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By Frank W. Osterwald

Violent, spontaneous destruction of coal faces and ribs during, what are commonly called, bumps endangers and at times destroys life and property in mines of the Book Cliffs coalfield, Carbon County, Utah. Because these mines supply much of the coking coal for the West Coast steel industries, mining is necessary, although costs are high and operating conditions are very difficult at times. As operations continue, mining will go to greater depths, and the difficulties will increase. Whether or not mining can be continued successfully depends in part on whether or not incidence of bumps can be controlled successfully. For this reason, the U.S. Geological Survey, at the request of and in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, undertook a study of the Sunnyside No. 1 mine to determine what geologic factors were related to the incidence of bumps. This report presents the preliminary results of that study and indicates that some observable geologic features in the mine may be related directly or indirectly to bumps, and that other features may be used to infer stress distribution around workings that will aid in design of roof support measures. Coal is mined in the Sunnyside No. 1 mine from depths as great as 2500 ft by room-and-pillar methods. The surface topography is rugged with many steep cliffs and deep canyons, hence the load on the coal varies greatly within short distances. Much of the Sunnyside coal is under high stress, and while being mined, it shatters continuously' and falls from the face. Continuous shattering (bumping) makes mining easy, but if the shattering is interrupted, greater stress is built up and violent bumps may result when the coal is mined.

Jan 4, 1962

By Robert E. Green, Edmund G. Henneke

The velocities of the three possible modes of elastic wave propagation have been calculated for single-crystal copper at 1-deg intervals throughout the standard stereographic triangle. The results are presented as isospeed contours. The deviations between the direction of maximum energy flux and specimen axes are presented as arrows drawn on stereographic projections. The orientation factors associated with dislocation motion on the primary slip system only and also on all twelve slip systems have been calculated for all three elastic waves. The orientation factors associated with a longitudinal standing wave resonant specimen have also been calculated. The results of these calculatians are compared with earlier calculations on aluminum crystals and the relevance of these results to ultrasonic attenuation measurements is discussed. GREEN and inton' have recently outlined a procedure for determining the orientation factors for dislocation damping in single crystals. The stress field associated with a given mode of elastic wave propagation is resolved on the slip systems in which it is assumed the dislocations are vibrating due to this stress field. Since, at room temperature, slip has been observed on a limited number of systems in fcc and hcp metal crystals, it is assumed that these systems are the appropriate ones to use for the resolving process. This procedure has been applied to aluminum crystals by Hinton and hreen' and to zinc crystals by Henneke and Green.3 In the present paper the modes of elastic wave propagation have been calculated for copper crystals possessing orientations at 1-deg intervals throughout the standard stereographic triangle. The deviation of the energy flux vectors from the specimen axis have been calculated for each mode. The stress field associated with each mode has been resolved on the (111)(110) slip systems in order to determine the orientation factors for dislocation damping. MODES OF ELASTIC WAVE PROPAGATION For any direction in a linear homogeneous aniso-tropic material three elastic modes can be propagated. In general, each of these modes has both longitudinal and transverse particle displacements associated with it and thus are not "pure" modes. However, there is always one component which is greatest in either a longitudinal or transverse direction and hence the mode may be referred to as quasi-longitudinal or quasi-transverse, accordingly. For certain axes of high symmetry pure modes may be propagated. The phenomenon of refraction of the energy flux vector is also exhibited by elastic wave propagation in ani-

Jan 1, 1969

By D. T. MacRoberts

This paper embodies the results of theoretical studies concerning gas reservoirs, especially the effect of drilling programs of various intensities upon pressure depletion and ultimate recoveries. The primary objective has been to determine the net quantity of recoverable gas that could be obtained as a result of each additional well, in comparison with the gas . that might be secured from a single well ideally placed with respect to both acreage and geological structure. No method is yet known whereby the relative merits of intensive and sparse drilling can be compared experimentally; a reservoir must either be drilled closely or developed with wide spacing, but both programs cannot be conducted simultaneously. Hence, the analytical method seems to be the only approach to the problem. While the present state of our theoretical knowledge does not offer a precise solution to the problem of gas flow in sand bodies, it takes such appropriate cognizance of the limitations of the methods used as to restrict any answer obtained to the realm of engineering accuracy. In solving the problem for the average gas field, it was found that practically the same answers resulted as to pressure distribution, regardless of the size of the drainage radius, even though the latter was assumed to vary from a few feet as a minimum to that of the entire reservoir as a maximum. Such limits represent extreme possibilities; therefore, the practical conditions that are associated with normal development programs, in which wells are placed in the center of tracts varying in size from 40 to 640 acres, will of necessity result in less extreme variations than those indicated in the tables accompanying this paper. Stated more concisely, the amount of gas unrecovered at abandonment (of the particular field used for illustrative purposes) will lie somewhere between 4.6 and 6 per cent of the total original content, no matter how intensively the field is drilled. Gas reservoirs may be divided into two general types, those in which the energy is intrinsic, and those of which the energy is extrinsic. † The first type contains energy in the form of a compressed gas, which expands

Jan 1, 1938

By William Glenn

The taking of proper samples of crude ores seems to he less thoroughly understood, or less carefully practiced, than its impor tance requires. We all know how often we encounter the reports of very accurate assays and analyses, the weight of which as evidence wholly depends on the method of obtaining the sample, and is very probably nil, because there has been no proper sampling. Pissages might be cited from technical books, and from current technical literature (all the work of writers whom we delight to honor) to show that even among high scientific authorities there is too little acquaintance with the practical art of the sampler. There is no metallurgical or chemical establishment which does not frequently receive samples truly representing nothing. They consist usually of bits of ore, or what not, selected because they are worse or better than the average of what they are meant to represent. And they are worthless, no matter who made the selection. Where conscious choice is permitted to enter into the operation, a fair sample will not result, unless by a miracle. The work of sampling is often looked upon as within the realm of boys and of pensioners only. At least, though the manual labor be left to subordinates, the principles on which it is conducted and the safeguards with which it is surrounded are not unworthy of the study of experts; and experts should he ready to teach these principles and enforce them in practice. For exact sampling is the indispensable first step towards learning the value of any boxful, carload or shipload of ore. I propose to give a simple account of the method of sampling by hand, such as I have always pursued. There is nothing new about it. So far as I know, it is the immemorial old method, as old at least as Cornish copper-mining. Perhaps my fellow-members in the Institute may suggest improvements in it. If not, it will constitute a record in our Transactions to which laymen and beginners may be referred.

Jan 1, 1892

By Sidney A. Swensrud

About a year ago, I attempted in a general way to trace the origin and development of some of the marketing problems of the petroleum industry, and to describe certain trends which it then seemed possible to foresee. To summarize briefly, it was pointed out that the consumption of gasoline, after increasing for more than a decade at an almost unbelievable rate, was slowing down, but that the two factors which determine the supply of gasoline —-namely, the production of crude oil and the percentage of gasoline derived therefrom—were tending steadily to mount. It was suggested that, while the increase in gasoline outlets began with and probably was justified at the start by the rapidly increasing demand, long after all reasonable requirements as to number of outlets had been met the number continued to increase—if anything, at a still more rapid rate—because by that time the overproduction of crude had begun to exert an impelling urge upon the owners of that crude to seek assured outlets for it in the form of gasoline. As more and more companies became integrated all the way from crude oil to marketing, there took place an ever-increasing competition among them, not only for the existing outlets but for new ones. The wide margin between wholesale cost and retail price, which is characteristic of the early stages of most new industries, persisted in the oil industry longer than in most industries, for various reasons. The existence of that wide margin provided in large measure the means of attracting new outlets, for as the gallonage per outlet declined with the increasing number of outlets, competing companies simply offered the dealers a larger part of the total margin. The very nature of competition suggests that such a process would continue until practically all of the available margin was thus given away, and such was clearly the tendency. It was a system that in turn produced increasing marketing expense per gallon on account of the diluted gallonage per outlet; this increased expense might seem to have provided a justification for continuing wide margins. Economics, like its parent, nature, however, progresses by mutations and so began to throw out new types of marketers, in the form of tank-car service stations, cut-price jobbers, and the like—heretics or

Jan 1, 1932

By G. R. Mansfield

THE third year of Government exploration f or potash by the U. S. Geological Survey and-the U. S. Bureau of Mines under the authorization of the act approved June 25, 1926 (Public 424-69th Cong.) is drawing to a close. The results thus far obtained are thought to be sufficiently interesting and satisfactory to justify the presentation of a brief preliminary account of the work. REVIEW OF EARLIER EXPLORATION The general geologic similarity of the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico to the potash field of Germany had long ago suggested the possibility of the presence of potash salts somewhere in that basin, but petroleum exploration was then making little headway there and the necessary data could not be obtained. The discovery by Udden in 1912 of potash in brine from the Spur well in Dickens County, Texas, was the first direct evidence of its presence. In 1915-17 the U. S. Geological Survey drilled a test well with standard tools at Cliff side near Amarillo, but failed to find potash. Nevertheless, an observer has been kept in the field, at first in cooperation with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology but since 1922 by the Survey alone, to `secure data and samples from oil and gas tests. Since the discovery of oil in Reagan County in 1923 exploration by drilling has been rapidly extended to many parts of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The identification of the potash-bearing mineral polyhalite was first announced by the Geological Survey in June, 1921, the material having come from cuttings from the Bryant well in Midland County and the Burns well in Dawson County, Texas. Successive discoveries and announcements of similar purport aroused widespread interest in potash exploration, which culminated in the action by Congress already noted.

Jan 1, 1929

By V. H. Wilhelm

The trend initiated in January 1936, of stabilized gasoline prices, increased demand and extraordinary drilling activity, continued in California during the year 1937. Crude prices were maintained during the year at the highest level since September 1930. Wildcat activity with resultant new discoveries and development of proven acreage were greater than in any year since 1928. Many fields in California in former years have been produced at full capacity, with consequent loss of reservoir energy, but at the present time continued activity is maintained to develop adequate reserves, so that production in these fields can be taken at a rate to correspond with good operating practice. Naturally, this good operating practice will be influenced to some degree by gas outlets and, in certain instances perhaps, by oil outlets. In any event, these last two controlling features will result in favorable rather than detrimental operation. In fields producing from great depths, ultimate production will be practically limited to the flowing and compressor life of the well, since there is as yet no economical method for pumping wells below depths of approximately 7000 ft. Experience has shown, however, that such pumping difficulties will be overcome and that production secured by pumping will add some to reserves established on the flowing life of the wells. California continued to operate under voluntary curtailment, but with unlimited transfers of allowable between various fields. Even though there was at all times considerable production above the Umpire's established quota, a constantly increasing demand reduced storage during the year. This increasing demand was due mainly to the rapid rise in Pacific foreign shipments from May to September. It is questionable, however, whether this favorable condition will be maintained over a prolonged period. (See Fig. 1.) Field Discoveries The great drilling activity during the year resulted in the discovery of three new fields in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as many extensions

Jan 1, 1938

By Fred W. Gordon

Apart from the character of pig-iron to be manufactured, other than that it shall be well reduced and open-grained, the selection of the materials should be such as to produce it at the lowest cost. As a rule, the sources of fuels and limestones are not so extensively varied as those of the ores. Many Eastern furnaces are now using Lake Superior ores, and but recently a part of the supply came from foreign ports. It is, however, of the highest importance that the character of fuels and limestones, as well as ores, should be carefully considered in determining their value and making judicious selection among those available. The formulas here offered are based upon the assumption that the heat-requirements for a given mixture are measured by a constant required by the oxide of iron, added to that required for a unit of slag, multiplied by the weight of that slag per unit of iron. The heat-requirements for oxide of iron per unit of pig-iron made are assumed to be 2854 centigrade units. This is taken from the careful analysis of Sir Lowthian Bell, and, so far as the writer is able to determine, is very nearly correct. Dividing this by the quantity of heat that may be evolved and utilized within the furnace per unit of carbon, determines the quantity of carbon required per unit of pigiron ; and if to this be added the quantity of carbon absorbed by the pig-iron, the total requirements in carbon are determined, on the assumption that pure oxide of iron is reduced with pure carbon by the ordinary process of the blast-furnace. Calculating the quantity of slag that would be made from a given mixture of ores, smelted with a given impure fuel and fluxed with a given impure limestone, multiplying this weight of slag by the heat-requirements of its unit (taken at 1050 C. H. U.), and dividing the product by the heat-units evolved and utilized within the furnace per unit of carbon, will determine the quantity of carbon required per unit of pig-iron for the slag.

Jan 1, 1893

By M. Kitada, U. Kawabe, F. Ishida, T. Doi

The relations between micros tructures and critical current density in transverse magnetic field were experimentally investigated due to each transformation of the 0 to 0' + P" phases at 700' C for superconductmainly examined using replication electron microscopy. The ß' or a precipitates were found to pin down magnetic flux lines in these alloys. The effects of precipitation upon the critical current density were discussed in relation with the size, spacing, and characler of these precipitates. HIGH magnetic field superconductors, such as Nb-Zr, Nb-Ti, and Nb-Zr-Ti alloys, have been recently put to extensive practical use as winding materials for superconducting magnets.13 The critical current density of these hard superconductors under an applied magnetic field is an important characteristic for magnet materials and is very sensitive to metallurgical structure. It is generally known that the critical current density is increased by introducing dislocations and precipitates into a superconductor; that is, dislocations and precipitates are presumed to be barriers that hinder quantized flux lines from moving.4'5 Theoretical6'7 and experimental analyses of the motion of flux lines and the interaction between flux lines and various defects have already been reported by many authors. Metallographic analysis of high magnetic field superconductors such as Nb-Zr and Nb-Ti is difficult, so that no quantitative relationship between microstruc-ture and critical current density has been established yet. In this paper, the effect of precipitation on the critical current density in magnetic field was investigated for two superconducting alloys, Nb-40Zr-10Ti and Nb-5Zr-60Ti. In these alloys the resistive critical field H, at 4.2oK was about 100 kG and the critical current density Jc at 80 kG was of the order of 104 amp per sq cm.13-l5 The superconducting properties were examined in relation to the microstructural changes due to transformation of i) the ß to ß' + ß" phases at 700°C for Nb-40Zr-10Ti alloy and ii) the ß to a + ß phases at 500°C for Nb-5Zr-6OTi alloy. The effect of size, spacing, and character of precipitates on flux line pinning was in particular examined. The microstructures were studied by means of residual resistivity, microhardness, and tensile strength measurements as well as by X-ray diffraction, optical, and replication electron microscopies. I) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Pure niobium, zirconium, and titanium, in the form of rods 0.8 cm in diam, served as raw materials. Results of chemical analyses of these rods are given in Table I. Ingots of the alloys, 0.4 cm in diam and 3 cm in length, were prepared by means of levitation melting, utilizing a copper mold in an argon-gas atmosphere. Samples from the ingot then were cold-worked by grooved mill to 0.2 cm in diam, heat-treated homogeneously (in the ß phase region) for 5 hr at 1100° in a vacuum of 1 x 106 Torr, and finally cold-drawn to 0.025 cm in diam. For heat treatments, samples were wrapped in niobium foil and sealed in an argon-gas atmosphere in fused quartz capsules. Water quenching was done after each heat treatment. Subsequently H-J, were performed at 4.2° by slowly transporting the current through the samples 4 cm long, under transverse magnetic field, until the least detectable resistive terminal voltage was observed. The resistive critical field H, was taken as the field at which 100 pv appeared at 4.2°K across a sample 3 cm in length, with a current of 5 ma. The critical temperature T, was measured by means of a conventional four-probe resistivity technique and taken as the temperature at which the sample resistance reached one-half of full restoration of the normal-state resistance with a current l ma flowing through a sample 2 cm in length. Precipitates were observed by means of optical microscopy and carbon replication electron microscopy. The etching solution consisted of 5 ml HF, 10 ml H2SO4 10 ml H2O2, and 50 ml H2O, and shadowed carbon replicas were examined in a itachi HU-11 electron microscope operated at 50 kv. X-ray diffraction photographs were taken by a 11.46-cm-diam Debye-Scher-rer camera using copper Ka radiation. The micro-hardness was measured under a load of 200 g using

Jan 1, 1969

By David R. Maneval, Sylvester Lemezis

All acid mine drain waters, regardless of source, share certain characteristics; but they do differ in exact chemical composition, degree of acidity, and total solids content. Any serious program to treat such waters must recognize these differences and apply to each specific case the technique which offers the best promise of each specific case the technique which offers the best promise of technical and economic success. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Mines and Mineral Industries has originated and funded studies of many different treatment means. Neutralization with lime is now being used on 200 different polluted streams in Pennsylvania, and multistage flash evaporation has been selected for a particularly large and troublesome outfall near Wilkes-Barre, Pa. A 5 x 106 gpd plant for this latter site is now being designed by Westinghouse Electric Corp. which developed a concentration process based on multistage flash evaporation as part of the State's research program.

Jan 1, 1973

By A. S. Malicsi, R. J. Lipp, I. Iwasaki

A loch-grade copper-nickel deposit, with an estimated 4.6 Gt (5 billion st) and average analyses of 0.6% copper, 0.2% nickel, occurs in northeastern Minnesota. In addition to copper, nickel, cobalt, and precious metals, the Duluth gabbro contains magnetite, ilmenite, olivine, plagioclase, and biotite. It u estimated that flotation tailings that would be produced by a concentrator of optimal size to sustain a smelter would amount to 20 Mt/a (22 million stpy). The flotation tailings, having already been ground, warrant a closer examination for recovery and use of potential byproducts. Residual sulfide minerals and fibrous minerals may also be isolated and treated separately for useful purposes or for disposal in an environmentally acceptable manner. Two flowsheets were developed; one involving preconcentration by low- and high-intensity magnetic separation and another involving preconcentration by gravity concentration. Concentration methods for recovering and purifying individual byproduct minerals were investigated. From their chemical, physical, and mineralogical characteristics, the potential areas of application and marketabilities of each product fraction were surveyed.

Jan 1, 1985

By L. O. Howard

TWO or three years ago there were submitted to me some reports of tests that had been made on a semi-oxidized ore of silver looking to its treat-ment by combined flotation and cyanidation, together with a sample of the ore, with a request that I check the tests and confirm them, if possible. These tests had been made by a machinery-supply house and with them was a flow-sheet for a proposed mill, with full details of equipment to be used in the mill. The limited data on which this was based at once attracted my attention and have caused me from time to time to put various groups of students at work to develop simpler methods of obtaining data, which it appeared should be at hand and could be obtained by simple tests before attempting to treat these ores commercially. A brief discussion of the working out of such methods may be of interest and may contribute somewhat to the de-velopment of better testing methods for the small operator who has not at his command a staff of metallurgists. Of several tests on samples of varying assay and mineralogical composition, by cyanidation alone, by flotation alone, and, by combinations of the two, the following report was perhaps the most complete and may well serve as a typical example: METALLURGICAL TEST REPORT Silver Mines Co. Semi-oxidized Ore Procedure: Ore ground to 65 mesh, given flotation treat-ment using pine oil and potassium xanthate. Flotation tailing was thickened and given cyaniding agitation in solution strength of 5 lb. cyanide per ton and 2 lb. lime per ton.

Jan 12, 1927

By Walter Knox, J. D. Doherty

In 1939, at the request of The Koppers Coal Co., the Koppers Company Research Department established a Stoker Coal Research Laboratory for the purpose of investigating the performance characteristics of stoker coals in typical domestic stoker installations. Fig. I is a photograph of part of the laboratory. The material in this paper deals with the performance of one coal in a single installation. Presented are details of this installation, mechanical characteristics of the stoker, and the results of a series of burning tests in which adjustments were systematically varied. Summary OF Results Mechanical Features I. A large percentage of the total power consumed by a domestic stoker is used to operate the gear case and motor (Fig. 3)- 2' The power consumption per ton goes down with an increase in rate of coal feed (Fig. 4). 3. The automatic air control in this stoker showed advantages Over manual control (Fig. 5). 4. The air velocities through the retort tuyeres were uniform around the retort, but varied between the rows of tuyere rings (Fig. 6). 5. The crushing of coal with this stoker increased the minus 1/8-in. from 11.6 per cent to 19.2 per cent. There was a notice- able segregation of coal as it came from the retort and distribution was not uniform (Fig. 7). 6. Measurement of air entering over the fire showed that with some not uncommon adjustments this air may be a high percentage of the total air supply (Fig. 8 and Table I). Operating Performance ,. The, removal of clinker was shown to give a period of poor performance characterized by a high fuel-bed resistance and a high percentage of carbon monoxide in the flue gases (Fig. 10). 2. The fuel-bed resistance was found to decrease as the fuel bed built up in a normal response to heat demand after a prolonged hold-fire (Fig. II). 3. with intermittent operation the burning rate was almost always less than the feeding rate, The wide variations were found to be greatly dependent upon the length of the On period and the length of the intervals between On periods (Fig. 12). 4. The maintenance of a low furnace draft led to less fly ash, better clinker formation, and higher efficiencies (Fig. 13). 5. The maintenance of a minimum of excess air also resulted in less fly ash, better clinker formation, and higher efficiencies (Fig. 14). Guiding Principles In planning the investigations, the following principles were adopted: Selection of Heating Equipment.—Use only standard models of stokers and furnaces representative of those widely used.

Jan 1, 1942

By Walter Knox, J. D. Doherty

In 1939, at the request of The Koppers Coal Co., the Koppers Company Research Department established a Stoker Coal Research Laboratory for the purpose of investigating the performance characteristics of stoker coals in typical domestic stoker installations. Fig. I is a photograph of part of the laboratory. The material in this paper deals with the performance of one coal in a single installation. Presented are details of this installation, mechanical characteristics of the stoker, and the results of a series of burning tests in which adjustments were systematically varied. Summary OF Results Mechanical Features I. A large percentage of the total power consumed by a domestic stoker is used to operate the gear case and motor (Fig. 3)- 2' The power consumption per ton goes down with an increase in rate of coal feed (Fig. 4). 3. The automatic air control in this stoker showed advantages Over manual control (Fig. 5). 4. The air velocities through the retort tuyeres were uniform around the retort, but varied between the rows of tuyere rings (Fig. 6). 5. The crushing of coal with this stoker increased the minus 1/8-in. from 11.6 per cent to 19.2 per cent. There was a notice- able segregation of coal as it came from the retort and distribution was not uniform (Fig. 7). 6. Measurement of air entering over the fire showed that with some not uncommon adjustments this air may be a high percentage of the total air supply (Fig. 8 and Table I). Operating Performance ,. The, removal of clinker was shown to give a period of poor performance characterized by a high fuel-bed resistance and a high percentage of carbon monoxide in the flue gases (Fig. 10). 2. The fuel-bed resistance was found to decrease as the fuel bed built up in a normal response to heat demand after a prolonged hold-fire (Fig. II). 3. with intermittent operation the burning rate was almost always less than the feeding rate, The wide variations were found to be greatly dependent upon the length of the On period and the length of the intervals between On periods (Fig. 12). 4. The maintenance of a low furnace draft led to less fly ash, better clinker formation, and higher efficiencies (Fig. 13). 5. The maintenance of a minimum of excess air also resulted in less fly ash, better clinker formation, and higher efficiencies (Fig. 14). Guiding Principles In planning the investigations, the following principles were adopted: Selection of Heating Equipment.—Use only standard models of stokers and furnaces representative of those widely used.

Jan 1, 1942

By A. B. Boghani, R. H. Trent

A computer program has been developed to simulate evacuation of a mine in various configurations. The simulation input variables include characteristics of the mine, expressed in the form of a network of passages, properties of hoists and hoisting strategies, initial miner positions, ventilation and compressed air velocities, stench warning system and self rescuer capabilities. The simulation can be carried out for cases in which there is no fire, i.e., fire drill simulation, or for cases in which there is a fire at any arbitrary location. The fire is assumed to generate gases which impede movement of miners in the gaseous region. However, the thermal effects of the fire are not considered. The simulation output include the evacuation time for each miner, movement of the hoists, propagation of smoke through the mine passages and smoke exposure of the miners. Several illustrative simulations have been carried out to verify validity of the program and to demonstrate its capabilities. The computer program has been able to predict evacuation time, within 5 percent, for an actual fire drill. It is believed that this program can be used to evaluate evacuation performance of a mine, identify problem areas and demonstrate improvements due to the recommended corrective actions.

Jan 1, 1977

By George Stern

THE purpose of this investigation has been to study one method for making ordinary carbon steel by the powder metallurgy technique. This method con- [ ] sists of pressing and subsequently sintering an intimate mixture of iron powder and graphite in a suitable atmosphere to produce a steel. Two types of iron powder have been studied, electrolytic and reduced. The sintering of mixtures of loose carbonyl iron and carbon black for several hours at 1000° to 1100°C. (1830° to 2010°F.), followed by forging of the resultant ingots to bars, has been studied by Offermann.1 Trail' has reported on the properties of hydrogen-reduced and electrolytic iron powders, both containing 0.5 per cent carbon. Methods for making steel bodies by powder metallurgy have also been sug- [ ] gested by Goetzel,3 who recommends the addition of steel powder of well-defined carbon content to pure iron powder, and Volterra,4 who suggests compaction and subsequent sintering of a mixture of steel powder, iron oxide and iron powder. Additional methods for making steel bodies by powder metallurgy have been reported in the literature by Koehring,5 Allen,6 Balke,7 Wulff,8 Boegehold,9 and others. 10,11,12 It is felt that the method of pressing iron powder and graphite, as described herein, lends itself best to production because of the lubricating action of the

Jan 1, 1946

By Roderick K. Davey

Introduction in any business, it is essential that we select those alternatives which are not only technically feasible, but will be the most profitable to the business m terms of corporate objectives Some of the studies and activities requiring support of financial analysis to select the alternatives which most closely satisfy the management objectives and technical considerations are as follows 1 ) Cutoff grade determination. 2) Ore reserve estimation. 3) Production forecasts (long- and short-term) for an operating mine, development of a new mine, or expansion of an existing mine. 4) Evaluation of haulage alternatives. 5) Evaluation of equipment.

Jan 1, 1979

By Alwyn Birchmore Cox, Ian William Wark

In defending the chemical theory of flotation, Taggart, del Giudice and Ziehl have criticized1 the views of those who prefer to attribute the effects of certain flotation agents to adsorption. Perhaps with some justification, they describe the latter term as the "haven of refuge of writers lost in a morass of shaky experiment and muddy thinking." We prefer to regard it, however, as a haven of refuge for writers who seek a conventional term to describe the formation of films of flotation reagents on solid surfaces, because in many cases it is not yet possible to specify the forces that hold them there. Originally, as Taggart and his associates state, adsorption connoted a concentration difference and nothing more. In recent years, workers in the field of surface chemistry have tacitly added other meanings, and they now speak of orientated adsorption of unimolecular films on a solid sub-strate, of chemi-adsorption, and of exchange adsorption. Thus the term adsorption may connote simply the Gibbs layer of excess concentration at the surface of a solution, or a unimolecular film at the surface of a solid. Perhaps this has led to the misunderstanding of Taggart, del Giudice and Ziehl concerning the relationship between surface tension and adsorption at solid surfaces. The change in "surface tension" accompanying adsorption at a liquid surface can be used as a measure of the adsorption, and the Gibbs equation as quoted by these authors correlates these two conceptions. But, to correlate two conceptions docs not necessarily imply an attempt to explain either, although sometimes such an "explanation" is carelessly inferred. Use of "surface energy per unit area" instead of the numerically equal but more difficult and less definite conception of "surface tension per unit length " would lessen many of the present difficulties. (Compare with Adam.2) At interfaces involving a solid phase, neither '" surface tension " nor " interfacial tension "can have any meaning, but the conception "interfacial energy per unit area" call be understood by anyone who is familiar with the concept of free energy. While it is true that surface energy cannot be directly measured at a solid surface,

Jan 1, 1939

By James Norman, Benjamin S. Lindsey

Barite (BaSO4) is the most important industrial barium mineral from the standpoint of quantity consumed. In 1938 the amount was 365,000 tons. Its uses are numerous, some of the more important being in the production of pigments, as an inert filler in a wide variety of products, as a weighting material in oil-well drilling muds, in the manufacture of some binds of glass, and in the production of barium chemicals. The barite studied in this investigation occurs as the massive variety in a shale replacement formation near Magnet Cove, Ark. It is intimately mixed with quartz and small amounts of iron oxide and residual shale. Complete liberation of barite and quartz is not obtained when the rock is ground to I00 per cent through 325 mesh. The crude rock with which all test work was done assayed 85.1 per cent BaS04, II.II. per cent SiO2, and 2.85 per cent R2O3. Its specific gravity was 4.03. It was found in the course of the investigation that the barite contained a small amount of uniformly distributed carbonaceous material, so intimately dispersed that it could not be seen with the microscope, but gave a definite gray cast to the barite concentrates. The color of the barite in polished sections of the crude rock ranged from gray to almost black, while finely ground powder was a reddish gray. The reddish hue was due to the iron oxide present. In 1939, under the supervision of Oliver C. Ralston,* the Bureau of Mines, in cooperation with the Milwhite Company, of Houston, Texas, undertook to study the flotation of barite from Magnet Cove, Ark. Flotation of several southern barite ores had already been investigated by the Bureau of Mines.' The Magnet Cove barite was unique, however, in that it had to be ground to such an extremely small particle size for liberation. The flotation of non-metallic minerals in the presence of a large amount of slime is usually very difficult, and when done is an innovation calling for conditions different from those under which granular material is separated. Laboratory Flotation Work Preliminary investigation showed that the flotation reagents recommended by O'Meara and Coel for separating barite and siliceous material were suitable, but much larger quantities of reagents were required to separate such finely divided material. Moreover, it was found that careful control of the frothing was necessary. When oleic acid and sodium silicate were used a voluminous froth was observed at the beginning of a test, and toward the end there was not enough froth to effect complete recovery of barite. The addition of pine oil as a frother gave proper frothing for the duration of the test, and the substitution of coconut fatty acid (crude lauric acid) for oleic acid produced a more heavily burdened froth. Two different paper-mill fatty-acid products were tested

Jan 1, 1943

By Walter H. Bucher

This symposium is designed to lay the basis for a general discussion of the place of geophysics in the training of geologists. As there is danger that in the ensuing debate individual interests may be given emphasis out of proportion to their place, we shall do well to view the whole field of geological inquiry in order to see the problem in true perspective. The Nature of Geological Inquiry "Basic" and "Complex" Sciences It is convenient to divide all science into two major divisions, the basic and the complex sciences. The basic sciences separate out from reality such entities as "substances" and "movements," describe their behavior in terms of arbitrary units of measurement and derive from them by progressive abstractions concepts and patterns of behavior that exist between them, so-called general "laws" and "properties" of nature. The complex sciences, on the other hand, deal, with little or no abstraction, with those objects of reality that are accessible to man in the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere. Their work comprises two types of inquiry. One is concerned with abstractions to the extent of dealing with types rather than individuals—that is, with such things as plants, animals, protoplasm; clouds, streams, gla- ciers; volcanoes and mountain ranges. It comprises the search for general properties and patterns of behavior or "laws" that characterize the objects and their reactions to each other. These properties and laws apply always, everywhere. They are independent of the stream of time. We may call the results of this sort of inquiry timeless knowledge. The other type of inquiry is concerned with the objects themselves—that is, with this animal and that plant; this river system and that mountain chain; this glacier and that valley. Like all concrete objects in nature, they are subject to change with the passage of time, especially when it is measured in years, centuries, eons. The characteristics by which we recognize them —indeed, their very existence—are dependent on their position at this point in the stream of time. This we may call time-bound kntowledge. The so-called descriptive sciences are all bound to the past of which the objects of their study are the product and through which alone their present properties call be understood. They are historical sciences. This obvious fact is easily overlooked, which leads to serious misunderstanding, as we shall see later. Dynamic Geology With this broad picture in mind, let us now examine the nature of geological inquiry, defining, for the purposes of this discussion, geology as the science of rocks. Air is not a rock; water is. Meteorology and climatology are, correspondingly, gen-

Jan 1, 1946