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Jan 1, 1934

By E. Stansfield

THIS test was described in a privately circulated First Progress Report on Slacking Characteristics of Coal, by A. C. Fieldner and W. A. Selvig, May 1, 1928. The test was described in detail in U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigation 3055, in November, 1930.1 The test, in brief, is conducted as follows: A sample of freshly mined coal consisting of 18 to 25 pieces approximating 1 ¼ cubes, and weighing 500 to 600 grams, is taken for the test. The sample is subjected to a "blank sieving" of carefully regulated degree, on an 8-in. circular sieve with 0.263-in. square openings; and the undersize and oversize weighed. The oversize is placed on a sheet-iron pan and dried for about 24 hr. in an A.S.T.M. air-drying oven maintained at 30° to 35° C. through which a current of warm air is drawn. The sample is then cooled to room temperature and immersed for one hour in water at the same temperature. The water is then drained off, the sample dried for 24 hr. as before, cooled, sieved as before, and the oversize and undersize weighed. The percentage weight of the undersize, is calculated and reported as the first cycle loss. This loss, corrected by subtracting the percentage loss in the blank sieving, is termed the slacking index. The sample may be subjected to further cycles of wetting, draining, air-drying, sieving and weighing. In a letter (August, 1932) W. A. Selvig approved making the blank sieving on a duplicate sample, rather than on the sample used for the test, where sufficient coal was available. This method is now employed in these laboratories. The accelerated weathering test has been employed in the labora-tories of the Research Council of Alberta, at Edmonton, since 1928, but not found entirely satisfactory as repeat determinations with samples taken from the same or adjacent mines frequently showed serious differ-ences. Differences must be expected as the coal may vary in the seam, and the selection of a typical set of lumps approximating 1 ¼ -in. cubes

Jan 1, 1934

By G. L. Oldright

The data presented in this paper were collected at the smelter of the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Co. of Canada, Ltd., Trail (Tadanac), British Columbia. Many thanks are due to S. G. Blaylock, vice president and general manager, James Buchanan, smelter superintendent, and George Murray, assistant smelter superintendent, for their broad general policy in permitting these data to be taken and published. life are also grateful for the help given by the staff members stated in Paper XI, Report of Investigations Acknowledgment is given several excerpts from experiments by F. E. Lee, head of the research staff. INTRODUCTION The past reputation of zinc as an ingredient in lead blast furnace slags has been bad. Zinc is thought of as a cause of accretions in the shaft of the blast furnace, of hot tops, of the formation of "zinc mush" in the crucible and forehearth, of lead-rich slags, of viscous slags, and. of low capacity in smelting.

Jan 1, 1934

By Mark C. Malamphy

During colonial times, Brazil was famous for the richness of her alluvial gold deposits. Paul Ferrand has estimated that the gold produced during the period from 1700 to 1820 was the equivalent of some 64 million pounds sterling. Since that time, most of the more prolific alluvial deposits have been exhausted. A few gold mines are still functioning, notably the Morro Velho mine, which is one of the deepest mines in the world. Today, the gold production of Brazil is insignificant when compared with world figures, but there are still many gold-bearing regions and it is probable that in at least some of them profitable returns would result from an exploitation program taking advantage of all the most modern innovations in gold mining and ore treatment on a large scale. In order to demonstrate the value of some of these abandoned prospects and stir up interest in increasing the national gold production, the government has stimulated research. Experimental plants have been and are being established in various places, and tests on large quantities of ores are being carried out on a semicommercial basis. The Geological Survey of the State of Minas Geraes is very active in this line and the Federal Institution is also showing an increased interest in the matter. One of the lesser known gold-bearing regions of Brazil is in the vicinity of Lavras, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Gold was first reported from this region in the early part of the nineteenth century. In 1811, D. João VI sent an experienced prospector from Minas Geraes to investigate the validity of the reports. According to the reports of Baron Eschwege, he succeeded in extracting some 30,000 Oitavos (about 105 kg.) during the first few years, but the production costs exceeded the value of the gold obtained.

Jan 1, 1934

By Edward Steidle

It has been said that "the command of nature has been put into the hands of man before he knows how to command himself," and what we see about us gives particular emphasis to this observation. If this condition be granted, the vaunted boast of school and college, of the institution that had the training of this generation, and of its fathers, and of its grandfathers, the boast that education is a "preparation for life," stands exposed as a hollow claim, or as a ghastly, cynical conception of life, or else education has fallen far short of its intentions. It has been evident for some time that education was not meeting the fullest expectations of society. In recent years there has been a deal of speculation indulged in by both laity and faculty in regard to American education and American civilization, and some few and sporadic changes have been effected. Today, however, there is no longer time for mere hypothetical considerations; we are faced with certain definite facts and confronted with obvious conditions that will not wait for fine-spun theories. If educators do not put their house in order, someone else will do it for them. The trends in mineral industries education must be in harmony with this general realignment that is today visible on the educational horizon, and only as these trends are in conformity with this movement can they be called sound. Two questions, then, confront mineral industries educators: (1) What are the trends in mineral industries education, and (2) how do these trends correlate with the major educational movements of the day? Scope or Mineral Industries Education Before launching into these particulars, it might be well to define the scope of mineral industries education and to consider its present position. Mineral industries education embraces three main types of work: 1. Earth Sciences and Geography.—Geology, mineralogy, geography— courses basic to all mineral industries and to the humanities. 2. Mineral Engineering.—Mining, petroleum and natural gas—dealing with mineral producing industries. Application of earth sciences and all types of engineering to exploitation of natural mineral resources.

Jan 1, 1934

By William Fink

NICKEL is used as an alloying element in several complex commercial aluminum alloys, among which are found some very interesting proper-ties, such as relatively high strength at elevated temperatures, relatively low coefficient of expansion, the absence of permanent growth, ability to take a good polish, and a bright, pleasing as-cast surface. For that reason the aluminum-nickel system was included in the list of binary aluminum systems that are being studied as a preparation for the investigation of more complex commercial alloys. This paper is the fifteenth of a series from the Research Laboratories of the Aluminum Company of America reporting the results of investiga-tions of equilibrium relations in aluminum-base alloys of high purity. The aluminum-nickel equilibrium diagram from 0 to 18 per cent nickel was determined, using the purest material available.

Jan 1, 1934

By R. H. Sweetser

The Committee on Evaluation of Coal for Blast-furnace Coke reports progress in the working out of the problem of evaluation. There has been no full meeting of the Committee but there have been several conferences with two or more of the members present, and the different members have expressed themselves freely on the five points that have been under consideration since the meeting of the Committee in New York on Feb. 16, 1932. The need of a method of coal evaluation, not only of coking coals but all other kinds, is obvious. Under NRA it becomes imperative that coals of the same size from the same seam be priced according to their variations in quality, especially in reference to cleanliness in respect to freedom from extraneous ash-forming materials. In looking over the correspondence that has passed between members of our Committee, it is evident that much of the confusion and misunderstanding would disappear if we could realize that practically all of the variations in value of coal from the same seam of coal are due to variations in the amounts of extraneous materials that are contained in the coal as it passes over the scales for shipment. It is not now a question with our committee as to the differentials in value, or in prices, between different kinds of coking coals or between noncoking and coking coals; our present problem is to arrive at the method for determining the scale of values of the coal from a certain coal seam according to the increase or decrease of extraneous ash and moisture from a predetermined base line adopted for that particular coal. The five points mentioned above are the same as discussed at the meeting in February, 1932, except that the temperature for determining the moisture content has been changed from 212" F. to 221" F., at the suggestion of Dr. A. C. Fieldner. The points are: 1. It is proposed that the coal industry adopt as a base line for evaluating all coals the analysis of the coal as it passes over the neighing device that determines the tonnage of coal bought and sold. 2. It is proposed that the Committee on Evaluation of Coal for Blast-furnace Coke approve the adoption of the base line for Pittsburgh seam coal presented by F. A. Jordan at the annual meeting of A.I.M.E.

Jan 1, 1934

The Institute conducts jointly with the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Institute of Electrical Engineers, certain activities as listed below, and is joint owner with them of certain properties. United Engineering Trustees, Inc. When Mr. Carnegie made his gift which made possible a home for the engineering societies, a separate corporation was organized to act as a holding company and to manage the common property. This was long known as the United Engineering Society, but the name has 'now been changed to one which more nearly reflects the real function of the corporation. It holds title to the Engineering Societies Building and to various funds placed in its charge and is managed by a Board of Trustees, of which three are chosen by each of the four societies, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute

Jan 1, 1934

By F. W. Newhall

DURING the latter part of the year 1931, the Republic mine of the Republic Steel Corporation, at Republic, about 4 miles south of Browns-ville, Pa., was mining coal along four rib or fracture lines. One of these lines, the west butt rib line, was retreating towards a concrete-lined air shaft, 320 ft. deep, which had been sunk in 1911 for ventilation purposes. With the normal rate of mining at that time, it was expected that this rib line would pass the shaft in three or four months and the shaft would then be abandoned and allowed to cave. Realizing the opportunity presented for the study of an unusual case of ground movement, the question of conducting the study was presented by the junior author to the chairman of the Institute's committee on Ground Movement and Subsidence, Mr. George S. Rice, who presented the matter to Mr. G. H. Morse, General Manager of the Northern Mines, Republic Steel Corpora-tion, and he agreed to cooperate with the Bureau of Mines in making the study, the results of which are presented in this paper. Acknowledg-ments are due to Mr. Morse for his full cooperation in this work and to Mr. G. S. Rice and Mr. J. W. Paul, both of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, for their advice and guidance during the course of the work. The authors are indebted to Mr. B. F. Herbert, mining engineer, Northern Coal Mines, Republic Steel Corporation, who assisted in all the surveys, and Mr. W. H. Smith, draftsman, U. S. Bureau of Mines, who prepared all illustrations for publication.

Jan 1, 1934

By C. A. Herbert

The old fatalistic idea that industrial accidents were a necessary part of industry and that little, if anything, could be done about them has been succeeded by realization that a majority of the hazards causing these accidents were man-made and that if they could be recognized most of them could be eliminated and the accidents prevented. Recognition of these facts has brought about substantial reduction of accidents in many coal dines, as well as in other industries. Knowledge of the hazards and their elimination has been obtained largely through a study of individual accidents and the causes which led up to them. With this thought in mind tae available data on coal-mine explosions in Illinois were studied.

Jan 1, 1934

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS For the year ending February, 1935 PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR HOWARD N. EAVENSON PITTSBURGH, PA. PAST PRESIDENTS AND DIRECTORS SCOTT TURNER WASHINGTON, D. C. FREDERICK M. BECKET NEW YORK, N. Y. VICE-PRESIDENT, TREASURER AND DIRECTOR KARL EILERS NEW YORK, N. Y. VICE-PRESIDENTS AND DIRECTORS EUGENE MCAULIFFE OMAHA, NEB. PAUL D. MERICA NEW YORK, N. Y. HENRY KRUMB SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH EDGAR RICKARD NEW YORK, N. Y. LOUIS S. CATES NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 1, 1934

By R. K. Waring

A KNOWLEDGE of the mutual liquid solubility of zinc and lead is of importance in various phases of zinc metallurgy. The determination of this solubility has been the subject of numerous investigations, but unfortunatel, the results vary widely, particularly at higher tempera-tures, and it has been impossible to decide what data are most reliable. It was decided to investigate the matter and in view of the disagreement in the published results, it was felt necessary to take rather unusual precautions to insure the reliability of the data. For this reason deter-minations were made by four different methods, and the procedures of several of the previous investigators were duplicated. The previously used methods can be divided into two classes: methods involving freezing the entire melt and taking samples of the lead-rich and zinc-rich phases in the solid state, 1,2 and methods in which the. samples are taken while the bath is liquid and at the desired temperature. 3,4 Data obtained by methods involving freezing the entire melt show much lower solubility of lead in zinc than methods in which the liquid is sampled at temperature. The latter method was used by Spring and Romanoff5 and by Hass and Jellinek.6 The results of these two investi-gations are in agreement at temperatures near the melting point but at higher temperatures Hass and Jellinek find a higher mutual solubility.

Jan 1, 1934

Jan 1, 1934

Jan 1, 1934

Truman H. Aldrich John H. Allen W. Lawrence Austin W. S. Ayres John Henry Banks Wm de L. Benedict Robert Bentley Andrew A Blair Walter M. Brodie

Jan 1, 1934

By Eric Jette

The nickel-chromium alloys form the base f for many industrial heating alloys, so that this system is of considerable practical importance. The literature on these alloys, however, contains much conflicting evi-dence, not only regarding the solubility limits of the terminal solid solu-tions at different temperatures but even regarding, the number of phases existing in the system. Part of the difficulty undoubtedly arises from the fact that chromium of sufficiently high purity has been available only during the last few years. A second and possibly even more impor-tant difficulty arises from the ease with which chromium reacts with silicon and carbon compounds and the atmosphere to form silicides, carbides, nitrides and oxides. Pilling and kihlgren1 in 1929 reviewed the existing scanty information. They did not consider the diagram by which they summarized the various bits of information to be entirely satisfactory. Matsunaga2 investigated the system by thermal analysis, microscopic examination and other means. Electrolytic nickel of 99.9 per cent purity and thermit chromium containing 0.30 per cent al, 0.40 per cent fe, 0.25 per cent si and 0.04 per cent c were used. A tammann furnace with hydrogen flowing through it was used for melting. Sekito and matsunaga3 reported an x-ray, investigation presumably on these same

Jan 1, 1934

The thirty-second regular meeting of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute was called to order at ll: 40 o'clock A. M., Monday, February 26th, 1934, President L. R. Weber presiding. Misses Helen Kelly and Marian Rodell presented President Weber with vases of flowers in behalf of the Institute. On motion of Harry Bubb, duly seconded, it was voted that the reading of the minutes be dispensed with, inasmuch as they are printed in the proceedings. The President made hi annual report. The Secretary-Treasurer made his annual report. The following committees were appointed by the President: Nomination s Committee-David Brown, chairman; G. A. Knox, G. C. Davis, George B. Dick, Walter Bachman.

Jan 1, 1934

The 1935 meeting will beheld in Denver, the exact date to be announced later. If you have any sugges¬tions for the place or program, send them to the Secretary at once.

Jan 1, 1934

Jan 1, 1934

By G. L. Oldright

The studies previously made on Smelting in the Lead Blast Furnace have dealt with the custom smelter of the International Smelting Co. at Tooele, Utah, and on the smelter of the Bunker Hill & Sullivan Mining & Smelting Co. at Kellogg, Idaho. The International plant may be considered representative of the traditional custom smelter. The lead smelter of the future seemingly will have to treat increasingly richer lead charges. This feature was then stressed in describing the Bunker Hill plant.

Jan 1, 1934