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By K. N. Weaver

In the early 1950's the cement industry began putting a new emphasis on geology. This article points up some of the industry's raw materials problems that geologists are uniquely qualified to handle. Portland cement can be made from relatively abundant industrial minerals and rocks, and this may explain why cement producers placed little emphasis on geology during the early days of the industry. After World War 11, however, the industry began to recognize the need for geological exploration and some of the larger companies began to build a permanent geological staff. This development has its roots in: 1) The rapid expansion of the industry. After World War II and continuing into the early 1950's the demand for cement far exceeded the production capacity. This placed a great deal of pressure on the producers to enlarge capacity at their plants and to develop new sites. 2) The closing of many cement plants due to inadequate raw materials. Producers feared lack of raw materials due to inadequate exploration and evaluation. 3) An ever increasing pressure for upgrading of the quality of portland cement, necessitated upgrading the quality of raw materials. 4) The increasingly large capital investment needed to build new cement plants required a higher degree of accuracy in reserve calculation. These reasons are more or less self explanatory and will not be elaborated on. They are outlined to illustrate the probable evolution of thought among cement management to justify the development of a geological staff. In the author's personal experience the geologist must continually readjust to changing conditions within the industry. For example, cement production capacity grew so rapidly that today production is only about 70% to 75% of rated capacity (73.8% in 1963). Therefore, whereas the geologist's function during the active expansion of capacity was primarily one of exploration, one of his major functions today is the development of existing reserves. This assumes of course that reserves at existing plants have been proven to be adequate in terms of the company's reserve policy. Through the proper development of raw materials, the geologist can markedly influence quality control, production and long range planning. Examples of several of the operations of Medusa Portland Cement Co. will illustrate how proper attention to geologic detail pays off in the above areas. Because limestone is the major raw material of port-land cement, the examples will be concerned with it. DEVELOPMENT OF GEOLOGIC DETAIL One of the prime objectives of an exploration or development project should be the establishment of the stratigraphy and structure of the deposit. The basic tool for exploration and development is still the core drill, and the geologist must gain a maximum amount of information from a minimum amount of drilling. In order to obtain this objective the following is essential: 1) Adequate detailed geologic logging of cores. The core is first logged and separated into lithologically distinct units. In order to make the lithologic breaks as meaningful as possible, representative pieces of core (not all) are etched in dilute HCI. This removes the "drill polish", brings out the structure of the rock and indicates the proportion of dolomite and argillaceous material because dolomite and argillaceous material etch in relief. In this way the lithologic breaks become clearer and one gains a general idea of the chemical makeup before analysis. This method of logging lessens the probability of including two types of stone, e.g. limestone and dolomite into the same sample for chemical analysis. 2) Representative sampling for chemical analysis. After logging, the lithologic units are sampled for chemical analysis. A representative analysis can be obtained by extracting a 1-in. sample for every foot of core. For example, a lithologic interval of 10 ft to 20 ft would yield ten 1-in. samples taken at 11 ft, 12 ft, 13 ft... and 20 ft. These samples are then crushed, pulverized and split into a sample for chemical analysis. This sampling method represents a significant saving of time over splitting the entire core. 3) Preparing the core as a record. Because of the expense of storage and the difficulty of handling large amounts of core, only representative samples of each lithologic unit are saved for reference. An

Jan 1, 1965

By J. S. Owens, R. W. Marsden, J. W. Emanuelson, R. F. Werner, N. E. Walker

The iron ores of the Mesabi Range occur in a 340 to 750-foot thick, Precambrian cherty iron formation termed "taconite." For about 65 years, extensive natural iron ore bodies were mined, and the ores either shipped as a direct ore or processed by gravity methods to a shipping grade iron ore. Since 1956, magnetite taconite ores, occurring in magnetite-rich horizons in the Biwabik iron formation, have been commercially concentrated and agglomerated. The transition from natural ores to concentrating-grade ores is progressing rapidly so that, in the near future, a major percentage of the iron ore shipped from the Mesabi Range will be as iron ore pellets produced from taconite. Natural iron ores of the Mesabi Range occur in the Biwabik formation as trough ore bodies in elongated channels and as irregular and tabular deposits in fractured areas associated with faults and folds. Ore bodies range in size from a few thousand tons to hundreds of millions of tons and may occur in any part of the iron formation. In some areas of strong ore development, ore was formed from the hanging-wall argillite to the footwall quartzite. The natural ores and beneficiating-grade natural crude ores were formed by the oxidation of the iron minerals, magnetite, greenalite, stilpnomelane, minnesotaite, and siderite, to hematite and goethite and by the removal of much of the silica in the cherty quartz and in the associated silicates by leaching. The ores are believed to have formed by the oxidizing and leaching action of surface waters. Magnetite taconite ores occur as stratigraphic zones in the Biwabik formation where it contains sufficient magnetite to be concentrated profitably, by magnetic methods, to give a magnetite concentrate that is agglomerated into a high quality product. Unoxidized taconite has an extensive distribution away from and between channels of oxidation and leaching but only a part of the unoxidized taconite is of ore grade. Two general types of magnetite taconite ore occur: ( 1) magnetite taconite of the Main Mesabi Range, generally west of Mesaba, which is composed of magnetite associated with cherty quartz, greenalite, stilpnomelane, minnesotaite, and carbonates and (2) magnetite taconite of the Eastern Mesabi, generally east of Mesaba, composed of magnetite associated with quartz, cummingtonite, actinolite, ferrohypersthene, hedenbergite, fayalite, hornblende, pyroxene, garnet, and biotite. The Mesabi taconite is a metasediment derived from an iron- and silica-rich chemical sediment that has been regionally metamorphosed and, on the eastern end, additionally metamorphosed by the Duluth Gabbro Complex.

Jan 1, 1968

By C. L. Clark

EVERY user of steel should ask himself whether or not he is taking full advantage of the discoveries of the steel metallurgists during the last few years, or is merely buying grades that looked to be the best five or ten years ago for various specific purposes and have since proved perfectly satisfactory in his plant. If he has not kept abreast of the times, then it is probable that something better has been developed, or something just as good that costs less. Though this article will have to do with steel for high-temperature applications primarily, marked advances have been made in steels for other purposes as well.

Jan 1, 1940

By Joseph Pogue

THE writer visited the Muzo emerald mines in July, 1915, and spent six days in their study. This paper embodies the results of his observations, plus information personally communicated by Robert Scheibe, FIG. 1.-SKETCH MAP SHOWING APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS OF ALL IMPORTANT EMERALD MINES AND PROSPECTS IN COLOMBIA. (Data in part supplied by Robert Scheibe, July, 1915.) Professor of Geology in the Mining Academy of Berlin, who at the time of the visit was completing a detailed field investigation of nearly a year's duration of the emerald deposits of Colombia. An elaborate account of this valuable work may be expected at a future date from the pen of Professor Scheibe.

Jan 5, 1916

By H. W. Morse

THE CHAIRMAN (H. W. MORSE).-Gentlemen, for the first time in the history of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, we have a full session on the subject of leaching-especially on the leaching of copper ores.. This branch of metallurgy is rather in its infancy. We have had one big plant running for a year or more, and pretty successfully; and another one which will be started in February or March, the New Cornelia. We have another one at Garfield for the Utah company, which is just designed and construction begun; and from several other points come reports of interesting test work. The first paper on the program this evening is one of some of the test work on the New Cornelia ore by myself and Mr. H. A. Tobelmann. LAWRENCE ADDICKS, New York, N. Y. (written discussion).-The Ajo proposition has had, as I understand it, two great advantages: it has not been obliged to measure leaching against flotation or some other metallurgical process, and it deals with a copper content high enough

Jan 12, 1916

For the year ending February, 1919 PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS L. D. RICKETTS NEW YORK, N. Y. PHILIP N. MOORE ST. Louis, Mo. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT C. W. GOODALE BUTTE, MONT. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 12, 1918

For the year ending February, 1919 PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS L. D. RICKETTS NEW YORK, N. Y. PHILIP N. MOORE ST. Louis, MO. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT C. W. GOODALE BUTTE, MONT. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY EMERITUS ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY BRADLEY STOUGHTON NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 4, 1918

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS GENTLEMEN: Herewith are submitted the report of the Treasurer for the year 1936 and the reports for the same year of the following committees: Admis¬sions, Membership, Papers and Publications, Library, Student Relations, and MINING AND METALLURGY. To these reports you are referred for details of the year's activities. Finances.-Income for the year was $173,091 including an appropria¬tion of $2500 from the Rocky Mountain Fund earmarked to defray expense for official visits to western Sections and student societies. This compares with $141,754 in 1935 and exceeds by more than $50,000 the income of 1933 wherein the low point during the depression was reached. The major items of increase were: $6,700 from current dues; $10,600 in initiation fees and dues of newly enrolled members; $10,800 from the monthly magazine MINING AND METALLURGY. Sundry small declines were offset by minor increases. Expenditures for the year totaled $176,007 compared with $148,361 in 1935. Major increases were $5,700 for MINING AND METALLURGY; $4,000 for TRANSACTIONS and TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS; $1,500 for meetings; $1,300 for Local Section appropriations; $6,500 for Technical Division expense; $5,000 for Increase of Membership expense; and $2,500 for visits to Local Sections and educational institutions. Comment on several of these items will appear under subsequent heads. Net deficit for the year was $2,915, this sum being made up from the accumulated surplus. It is interesting to observe that the net excess of income over outgo for the five-year period 1932-1936, inclusive, is $760. Membership and Dues.-During the year there was a net gain in membership, including Members, Associates, Junior Members and Junior Foreign Affiliates of 755 (from 7116 to 7871). In addition there was a gain of 616 in Student Associates (from 1004 to 1620). Taking account of small losses totaling 5 in the other grades, the net increase was 1366 bringing the total to 9607, the highest figure reached in the history of the Institute except at the end of 1921 when the total was 9850. In part the gain is accounted for by the smaller number lost by suspension

Jan 1, 1937

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 AIME AIME

A DOCUMENT of progress and of great interest to engineers is the report of the Military Affairs Committee of 'the Engineering Council, which has just been accepted and sent to the secretary of War. It provides .a plan whereby civilian engineers holding commissions in the Reserve Corps may; with their con- sent, be called into service of the army during peace at any time, either with troops in the field or in a consulting capacity on any government engineering work. The Military Affairs Committee finds ample authority in the military bill passed by Congress on June 4, 1920, for this arrangement and also for extending the privilege to military engineer, officer-s of the regular army to engage in civilian work during times of peace. It is hoped that the Secretary of War will adopt the suggestions and put the program outlined into effect. This is a constructive piece of work comparable to the efforts of the military Committee before the war which developed so much in the way of preparedness, particularly in the program of military lectures which, held in the auditorium in the Engineering Societies Building, became so popular that each lecture had

Jan 1, 1920

By J. J. Jonas, J. L. Uvira

Equipment was constructed which permitted the hot compression of 99.8 pct Armco iron and 2.8 pct Si steel at constant true strain rates of 0.05 to 1 per sec over the temperature range 600" to 1000°C. A maximum true strain of 1.9 could be attained, followed by immediate quenching or by isothermal annealing. True stress-true strain curves were obtained, and the steady-state flout stress, a, strain rate, i, and temperature, T, were found to fit the following expression: The constants A, a, n', and AH were determined for the two ,materials. The activation energies obtained for Arrnco iron and silicon steel are 66 and 80 kcal per mole, respectively, and approximate those for seu- diffusion and for creep. This indicates that hot compression is a diffusion-controlled thermally activated process. THE hot compression of iron and steel is usually carried out in the austenite temperature range,1"7 as this is the one of greatest interest with respect to industrial hot working. However, a disadvantage of testing in the austenite range is that the hot-worked structure is destroyed by the phase transformations taking place during cooling. The present study was therefore carried out in the ferritic temperature range, and the hot-worked substructures were preserved by rapid quenching after deformation. The substructural results will be described in a separate paper, and the present communication is restricted to the strain rate/stress/temperature relationship observed during hot working. The results of hot-compression testing are usually given in the form of true stress/true strain curves, with a different curve for each temperature/strain rate ~ornbination.',~,~ Sometimes simple algebraic equations are fitted to the curves, so that certain extrapolations or interpolations can be performed.1'2'5 These equations are, however, devoid of mechanistic interpretations. The present study was undertaken to show that hot compression can be described by an equation of the type used in creep studies. That is, it will be shown that the temperature dependence of the strain rate in hot working is well-represented by an Arrhenius term, with an activation energy similar to that for creep. Also it will be seen that the stress dependence of the strain rate is similar to that for creep EXPERIMENTAL METHOD AND MATERIALS The investigation was carried out with the following three ferrous materials: 1) Armco iron; 2) Armco iron with 0.26 pct Mn; 3) 2.8 pct Si steel. The first two materials were utilized for investigations performed in the temperature range 600" to 800°C; the last one was used for tests at temperatures from 600" to 1000°C. The materials were of commercial purity,* as shown in Table I. Cylinders of five different sizes were prepared by strain annealing. The resulting mean grain diameter was 3 mm in the 1-in. Armco iron and 2 mm in the other sizes and grades. Different ratios of diameter/height were used to enable the determination of the coefficient of friction. The specimen faces were provided with concentric grooves, which acted as lubricant holders during compression, as recommended by English and ~ackofen' and others.2'9 Powdered glass lubricants were applied to the samples before hot compression to decrease friction and barreling, following the practice of previous investigator~.~~~~~~~~ Different mixtures of glass powder were used for each temperature, after the determination of suitable compositions by experiment.'' Equipment for Hot Compression. Hot-compression tests were carried out on an adapted 150-ton vertical hydraulic extrusion press and also on a modified high-temperature creep machine. The modified extrusion press was used for temperatures up to 800°C. The following items were added to the press: a) a high-temperature furnace with built-in upper and lower platens; and b) a transmission assembly, which permitted the attainment of logarithmically decreasing crosshead speeds. These accessories are described in detail in Ref. 11.

Jan 1, 1969

AN excerpt from the Odessa Isvestia Vechernia, dated April 24, 1927, and translated by P. Routzitzky, summarizes a report by Professor Preobragensky ad-dressed to the Russian Government. Professor Preo-bragensky writes in regard to newly discovered potash deposits in eastern European Russia. Near Solikamsk in the Perm district, about 100 miles east of the Ural mountains and on the Kama river, large deposits have been located and the belt has been traced southward about 25 miles. Subsequently the search for potash salts has been transferred to the Berezovsky district, near Nikolsk, on the Kosva river, about 70 miles north-east-of the city of Perm. Toward the end of March, 1927, at a depth of 800 ft., drilling at the Levensk salt works revealed potash salts in, definite strata. The bed has a thickness which extends from a depth of- 245 to 307 meters (latest data in middle of April, 1927) and has not been bottomed yet. Professor Preobragensky goes on to say that these operations have definitely, developed very large de-posits, the limits of which are still unknown. There is at least an implication that the reserves far exceed those of Stassfurt, Germany. For European use they are, of course, much less accessible, for by through rail they lie 1200 miles east of Petrograd. Further, no particulars are given as to the potash content. It is to be supposed that the salt occurs in the Permian beds that extend north and south along the west flank of the Ural mountains, as the localities mentioned .all lie within the area so mapped on the new geologic map of Russia issued by the Scientific and Technical Di-vision of the All-Russian Council of Soviets in 1922. It is interesting to note that these salt beds are of the same geologic age as those of 'the Stassfurt region and of the west Texas-New Mexico district, in which the U. S. Bureau of Mines is at present drilling.

Jan 7, 1927

By Haley, D. F.

WHEN operations were first started at Climax in 1917 by the Climax Molybdenum Co., they were pioneering in the molybdenum industry for little was known relative to the uses of molybdenum or the metallurgy of molybdenite concentration. Concentration of molybdenite is relatively simple today but in 1916, when the Climax deposit first attracted attention, it presented serious difficulties. Little was known, in fact, even about the assaying of such low-grade molybdenum ores. Mine samples were sent to at least a dozen of the best laboratories in the United States and average values reported varied from 0.4 per cent to 1.0 per cent MOS2. Owing to the wide variations in MoS2 content obtained from reliable chemists, the actual value of the ore was most uncertain. This variation occurred repeat¬edly over a period of six months in 1917. It was finally decided, as a last resort, to cut several tons of sample from the tunnel and have a mill test made, using the recovered MoS2 per ton as the grade of the ore, for a small error in the assaying of the concentrate would not materially affect the results. These mill tests were made by the General Engineering Co. (Callow) at Salt Lake City. The results proved an ore of commercial grade and indicated the flotation process for the best metallurgy. Based upon these tests, the decision was made to build a 200-ton flotation plant. At this time, the art of flotation was

Jan 1, 1946

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 H. E. Lee, P. C. Feddersen, D. R. Gittinger, G. W. Dunn, J. B. Schuettenhelm

The new Bunker Hill slag-treatment plant, designed ior, a capacity of 300 to 400 tons of hot slag per day, was "blown in" April 5, 1943. In the ensuing I5-months period, 157,530 tons of slag was processed, with an average recovery of over go per cent of the zinc and practically all of the lead contained. In addition to this high metal recovery, utilization of the waste heat in the gas and fume venting, the process has enabled the generation of 231,376 tons of steam at 250-lb, gauge. Over the first six months opcration the volume of slag treated averaged somewhat under 300 tons per day. Reclaimed dump slag made up only about 1 5 per cent of the plant feed. In October 1943, preparations for the smelting of additional tonnages of dump slag were completed and the plant capacity was increased to an average of about 420 tons of slag per day. During the nine-months interval since that date, monthly averages of 450 toils per operating day have been maintained several times. The new plant (Fig. I) is constructed in close proximity to blast-furnace operations. The fuming furnace and other necessary equipment are housed in an eastward extension of the existing blast-furnace building. Beyond this housed extension the dust-laden gas is conveyed about the perimeter of a large rectangle formed by the flues, cooling towers and baghouses. The course of a 10-ft. balloon flue, which transports the fuming furnace gas, describes the west and south perimeters. This flue connects with a set of cooling towers located at the southeast comer. The flue and cooling-tower system serving the deleading kiln constitute the north side and the two baghouses, serving the kiln and furnace operations, -border the east side. From these baghouses the several discharge gas flows are come biped and conveyed in to the rectangle, being vented to atmosphere by means of a fan through a centrally located zoo-ft. brick stack. In general, the plant design and operation follow quite closely that dictated by experience gained in years of slag-fuming practice by the Anaconda Copper Mining Go., at East Helena, Mont., and the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd., at Trail, B.C., and more recently by the International Smelting and Refining Co. at Toocle, Utah. : Fuming operations at the East Helena and the Tooele plants are more or less identical. Trail practice differs chiefly in the methods employed for the storage of the hot feed slag and in the methods utilized for the handling and cooling of the fuming furnace gas. The new Bunker Hill fuming plant closely follows Trail procedure in the treatment of the furnace discharge gas while East Hclcna methods have been adopted for the storage of feed slag.

Jan 1, 1944

By J. E. Forciea, R. W. Salmi

Operating and research personnel at U.S. Steel's Pilotac concentrator have evolved specifications for magnetic separators suitable for use in beneficiation of Mesabi magnetic taconite. These specifications were developed as a result of investigations into the operating and metallurgical problems at the Pilotac concentrator over a period of some ten years. This paper discusses primary magnetic separator specifications, but much of the information is also pertinent to secondary and tertiary magnetic separators. Of particular significance is the proposal of a new basis for specifying the magnetic field which includes consideration of both field strength and field gradient. Other areas of discussion include flowsheet service, operating conditions such as drum speed and pulp level, tank configuration, magnet strength including field gradient, sleeve bearing design, designation of corrosion resistant materials and other details that result in a metallurgically efficient machine that has low repair and maintenance requirements. The mechanical and metallurgical design of magnetic separators at the Pilotac plant, Minnesota Ore Operations, United States Steel Corp. has progressed from the original single-stage, belt-type machines to the present multiple-stage, drum-type units, In ten years of operation, the plant operating and research personnel, in consultation with manufacturers, have made design changes to improve mechanical, electrical and magnetic features to meet process needs as flowsheet designs developed and to incorporate new permanent magnet materials as they became available. Separator specifications were an end result of this effort. The latest specifications which were developed for the Minnesota Ore Operations' plant were not all-inclusive listings; they covered only those points indicated by plant experience. For example, magnet pole piece design and dimensions were not stated. The manufacturers were given freedom to use any design as long as the field pattern was as specified. The selection of the items to be included in the specifications was undoubtedly influenced by particular conditions at Pilotac such as composition of plant water, concentration characteristics of the ore, repair and maintenance facilities available and the research programs that had been conducted. Only the developments leading to the specifications for a primary or "cobber" magnetic separator are presented in this paper. However, the same general concepts are used to specify secondary and tertiary separators. The areas of interest discussed include flowsheet service, tank configuration, magnet design, bearings, materials of construction, and some minor mechanical details. FLOWSHEET SERVICE The primary magnetic separators in the Pilotac Concentrator flowsheet are located after the first stage of grinding as shown in Fig. 1.

Jan 1, 1965

By Arthur F. Taggart

The following notes represent significant excerpts from a mass of records of experimental work done in the ore-dressing laborattory at the Columbia School of Mines during the years 1926 to 1928 inclusive. Classification of Experimental Work The experiments performed may be grouped for purposes of description under the following general headings: I. Collecting agents. a. A method for quantifying collecting effect. b. Coating with undissolved collecting agents (oils). c. Action of dissolved collecting agents. II. Frothing agent's. a. A method for quantifying frothing effect. b. Relation between frothing effect and chemical composition. III. Inorganic reagents. a. Methods of studying the effects of these reagents. b. Effect on slime dispersion. c. Effect on sulfides. Summary of the Origins of Present-day Flotation Practice The first practicable, foolproof method of froth flotation was described in U. S. Patent 835120, issued in 1906 to Sulman, Picard and Ballot, and in the equivalent patents in other countries. A number of less simple methods of producing the same result had been described previously in patent publications and otherwise.' The reagents specified in all of these early patents were "oils" and, in addition, some inorganic substance, usually an acid. The quantities of reagents recommended and added were enormous when compared with those used today.

Jan 1, 1930

By Stephen G. Wright

Jan 1, 1985

By A. B. Kinzel

SILICON, unfortunately, is not in the same category as some other metals with respect to the absolute value of the highest purity material prepared. Tucker, in England, and Becket, in this country have devel-oped procedures for the purification of silicon, and Becket's process has made industrially available silicon of a purity of 99.8 per cent or better. However, even the term "silicon metal" may be a paradox to some people, although not more so than the term "amorphous" as applied to silicon. These terms come from commerce, and "metal" is used to distinguish industrially high-purity silicon from ferrosilicon, silicon-aluminum, and other high-silicon alloys. Alloys of iron and silicon with 95 per cent Si or less are known as ferrosilicon, with a designation of silicon content where necessary, and the terns "silicon metal" is invariably applied to the grades containing 96 per cent Si and higher. The Becket method of purification was referred to in a monograph on the Alloys of Iron and Silicon, and the Tucker procedure was described in some detail in that publication.1 In order to get silicon of still higher purity, a sample, prepared by the Becket method, analyzing 99.84 per cent Si, 0.020 Fe, 0.016 Al, 0.005 Ca, 0.025 C, 0.033 per cent 02, 0.006 H2, 0.006 N2, and 0.001 per cent Mn, was crushed to pass a 100-mesh sieve said further purified by a modification of Tucker's procedure. This modification differs from Tucker's method in that after treatment the 100-mesh alloy was centrifuged to remove the last traces of acid. Our directly determined analysis of this purified sample shows: Si, 99.952 per cent; Fe, 0.009; Al, 0.012; Ca, 0.003; C, 0.006; or 99.982 per cent. Silicon by difference equals 99.97 per cent. The variation between silicon by difference and silicon as directly determined is important. Although Tucker mentions the amount of insoluble matter in commercial silicon both before and after his treat-ment, he does not mention the existence of carbon in the alloy; neverthe-less, lie reports silicon by difference. Any final figure as to purity obviously results from agreement between direct determination and

Jan 1, 1939

[ ] [LOCAL SECTION CODE (Numbers indicate Sections) No. Section LI Alaska L50 Adirondack L2 Arizona L58 Arkansas L84 Balcones L66 Billings Petr. L3 Black Hills L4 Boston L76 Caracas L5 Carlsbad Potash L6 Central Appal. L60 Central N. Mex. L7 Chicago L79 CIM-AIME Calgary L82 CIM-AIME Edmonton L8 Cleveland L9 Colorado]

Jan 1, 1961