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By P. W. Gilles, B. D. Pollock

THE pioneering work of Steinitz1 and Steinitz, Binder, and Moskowitz2 has shown conclusively the existence at high temperature of two additional phases in the molybdenum-boron system and thus brings to a total of six the number of structures appearing in this system. To the structures Mo2B, MOB, and Mo2B5 they have added MO3B2, a new -MOB form, and have shown that MOB,, which has the same range of composition as Mo2B5, is only a high temperature structure of the latter. This solid solution, interestingly enough, includes neither of the compositions corresponding to the stoichiomet-ric compounds, MOB, or Mo2B5, but rather at all temperatures has intermediate values of composition. These workers have also, in the course of their work, measured melting points, transition temperatures, eutectic and peritectic points in the system and have shown that Mo3B2, because of its dispro-portionation at low temperature to Mo2B and MOB, is stable only in a limited high temperature range. During the course of the present work on the vaporization properties of the molybdenum-boron compounds, a few transition temperatures were observed. When the report of the other workers appeared, it was decided to repeat, in part, their study of the system. As a result, considerable evidence has been obtained that substantiates the specific kinds of melting processes they report as well as the general features of their diagram. However, a marked difference was found between the temperatures they report and the ones observed in this study, with the latter being higher. The purposes of this paper are to present the evidence obtained in this laboratory that verifies their diagram of the system, to give some important temperatures in the system, to compare them with those previously published, and to seek an explanation of the difference. Samples The metal starting material was 400 mesh molybdenum powder with a purity stated by the manufacturer to be 99.9 pct. The initial treatment, designed to remove volatile contamination, consisted of heating in a vacuum for 10 min to a temperature of from 800" to 1000°C during which a loss of 0.3 to 0.4 pct occurred. An assay following this treatment showed it to be 99.4 pct pure, with the principal impurity probably being oxygen. The boron starting material was obtained from the Cooper Metallurgical Laboratories and the Fair-mount Chemical Co. as 325 mesh powder with manufacturers' analyses of 99 pct or better. Initial treatment consisted of heating in molybdenum in a vacuum at about 1700°C for 10 min. During this time a loss of 3.5 pct occurred. An assay following this treatment showed the different samples to have purities ranging from 95.5 to 99.0 pct with iron and carbon as the principal impurities. Following the initial treatment, the elements were combined to form stocks of Mo2B and MOB by heating pressed mixtures in a vacuum to 1100" to 1200°C to accomplish reaction and to 1500" to 1900°C for a few minutes to evaporate the more volatile impurities. Analysis of the two compounds for boron by a modification of the method of Blumenthal3 and for molybdenum by the lead-molybdate method indicated them to have purities greater than 99 pct. The individual samples to be studied had compositions in the Mo2B-MOB range and consisted of mixtures of the stock compounds. Procedure As is usually the case in high temperature work the selection of containers for the samples posed some problems. For vapor pressure studies tantalum crucibles, allowing little contact with the pressed samples, were used and some of the observations made during these experiments are pertinent to the study of the phase diagram. Most of the experiments, however, were performed in graphite containers, as were those of the previous authors. Two kinds of spectroscopic grade graphite crucibles were used. One was a % in. cylinder, 3/4 in. high, containing seven 3/16 in. holes drilled 1/2 in. deep into which were packed samples of the different mixtures weighing 250 to 500 milligrams. The other, consisting of separate crucibles, was prepared by drilling 3/16 in. holes, 1/2 in. deep into 1/4 in. graphite rods % in. long. The 7/8 in. cylinder was heated directly by induction while the small crucibles were packed in a tantalum heating element for induction heating. All heating was done in a high vacuum system in which the pressure was generally less than 1x10-5mm and never rose above 2x10-5mm when the samples were hot. The general pattern of the heating in graphite was to heat rapidly to a temperature somewhat below the desired one, then to raise the temperature slowly. The samples were held for 2 to 5 min at the maximum temperature, which in all cases was far higher than that needed to produce reaction. The short time was employed to reduce possible contamination by the crucible material and to reduce composition changes that would occur because of vaporization. After examination following the heating, the samples were reheated to a higher temperature. Temperatures were measured with a Leeds and Northrup disappearing filament optical pyrometer, certified by the National Bureau of Standards, by sighting through a window at the top of the vacuum

Jan 1, 1954

By Willard L. Hunter

Four solvent extraction systems were studied to determine their efficiency jor extraction and separation of tantalum and columbium. Aqueous feed solutions of varying HF-HCl concentrations and metal content were contacted with equal volumes of cyclohexanone, 3-methyl-2-butanone, and 2-pentanone and solutions of varying HF-H2S04 concentrations were contacted with equal volumes of 2-pentanone. One multistage continuous test was made in a polyethylene pulse column using cy clohexanone as the organic phase. In each system studied, columbium and tantalum purities in excess of 95 pct with respect to each other were obtained in single-stage tests at low acidities in the feed solution. Separation factors ranging from 1700 to 2400 were obtained when rising HF-HCl mixtures in the aqueous phase. Best results were obtained when a solution of HF-H2S04 was used as the aqueous phase and 2-pentanone as the organic phase. A separation factor in excess of 6000 was obtained in one stage with aqueous solution concentrations of 2 _N HF and 2N H2S0,. When acid concentrations were increaszd to 52 HF and 10 _N H2S0,, 99.9 pct of the tantalum and 98.2 pct of the columbium initially present in the feed solution were transferred to the organic phase. The separation of columnbium and tantalum obtainable by means of the solvent extraction systems presented in this paper was found to corn -pare favorably with other systems, including the HF-H2SO4-methyl isobutyl ketone system currently used by most producers for the extraction and separation of these metals. TANTALUM and columbium are always found together in minerals of commercial significance, although the proportion of the two metals in ores varies within broad limits. Columbium is estimated to be 13 times more abundant than tantalum. Five methods generally employed for the separat:ion of these metals are: 1) fractional crystallization (the Marignac process),2 2) solvent separation, 3) fractional distillation of their chlorides, 4) ion exchange, and 5) selective reduction. Of these methods, the one currently used by industry to the greatest extent is that of solvent separation. One of the early technical developments in solvent separation of tantalum from columbium was reported by the Bureau of Mines: the HF-HC1-methyl isobutyl ketone system; data were presented for both laboratory and pilot-plant experimentation.3 Of twenty-eight organic solvents tested for their ability to extract tantalum from an HF-HC1 solution of columbium and tantalum, 3-pentanone (diethyl ke-tone), cyclohexanone, 2-pentanone, and 3-methyl-2-butanone were chosen for further study. Data on the HF-HC1-diethyl ketone system has been published4 and data describing the use of cy clohexanone, 2-pentanone, and 3-methyl-2-butanone as the organic phase are included in this report. RAW MATERIAL The source of tantalum and columbium oxides for this study was ('Geomines" tin slag from the Manono Smelter, Cie Geomines, Gelges, S.A., Congo. In order to extract the valuable Ta-Cb content, the slags were carbided, chlorinated, and the sublimate from chlo-rination was hydrolized and washed free of chloride with water. The washed material was air-dried and stored in a stoppered container. Throughout the paper, "feed material" refers to this mixture of hydrated oxides which was employed because of its high solubility in aqueous solutions. Typical analysis of the hydrated oxides is shown in Table I. I) HF-HC1-CYCLOHEXANONE SYSTEM Batch Separation. Effect of Acid Concentration. To determine the effect of varying the acid concentration upon the transfer of tantalum and columbium, a series of tests was made in which approximately 2.5 g of feed material was added to 25 ml solutions of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 N HF and 0 through 5 N HC1. Tantalum pentoxide concentration of the solu%ons was approximately 21 g per liter and columbium pentoxide was 14 g per liter. These starting solutions were shaken with equal volumes of cyclohexanone in 100 ml polyethylene bottles for 30 min. The phases were carefully separated in 125 ml glass separatory funnels. The time of contact of the solutions with the separatory funnels was kept at a minimum to reduce silica contamination. The measured phases were separated into 400 ml polyethylene beakers and the metal contents of each were precipitated by addition of an excess of ammonium hydroxide. Precipitate from each phase was filtered on ashless filter paper, ignited at 800" to 1000°C for 45 min, weighed, and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence.5 Data tabulated in Table I1 and illustrated in Fig. 1, show that maximum separation of tantalum from columbium for each HF concentration was obtained with no HCl present. The purest tantalum product was obtained with some HCl present. The highest separation factor was obtained at 2 N HF and

Jan 1, 1970

By J. P. Lesley

The Pittsburgh coal-region, if we regard the greatness of its extent, the picturesque beauty of its scenery, the salubrity of its climate, its relative situation on the Continent, the fertility of its soil, its unrivalled mineral wealth, and its magnificent system of natural transportation, is, perhaps, the most valuable spot on the surface of the planet. Unlike the mythical Paradise inhabited by one man and one woman, it swarms with an abounding population, not living on the free gifts of nature without care and without toil, hut expending its energies in unremitting labor, reinforced by the most elaborate machinery, in the production of everything which mankinds needs or desires; and unlilte the Paradise of story from which flowed the four great rivers of the world in opposite directions, its own four rivers How from the surrounding world into it, to constitute by their union the great highway water-course which divides the Northern from the Southern States. These rivers are the Monongahela, coming from the south, the Yonghiogheny from the southeast, the Kiskiminetas from the east, and the Allegheny from the north. Uniting at the great city of pittsburgh, they constitnte the Ohio, which flows northwest and west, and then south and southwest, toward the Mississippi. The Monongahela has been made navigable by a system of dams and pools the Allegheny was navigable in its natural condition; the KisKiminetas was made navigable by a State canal which has been vacated ; and the Youghiogheny remains unnavigable. Railroads supplement the deficiencies of the rivers, follow their hanks, and share in the transportation for which the waters are not sufficient. Railroads and rivers concentrate at Pittsburgh; other railroads cross the highlands to the east and west; and branch roads ascend the side-valleys and ravines to the mines on the uplands. The whole region is a scene of life; towns and villages dot its surface in all directions ; hundreds of gangways open upon the sides of all the valleys, and deliver coal to trains of cars which move beneath them at water-level; furnaces and rolling-mills abound; hundreds of oil-wells furnish a flood of liquid fuel to pipe-lines

Jan 1, 1886

(The paper by L. H. De Wald-Tech. Pub. No. 429 was presented at the Boston meeting, September, 1931.) W. A. SCHEUCH, Chicago, Ill.-Since starting up our Hawthorne copper wire plant we have found that wire bars from certain suppliers perform quite differently from those of other suppliers. In attempting to evaluate these bars, we made cross-sections, and in making these cross-sections we found considerable variation in the crystal structure. Indications were that there was some preference in the type of crystal structure. In attempting to find the reason for that we discussed it with the various producers and-also reviewed the literature. Mr. DeWald was assigned to determine the various factors that enter into copper wire bar crystal structure, on the basis that the product was a horizontally cast wire bar of practically identical composition and of recognized good composition for the present quality product sold in the market. Mr. DeWald has asked me to say that he should have made reference to Mr. Dalzell's paper on a theory concerning gases in refined copper. D. K. CRAMPTON, Marion, Conn. (written discussion).-Mr. DeWald has set forth an interesting and thorough exposition of the factors controlling macrostructure of this material. It is particularly interesting to us as it somewhat parallels work we have done on macrostructure of round copper billets for piercing into tubes. Our findings as to the effect of the several variables on macrostructure check Mr. DeWald's. The general principles underlying the two are precisely the same. The fact that we worked with copper deoxidized with phosphorous instead of tough-pitch copper, and round billets cast on end instead of wire bars, does not influence the results. We have found that round billets cast so as to produce large radial grains have greater soundness and density than those with a fine macrostructure. Further, and more important, we have found that the billets with large radial grains show markedly different performance on piercing from those having a fine equiaxed structure. With a given temperature of billet and adjustment of piercing machine, the coarse-grained material requires appreciably lower power for piercing and goes through the operation inn appreciably less time. These two differences are of sufficient commercial importance to warrant exercise of great care in maintaining the coarse structure. It seems probable that much the same phenomenon should hold in the hot rolling of tough-pitch wire bars. We would expect that, other things being equal, the coarse-grained wire bars would roll more readily and require less power than fine-grained ones. Moreover, we believe the differences in initial structure of the wire bars should be largely eliminated in the hot rolling process and during the subsequent drawing and annealing, of wire would be entirely eradicated.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. R. Dale

The need for instruments to measure the movement of fluids and gas in wells has been recognized by engineers for many years. Information regarding flow in the producing interval has a direct bearing on completion practices in new wells and also provides information on the production characteristics of the well. Many hours of engineering time are spent in planning and completing wells but knowledge as to whether or not the original planning has produced the desired results has not always been complete. Many questions such as the following often arise: Why is it that two wells are completed under supposedly identical conditions, yet one well is a good one and the other is a poor one? Are the sands that look the best on the electric log contributing to the production? These and many other conditions in the producing well need to be under- stood in order to develop more efficient production practices and to improve on methods of completing new wells. It is the purpose of this paper to briefly describe one type of instrument, outline the methods of running the equipment and show the results of surveys made under various conditions. With an understanding of the use of this type of survey its importance can be evaluated in relation to the problems encountered by the operator. DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENT The instrument is a velocity recorder employing a clock-controlled 16mm film for recording the rpm of an extremely sensitive rotor which is rotated by the flow of fluids or gas in a well. The helical-vaned rotor and shaft, weighing one-half of one ounce are an integral unit exposed to the well fluids and are the only moving parts not enclosed in the fluid-tight housing. No packing or fluid seal of these parts is necessary and the shaft is mounted top and bottom on special jeweled bearings. Fig. A is the lower part of the instrument showing rotor and shaft with the protecting housing sleeve removed. The rpm of the rotor is recorded on the moving film by a combination electrical and optical system. The record is a series of dashes on the film, each dash and space representing twenty (20) revolutions of the rotor. (Film record of survey made in California well showing station recordings at various depths.) As the movement of the film is controlled by the clock the number of dashes and spaces in one minute of film travel represents the rpm of the rotor. The range of the instrument is from 0 to 2,500 rprn. The barrel or housing is 1-11/16 in. OD and seven feet long. Various types of expanding fluid traps are attached to the lower end of the instrument to direct the flow through the 1 in. orifice containing the rotor. The fluid trap for upward flow is shown in Figs. B and C. This assembly consists of eight arms with light spring

Jan 1, 1949

By C. R. Dale

The need for instruments to measure the movement of fluids and gas in wells has been recognized by engineers for many years. Information regarding flow in the producing interval has a direct bearing on completion practices in new wells and also provides information on the production characteristics of the well. Many hours of engineering time are spent in planning and completing wells but knowledge as to whether or not the original planning has produced the desired results has not always been complete. Many questions such as the following often arise: Why is it that two wells are completed under supposedly identical conditions, yet one well is a good one and the other is a poor one? Are the sands that look the best on the electric log contributing to the production? These and many other conditions in the producing well need to be under- stood in order to develop more efficient production practices and to improve on methods of completing new wells. It is the purpose of this paper to briefly describe one type of instrument, outline the methods of running the equipment and show the results of surveys made under various conditions. With an understanding of the use of this type of survey its importance can be evaluated in relation to the problems encountered by the operator. DESCRIPTION OF INSTRUMENT The instrument is a velocity recorder employing a clock-controlled 16mm film for recording the rpm of an extremely sensitive rotor which is rotated by the flow of fluids or gas in a well. The helical-vaned rotor and shaft, weighing one-half of one ounce are an integral unit exposed to the well fluids and are the only moving parts not enclosed in the fluid-tight housing. No packing or fluid seal of these parts is necessary and the shaft is mounted top and bottom on special jeweled bearings. Fig. A is the lower part of the instrument showing rotor and shaft with the protecting housing sleeve removed. The rpm of the rotor is recorded on the moving film by a combination electrical and optical system. The record is a series of dashes on the film, each dash and space representing twenty (20) revolutions of the rotor. (Film record of survey made in California well showing station recordings at various depths.) As the movement of the film is controlled by the clock the number of dashes and spaces in one minute of film travel represents the rpm of the rotor. The range of the instrument is from 0 to 2,500 rprn. The barrel or housing is 1-11/16 in. OD and seven feet long. Various types of expanding fluid traps are attached to the lower end of the instrument to direct the flow through the 1 in. orifice containing the rotor. The fluid trap for upward flow is shown in Figs. B and C. This assembly consists of eight arms with light spring

Jan 1, 1949

By W. P. Sykes

TUNGSTEN serves mankind in two major roles. The first of these is represented by the tungsten filament of the incandescent electric lamp, a common article of commerce. In the field of hard alloys it plays its second substantial part. A fortunate combination of physical properties in this metal ac- counts for its efficient service as a source of illumination. Tungsten melts at about 3400°C, has a relatively low vapor pressure and at the same time sufficient strength, both hot and cold, to serve satisfactorily as filaments, which may range in diameter from 0.060 to 0.0005 in. In the early days of the incandescent lamp, the pioneers realized the importance of using a substance of high melting point for the source of light. The metals osmium (mp approx. 2700°C) and tantalum (mp approx. 2850°C) were both employed to some extent. Tantalum actually attained some commercial importance in this field because it could be drawn into small wires of appreciable length. DUCTILE TUNGSTEN WIRE Before the year 1908, tungsten was considered a nonductile metal, since no one had succeeded in overcoming the brittleness so typical of the unworked metal at room temperature. The methods employed today in producing ductile tungsten wire were developed over a period of years. The process was largely determined by the exceedingly high temperature required to melt this metal. Even today the difficulties involved in producing an appreciable quantity of pure

Jan 1, 1953

By John L. Schroder, D. L. McElroy

ALTHOUGH the earliest use of rubber-tired haulage was in Illinois in 1936, the first unit of this type of equipment used in West Virginia was shipped into the state in 1938. All units placed in West Virginia mines have been of the shuttle-car type. The Katherine Coal Mining Co., at Lumberport, W. Va., was the second company in the United States to install shuttle cars and the Gay Coal and' Coke Co., at [ ] Mt. Gay, W. Va., was the first company in the country to install the thin-bed type of shuttle car. On Oct. 8, 1940, nine companies in the state were using 41 shuttle cars, of which 10 cars at three mines were of the thin-bed type. All shuttle cars of the low type were in the southern fields and all of the high type were in northern West Virginia. At that time several units were in the process of delivery. The data in this paper were collected in the field by Mr. Schroder in connection with graduate work on mechanical loading of coal in West Virginia by mobile loaders. In the course of his field work he visited five mines in the state that were using shuttle cars. All of these mines were in high-volatile coal beds of strong structure. [ ] The more pertinent data obtained at the mines visited are given in Table I. The maximum distance of shuttle-car haul is the distance between the transfer station and the farthermost place. Tonnage per loading unit per foot of bed thickness is to some degree a measure of relative efficiency, especially if the different operations are working the same bed or have somewhat similar conditions. The thin-bed operation is well up in the higher bracket of the afore-mentioned column, which is as

Jan 1, 1941

Jan 1, 1913

By Leonard Greenburg

The American literature in the field of dust sampling and analysis has been growing rapidly since 1915. Studies made since that time clearly indicate that there are three fundamental factors that determine the production of lung pathology due to dust inhalation. These are the duration of exposure, the chemical and mineralogic nature of the dust and the concentration of the potentially harmful dust. In the estimation of the amount of the potentially hazardous dust there are essentially three problems involved: (I) a determination of the size of the hazardous dust; (2) determination of the most satisfactory apparatus and technique of sampling, and (3) the most satisfactory method of analysis. A complete study of the literature shows that industrial dust varies ill size from ultramicroscopic particles to those larger than lop in diameter and that relatively few particles are found over 5u in diameter. Approximately 10 to 25 per cent are less than 0.811 in diameter and the median size as a rule is found to lie between 1.25 and 1.75 microns. From the point of view of lung pathology the particle sizes of most importance lie between 0.5 and 5u. Of all the instruments for sampling dust the Impinger apparatus is the only one that will sample a larger body of air satisfactorily with small control errors and high efficiency in both low and high concentrations of dust. The Owens apparatus has the advantage of being more portable and somewhat easier to use but it does riot permit of the sampling of large volumes of air. It has a low efficiency in high concentrations of dust and does not permit dust weights to be obtained. From the point of dust-counting technique the author points out that in 1922 considerable experimentation with dark field and oblique illumination resulted in the conclusion that such methods were not readily duplicated from day to day and therefore yielded somewhat erratic results. Changes in the amount of illumination produced variations of several hundred per cent in dust counts obtained with dark ground

Jan 1, 1934

By H. De Cizancourt

Peche1bronn.—So far Pechelbronn is the only producing district. Figures are given in Table 2 covering the main features of the field, but these figures call for the following remarks: First, Pechelbronn should not' be considered as a single unit, it appears, but as a succession of small oil fields, each of which is affected by very variable conditions. Consequently, certain figures concerning production per acre, production per acre-foot, pressure conditions and thicknesses of oil sands would be so misleading that they have been omitted here. Second, as regards production methods, attention is drawn especially to the fact that 42 per cent of the oil is extracted by the use of shafts and galleries and the remainder by pumping wells. Exploitation, formerly confined to Oligocene sands, has been extended recently to Jurassic and Triassic oil-bearing formations. Gabian.—This small oil field, discovered in 1924, is almost exhausted. Exploitation to date is restricted to three wells. There were no drilling activities in 1933. Exploration.—During 1933, two exploration holes have been started in France. The first, in the vicinity of Lavelanet (Ariége) on the Dreuille anticline, has reached the depth of 2400 ft,.; the second, in the Autun Permian Basin, is drilling at 1300 feet. Northern Africa Morocco.—Drilling operations have been on a large scale in Morocco. In the Gharb district (Souk el Arba area), the deepest well was abandoned in 1933 at 7014 ft. Small irregular productive horizons were encountered in the Miocene at shallow depth, oil and gas showing in the Eocene, but no commercial oil field has been discovered. In the Djebel Tselfat, near Petitjean, a small production of oil was obtained from a Jurassic horizon. In the meantime deeper formations are being explored and a new structure in the vicinity is being tested. In Eastern Morocco, a well is drilling near Taza. Production in Morocco, about 2400 bbl., has not been listed on Table 2, owing to its origin—exploration wells.

Jan 1, 1934

By William P. Kimball, Morris Cohen

This paper deals with the calculation of the composition of the infinitesimal trace of alloy that transfers from the liquid to the solid state at each temperature during the equilibrium solidification of a binary solid solution, and which thereby enables the compositions of the coexisting liquid and solid phases to follow along the liquidus and solidus lines respectively during the cooling. A general expressioll for the composition (6) of the liquid-to-solid transfer at each temperature has been derived: , = Zlxl{xl - P) + ZsXsiP - xs) [I] Zl(xl -P)+ Zs{P - xs) where ZL and Zs are the slopes of the liquidus and solidus lines at the given temperature, xl and xs are the compositions of the stable liquid and solid phases at the same temperature, and P is the composition of the alloy under consideration. The d equation is valid for the process of equilibrium heating as well as cooling, and may be applied to vapor-to-liquid, vapor-to-solid, liquid-to-liquid, and solid-to-solid transfers if the corresponding equilibrium diagrams are known. The d-versus-temperature curves for two alloys P1 and P2 are shown in Fig. I. In each case, the liquid-to-solid transfer has the same composition as the stable solid phase only at the temperature of the beginning of solidification, and has the same composition as the stable liquid phase only at the temperature of the completion of solidification. At each intermediate temperature, the composition of the liquid-to-solid transfer differs by a finite amount from those of the two coexisting phases. Therefore, during equilibrium cooling. the transfers must merge into the solid phase from the liquid without forming a transition phase; otherwise the condition of equilibrium would be violated. At any given temperature during solidification, the composition of the liquid-to-solid

Jan 1, 1941

By W. A. Wissler, B. E. Field

COBALT is a silvery white metal with a slight bluish cast. It strongly resembles nickel in its appearance and properties, notably its resistance to corrosion, although its alloys with other metals differ decidedly in their properties from those of nickel. The name "cobalt" was derived from the German Kobold, meaning goblin, and this came to be applied to the cobalt minerals which, although they resembled ores, did not readily yield metal when smelted by the primitive processes available in the Middle Ages. Cobalt minerals were used as pigments by potters and glass- workers before the Christian era. Cobalt blue glass was found in the tombs of the Egyptians and in the ruins of Troy, and many colors used by the ancient Greeks and Romans contained cobalt. The ancients were entirely unaware that the colors they used were caused by cobalt and the metal itself was not isolated until about the middle of the eighteenth century, by Brandt, although the preparation of cobalt compounds had been carried on in a small way ever since the opening of the silver-cobalt deposits at Schneeberg, Germany, in 1470. By the middle of the nineteenth century, several firms in England were engaged in the refining of cobalt products and the consumption of cobalt oxide in the British ceramic industry in the year 1866 had reached 67,000 lb. COBALT METAL AS A NEW RAW MATERIAL IN ALLOY TECHNOLOGY Nickel and cobalt are usually found together and, although the relative amounts of the two have varied greatly in different ores, those

Jan 1, 1953

By Chas. A. Ashburnea

THE appliances which have been proposed, and the modifications in the construction of boiler-furnaces which have been made for the prevention of smoke, and the utilization of what are ordinarily called the waste products of combustion, have been innumerable.† †There is now open in London an exhibition "of apparatus of all kinds devised to prevent smoke."

Jan 1, 1882

By Richard Lee

SINCE the economics in the blast furnace resulting from enriching iron ores are so great, much attention, has been paid during the past few years to the various methods of concentrating lean ores, and, as the concentrated ore is usually of extreme fineness, various methods . of agglomeration and sintering, of more or less value, have been put 'into operation. The resulting agglomerated concentrates are generally obtained in the form of briquettes or nodules. The briquettes naturally divide themselves into two classes: (1) those made by the mixture of some binding agent, and then formed into briquettes under great pressure; and (2) those made by sintering the concentrates, the latter either being formed into bricks before exposure to heat or the sintered mass broken into fragments afterward. Of the first class I will not speak, as they are not used on an extensive scale in this country. The second class of briquettes, or those made by sintering, are simply masses of melted or fused silicate and oxide of iron mingled with more or less silicates of aluminum, lime, and magnesia. The fact that the material in a briquette is sintered is proof positive that there are no pores in the material. There are, however, quite a number of holes of greater or less diameter through the substance of the briquette. They are not pores in the common acceptance of that term as applied to ores by furnacemen, as the sides of the holes and channels are fused. In reality the material is simply mill cinder. It is practically untouched by the gases in the upper part of the furnace, and the iron has to be reduced by solid carbon in the boshes and hearth. Briquettes sometimes show a little saving in fuel in the furnace over an ore mixture of large lumps, but that saving is made simply because, owing to the numerous holes and channels through the mass, the briquette is practically composed of numerous small or fine lumps, and, as is well known, the finer the

Jan 10, 1913

By Waldemar Lindgren

CONTENTS. [ ] THE following pages are a resun16 of some of the conclusions reached during a study of the copper-deposits near Clifton The field-work was finished in 1902 and a complete report is now in the press. A preliminary description of the district was published in 1903, in Bulletin U. S. Geological Survey, No. 213. pp. 133-140

Jan 1, 1913

Capable of processing 3500 tpd of uranium ore, the United Nuclear-Homestake Partners' mill in Grants, N. M., differs considerably from the nearby mills of Anaconda and Kerr-McGee in at least two major aspects: it leaches uranium ore with an alkaline solution of Na2C03 and NaHC03 instead of sulfuric acid; and it recovers yellowcake directly by precipitation from the pregnant alkaline leach solution, without any need of ion exchange or solvent extraction circuits. A first look at the flowsheet shows that this mill has two separate grinding and leaching circuits. Reason for the double circuitry: the mill treats, on a toll basis, uranium ores for Anaconda as well as for the partnership, and it must also treat ores coming from mines separately owned by Homestake Mining Corp. and from mines owned by United Nuclear Corp.

Jan 8, 1974

By E. P. Mathewson

The experiments described in this paper were made at the Washoe Reduction Works, Anaconda, Mont., for the purpose of determining the relative speed of elimination of the iron, sulphur and arsenic during the process of bessemerizing copper-mattes. The samples were taken from a horizontal a barrel" converter, 8 ft. in diameter and 12 ft. 6 in. long, having an average charge of 9 tons of matte, and blown with a 16-lb. air-pressure. All samples were taken with the blast on, turning the converter from its normal blowing-position to nearly vertical, so that a conical mold, with a long handle attached to a horizontal rod, could be introduced from a platform above the converter into the mouth of the converter and a sample taken. The difficulties of taking a sample with the blast on are apparent, and the irregularities of' the lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 can be readily accounted for by the amount of slag in the samples. On the whole, the plotting of the results gives comparatively uniform lines, considering the conditions. The samples were taken by the regular sampling-force of the works at 10-min. intervals, as shown in Tables I., 11. and III., which also give the chemical analysis of the samples so taken. The test shown in Table I. was made with a new converter; that of Table 11. with a converter that had made three charges and had been cleaned out; that of Table 111. with a converter that had blown one charge to white metal, and had then been " washed " out and used for the test. In plotting these results, it was necessary to take, as a basis, the percentage of copper in the samples. This basis does not exactly represent the true condition, since the volume is constantly decreasing and a certain quantity of copper passes into the slag, but it is as near as can be obtained in practice. Take, for instance, in Table I., the sample No. 5, which shows: Cu, 59.9;

Jan 1, 1908

By John Birkinbine

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

Jan 1, 1888

By H. W. Camp

The past year has had no revolutionary change in the process of petroleum refining, although there have been improvements and developments in practically every phase of operation, due largely, perhaps, to economic pressure. A few years ago, a Mid-Continent skimming plant using 35 gravity crude obtained 28 per cent. gasoline and naphtha; 9 per cent. kerosene, and the remaining yield gave gas oil and fuel oil. Figuring manufacturing cost, but not including sales, transportation, overhead and depreciation, the realization was $1.45 per bbl. of crude. Today, a thoroughly modern and up-to-date skimming plant, having all latest equipment, shows a realization of $1.74 per bbl. on the same basis. Thus it is evident that progressive developments have taken place in the last 2 or 3 years when potential earnings have been increased about 20 per cent. The average refiner is compelled to exert his utmost ingenuity in order to operate with a profitable margin. He has two factors to consider—recovery of maximum yields of profitable oils and the reduction of operating expenses. For the past 8 years, the margin between price of gasoline and cost of crude has grown narrower, constantly. Both these prices are determined by external conditions and not by the refiner himself, but the refiner might have been able to increase that margin had he more carefully controlled his output, limiting his production of light oils to current consumption. Be that as it may, this same economic pressure has given impetus to progress in improvements of primary distillation equipment, including stills, towers and heat-saving devices. A pipe still and bubble cap fractionating equipment can now replace a battery of shell stills, giving better yields, better control, elimination of rerunning and lowering of operating costs. The most recent pipe stills are being equipped either with radiant-heat furnaces or air-preheating systems and improved heat exchange equipment. These can be operated on a fuel consumption as low as 1 per cent. of the charge as compared to a fuel consumption of

Jan 1, 1929