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By C. C. Furnas, T. L. Joseph

It is well known that particles of different sizes are not distributed evenly throughout the average charge in an iron blast furnace. Just how great the disparity in particle size in different parts of a single plane in a furnace may be is indicated by the results of some recent investiga-tion1,2 conducted by the Bureau of Mines on a furnace operating on Lake ores. The wide variations found in gas velocity, gas composition, and temperature from the periphery to the center of the upper charge column were caused by the great variation in particle size of the raw materials used and were also greatly influenced by the methods of charging. This paper summarizes the results of an investigation of the influence of different methods of charging and of the treatment of raw materials upon the size distribution of the solid particles in the blast furnace. A more complete report will appear later as a Bureau of Mines technical paper. Importance of Gas-solid Contact One of the authors has pointed out in a previous report? that the operation of the blast-furnace process is entirely dependent on contact between the gas stream and the solid particles in the stock. The gas stream carries the necessary heat as well as the carbon monoxide molecules that do the work of rednction. In the parts of the furnace in which there is little or no contact between the gas stream and the solids there can be little work of reduction. Obviously, the part of the apparatus that is not doing the work for which it is intended is inefficient; the ideal condition is one in which all portions of the stock column are

Jan 1, 1929

By Donald E. Ackerman, Norman B. Pilling

The solubilities of a series of experimental alloys covering the range 0 to 100 per cent. Ni, 0 to 30 per cent. Cr have been studied under conditions of complete submersion in several fully aerated acid solutions, and in solutions containing sulfurous acid. In nonoxidizing, hydrogen-discharging acids, if the nickel content is below a certain critical amount, chromium increases the rate of solution and nickel decreases this rate; this critical content of nickel is about 13 per cent. Alloys containing more than this corrode at a constant minimum rate independent of iron, nickel or chromium contents. Austenitic chrome-nickel steels may thus have a resistance to these acids equal to that of nickel-chromium alloys. In nitric acid and in unaerated sulfurous acid rather sharp limits of attack occur which are principally dependent on chromium content. In the former the limit of attack is not related to a particular chromium content but varies continuously with acid concentration. The action of sulfurous acid on these alloys is highly dependent on the presence of small amounts of other substances in solution, and many sulfurous acid mixtures rapidly attack alloys to which the pure acid is wholly inert. The observed effects are not compatible with Tammann's theory relating corrosion resistance to lattice structure but are believed to be concordant with current views of the electrochemical nature of corrosion. Introduction The discovery, development and engineering application of iron alloys resistant to corrosion may well claim a place among the important developments in metallurgy of the past two decades. The varied demands of industry coupled with the skill of the metallurgist have resulted in the production of an extensive group of steels and alloys ranging from the now familiar "stainless " chromium steels of the kitchen to special alloys of great chemical complexity for particular, exacting needs. Any adequate description of the important properties of these-— physical, chemical and economic—would be a formidable undertaking.

Jan 1, 1929

By Oscar Glaeser

THE mine and plant of the United Verde Copper Co., located in Yavapi County, at Jerome, Arizona, have been described in various technical publications and, therefore, a brief outline of its essential features will suffice. The orebodies are of the schist replacement type, the main sulfide mass being a large lens-shaped body approximately 7 acres in cross-sectional area. In general, the mineralization is found along the iron-schist contact, with the orebodies extending-about 1000 ft. along this contact and varying from a few feet to 250 ft. in width. The mine is located on a mountain slope and has openings into it on three horizons, as follows: 1. Raises and ore passes open vertically into the shovel pit. These extend down to the 1000-ft. level, where they terminate as loading bins in the Hopewell adit. The main fan intake air shaft, which also extends vertically down to the 1000-ft. level, has its surface opening on the hillside at the extreme north end of the shovel pit, and the main mine air return exhausts through a raise at the extreme south end of the shovel pit. 2. The 500-ft. level adit. 3. The Hopewell adit on the 1000-ft. level. The mine has a vertical downward extent of 2000 ft. below the 1000-ft. level. Underground operations are carried on through two main shafts, both of which are wholly underground. Shaft 5 is the ore-hoisting shaft. It has three compartments and extends from the 800 to the 3150-ft. level. Shaft 6 is the service shaft, and is used for lowering and hoisting men and material. It has a large cage compartment and three smaller compartments for counterweights, ladderway, and pipe and power lines. This shaft extends from the 500 to the 2550-ft. level, and is now being extended to the 3000-ft. level. An air shaft for the downward movement of fresh air from the fan has been provided, and extends to the 2550-ft. level at this time. Work has been started to extend this air shaft to the 3000-ft. level. A return airway for vitiated mine air, in the form of raises and short connecting drifts, extends downward to the 2100-ft. level.

Jan 1, 1929

By C. D. King

The advances in basic open-hearth practice which have occurred during the past decade have been principally in the direction of the physical development of larger units, decreased fuel consumption and increased length of furnace campaigns. However gratifying the economies which have resulted from these improvements are, it must be granted that like advances in chemical, physical-chemical and metallurgical knowledge pertaining to open-hearth practice would have added greatly to these already attained reductions in costs and it is the purpose of this paper to stimulate the discussion and study of these phases of cooperation and their relation to ingot yields. Definition and Calculation oF Losses In discussing basic open-hearth yields, the writer refers to the ingot yields obtained in the process of converting pig iron, scrap and ore to steel. In this conversion some scrap is produced. The difference between the total weight of ingots and scrap produced and the original metallic charge constitutes the loss. Basic open-hearth yields vary considerably, and while some of the divergencies can be explained metal-lurgically because of differences in slag analysis, proportion of pig charges, and character of steel made, there often remain differences that apparently do not readily disclose themselves. In reconciling yields by the usual accepted methods of calculation, one is often forced to evaluate large losses as ((unaccounted for." Such a system is prone to accept these large losses as inherent to the operat.ion and not, susceptible of appraisement and correction. It is obvious that if the ingot yield plus the scrap recovered subtracted from 100 per cent. determines the loss, a drop in yield may increase the loss or the scrap, and both contribute to a monetary loss. To be sure, one can subdivide these unaccounted for losses into various components, such as metallics in slag, free Fe in slag, spillage, etc., and thereby reduce the amount of losses considered as "unaccounted for." If empirical methods could indicate with some degree of accuracy all losses, however slight, the undetermined losses become appreciably smaller and resultant calculations will check actual

Jan 1, 1929

By Murl R., Schrock

THE use of diamond-drill holes at the Moctezuma Copper Co., Pilares mine, Pilares de Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, for the ventilation of raises has resulted from experiments that were made in an effort to secure continuous and efficient ventilation in hot and gaseous raises. The method is particularly applicable in long raises and in raises run from development levels where the source of fresh air is distant. In order that the CO, concentration shall not become excessive, 30 cu. ft. per min. per man must be supplied to a heading for breathing purposes:' The quantity of air that will pass through a diamond-drill hole by

Jan 1, 1929

By W. A. Scheuch

ORDINARILY secondary copper, unless electrolytically refined, is reclaimed directly as foundry ingots used in the manufacture of copper-rich alloy castings. This use does not require the elimination of the impurities to the degree required if the recovered metal is to be used for electrical purposes where a high electrical conductivity is of prime importance. However, as a part of the general policy of reusing its own scrap and by-products wherever possible, the Western Electric Co. at its Hawthorne Works is recovering its secondary copper as wire bars which are delivered to its own rod and wire mill and there processed into wire of high electrical conductivity. This departure from the usual recovery scheme has been accomplished through the careful classification and sorting of the material entering the furnace charges and the careful control of the subsequent melting and refining in a reverberatory furnace. Tests conducted over a period of approximately four years have shown that the quality of wire bars produced from selected secondary copper is equal to that of wire bars produced by the electrolytic refineries. The interest which has been exhibited in the process by those who have seen it has prompted the following general description. It is the authors' opinion that the recovery of secondary copper will become more and more an important factor in the copper production industry. The description is largely of the refining furnace and its operation, but it must be remembered that careful classification and sorting of the scrap materials to eliminate impurities are just as important as the furnace operation toward obtaining a satisfactory final product. Classification and sorting do not lend themselves easily to description; they must just be done. It should also be recognized at the outset that constant intelligent supervision is requisite to the success of the process because there are so many ways in which impurities can find their way into the final product.

Jan 1, 1929

The Howe Memorial Lecture, in memory of Henry Marion Howe, Past President of the Institute, was authorized in April, 1923, as an annual address to be delivered by invitation under the auspices of the Institute by an individual of recognized and outstanding attainment in the science and practice of iron and steel metallurgy or metallography, chosen by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Iron and Steel Division. The following were the Howe lectures and lecturers for the years indicated

Jan 1, 1929

By A. W. Hahn

THE importance, to geologists and metallurgists, of knowing the mineralogical forms in which the silver occurs in ores has increased during the past few years, and will continue to increase as long as working hypotheses are converted into proved theories and rule of thumb methods are supplanted by scientific data. The methods used for the determination of these silver minerals have been: (1) careful study of polished ore sections with the microscope, and more recently, (2) metallurgical separation of the ground ore by flotation, tabling and panning, supplemented by microscopic examination of these separated minerals, and chemical analyses. During the course of some experimental work carried on by the testing department of the International Smelting Co. and myself, it becomes important to determine, in a general way, the distribution of the silver values in the minerals, as they exist in Tintic Standard and North Lilly siliceous oxidized lead-silver ores. These mines are in the East Tintic Mining District, State of Utah. In this work the second method was used. Differential flotation tests were run, separating the sulfide from the oxidized minerals, and the products were assayed. Various concentrates were carefully panned and the separated products assayed; special samples of ore were selected and assayed. The microscope was used only for the purpose of determining whether the individual minerals were in the so-called "free" state.

Jan 1, 1929

Jan 1, 1929

By G. R. Mansfield, W. B. Lang

THE third year of Government exploration for potash by the U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Mines under the authorization of the act approved June 25, 1926 (Public 424-69th Cong.) is drawing to a close. The results thus far obtained are thought to be sufficiently interesting and satisfactory to justify the presentation of a brief preliminary account of the work. Review of Earlier Exploration The general geologic similarity of the Permian basin of Texas and New Mexico to the potash field of Germany had long ago suggested the possibility of the presence of potash salts somewhere in that basin, but petroleum exploration was then making little headway there and the necessary data could not be obtained. The discovery by Udden in 1912 of potash in brine from the Spur well in Dickens County, Texas, was the first direct evidence of its presence. In 1915-17 the U. S. Geological Survey drilled a test well with standard tools at Cliffside near Amarillo, but failed to find potash. Nevertheless, an observer has been kept in the field, at first in cooperation with the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology but since 1922 by the Survey alone, to secure data and samples from oil and gas tests. Since the discovery of oil in Reagan County in 1923 exploration by drilling has been rapidly extended to many parts of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The identification of the potash-bearing mineral polyhalite was first announced by the Geological Survey in June, 1921, the material having come from cuttings from the Bryant well in Midland County and the Burns well in Dawson County, Texas. Successive discoveries and announcements of similar purport aroused widespread interest in potash exploration, which culminated in the action by Congress already noted. Permian Salt Basin The Permian salt basin extends generally northeastward from western Texas and southeastern New Mexico through the Panhandle sections of

Jan 1, 1929

By Glenn A. Keep

THIS paper is not an announcement of the successful conclusion of the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corporation's pacos-pyrite problems, but merely a description of the commercial-scale, intermittent-roasting operations conducted by the writer, J. H. Lucas and others of the staff. It was prepared by request, for presentation at the February meeting of the Institute. The results obtained in Peru confirm the 1-ton-a-day experiments completed about three years ago at Kearny, N. J. by C. C. Gordon and Mr. Lucas, where it was first demonstrated that a mixture of about 80 per cent. pacos ore with 10 per cent. pyrite ore and 10 per cent. salt could be roasted intermittently in a small 1-ton-a-day Holt-Dern furnace without extraneous fuel, producing porous calcine that could be leached rapidly. Mr. Keep and his staff, by successfully introducing improvements in the construction of the commercial furnace and in their handling of material, have established beyond doubt a low cost for roasting. The other steps in the process of treating pacos and pyrite ores have not as yet been demonstrated as sufficiently conclusive to warrant their acceptance for a permanent plant. Cerro de Pasco Ores The ores of the Cerro de Pasco Copper Corpn. at Cerro de Pasco, Peru, are situated at an altitude of 14,000 ft. The town and mines are served by the Cerro de Pasco Railroad, which operates between Cerro de Pasco and Oroya, the site of the company's copper and lead smelters. Table 1.—Average Analysis of Cerro de Pasco Ores Pacos Ore Pykite Ore Silver, oz............................................... 10.3 12.0 Gold, oz................................................ 0.007 0.01 Lead, per cent........................................... 1.7 1.8 Copper, per cent......................................... 0.19 0.27 Zinc, per. cent........................................... 1.4 1.02 Iron, per cent........................................... 13.4 34.45 Silica, percent.......................................... 61.8 24.5 Alumina, per cent....................................... 2.5 0.62 Lime, per cent........................................... 1.5 0.20 Manganese, per cent..................................... 0.42 0.09 Sulfur, per cent,.......................................... 1.1 34.2

Jan 1, 1929

Jan 1, 1929

By W. C. Ellis

NONFERROUS alloys upon which desirable properties can be conferred by heat treatment are becoming of increasing industrial importance. The alloys of copper with a constituent which has a solubility varying with temperature are materials of this character. Some of the constituents which are effective in producing a change in the mechanical properties of these alloys upon heat treatment are, according to Corson,1 nickel and silicon, iron and silicon, cobalt and silicon, and chromium and silicon. In addition to these elements, Gregg2 states that the combination of beryllium and silicon is effective in producing age-hardening characteristics in copper. The effect of these elements, however, as dispersion-hardening constituents in the copper alpha solid solutions does not seem to have been studied in any considerable detail. This paper deals with the heat treatment and properties of three alpha brasses containing 3 per cent. of nickel plus silicon in the proportion necessary to form the compound nickel silicide, Ni2Si. Some information of a preliminary nature in regard to the hardening by heat treatment of phosphor bronze containing the same percentages of nickel and silicon is included. The method of hardening the alloys, which is effective in increasing the tensile strength and proportional limit, is similar to that used in, the case of duralumin type aluminum alloys. It consists of a quench from a temperature at which the hardening constituent is in solid solution, followed by an aging at a lower temperature to precipitate the dissolved constituent in a dispersed condition. This results in an increased resistance of the alloy to deformation with an attendant improvement in the tensile properties.

Jan 1, 1929

Abbey, Robert Graham, District Mgr.. The W. W. Sly Mfg. Co., 50 Church St.. New York, N. Y. '21 Abbott, A. N., Mines Supt., Mazapil Copper Co., LtdConcepcion del Oro, Zac., Mexico. '28 *Abbott, Argyle Campbell, Dev. Dept., E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del. '29 Abbott, Clarence E., V.P., Charge of Raw Materials, Tenn. Coal, Iron & R. R. Co., 1242 Brown-Marx Bldg.. Birmingham, Ala. '04 Abbott, Louis Benjamin, Chief Engr., Elkhorn Div., Consolidation Coal Co., Jenkins, Ky. '16 Abeel, George H., Jr., Cons. Min. Engr Box 427, Santa Monica, Cal. '18 Abel, Albert E., Asst. to Pres., Valley Mould & Iron Corp Hubbard, Ohio. '19 Abel, Raymond L., Asst. Prof., Dept. of Pet. Refin., Univ. of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh. Pa. '28 Abeel, Leo M., Research Engr., Sullivan Concentrator Chapman Camp, B. C., Canada. '31

Jan 1, 1929

ALABAMA Alabama City.-Eddy, L. Altoona.-Cain, J. America.-Foreman, J. T. Anniston.-Foster, R. N. Ashland.-Sturdevant, J. C. Bessemer.-Ball, E. M. Calhoun, F. W. Maschmeyer, W. L. McKenzie, W. C., Jr. Birmingham.-Abbott, C. E. Aldrich, T. H. Aldrich, T. H., Jr. Ashton, J. J. Aufderhaar, H. C. Ball, T. L. Biddison, P. M. Blair, C. S. Brown, T. S. Bush, M. W. Clark, G. H. Crawford, G. G. Crockard. F. H.

Jan 1, 1929

By H. E. Nold

THIS paper is an effort to explain in a simple manner the fundamental principles involved in examining a clay deposit for both quantity and quality and in operating a clay mine, either open-pit or underground, so that the best quality of finished material can be made from the raw material available. The writer is aware that what is recommended in this paper is everyday practice in many refractories plants and in some other heavy-clay products plants, but observations made while visiting practically every clay mine in Ohio have convinced him that the practices herein discussed are not as widely used as their importance warrants. It is true that the problem of mining for quality is more acute in refractories plants than in most heavy-clay products plants, yet some of the latter are finding it profitable to pay more than ordinary attention to the selection and blending of their raw materials. It is hoped that this short paper may prove helpful to some who are now finding it difficult to produce a uniform product of as high quality as their clay deposit seems to warrant. The coordination of the work of the clay mine or pit with the manufacturing plant, to the end that the best product possible be made from the raw material available, presupposes a rather intimate knowledge of the clay deposit. The knowledge must include not only information of the amount of clay-available but also rather detailed information about both vertical and horizontal variations in quality of the clay. This information should cover three things: quality, quantity, and location.

Jan 1, 1929

Executive ROBERT E. TALLY, Chairman WILLIAM H. BASSETT JOHN A. MATHEWS LOUIS S. CATES EDGAR RICKARD Finance H. A. GUESS HENRY KRUMB, Chairman H. G. MOULTON Admissions ERLE V. DAVELER, Chairman GEORGE D. BARRON H. K. MASTERS JOHN M. LOVEJOY P. A. MOSMAN Alternates E. L. ESTABROOK C. E. MEISSNER J. A. SINGMASTER FRED H. KAY

Jan 1, 1929

By T. D. Yensen

If the question should be asked at this time: "Does pure iron have allotropic transformations?" the reply would necessarily be, "We do not know." And it is doubtful whether anybody, anywhere, is in a position to make any other reply at this time, for the simple reason that pure iron has not yet been made and tested. The nearest approach to it contains either an appreciable amount of carbon or else an appreciable amount of oxygen (a few hundredths of a per cent.). But why be con-

Jan 1, 1929

By E. A. Swedenborg, J. S. Ross

Oil-field waters enter into many underground problems with which the petroleum engineer has to deal. Whether the problem is one of infiltration or natural encroachment, it is always desirable to determine the source of the water before commencing repair or remedial work. The usual mechanical tests for determining the source of extraneous water in wells are slow and expensive. An excellent means for the identification of oil-field waters may be afforded by their chemical characteristics when the chemical character of waters from the various sands has been established by careful sampling and analysis cautiously interpreted. In the Salt Creck field, Wyoming, a fairly high degree of efficiency has been attained in the control of field operations by utilizing the information afforded by the analysis. All of the operating companies appreciate this means of identifying waters, with the result that water-sampling has become general practice. Most of the chemical work dealing with Salt Creek waters has been done since the laboratories of the Midwest Refining Co. and the U. S. Geological Survey, were established in the field; the former in 1922, the latter in 1924. A spirit of cooperation has existed between the company and the government personnel by which many of the data for this paper were made available. Sands of the Salt Creek Field The principal sand horizons in the Salt Creek field are the Shannon, First, Second, and Third Wall Creeks, Dakota, Lakota, Sundance and Tensleep. Of these the important oil producers are the First Wall Creek, Second Wall Creek, Lakota and the Sundance. The Third Wall Creek is lenticular and is productive in only a few wells in the southern end of the field. There are also a number of shale wells, but they do not produce water in any appreciable amount. The stratigraphic position of these sands and their relative thicknesses are shown on the condensed composite section of Salt Creek

Jan 1, 1929

By M. J. Kirwan, K. A. Covell

This paper covers a brief discussion of pumping 38° to 41° gravity oil from Wilcox sand wells ranging in depths from 4000 to 4900 ft. in the Seminole field, Oklahoma. As recently as a year ago it was the general belief among Seminole operators that most wells in that district could not be successfully or economically pumped. Also the idea was prevalent at that time that the crookedness of the rotary holes would cause a large amount of mechanical trouble and the use of the air-gas lift would leave the wells depleted with sand conditions and fluid levels unfavorable for pumping. At that time it was predicted that wells would be abandoned when the economic flowing and swabbing period was reached. Contrary to these beliefs it has been demonstrated that wells can be profitably pumped to limits as low as 10 bbl. of oil per day where conditions are favorable. The Serllinole field, unusual in its rapid development, has served as an experimental laboratory for many oil field pumping devices with which this paper will not concern itself. Discussion will be confined to equipment and methods in general use throughout the field. The outstanding features of equipment and pumping operations covered in this paper may be summarized as follows: 1. Pumping equipment from the standpoint of prime movers, energy cost, power transmission equipment, derricks, counterbalances, beam hangers, tubing, sucker rods, pumps, etc. 2. Pumping problems peculiar to the Seminole field, including the proper time at which to change from air-gas lift flowing to pumping. Pumping Equipment There have been no basic changes in pumping equipment in the past 20 years with the exception of some refinements in design brought about by the demand for equipment suitable for pumping deep wells. Results of research in the heat treatment of metals and progress made by the American Petroleum Institute in standardization of equipment, together with the cooperation of oil field equipment manufacturers, have

Jan 1, 1929