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By Amitava Gangulee, Michael B. Bever

The effects of changes in short-range order on some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions have been investigated. The heats of formation at 273°K of several alloys after two different thermal treatments were measured by liquid metal solution calorimetry. Their electrical resistivities were measured at temperatures ranging from 4° to 773°k. Tensile tests and microhard-ness measurements were carried out at room temperature. An effective short-range order parameter and an effective interaction energy are defined. The measured changes in the properties are interpreted in terms of these quantities. The short-range order parameter is evaluated separately from calorimetric and X-ray data; the results are in fair agreement. Increasing short-range order lowers the resistivity of- the silver-rich Ag-Mg alloys but does not measurably affect the temperature dependence of the resistivity. Short-range order increases the yield stress of these alloys but does not affect the ultimate tensile stress. Changes in the effective short-range order parameter independently obtained from measured changes in the heat of formation, resistivity, and yield stress are in fair agreement. THE thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of solid solutions have been investigated as functions of composition in many alloy systems, but the effects of configurational variables, such as short-range or long-range order, on these properties have received much less attention. The silver-rich terminal solid solutions in the system Ag-Mg are well-suited for the investigation of the effects of order. The composition of these solid solutions may be varied over a range extending to about 27 at. pct Mg.1 Appreciable short-range ordering is likely to take place in these solid solutions; the degree of short-range order can be varied by suitable thermal treatments. In the alloy Ag3Mg long-range ordering is possible.2 This paper is primarily concerned with the effects of short-range order on some thermodynamic, electrical, and mechanical properties of the silver-rich Ag-Mg solid solutions.-The long-range ordering transition is the subject of a concurrent paper.3 1) EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES 1.1) Preparation of Specimens. Ag-Mg alloys containing up to 26.4 at. pct Mg were prepared by melting 99.99 pct pure Ag (obtained from Baker Chemical Co.) and 99.99 pct pure Mg (obtained from Eastman Chemi- cal Co. or Johnson Mathey & Co.) in graphite crucibles under molten potassium chloride. The solidified ingots were homogenized at 823°K for 10 days in evacuated Vycor capsules. A surface layer 6 in. thick was then removed by machining. The ingots were swaged into rods (2.5 mm diam) which were drawn into wires (1.0 mm diam). The wire specimens were annealed at 773°K for 24 hr in vacuum and either quenched into iced brine or cooled to room temperature over a period of 15 days. The average grain diameter (obtained from the linear intercepts) was about 0.1 mm. 1.2) Calorimetry. The heats of formation of the alloys were measured in a tin solution calorimeter as the difference in the heat effects of alternate additions of samples of an alloy and the mechanical mixture of its component elements. The additions were made from 273°K to the bath at about 623°K. The heat effect on addition of the alloys was approximately 5.5 kcal per g-atom. The procedure and the method of calculation have been described.4 1.3) X-Ray Diffraction. Short-range order parameters of two alloys were calculated from diffuse scattering intensities,' obtained with briquettes made from powdered specimens. A GE-XRD 5 diffractometer with filtered copper radiation was used. The absolute intensities were based on calibrations with paraffin. 1.4) Resistivity Measurements. The electrical resistivities were measured by a potentiometric method in which the potential drop across the specimen was compared with that across a standard resistance. For measurements below room temperature, the specimens were immersed in liquid helium (4°K), liquid nitrogen (78°K), dry ice and trichloroethylene (195°K), or ice and water (273°K). Measurements above room temperature were made on specimens held in a furnace under helium or in vacuum. The resistivity measurements were reproducible to ±0.5 pct or less. 1.5) Mechanical Tests. Tensile tests were carried out at room temperature with a Tinius-Olsen XY elec-tromatic Universal testing machine. Wire specimens (nominal gage length 1 in.) were used. The strain was measured with an extensometer, which had a sensitivity of 4 x 10-5; the strain rate was 10-3 min-1. Microhard-ness measurements were made with a square-pyramid indenter and a 100-g load.11 2) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION All measurements were made on two parallel sets of specimens, one quenched and the other slowly cooled from 773°K. The reported values are the averages of at least three measurements. In the range of magnesium concentration substantially below that of the composition Ag3Mg, quenched alloys have less short-range order than slowly cooled alloys. As the magnesium concentration approaches that of Ag3Mg, slow cooling develops long-range order. Quenching sup-

Jan 1, 1969

By ir. H. Eraly

The allocation of miners to teams, and of teams to production faces, is complicated by the high degree of absenteism of miners in Belgium. Therefore, the exact knowledge of who is actually present at the beginning of a shift and of the exact skills of those present, enables the foremen and mine captains to constitute their teams before all men go down into the mine in the most effective way possible. This paper describes the system of attendance recording and of displays which the foremen use to constitute their teams and/or to interrogate the personnel data base in order to do so. It shows how the foremen dialogue with the computer, to change the function of a miner within a team, to another team, or the function of a team as a whole. The implementation of the system, data bases, and data communication equipment and procedures, is described. The benefits obtained are presented for each level of the company: foremen and team supervisors, engineers, mine management.

Jan 1, 1977

By E. M. Wise

WHEN man became dissatisfied with the mere utilization of physical force and began to use weapons, he made a definite stride forward. At first he used sticks, animal bones and stones, often rudely shaped to some particularly lethal form. These devices, while crude, were moderately effective. How- ever, some of the brighter men of the tribe found that certain particularly heavy "stones" were somewhat ductile and could be hammered into more effective weapons than those previously known. Later, probably through the misuse of one of these weapons to stir the campfire, it was found that heating softened and perhaps actually melted the material. The process of annealing had been discovered! Smelting the more easily reducible metals was in all probability one of those fortuitous accidents which was followed up by thoughtful researchers who ultimately developed the technique of mixing various ores to produce bronze and even some of the nickel content alloys. The resulting products were at first lumps of more or less ductile material which could be hammered to shape, and were thus incidentally hardened by this process. The hardening of metals by alloying and cold working remained for many centuries the only known methods for improving their properties.

Jan 1, 1931

By S. C. Sircar, B. K. Dhindaw

KINETICS and mechanism of sulfation reactions have been studied extensively. Qualitative and quantitative data are reported for the kinetics and mechanism of sulfation reaction of copper oxide pellets;''2 yet it remains a controversial Subject. The mechanism and kinetics of the sulfation of zinc oxide powder (B.D.H. analar quality) were studied by gravimetric technique. A spring of high-carbon steel wire with accuracy well within 0.2 mg was used for measuring weight change. The sample was taken in a Pyrex glass bucket, hanging freely inside a Pyrex glass tube reactor, with a gold wire attached to the spring, the reactor being surrounded by a movable furnace (double wound type) with a temperature control within *5"C. Flow of oxygen, 60 cu cm per min, and sulfur dioxide, 45 cu cm per min, were measured through calibrated flowmeters and the mixture dried over PZ05 before entering the reactor. The experimental results are presented in Figs. 1 and 2. The plot of weight change of zinc oxide, giving the amount of zinc sulfate formed, was found to be linear over the temperature range of 500" to 700° C and up to a conversion of approximately 60 pct, as beyond it they divert from linearity.' The rate of sulfation was found to be affected by total flow rate of gases at a fixed ratio of SO2/O2, up to 60 cu cm per min, and was found to be linearly dependent on quantity of total powdered sample taken. The plot of rate of sulfation of zinc oxide, 70 mg, with varying amounts of vanadium pentoxide, at a constant ratio of gases as mentioned above, and at a constant temperature of 625"C, was also found to be linear as seen in Fig. 2. Extrapolation to zero V2O5 addition gives the same rate of sulfation, as in case of pure zinc oxide, 70 mg. Vz05 was prepared by heating ammonium vanadate at 600°C for 15 min in a muffle furnace. The available literature points out that the theory of sulfation that has received the maximum support postulates the following mechanism for sulfation of ZnS: 2ZnS + 30, = 2Zn0 + 2SOZ; the ZnO formed acts as a catalyst for the reaction, 2 S02 + O2 = 2S03. This SO3 reacts with ZnO to give zinc sulfate. It is suggested here that the above widely supported mechanism is operative in the sulfation reaction and that the rate-controlling step in the sulfation reaction of ZnO is the formation of SO3 from SO, and 0,. The authors are carrying on further work in this line, and the details will be published later. The authors wish to acknowledge the facilities provided and the help extended by Prof. P. R. Dhar, Head, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, and the permission granted to publish this note by the Director, I. I. T., Kharagpur.

Jan 1, 1969

By PAUL P. ZElGLER

Rapid growth of the aluminum industry continued through 1948 with an acute shortage of the metal in all forms marking the year. Estimates based on shipments made during the first nine months indicate that, in 1948, the industry shipped more than two billion pounds of aluminum products or roughly four times the amount shipped in the greatest peacetime year prior to the war. The rapid expansion of the aluminum industry is particularly reflected in the production of sheet. Last year, the industry as a whole shipped an estimated 40 per cent more sheet than was produced in the peak war year of 1944.

Jan 1, 1949

By F. J. Plecity, J. T. Michalak, W. C. Leslie

W. M. Williams (McGill University)-The authors are to be congratulated on completing this detailed investigation of recrystallization behavior. The present writer has recently completed some research at the University of Toronto on the recrystallization and grain growth behavior of a number of "pure" irons, and he would like to take issue with the authors' contention that recrystallization cannot be followed by means of hardness measurements. Two series of specimens of Ferrovac E, a com- mercially available iron, were annealed to complete recrystallization at 525" and 620" C, measurements being made both of Rockwell hardness and of volume percent recrystallized as a function of annealing time. Good correlation was found between these two quantities and, following the earlier practice of Cook and Richards for copper, hardness measurements were used in an extensive investigation of recrystallization. No anomalous behavior was observed as a result of this practice. Specimens which showed complete softening always showed, (metallographically and by X-rays), completely re-crystallized structures. These observations do not, of course, detract in the least from the results of the work under discus-

Jan 1, 1962

By C. A. Schempp

STUDY of the adaptability of Tintic Standard ores to concentration dates back to somewhat before January, 1921, when the chloridizing mill at Harold, Utah, was put into operation. The operation of this mill has been fully covered in the TRANSACTIONS (Vol. 73). The process consisted essentially of a chloridizing roast followed by a percolating leach with a nearly saturated solution of common salt, acidified with sulfuric acid; precipitation of silver on sponge copper, and of copper and lead on tin-plate cuttings. This mill was built to treat the low grade siliceous ores having an average content of

Jan 1, 1933

By Thomas T. Read

THE official title of our topic for today is "Resources of Metals and Other Strategic Minerals," but in accepting the invitation to open this discussion I claimed the privilege of being allowed to talk about problems other than resources for the two reasons that a great deal has already been said about resources and because we can never discuss them with the degree of certainty that an engineer likes. Resources are uncertain for many, reasons. One is that we do not know what is in the earth. It is four thousand miles to its center and although oil wells 1 ½ miles deep are becoming common and engineers are now talking of drilling holes 2 miles deep, even when they do they will have advanced only one two-thousandth part of the total distance. Only a relatively few mines are over a mile deep as yet. We know certainly that it is comparatively expensive to work at such great depth, but it would be a very foolish man who would assert it will be' impossible, one or two hundred years from now, for engineers to obtain from great depths mineral supplies that are now being obtained at or near the surface. As long as- I can remember I have been hearing that our petroleum resources were in imminent danger of speedy exhaustion, and yet the yearly output is now of the same order of magnitude as the total resources were once estimated, with ' the cry of over-production the loudest it has ever been. Tapping progressively deeper and deeper sources of supply, has produced this result. Even in the thin layer that we are now working much-exploration still remains to be done. .

Jan 1, 1929

By James Aston

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

Jan 1, 1935

By H. Fechtig, R. H. Buck, A. G. Guy

MULTIPHASE diffusion has been studied for many years in two-component systems1,2 and many of the experimental aspects are now fairly well understood.314 Although by no means all of the problems connected with the two-component case have been solved,' attention has recently been directed to the more complex situation involving three components. The pioneer work of Clark and Rhines6 yielded a qualitative picture of the types of behavior that can occur, and Clark7 has suggested conventions for describing the various phenomena. Kirkaldy and co-workers8,9 have made quantitative studies in several ternary systems and have offered explanations of the occurrence of isolated and nonisolated precipitates. At present, however, there is no comprehensive theory for the variety of phenomena observed in ternary, multiphase diffusion. By analogy with several studies that have been made of multiphase diffusion in the binary Cu-Zn system,2'10'11 a similar exploratory study was made of Cu-Zn-Ni alloys lying along the line in the ternary diagram from the point 80 Cu-20 Ni to the zinc corner of the diagram, Fig. 1. A principal question to be answered was whether initially plane interfaces would remain plane during the course of one-dimensional diffusion. The diffusion specimens studied are described in Table I. The five separate alloys from which they were made were melted in evacuated Vycor capsules from 99.9 pct purity copper, zinc, and nickel. Since some of the alloys were too brittle to be swaged, all of the alloys were used in the cast condition. To facilitate later homogenization, the molten alloys were solidified by plunging the capsule in water. Homogenization heat treatment was done at 720°C for 20 hr. The five nominal compositions in weight percent zinc and nickel, respectively, were: 37.5, 12.5; 44.0, 11.2; 50.0, 10.0; 55.0, 9.0; 65.0, 7.0. Ln Table I the alloys are identified only by their zinc content. Sandwich-type diffusion specimens were prepared by pressure welding disk specimens, each about 3 mm high by 10 mm in diameter. Welding was done in a special threaded vise which was heated at 500°C for about an hour in an atmosphere of flowing hydrogen. A measurement of the separation of the phase interfaces was made on a polished flat on the welded specimen, and then the specimen was sealed in an evacuated capsule and given the diffusion treatment shown in Table I. The diffused specimen was sectioned longitudinally

Jan 1, 1965

By D. R. Hay, E. Scala

Electrotransport has been superimposed on the rate-limiling- step in zone refining which is the impurity diffusion through the liquid at the solid/liquid interface. The efficiency of zone refining is increased and relative resistivity ratios (P300°k/P4 2°K) he increased by 50 pel in tungsten for a given number of posses using- the electrotransport field-aided method. The effiect of zotze refining in the presence of an electric field on the relative resistivity ratio is examined as a function of its intensity and polarity. THE effect of electrodiffusion on the effective distribution coefficient of zone refining has been discussed by Pfann and Wagner.' Control of the distribution coefficient in zone refining is of twofold interest. A distribution coefficient of unity can be increased or decreased, making possible the transfer of some previously inseparable solutes. The general efficiency of zone refining can also be increased. In the conventional zone-refining process impurities are removed by their retention in the molten zone and subsequent deposition at the end of the rod after a complete passage of the zone. In higher-melting-point systems a second mechanism may also operate, the volatilization of impurities from the molten zone. It has been suggested by schadler2 that, in refractory metals, vacuum distillation plays the predominant role in purification. In Koo's results,3 the resistivity ratio decreased beyond a zone-refined length of 6 in. from the starting end, indicating that some purification does in fact occur by true zone-refining action. Hay and scala4 showed that the degree of purity as measured by the relative resistivity ratio method depends on the square root of time in the molten zone (number of passes) and thus appears to be limited by diffusion in the boundary layer at the solidifying interface assuming good mixing in the body of the molten zone where a linear rate would prevail. The final concentration of impurities in electron-beam floating-zone purification depends very much on the operating conditions and results obtained by various investigators2,3,5 are difficult to correlate. The diameter of the starting material, operating vacuum, and rate of traverse are among the factors to be considered. There are, nevertheless, some general observations to be obtained from the literature. Lawley5 reviewed the literature up to 1962 and concluded that the major contaminants generally remaining in tungsten after electron-beam zone refining are molybdenum and carbon. Molybdenum due to its high melting point and distribution coefficient of nearly unity would be expected to be difficult to remove by either volatilization or zone refining. Carbon is not only a common contaminant in vacuum systems, but is also very difficult to remove by conventional vacuum melting. even with vacuums of 10-7 mm Hg. For each of those impurities removed by zone refining the equation of Pfann and Wagner may be applied: It relates the effective distribution coefficient k to a superimposed driving force which accelerates the solute away from the interface with a terminal velocity L" and to the more conventional zone-refining parameters; v = rate of traverse, t = thickness of the diffusion layer at the solidifying interface, D = diffusivity of the solute in the molten zone, and ko = equilibrium distribution coefficient of the impurity.

Jan 1, 1965

By H. R. Deeth, C. J. Koenig

ABOUT ten years ago nepheline syenite was introduced to the ceramic industry and the material has now found application in the various branches of the industry, namely, as a vitrifying agent in white-wares and as a source of alumina and alkalies in glasses, glazes, and porcelain enamels. Spence1 described the early mining and processing developments regarding this material. Since the time of his article many research papers have appeared relating to the usage of nepheline syenite but little has been published relative to subsequent mining and processing methods. A complete indexed review of the literature was issued recently by Ohio State University.2 Since "Lakefield" nepheline syenite from Blue Mountain, Ontario (Fig I); is the only commercial ceramic-grade nepheline syenite now being marketed on this continent, discussion is limited to this operation carried on by American Nepheline Limited, Lakefield, Ont., and its subsidiary in the United States, American Nepheline Corp. at Rochester, N. Y. THE DEPOSIT Blue Mountain is a long ridge rising to an elevation of about 350 ft at its highest point above the surrounding country and extending for about six miles in a northeasterly direction across Methuen township, Peterborough County. The rock of the Blue Mountain central alkaline intrusive is fine grained, light colored and of even granitic texture. The solidified mass consists predominately of the minerals albite, nepheline and microcline in order of abundance. The average mineralogical composition for the deposit obtained by a study of 112 samples taken regularly over the whole formation is as follows:3 [VOLUMETRIC MINERAL PER CENT Albite54 Microcline20 Nepheline22 Muscovite2 Mafics2 (Biotite, hastingsite, magnetite) Total100] The mineral nepheline (or nephelite) belongs to the feldspathoid group but is lower in silica content than are the feldspars. It is a silicate of soda, potash, and alumina (NaKAl2O32SiO2). Its presence with albite (Na2O A1203 6SiO2) and microcline (K20 A12O3 6SiO2) gives the Blue Mountain deposit an alkali content of 15 pct and an alumina content of approximately 24 pct. While this huge alkaline mass is somewhat variable mineralogically, it has a uniform chemical composition. When the iron, mostly in the form of magnetite, is removed during processing, a remarkably uniform finished product is obtained. Geological surveying has disclosed many million tons of nepheline syenite in the Blue Mountain deposit. Diamond drilling in the area where mining is now being carried out indicates a block of about one million tons.

Jan 1, 1947

By T. W. Martin, T. J. Crocker, J. M. Goris

The current technology of large rock conveyors is reviewed. Based on this investigation two large rock conveyor concepts have been developed and a test facility investigation designed and fabricated. The USBM will test these concepts along with loading and transfer points for handling mine run rock material up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in size. An evaluation of open pit mining systems using large rock conveyors documents substantial cost savings when compared to truck haulage.

Jan 1, 1983

By Edward Hart

Having occasion several years since to make ferrous sulphide, I attempted to do so by fusing a mixture of coal-brasses (FeS2) and dried ferrous sulphate. A very nice-looking sulphide was obtained; but on attempting to use it, I found that it was insoluble in dilute hydrochloric and sulphuric acids. The subject was laid aside at the time, but has since been taken up; and some curious results have been obtained, which I believe are new. I have made the material by all of the following methods and the product seems to be pretty much the same, however obtained : (a) FeS2 heated to fusion. (b) FeS2, and FeSO4 heated to fusion. (c) FeS2, and Fe2O3 heated to fusion. (d) FeS2, and FeCO3, heated to fusion. (e) FeSO4, and S heated to fusion. (f) Fe2O3 and S heated to fusion. Obtained in this way the mass after cooling breaks easily and is very nearly black in color. On the upper surface of the fused cake the color is generally reddish or brownish black. When this is treated with dilute sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, it refuses to dissolve; but if touched with the point of a file or any piece of wrought-iron, solution of the sulphide takes place with the evolution of sulphuretted hydrogen. If the iron is removed the evolution of gas ceases, and only begins again when the iron is again brought into contact with the fused sulphide. The same thing happens if the iron is connected with the sulphide by means of a platinum wire. But in all the samples of fused sulphide I have obtained, if the iron is allowed to remain in contact with the sulphide for a certain time (which varies with different samples of the fused sulphide) and is then removed, solution of the sulphide continues. Zinc, tin, and magnesium have the same effect as iron. In hydrochloric acid aluminium acts more rapidly even than iron. In sulphuric acid it has little if any effect. Copper in HCl, when brought in contact with the fused sulphide, dissolves quietly without evolution of gas. The solution of copper chloride formed becomes,as it flows down over the sulphide, converted into copper sulphide.

Jan 1, 1887

By Axel Sahlin

Having no business interest in any of the various machines used for granulating ores, my remarks on the subject are prompted solely by my desire to contribute towards the determination of the best apparatus such information, as I have been able to gather,

Jan 1, 1893

By Elton A., Youngberg

The Holden mine operated by the Chelan Division of the Howe Sound Co. is on the east slope of the Cascade Range in north central Washington on the south slope of Railroad Creek valley at an elevation of 3500 ft. The mine may be reached by a 40 mile boat trip from the town of Chelan which is at the southern tip of Lake Chelan, to Lucerne at the mouth of Railroad Creek and an 11 mile bus ride up Railroad Creek to Holden. All freight and concentrate is moved over this route to Chelan Falls on the Columbia River which is on the railroad four miles below the town of Chelan. The mine is now producing 2000 tons of gold, copper, and zinc ore per day which is treated in the Holden mill. Gold-copper and zinc concentrates are made, the first of which is shipped to Tacoma, Wash., and the latter to Kellogg, Idaho, for smelting.

Jan 1, 1949

By Gene D. Clayton, Robert R. Dimock

A time-consuming and expensive preshearing program to minimize the adverse effects of blasting on slope stability at Kennecott Copper Corp.'s Ruth Pit in east-central Nevada has been eliminated in favor of down-the-hole, nonelectric delayed blasting which can produce a smooth wall effect and improve blast fragmentation. The new blasting approach resulted from a Kennecott engineering investigation aimed at improving the stability of the extremely variable rock conditions found throughout the pit by reducing the vibrational energy imparted to the walls with conventional bench blasts.

Jan 4, 1977

By A. L. Field, P. H. Royster

The first report on the slag viscosity work of the Bureau of Mines was made by one of the authors1 in 1916. It was concerned chiefly with the method of measurement. A paper2 on this phase of the work was presented to the Institute in February, 1917, and a similar paper3 was communicated to the Faraday Society. PuRpose and Scope of the Slag Viscosity Tables Following the development of a suitable method, the next step in the investigation was the measurement of slag viscosity over a wide range of temperature and composition, and the arrangement of this experimental data in the form of tables for the use of the blast-furnace operator. It is believed that this information, if used intelligently, should help the operator to reduce losses in production caused by off-grade pig iron, to improve fuel economy, to promote operating efficiency, and to extend present-day practice to meet the increasing need of smelting lean and complex ores. In the experimental part of the work it was carly, observed that the temperature-viscosity relations of a slag were determined, for practical purposes, by the relative proportions of the three major constituents, lime (CaO), alumina (Al2O3), and silica (SiO2), provided the percentage

Jan 1, 1918

By Robert M. Dreyer

AGGREGATE With an annual domestic production of over 1.6 billion tons at a value of over $2 billion (see Table 15.1.1), the production of aggregate (crushed rock, sand, and gravel) is a basic industry of utmost economic importance. Because of the role of aggregate materials as essential ingredients of concrete, asphalt surfacing, and plaster, their delivered prices are major factors in determining the cost of construction. The annual domestic production comes from nearly 10,000 plants. About 15% of these plants account for over one-half the production. In a rapidly inflating economy, the average mine sales price of aggregate has remained relatively stable. The actual mine sales prices, however, vary greatly depending on quarrying costs in various parts of the country. Of much more importance in construction costs, however, is the delivered price of aggregate. This varies for each job, depending on the distance from the quarry and resulting transportation costs, as well as the initial cost at the mine. Because of a proliferation of regulations limiting new quarries in the vicinity of the encroaching urban sprawl, the average distance which aggregate must be transported has been increasing rapidly. Although it is impossible to derive an average delivered cost for aggregate, it should be noted that even an increase of only $1 per ton in average delivered cost over the last decade (probably a minimal assumption) would mean an annual cost $1.5 billion higher than ten years ago. In recent years, structural engineering considerations, as well as an increasing use of lightweight concrete blocks, have resulted in a rapidly increasing demand for lightweight concrete and plaster, the essential ingredient of which is lightweight aggregate. Principal lightweight aggregates are: pumice, slag, perlite (thermally expanded hydrous volcanic glass), vermiculite, and expanded shale, formed by the thermal expansion of shale and slate. The United States now has the capacity to expand, annually, over 13 million tons of shale and slate and to expand over 600,000 tons of perlite. In locating a site for aggregate production. the following factors must be considered: (1) tonnage available; (2) quality of aggregate (including local variations); (3) distance from major use areas; (4) transportation costs, including those resulting from present and possible future haulage restrictions; (5) zoning regulations; (6) operating costs, including the cost effects of compliance with local regulations governing blasting, air pollution, water pollution and drainage, noise levels, and operating periods. At one time, locating a suitable site for the production of crushed rock, sand, or gravel, in most areas, was regarded as an extremely simple task. In the past few years, however, finding a site for profitable production of aggregate has assumed ever-increasing com-

Jan 1, 1976

By Roy E. Dickerson

CUBA differs considerably from the other Greater Antilles in many geologic fundamentals. Cuba is geosynclinals; whereas Jamaica, Hispaniola. (Haiti), and Puerto Rico are geoanticlinal. (Scliuchert, Chas., Historical Geology of the Antillian. Caribbean Region, p. 13, 1935.) Rocks of lowermost Cretaceous age exist in large volume in Cuba, where- as they are generally absent in the other islands. Since many of the surface indications of petroleum are intimately associated with lowermost Cretaceous rocks, the Vinales limestone,, this difference is most important. The Vinales limestone in many places in Pillar del Rio and Santa Clara provinces reeks with light tars when broken with a hammer. The late David White and his associates on the U. S: Geological Survey studied

Jan 1, 1937