Search Documents

By F. C. Hull

The grain size of a metal or alloy is one of the most important factors determining its properties. In steels, for example, grain size affects hardenability, toughness and machinability; in brasses, grain size is related to hardness and deep-drawing quality. In the field of heat-resistant alloys, grain size has a marked effect on ductility, creep and endurance strength. In order to determine these effects, as well as to control the properties of materials, many accurate and rapid measurements of grain size must be made. This paper presents a new and improved method for the estimation of grain size. Usual Methods OF EvaluatiNg Grain Size A frequetly used method of estimating grain size is that of comparing the image of a polished and etched specimen on the ground-glass screen of a metallographic microscope with standard grain-size charts. Several types of standards are available for use with different classes of microstructures. Geometric Grids.—The Metals Handbook' has a series of hexagonal grids ranging in size from ASTM No. I to 8. Idealized Grain Networks.—Idealized grain.boundary networks for ASTM grain sizes I to 8 are included in the American Society for Testing Materials Tentative Standard E 19 - 39 T, standard Micrographs & Metals Handbook and ASTM Tentative Standard E19-3gT contain micrographs of hypo-eutectoid and hypereutectoid steels ranging in grain size from No. I to 8. The grain size of annealed brass (diameter of the average grain in millimeters) is obtained by comparison with 10 micrographs of varying. grain size in ASTM Tentative Standard E 2-39 T. A handicap to accurate evaluation of grain size by this method is the fact that it is difficult to compare photographs in a dimly lighted room with the image on the ground-glass screen, or, if the general illumination is increased so that the printed standards may be clearly seen, the contrast of the image of the unknown is decreased. It is easier to estimate grain size by comparing a micrograph of the unknown with the grain-size standards. However, photographing every specimen on which the grain size is desired is too costly in time and materials to be practicable. For hardened steels, the Shepherd or Jernkontoret fracture grain-size standards are very accurate and useful, but this method obviously cannot be applied to ductile alloys such as brass, stainless steels and austenitic heat-resistant alloys. Jeffries' method for grain-size measurements consists of counting the number

Jan 1, 1948

By F. C. Hull

The grain size of a metal or alloy is one of the most important factors determining its properties. In steels, for example, grain size affects hardenability, toughness and machinability; in brasses, grain size is related to hardness and deep-drawing quality. In the field of heat-resistant alloys, grain size has a marked effect on ductility, creep and endurance strength. In order to determine these effects, as well as to control the properties of materials, many accurate and rapid measurements of grain size must be made. This paper presents a new and improved method for the estimation of grain size. Usual Methods OF EvaluatiNg Grain Size A frequetly used method of estimating grain size is that of comparing the image of a polished and etched specimen on the ground-glass screen of a metallographic microscope with standard grain-size charts. Several types of standards are available for use with different classes of microstructures. Geometric Grids.—The Metals Handbook' has a series of hexagonal grids ranging in size from ASTM No. I to 8. Idealized Grain Networks.—Idealized grain.boundary networks for ASTM grain sizes I to 8 are included in the American Society for Testing Materials Tentative Standard E 19 - 39 T, standard Micrographs & Metals Handbook and ASTM Tentative Standard E19-3gT contain micrographs of hypo-eutectoid and hypereutectoid steels ranging in grain size from No. I to 8. The grain size of annealed brass (diameter of the average grain in millimeters) is obtained by comparison with 10 micrographs of varying. grain size in ASTM Tentative Standard E 2-39 T. A handicap to accurate evaluation of grain size by this method is the fact that it is difficult to compare photographs in a dimly lighted room with the image on the ground-glass screen, or, if the general illumination is increased so that the printed standards may be clearly seen, the contrast of the image of the unknown is decreased. It is easier to estimate grain size by comparing a micrograph of the unknown with the grain-size standards. However, photographing every specimen on which the grain size is desired is too costly in time and materials to be practicable. For hardened steels, the Shepherd or Jernkontoret fracture grain-size standards are very accurate and useful, but this method obviously cannot be applied to ductile alloys such as brass, stainless steels and austenitic heat-resistant alloys. Jeffries' method for grain-size measurements consists of counting the number

Jan 1, 1948

By Harrison R. Cooper

With problems of diminishing ore grades and increasing cost of facilities, the mineral industry is acutely aware of the needs for improving beneficiation processes. Industry and universities are directing intensive technical effort to develop- ment of techniques with potential for using digital computers in automation and process analysis. The main problem of early attempts at on-line computer process control methods was that of economics. Now, with new advances in analysis and modeling making practical application economically important, it appears that minerals beneficiation is on the threshold of a significant jump in operating technology. In reviewing this work, particular note was taken of research and development applied to fundamental processes and the significant areas of effort where operations research techniques are used for process applications leading to the current state-of-the-art. Development of data automation and on-line control methods for process industries is deferred to the next section of this volume. This section deals with computer-facilitated mathematical-modeling development and reviews this work in conjunction with associated prior fundamental research leading to development of the methods. Flotation The 1960 state-of -the -art in flotation modeling was com- piled by Arbiter and Harris in the volume, 50th Anniversary of Froth Flotation, edited by Fuerstenau1. Many workers in the field of flotation initiated their research through flotation models, and this effort has led to use of simulation and operations re search methods employing computer techniques to facilitate advance of this work. The flotation model of Imaizumi and Inoue, published with supporting data in 1962, was expanded in 1968 with the objective of developing a basis for process automation.2,3 The fundamental work of Woodburn and Loveday in 1965 has led to techniques applicable to flotation circuit design optimization.4 This analysis is described in this volume by Woodburn in conjunction with King, Buchalter, and Piper. Niemi5,6 derived models for dynamics of a flotation circuit which were employed in developing a model describing

Jan 1, 1969

By G. R. Kotler, W. A. Tiller, W. C. Johnston

Experiments carried out on 100 g samples of molten tin and Sn-Pb alloys showed that the magnitude of the field strength, H, does not effect the supercooling, aTn, at which the initial nucleus of solid forms. However, the nuwlber of nuclei forming per cc, n, is found to increase greatly with H for fixed ATN and to increase with ATN for fixed H. The value of n increases greatly with the presence of solute and is found to he indefiendent of the cooling rate of the simples. Further, the most effective time for stirring to enhance n is immediately following the initiation of recalescence. The effect of inducing nucleation with the aid of a mechanical impact both in the presence and absence of stirring has also been studied. All proposed mechanisms for the enhancement of n by physical means seem to be inadequate in accounting for these results. IN any real nucleation experiment there are two effects influencing the results that would not be predieted from classical homogeneous nucleation theory. These may be separated into chemical and mechanical effects. The chemical effects are twofold. 1) Nucleation catalysts are present which enhance the nucleation frequency of new grains over that predicted by classical homogeneous nucleation theory.' 2) Solute will restrain the growth of nuclei so that many others may form.2,3 The mechanical effects are also two-fold. 1) Vibration (sonic or ultrasonic) of the freezing liquid enhances the nucleation frequency of new grains over that given by the chemical effects alone.4-6 2) Macroscopic fluid-flow effects produce the same effect as l).'7' It is also possible to influence the nucleation experiment by certain physical effects such as the application of electric and magnetic fields.9 From classical homogeneous nucleation theory one would predict the following relationship between the nucleation rate, N1 (number of nuclei formed per unit volume per unit time), and bath supercooling, AT, for an isothermal experiment.

Jan 1, 1963

By John J. McCabe

INTRODUCTION Over the years, Congress has written into the Internal Revenue Code various provisions aimed at lessening at least one financial burden faced by taxpayers in the mining industry - the federal income tax burden. These provisions include the election to deduct exploration expenses, the election to defer deduction of development expenses, and the percentage depletion deduction. Careful tax planning from the very beginning of a mining venture is essential in taking maximum advantage of these tax benefits. A major decision to be made is the choice of organizational structure. (For a more detailed discussion of this subject, see McCabe, John J., "Developing Structures for Investments in Mineral Property," New York University Institute on Federal Taxation, 42 NYU 24, 1984). One such structure is the use of multiple corporations, with mining activities conducted by one corporation and nonmining activities, such as manufacturing, financing and administration, conducted by the other corporation. This technique, which will be discussed in detail below, can be particularly advantageous in delaying recapture of previously deducted exploration expenses and in maximizing depletion deductions. TAX BENEFITS IN MINING Exploration Subject to certain restrictions discussed below, exploration expenditures (i.e., expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year for the purpose of ascertaining the existence, location, extent, or quality of any deposit of ore or other mineral, and paid or incurred before the beginning of the development state of the mine are deductible at the election of the taxpayer (Section 617(a)).* Were it not for this option, exploration expenditures would be required to be capitalized and recovered through depletion, after production begins. Exploration of a mineral deposit can be very costly and may not result in commercial production for some time. If the taxpayer has income to he offset by the deductions, a mining venture can usually be structured in such a way as to allow the offset of mining losses against the other income. With today's high interest rates, this election can be quite valuable in present value terms. Corporate and noncorporate taxpayers are subject to different restrictions on this tax benefit. Corporations may elect to deduct only 85 percent of eligible exploration expenditures (Section 291(b)). (The Tax Reform Act of 1984 reduced this to 80 percent effective for expenditures after December 31, 1984, in taxable years ending after such date). The remaining 15 percent (20 percent after December 31, 1984) is capitalized and recovered at the same rate as five-year ACRS property (Section 291(b)). Individual taxpayers are not subject to this 85 percent rule; however, any amount deducted in excess of ten-year straightline amortization is a tax preference item for individuals (Section 57(a)(5)). Individuals may avoid the tax preference by electing to capitalize exploration expenditures and amortize them over ten years (Section 58(i)). In order to prevent the taxpayer from, in effect, converting ordinary income into capital gain by selling property that has given rise to exploration expense deductions, the Code requires recapture of such deductions upon the occurrence of certain events (Section 617): 1. Upon disposition of the property, adjusted exploration expenditures are recaptured to the extent of gain realized on the disposition (Section 617(d)). 2. If the property is leased, the lessor is disallowed any depletion deduction until his adjusted exploration expenditures have been recaptured in the form of foregone depletion deductions (Section 617(c)).

Jan 1, 1985

By T. Saburi, C. M. Wayman

The massive and martensitic transformations in ß Cu-Ga alloys were studied by optical microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy and diffraction. These types of transformation are distinct and do not merge into one another. An internal fine structure due to stacking faults was found in both the massive phase (m) and the martensite, but the origin of the faults is believed to be different in each case. The faults in the martensite are due to the lattice invariant or "second" shear of the phenom-enological theory, while those in the are probably growth faults and deformation faults arising from the transformation volume change. Evidence is presented for ordering in the ß phase prior to transformation into martensite, and the crystal structures of and ß' and ßi martensites are discussed. THE results from some previous investigations1,2 have led to the suggestion that martensitic and massive transformations have certain common characteristics. It presently seems established that massive transformations like martensitic transformations are essentially diffusionless,1,2 but unlike martensitic transformations, when a new phase forms massively there is no shape change or surface relief.= If the massive-type transformation is crystallographically similar to martensitic transformations, one would expect a fine structure as a result of the lattice invariant shear4 which is a part of the transformation mechanism. The existence of such a fine structure (i.e., slip, twinning, or faulting), if any, can be verified by transmission electron microscopy, and thus the present investigation was undertaken to compare the internal structure of massively and martensitically formed phases in Cu-Ga alloys which were derived from a parent of the same composition. The transformation characteristics of ß Cu-Ga alloys were also studied. The bcc ß phase in the Cu-Ga system, Fig. 1, is stable above 616oc.' Depending upon the cooling rate, ß Cu-Ga alloys can undergo three different types of phase transformations. The ß phase of eutectoid composition (23.7 at. pct Ga) decomposes into the ? phase (hcp) and the phase (complex cubic) by means of a eutectoid reaction. When the cooling rate is increased so that the decomposition of 0 into [ and ? is suppressed, the ß phase transforms into a nonequilibrium hcp phase, herein denoted ?m by a process of very rapid growth called a "massive" transformation. At even faster quenching rates the massive transformation can be suppressed and the ß transforms martensitically. Massive transformations, apparently similar to those in the Cu-Ga system, have also been studied in the Cu-Zn2,6-8 and Ag-Cd systems.9 Definitive characteristics if the Massive Transformations in 0 Cu-Ga Alloys1 1) The most remarkable feature of the massive transformation in Cu-Ga is that there is no bulk composition change on transformation. According to Massalski,1 the resulting [, phase is a supersaturated extension of the equilibrium [ phase. The lattice parameters continue the trend exhibited

Jan 1, 1965

By Huey-Lin Luo, T. R. Anantharaman, William Klement

Two new metastable phases have been obtained in Au-Ge alloys by rapid cooling from the melt. One is of the hep structure with near-ideal axial ratio and may be considered a Hume-Rothery phase. The other has a complex tetragonal structure (a = 11.627Å and c = 22.191Å for the Au60Ge40 alloy) and may be looked upon as a superlattice made up of forty-four fee unit cells. Alloys with the tetragonal phase are charactevized by marked preferred orientation. The metastable constitution of the Au-Ge alloys is discussed with reference to the rate of cooling from the melt. THE Au-Ge equilibrium diagram features a rather deep eutectic near 27 at. pet Ge with a maximum solid solubility of 3.2 at. pet Ge in gold and is similar to the Ag-Ge, Ag-Si, and Au-Si diagrams.' The present study of the effects of rapid cooling from the melt on the structure of Au-Ge alloys constitutes an extension of similar investigations2-8 in this laboratory on alloys of noble metals with germanium and silicon. Nonequilibrium hep structures have so far been obtained by quenching Ag-Ge2, 3 and Ag-Si4, 5 alloys from the melt; an Au-Si alloy of approximately eutectic composition has been found6 to solidify in a noncrystalline state. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES Twenty-nine alloys prepared from gold of 99.9+ pet and germaium of 99.999 + pet purity were investigated. The method of alloy preparation, the technique of rapid quenching from the melt, and the X-ray diffraction procedures were similar to those described previously.3, 4 Essentially, small sections (-20 mg) of thin alloy rods (-1 mm diam) were rapidly heated up to 1200°C in a graphite crucible under argon and the liquid alloy ejected by a helium blast onto a polished copper strip held on the inner periphery of a rotating wheel. The resulting thin foils were examined with or without the copper substrate in a G.E. X-ray Diffractometer or in a 114.6-cm-diam Debye-Scherrer camera. RESULTS Table I gives the constitution of liquid-quenched Au-Ge alloys, as estimated from intensities of X-ray reflections from the corresponding phases, viz., a (fee solid solution), ß (hep phase), ? (tetragonal phase), and diamond-cubic (dc) germanium. Despite unavoidable variations in the quenching rates, the proportions of the phases in different alloys were generally reproducible and stable at room temperature. There was no evidence of quenching strain, since the a doublets were well-resolved in high-angle Debye-Scherrer reflections in all cases except where stacking faults in the a fee and ß hep structures contributed to X-ray line broadening. The ß and ? metastable phases showed signs of decomposition to the equilibrium a phase and germanium only after a few hours annealing above 100°C. A few alloys around the eutectic composi-

Jan 1, 1965

By R. V. Norris, E. W. Parker

Edward W. Parker,* Philadelphia, Pa.—At the New York meeting of the Institute a year ago, Mr. R. V. Norris presented a paper on anthracite mining costs, in which he gave the results of an intensive study of this subject by the Engineers' Committee of the United States Fuel Administration. Within the last 30 days, the Federal Trade Commission has issued an official report on the same subject, which covers a longer period of time and comprises statistics of realization values and margins that were pot comprehended in the paper by Mr. Norris. As, however, the data utilized by Mr. Norris formed also a part of the basis for the report of the Federal Trade Commission, a brief digest of the latter may not be out of place at this meeting. The report of the Federal Trade Commission covers primarily the two calendar years 1917 and 1918, divided into five periods which furnish opportunity for the study of how the influence of certain definite factors affected either the cost of production or the price, or both, during the 24 months. The first period, January to April, 1917, which may be considered the basic period, comprised the 4 months in 1917 during which the wage agreement of May, 1916, without modification, was in effect. During this period, the labor cost on fresh-mined coal is placed by the Commission's report at $1.79 per gross ton, the total cost at $2.66, the average realization at $3.29, and the "margin" (sales realization over total f.o.b. mine cost) at $0.63. The second period covers the four months from May 1 to August 31, during which time the first of the supplemental wage agreements (supplemental to the agreement of 1916) was in effect. It was also the period during which the summer discounts were in effect and when prices were practically fixed by a voluntary agreement between the operators and the Federal Trade Commission. It was, further, the period in which the 75 cents differential on prepared sizes permitted to the individual operators by the Federal Trade Commission began; at that time, also, on account of war conditions an unusually large quantity of steam sizes were marketed at exceptionally good prices. On account of the two latter conditions, not explained in the Commission's report, the "margin"1 on operating

Jan 1, 1920

By J. M. Campbell, T. S. Buxton

The most widely used methods of predicting the volumetric properties of gas are based on the principle of corresponding states, which asserts that the compressibility factor is a universal function of reduced temperature and pressure. Previous studies have shown that the acentric factor, as proposed by Pitzer, l is an important addition to reduced pressure and reduced temperature as factors affecting the compressibility factor. Results of this study indicate that, if the pseudocritical temperature and pressure used to determine the reduced conditions are adequately predicted, characterization of natural gas-carbon dioxide mixtures with the acentric factor will allow reliable determination of the compressibility factor. Comparisons of predicted and experimental compressibility factors have shown that the pseudo-critical constant rules of Stewart, Burkhardt and Voo 2 are satisfactory for hydrocarbon mixtures. However, these rules fail to predict the pseduo-critical constants for hydrocarbon-carbon dioxide mixtures. Based on graphically determined pseudocritical temperatures for binary hydrocarbon-carbon dioxide mixtures, a correlation which gives the required correction to the Stewart, Burkhardt and Voo rules was prepared and a compressibility factor prediction technique was proposed. To test the proposed technique, compressibility factors for live mixtures of methane, carbon dioxide and either ethne or propane were experimentally determined at 100, 130 and 160F and pressures up to 7,026 psia. The predicted and experimental compressibility factors for these live mixtures had an average absolute deviation of 0.55 percent. INTRODUCTION Two-parameter generalized correlations based on the principle of corresponding states (PCS) are presently available for reliably predicting the compressibility factor of lean natural gas, i.e., natural gas with low concentrations of hydrocarbons heavier than methane. When these same correlations are used for mixtures of natural gas and carbon dioxide, large deviations between actual and predicted compressibility factors are observed. This study was undertaken to provide a means for accurately predicting the compressibility factor for such mixtures. In the past, two avenues of approach have been employed to extend the applicability of the PCS. The first has been to introduce additional parameters. The second has been to develop combination rules for predicting pseudocritical constants which do not suffer from the limitations of the commonly used molal average constants. In this study, both of these approaches have been considered and employed to arrive at a method for predicting the compressibility factor of mixtures of hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide. SELECTION OF A THIRD PARAMETER Failure of the original PCS to predict the compressibility factor for all pure gases, regardless of their mass, shape or polar moment, has led to the introduction of additional parameters into the PCS. Parameters have been introduced to correct for quantum deviations,3-5 non-spherical or globular shapes6-9 and for polar moments.8-12 In addition to these parameters which are based on some microscopic property and intended to correct for some specific cause of deviation, more general parameters based on some bulk property have also been introduced.1913-16 To use additional parameters to correct for each of the possible causes of deviation among the individual constituents of a gas mixture would require a rather complex form of the PCS. To maintain the PCS in as simple a form as possible, it is more desirable to have a single third parameter which is based on some bulk property influenced by several of the factors causing deviations. The third parameter selected for use in this study is a factor originally proposed by Pitzer.9

By John M. Kelly

New Mexico produced 38,882,342 bbl. of oil in 1943, and regained seventh place among the oil-producing states. This production was an increase of 6,968,526 bbl., or 21.8 per cent, over the figure for 1942. The maximum per-well allowable on Jan. I, 1943, was 38 bbl. daily and at the end of the year this figure had been increased to 48 bbl. Allocations as set by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission closely followed recommendations by the Petroleum Administrator for War and the average daily pipe-line runs were 106,476 bbl., being within 2.2 per cent of these allocations. Production for Lea County was 33,043,925 bbl.; Eddy County, 5,405,-967 bbl.; northwestern New Mexico, 432,070 bbl., and Chaves County, 380 barrels. Drilling activity for New Mexico in 1943 was only 75 per cent of that in 1942, with 255 completions. Of these completions 180 were oil wells, 10 gas wells and 65 dry holes. The ratio of dry holes to producers, more than I to 3, was the greatest in recent years. Of these dry holes, 46 were drilled within the boundaries of proven . areas while 19 were wildcats. Wildcat drilling during 1943 was responsible for the discovery of four new oil fields and one new gas field, as well as three extensions to existing proration areas. At the close of the year the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission had designated 64 areas as proven for oil and/or gas. The Monument area was again New Mexico's largest producing oil field, with an annual production of 7,228,855 bbl. Next was Eunice, with 6,461,044 bbl., followed by Vacuum with 4,946,110 bbl. IIobbs, ranking fourth, with 3,799,114 bbl., was the leader in total recovery with an accumulated production of 104,180,53I bbl., or more than 10,000 bbl. per acre to date. Drilling activity in Lea County accounted for completion of 67 oil wells, 2 gas wells and 24 dry holes. One of these oil wells was the discovery well of a new area and three extended proven areas. The most active drilling campaign in the county was again in the Maljamar area, where 18 oil wells were completed. The Maljamar Cooperative Repressuring Agreement affected 141 producing wells, and operations were a decided success, more than 85 per cent of the gas produced being returned to formation. The new oil field for Lea County was designated as the San Simon area although boundaries have not been established to date. Discovery well for this area was the Skelly Oil Company's State U. No. I, in theNE. NE. K of sec. 5, T.22 S.,R.ssE. This well was drilled to a total depth of 4183 ft. and plugged back to 4138 ft. after encountering bottom-hole water. Initial production was 124 bbl. per day on the pump. This oil is 37.4' gravity and has a sulphur content of I per cent. Productian is from Yates sand of Permian age. The Lynn area of southern Lea cbunty was extended 145 miles to the northwest

Jan 1, 1944

By John M. Kelly

New Mexico produced 38,882,342 bbl. of oil in 1943, and regained seventh place among the oil-producing states. This production was an increase of 6,968,526 bbl., or 21.8 per cent, over the figure for 1942. The maximum per-well allowable on Jan. I, 1943, was 38 bbl. daily and at the end of the year this figure had been increased to 48 bbl. Allocations as set by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission closely followed recommendations by the Petroleum Administrator for War and the average daily pipe-line runs were 106,476 bbl., being within 2.2 per cent of these allocations. Production for Lea County was 33,043,925 bbl.; Eddy County, 5,405,-967 bbl.; northwestern New Mexico, 432,070 bbl., and Chaves County, 380 barrels. Drilling activity for New Mexico in 1943 was only 75 per cent of that in 1942, with 255 completions. Of these completions 180 were oil wells, 10 gas wells and 65 dry holes. The ratio of dry holes to producers, more than I to 3, was the greatest in recent years. Of these dry holes, 46 were drilled within the boundaries of proven . areas while 19 were wildcats. Wildcat drilling during 1943 was responsible for the discovery of four new oil fields and one new gas field, as well as three extensions to existing proration areas. At the close of the year the New Mexico Oil Conservation Commission had designated 64 areas as proven for oil and/or gas. The Monument area was again New Mexico's largest producing oil field, with an annual production of 7,228,855 bbl. Next was Eunice, with 6,461,044 bbl., followed by Vacuum with 4,946,110 bbl. IIobbs, ranking fourth, with 3,799,114 bbl., was the leader in total recovery with an accumulated production of 104,180,53I bbl., or more than 10,000 bbl. per acre to date. Drilling activity in Lea County accounted for completion of 67 oil wells, 2 gas wells and 24 dry holes. One of these oil wells was the discovery well of a new area and three extended proven areas. The most active drilling campaign in the county was again in the Maljamar area, where 18 oil wells were completed. The Maljamar Cooperative Repressuring Agreement affected 141 producing wells, and operations were a decided success, more than 85 per cent of the gas produced being returned to formation. The new oil field for Lea County was designated as the San Simon area although boundaries have not been established to date. Discovery well for this area was the Skelly Oil Company's State U. No. I, in theNE. NE. K of sec. 5, T.22 S.,R.ssE. This well was drilled to a total depth of 4183 ft. and plugged back to 4138 ft. after encountering bottom-hole water. Initial production was 124 bbl. per day on the pump. This oil is 37.4' gravity and has a sulphur content of I per cent. Productian is from Yates sand of Permian age. The Lynn area of southern Lea cbunty was extended 145 miles to the northwest

Jan 1, 1944

By Myers, J. F.

The purpose of the mill tests reported herein, was to determine the relative power efficiency of fast and slow rod mill speeds on the ores of the Tennessee Copper Co. The tests were carried out at the lsabella Mill of the Tennessee Copper Co. under normal operating conditions. Every effort was made to keep the ore supply and other conditions constant, but it will be noted that some slight variation did occur. The open circuit 6 by 9 rod mill, and ore, used in these tests have been previously described.' Four motor drive pinions were available and the tests were performed in the following manner: each pinion was used to drive the mill for a period of one week. Constant sampling prevailed during the test run, and a composite sample for each speed test was made. Realizing that some slight liner wear took place during the four-week test-run, and that some slight variation of the ore may have taken place, a second and then a third series of four-week test- runs were made with the four different pinions. The screen analysis of each of the thee-week run samples at the various speeds were composited and the results are shown in Table 1. The authors feel that the 12 weeks of operation consumed during these test-runs would represent fairly the effect of each mill speed. The data of line 37 show that within the error of sampling and plant operation, the tons of minus 65-mesh material generated per horsepower hour was the same at all four speeds.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. F. Boericke, T. H. Garnett

The Wisconsin zinc district, or the Upper Mississippi lead and zinc district as it is also termed, lies in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin, and embraces adjacent portions of Illinois and Iowa. It includes Iowa, Grant, and Lafayette counties in Wisconsin, and Jo Davies country in Illinois. In Iowa, Dubuque formerly produced considerable lead, but there has been little mining there in recent years. The map, Fig. 1, shows the entire district, withroads, railways, streams, and the various towns, or "camps," around which the mines are clustered. The hatchwork indicates the areas in which lead and zinc have been mined. The district is about 60 mi. (96 km.) north and south and about 40 mi. (64 km.) east and west. Not all of the territory is mineral bearing, and there are considerable areas that are believed to be barren. The grouping of the mines is patchy and irregular, though certain broad zoncs of mineralization extend almost the full width of the district, as from Mineral Point west through Mifflin and Livingston, and from Shullsburg west through New Diggings and Hazel Green. It is worth noting that the best mines of the district have, to date, been found within 10 mi. ease or west of the fourth principal meridian line, thus lying within a long, narrow, north-and-south belt extending the length of the district. In a field as large as the Wisconsin, which has only within comparatively recent time been worked intensively for zinc, the chances are good for opening new and important orebodies in parts of the district not yet, or insufficiently, prospected. However; the prospecting has been most successful around, or adjacent to, the old lead diggings of nearly a century ago, and the camps that were well known then are still centers of activity. In their order of importance they are: New Diggings, Ben-ton, Mifflin-Livingston, Galena, Linden, Hazel Green, Shullsburg, and Highland. The district is one of the best farming districts in Wisconsin, with deep fertile soil. The farms are large and well improved, and the towns are modern and prosperous. Railroad facilities are good and proximity to Chicago is an asset. Mining is usually done on a leasing system of 10

Jan 1, 1920

• The Venezuelan Trade Mission to the United States announced that Bethlehem Steel Corp. will begin exporting iron ore from its El Pao concession, south of the Orinoco River in Venezuela, in about three months. The ore will be transported by rail from the mines to barges on the Orinoco and transshipped to ore vessels at the coast for shipment to the Sparrows Point, Md., plant. The Latin American business men warned that projected increases in the United States tariff on petroleum imports from Venezuela would force that country into bilateral trade agreements with other countries and would mean drastic curtailment of Venezuelan imports from this country. •Bethlehem, South American Gold and Platinum Co., and U. S. Steel are investigating the possibilities of securing American foodstuff for their South American mining camp commissaries through the International Basic Economy Corp. IBEC buys in quantity to supply its subsidiary companies operating in Venezuela and Brazil. The mining companies will rid themselves of this burdensome task as well as realizing a saving from the bulk purchases of IBEC. •Oliver Iron Mining Co. has begun construction of a fine ore and taconite agglomeration plant at Virginia, Minn. It is expected to be ready in six months. The plant will be used to experiment with the making of clinker cakes and egg-sized lumps by sintering machines and nodulizing kilns respectively; about 1 million tons per year will be produced. • Roof pinning has been adopted at the iron mines of TCI, near Birmingham, to support overlying strata as mining progresses. Favorable results have been obtained in that dilution of the ore has been reduced by 50% which is attributable to this method of supporting the roof. •An American mining engineering team has gone to Turkey for a two-year assignment assisting Turkish government agencies in the $45 million ECA development, mechanization, and construction of cleaning plants for the Zonguldak coal field, 200 miles east of Istanbul on the Black Sea. The group consists of James Beeley, John E. Good, John S. Lambright, David Renshaw, and Charles R. Weir, all of the Paul Weir Co. •Arthur F. Taggart describes a new way of training engineers by emphasis on broad, basic engineering courses on page 460 of this issue. •Lawrence T. Tierney, chairman of the National Bituminous Coal Advisory Council, released a report stating that the increase in oil imports since the latter part of 194$ has caused significant damage to the U. S. fuel economy. It has reduced the strength of and employment opportunities in the coal, domestic petroleum, and transportation industries, as well as in related service and supplier fields. •Women, camels, and donkeys are the beasts of burden of the Sahara, according-to the UNESCO World Review. •Increased demand for magnesium sheet in airplane construction ana other phases of the national security program have led Alcoa to establish a sheet magnesium rolling division at its New Kensington, Pa., works which will begin operation shortly. Novel prospecting methods being used by the USGS in its search for uranium include: shock-mounted instruments in light trucks,. Geiger-counter probes lowered into augur holes, and experimental airborne prospecting.

Jan 4, 1950

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 R. G. Knickerbocker, A. G. Starliper, H. Kenworthy, C. H. Gorski

This report describes the progress made in the research work on the development of a new method for preparing lower-cost titanium tetrachloride and preparing titanium oxide pigment. One of the requirements for the commercial production of ductile titanium in the process used by the Bureau of Mines is a source of lower-cost titanium tetrachloride. The production of ductile titanium by a modification of the Kroll1 process, recently developed by the Bureau of Mines, requires such a source of lower-cost titanium tetrachloride to make it commercially feasible. This report describes the progress of work done at the Mississippi Valley Experiment Station at Rolla, Missouri, on the development of a new method for preparing titanium tetrachloride. During the course of this research a new method for preparing pigment-grade titanium oxide was developed. At present, the price of technical-grade titanium tetrachloride is $0.32 a pound, which makes the price of the contained titanium $1.28 a pound.2 In addition, the titanium tetrachloride must be purified further before it is suitable for processing into metal, thus making its cost still higher.3 There were 8,562 tons of rutile produced in the United States in 1947, which was 900 tons in excess of that consumed. In addition there were 13,937 tons in various stocks, exclusive of the stocks in the Government strategic stock pile. No estimates of the domestic production of rutile are given for any of the prewar years. However, in 1939, 442 tons of rutile were imported as compared to 14,307 tons in 1947. One of the reasons for the large increase in the production of rutile is the working of the Florida beach sands for ilmenite, during which a considerable amount of rutile is produced as a by-product. It would be of value to determine methods for utilizing the excess production of rutile. The Arkansas titanium deposits in Hot Spring County produced commercial-grade rutile concentrates from 1933 to 1942. These were sold mainly to England, Germany, and Russia.

Jan 1, 1950

PRESIDENT WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS CHARLES F. RAND,1 NEW YORK, N. Y. BENJAMIN B. THAYER,2 NEW YORK, N.Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT PHILIP N. MOORE,1 ST. Louis, Mo. 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 6, 1915

By W. S. Cavender

The Round Mountain mining district, Nye County, Ne- vada, was discovered in 1906 on claims owned by Lewis D. Gordon. Initial mining operations uncovered gold veins of spectacular richness, and within a few days of discovery, Gordon sold his controlling interest for some $87,000. From this sale emerged the Round Mountain Mining Co., predecessor of Nevada Porphyry Gold Mines, Inc., the latter destined to become the major property owner in the area. Vein mining in the district continued sporadically into the early 1930s, yielding 9.3 Mg (330,000 oz) of gold plus substantial silver credits from approximately 626 kt (690,000 st) of ore. In addition to the lode deposits, the early miners recognized the placer potential in the alluvial fan material accumulated around the west and north sides of Round Mountain itself. Intermittent placer operations were carried out for a number of years, and in the 1940s and 1950s, Round Mountain Gold Dredging Co. worked the placers under a lease from Nevada Porphyry Gold Mines. The last placer operation terminated in 1959 when it, like some of its predecessors, proved uneconomic. Total placer production for the district is estimated at 3657 km (4 million yd) of gravel containing 59 Mg (210,000 oz) of gold and possibly 2.0 to 2.3 Mg (70,000 to 80,000 oz) of silver. Round Mountain is a small hill situated on the east flank of the Toquima Range in central Nevada. The hill is com- posed of relatively flat-lying Tertiary rhyolitic ash flow tuffs, which overlie Paleozoic metasediments and Cretaceous granites. Throughout the surrounding Round Mountain mining district, most of the known gold ores occur in the tuffs, although the metasediments and granites are also mineralized. Mineralization is structurally controlled, principally by a series of northwest-trending shears and shattered zones. Vein, stockwork, and disseminated ores occur, usually containing simple quartz-pyrite-gold mineral assemblages. The gold itself is electrum, having a silver content of 30% to 40%. In September, 1967, Elwood Dietrich, a prospector and mine promoter, obtained a purchase option on the 4452 ha (1 1,000 acres) of mineral rights held at Round Mountain by Nevada Porphyry Gold Mines. The original option had a buy-out price of $1 million and was established through Dietrich's friendship with officers of Nevada Porphyry. In April, 1968, Dietrich conveyed his option to Ordrich Gold Reserves Co., a partnership created by a group of west coast investors, mostly employees of the airline industry. There- after, Ordrich invested considerable funds in trying to test and develop the property, but soon recognized the need to seek financial and technical support from the mining industry. In December, 1968, Dietrich contacted Wayne Cavender, then Regional Geologist, Southwest, for Copper Range Exploration Company (CRX) in Tucson, Arizona, and made a data presentation. Shortly thereafter, Cavender was appointed Manager of Exploration and Chief Geologist for Copper Range Co. (parent company of CRX), New York City, and he asked C. Phillips Purdy, CRX Regional Geologist, Northwest, to make an initial property examination. Purdy's one-week field study took place in March, 1969, and resulted in a recommendation that CRX pursue its investigation of the property. The presence of low-grade gold mineralization in both the alluvial gravels and in the bedrock was verifiable, but the placer was deemed to have the greater immediate economic mining potential. At that time, gold was in the $1.41/g ($40 per oz) price range. Working from Purdy's information, Cavender decided to attempt acquisition of the property, and the first in a long series of negotiations was initiated with Ordrich. Basically, CRX felt that the placer had a promising potential for several reasons, including (I) past operators had recovered free gold but not the gold contained in the pebble fraction of the gravels; (2) past operations appeared to have been ineffectively designed or managed and not costefficient; and (3) the price of gold appeared to be poised for an upward move. Negotiations with Ordrich were prolonged and difficult, with CRX competing against several ma* mining companies, but finally an agreement was reached, effective June I, 1970. Gold was then back to $35. It is believed that, in

Jan 1, 1985

There were two official representatives of Foreign Governments as guests at the Chicago Meeting. One was Frederick Goransson, managing director of the Saudvikens Steel Works, who represented the Jernkonteret, the Iron and Steel In-stitute of Sweden, and who came to this country especially for our meeting. The other distinguished guest was Commander Toublet, who repre-sented the French Embassy. Commander Toublet delivered a most polished address at the Banquet, dealing with the felicitous relations existing between this country and France for the last 150 years. Com-mander Toublet was accompanied by Mrs. Toublet, who won the hearts of all the ladies present, whose guest she was.

Jan 11, 1919

By L. T. Leyson, U. C. Tainton

Some time ago, at ameeting of the Institute Prof. J. W. Richards1 said, "I take exception to the statement that all the factors in the production of electrolytic zinc were known long ago.... There is possible in my opinion an improvement of perhaps 50 per cent. in the new electrolytic processes." An examination of the literature of the subject will show the justness of Professor Richards' contention. The work of the earlier investigators was carried on in the shadow of difficulties that, today, are hardly more than memories. We seldom hear now of zinc sponge, that bête noir of the electrolytic-zinc pioneers. Zinc sponge was the name given to a peculiar, soft, black, non-adherent form of zinc deposit that was utterly useless for melting into ingot form. At the big plant at Cockle Creek, New South Wales, in 1897, Edgar Ashcroft2 said that the solution in the plant would suddenly, and without ascertainable cause, go' "bad" and begin to deposit spongy zinc. The most delicate, even spectroscopic, methods of analysis were unable to detect any difference between "good" solution and "bad" solution; either form might change to the other on being kept for a while. When it is added that an outbreak of this insidious disease (which appeared to be infectious, or at least contagious) could be dealt with only by discarding the solution and washing out all tanks and pipe lines, some idea may be gathered of the troubles of the zinc electrometallurgist in what may be spoken of as the "sponge age" of electrolytic zinc. Thanks to the efforts of a number of investigators, we are today able to diagnose with considerable certitude the nature of the malady that puzzled Ashcroft and his co-workers. The researches of Mylius and

Jan 1, 1924