Search Documents

By Carl Zapffe

The manganese ore reserves of Lake Superior, because of their location and nature, have recently achieved a rnarked degree of importance as compared with the world's manganese reserves. To appreciate fully the significance and the adequacy of this reserve, one should understand how such ores are used, where obtainable, the quantity used, possible avenues for increasing use or application, and the chemical and physical characteristics of the available ores. Only with those data at hand, is it possible to arrive at a convincing answer to the question whether the reserves of manganiferous iron ores are adequate to satisfy the annual demand of the presently known iron ores for the full life of the latter. That they should last is vital; and to ascertain whether they will last was the purpose of the present investigation, which marks the first attempt to study these Lake Superior reserves. The Lake Superior region possesses and supplies the full assortment of iron ores needed for the conversion of ore into pig iron and steel ingots and castings. These ores are named bessemer, low-phosphorus and high-phosphorus non-bessemer, manganiferous and siliceous; and to include the term aluminiferous would be in keeping with the most recent nomenclature adopted by some dealers. About 35 or 40 years ago, perhaps less, most of the Lake Superior ore which is being used today was the material then considered either useless or too poor for immediate use; perhaps it was considered no more than a future reserve. An examination of the analyses of ores and the guarantees in the sales of those older times convince one that the opinions of those days must have been governed by only small differences in analyses. Some grades of ores used today in substantial amounts were used most sparingly only one or two decades ago. The relative quantities of the different ores used are ever changing; and, bit by bit, the metallurgy and the opinions are ever changing and the prejudices against certain ores and practices decrease. This is unquestionably more pronounced for the manganiferous ores than for any other kind. If, when using the present data for manganiferous ores, we will only be content to make allowances for the same experiences other kinds of ores

Jan 1, 1927

By W. W. Lowry, G. C. Eggleston, W. E. Keck

THE potential iron ores of Michigan can be classified from the stand- point of the predominant impurities into siliceous, sulphurous and phosphorous ores. Research on the flotation of each of these classes of ore was carried out in the following manner. The flotative properties of the valuable minerals of iron and of the worthless and deleterious ones were first determined under carefully controlled conditions. This information was then applied to synthetic mixtures of these minerals, which simulated the potential ores. Finally, data obtained during the two foregoing stages of the investigation were used in the flotation beneficiation of samples of the potential ores. Hematite is the most important mineral of iron in each of the above classes of iron ores. This paper deals with a study of that mineral in the very nearly pure state. There are two varieties of the mineral-specular hematite and massive hematite. The latter is the principal variety, but the former is an important mineral of iron in some of the potential ores. Because of this condition, flotation research was performed with both varieties. This research consisted essentially of: (1) a survey of the literature on hematite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure massive hematite, (3) the preparation of pure specular hematite, (4) the development of a laboratory procedure and (5) flotation experimentation. For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotative properties of hematite can be summarized as follows: Specular hematite has been readily floated with terpineol and sodium oleate or heptylic acid1. Further, hematite has been likewise floated with a proprietary frother and oleic acid or other soluble oils2. Finally, lead nitrate, copper sulphate, silver nitrate, chromium nitrate, mercuric chloride, ferric

Jan 1, 1937

By Arthur Gibson

Synopsis.-A new feature in coal mining, where the coal is to be conveyed from a high to a lower elevation and the topography of the country is such as to preclude surface haulage. The distance from the mine to the tipple inn this instance is about 3,000 ft. and the difference in elevation between the terminals 321 ft., of which 225 ft. occurs in the first 1,300 ft. from the loading terminal. A mine car was designed especially for this plant consisting of two tramway buckets on one pair of trucks, the buckets being lifted from the truck, attached to the train line automatically, and conveyed to the tipple. THROUGHOUT eastern Utah, in the Book Cliff range and the Wasatch plateau, the coal-bearing measures are admirably exposed, in the bold and for the most part bare escarpments. The geology is simple, the rocks being almost flat, or at the most dipping not more than 10 per cent. The coal beds occur in a formation, or group of strata, consisting of sandstone and shale, 600 to 800 ft. thick, which has been correlated with the Mesaverde formation of the Cretaceous. Above this occurs about 2,000 ft. of alternate layers of buff-colored sandstone and shale. Below the coal lie the Colorado shales, which are estimated to be about 1,500 ft. thick, below which are the red rocks of the Jura-Trias. As a rule the coal beds all clip in a northerly direction and under the high mountain. The canyons opening out into what is known as Castle valley all cut the coal beds, and the beds rising in the direction of the valley are found frequently high up on the escarpment, often as much as 1,000 ft. above the valley. The surface features of the region have an economic bearing on the availability of the coal. The valleys and gulches in the Colorado shale extend out from the coal areas across the edge of the plain, so that it is impracticable to build transportation lines parallel with the boundaries of the field within several miles of the coal land. It will be necessary, therefore, to build branch lines up to the coal lands from points on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad traversing Castle valley.

Jan 10, 1914

By J. Charles Miller

Natural carbon dioxide has recently been exploited in the United States in consequence of oil and gas developments in the Western States and the growing demand by transcontinental and transoceanic shippers for solid carbon dioxidc. The discovery by drilling of commercial deposits resulted in consideration of its geographic and geologic distribution and occurrence. Its wide distribution in nature is evidenced by its occurrence in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The question of origin of carbon dioxide involves consideration of theories similar to those concerning natural hydrocarbons, although available evidence favors an inorganic rather than an organic source. Areas favorable to development of commercia1 production appear to be those in proximity to igneous rocks or in the vicinity of decadent volcanic activity, where, it has long been known, the gas is evolved either free or dissolved in the waters of fumaroles, geysers or mud pots. Structure contour maps are presented showing the Wagon Mound anticline in New Mexico and the Farnham anticline, Utah. A well drilled on the latter supplies gas to a 20-ton plant manufacturing solid carbon dioxide at Wellington, Utah, on the Denver and Rio Grande R.R., whence it is shipped to surrounding territory and to the West Coast. Before funds are invested in a plant for the manufacture of liquid or solid carbon dioxide, whether supplied by wells or springs, an effort to ascertain the volume of gas available is advisable. The use of present methods of estimation of gas reserves with modifications to account for the quantity absorbed by any water present in the producing formation is recommended. The Farnham anticline is used as an example and computations are made of the probable volume of gas originally present in the structure. No attempt was made to compute reserves in the Niland area, California, for the reason that in such areas it is believed the volume is indeterminate. Introduction Carbon dioxide, in liquid and solid form, has found a wide variety of uses other than its primary application in carbonating beverages. It is now used in more than 40 different ways, ranging from cooling or freezing to use in gas or liquid form for mechanical purposes, chemical industry, explosive, fire extinction, and tire manufacturing. Undoubtedly the chief supply of carbon dioxide is obtained from industrial plants or artificial sources and until recently natural deposits of the gas have received little consideration. Few will question the utility and perhaps dependability of artificial sources, which possess the advantage over

Jan 1, 1941

By Alfred E. Hunt

The late Alexander Holley said, on returning from a careful study of the relative merits of the Bessemer and the open-hearth processes, as shown in the best European practice, that, in this country, the open-hearth process would live to attend the funeral of the Bessemer ; and he said this several years ago, when in this country the Bessemer plant and practice had been developed to far outstrip that abroad, and when, proportionately, it had reached an advancement much beyond the improvements in open-hearth plants and practice. At the same time, the prevailing idea in the metallurgical world, a few years ago, seemed to be in favor of the substitution of Bessemer for open-hearth steel for most of the higher qualities, and Bessemer enthusiasts loudly proclaimed, that as good steel for all purposes could be obtained by their favorite process as by the open-hearth. It was, in fact, confidently prophesied that very soon tool-steel and similar grades, which consumers had learned to specify, in ordering, to be made by the crucible process, would by common consent be made by the Bessemer, as best adapted to give the desired results. But these expectations have failed to materialize; not only do the crucible people keep on in the even tenor of their way and talk with pride of their comparatively large outputs of " hundreds " of tons per month, as usual, but the open-hearth people have kept fast hold of their original domain of nearly the entire amount of sheared plates, of locomotive tires, of large forgings, spring-steel, agricultural steel, steel castings and the like. Further, owing largely to one of the great advantages of the Bessemer process, which is also one of its inherent dangers, namely, its large output, it has also fallen into considerable disrepute for structural purposes. Not a few experienced engineers are now stipulating in their specifications that Bessemer steel will not be allowed to be used, especially for tension-members.

Jan 1, 1888

By Robert E. Cuthbertson

It is the purpose of this paper to describe in detail the laboratory development and mill application of an unusual combination of flotation reagents employed in the concentrator of the Climax Molybdenum Co., on the Continental Divide, near Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. This development originated in an ore-dressing research laboratory maintained by Climax at the experimental plant of the Colorado School of Mines, which is staffed by men directly employed by the Climax Molybdenum Co. Mill-scale testing of laboratory developments was supervised by a representative from the testing laboratory, working in close cooperation with the operating staff at the mill. General milling practice at Climax is ably described in a paper by E. J. Duggan,1 mill superintendent. Other aspects of the Climax project have been described in papers by W. J. Coulter,2 by Butler, Vanderwilt and Henderson,= by Allen Kissock,4 and by Leo H. Glanville.5 Consequently, this paper will be corfined to the metallurgical aspects of recent reagent developments, avoiding, as much as possible, repetition of material covered in these earlier publications. Brief History of Reagent Practice at Climax Prior to the year 1937, the only reagents employed at Climax for froth production and collecting action in the flotation of molybdenite were steam-distilled or destructively distilled pine oils. The only exceptions to this practice were brief periods of mill testing, when reagents of various types were tried on an experimental basis. None of these experimental runs was sufficiently encouraging to justify its continuation as regular practice. Sodium cyanide has been employed since the very early days of milling at Climax as an inhibiting agent for control of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Alkaline reagents such as lime or soda ash have been used in recent years to minimize the detrimental effect of iron salts on flotation of molybdenite. The presence of these harmful salts is attributed to the decomposition of fine metallics abraded from liners and balls in the first stage of regrinding rougher concentrate. Flint pebbles are used in subsequent regrinding, since alkaline reagents are not entirely adequate to offset the inhibiting effect of iron salts as the grind becomes progressively finer and the grade of concentrate progressively higher. Climax metallurgists were familiar at an early date with the use of petroleum products such as kerosene and gas oil as promoters of flotation of molybdenite. Charles C. Oliver6 discussed the use of pine oil and kerosene as early as 19-20, in connection with the milling practice at Dominion Molybdenite Co., Quebec. Nevertheless, the early attempts to apply this knowledge in the Climax concentrator were complete failures. In the light of recent experience, it may seem strange that the early mill tests with petroleum

Jan 1, 1947

By J. Charles Miller

Natural carbon dioxide has recently been exploited in the United States in consequence of oil and gas developments in the Western States and the growing demand by transcontinental and transoceanic shippers for solid carbon dioxidc. The discovery by drilling of commercial deposits resulted in consideration of its geographic and geologic distribution and occurrence. Its wide distribution in nature is evidenced by its occurrence in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The question of origin of carbon dioxide involves consideration of theories similar to those concerning natural hydrocarbons, although available evidence favors an inorganic rather than an organic source. Areas favorable to development of commercia1 production appear to be those in proximity to igneous rocks or in the vicinity of decadent volcanic activity, where, it has long been known, the gas is evolved either free or dissolved in the waters of fumaroles, geysers or mud pots. Structure contour maps are presented showing the Wagon Mound anticline in New Mexico and the Farnham anticline, Utah. A well drilled on the latter supplies gas to a 20-ton plant manufacturing solid carbon dioxide at Wellington, Utah, on the Denver and Rio Grande R.R., whence it is shipped to surrounding territory and to the West Coast. Before funds are invested in a plant for the manufacture of liquid or solid carbon dioxide, whether supplied by wells or springs, an effort to ascertain the volume of gas available is advisable. The use of present methods of estimation of gas reserves with modifications to account for the quantity absorbed by any water present in the producing formation is recommended. The Farnham anticline is used as an example and computations are made of the probable volume of gas originally present in the structure. No attempt was made to compute reserves in the Niland area, California, for the reason that in such areas it is believed the volume is indeterminate. Introduction Carbon dioxide, in liquid and solid form, has found a wide variety of uses other than its primary application in carbonating beverages. It is now used in more than 40 different ways, ranging from cooling or freezing to use in gas or liquid form for mechanical purposes, chemical industry, explosive, fire extinction, and tire manufacturing. Undoubtedly the chief supply of carbon dioxide is obtained from industrial plants or artificial sources and until recently natural deposits of the gas have received little consideration. Few will question the utility and perhaps dependability of artificial sources, which possess the advantage over

Jan 1, 1941

By William H. Kobbé

The word recovery as used in this paper is applied in its broader sense and not limited to wells producing from horizons of unconsolidated sands. Certain problems connected with the winning of petroleum from such horizons present themselves while drilling is in progress and should be considered before drilling is commenced wherever unconsolidated sands are expected. Maximum recovery depends not alone. upon efficient pumping methods but also upon the selection of a proper drilling system and the completion of a well especially adapted to the extraction of these oil-bearing sands. 11. DRILLING Determining Factors in Selection of Method The selection of a drilling method for the development of a region in which the oil reservoir consists of unconsolidated sands is based on the following considerations: (1) Character of the formations overlying the reservoir; (2) thickness of the oil-bearing stratum or strata; (3) thickness and character of water or gas sands; (4) gas pressure to be encountered or expected; (5) total depth of well. 1. Character of the Formations Overlying the Reservoir The strata overlying the reservoir may consist of beds of shales, clays, sands and other soft materials, or they may be slates, limestones and sandstones consolidated to all degrees of hardness. Very often the overlying strata are predominantly of soft materials but interbedded with harder formations. Likewise, soft strata are encountered at different horizons in an overburden consisting almost entirely of the harder sedimentaries. The physical character of this overburden is frequently

Jan 1, 1917

By Stephen Taber

A VEIN may be defined as an aggregation of mineral matter, more or less tabular or lenticular in form, which was deposited from solution and is of later origin than the inclosing rock. This definition differs from the one found in many text-books in that no assumption is made as to the origin of the space occupied by the vein or the manner in which the mineral matter was deposited. In the present paper the writer purposes to discuss the mechanics of vein formation, and does not wish to begin by begging the question. The origin of ore deposits has been diligently investigated in recent years, but, while much has been written concerning the chemistry of the process, the physical side of the question has received less attention. The source of the ore minerals; the chemical composition of ore-hearing solutions; the relative importance of magmatic and meteoric waters as agents of concentration; and the causes of mineral precipitation have all been discussed at length. On the other hand, little has been written concerning the mechanics of vein formation, and the theories given in text-hooks today are essentially the same as those developed by the early Cornish and Saxon miners. Early investigators often regarded both veins and dikes as igneous in origin, but today the theory that vein minerals have been deposited from solutions, either liquid or gaseous, is firmly established. The latter view is supported by the fact that many vein-forming minerals are not found in unaltered igneous rocks; by evidence obtained in the laboratory regarding the solubility of minerals; by the presence of many ore minerals in hot-spring waters; by the occurrence of some veins in regions consisting exclusively of unaltered sedimentary rocks; by evidence as to the temperature at which some minerals are formed; and by the absence of mineral segregation due to difference in specific gravity. There is still, however, much difference of opinion as to whether certain tabular-shaped 'masses should be classed as veins or as dikes. Some of

Jan 8, 1918

By Robert E. Cuthbertson

It is the purpose of this paper to describe in detail the laboratory development and mill application of an unusual combination of flotation reagents employed in the concentrator of the Climax Molybdenum Co., on the Continental Divide, near Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. This development originated in an ore-dressing research laboratory maintained by Climax at the experimental plant of the Colorado School of Mines, which is staffed by men directly employed by the Climax Molybdenum Co. Mill-scale testing of laboratory developments was supervised by a representative from the testing laboratory, working in close cooperation with the operating staff at the mill. General milling practice at Climax is ably described in a paper by E. J. Duggan,1 mill superintendent. Other aspects of the Climax project have been described in papers by W. J. Coulter,2 by Butler, Vanderwilt and Henderson,= by Allen Kissock,4 and by Leo H. Glanville.5 Consequently, this paper will be corfined to the metallurgical aspects of recent reagent developments, avoiding, as much as possible, repetition of material covered in these earlier publications. Brief History of Reagent Practice at Climax Prior to the year 1937, the only reagents employed at Climax for froth production and collecting action in the flotation of molybdenite were steam-distilled or destructively distilled pine oils. The only exceptions to this practice were brief periods of mill testing, when reagents of various types were tried on an experimental basis. None of these experimental runs was sufficiently encouraging to justify its continuation as regular practice. Sodium cyanide has been employed since the very early days of milling at Climax as an inhibiting agent for control of pyrite and chalcopyrite. Alkaline reagents such as lime or soda ash have been used in recent years to minimize the detrimental effect of iron salts on flotation of molybdenite. The presence of these harmful salts is attributed to the decomposition of fine metallics abraded from liners and balls in the first stage of regrinding rougher concentrate. Flint pebbles are used in subsequent regrinding, since alkaline reagents are not entirely adequate to offset the inhibiting effect of iron salts as the grind becomes progressively finer and the grade of concentrate progressively higher. Climax metallurgists were familiar at an early date with the use of petroleum products such as kerosene and gas oil as promoters of flotation of molybdenite. Charles C. Oliver6 discussed the use of pine oil and kerosene as early as 19-20, in connection with the milling practice at Dominion Molybdenite Co., Quebec. Nevertheless, the early attempts to apply this knowledge in the Climax concentrator were complete failures. In the light of recent experience, it may seem strange that the early mill tests with petroleum

Jan 1, 1947

By Frank L. Nason

The complete statistics of zinc-ore production in the United States for 1916 are not yet available. The following figures are, therefore, only approximate. The total production of concentrates for this year, including New Jersey and Tennessee, amounts to 1,280,000 tons. Of this tonnage, five mines produced approximately 536,000 tons, or about 42 per cent. The remaining concentrates came mainly from the "Valley States," Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The 1,280,000 tons of concentrates represent about 25,000,000 tons of crude or run-of-mine ore. Of the five mines producing the 42 per cent., the dimensions of three are approximately 25 by 1500 by 2000 ft. (7.6 by 457 by 610 m.) or more: Four of the five mines are undoubtedly veins in the common acceptance of the term. They are located in great vein systems. The mines of "Valley States" have not, so far, been classed as veins; simply as "secondary deposits." The origin of these secondary deposits has been a warmly debated subject. Many geologists contend that they are the results of leaching from overlying and adjacent rocks carrying but traces of zinc, these traces leached out and deposited in favorable places. If this theory is correct, deposition is strictly limited to shallow depths. No volume of ore comparable to that of "true fissure veins" is to be expeeted. Just what this means to the future of zinc mining in these States is here indicated. The total zinc-bearing areas of these States amount to about 9124 sq. miles (23,631 sq. km.). Assuming that 10 per cent. of this total will be more or less productive, there are 912 sq. miles (2,362 sq. km.) of "mineral" ground. The average depth of the operated mines is something like 100 ft. or less. In Bulletin 606, U. S. Geological Survey (1915), p. 202, Siebenthal makes the following statement: "The writer is informed by William Waugh, one of the drillers of the Stone City well, that cuttings from other wells which he drilled in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Kan., have shown galena and sphalerite taken from a depth of 591 ft. (180.14 m.) and that the showing of ore at some places would be considered good enough to justify the sinking of a shaft had it been found in the Joplin district and at shallower depths." Leaving out of the question the prohibitive cost of such a shaft, there is

Jan 1, 1918

By E. W. Davis

IF the tonnage of merchantable iron ore remaining in the Lake Superior district is divided by the average of the annual shipments for the past 20 years, it will be found that this ore supply will be exhausted in approximately 35 years. This computed exhaustion period would be an indication of the future activities of the iron-mining industry if it were not for the fact that merchantable ore is being manufactured from low-grade ore, of which there is an almost inexhaustible supply in the Lake Superior district. It is true that at present only the simplest of these low-grade ores are being concentrated to any considerable extent, but progress is being made with the treatment of the more complex ores, and now, in addition to 20 washing plants on the Mesabi Range, three plants are equipped with jigs for the treatment of ore that cannot be concentrated simply by washing. The latest addition to the ore-treating plants of the Mesabi Range is a magnetic roasting and concentration plant at Cooley, Minn., in which ore that cannot be concentrated either by washing or by jigging is roasted to the magnetic state and concentrated on magnetic separators. This plant is beginning its third season of operation, and while it is too soon to make definite predictions, there are strong indica-tions that this new process may make commercially possible the manu-facture of high-grade, merchantable iron ore from large quantities of low-grade ore now considered worthless. After the iron oxide contained in an ore has been converted to mag-netite, almost any desired grade of concentrate can be produced, using magnetic-concentration equipment of the types now in general use for the concentration of the natural magnetites of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The conversion of hematite (Fe203) to magnetite (Fe304) is easily accomplished by heating the ore to a dull red tempera-ture in a reducing atmosphere. The reaction is slightly endothermic, and while it requires 200 B.t.u. to heat to 900° F. one pound of hematite ore containing 45 per cent Fe, it requires only 100 B.t.u. to convert the oxide into magnetite. In the laboratory, using small quantities of ore, this conversion is very simple, but large furnaces suitable for commercial

Jan 1, 1936

By John Birkinbine

In the belief that a resume of what will be exhibited during this meeting, and a brief record of progress in the seven years which have elapsed since the Institute's first visit to Lake Superior would be interesting, the following statistical data have been prepared or copied from the most reliable sources, and considerations are also presented concerning the development or utilization of some of the resources of the Lake Superior Region. When the Institute, on the return trip from enjoying the charming panoramas of Thunder Cape or Isle Royale, and inspecting the unique development of Silver Islet, passed, in August, 1880, through the St. Mary's Falls ship canal, en route to Escanaba, the boat was lowered from the level of Lake Superior to that of Michigan and Huron lakes (18 feet), through two locks each 70 feet wide and 350 feet long, which had been in use since 1855. But as these locks accommodated vessels which drew 12 feet of water or less, a new lock 80 feet wide, 515 feet long and admitting vessels of 16 feet draught was approaching completion and was opened in September, 1881. The time required to pass the locks was utilized by the members in examining the work upon this new lock and in viewing the Sault Ste. Marie, which in discharging from Lake Superior all average volume of 90,783 cubic feet of water per second, forms a rapid, falling 18 feet in one mile. But the lake traffic through the St. Mary's ship-canal has developed so rapidly that another and larger lock is now required, and work has been commenced by the

Jan 1, 1888

By H. H. Podgurski

Above 200°C the observed increase in the apparent solubility of hydrogen in low alloy steels caused by cold work is attributed to the formation of methane in microvoids. This methane can be isolated quantitatively, and furthermore, the amount of methane is in accord with the equilibrium 2H2 + Fe3C = CH4 + 3Fe. The micro-void volume, calculated from the methane content via the equation of state for methane, corresponds approximately to that calculated from the measured density decrement produced by cold work. THIS investigation was undertaken with the intent of employing the hydrogen atom as a probe in detecting specific crystallographic defects in cold worked steel. It was expected that different degrees of chemical interaction of hydrogen with the various types of defects could be utilized. The original aim was to assign concentration values to defect sites. The success of this approach requires that experimental conditions can be attained under which lattice-dissolved hydrogen equilibrates primarily with only one type of defect. A set of experiments which appeared potentially to embody these requirements was described several years ago by Keeler and Davis.1 They noted in the case of a mild steel (low carbon) that the solubility of hydrogen between 200° and 400°C near atmospheric pressure was notably increased by cold working the steel. The observed solubility was an order of magnitude greater than the normal lattice solubility. * Although the Keeler and Davis studies suggested that the density decrement effected by their cold-working operation might be related to the anomalous solubility of hydrogen, they offered no explanation of the relationship between the two effects. Prior to this work, Darken and smith3 had noted a similar effect of cold work upon enhanced sorption of hydrogen by steel when charged by acid pickling. In the light of present-day concepts, interaction between lattice-dissolved hydrogen and dislocations was strongly suggested. More recently, Hill and Johnson,4 working with a

Jan 1, 1962

By T. F. Baily

During the period of the war, in both this country and Canada, a number of attempts were made to make pig iron from steel scrap in the electric furnace, and a considerable tonnage of white pig iron was produced, the silicon and manganese additions being made with ferroalloys; but it is believed that the experiments conducted. at Canton, Ohio, in

Jan 1, 1930

IN A broad sense, the subject of slag control includes not only the adjustment of the composition of the slag but also of its relative weight in terms of percentage of the metal-bath weight. The slag is made up essentially of (1) oxides formed by oxidation of silicon, manganese, phosphorus, and iron in the charge, (2) SiO2, MnO, and other oxides charged as such, and (3) lime charged or fed to the heat to neutralize the “acidic”: oxides present (Si02 and P2O5). Obviously, if practically perfect control were possible over the composition of the charge as well as over the oxidation process during the melting period, both slag weight and composition would be very nearly predetermined, and the control problem would be solved. Unfortunately, we have only a somewhat. imperfect control over these factors, so that beginning at about the lime-boil period in the heat, and later in the early refining period, it becomes necessary for the first helper, as the heat progresses, to make quick estimates of the composition and physical state of development of the slag (as well as of the amounts of phosphorus, sulphur, and carbon in the metal) from which he can judge how much extra lime, roll scale, fluorspar, and other additions will be needed not only to give the desired final slag composition, but also to hasten the complete fusion or shaping to a desired viscosity in the liquid state. The discussion in this chapter is limited essentially to those more or less practical rapid methods of slag estimation that have been used, or at least tried, for these purposes under actual open-hearth shop conditions. Another aspect of importance here is the extent to which the freedom of choice to the operator is limited by available charge materials, product specifications, and the oxidation and other chemical- reaction effects which inevitably occur under the conditions of this furnace process. For a better understanding of these control limitations and of the chemical and physical background of the subject, the reader is urged to read at least part of the discussion in Chapters XVII and XIX. Charge materials are discussed in Chapter IV, and many of the details of charging, melting, and refining practice closely related to slag control are given in Chapters VI and VII.

Jan 1, 1944

By F. J. Smit, S. C. Sun

Flotation variables were investigated for the re-clamation of phosphate from a Florida washer slime. Under optimum conditions, 92% of the phosphate was recovered. Further cleaning of the rougher flotation concentrate resulted in a product containing about 30% P2O5 with a phosphate recovery of 65%. The enormous amount of slimes rejected in the Florida pebble phosphate fields, containing roughly one-third of the phosphate in the pebble matrix,1 has long been considered as a serious problem to the industry. The mere disposal of these slimes has posed an almost insurmountable task for several investigators.2-5 Some companies still resort to huge surface dams, some covering 1800 acres, for slime disposal.6 Information on the recovery of fine phosphate from these slimes is scanty. Dry separation8 and electrostatic beneficiation8 were suggested, but would necessitate radical changes in the present mining and concentration methods. Haseman10 proposed the selective flocculation of colloidal phosphate with starch, while Ralston11 suggested the removal of clay from the matrix by amine flotation. Leaching of the slimes for recovering the small amount of uranium was attempted by the Battelle Memorial Institute12,13 but proved to be economically unfeasible. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the optimum fatty-acid flotation conditions for reclaiming the phosphate discarded with the Bartow washer slime. Prior to the flotation experimerits, however, the size distribution and the minera-logical composition of the employed slime had to be determined.

Jan 1, 1963

By W. H. Emmons

Most mineral deposits change as they are followed downward on their dips. Some of these changes are due to primary arrangement; different ores were precipitated at different depths when the deposits were formed. Other changes are due to weathering or secondary enrichment. The chief changes resulting from weathering, in the main, are understood and standard changes are recognized. The processes are relatively simple. They take place at ordinary temperatures and pressures and can be duplicated in the laboratories. Moreover, there are thousands of deposits available for study, because the processes take place near the surface where the development of mines is begun. The changes due to primary arrangement of the deposits of the metals are not so well understood. Deposition has taken place at higher temperatures and our knowledge of the chemistry of the processes leaves much to he desired. Very few experimental data are available. The deposits, moreover, offer fewer examples because many mines are not developed to depths where the changes can be studied and a change to unprofitable material usually results in stopping work. Most students of ore deposits now accept, as confirmed, the hypothesis that nearly all lodes and related deposits were formed by solutions originating in intrusive igneous masses. Outward from these masses, the deposits at many places are grouped in zones and the arrangement noted from the intrusions outward are commonly the reverse of the changes noted from the surface downward in a single lode. A study of the changes in groups of deposits, from the parent intrusion outward, will throw light on the changes to be expected in a single lode downward. Recause the changes in series of deposits from the intrusive outward may all be observed near the surface, where more data are available, it is possible to increase the number of examples many fold and to apply the statisttical method of study with greater confidence of avoiding error. It is not everywhere possible to identify the parent igneous body to which a group of ore deposits are related. Several kinds of criteria are available; certain groups are superior to others. By applying the

Jan 1, 1924

By Max Mason

IN 1923 a Western mining company was experimenting with the device of an inventor designed to locate buried ores by radio. Because the progress was slow and the results were confusing, the company began to doubt the usefulness of the method and invited me to review the whole question of the application of physics to ore detection. I was fortunate in securing the cooperation of several physicists who had worked with me during the war on the problem of submarine detection. This group has been increased and has been studying the problem of physical exploration for ores since that time. It was evident that the problem is a big one, with many angles of approach. Its general features may be set down, in rough outline, as follows: The soils, rocks and ores hidden beneath the surface differ one from another in many respects. These differences may be made to furnish a clew for the physicists working from the surface. To bring these differences into action the physicist creates some kind of an effect which penetrates into the ground and is distorted and reflected when it meets boundaries between different sorts of underground structure. In other words, he sends a message down, and the rocks and ore send back signals in reply. In picturing this process, we should not regard the ground as dense and impenetrable. The kind of messages used pass through the earth about as readily as a sound wave travels the air. If, then, the fundamental procedure is to shout down questions in the hope that an orebody will hear and answer back to us, it is clear that a large part of the expert's study must relate to the kind of questions best suited to the temperament and intelligence of orebodies. It will be easier for the ore to reply to some of our questions than to others, and it is for us to find the right questions. In certain cases, we are spared the necessity of using a messenger; because nature has already provided one. For example, we already have a terrestrial magnetic field which auto-matically and continually conveys messages from underneath. We also have available the earth's gravitational field. which furnishes us

Jan 1, 1927

By William J. Priestley

In the manufacture of gun forgings and other steel parts that, in service, are subject to sudden high stresses and shocks, it is most desirable to use steel possessing the greatest toughness and ductility possible without sacrifice of strength. In order to obtain this condition, it is necessary to procure steel that shows the highest possible elongation and reduction of area without lowering the tensile strength and clastic limit. Proper heat treatment of the steel can control this condition within certain limits. When heat treatment has failed to produce the desired results, metallurgists have used steels containing molybdenum, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, tungston, etc. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method by which these desired physical properties may be procured—by the elimination of certain impurities that inherently exist in steel made by the open-hearth process, and without the use of expensive alloys. Design of Gun Forgings In the manufacture of gun forgings, a certain elastic limit is fixed by the designer, and the walls of the gun arc made of the proper thickness, allowing a suitable factor of safety for the high stresses and sudden shocks that occur during gun firing. The clastic strength of the gun is about 1.4 times the stress set up at any point along the bore of the gun during firing with the maximum powder charge. As the stresses set up in the walls of the gun during firing are mostly "tangential," all physical tests are taken in this direction. Due to the length of the forgings, these tangential test bars are always taken at right angles and transverse to the direction of flow of the metal in forging. Furthermore, test bars taken across the grain of the metal will more frequently expose defects and foreign inclusions in the steel than will bars

Jan 1, 1922