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By Robert McKay

THE practical study of corrosion requires consideration off its economic aspects. It must be based on sound scientific principles, but it should be borne in mind that probably the most important object of a corrosion test is to determine what metal in corrosion-resisting construction will produce the greatest operating profit. Thus the corrosion test must be directly connected with money values or it is not a practical corrosion test. This, perhaps unusual, connection between corrosion and economics is partially due to the fact that corrosion deals only with the time factor or duration of equipment, and it is almost the only test which deals with this feature. In these statements a departure is made from the academic definition of the word corrosion and it is done deliberately. The use of the term corrosion is unusual. It is as though we spoke of a tensile test as. a "breaking" test. We are not interested primarily in the break but in the strength of the metal. There is no English word which expresses our main interest in corrosion-testing, but let us have clearly in mind that we make corrosion tests to prevent corrosion. Our real interest is in this corrosion-prevention, not in the corrosion. Previous to 1922, it was common comment that "it is impossible to determine the course of corrosion by laboratory testing." This statement was true at that time in that the technique of laboratory testing for corrosion resistance was so vague that tests in the laboratory gave untrue results almost as often as true ones. This was so, even in the simple case of determining which one of two metals better resists a given solution. While this is no longer true the number of misleading "corrosion tests" still being ground out by laboratories is too large in the light of our present knowledge. There are two important features of corrosion testing whose neglect is a large contributing factor to misleading results: (1) The economic relations of the corrosion tests to other tests; (2) testing technique.

Jan 1, 1929

By R. L. Minckler

PETROLEUM industry forecasts are constantly made and revised but are not in the nature of predictions. Particularly in the field of demand, many of the factors are far beyond control by the producing industry. Supply reacts on demand and demand reacts on supply. Competent economists in the oil business forecasted a year ago, on the basis of experience, that demand would now be at a much lower level than it is. This increased demand increased the price of crude oil and products, and in turn those increased prices have brought forth increased supply. A reduction in demand would lead to a reduction in supply. Shortages are now world-wide, and costs of secondary importance, so if there were extra supplies in California they would be moved into what are termed "unnatural markets." For example, Argentina is in the market today for California gasoline; that is an unnatural market because of the greater transportation distances from California to Argentina than from normal sources.

Jan 1, 1947

By Charles Hardy

ACTIVATED alumina is an aluminous material which may be 1 classified chemically as a partially dehydrated aluminum trihydrate having a high porosity and a perma¬nent physical structure. In general, it may be employed effectively and economically for the complete removal of water vapor from gases and vapors; for the selective adsorption of certain as especially those of the higher boiling points, and as a catalyst or catalyst carrier. Other forms of alumna are available and may be employed similarly but not so effectively nor can reactivation be accomplished with uniformity over many cycles without deterioration. The adsorption-reactivation cycle of activated alumina can be repeated many times without any apparent depreciation ill

Jan 1, 1934

By A. L. Engel

STRICTLY speaking, ore-dressing does not commence until after the ore is in the mill bins, but where complex ores are treated and their minerals separated to make the best commercial concentrate with the lowest economical tailing, ore-dressing problems begin and often center in the mine itself. This does not refer to the grade of the ore, but rather to the frequent condition in which metallurgical results radically different from customary are obtained because of changes in the character of the ore treated. Different varieties of ore can usually be identified as coming from well-defined depths or zones in the mine, or from known sections of the orebody. Varying degrees of alteration of the ore, inclusions of harmful gangue material, or variations in the quantities of component metallic minerals are often causes of temporarily bad metallurgical results in otherwise successfully operated plants, especially those employing differential flotation to. recover several valuable minerals contained in the ore.

Jan 1, 1931

By C. R. Hayward, H. O. Hofman

I. INTRODUCTION. THE aim of instruction in a metallurgical laboratory is to make real the principles on which metallurgical processes and operations are based, and to foster the spirit of investigation: The materials with which experiments are carried out are ores, metals, and metallic compounds. The method varies with the end sought. A class may work as a whole, each member contributing his share to the solution of a problem, or the students may carry on investigations independently; the former exemplifies class-research; the latter, individual research. It is with a branch of the former, with special reference to ore-treatment that the present paper intends to deal. In smelting an ore by a well-established process, the result is shown by analyzing the products to see whether their compositions correspond to those calculated in making up the charge; by taking account of stock to show the distribution of metal in the different products made and the losses from dust and volatilization, by casting a thermal balance to find the ,distribution and losses of heat; and by making a cost-sheet to ascertain, as far as possible, the necessary outlay of money. In, lixiviation and amalgamation, the mode of operating has to be varied to adapt a process to the individual ore. Here a number of tests become necessary. Each will consist of a series of experiments with one variable, in order to find the conditions under which the variable gives the best result; a. summary of several tests will give the best method of operating.. Working a number of charges with the best method will furnish the data desired for ascertaining the recovery of metal,

Jun 1, 1909

By Blair R. Benner

This paper describes the installation and operation of a Texas Nuclear on-line silica analyzer (NOLA) coupled with a Leeds and Northrup Microtrac particle-size monitor (Microtrac) at U.S. Steel's Minntac taconite concentrator. An automatic sampling system provides the NOLA with samples of final concentrate. After the sample is analyzed for silica by the NOLA, it is pumped to the Microtrac for size and surface area measurement. A sample is analyzed every six minutes, providing the control room with the silica concentration, the percent passing 270, 400, and 500 mesh, and an equivalent Blaine surface area number. When fed a slurry of final concentrate containing between 20 and 70% solids and 5 to 6% silica, the NOLA analysis is within ±0.2% of the wet chemistry silica. The agreement between the Microtrac output and standard screen analyses is ±1.2% at 270 mesh; ±1.5% at 400 mesh, and ±2% at 500 mesh. The poorer disagreement at the finer sizes is mainly due to inaccuracies in screening at 400 and 500 mesh. The agreement between Microtrac surface area a d laboratory Blaine surface area is about 9 ±80 cm 2/g. These instruments provide rapid and reliable feedback information to the concentrator and feed forward information to the agglomerator.

Jan 1, 1984

By James Aston

A PROPER consideration of this subject is not confined to the technical channels of production and metallurgy. It concerns an industry, and should cover economic aspects which are of material importance in any program of development. The discussion may logically be treated under three subdivisions, as follows: (1) manufacture, (2) characteristics related to quality of material; (3) adaptability and exploitation of product. MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON The manufacture of wrought iron is the most ancient art of the ferrous metal industry. The eighty years or less of existence of processes identi-fied with our modern "Age of Steel" is a relatively brief interval com-pared with the several thousand years associated with the production of wrought iron by man. From the primitive early methods of production, manufacture for many centuries followed the line of direct reduction. There were developments as experience was gained through the years; but man's needs for a strong, ductile, forgeable product were met by reducing the ore to metallic iron in a single-stage operation. Following the development several centuries ago of what has become our modern blast-furnace operation, manufacture of wrought iron was gradually transformed into a two-stage method of first producing cast iron and then refining this to the desired degree of forgeability; the fore-runner in principle of today's scheme of manufacture of steel. The product retained the essential characteristics of highly refined base metal with iron-silicate slag incorporation, which were associated with the material resulting from direct reduction methods. Cort's invention of the puddling process in 1784 is a landmark in wrought-iron manufacture. It consisted essentially in adapting a coal-fired reverberatory furnace to the refining operation; thus lifting the industry out of the slough of

Jan 1, 1935

By James J. Halbouty, Michel T. Halbouty

Drilling activity in the South Texas area, which includes the South Corpus Christi and Laredo districts, showed a marked decline during 1941 from that of the preceding year. The rate of new discoveries, however, 'compared favorably with exploratory results of 1940 because of the many new productive sands opened in existing fields. South Texas completions for 1941 were about 12.3 per cent below the 1940 figure, compared with an increase of approximately 5.5 per cent in the total number of completions in the United States during 1941 over the 1940 total. During the year, 1452 wells were drilled in this area; of these, 1205 were drilled in or as extensions to the proven fields, and 247 were rank wildcats drilled in search of new producing pools. The comparable 1940 figures were: 1320 field or extension wells and 336 rank wildcats, a total of 1656 completions. This represents a decline in 1941 of approximately 8.7 per cent in proven-area wells, and of about 26.5 per cent in rank wildcats. It must be stressed that wells that were considered rank wildcats at the beginning of operations, but which opened production later classified as additions to existing fields, are not regarded as rank wildcats in this and previous annual reports on this same area. These wells are classified as semiwildcats (Table 2). There were 13 new oil or distillate fields and 4 new gas areas opened during the year, as listed in the next column. This listing represents a decline of 32 per cent from the 25 new areas found during the previous year, and to a great extent can be attributed to the 26.5 per cent decline in wildcatting. The rate of new discoveries based on the 247 wildcats was 14.5 to I, which compares somewhat unfavorably with the 13.4 to I ratio obtained in 1940 (Table 5). Dry wildcats totaled 230. The proof of the prolific character of the South Texas area as a source of petroleum reservoirs is to be found in the fact that of the 1205 field or extension (semiwildcat) wells completed during the past year 61 opened production from new sands or found crude in formerly distillate-producing sands. The 1940 total of 1320 such wells accounted for 50 horizons that provided either new production or crude in distillate sands, and in this respect the 1941 rate of discovery shows to greater advantage, the ratios for new sands being 19.7 to I for 1941 and 26.4 to I for 1940. The 1205 field or semiwildcat wells completed in 1941 resulted in 926 oil or dis-

Jan 1, 1942

By James J. Halbouty, Michel T. Halbouty

Drilling activity in the South Texas area, which includes the South Corpus Christi and Laredo districts, showed a marked decline during 1941 from that of the preceding year. The rate of new discoveries, however, 'compared favorably with exploratory results of 1940 because of the many new productive sands opened in existing fields. South Texas completions for 1941 were about 12.3 per cent below the 1940 figure, compared with an increase of approximately 5.5 per cent in the total number of completions in the United States during 1941 over the 1940 total. During the year, 1452 wells were drilled in this area; of these, 1205 were drilled in or as extensions to the proven fields, and 247 were rank wildcats drilled in search of new producing pools. The comparable 1940 figures were: 1320 field or extension wells and 336 rank wildcats, a total of 1656 completions. This represents a decline in 1941 of approximately 8.7 per cent in proven-area wells, and of about 26.5 per cent in rank wildcats. It must be stressed that wells that were considered rank wildcats at the beginning of operations, but which opened production later classified as additions to existing fields, are not regarded as rank wildcats in this and previous annual reports on this same area. These wells are classified as semiwildcats (Table 2). There were 13 new oil or distillate fields and 4 new gas areas opened during the year, as listed in the next column. This listing represents a decline of 32 per cent from the 25 new areas found during the previous year, and to a great extent can be attributed to the 26.5 per cent decline in wildcatting. The rate of new discoveries based on the 247 wildcats was 14.5 to I, which compares somewhat unfavorably with the 13.4 to I ratio obtained in 1940 (Table 5). Dry wildcats totaled 230. The proof of the prolific character of the South Texas area as a source of petroleum reservoirs is to be found in the fact that of the 1205 field or extension (semiwildcat) wells completed during the past year 61 opened production from new sands or found crude in formerly distillate-producing sands. The 1940 total of 1320 such wells accounted for 50 horizons that provided either new production or crude in distillate sands, and in this respect the 1941 rate of discovery shows to greater advantage, the ratios for new sands being 19.7 to I for 1941 and 26.4 to I for 1940. The 1205 field or semiwildcat wells completed in 1941 resulted in 926 oil or dis-

Jan 1, 1942

By Paul M. Tyler

THE winning of metals from Nature has been advanced to a degree of efficiency that commands admiration even in this Machine Age. Economy of human effort underground, in surface plants, and in treatment works, and better means of performing all manner of operations have cut costs and im¬proved products to an extent that seems far beyond the wildest imagin¬ings of those that labored in the days of hand mining and muscular metallurgy. Principles and methods borrowed from other professions and sciences - mechanical engineering, chemistry, and physics-all have con¬tributed to the rapid development of ore production and treatment, but no small part of the achievements must be credited to the free exchange of ideas within the industry itself and mass attack upon problems of mutual concern. The esprit de corps or class consciousness that has contributed so effectively to the progress of the metal industries has been less apparent among nonmetallic mineral producers. As a class they have been handicapped by inadequate contact with the metal-mining fraternity as well as among themselves.

Jan 1, 1935

By T. F. Witherbee

It is proposed to give, first, a description of the works; second, a report of the first six months of the present blast; and third, such improvements as have been suggested by the practical working. The site selected for this furnace was, at the time of commencing work, October, 1872, entirely covered by the navigable waters of Lake Champlain. A coffer-dam was first built of cribs of round timber filled with stone, forming three sides, while the shore answered for the fourth. Considerable excavating was done with a steam-dredge, a hole being left for it to pass out. The opening was then built up, and the cribbing banked up with blue clay from the bottom of the lake, to render it water-tight and the dam pumped out; the remainder of the excavating being done by hand. All of the foundations, with the exception of the elevator-tower, and fifteen feet of the east side of hot blast, rest on the Potsdam sandstone, which forms the shore line, dipping into the lake at an angle of fifteen degrees. Owing to jogs in the formation, a much greater depth was found necessary than was at first anticipated, the foundation under the stack

By Charles W. Bloomquist

The profitability of miscible flooding in a hypothetical target oilfield is examined. The major costs, including Windfall Prof it Tax, are identified and their re1ative importance are discussed. The sensitivity of profit to important physical and economic variables is evaluated and discussed, including variance in oil recovery, oil price, injectant requirements, injectant cost, and capital requirements. Economic sensitivities to important development and operating decisions such as timing, Spacing, Slug size, and gas recycling are also analyzed. The Windfall Profit Tax (WPT) as it applies to gas miscible EOR projects is reviewed. The effect of WPT on each of the various project cases is analyzed and the effect of reduced WPT on remaining production from existing operations is evaluated. Tax implications are compared for integrated vs. "independent" controlled projects and the alternative of expensing vs. capitalizing tertiary injectants is also evaluated. The impact of the Net Income Limitation in reducing WPT. during early and late project life is determined and discussed.

Jan 1, 1982

By AIME AIME

HE State of Utah has an area of 84,990 sq. mi., and like other inland states in the West its population, although steadily increasing, is relatively small. The fact that it is a state possessing vast mineral resources is attested by a careful study of statistics which have been compiled by Federal and State investigators. Some idea of the extent of these resources and the degree of development of a particular state or region may be gained by such a study, but in the case of Utah statistics and other available information fail to portray completely the true extent and value of its existing metallic and non-metallic resources. The State is probably more widely known for its production of metallic ores which has placed it in an eminent position among the metal mining states of the Nation.

Jan 1, 1925

NEW MEMBERS. The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the month of April, 1913: BARNES, BLAKESLEE, Min. Engr Burrwood, La. BOYLSTON, HERBERT M., Cons. Met. Engr 26 Abbot Bldg., Cambridge, Mass. BUEHLER, HENRY A., State Geol Rolla, Mo. CASTO, WILLIAM H., JR., Mining Bonanza, Idaho. COHEN, MAXWELL B., Mill Operator Miami, Ariz. EVANS, MILTON R., Shop Draftsman 92 Division St., Kingston, Pa. HARPER, WALTER S., Asst. Treas 42 Broadway, New York, N. Y. JAMES. JAMES S.. Min. Engr Telluride. Colo.

Jan 5, 1913

By Charles C. Goddard

Since discovery of silver-gold lode deposits in 1864, the Butte district has produced more than $2.25 billion worth of copper, zinc, manganese, silver, and gold, an unprecedented value in the mining world. Exhaustion of the gold placer deposits along Silver Bow Creek, southwest of Butte, forced the early-day placer miners to turn their attention to the bold out- crops of the many veins exposed on the hillsides above the placer diggings. These outcrops bore silver and gold, and enough so that many lode claims were located. Such famous silver mines as the Alice, Moulton, Magna Carta, Nettie, and Blue Bird were developed. These and many smaller operations contributed to making Montana the leading silver-producing state in the 1880's. As depth was gained in the silver mines in certain parts of the district, occurrence of zinc minerals became troublesome. Zinc was not recoverable at the time, and in the chloridizing, roasting, and amalgamation of the ores, silver and gold recovery was greatly reduced. A period of active silver mining continued until 1892, when a decline in the price of silver brought the silver mining period to a close. Elsewhere in the district it was discovered that while some of the veins contained silver ores in the oxidized portions, the predominant minerals that were deeper were copper-bearing. Marcus Daly exposed rich copper ore on the 300 level of the Anaconda mine in 1891, and mining in the district disclosed that copper was destined to be developed in abundance. Early copper ore shipments were made to Swansea, Wales.

Jan 3, 1959

By John A. Church

Jan 1, 1903

By N. H. Emmons

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) AN interesting development of copper blast-furnace construction has been brought about in adapting the blast-furnace to be a "burner" for sulphuric acid making. When the Tennessee Copper Co. first decided to construct an acid-plant, the standard type of brick-top furnace, supported by structural steel, was the only one in use at this plant. All the tests for temperature and strength of gas had been made on these furnaces, and had been satisfactory. When, however, the acid-plant was put on the flue, and the flue had to have a damper put in it to force the gas into that plant, troubles began. The furnaces were fairly tight, and for a few months the work was quite satisfactory., Fig. 1 shows the old type of furnace-top used at the start. It was soon found that this top would not stand the temperatures, particularly when dampered back, as was necessary to force the gas into the Glover towers. The structural steel, of which the furnace skeleton was constructed, warped and twisted so badly that it was not safe to use the furnaces. This effect is shown by Fig. 2, which is a photograph of old No. 4 furnace, after the brick-work had been removed. It became apparent that a new type of top was necessary and the engineering force was started oil the design of a new furnace-top, with the result that a low top, with brick-lined flues at each end below the feed-floor, leading to the main concrete dust-chamber, was constructed. This furnace, No. 7, is shown in Fig. 3. The charging-doors are made of cast-iron sections, three sections to a door, and three doors to a side. A door to the furnace was made of cast copper, but the heat was so great that the copper bent readily, due to the jarring of its * General Manager, Tennessee Copper Co.

Feb 1, 1911

By Clyde Williams

A MAN who is a first-class metallurgist, engineer, and scientist and an outstanding organizer, administrator, and executive and who, at the same time, has an innate ability to "make friends and influence people" everywhere he goes is an exceptional personality at any time. And if such an individual can retain this combination of virtues during a great war despite the fact that the Government loaded him with enough work and responsibility for three such men. he is a most exceptional personality. And if he can keep his head and maintain an unfailing sense of humor during the trying war years and, while dealing with hundreds of jittery metallurgists and metalworkers, with Army and Navy brass, and with red-tape-entangled war agencies by the dozen, he is a rare personality indeed. Such a man is Clyde Williams, director of Battelle Memorial Institute. who will be President of AIME in 1947. The Institute is fortunate in having him as its mentor during what may be a critical and important year.

Jan 1, 1947

By Richard H. Mote, W. C. Schroeder

The endlessly changing pattern of mineral supply and demand offers opportunity to the alert and can bring disaster to the unwary. The discovery of ore bodies, the invention of extractive processes, the provision of new transport facilities, the political stabilization of underdeveloped areas, and many other changes can increase supply dramatically. Such new outpourings of mineral wealth from ore bodies bring fortunes to their developers, and consumers frequently find their competitive positions decidedly improved by new and cheap sources of supply. On the other hand, operators of marginal properties can find competition from newly opened high-grade mines intolerable. Consumers that have depended on the products of nearby, high-cost mines may find new, remote, low-cost supplies advantageous only to their competitors. The invention of new prospecting methods can have spectacular effects. Shortly after World War I the discovery rate of petroleum pools began to decline. The leading prospecting technique of that day, the projection downward of surface reflections of geologic structure, was proving less rewarding. Prophets foretold an oil shortage in the near future. But at that very moment scientists were perfecting the application of seismic waves to reveal underground oil-bearing geologic structures. As these geophysical methods were put into commercial use the whole outlook changed-the problem of the 1930's became how to cope with the surplus from discovery, not how to meet the ever rising demand. Many lead mines were being abandoned as unprofitable about this same time because the penalties charged by smelters for the zinc in the ores and concentrates more than counterbalanced the payments for lead and silver. Then selective flotation (at the time called differential flotation) appeared,

Jan 1, 1959

By Richard W. Brummett, Robert L. Dubms

Located some 180 miles east of Los Angeles in Riverside County, California, the Eagle Mountain mine supplies iron ore concentrates for the Kaiser Steel Corporation steel plant in Fontana, California, and for export to Japan. Although the deposits were first discovered in the early 1890's, no production was realized from the area until 1948 when Kaiser Steel Corporation commenced operations. A part of the large Basin and Range province, the Eagle Mountain area's geologic column comprises a thick series of metasediments resting on Precambrian gneisses and schists that have been intruded by sill-like masses of porphyritic quartz monzonite. The metasediments are composed of three quartzite units that are separated by a schistose meta-arkose and by two ore zones. They have been folded into a large east-west trending anticlinal structure that extends completely across the Eagle Mountains. The iron ore deposits occur in two well-defined horizons in the metasedimentary series, and they are found only along the north limb of the major anticline. Host rocks for the ore zones were a series of limestones and dolomites with associated quartzites. Magnetite plus pyrite comprised the primary mineralization that formed many replacement lenses and stringers of ore within the ore zones. The primary ore has been oxidized to hematite and goethite in a broad zone at higher elevations in the deposits. Hydrothermal alteration formed actinolite- tremolite granofels, local phlogopite, and minor tourmaline in the ore zones. This alteration and the ore deposition seem related to the same magmatic event that formed the porphyritic quartz monzonite intrusion

Jan 1, 1968