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By J. L. Jernegan

IN the summer and fall of 1875, the author was present during a short smelting campaign at the Hall Valley works, and having had occasion to make a number of chemical analyses of the ores, fuel, and fluxes, deems that the results of the same, and also an account of the smelting operations, may be found of interest to members of the Institute. The mines and reduction works of the Hall Valley Silver-Lead Mining and Smelting Company (limited) are situated at Hall Valley, Park County, Colorado. The smelting works are located about half way from the mouth to the head of the above-named valley, and the mines high up on the mountains, near its head. The three principal mines of the company are the Whale, Leftwick, and Cold¬spring. They are all on different veins, running parallel to one another, with a general trend from southwest and northeast. The

Jan 1, 1877

By E. L. Dougherty, J. W. Sheldon

A numerical method for computing the dynamical behavior of fluid- fluid interfaces is described. Results of studies made to assess the accuracy and economy of the method on a computer are reported. It is concluded that it is practical to obtain digital computer solutions for fluid- fluid interface problems with two space dimensions. PROBLEM DEFINITION We consider two-dimensional flow in a rectangle as shown in Fig. 1, where a fluid-fluid interface divides the rectangle into two regions. The pressure is specified along the lower boundary (the injection boundary) and upper boundary (the withdrawal boundary). There is to be no flow of fluid across the side boundaries, which are walls of symmetry for the flow, and px = 0 along these boundaries. The fluids are incompressible, the absolute permeability and porosity is constant, and each fluid has its own constant mobility. Thus, the pressure satisfies Laplace's equation in each region. Across the interface, pressure is continuous and the normal component of fluid flux is 1. These conditions are shown in Fig. 1. The velocity of a point on the interface in the direction of the normal from Fluid 1 into Fluid 2 is U,/ Q, where Un is the normal component of volumetric flux at the point on the interface, i.e., For brevity, we call the problem defined above "Problem A". Problem A is a simple example of a dynamical fluid-fluid interface problem. However, the same numerical methods which we use to solve Problem A can be extended to the solution of a large number of fluid-fluid interface problems which are mathematical models for various oil recovery processes,l hence our interest in Problem A. We define the interface by prescribing the x, y coordinates of a finite set of points. These points are called "interface mesh points" and are illustrated by triangles or asterisks in the figures. Fig. 2 is a procedural (flow) chart displaying the main steps in the solution. We comment briefly on some of these steps in this section and then give further details in subsequent sections. For mobility ratio greater than one it is well known that Problem A is unstable.*2 Small amplitude,

Jan 1, 1965

By O. B. Hopkins

As prefatory to the body of this paper, a few general statements will be made (1) in regard to the history and importance of the asbestos, (2) as to the principal sources of the raw material, and (3) as to the types and modes of the occurrence of asbestos.

Jan 1, 1915

By Jan M. Mutmansky, Gordon H. Walrod, Y. J. Wang

The selection of a shaft size for ventilation purposes is a classic problem of concern to mining engineers. This presentation is concerned with the sizing of conventionally-sunk circular shafts with concrete or shotcrete linings. Costs of sinking shafts of three different depths, from 150 m to 300 m (500 ft to l000ft), and six different diameters, from 4.27 m to 7.32 m (14 ft to 24 ft), were obtained through questionnaires to shaft contractors. The primary objective of the economic model presented is the balancing of detailed annual capital and operating costs to achieve the minimum overall cost of the shaft installation over its life. The economic model is similar to previous analyses but treats several of the individual cost categories in an updated fashion. Included in the paper is a detailed analysis of the effects of varying power costs on optimal shaft size. Also included are a statistical analysis of current shaft costs and comments on the choice between shotcrete and concrete linings.

Jan 1, 1980

By Harold S. Davis

SURROUNDING the nuclear core of an atomic energy plant there are usually one or more thick walls of concrete, as required to protect instruments and personnel from the harmful effects of nuclear radiations. Sometimes these massive walls are of ordinary concrete weighing about 150 pcf. To reduce wall thicknesses, concrete weighing 200 to 350 pcf may be used. Such high densities are obtained by using natural aggregate processed from heavy ore, or by using steel slugs or iron shot in concrete. Mix data for a number of high-density concretes are summarized in Table I.1 High density at low cost is of prime importance in shields designed to absorb gamma rays. On the other hand, biological shields located near the reactor core must attenuate neutrons as well as gamma rays. In general, a biological shield should contain: 1) heavy elements to slow down high energy neutrons and to absorb gamma rays, 2) either light elements or hydrogenous materials to moderate neutrons of intermediate energy, and 3) materials to absorb neutrons once they have been slowed down to thermal energies. Some shield materials, iron and water for example, are effective in one or more of the above ways. On the other hand, some otherwise excellent shield materials have certain undesirable radiation properties that limit the ways or number of places they can be used. For example, when iron absorbs neutrons it emits secondary gamma rays of high energy. On the other hand, boron absorbs neutrons avidly without producing high energy gamma rays. In spite of its high cost, boron is sometimes used in concrete to minimize production of secondary gamma rays. In some shielding applications it is necessary to avoid materials that become radioactive when subjected to neutron bombardment, continuing to give off high energy gamma rays for long periods after being removed from a neutron field.

Jan 5, 1957

By A. W. D. Hills, M. R. Moore

An apparatus has been developed in which metals can bc solidified under closely controlled unidirectional heat flow conditions. The metals are cooled by a multiple-air jet system, designed so that the heat transfer coefficient is uniformly distributed over the cooled surface. They are contained in a special furnace system of low thermal mass which enables unidirectional heat flow conditions to be rigorously maintained for certain specific cooling rates. This apparatus has been used to study the solidijication of pure lead and pure tin at zero superheat, solid metal thicknesses being determined by thermal analysis, and by dipstick readings. Detailed thermal balances have been drawn up on the experiments in order to determzne the cooling conditions that most rigorously correspond to unidirectional heat flow. Solid metal thicknesses, measured experimentally for these conditions, have beetz shown to agree closely with the theoretical wedictzons of different integml-profile methods. lt is concluded that any errors inherent in the integval-profile method are no greater than the errors inherent in experimental investigations of solidification. A knowledge of the influence of heat transfer rates on the solidification of metals is essential to the understanding and control of industrial casting processes. Since very few formal methods are available for solving the heat conduction equation under solidification conditions several authors have developed approximate techniques for doing so. One of the most promising is the integral-profile technique that has been used by Goodman,1 Hills,2,3 Tien4 and Hills and ~oore' to predict solidification rates under certain specific heat transfer coniditions. In the first of this present series of papers6 Hills has further generalized the method and developed a universal integral-profile technique that can be used to predict solidification rates under a wide variety of unidirectional heat flow conditions. Since the method is approximate it is necessary to investigate the accuracy with which it predicts actual solidification rates. A review of the literature7 shows that solidification rates have seldom been measured under accurately known heat transfer conditions and it was therefore decided to develop experimental techniques that would enable this to be done. Results obtained would then be available as a check on the approximate solutions already developed, and in the development of further solutions that would be applicable under more complicated conditions. The initial work in this experimental program which is described here, is concerned with the solidification of pure metals at zero superheat under unidirectional heat flow conditions. Subsequent experiments have been concerned with the solidification of pure metals at appreciable superheats, under varying unidirectional heat flow conditions and under two dimensional heat flow conditions. In a series of experiments recently initiated, the solidification of binary alloys is also being investigated. The results of these subsequent experiments, together with relevant theory, will be described in later papers. The solidifying metal has been cooled in all the experiments, by a multiple air jet system designed so that the heat transfer coefficient to the cooled surface is constant and is uniformly distributed over the surface. This type of system has been chosen since only one parameter is needed to specify the heat transfer conditions and since these conditions are analogous to those met in certain continuous casting processes.' Air cooling was chosen in preference to water cooling, however, since it offers a wider range of heat transfer conditions, and since it can be investigated by analogous mass transfer techniques. The first part of this paper discusses the existing integral-profile solutions that correspond to the heat transfer conditions used in the experiments, and describes the development and use of the experimental apparatus. In subsequent sections the heat transfer and solidification results are presented, and the various theoretical predictions are compared with them, and with one another.

Jan 1, 1970

By John Chipman, A. M. Samarin

It has been long known that the gas evolved during the boil in the open-hearth furnace is mainly carbon monoxide associated with smaller quantities of other gases. A number of attempts have been made to determine the precise effects of carbon and oxygen content of the bath, and of other factors, such as temperature, upon the evolution of carbon monoxide. In his investigation of the carbon-iron oxide product in liquid steel, Hertyl showed that the value of this product at equilibrium could be approximated by plotting the value of the product observed in open-hearth reactions against rate of carbon elimination, and extrapolating to zero rate. The results of this study showed a slight but definite effect of temperature upon the carbon-iron oxide reaction. Experimental studies of the evolution of gases from rimming-steel ingots have not yet attained the degree of precision necessary for an exact understanding of the effects of pouring temperature, carbon content, and iron oxide in the metal upon the composition of these gases. Klinger2 showed that the gas consists mainly of carbon monoxide, and that considerable variation in its composition occurs during the solidification of the ingot. In order that these variations may be understood in their proper relationship to the progress of solidification of the ingot and the segregation that accompanies solidification, it is essential to have a knowledge of the condition of equilibrium in the several chemical reactions by which the gases are being formed. It is also necessary to understand the effects of temperature upon the equilibria, and further, to know the manner in which the temperature of the liquid metal within the ingot changes as the skin of the ingot is being built up. The reactions in which we will be chiefly interested are those involving in the one case the oxides of carbon, and in the other case steam and

Jan 1, 1937

By S. Singh, R. C. Deshpande

RECENTLY metallographic studies of copper slugs recovered after firing shaped charges in deep containers of water were reported.' The present note describes the metallographic examination of a steel

Jan 1, 1960

By W. H. Class

The embrittling effects of oxygen, ozone, nitrogen, air, and surface residues, on NaCl has been investigated. The embrittlement by ozone and oxygen was found to be associated with the formation of a NaClO3 surface compound. In these cases the initial crack that was responsible for fracture (in a bend test) always nucleated at the corners between the tension and side faces. The behavior of air was very erratic and on certain days did not produce enzbrittlement. During these periods, crystals that had become embrittled by the ozone treatment completely recovered their ductility after a short exposure to the ambient atmosphere, It was established many years ago1 that considerable ductility could be obtained in NaCl single-crystal specimens if the crystal surfaces were dissolved in water either during or immediately prior to the test. The original interpretation of this effect by Joffe attributed the enhanced ductility to the removal of surface microcracks by dissolution. Later investigations2'3 have suggested that the exclusion of air from the specimen surface is the criterion for extensive plastic flow prior to fracture. The air em-brittlement in this later work was attributed to the diffusion of gaseous atoms into the surface layers of the crystal, thereby impeding the movement of dislocations. This model satisfactorily accounts for the reembrittlement observed after further air exposure subsequent to the water dissolution treatment. However, the situation has recently become more complex by the observations in several laboratories4-t that under certain conditions air exposure does not impair the ductility of NaC1. It has also been recognized5 that improper drying operations after water dissolution can leave surface precipitates that lead to embrittlement. Cleavage defects on as-cleaved crystals can often be another source of embrittlement. In the present work the effect of the gaseous atmospheres nitrogen, argon, air, oxygen, and ozone, on the ductility of rock salt was studied extensively. The embrittlement resulting from oxygen and ozone exposures was found to be associated with the formation of a NaC1O3 surface film. It is suggested that certain atmospheres, one of which often can be ambient air, which inhibit the formation or favor the decomposition of this compound, can promote ductility. Thus one aspect of the Joffe effect is certainly related to the removal of surface compounds or complexes by water dissolution. The effect of surface precipitates that remain after drying operations and of cleavage defects were also studied. In neither of the latter cases was the embrittlement as severe as that found with a NaClO3 surface layer. PROCEDURE AND SPECIMEN PREPARATION The nature of the embrittlement produced by the agents mentioned above was studied by means of microscopy, mechanical testing, and X-ray diffraction. Specimens were cleaved from large crystals of optical quality sodium chloride obtained from the Harshaw Chemical Co., and, except for those tested in the as-cleaved condition, were given a 15- to 20-sec immersion in distilled water followed by a rinse in absolute methyl alcohol. The specimens were then blotted on a soft, absorbent paper, and dried by a few seconds exposure to a stream of warm, dry air. Such a procedure was found to give a control surface which was microscopically free of residues. (A few crystals were intentionally painted with a concentrated NaCl solution in order to investigate the effect of surface residues). All specimens were of 0.140 sq in. cross-section. Crystals prepared in the above manner were immediately placed in a gas train where they could be exposed to the desired gases for preselected periods of time. For the oxygen and nitrogen exposures, pure reagent-grade gases were employed. The ozone was provided in the form of an ozone-oxygen mixture (approximately 10 pct ozone) prepared by passing commercial grade oxygen over a strong ultraviolet light source. All gases were dried prior to their introduction into the train. Since argon was found to be completely inert in its behavior (i.e., residue-free specimens that were exposed to argon were not embrittled), it was periodically utilized to check the control specimen surfaces as well as the condition of the gas train used for aging the specimens. After exposure to the gaseous media in question, the crystals to be used for the measurement of the strain to fracture were transferred from the gas train to a protective oil bath (without further exposure to the atmosphere) where the tests were conducted in three-point bending. The apparatus was so adjusted that the load could be applied at a constant, continuous rate. Other Snecimens from the gas train were deformed

Jan 1, 1962

By H. H. Hausner, H. S. Kalish

IN recent years zirconium and beryllium have become of great interest because of their special properties. Zirconium is known for its remarkable ability to absorb the gases oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, has extensive use as a getter in electron tubes and has indeed become the primary metal in the manufacture of photoflash bulbs. Beryllium is of interest because it is light metal and as such could supplement aluminum and magnesium in light metal applications. The late development of zirconium ductile at room temperature produced by both the iodide and calcium reduction methods has stimulated frequent articles on this metal in the recent literature. Beryllium is so closely akin to zirconium crystall-ographically that some investigators are of the opinion that beryllium should be ductile at room temperature if it were pure enough. The crystallographic relationship of beryllium and zirconium, the interest created in Be-Zr alloys where the zirconium is believed to function as a remover of solid solution gas in beryllium and thus increase the ductility of the beryllium rich alloy, and the amenability of these metals to powder metallurgy methods stimulated this approach to an investigation of the system Be-Zr. Preliminary work showed that a zirconium compact melted when pressed in contact with a beryllium compact and sintered at 1250°C, without any apparent final bond between the two. A search of the literature revealed nothing pertinent about the Zr-Be system or about any zirconium - beryllium alloys. In 1936 Misch³ vaguely identified the compound ZrBe2 and reported that it has a deformed cubic structure. Two patents," , were issued to Mach-lett Laboratories in 1943 and in 1946 regarding the addition of small amounts of zirconium to beryllium in order to improve the ductility of beryllium so that it may better be used for X ray windows. In considering the alloy formation of beryllium with other metals Raynor thought it unlikely that zirconium would have any solid solubility in beryllium. From this indefinite information nothing could be ascertained about the possible use of Zr-Be alloys or the use of these metals intimately. A brief preliminary study of the system Zr-Be by powder metallurgy methods was undertaken to provide regions for more intense studies of Zr-Be alloys and as a guide to a formal phase diagram determination. The investigation described in the following pages was completed in less than three weeks. The usefulness of this rapid method to facilitate phase diagram studies and new alloy investigations will be shown. Materials and Procedure Zirconium powder was produced from crystal bar stock of high purity supplied by Foote Mineral Co. The crystal bar was converted to hydride at 730°C, crushed, and the hydride decomposed in purified argon at 850°C. 60 pct of the powder passed through a 325 mesh screen, 40 pct of the powder was —140 mesh, +325 mesh and the average particle size of the total was 8 to 12 microns. The beryllium powder was used as re-

Jan 1, 1951

By R. I. Lahring, C. G. Inks

A surfactant waterflood, using a block copolymer of ethylene and propylene oxide (PLURONIC L64*), wa., started in 1956 in Kansas to determine the commercial feasibility of such a process. The production formation was the Bartlesville sand at a depth of 1,400 ft. Leares in the test area had attained both primary and secondary production peaks, and were on a normal decline when the tests were initiated. The injection wells were taking water at a reasonable pressure and none of the operating conditions were particularly unusual. The leases were selected primarily because of normal operating conditions, and not because of any serious problems demanding remedie>,. Oil production and water injection data were recorded during the 10-year test period, and their compilation indicates that the surfactant resulted in an increase of about 9 percent in secondary oil production. Other benefits derived from the surfactant injection were lower injection pressure that resulted in reduced power consumption and reduced erosion of the pumps; and lower calcium scale buildup. These fringe benefits more than offset the cost of the surfactant used. Introduction During the past several decades, considerable research has been carried out on secondary recovery of crude oil that remains in the producing formation despite the most efficient, current primary production practices. Methods are constantly sought of increasing recovery of oil, while at the same time improving the economic efficiency of operations. One method that has received intensive study over the years is the use of a surfactant as a waterflood additive. Laboratory tests show conclusively that dilute solutions of surfactants remove considerably more oil from uncon-solidated sand cores than does water alone.'- The loss of surfactant by adsorption at solid-liquid interfaces has caused serious doubt that surfactants can be used economically as waterflooding additives. This is especially true with anionic and cationic surfactants, and to a lesser extent with nonionic surfactants. This work was undertaken to determine the effectiveness in increasing oil production by injecting water containing small quantities of a nonionic surfactant. The surfactant selected was PLURONIC L64*, a block copolymer based on ethylene and propylene oxide, having the following structure The selection of the test site, a typical shoe-string sandstone type of field located at Batesville pool, Toronto District of Woodson County, Kans., was made because of its normal primary and secondary recovery operating conditions, and not because of any serious operating problems. When the tests were begun, the field was experiencing the customary post-peak production decline of a waterflood. Using for the tests a field that was on a normal production decline, while maintaining constant all variables other than the addition of the surfactant. was of varamount importance if success or failure was to be attributed to a particular cause. It was reasoned that if a surfactant was added to the injection waters and nothing else was done to influence the oil production or injection of water, the effects of the surfactant on the flood could be determined precisely. Production History The first well in the tested field was drilled in 1935. Gas repressurization began immediately, but it was not until Aug., 1938, that the major portion of the field was developed. During the period of repressurization, 1,700 MMcf of gas was injected. As can be seen from the curves of Fig. 1, the production peak from gas injection was attained in 1937 and a normal production decline followed. Early in 1942, water injection wells were drilled and injection of water Was initiated. The amount of water injected increased as more injection wells were drilled until a peak injection rate of 2,700 BID was reached in

Jan 1, 1969

By W. F. Holbrook

In a previous paper1 a method for the measurement of the comparative desulphurizing power of slags was described and data were presented covering the range of likely slags containing up to 10 per cent MgO. In the present work the range is extended to include slags containing up to 20 per cent MgO, and the effect of temperature on 5 per cent and 15 per cent MgO slags over the range 1475' to 1525' C. is included. The method used was that described in the previous paper except that some of the temperature measurements were made with a noble-metal thermocouple instead of a tungsten-graphite thermocouple. Twelve-gram charges of 0.8 per cent sulphur-metal and 5-gram charges of slag were subjected to heating for 30 min. at a prescribed temperature. The charges were analyzed for sulphur content. For purposes of comparison, desulphurizing power is defined as the ratio of the percentage of sulphur found in the slag to that found in the metal. Six slag and metal charges were made coincidentally in 5/8in. holes in a section of an electrode graphite rod. One slag and metal charge was used as a control by means of which adjustment in the desulphurization value could be made for small variations in temperature and other factors. For convenient presentation of the data, the slags are arranged in groups in each of which one of the four main slag components is constant. Thus, the 15 per cent MgO slags are presented separately from those containing 20 per cent MgO. Slags with Magnesium Oxide Constant 15 Per cent Mg0.—The data on slags containing 15 per cent MgO cover a composition range of 24 to 50 per cent SiO2, 5 to 27 per cent A1203 and 24 to 53 per cent CaO. Variation in composition has been in steps of 2 per cent over much of the area. Because the change in desulphurization power is generally gradual with gradual change in composition, certain sections have been covered in steps of 4 per cent and even

Jan 1, 1938

By W. F. Holbrook

In a previous paper1 a method for the measurement of the comparative desulphurizing power of slags was described and data were presented covering the range of likely slags containing up to 10 per cent MgO. In the present work the range is extended to include slags containing up to 20 per cent MgO, and the effect of temperature on 5 per cent and 15 per cent MgO slags over the range 1475' to 1525' C. is included. The method used was that described in the previous paper except that some of the temperature measurements were made with a noble-metal thermocouple instead of a tungsten-graphite thermocouple. Twelve-gram charges of 0.8 per cent sulphur-metal and 5-gram charges of slag were subjected to heating for 30 min. at a prescribed temperature. The charges were analyzed for sulphur content. For purposes of comparison, desulphurizing power is defined as the ratio of the percentage of sulphur found in the slag to that found in the metal. Six slag and metal charges were made coincidentally in 5/8in. holes in a section of an electrode graphite rod. One slag and metal charge was used as a control by means of which adjustment in the desulphurization value could be made for small variations in temperature and other factors. For convenient presentation of the data, the slags are arranged in groups in each of which one of the four main slag components is constant. Thus, the 15 per cent MgO slags are presented separately from those containing 20 per cent MgO. Slags with Magnesium Oxide Constant 15 Per cent Mg0.—The data on slags containing 15 per cent MgO cover a composition range of 24 to 50 per cent SiO2, 5 to 27 per cent A1203 and 24 to 53 per cent CaO. Variation in composition has been in steps of 2 per cent over much of the area. Because the change in desulphurization power is generally gradual with gradual change in composition, certain sections have been covered in steps of 4 per cent and even

Jan 1, 1938

By H. D. Dahl, Roger C. Parsons

In order to improve roof stability, Continental Oil Co.'s research program, initiated in 1969, was directed toward defining the geological parameters that affect the severity of roof conditions in any particular area of the mine. In addition, the program was seeking to define why roof falls in the Humphrey No. 7 mine (and in northern West Virginia-southwestern Pennsylvania coal mining areas) are oriented so that they occur primarily in north-south rooms or entries. Conclusions and recommendations from this study of roof fall orientation are given.

Jan 1, 1973

By George C. Lipsey

FOR many years the mining of coal and other minerals occurring in sedimentary formation has been planned according to information obtained by diamond drilling. Placer mines have used churn drills for sampling and estimating deposits, and some metal mines have used the method either wholly or in part. The diamond drill method, therefore, although not entirely new, has come into more prominence in the last few years. Several large-scale developments now being planned or in the production stage have used this method in varying degree. This paper will describe the operations of the Howe Sound Exploration Co., Ltd. at Snow Lake, Manitoba, where a gold mine was developed and equipped for mining and milling wholly on the basis of diamond drilling results. The property has been in operation nearly 3 years, so that results can be compared with the estimates and assumptions made from the diamond drilling. In developing the subject it is necessary to outline as briefly as possible the normal method of mining, from discovery to production stage. Table I sets forth these various stages, the methods of financing, the percentage of total cost, and the relative time interval required for each section of the work. The plan presented in this table cannot be applied to all mining developments, but it gives a basis on which to work. In Stages 2 and 3 the investment is moderate, and if the property does not respond favorably the options or interests can be terminated. Stage 4 represents a sizeable investment, and it is more difficult to drop the property after this part of the operation is completed. Stages 2, 3, and 4 may be repeated several times by different groups or companies before Stage 5 is reached, but when Stage 5 has been started the total capital investment must be provided and there can be no turning back. It will be noted that there is a total of 116 units of investment in the overall cost if one company proceeds with Stages 2, 3, 4, and 5 in order. Stage 4, however, consumes time which is important when markets are being considered. Bringing a property into production when metal prices are low is much more difficult than when the prices are high, and if this stage can be set aside production is attained more quickly. When Stage 4 is eliminated the total becomes 86 units of cost for Stages 2, 3, and 5, but an adjustment of 14 units must be added to Stage 5. These 14 units represent the useable value of Stage 4. Thus Stage 4 represents an investment of 30 units if carried on before Stage 5, but 14 units if included with Stage 5. This is accounted for by the fact that development work can be accomplished more cheaply under Stage 5, since everything that is done is planned on a production basis with permanent services. Stage 4 must of necessity be governed by expenditures, and a great many temporary services, including housing and power plants, must be provided. The prospect shaft is a small one, and drifts,

Jan 1, 1952

By T. Szaplonczay, D. E. Light

The auto-oxidation of sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid in commercially produced barren and recycle liquors, containing 1.66 and 4.56 gpl Fe respectively, from Elliot Lake was studied. A gas mixture, containing 3.5% SO2 and air was introduced into these liquors through a frit at a rate of 6.0g SO2 per hour per liter of solution. The barren and recycle were heated to 60°C. At the end of the first 24 hours of the process the concentrations of acid produced were 158 and 220 gpl H2SO4 for the barren and recycle respectively. Corresponding conversion efficiencies were 70 and 83%. In the period from 24 to 36 hours the rate of acid production decreased so that the H2SO4 concentrations at the end of 36 hours were 180 gpl for the barren and 260 gpl for the recycle; average conversions for the initial 36 hours were 55 and 68% respectively. Many investigators1'2'3 have considered the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to form sulfuric acid in aqueous solutions containing metallic ions. A summary of the work performed on this subject prior to 1946 has been presented by Keyes4 who described the auto-oxidation process as follows. Keyes also suggested that in this second reaction ferric ion serves as a catalyst for the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfuric acid. Neytzell-de Wilde and Taverner5 have reported on the use of auto-oxidation to produce a 4 to 5% sulfuric acid solution for use in a cyclic leach process at South African uranium plants. This paper describes investigations carried out to determine the feasibility of using the auto-oxidation process to produce sulfuric acid solutions of as high concentration as possible using commercially produced uranium plant barren and recycle liquors from the Elliot Lake region of Ontario. These liquors contained 1.66 and 4.56 gpl respectively of iron, chiefly in the ferrous state. This investigation is of particular interest to the uranium producers in Elliot Lake where the ores contain 3 to 4% sulfur, as sulfides. Flotation of these sulfides and roasting of same to produce SO, bearing gases have been successfully demonstrated using conventional methods.6'7 Barren and recycle solutions, as described previously, are also produced in large tonnages by these uranium producers. The experimental method and apparatus used to examine the auto-oxidation process will be described first. Then the tests carried out on laboratory prepared aqueous solutions containing ferric sulfate to determine optimum conditions will be presented. The next section will describe the tests using the commercial barren and recycle liquors. A final section will summarize the conclusions of the work. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES Two types of solutions were used in the tests, a laboratory prepared aqueous solution containing definite amounts of ferric sulfate, and commercially produced iron bearing solution obtained from a uranium leaching plant in the Elliot Lake area. Two liters of a solution to be examined were placed in a 3 in. diam by 30 in. long glass cylinder with a cross-sectional area of 7 sq in. A mixture of air, and SO2 supplied from a lecture bottle for convenience, was introduced into the bottom of the vessel through a standard 30 mm glass frit, 700 sq mm in area. The temperature of the apparatus was controlled by a heating tape and variable transformer. Exhaust gases were vented to atmosphere. At the end of the test period the gas flow was shut off and the solution was analysed for H2SO4, Fe ++, and Fe +++, by conventional means. Four variables were examined using the laboratory prepared aqueous solution of ferric sulfate. First, the effect of SO2 concentration, from 1 to 1076, in the feed gas mixture was considered. Second, the temper-

Jan 1, 1964

By C. A. Crawford

Nickel and the nickel-copper alloy, the latter generally referred to as monel metal, are available in a variety of wrought and fabricated forms, of which the following are regular commercial products:

By Colin C. Harris, Nathaniel Arbiter

The flotation operation can be analyzed in terms of three groups of variables. The first, largely independent of control by the operator, embraces the fixed physical and chemical properties of the ore minerals. The second includes all chemical and physical effects imposed on an ore after mining that influence its floatability. These can be either purposefully or accidentally applied. The third embodies the flotation-machine characteristics which realize the potential floatability of selected ore minerals in terms of grade and recovery levels. The machine effectiveness thus depends not only on its own contribution, but on the prior influence of all other variables on floatability. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT From the earliest days, flotation mills used many types of machines. Hoover 20 in 1914 mentioned as then important the Potter-Delprat tank for gas generation by acid, the DeBavay cones for skin flotation, the Elmore mixer and separation chamber for vacuum flotation, and his own modification of the Mineral Separation cell for the agitation froth process. Less important at the time were the MacQuisten tube and the Hyde cell. By 19274~ scores of machines had been developed and dozens had found their way into mills. From then on, however, under the scrutiny of competitive tests, many fell into disuse. Taggart in 19454~ classified processes broadly as skin flotation and froth flotation, dividing machines for the latter into the three categories: bubble column, pulp body, and combination.* Under 'bubble column' he listed all pneumatic, cascade, and subaeration cells; and under 'pulp body' those cells in which gas was generated by boiling, chemical action, and pressure reduction, as well as the agitation-froth type. At that writing skin flotation, the cascade machines, and all pulp body and combination machines were said to be extinct, leaving pneumatic and subaeration types dominant (u. S. practice). The process of elimination has continued to the present, with almost all pneumatic cells succumbing to the pressure of competition from subaeration machines. The only new machines to appear in recent years have been double-impeller types f and these have met with only limited acceptance.

Jan 1, 1962

By A. F. Henderson, C. F. Cornell, A. F. Dunyon, D. A. Dahlstrom

IN processing magnetic taconites several steps of crushing, grinding, classification, and magnetic separation are required to produce a 60' pct Fe concentrate. Usually the final concentrate is in a slurry form of 55 to 70 pct solids by weight and is further characterized by a particle size of 60+ pct —325 mesh. In taconite plants already completed or under construction the conventional method used to obtain pellets suitable for blast furnaces is to filter the concentrate slurry, ball the filter cake, and then harden the green pellets in a traveling grate or in a vertical shaft furnace. Large tonnages must be handled in minimum floor space, with reduced maintenance and lowest possible operating cost. Filtration must therefore achieve two objectives: I) high filtration rate—in terms of pounds of dry solids per hour per square foot of filtration area—at a low filtrate solids concentration, and 2) a filter cake moisture that will always permit efficient balling within the normal fluctuations of ' plant operating conditions. If moisture contents are too high, balling may be impossible or result in a mushy ball .without enough green strength for the firing operation. Development work has met these objectives. At low investment and operating costs, filtration rates of 250 to 600 dry lb per hr per ft2 have been attained for concentrates of 60' pct —325 mesh. By combining the disk-type continuous filter with proper agitation, the Agidisc filter produces a homogeneous filter cake, easily discharged from the disk sectors. This application provides the lowest initial cost per square foot of filtration area, minimizes floor space, reduces down time for changing filter media to a negligible factor, and simplifies process control and maintenance for the operator. It is now possible to predict very closely the taconite concentrate filtration rates for a wide variety of conditions—either by experience or with a few simple leaf tests. When balling and pelletizing operations began on a continuous basis, it became apparent that moisture content of the filter cake was a critical factor and must always be controlled by the filter operator below some maximum allowable value. Accordingly the Reserve Mining Co. and the Eimco Corp. joined in a study of the many variables affecting filter cake moisture content. The study was conducted at the Reserve Mining Co. taconite plant at Babbitt, Minn. To process plant tonnage the Babbitt plant utilizes a 6-ft diam Agidisc filter with six disks and an 8-ft diam drum filter with 10-ft face. However, most of the plant filter investigations were made on the Agidisc because of its superior performance. A considerable amount of small-scale test work was first carried out to study more closely the individual variables and ascertain their effect on filter cake moisture content. A general correlation method was then developed which allowed reasonable prediction of moisture content at any operating conditions. This step was made necessary by the fact that in full-scale filtering, operating variables usually interact to produce a combined rather than a singular effect. Studies were then made on the full-scale filters to prove the validity of the correlations developed, and past operating records were examined to ascertain whether or not significant variations could be traced to any single factor or to a combination of factors.

Jan 1, 1958

Jan 1, 1897