at Hanna during 1973-74.

Jan 1, 1978

By Alden B. Greninger

The study of mosaic structure of crystals1 has been confined until recently to the field of theoretical physics. Crystallographers, in general, have neglected the subject, although X-ray crystallographers constantly make use of formulas for intensities of X-ray reflection as modified by mosaic structure. Work on mosaic structure has centered chiefly on the task of proving or disproving the secondary-structure theory of Zwicky,² and very little attention has been paid to the visible imperfections of crystals. A. Goetz has been responsible for most of the supposed experimental confirmations of Zwicky's theory.3 On the other hand, Smckal,4 and Orowan,5 among others, maintain that there is neither theoretical nor experimental evidence to substantiate Zwicky's secondary structure. Lately the subject has been intensively investigated by Buerger,6 one of whose recent papers led to a symposium on mosaic structures.'

Jan 1, 1935

By Alden B. Greninger

The study of mosaic structure of crystals1 has been confined until recently to the field of theoretical physics. Crystallographers, in general, have neglected the subject, although X-ray crystallographers constantly make use of formulas for intensities of X-ray reflection as modified by mosaic structure. Work on mosaic structure has centered chiefly on the task of proving or disproving the secondary-structure theory of Zwicky,² and very little attention has been paid to the visible imperfections of crystals. A. Goetz has been responsible for most of the supposed experimental confirmations of Zwicky's theory.3 On the other hand, Smckal,4 and Orowan,5 among others, maintain that there is neither theoretical nor experimental evidence to substantiate Zwicky's secondary structure. Lately the subject has been intensively investigated by Buerger,6 one of whose recent papers led to a symposium on mosaic structures.'

Jan 1, 1935

By Edwin H. Olson, Morton Smutz, Charles J. Baroch

IN 1949 an orebody containing some 10 billion lb of recoverable rare earth metals was discovered in the Mountain Pass district of San Bernardino County, California.1 The following year Molybdenum Corp. of America purchased a number of claims at the deposit and a mill on the property which had been constructed to process the district's gold ores. Average composition of ore from the San Bernardino deposit is less than 0.1 pct ThO2, 25 to 35 pet calcite, 10 pet rare earth oxides, 15 to 20 pet silica, and 30 to 40 pet barite.2 Rare earth content of the ore analyzes 50.7 pet CeO2, 4.2 pet Pr6O11, 11.7 pet Nd2O3, 1.3 pet Sm2O3, and 34.3 pet La2O3, and others.2

Jan 3, 1959

By J. M. Glass, C. D. Sholtess

We at Hughes Tool Co. are extremely proud of the quality of the hardware and techniques introduced through our efforts in tunnel-machine development and of the ready acceptance of them by manufacturers and contractors throughout the world. All of us who attended the conference and who are represented in the book, we believe, anticipate an increasing need for improved methods of underground excavation. The development of such methods will permit the further exploitation of our underground resources plus providing underground space for transportation and habitation at a rate compatible with demand. We hope that our comments, derived from the application of Hughes Tool Co.'s rotary boring experience, may provide a better understanding of the boring method as a possible avenue through which the desired improvement in underground excavation may be attained. We hope you may also become aware of some of the problems Hughes, as a pioneer developer of raise, shaft, and tunnel-boring equipment, must face prior to further major undertakings in this very interesting field. Our task is to acquaint you with the present status of the Hughes Tool Co. development program as it relates specifically to tunnel-boring machines. We feel this task can best be accomplished by a brief review of the general sequence of events leading to and constituting an equipment development program and more specifically the manner in which these events have occurred to either influence or further our boring-machine development program. The development of a machine to accomplish a certain function or series of functions is usually a very long and tedious process to which any number of individuals must contribute, perhaps over a period of centuries. Of particular irony is the fact that often those who contribute most generously do not necessarily reap the greatest immediate benefit. A marketable ma- chine will, however, result from a sequence of events such as these: 1) A problem or need is defined. 2) An idea is born to eliminate the problem.

Jan 1, 1970

By C. A. O’Connell

Surface exploration drilling at Mufulira started in 1928, with drillhole No. 1 intersecting ore near the eastern fringe of the deposit. Subsequent drilling along strike intersected ore until the western fringe was fixed some 7500 ft west of drillhole No. 1. Further intensive drilling down dip disclosed a large triangle of ore with its apex 3350 ft deep. It contained approximately 11 6 million tons of ore at 4.41% total copper in three superimposed orebodies. The east and west limits of the orebodies were presumed to have a pronounced rake to the north with a strike length of 8000 ft. Subsequent exploration underground seemed to bear out this presumption to the 1150 ft level. In 1947, attention was directed to the area west of the known orebodies in conjunction with plans for increased production and increased depth of the mine workings.

Jan 12, 1962

By E. J. McKee

THE area discussed lies south of Canadian River in Hutchinson County, Texas, covering approximately 10 m. east and west and 4 m. north and south. Development is carried on in the manner usual in standard tool operations. No outstanding divergence from the usual methods is necessary as wells are completed in 35 to 55 days to approximately 3000 ft. Most of the time is lost in the upper part of the hole and is usually caused in driving pipe of larger sizes. After approximately 1500 ft., little trouble occurs. A comparison of 13 contractors drilling for Phillips Petroleum Co. gave the following averages: Drilling time from 32 to 63 days with a daily footage of from 49 to 87 ft. per day. The rigs furnished are National turnbuckle type with 6-in. irons and steel wheels.

Jan 11, 1926

By J. H. Swisher, E. O. Fuchs

Rate equations were derived to describe the kinetics of internal oxidation of cylinders and spheres. The derived equations for cylinders were checked experimentally by means of sub scale thickness and electrical conductivity measurements on Cu-Cr alloy wires. The properties of the internally oxidized samples were examined with conductivity applications in mind. It was possible to produce uniform dispersions of Cr2O3 in copper with an initial chromium content as high as 3 wt pct. While electrical conductivities only a few pct less than that of OFHC copper were obtained, the Cr2Os particle size and spacing were too large for effective dispersion hardening. T.HE process of internal oxidation has been used widely in basic studies of the permeability of gases in metals. In a review article, Rapp1 has discussed the principles of internal oxidation in considerable detail. From a technological standpoint, internal oxidation is often considered undesirable, since it is a means by which inclusions can be introduced into an otherwise clean material. Another important aspect of internal oxidation is its use as a means of dispersion hardening a material. Broutman and Krock2 discuss this and other methods for making dispersion hardened alloys. The only internally oxidized material known to the authors which is commercially available is a Cu-BeO alloy.3'4 This alloy is made from Cu-Be alloy powder, using a so-called Rhines pack. It has a tensile strength of 80,000 psi and retains its strength at relatively high temperatures. The objectives of the present study were to derive rate equations for the internal oxidation of cylinders and spheres, to check the derived equations for cylinders experimentally, and to examine the structure and properties of internally oxidized Cu-Cr alloys. The Cu-Cr system was chosen for this study because uniform dispersions are obtainable at high alloy contents, which is a desirable characteristic in dispersion hardened materials. RATE EQUATIONS FOR VARIOUS GEOMETRIES A number of authors5--9 have derived equations to describe internal oxidation kinetics. These derivations differ somewhat in mathematical assumptions and approximations, and all except one of the derivations deal exclusively with the internal oxidation of plates. The exception is a brief treatment of cylindrical and spherical geometries given by Meijering and Druy-vesteyn9 as a part of a comprehensive paper on the general subject of internal oxidation. These authors did not obtain rate data to check their derivations, although they did show that the hardness profile across an internally oxidized sample is directly related to the rate of interface movement. For cylindrical and spherical geometries, a quasi-steady-state approximation is needed to circumvent mathematical complications in obtaining a solution to the basic differential equations. In using this approximation, we consider the concentration gradient of dissolved oxygen in the internally oxidized zone or sub-scale to be the same as the gradient which would be present if there were no movement of the subscale interface. The steady-state approximation introduces an error of about 1 pct in computing the rate of internal oxidation of an Fe-1.0 pct Mn alloy plate, if the present method is compared to the more exact method of Wagner.7'10 The details of the derivations of the rate equations for cylinders and spheres are given in the Appendix, and only the results of these derivations are given below. The final equations obtained by Meijering and Druyvesteyn9 can be shown to be equivalent to our Eqs. [1] and [2], although the two approaches are somewhat different. Cylindrical Geometry. [2] where r1 is the outer radius of the cylinder or sphere, cm, r2 is the radius of the unreacted core, cm, see Fig. l(a), D is the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in copper, cm2 per sec, %O is the concentration of dissolved oxygen at the surface of the specimen, wt pct, %Cr is the initial chromium concentration in the alloy, wt pct, and t is the reaction time, sec. Plate Geometry. The analogous rate equation for a plate has been derived previously for internal oxidation of Fe-Al alloys.8'11 For Cu-Cr alloys, we may write the same equation as follows: [3] where r1 is the half-thickness of the plate, cm, and r2 is the distance from the mid-plane to the subscale intherate is An analysis of Eqs. [1], [2], and [3] shows that for a plate the rate is completely parabolic. The initial

Jan 1, 1970

By A. Wadood M. A. El Rabaa, William A. Hustrulid, William F. Ubbes

The spatial distribution of the deformation modulii around the CSM/ONWI test facility was determined using an NX version of the CSM cell. Approximately 840 modulus measurements were made in six rings (each ring containing seven holes each 6 m in length) of boreholes. These parallel rings were spaced at 2.4 m intervals along the room. Contour plots of the modulii revealed that the depth of the blast damage zone varied both with perimeter position and distance away from the opening. The maximum depth of disturbance appeared to be of the order of 60 cm. At locations removed from the opening, the variability in modulus was quite high reflecting the presence of joints, faults, shear zones and foliation. A comparison of rock mass modulii (ER) with those obtained from the laboratory testing of core (E), revealed that ER [=] 0.5 E.

Jan 1, 1982

By Benny Langston, Frank M. Jr. Stephens

IN recent years much attention has been given to recovery, treatment, and disposal of dusts discharged into the atmosphere from operations of industry. Considerable data has been accumulated on both operational1-4 and design5,6 of dust-collector equipment for commercial installations. On the other hand, there is almost no published data on design and construction of small-scale equipment to handle dust problems that arise in the ore-dressing laboratory. Dust-collection equipment such as multiclones, single-cyclones, scrubbers, chemical and mechanical filters, settling chambers, and electrostatic separators has proved its efficiency for collecting dust in industry. In the laboratory, however, the engineer is faced with the problem of collecting small quantities of dust, inexpensively, without diverting the major effort from the metallurgical problem to the problem of collecting dust produced by the process.

Jan 8, 1954

By Richard Amberg

While the old-time melter was satisfied to bring his metal out in the desired condition, and therefore took care to have the slag liquid enough, the importance of a thorough knowledge of the slag is at present recognized in all up-to-date melting-shops. Formerly slag or cinder was considered a necessary evil, accumulating in some mysterious way wherever a man was striving to produce a clean metal. Nowadays we deliberately aim at a well-defined slag, which varies with the nature of the process and the product. In steel-making we need slag for two main purposes, namely, refining and protecting the metal. To refine metal, essentially oxidizing and reducing processes are required, while to protect the metal we need a reducing or, still better, a neutral atmosphere. Although an absolutely neutral condition between steel, on one side, and the containing vessel and the slag, on the other, is an imaginary conception, the various furnaces in use for the production of liquid steel maybe arranged with respect to the attainment of this ideal in about the following order of merit: converter, open-hearth, crucible, and electric furnace. In dealing with the subject we will find it convenient to avail ourselves of the terms of physical chemistry, which yield a simple conception of the matter and an expedient way of expression. Slag and metal at large are not mixable with each other, and we will therefore call them the two " immiscible phases," though there are certain compounds which dissolve in both phases under conditions to be considered later. Reactions be-

Jan 1, 1913

By Eric Hedburg

This paper was originally prepared as a picture of the situation presented by the mining industry referred to at the end of the year 1899; and some of the descriptions and drawings of special mines, etc., may not completely show their condition a year later. The statements made as to the cost of mining and concentration, however, still hold good. As to other general statements made in the paper, it is believed that the following additional facts cover all that is required to complete them for the additional year. The condition of the mining industry in the Joplin district was better at the close of 1900 than at any time during several preceding years. Values seemed to have adjusted themselves, in considerable degree, to the commercial and technical circumstances, the cost of mining-supplies of all kinds had returned to a normal basis, and the product of ore found a ready sale,

Jan 1, 1902