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By R. H. Swallow, George Hess

The purpose of presenting this paper is to show: 1. The applications of aerial photography to the map requirements of strip mining. 2. The methods and procedures for producing accurate aerial contour maps. 3. The advantages of aerial contour mapping over stadia or plane table methods. Introduction Aerial photography was once a crude, uncertain tool. 'Today it is a precision mapping instrument which saves important time and money for strip mining and other industry. Aerial photography began in the boxkite days of aviation. The Army first used it for rough reconnaissance photographs. Then, in the early Twenties, industry began to use aerial photographs of their plants and facilities for advertising or annual reports. The quality of these pictures was not very good by today's standards, but this work began the development of better cameras, better lenses, better photographic techniques. Then, some farsighted engineers and aerial photographers found that if the camera's axis were vertical to the earth's surface, these pictures could be the source of valuable mapping information. By viewing these pictures in stereoscopic pairs, accurate measurements could be made and contour maps produced from this aerial photographic base. So the aerial mapping business developed, using the plane and aerial camera to collect the data, working with skilled ground parties who established a network of ground control for this map information photographed from the air. Over the following years, a whole new science developed, known as photogrammetry. Precision cameras and lenses were perfected, and the narrow view of the surveyor's transit was broadened to the vast perspective of the mapping plane. Stereoscopic Coverage Obtained Today in making aerial topographic maps, aerial photographs are exposed so that full stereoscopic coverage for the survey area is secured. To obtain true elevations these photographs are processed through a series of precision measuring and contouring instruments which employ a principle similar to the military range finder. Here is how aerial mapping is being used by your industry. Topographic maps are but one of three products from aerial photographic surveys. First, there are the individual photographs. These are taken in flight strips, exposed with an overlap, just as shingle on a roof overlap. Exposures are overlapped from 55 to 60 pct along the line of flight so that a large part of the area in one picture also appears on the adjacent photograph. Successive strips are flown with a side-lap of between 20 and 25 pct. Each point on the ground thus will be somewhere near the center of at least one photograph in the series. They may be studied under a stereoscope and relief seen in a third dimensional effect. Geologic features that may go unobserved in ground exploration are often detected under stereoscopic inspection. Moreover, though field checking is not obviated with these aerial photographs, it is directed toward critical areas and toward worthwhile anomalies. Aerial Photographic Mosaics The second product of an aerial survey is the photographic mosaic. This is an assembly of carefully matched aerial photographs in mosaic form. Although not as accurate as the topographic map, it does reveal a wealth of cultural detail in true relative scale. Since the mapping plane is flown over the area at a fixed altitude, the peaks and valleys are pictured at different scales. During compilation these scale differences are compensated by adjusting one vertical picture to another according to plotted ground control positions. Only extreme variations in ground elevation cannot be

Jan 1, 1950

By R. J. Wygal

A method is presented by which homogeneous, isotropic, and reproducible aggregates of particles such as glass beads, sand, ground glass, etc., may be prepared simply and quickly by using a "particle distributor". Several applications of the packing method to the construction of model reservoirs are described. The flow characteristics of these packings me given. Some factors which limit the usefulness of unconsolidated packs for simulating reservoir rock are overcome through artificial cementation of the aggregates. INTRODUCTION Many laboratory studies of porous media are based on experiments using test packs of sand, glass beads and other granular materials. More confidence can be had in the results of such studies if the test packs are known to have uniform properties throughout, to be mechanically stable and to be accurately reproducible. This paper presents a method by which such packs of a variety of shapes and sizes may be constructed using a particle distributor. Some factors which limit the usefulness of unconsolidated packs as a means for simulating reservoir rock are described. A method of overcoming these limitations, which involves artificial cementation of the packs, is presented. DEVELOPMENT Particles packed by the tamping or vibrating techniques are usually either non-uniform or mechanically unstable. An invention by Currie and Gregoryl overcomes these difficulties to some extent. The invention is based on the use of a stream of falling particles impinging on and passing through a distributor matrix of several layers of closely spaced spheres. The particles are well dispersed by numerous collisions with the spheres. They become homogeneously distributed at some distance below the distributor matrix and at that position are collected in the sample container. This apparatus, however, was found to be ineffective when small particles were used since small particles accumulate on the top surfaces of the spheres. An improved distributor matrix was made, first in the form of a stack of five sieves, and then in the more adaptable form of spaced layers of wire screen. Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal view through a five-layered distributor of eight-mesh wire screen. This device gives excellent results.* Fine particles pass through the distributor with very little hold up. The fine structure of the wire matrix with its many deflecting surfaces ensures good particle distribution. There are no dead areas immediately below the screen as were sometimes observed to occur below a matrix of spheres. Using such a device, 20-30 mesh sands were packed to a porosity of 32.1 per cent at rates varying from 0.17 to 6 lb/rnin. The lowest porosity achieved by tamping small increments of similar sands into a container was 33 per cent. Motion pictures at 3,000 frarnes/sec of the surface of a growing pack of 2-3/4 mm glass beads have helped to show the mechanism by which packs of low porosity are obtained. The beads, although packed at the rate of 5 lb/min, were observed to hit the pack surface singly, for the most part, and at well spaced points of impact. Part of their energy is transferred to surface beads which are thereby

By A. R. Rosenfield, G. T. Hahn

The effects of adding 0.025 volume fraction of uniformly dispersed Tho2, particles (particle size -380A) to iron have been examined. The two-phase alloy is shown to have a lower transition temperature and higher cleavage stress than either the base metal or a solid-solution alloy (Fe-3Si). Enhanced cleavage resistance is thought to be a consequence of particles limiting the effective slip distance of dislocations and thus the ability of Pile-ups to act as stress concentrations. Further calculations predict that the highest cleavage strengths are attained with uniform dispersions, where the particle size is kept small (-250A) and the volume fraction is relatively large (-2 to 3 pct). ALTHOUGH a fine dispersion of second-phase particles is known to impart strength to an alloy, the possibility that it might also impart ductility has only recently been explored. Outstanding progress has been made in the production of ductile tungsten alloys containing Tho21,2or (Hf, Zr)C,= but the contribution of the dispersion to ductility has neither been optimized nor fully analyzed. The basis for such an analysis has now been developed1,5 and is discussed briefly below. Experiments on iron are also described that attempt to isolate one of the possible ductilizing mechanisms and test its effectiveness. In analyzing these experiments, it is important to remember that cleavage obeys a stress criterion, and that either a lower ductile-to-brittle transition temperature or a higher cleavage stress is evidence of enhanced resistance to cleavage. DUCTILIZING MECHANISMS Slip Blockage. Cleavage fracture of polycrystals may be initiated at the intersection of a slip band (or twin) and a neighboring grain or a large (-1 to 5 µ) particle. The slip band generates a stress concentration at its head, and either the grain boundary fractures, the particle fractures, or cleavage is initiated in a neighboring grain. Experimental evidence for this viewpoint is found in metallographic studies8-8 and from the observation that cleavage is usually preceded by yielding.8-11 The potency of a slip band as a stress concentrator

Jan 1, 1968

By John J. Croston

THE year 1935 witnessed one of the world's oldest industries-gold mining-attain the stature of a billion dollar business. Preliminary estimates indicate that somewhat over 30,000,000 oz. of gold was pro-duced, the largest output ever recorded and exceeding the previous year by more than 11 per cent. Of this huge total the Witwatersrand field produced about 10,800,000 oz., compared with 10,480,000 oz. in 1934. Russia was apparently the stellar performer, and from incomplete data it appears that between five and five and a half million ounces were produced by the Soviets compared with 4,200,000 last year and 2,814,000 in 1933. The United States nosed Canada out of third place with a production of 3,546,000 oz. against 2,916,000 in 1934, while Canada increased her total from 2,965,000 to 3,291,000 oz. Similarly, gains of lesser magnitude were made in Australia, the Gold Coast and other countries. As a result of great activity in developing outlying areas on the Rand, and the great number of new companies building mills in Canada, Australia, the Gold Coast and the United States, the years 1936 and 1937 should see new high records, as these new producers will more than offset any decline in the older properties. The whole world has become "gold conscious" during the past three years. It has been the subject of innumerable articles by economists and others, but, unfortunately, because of their lack of actual mining knowl-edge, they have treated the production of gold as a static affair, ignoring geological and technical factors. It is hardly necessary to draw attention to the fact that the world's gold-mining industry was slowly but steadily shrinking in importance, owing to the gradual depletion of known deposits that were profitable to work at costs existing prior to 1929. The International Geological Congress at Pretoria and the League of Nations Committee drew atten-tion to the estimates of the mining experts of the various governments predicting a steady falling off in world production. On the Rand there

Jan 1, 1936

By John J. Croston

The year 1935 witnessed one of the world's oldest industries—gold mining—attain the stature of a billion dollar business. Preliminary estimates indicate that somewhat over 30,000,000 oz. of gold was produced, the largest output ever recorded and exceeding the previous year by more than 11 per cent. Of this huge total the Witwatersrand field produced about 10,800,000 oz., compared with 10,480,000 oz. in 1934. Russia was apparently the stellar performer, and from incomplete data it appears that between five and five and a half million ounces were produced by the Soviets compared with 4,200,000 last year and 2,814,000 in 1933. The United States nosed Canada out of third place with a production of 3,546,000 oz. against 2,916,000 in 1934, while Canada increased her total from 2,965,000 to 3,291,000 oz. Similarly, gains of lesser magnitude were made in Australia, the Gold Coast and other countries. As a result of great activity in developing outlying areas on the Rand, and the great number of new companies building mills in Canada, Australia, the Gold Coast and the United States, the years 1936 and 1937 should see new high records, as these new producers will more than offset any decline in the older properties. The whole world has become "gold conscious" during the past three years. It has been the subject of innumerable articles by economists and others, but, unfortunately, because of their lack of actual mining knowledge, they have treated the production of gold as a static affair, ignoring geological and technical factors. It is hardly necessary to draw attention to the fact that the world's gold-mining industry was slowly but steadily shrinking in importance, owing to the gradual depletion of known deposits that were profitable to work at costs existing prior to 1929. The International Geological Congress at Pretoria and the League of Nations Committee drew attention to the estimates of the mining experts of the various governments predicting a steady falling off in world production. On the Rand there

Jan 1, 1937

By G. V. Smith, R. F. Mehl

The decomposition of austenite in steels, because of its immerse practical importance, has been subjected to extensive study in recent years from the point of view of the mechanism of the process.1"3 Although much information has been acquired, a number of questions, principally of theoretical interest, remain. One is that of the atomic-crystallographic mechanism by which each of the various reaction products forms. The isothermal reaction products of the eutectoid decomposition in plain carbon steels (to which this study is restricted) have conveniently been classified in three general groupings—pearlite, bainite, and martensite. Of these several products, pearlite and martensite have been studied extensively, but bainite has received only scant attention. -As a result, the mechanism of the formation of pearlite and that of martensite are now fairly well understood while a great deal of uncertainty exists regarding bainite. Pearlite Pearlite forms from austenite by the precipitation of alternate platelets of cementite and ferrite, which grow into the austenite matrix.2--5 The rate of reaction may be described in terms of a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.2.3 Mehl and Smith6 have attempted to determine the lattice relationships existing between the ferrite in pearlite and the' parent austenite. Using a pole-figure method of analysis, it was found that a limited number of ferrite orientations resulted from the decomposition of a single grain of austenite; it was not possible, however, to decide between two assumed ideal relationships, both of which appeared to account for the experimentally determined pole figure. It was definitely shown, however, that the relationship obtaining was quite different from that determined for the proeutectoid separation of ferrite.7 No attempt was made to determine the habit plane (matrix plane to which the precipitate lies parallel) of the pearlite lamellae. Belaiew8 earlier had stated that the number of directions assumed by the pearlite lamellae in a single grain of austenite was 12 (no details were given) and concluded wrong!:!, as Mehl and Smith6 have pointed out, that the lamellae delineate the {2I0} planes of ferrite.* Martensite It is known that martensite is a transiti0nal constituent of body-centered tetragonal lattice,' and that it forms suddenly

Jan 1, 1942

By R. F. Mehl, G. V. Smith

The decomposition of austenite in steels, because of its immerse practical importance, has been subjected to extensive study in recent years from the point of view of the mechanism of the process.1"3 Although much information has been acquired, a number of questions, principally of theoretical interest, remain. One is that of the atomic-crystallographic mechanism by which each of the various reaction products forms. The isothermal reaction products of the eutectoid decomposition in plain carbon steels (to which this study is restricted) have conveniently been classified in three general groupings—pearlite, bainite, and martensite. Of these several products, pearlite and martensite have been studied extensively, but bainite has received only scant attention. -As a result, the mechanism of the formation of pearlite and that of martensite are now fairly well understood while a great deal of uncertainty exists regarding bainite. Pearlite Pearlite forms from austenite by the precipitation of alternate platelets of cementite and ferrite, which grow into the austenite matrix.2--5 The rate of reaction may be described in terms of a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.2.3 Mehl and Smith6 have attempted to determine the lattice relationships existing between the ferrite in pearlite and the' parent austenite. Using a pole-figure method of analysis, it was found that a limited number of ferrite orientations resulted from the decomposition of a single grain of austenite; it was not possible, however, to decide between two assumed ideal relationships, both of which appeared to account for the experimentally determined pole figure. It was definitely shown, however, that the relationship obtaining was quite different from that determined for the proeutectoid separation of ferrite.7 No attempt was made to determine the habit plane (matrix plane to which the precipitate lies parallel) of the pearlite lamellae. Belaiew8 earlier had stated that the number of directions assumed by the pearlite lamellae in a single grain of austenite was 12 (no details were given) and concluded wrong!:!, as Mehl and Smith6 have pointed out, that the lamellae delineate the {2I0} planes of ferrite.* Martensite It is known that martensite is a transiti0nal constituent of body-centered tetragonal lattice,' and that it forms suddenly

Jan 1, 1942

By F. W. Gordon

The Whitwell firebrick hot-blast stove, for furnace use, may be seen in its three main stages of development in the accompnying drawings. Fig. 1 is the stove of 1869, the year in which it was thoroughly tested at the Consett furnaces, England; Fig. 2, the stove of 1876 and 1877, in which it was intended to reduce the cost by increasing the height; Fig. 3, the stove of 1880. Many modifications were made from time to time, generally in the direction of improvement, but the drawings illustrake the main features of progress. In the stove of 1869 the plan was to introduce the gas at A, and pass it up and down between each alternate wall, the air in the reverse direction, passing in at B. The friction in this stove was so great, owing to the restricted area of the passages and the many revervals of the gaseous current, that it was deemed imprudent to build the stoves higher than 28' 6". Another reason mas that the great importance of cleaning was carefully kept in view, and it was very difficult to operate any hand scraper even to this depth. For these reasons the 22' X 28½' stove held the field for several yearn. A slight change made from this was to the 18' X 40' stove, where the height was increased, but the dumber of walls diminished. In this stove the friction was somewhat reduced, but so was the heating surface, and although it cost a little lea it was not any better. The next important change, seen in Fig. 2, was by increasing the height to GO feet and keeping the full number of walls in the stove. The heating surface and mass were much increased in proportion to the cost, and the friction decremed by alterllating over and under two or more walls, instead of one, as formerly. This stove gave admirable satisfactiou, but, although the proper doors were provided, it was very difticult to clean, owing to the long (distance the scrapers lid to traverse. Stove No. 3 is a modification of No. 2. The great question was how to decrease the cost mithotlt impairing in any yaw the

Jan 1, 1881

By G. K. N. S. Subasinghe

An attempt has been made to explain the behavior of a pinched sluice in terms of the established theories of fluid mechanics and mineral processing. A method has been developed to calculate the underflow discharge by assuming a logarithmic velocity distribution and free gravity fall through the discharge slot. The concentration profile of solids over the depth of flow has been shown to comply with Bagnold's theory of dispersive shear, rather than turbulent sediment transfer. Even although the results can be explained qualitatively by the Bagnold theory, their complete quantitative analysis will not be possible until more work is done. Consequently, an empirical equation has been developed to predict underflow pulp densities. It has been shown that the process of the segregation of the heavier mineral beneath the lighter can be described by a first order law. From the results obtained, a computer model of the pinched sluice has been developed. This predicts the underflow grade, pulp density and flow rate in terms of the feed and operating conditions. The model can also be used to determine the effect of a change in operating conditions, and for the optimization of rougher, cleaner, and scavenger circuits.

Jan 1, 1984

By Robert Parker

Measurements of the latent heat of transformation from a to 0 titanium were made using a pulse-heating technique. Rapid heating was accomplished electrically by discharging a low-inductance capci-tor hank through a thin-strip specimen. Both high-purity titanium and titanium containing 2700 ppm of 0 were studied. An electrical-resistivity technique and a plot of energy input us temperature rise were used to monitor the phase change. It was concluded that: 1) the latent heat of transformation is 800 i 48 cal per mole; 2) phase change occurred in less than 200 sec; and 3) the percentage phase change that occurs is linearly a function of the energy available for phase change. In addition, this experiment provides a simple and inexpensive method for determining specific heat of electrical conductors over large temperature ranges. The chief advantages of this technique over past pulse-heating experiments are: 1) static measurements of capacitor-bank voltage capacitance and specimen resistance can be made quickly and accurately to determine the energy supplied to the specimen; 2) the specimen is heated so rapidly (10 µ sec) that there is no appreciable heat loss during the heating. THE purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of the capacitor bank as a tool for basic experimental investigations and to determine the rapid phase-change kinetics of titanium. The capacitor provides a number of unique properties: 1) rapid heating rates in the order of l09oC per sec can be obtained; heating rates as slow as l04oC per sec are available by merely adding a given amount of inductance to the circuit; 2) the energy input can be precisely determined and can be varied from several joules to millions of joules, depending on the bank capacitance and voltage; 3) the specimen can be heated uniformly through the thickness and length or non-uniformly, as desired; 4) the apparatus is simple and inexpensive and can be easily altered; 5) the form of the specimen can be wires, sheets, foils, rods, and cylinders; 6) there is great precision in the timing of events; 7) this technique may be readily used in conjunction with rapid cooling.

Jan 1, 1965

MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL Regulator Co., and Trans-Weigh Co., have come up with a conveyor belt that thinks. The belt weighs material and then figures out the tons-per-hour that it carries. And you can't fool it by adding or subtracting material along the way. It makes allowances for any additional material as well as for any loss. The belt rides along a set of rollers. The force exerted on the rollers is transferred to a gage. The weight of the belt is subtracted electrically. Final measurements are fed into an electronic recorder which indicates the flow at the moment and the total amount which has been carried by the belt.

Jan 1, 1952

By J. B. Newkirk, A. H. Geisler

The alloy Cu4Pd has a disordered face-centered-cubic structure when quenched from temperatures between 478ºC and the melting point (about 1100°C). Below 478ºC an ordered phase is stable. The results of a Debye-Scherrer X-ray analysis indicate that the ordered phase has a tetragonal unit cell described by the space group C24h — P42/mt with 2 Cu in 2a, 2 Cu in 2f, 4 Cu in 4j (x = 0.2, y = 0.6), 4Pd in 4j (x = 0.4, y = 0.2), and 8 Cu in 8k (x = 0.1, y = 0.3). The orientation relationship between the face-centered-cubic phase and the ordered tetragonal phase is given by: [100],,. // [130]al,. COO1Ia.d.//COO1I,,.. • The behavior of Cu,Pd is typical of ordering alloys except that the transformation is very sluggish. The increase in hardness and the microstructural and X-ray diffraction effects are interpreted in terms of coherency strains caused by the ordering. AN anomalous construction in the Cu-Pd phase diagram (Fig. 1) was reported in 1939 and has been allowed to stand without further published attention since that time. The odd figuration about the composition 10 to 27 atomic pct Pd is derived mostly from the work of Jones and Sykes.1 Evidently several features of this binary system require further study if the constitutional forms are to be well understood. The present paper includes a study of one of these features, that is, the crystal structure of a single ordered alloy containing nominally 20 atomic pct Pd. This choice of composition was suggested by the work of Harker and associates who determined the structure of Ni4Mo2 and Ni4W.3 The nature of the ordering process in Cu4Pd was studied also by observing the hardness, microstructure, and Debye-Scherrer patterns of specimens which had been aged at various temperatures after quenching from an initial disordering treatment. Experimental Methods A 20 gram ingot of Cu4Pd was made by melting spectrographically standardized copper from Johnson, Matthey, and Co., and commercially pure (99.5 + ) palladium in an argon-filled quartz tube. Chemical analysis showed that the ingot contained 80.0 atomic pct Cu. The ingot was rolled about 60 pct to a strip 0.060 in. thick and was homogenized for 16 hr at 950°C in low pressure argon. Rods cut from the rolled strip were worked into wire 0.015 in. in diameter, and specimens for hardness and microscopic examination were cut from the remaining strip. All specimens, with the exception of some of the wire, were given an initial disordering treatment by heating for 16 hr at 950°C, followed by water quenching. A 10 cm length of as-drawn wire was water quenched after being held in a temperature-gradient furnace4 for 89 days. Room-temperature Debye-Scherrer photograms were then made at points along the wire to determine the temperature below which the ordered phase was stable. Although the accuracy of temperature determination in the gradient was only about ±10 °C, the temperature gradient was sufficiently gradual that the sensitivity was much better and locations which had differed by as little as 1°C could be distinguished. An analysis of the crystal structure of the well ordered alloy was made by X-ray diffraction using a specimen cut from this wire. The change of Debye-Scherrer pattern as ordering progressed was studied by using isothermally aged samples of initially disordered wires. The wires were sealed under low-pressure argon in small quartz tubes for heat treatment. After the aging treatment, the tubes were quenched in water and photograms were made at room temperature in a 10 cm diam camera using filtered Cu kX. (A = 1.540511) Hardness was measured on a Vickers hardness tester using a 10 kg load and 2/3 in. objective lens. Reported values are the average of at least three impressions made on flat specimens 0.060 in. thick. After the hardness of a heat-treated sample had been measured, it was resealed in low-pressure argon and returned to the furnace for continued aging at the same temperature. In this way, two samples served for all aging times at each temperature. Hardness specimens which had been aged 500 hr or more were used for metallographic examination after the final aging treatment. A dilute potassium-dichromate etching solution was used.

Jan 1, 1955

By R. D. Young, E. A. Harre

Nitrogen exists in two broad categories commonly designated as elemental nitrogen and fixed nitrogen. Elemental nitrogen is found in nature as a diatomic molecule and constitutes about 78%, by volume, of the earth's atmosphere. Fixed nitrogen is a common term used for nitrogen that is chemically bound to other elements. Although elemental nitrogen is very abundant, nonleguminous plants cannot utilize nitrogen unless it is in the chemically combined form. The content of this chapter is confined to fixed nitrogen since the uses and properties of elemental nitrogen and the fixed nitrogen compounds are different. Certain bacteria associated with legumes are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, but not to the extent required by succeeding nonleguminous crops. The need to use fertilizers containing fixed nitrogen compounds to grow food crops has been recognized for hundreds of years, and from antiquity farmers have used organic wastes such as animal manures, vegetable wastes, sewage sludge, fish scraps, etc., containing these compounds for fertilizers. These organic materials have a low nitrogen content, however, and cannot support large-scale food production. Known commercial-size deposits of natural nitrates containing much higher nitrogen content exist only in Chile, and the possibility of the discovery of other significant deposits is remote. The Chilean deposits were the major source of nitrogenous fertilizers until the Haber-Bosch process for the production of synthetic ammonia was developed. In the Haber-Bosch process, nitrogen reacts with hydrogen at high temperatures and pressures and in the presence of a catalyst to form ammonia. Modern plants use air, water, and natural gas or other hydrogen sources to produce the ammonia that is now the key building block of the fixed nitrogen industry. Several major problems that developed in the 1970s continue with the nitrogen industry into the 1980s. These are (1) the continuing sharp escalation in the cost of feedstocks for ammonia production as well as all energy sources, and (2) the very steep increase in the investment cost of production facilities. More than 75% of the fixed nitrogen produced domestically is consumed as fertilizers. The types of materials used as fertilizers have changed significantly during the past years. There has been a trend from the use of low-analysis fertilizers to types which contain high percentages of plant nutrients. The average plant nutrient content (N + P2O5 + K2O) of fertilizers used in the United States has increased from 18% in 1930 to 32% in 1960 and today approaches an average of 44%. In the case of nitrogen fertilizers, the low analysis natural nitrates (16% N) gave way to ammonium sulfate (20% N) after about 1920. After World War II, ammonium nitrate (33.5% N) previously used in munitions, became established as the leading nitrogen fertilizer. Urea use as a fertilizer (46% N) began in the 1960s, and in the past 10 years has become the world's leading solid nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen Materials Anhydrous Ammonia-Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless gas at ambient temperatures and pressures and has a sharp pungent odor. Anhydrous ammonia is stored and transported as a liquid in high-pressure cylinders and tanks at ambient temperature, and in low-pressure tanks, barges, and ships at -28°F. Anhydrous ammonia is applied directly at 4 to 7-in. depths in the soil as a high-pressure liquid by special applicators, after which it expands to a gas that dissolves in the soil moisture or is absorbed on soil colloids. In other systems ammonia is metered into irrigation water and is thereby introduced into the soil.

Jan 1, 1983

By Edel Moldenke

Burma has long been known for its ruby, tungsten, and tin deposits, and, lately, for having the largest lead-zinc mine in the world, the Bawd-win mine of the Burma Corpn. All the coal used, however, is imported from Calcutta; this is a bituminous coal of about 11,000 B.t.u., 24 per cent. ash, and costs about $8 per ton. Bituminous coal has not, thus far, been found, but many lignite deposits are known. The most promising lignite deposits are in the Namma field, Fig. 1, situated in the Northern Shan States of Upper Burma, about 30 mi. south of Lashio, the terminus of the Burma Railway, 750 mi. north of Rangoon. The

Jan 1, 1922

By L. J. Cabri

The calculation of metallurgical balances for precious metals is very dependent on a precise mineralogical understanding of the distribution of each element. Determination whether the precious metals occur as dilute solid solutions in major minerals is not always easy because of the relatively high levels of detection (9200-500 ppm) of the precious metals by the most common methods of in-situ analysis (e.g. electron microprobe). Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis of sulfides from Izok Lake, N.W.T., Canada and from the Hilton mine, Mount Isa, Australia with a proton beam (proton microprobe) confirms solid solution of Ag in chalcopyrite from both deposits. In addition, chalcopyrite and sphalerite from Izok Lake both contain indium.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. E. Keck, Paul Jasberg

THE flotative properties of the principal minerals in Michigan's potential iron ores have been investigated to develop methods of beneficiation for the ores. One of these minerals, magnetite, is of considerable importance as a source of iron. Study of its flotation was similar to that of hematite1, another iron mineral in these potential ores. The present research consisted essentially of: (1) a survey of the literature on magnetite flotation, (2) the preparation of pure magnetite, (3) the development of laboratory procedure and (4) flotation experimentation. Literature on Magnetite Flotation.-For the purpose of this discussion, the results of previous work on the flotation of magnetite can be summarized as follows. The mineral has been floated with pine oil2, and it has also been separated from synthetic mixtures with silicates by the use of the same reagent2. Magnetite and apatite in iron-ore slimes have been separated by flotation of apatite with sodium palmitate3. These data were utilized in the present investigation. Preparation of Magnetite.-The pure mineral was prepared from the magnetic-separator concentrate of an iron ore (obtained from the Witherbee- Sherman Corporation, Port Henry, N. Y.). This concentrate was slowly comminuted with laboratory rolls and pulverizer to pass 65-mesh and was then tabled several times. Tabling yielded a relatively coarse magnetite concentrate, tailing and slimes. The two latter materials were rejected insofar as the present work is concerned, and treatment of the magnetite (table concentrate) was continued by separating it into -65 + 200 and -200-mesh sizes. Separation of the sizes was made by first dry screening and then wet screening. The -200-mesh material was rejected to eliminate possible introduction of error into flotation This paper describes a part of a general investigation into the flotation of Michigan's potential iron ores. A comprehensive discussion of the status of these ores and of the reasons for research on their Rotation beneficiation is available in mimeographed form on application to the Michigan allege of Mining and Technology, Houghton, Michigan. Manuscript received at the office of the Institute Nov. 12, 1936. Printfed without author's corrections. Subject to revision.

Jan 1, 1937

By F. M. Hamilton, R. G. Fleck

As the result of extensive small laboratory experiments, the metallurgical results of sintering iron ore from the Benson mines at Star Lake, N. Y. were clearly defined. But the practical operation had not been proved; so, the sintering strand, which went into operation at the mines in 1952, was designed to minimize the risk involved. It was built by the Dwight-Lloyd Div. of McDowell Co. Inc.

Sep 1, 1956

During the last 15 years, the bucket wheel has become increasingly popular as a mining tool. Being a large-capacity continuous mining excavator, the machine offers low actual operating costs and low unit costs. Of German origin, the bucket wheel has now appeared on the American mining scene as well as in such other places as Australia, Northern Rhodesia, South Africa, Congo, Indonesia, and India. Patented in 1913, the first practical application waited until 1920 when a bucket wheel excavator was placed in operation at an open pit lignite mine in central Germany. This initial experiment met with little success due to difficulties in solving the technical problems of the machine's construction rather than to the design of the wheel itself.

Jan 9, 1960

By L. J. Erck

H EAVY-MEDIA separation continues to be the favored process for concentrating the coarser fractions by elimination of undesirable tailing and middling fractions. The first vessel used for heavy-media separation was the closed-top cone. Further developments then led to the Akins spiral separator which fulfilled the requirements for improving metallurgica1 separation as well as gaining mechanical advantages. During the last season there has been a substantial influx of separator designs for further improvements of metallurgical separation based on the heavy- media method as well as attempting to garner further mechanical advantages with reduction in power consumption to boot. The newest of these designs was the Hardinge counter-current separator which was introduced into the field last spring in two plants. Both Hardinge separators proved satisfactory in operation and substantiat-

Jan 1, 1950

By L. B. Gittinger

Sulfur is a nonmetallic element widely distributed in nature. It constitutes 0.06% of the earth's crust but only a very small portion occurs in sufficiently concentrated amounts to justify mining. Sulfur occurs in practically all animal and plant life. It constitutes approximately 0.09% of the elements in the oceans; it has been found in meteorites. Sulfur was known and used by man before recorded history. The American Chemical Society approved spelling for the element is sulfur. The English spelling sulphur is used commercially in the United States. In ancient times, sulfur was called brimstone, literally "burning stone." Today the term brimstone is used interchangeably with the term elemental sulfur. Sulfur is found naturally in the elemental form in subsurface deposits associated with gypsum and anhydrite in salt domes and sedimentary formations in evaporite basins and in solfatara-type deposits associated with volcanoes and mineral springs. Sulfur occurs also in molecular combination in ferrous sulfides (pyrites and pyrrhotite) and nonferrous sulfides (copper, lead, zinc, and nickel), and in mineral sulfates (gypsum and anhydrite); as hydrogen sulfide contaminant in natural gas; as organic compounds in crude oil and tar sands; and as pyrite and organic compounds in coal and oil shales. Sulfur resources are abundant and exist throughout the world but the extent to which they can be classified as reserves is greatly circumscribed by prevailing prices and technology. Estimates of world sulfur reserves are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. A compilation of reserves by area and source of sulfur published in 1970 and presented here as [Table 1] totaled 2.47 billion tons (Lewis, 1970). The effect of the decline in prices which has occurred since the earlier estimate is dramatically illustrated by the 1972 estimate of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior which shows world sulfur reserves of only 1.2 billion tons (Anon., 1972d). Sulfur is produced commercially from one or more sources in nearly 70 countries of the world. World production of sulfur in all forms totaled 41.6 million tons in 1971. (Sulfur statistics given in this chapter are long tons.) Native deposits, sulfides and oil and gas contributed, respectively, 31, 41, and 25% of world production (Table 2). Of the sulfur produced from native deposits, salt domes accounted for 54% and evaporite basin deposits, 44%. Volcanic deposits are of little significance except for local consumption. The past two decades have seen important shifts in the world's sulfur sources. In 1950, native deposits and sulfides each supplied about one-half of the world's production. During the 1950s, sulfur recovered from oil and natural gas grew rapidly, representing about 10% of the total by 1960. Since then, the petroleum industry has continued to increase its relative importance as a source of sulfur, representing more than 30% at 1972 year-end. Sulfur is generally classified as elemental or nonelemental for statistical purposes. Elemental sulfur is sulfur produced in the pure, uncombined form. It includes production from native deposits, as well as that recovered in the elemental form from oil and natural gas or other sulfur-bearing materials. When produced from other than native deposits, it is generally referred to as recovered elemental sulfur. Nonelemental sulfur is that which is utilized commercially in molecular combination with other elements, such as sulfides or sulfates. Elemental sulfur is being produced from salt dome deposits in the Gulf Coast region of the United States and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico, and from evaporite basin deposits in west Texas, Poland, Sicily,

Jan 1, 1975