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By W. H. Blauvelt

THE subject of fuel-briquetting has attracted much attention on the part of engineers and investors for the past 15 or 20 years, and especially in recent years, during which a number of plants have been built, with more or less commercial and technical success. Our technical literature contains numerous descriptions of certain processes, and discussions of the industry in general. For a history of the development of the art in the United States, and for descriptions of many of the processes which have been tried, reference may be made to the files of our Transactions, and, for more recent information, to a paper by C. T. Malcolmson, read before the First Annual Convention of the International Railway Fuel Association in June, 1909. The purpose of the present paper is to describe the briquette-plant of the Solvay Process Co. and the Semet-Solvay Co. at Detroit, Mich., which, after a period of long and costly evolution, is now operating satisfactorily on a commercial basis. I believe that it will be of interest to some of our members to have the details of operation, lower-consumption, labor, etc., as worked out on a practical and commercial scale in a going operation. The briquette industry has had a somewhat checkered career in the United States, and much the larger portion of the failures has been due entirely to commercial causes. It seems axiomatic to say that before undertaking the installation of a plant for manufacturing briquettes it is necessary that the local situation should be carefully examined : First, to determine the kind of briquettes, if any, the local market will consume; that is-to say, whether the available fuel-supply is such that briquettes would be a welcome addition, and whether the most promising field is the industrial or the domestic market. Second, if there is an available supply of raw material, as coal,

Mar 1, 1910

By P. S. Kotval, H. Hahell

PRECIPITATION of M23C6 carbides at grain boundaries in austenitic steels and nickel base superalloys has received considerable attention. Hatwell and Berghezan,1 in a study using carbon extraction replicas, observed that dendritic growth of the M23C6 carbide phase occurred at grain boundaries in austenitic steels. Merrick and Nicholson2 have observed that in thin foils of "Nimonic 75" alloy the precipitation of M23C6 carbide was discontinuous at grain boundaries. Lewis and Hattersley3 have suggested that the type of M23C6 precipitation observed in Ni-Cr austenites represented the early stages of discontinuous precipitation. In a more recent study, Singhal and Martin4 have concluded that grain boundary M23C6 precipitation involves the migration of an austenite grain boundary by a mechanism very similar to that proposed by Tu and Turnbull.5 Tu and Turnbull's suggestion essentially involves grain boundary migration under the driving force arising from the difference between the surface free energies of the opposite sides of the plate. Thus, Singhal and Martin's observation4 implies that the first stage of discontinuous precipitation has taken place and that the grain boundary has provided a diffusion short circuit for the sub-stitutional solute atoms (principally chromium) which assist the preferential growth of the M23C6 plate in contact with the grain boundary. However, no evidence of the characteristic cellular morphology typical of discontinuous precipitation was found in Singhal and Martin's studies. Presumably, this is due to the low volume fraction (i.e., low supersaturation of solute) of the precipitating carbide reported by Singhal and Martin.4 Recently, Raymond6 has studied precipitation of the M23C6 carbide in Incoloy alloy 825 and shown that the growth of this phase is perpendicular to grain boundaries at 1400°F and in the plane of the grain boundary at 1700°F. The former aging condition resulting in discontinuous or "cellular" precipitation. Raymond has suggested an explanation for this behavior based on the relative rates of chromium diffusion by volume and grain boundary diffusion at the two different aging temperatures. In the course of a recent investigation on precipitation behavior in several ' strengthened superalloys, precipitation of M23C6 carbide at grain boundaries was studied. Under conditions of a high degree of supersaturation, the M23C6 carbide precipitates in the discontinuous or cellular morphology in Waspalloy (Ni-18.51 Cr-2.0 Fe-3.53 Mo-1.16 Al-2.78 Ti-0.09 C). This note presents electron microscopy observations of this mode of precipitation and its effect on mechanical properties. Specimens of Waspalloy after "solution" heat treatment at 1950°F show essentially single phase matrix with a few residual particles of "primary" MC carbide. In normal commercial heat treatments, precipitation of Ni3(Al,Ti) ordered fcc r' phase occurs throughout the matrix and M23C6 precipitates as globular particles at the grain boundaries. In these commercial heat treatments the degree of supersaturation during precipitation is low. However, if specimens of Waspalloy are quenched from the solution heat treatment temperature of 1950°F and then aged at an aging temperature where the degree of supersaturation is high, discontinuous precipitation of M23C6 occurs. Figs. 1 and 2 show thin foil micrographs of Waspalloy, solution heat treated at 1950°F, water quenched, and aged at 1292° and 1598°F, respectively, for 500 Fig. 1—Thin foil of Waspalloy, solution heat treated at 1950°F for 1 hr, water quenched, and aged for 500 hr at 1292°F. Magnification 15,500 times. Fig. 2—Thin foil of Waspalloy, solution heat treated at 1950°F for 1 hr, water quenched, and aged for 114 hr at 1598° F. Magnification 13,000 times.

Jan 1, 1970

By H. A. MEGRAW

THE meeting of the A. I. M. E. at Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Sept. 12 to 15, inclusive, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Institute. It was at Wilkes-Barre, in 1871, that the foundation was laid for the great institution that now includes in its roster the greatest names. in mining engineering in every civilized country of the world. The founders of the Institute, with rare prescience, established a common ground upon which all mining engineers, whatever particular branch they might consider most pertinent, could stand securely, assured of a deep-seated interest from their brethren similarly minded in other localities. So wise and clear was the vision of the founders that every engineer connected with mining has found it beneficial, not to say indispensable, to maintain his connection with the Institute and to increase his technical enthusiasm through the medium of the valuable technical publications. The little coterie of 1871 has grown to a strong body of more than 10,000 members in 1921, reflecting the glory of the founders in the record of the accomplishments written on the pages of the fifty years of the

Jan 1, 1921

By F. Lowell Lawrance

JOHN SMITH, citizen of the U.S.A., has become so accustomed to reading that Congress has appropriated billions of dollars to pay war costs. that he no longer is impressed by relatively small figures, such as several hundred thousand or a few million, in connection with Government departments.

Jan 1, 1944

By Sydney H., Ball

ONE of the important mineral discoveries of the eighteenth century was , that of the Minas Geraes, Brazil; diamond fields. The production of this and of .other diamond discoveries in neighboring states made Brazil the premier producer of diamonds, succeeding India; its 140 years of supremacy finally passed to- South Africa- 60 years ago. Three times have diamonds contributed heavily to Portugal's somewhat checkered financial history; first in the sixteenth and seventeenth- centuries when the diamond trade of India was controlled by its citizens residing in ,Goa, later in the late eighteenth and the first 75 years of the nineteenth century when the Brazilian fields were the world's source of diamonds, and now, when the Angola diamond mines are the principal source of revenue of its colony, Portuguese West Africa. Certain phases in the history of the administration of the Brazilian field are sufficiently curious to warrant description.

Jan 1, 1929

By E. L. Oliver

IN OFFERING a few comments and suggestions on trends in mining practice, and the methods and tools of tomorrow's mining, perhaps it will be appropriate to start with the subject of education. Charles Kettering, one of the best-known scientists and experimentalists in the automotive industry once said, in effect, that tech- 111ca1 schools have to be carefid not to teach a lot of hard and fast rules that may have been true once, but aren't so any more, or won't be presently. Possibly the mining school of the future will concern itself less with what has happened and more with what is going to happen. It will be built about or around problems. Such a school will be judged, not by the number of its students but by the quality of its improvements. To such a school the industry will send for men to solve particular problems. The industry will doubtless at some time sup- port such a school financially though a lot of hard work will be required to organize miners to undertake such financing, primarily because the mining industry, other than that concerned with iron and steel, is too loosely knit. Each company tends to its own knitting too closely for its own good. Wouldn't it be splendid if the mining industry would finance a "problem school" as suggested by Mr. Kettering and others.

Jan 1, 1939

By P. K. STRONG

AS an evidence of the fact that mines safety is not being neglected even in the remote district of the Philippines, a short account is appended of the organization and activities of the Mambulao-Paracale District First Aid and Mine, Rescue Association, whose headquarters are at Jose Panganiban Cam, Norte P. I. The second annual miner?s safety celebration which is sponsored by the Association was held in Paracale on Sept. 2, 1940. The event is the big occasion of the year when the thousands of employees of the mines in the district meet to compete for prizes and has become a great social function as well.=

Jan 1, 1941

By J. M. GLEDHILL

(Washington Meeting, May, 1905.) A Discussion of Mr. J. M. Gledhill's paper, read by title at the Lake Superior meeting, but presented first at the New Yolk meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute (October, 1904), and here published under a mutual agreement. Between the two Institutes. Discussion. MR. E: WINDSOR RICHARDS, Past-President, said that at a recent meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers a paper was read on tool steel, and he called the attention of the members to the high-speed tool steel at the Bethlehem Works. They would have the pleasure of seeing those wonderful works and would see 60, 70, 80 and 100 tons oil lathe with half-a-dozen of these high-speed tools running. PROP. H. M. HOWE (Columbia University) said that they all looked upon these high-speed tool steels as of very great importance, particularly to the machine shop. One point occurred to hire : Had it really been shown that Swedish steel is necessary, or better than equally pure steel that is not Swedish; and is cemented steel really necessary, and is there any advantage in using that, rather than equally pure open-hearth steel'! It might be well if the author could indicate the kind of evidence on which lie bases his assertion that it is necessary to have cemented Swedish steel. Many were hoping for the development of high-speed steels from elements which exist in great quantities, such as silicon, manganese and chromium, rather than from rarer metals like molybdenum, vanadium and tungsten, the supply of which is likely to be soon exhausted. If the high-cutting speed was to last more than a generation, it. seemed to him that they would have to draw upon the common ele¬ments and not upon the rare ones. MR. Tom WESTGARTH (Middlesbrough) said he fully appreci¬ated what had been said about the advantages of using high-speed steel, because great benefit had been derived from the

Mar 1, 1905

By Krahmann, Rudolf

THE following is an account of a survey undertaken to test the possibility of outlining a kimberlite pipe by magnetouietric methods. Kimberlite is a basic igneous rock closely related to melilite-basalt or alnoite, which occurs either in the form of volcanic plugs or as dikes intruded into rocks of various types and geological ages up to and includ¬ing the Lower Cretaceous. The famous diamond mines of South Africa are all in kimberlite pipes and these pipes are probably the original source as well of the vast alluvial deposits found in various parts of the country. The pipe chosen for this experiment is one that ' occurs on the farm Goedgevonden No. 20, about sixteen miles north of the village of Klerksdorp and ninety miles southwest of Johannesburg. Some prospecting has been done on this pipe and diamonds were produced from it but not in paying quantities. The magnetometric survey was made in June, 1932, by R. Krahmann and H. Wallisch and the results are shown on the accompanying plan. On the plan are shown also the boundaries of the pipe as exposed at the surface and details in regard to the surrounding foundations. These are taken from a geological survey made at a later date by W. Beetz, of Johannesburg.

Jan 1, 1935

[RALPH ADAIR Ore Dressing Consultant Bull Mtn. d., Asheville, N. C. Phone 4-1693 JAMES A. BARR Consulting Engineer Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee Washington, D.C. BEHRE DOLBEAR & COMPANY Consulting Mining Engineers and Geologists 11 Broadway New York 4, N. Y. I. R. BERENT Engineering Consultants and Contractors Mineral Exploration, Mine Evaluation, Mine Designs and Mine Management 156, Ataturk Bulvarl-Ankara, Turkey BLANDFORD C. BURGESS Registered Professional Engineer Mining Consultant Monticello, Georgia GLENVILLE A. COLLINS Mining Engineer Uranium examinations Cable "Coins" 8 Howard-Canfield Bldg. Santa Barbers, Calif. COWIN & CO. Mining Engineers and Contractors Consulting Shaft & Slope Sinking Appraisal Mine Development Reports Mine Plant Construction I. 18th St. S. W. Wham, Ale., Phone 56-5566]

Jan 1, 1952

By William P. Blake

The ancient city of Guanajuato, the capital of the State of that name, has been built up and sustained chiefly by the milling industry based upon the veins of the Veta Madre and La Luz. It is distant about twelve hours, by rail, from the City of Mexico. Its elevation above the sea is about 6300 ft., and it has a salubrious climate. The population, at the date of my visit in 1891, was estimated at from 80,000 to 100,000 persons. The place is justly celebrated for the antiquity, depth and extent of the mines, the magnitude of the deep shafts, and the enormous total yield of the district in silver and gold, which is comparable with that of the Comstock Lode in the United States. Several important public institutions are located at this center. The State office for the records of claims and of the statistics of mining and production is known as the Deputacion de Mineria. The Mining College, with its fine collection of ores and minerals from the mines of the region, is highly interesting to mineralogists. A mint for the coinage of silver, but not of gold, coins from four to twelve millions of' silver dollars annually. The silver received at the mint is melted in an open-hearth furnace, and is ladled out and cast into long and thin bars, which are rolled down to the proper thickness for the blanks. The bars contain some gold which is not parted. There is an export of dore bars to Germany, amounting in value to from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 annually. There were, in 1891, upwards of forty reduction-works in and about the city where the silver ores were treated, chiefly by the ancient patio method. In these works were 65 Chilean mills, 301 arrastres of large size, and 936 of smaller dimensions. There were 36 steam engines, but mule-power was generally used at the ar-

Jan 1, 1902

By Robert Mehl

THE purpose of this investigation was to prepare high-purity iron-carbon alloys, to determine as precisely as possible the A3(GOS), the Acm(SE), and the A1(PSK) transformation temperatures in the meta-stable iron-iron carbide system (up to 1.4 per cent C), and to study the influence of carefully controlled and constant rates of heating and cooling (1/8 to 2° C. per minute) upon the transformation temperature and upon the resulting microstructure. Apart from the general metallurgical importance attending the completion of such a task, it will be noted that highly precise transformation temperatures are of interest and importance in the thermodynamic study of this system1. Several determinations of the iron-iron carbide diagram have been made. These suffer generally from the low purity of the alloys used, and from the application of methods of investigation of low sensitivity. Attempts to compare and weight the many data available in an effort to construct as accurate a diagram as possible have, in the main, been unsuccessful. In general, the wide differences in the results of different workers, the lack of complete analytical data, the omission of important details relating to the heat-treatment of the alloys, and the meager description of the methods of investigation applied, render such a process of averaging nearly meaningless. It may be seen from the summaries by Epstein2 and Körber and Oelsen1 that variations as great as 30° C. exist in the reported data on the A3 temperatures in iron-carbon alloys. For-tunately, the A3 temperature in pure iron is now known to be 910° C. ± 1° C.3 The best recent work on iron-carbon alloys is that of Esser4 on hypoeutectoid steels and that of Sato' on both hypoeutectoid and hyper-eutectoid steels.

Jan 1, 1937

By Northcutt Ely

This chapter deals with the systems of laws by which governments regulate the exploration for and production of the minerals within their jurisdictions. It is a summary, restricted by necessary space limitations, of material assembled by the author for a publication of the United States Bureau of Mines, "Summary of Mining and Petroleum Laws of the World," (Information Circular 80 1 7, 196 1. ) The present study is organized in three parts, dealing with (1) the historical background of these legal systems, (2) laws of the United States, and (3) laws of other countries of the world. The reader's attention is invited to the acknowledgments at the end of the chapter, which inadequately express the appreciation due those who have assisted in the collection of this material. Part I. Historical Development of Major Western Systems of Land Tenancy with Respect to the Ownership and Control of Minerals The use of metals in primitive societies was largely confined to the manufacture of weapons for self-preservation. The ruler's control over copper, then bronze, then iron, was essential to maintenance of his own ascendancy at home and his group's position against neighbors who had access to similar metals. Ancient societies were thus characterized by the ruling group's ownership of minerals and metals. The Egyptian civilization, which emerged in the fourth millenium B.C. upon the agricultural subjugation of the lower valley of the Nile, was responsible for extensive development of the upper valley as a source of mineral wealth. The production of gold during the height of that civilization has been estimated at $30,000,000 per year, thus equaling the early placers of California and Australia. The mines of Egypt were the property of the Pharaohs and were controlled at their direction. Greek mining developed a different scheme of land tenancy which more closely resembled modem concepts. Development of mineral resources was

Jan 1, 1964

By Scott Turner

MY YEAR OF SERVICE as president of the A.I.M.E. came at a time when the mineral industry had suffered severely because of disturbed economic conditions throughout the world. The Institute, an integral part of this industry, had been similarly affected. Its membership and revenues decreased; it was confronted by problems of retrenchment at a time when its vigorous operation was especially important to its members, of some moment to the mining industry, and of value to the nation. Throughout the last year, the recession of activity in our industry continued with slight abatement. Your Board accordingly exercised such economy within the Institute as was possible without impairment of essential functions. It endeavored to aid in sustaining the morale of members, their sense of professional unity, and their interest in maintaining research and the interchange of scientific and technologic data upon which the progress of our industry depends. Effort was made to assist in the difficult task of finding employment for needy members; our endeavors have met with some success.

Jan 1, 1933

By AIME AIME

A PAPER recently presented before the Anthracite Section of the A. I. M. E. by S. J. Phil- lips, Mine Inspector, Fifth Anthracite District, Department of Mines of Pennsylvania, covering the water hazards in the anthracite coal mines of the Lackawanna River Valley, was especially timely because the conditions there are duplicated to a large extent in the Wyoming Valley, which is traversed by the Susquehanna River with its many large tributary streams. Also, in the southern anthracite field, where there are a number of large creeks, similar pumping problems and mine water hazards will in time be presented if mining is continued to its conclusion.

Jan 1, 1936

By A. L. Holley

THIS process is performed in the Pernot puddling furnace; it removes from 75 to 80 per cent. of the phosphorus, most of the sulphur, and practically all the silicon, from crude iron, in from five to eight minutes. It has been in regular use since March, 1877, and has prod uced over seventeen thousand tons of washed metal for the open-hearth furnace. During two years, nearly all, and lately, all the open-hearth steel produced in these works has been made from about 5 tons of washed pig and 2 tons of scrap per open-hearth furnace heat. There are 12 open-hearth furnaces, of which 4 to 9 are running, according to the state of orders. A large amount of highly phosphoric iron from France and Belgium has been also washed and then puddled for parties who have taken, or are expected to take, licenses. The washing of pig for puddling, however, is not a practice at Krupp's works, because pure pigs are nearly as cheap as impure ones. The author and his assistant, Mr. Laureau, spent, during the last month, three days at Krupp's works, examining this process. They copied out of the office books characteristic analyses and physical tests, some of which are given herewith. They also brought hone many samples of pig, cleaned metal, puddle bar, and steel, which they saw treated. Analyses of some of these samples appear in Table IV. As there are no blast furnaces at Essen, the iron is melted in two Bessemer cupolas with fore-hearths; they melt 12g pounds of iron with 1 pound of coke. The metal is run by a spout from the fore-hearth into an opening at the side of the main door of the washing-furnace. The Washing furnace.-This is a regenerative gas furnace. It has a Pernot revolving-hearth of 12 feet external diameter and 3 feet depth. (See Plate.) The four regenerator chambers have 780 cubic feet capacity, which is about the same as the average regenerator capacity of open-hearth steel furnaces of equal tonnage. The lining is 13 inches thick on the sides and 9 inches on the bottom, thus giving a hearth 9 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 3 inches deep. The lining is composed of lumps of highly refractory ores

Jan 1, 1880

By A. L. Holley

This process is performed in the Pernot puddling furnace; it removes from 75 to 80 pel. cent. of the phosphorus, most of the sulphur, and practically all the silicon, from crude iron, in from five to eight minutes. It has been in regular use since March, 1877, and has produced over seventeen thousand tons of mashed metal for the openhearth furnace. During two years, nearly all, and lately, all the open-hearth steel produced in these works has been made from about 5 tons of washed pig and 2 tons of scrap per open-hearth furnace heat. There arc 12 open-hearth furnaces, of which 4 to 9 are running, according to the state of orders. A large amount of highly phosphoric iron from France and Belgium has been also washed and then puddled for parties who have taken, or are expected to take, licenses. The mashing of pig for puddling, however, is not a practice at Krupp's works, because pore pigs are nearly as cheap as impure ones. The author and his assistant, Mr. Laureau, spent, during the last month, three days at Krupp's works, examining this process. They copied out of the office books characteristic analyses and physical tests, some of which are given berewith. They also brought home many samples of pig, cleaned metal, puddle bar, and steel, which they saw treated. Analyses of some of these samples appear in Table IV. As there are no blast furnaces at Essen, the iron is melted in two Bessemer cupolas with fore-hearths; they melt 124 pounds of iron with 1 pound of coke. The metal is run by a spout from the forehearth into an opening at the side of the main door of the washingfurnace. The The washing-furnace.—This is a regenerative gas furnace. It has a Pernot revolving-hearth of 12 feet external diameter and 3 feet depth. (See Plate.) The four regenerator chambers hare 780 cubic feet capacity, which is about the same as the average regenerator capacity of open-hearth steel furnaces of equal tonnage. The lining is 13 inches thick on the sides and 9 inches on the bottom, thus giving a hearth 9 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 3 inches deep. The lining is composed of lumps of highly refractory ores

Jan 1, 1880

By Will Mitchell

The classical definition of a beneficiation engineer as one who treats an ore in order to separate and discard worthless fractions by essentially physical means is obsolete. Technology in the profession has advanced so rapidly during the last two or three years that educators have not been able to coin definitions to keep up with the pace. In the past some people have hesitated to include leaching or even agglomeration as minerals beneficiation, because of the major chemical changes involved. This view has fallen by the wayside, especially because a majority in the profession have become actively involved in extraction and pyro processes that go far beyond the original definition of mineral dressing. To say that there is a great revival of interest in leaching is putting it mildly, for the uranium business, like the gold business, now depends almost entirely on leaching. This revival of leaching, long overdue in mineral engineering, has been stimulated this year, especially as a result of the relaxation of security restrictions surrounding the recovery of uranium from its ores. It has brought new unit operations to minerals beneficiation, namely ion exchange and solvent extraction. These operations have appeared as resin-in-pulp, solvent-in-pulp, and liquid-liquid systems. In many cases these leaching and separation procedures, now reaching the production stage, have been engineered by minerals beneficiators. The trend toward leaching has also had impact on the technology of beneficiating other nonferrous minerals, especially copper, manganese, columbium, tantalum, nickel, cobalt, titanium, and the rare earths.

Feb 1, 1956

By Howard N. Eavenson

AN analysis of the bituminous coal situation by an authority who traces the production, mining, safety, markets and labor trends in comparison with other fuels. BEFORE 1918 the production of coal experienced a steady growth, with slight recessions in ouput in only twelve years (1837, 1841, 1852, 1855, 1861, 1874, 1876, 1889, 1894, 1905, 1909, 1914), and in each of these cases the loss was recovered in the following year and the increase continued. In each decade the output was doubled. Prices, while not high, allowed some profit. In 1918 during World War I, an output of 580 million tons was reached and with the exception of 1923 this total was not again reached until 1942, in World War 11. Losses of output in this period were much greater than ever before; in 1932 the total was 270 million tons less than in 1918 or 1923, and the loss after 1923 was not recovered until 1942. The greatest output was 631 million tons in 1947.

Jan 1, 1950

By AIME AIME

THE American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers will hold its annual meeting in New York City, Feb. 9-12. The technical sessions, excepting the Sunday afternoon and evening sessions of the Mineral Industry Education Division (see the M.I.E.D. program) will be held in the Engineering Societies Building. The "All-Institute" luncheon on Monday will be at the Commodore Hotel; the Annual Banquet and President's Reception, the Smoker, and the Informal Dance will be at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The dinners of the Petroleum Division and the Institute of Metals Division will be at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Jan 1, 1942