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By R. Schuhmann, J. Th. Overbeek, P. L. De Bruyn

THE technique of concentrating valuable minerals from lean ores by flotation depends upon the creation of a finite contact angle at the three-phase contact, mineral-water-air. If the mineral is completely wetted by the water phase, contact angle zero, there is no tendency for air bubbles to attach themselves to the mineral. However, when the contact angle is finite, the surface free energy of the system, water-air bubble-mineral particle, can be diminished by contact between the bubble and the particle, and if not too heavy the mineral will be levitated in the froth. With a few exceptions, all clean minerals are completely wetted by pure water. Thus the art of flotation consists in adding substances to the water to make a finite contact angle with the mineral to be floated, but to leave the other minerals with a zero contact angle. The contact angle concept and experimental measurements of contact angles have played important roles in flotation research for several decades.'-" Nevertheless, there remain unanswered some basic questions as to the scientific significance of the contact angle and the nature of the processes by which flotation reagents affect contact angles. The contact angle is a complex quantity because the properties of three different phases, or rather of three different interfaces, control its magnitude. Considering the interfaces close to the region of ternary contact to be plane, the relation among the contact angle and the three binary interfacial tensions is easily derived. The condition for equilibrium among the three surface tensions, Fig. 1, or the requirement of minimum total surface free energy leads to Young's equation, Eq. I: ysa — ysl = yLA cos 0 [1] According to this equation, the contact angle has one well-defined value. Actually it is found in many experiments that the value of the contact angle depends on whether the air is replacing liquid over the solid (receding angle) or the liquid is replacing air (advancing angle). The receding angle is always the smaller of the two.4 Two explanations have been offered for this experimental fact. According to some investigators,5-8 roughness of the surface causes apparent contact angles that are different for the receding and the advancing cases although the actual local contact angle may be completely determined by Eq. 1. The other explanation involves the hypothesis that the solid-air interface after the liquid has just receded is different from the same interface when no liquid has previously covered it.1,4 Adsorption of constituents of the air or liquid might play a role here. In this discussion the difference between advancing and receding contact angle will be neglected and plane surfaces where Eq. 1 describes the situation will be considered. But there is still a fundamental obstacle to the application of Young's equation. The surface tension of the liquid (rla) can easily be determined, but the two surface tensions of the solid (rsa and ySL) cannot be measured directly. Eq. 1, however, is not without value. By contact angle measurements it is possible to establish how ysl — ysl varies with the addition of solutes to the liquid phase. Also, Eq. 1 affords a convenient starting point for calculating net forces and energy changes involved in the process of bubble-particle attachment.1,2 . If for the moment surface tension of the liquid (yLa) is considered a constant, an increase in ysa — ysL, will tend to decrease the contact angle. A decrease in ySA — ysl, corresponds to an increase of the contact angle. In cases where ySA — ySL > yLa the contact angle is zero; it will only reach finite values when ysa — ysa has been decreased below YLA. Thus on the basis of Young's equation and contact angle measurements alone, it can be learned how flotation reagents affect the difference Ysa — ysl, but no conclusions can be drawn as to the effects of reagents on the individual surface tensions ysa, and ysL, not even as to signs or directions of the surface tension changes resulting from reagent additions. A quantitative relationship between the surface tension or interfacial tension and the adsorption occurring at a surface or an interface is given by the Gibbs equation, which for constant temperature and pressure reads dy = — 2 T, du, [2] where dy is the infinitesimal change in surface tension accompanying a change in chemical potential

Jan 1, 1955

By R. C. Emmett, R. P. Klepper

The industrial practice of concentration of solids and production of clear solution by gravity sedimentation is an old technology. Through the years, many devices have been designed and built to aid this process One of the more significant developments was a revolving rake mechanism to convey settled material to a central discharge point of a circular tank, patented in 1907 (Dorr). In recent years, clarification systems employing parallel inclined plates have appeared on the market; the original device utilizing this principle was patented in 1886 (Gaillet, et al.) Numerous other methods have been invented, tested, discarded, and sometimes reinvented, all with the specific intention of improving the capacity of a particular settling area. Sedimentation theory, as expressed in Stokes' Law, shows that the rate of settling of a panicle is directly proportional to the difference in density between the particle and the surrounding liquid and, more significantly, proportional to the square of the panicle diameter. While this latter effect is less pronounced with larger particles, anything that can increase the diameter will greatly assist sedimentation and, as a result, flocculation always has been an integral part of sedimentation. Most materials suspended in aqueous media are naturally flocculent to some degree and, hence, are readily concentrated by sedimentation, although sometimes very slowly.

Jan 1, 1981

By Sadao Maruyama

INTRODUCTION Since the big discovery of Kuroko deposits in Kosaka mine, Akita Pref., northeastern Japan in 1959, major Japanese mining companies have been engaged in extensive exploration for the deposits expending large amounts of money. Above all their exploration activities have been particularly fruitful in discovering new deposits in northern Akita Pref. It is estimated that the total ore reserves newly found in the area are at least 50 million tons. Kuroko deposits are the most important ore source of copper, lead and zinc in Japan and have been mined since last century in the said area. Kuroko (black ore) is fine, compact aggregates with sphalerite , glena and barite as principal constituents and chalco- pyrite, pyrite and tetrahedrite as subsequent constituents. The name Kuroko comes from its appearance. It is not rare that total grade of copper, lead and zinc reaches 20 - 30% and the gold and silver content is also fairly good. Accordingly the unit value of the ore is much higher than the ore from other types of deposits. Besides the Kuroko ore, the Kuroko deposits consists of Ohko (yellow ore, massive cupriferous pyritic ore), Keikoh (silicious ore, cupriferous network ore) and gypsum ore. This type of deposit is considered to be not only an important source of base metal but also a source of gypsum and barite. Although the importance of this type of deposit had been commonly recognized, sub-surface nature of the occurrence hampered exploration work. In recent years the improved exploration techniques and increased knowledge of the Kuroko deposits have met with remarkable success in the location of new deposits. This outburst of exploration and dis-

Jan 1, 1970

By Henry Fernald

THE accounting system or bookkeeping methods of any company are principally the concern of that company and of those who are in control of its affairs. Its published financial report is, however, primarily intended for those who are not already fully informed regarding its operations and finances. Whatever may be the advantages of standardization of accounting and bookkeeping methods, it must be admitted that a company has a certain right to handle its accounts and keep its books and records in whatever manner may seem to it best adapted to its affairs, even though such methods may differ materially from those generally adopted by others. In its financial reports it should not, however, either ask or expect that the statements it makes or the terms which it uses will be given in its case a meaning and interpretation different from that which they are ordinarily considered to have inn similar reports and statements of other companies. The particular form and arrangement of such reports is a matter concerning which there may be much difference of opinion. It is of little importance whether current assets come first or last in the Balance Sheet, but it is important that there should not be included under this designation any items which are not properly current assets within the generally accepted meaning of that term. The extent to which stockholders or others interested are to be made acquainted with the full details of a company's business is a question which the proper authorities must in each case decide. It should, however, be recognized that there are certain facts regarding a mining company which must be set forth in a financial statement if it is fully to cover the conditions and affairs of the company. For example, a financial statement which does not include or is not accompanied by a statement of the ore reserves of the company does not fully set forth its financial condition. This is true whether the absence of such a statement of ore reserves is because it is not desired to make public the figures or whether it is because the ore reserves themselves are not definitely known or accurately measured.

Jan 1, 1928

By Russell W. Dayton

THE metallurgical polarization microscope has been utilized in several researches in the last few years, thus attaining a fair degree of prominence, but little has been written in a manner suitable to a metallurgist concerning the theory of this instrument. In this investigation the theory was carefully studied, and the results are presented here in a detailed manner, yet as simply as possible. The theory - is discussed with particular reference to the three chief functions of the instrument: (1) determination of anisotropy; (2) effect of strain; and (3) identification of inclusions. Each of these is investigated experimentally, with especial attention to the mechanism of producing any effect. Where possible, the discussion is supplemented by photomicrographs. The instrument used had numerous defects as a polarization microscope; these and their remedies are discussed. In the microscopic study of transparent mineral sections (chalcography) the use of polarized light has aided tremendously in the identification of a mineral. The determination of strain in transparent substances (photoelasticity) by the use of polarized light has lately become a commercial process, used in testing finished glass articles. The success of the use of polarized light with opaque materials has not been so great. The magnitude of the effects obtained is much less than that of the corresponding effects with transparent materials, and the mechanical difficulties are much greater. Königsberger, (1)‡ in 1909, was the first to apply polarized light to the microscopic study of

Jan 1, 1935

AS I told you in the chapter on salts, saltpeter is a mixture composed of many substances extracted with fire- and water from arid and manurial soils, from that growth which exudes from new walls or from that loosened soil that is found in tombs or uninhabited caves where the rain cannot enter. It is my belief that it is engendered in these soils from an airy moisture that is drunk in and absorbed by the earthy dryness. Considering its effects, I do not know how to decide and say exactly what the nature of saltpeter is. The learned and very wise physicians find it salty and with a subtle sharpness both in taste and in their medical experiments. Considering its strong biting qualities, they decide to say that it is of a hot and dry nature; on the other hand when they see that it is engendered from the air and that when touched by fire it becomes inflammable and vaporous, and rises with a fearful impetus when mixed in powder for military guns, it manifestly shows itself to be of a hot and moist airy nature. And then when they see that it is shining and transparent with whiteness and is fusible in every fire in a manner corresponding to a thing of a watery nature, and since it. is heavy, it seems that it can be said to be watery in nature. To this is added the experience of touch and of the great cooling action which it has on water in summertime when wine is to be cooled, and since it crushes and breaks with but little pressure, it might be thought to be earthy in nature; especially when it is seen to change into a hard, white stone when burned with an equal amount of sulphur. Thus it seems that every one of the elemental qualities is predominant in it. Now the ancients called this, or a similar thing, nitrum. [150] Pliny, in Book XXXI of his Natural History, has said that it was a thing not much different from salt, that doctors do not seem to have yet known its nature, that it is found in various places, and that the best is found in Macedonia. But among the moderns and especially in our regions, it is not known today what it is that Pliny and other writers refer -to, since according to the aforesaid Pliny and other ancient writers it is a natural mineral. Some say that in place of, the natural kind the artificial will serve for the same medicinal purposes, since it has the same nature and is perhaps more powerful.

Jan 1, 1942

By L. Guttman, C. S. Barrett, J. S. Bowles

THE transformation from the face-centered cubic (Al) to the face-centered tetragonal (A6) structure in certain alloys of the indium-thallium system reported in the preceding paper1 exhibits many interesting crystallographic and metallo-graphic features, most of which presumably are similar to those of other cubic to tetragonal transformation such as, for example, the one which occurs in the chromium-manganese system,2 the one which, judging by microstructures and X-ray pat-terns,3 probably occurs in the copper-manganese system, the ones accompanying ordering in FePt,4 Copt,&apos; and AuCu,5 and the transformation near 115°C in barium titanate.6,7,8 If, as mentioned in ref. 1, the transformation is second order, the phases in equilibrium do not differ in composition, and it is both possible and likely that the mechanism is a diffusionless one. The present paper reports the results of a detailed study of the indium-thallium transformation and presents a theory for the atomic movements of the transformation which accounts for the observations. Experimental Crystallography of Transformation Markings The transformation from cubic to tetragonal in the indium-thallium alloys produces microstruc-tures of the type illustrated in fig. 1. These structures are observable either as relief effects produced on a smooth surface by the transformation, or after polishing and etching. These microstruc-tures are markedly similar to those found in copper-manganese alloys: iron-platinum alloys," and barium titanate,7,8 where it has been demonstrated that the lamellae are parallel to the (101) planes of the original cubic crystal. That the observed lamellae in indium-thallium alloys are also parallel to the (101) planes was proved by the following analyses performed on single grains in polycrystal-line samples containing 20.75 atomic pct T1. A study of the microstructures of a number of specimens revealed the fact that in many specimens the transformation markings continued unchanged in direction across the (111) interfaces of annealing twins. This at once demonstrates that the lamellae are parallel to a plane that is common to both parent and twin orientations, i.e., a plane in the zone <112>. This conclusion is compatible with the lamellae being parallel to (101) planes. To make a more complete determination of the habit plane of the lamellae, two grains were selected in which annealing twins ({Ill) twins) had been present in the high-temperature modification (cubic). The traces of the annealing twins, and of the transformation markings in both parent and twin crystals, were plotted together in stereographic projection, and a parent-twin pair of orientations was found that accounted for all lamellae as (101) planes. The projection of one of these twinned grains is reproduced in fig. 2. In view of these results the probability of there being another solution for the habit plane remote from (101) is very small, but to explore the possibility that the habit plane deviates slightly from (101), a more precise analysis was undertaken. In this, the orientation of a grain in the cubic modification was determined from a Laue back-reflection photograph taken with the sample at 90°C. The traces of the lamellae that formed in this grain on cooling were plotted in the stereographic projection

Jan 1, 1951

By Albert Sauveur

To understand this paper properly, the reader must have a clear conception of what is meant by the " critical points " of iron and steel; * and in order to avoid the necessity of tedious references to previous publications on the part of those unfamiliar with the subject, it is here briefly recapitulated. Critictl Points.—If a piece of steel containing, say, 0.50 per cent. or more of carbon, be heated to a high temperature and then allowed to cool slowly, the cooling proceeds at first at a uniformly retarded rate until a temperature of about 700° C. is reached, when there is a sudden " retardation " in the fall of

Jan 1, 1897

By Joseph Daniels

The Fritz Engineering Laboratory was built under the direction of John Fritz, and presented by him to the University. A view of the building, looking east, is shown in Fig. 1. The building was started in 1909, and completed in 1910, although all of the equipment was not placed until later. Mr. Fritz gave his personal attention to the details of construction and equipment, and it was his custom to drive over every day to the University from his home in Bethlehem and spend some hours watching the work, offering suggestions, making changes, and planning new work. The result is a building and an equipment which embody his practical ideas. The laboratory structure is of the steel mill-building type, of light-colored brick, 91 by 114 ft., of which a section is shown in Fig. 2 and the floor-plan in Fig. 3. The steel frame carries the roof and traveling crane-way. Ample light has been provided by numerous windows in the side and end walls, in the clerestory, and by a skylight 84 ft. long and 9 ft. wide in the north roof. The main aisle of the building is 49 ft. 2 in. between centers of crane-columns, and has a clear height of 40 ft. The remainder of the width is taken up by two side aisles, 18 ft. high. The laboratory consists of four sections: (1) A general testing-section containing the testing-machinery, a small machine shop, and an office; (2) a cement-testing room; (3) a room for making and storing concrete test-specimens; (4) a hydraulic section.

Jan 1, 1912

By Donald C. Barton

The theory of gravitation is based on Newton&apos;s law that any two bodies exert a mutual attraction which is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them; i. e., A = KMRm2 (1) where K is a constant, M and m are the respective masses of the two bodies, and R the distance between them. In the earth&apos;s gravitational system, the earth is one of the bodies; the other may be any body within or without the earth. In theoretical discussions and calculations,in regard to gravity, that other body usually is taken as a unit of mass: in the C:. C:. S. system, a body of one gram in mass. Gravity and Level Surfaces Gravity is defined in geophysics as the force of attraction exerted by the earth, towards itself, on a body of unit mass. The intensity of gravity is usually expressed in dynes of force or in centimeters of acceleration In geophysical work in America, most commonly it is expressed in dynes (per gram) with the "per gram" understood and not directly expressed. In geophysical work in Europe, most commonly it is expressed in centimeters per second per second (cm. /sec.2) and less commonly lrierely as centimeter-gram-second units (c. g. s). At sea level, the intensity of gravity amounts very nearly to 980 dynes. The vertical is the direction along which the attraction of gravity is exerted at any point. In most cases, it is very nearly, but not quite, perpendicular to the earth&apos;s surface. The path that would be taken by a body falling freely through space toward the earth is vertical at each point and may be spoken of also as (&apos;the vertical," or as the line of the vertical, or as a line of force of gravity. At the earth&apos;s surface it comrrlonly is very nearly, but not quite, a straight line.

Jan 1, 1929

By George W. Bain

The good work of the surveys supported by the different branches of the government needs little mention to geologists but is underappreciated by people at large. Geologists and engineers realize their usefulness and yet even from this group one hears occasionally an undercurrent of discontent about their work or the distribution of it. The very fact that discontent arises within and without this group and has drawn attention of legislative bodies of the country in the present time of stress means that a large number of people do not receive or do not realize that they receive benefit from these public works. This seems to be a clear indication that more than the relations between government surveys and the mining industry is involved and that if the mining industry is interested in continuation of the work of these surveys on the past scale they must consider the other survey divisions and their activity. Also, relations between government surveys and certain specialized types of mining have not been as close as they should be. I have been employed in almost the entire range of fields offered to geologists and have studied closely the feeling of people towards geological service. Recently it has been a pleasure to be closely associated with men who were as deeply interested in civic welfare and affairs of state as in the financial success of a large industry developing natural resources. Previously I had seen service in a national survey, a state survey, summer employment by a large mining company exploring new property and detailed geological work for a large corporation. Major responsibility as a college instructor has left me free to view each of these assignments in unprejudiced fashion and at the same time study the relation of government surveys to large natural resource industries, average industrial and construction work and service to nongeologists and laymen. Considerations Governing Geologic Public Service Three groups of people must be satisfied by the surveys if dissatisfaction is to be dispelled. First there is a large group of people who pay taxes to support the government activities and must receive some service

Jan 1, 1935

By George W. Bain

The good work of the surveys supported by the different branches of the government needs little mention to geologists but is underappreciated by people at large. Geologists and engineers realize their usefulness and yet even from this group one hears occasionally an undercurrent of discontent about their work or the distribution of it. The very fact that discontent arises within and without this group and has drawn attention of legislative bodies of the country in the present time of stress means that a large number of people do not receive or do not realize that they receive benefit from these public works. This seems to be a clear indication that more than the relations between government surveys and the mining industry is involved and that if the mining industry is interested in continuation of the work of these surveys on the past scale they must consider the other survey divisions and their activity. Also, relations between government surveys and certain specialized types of mining have not been as close as they should be. I have been employed in almost the entire range of fields offered to geologists and have studied closely the feeling of people towards geological service. Recently it has been a pleasure to be closely associated with men who were as deeply interested in civic welfare and affairs of state as in the financial success of a large industry developing natural resources. Previously I had seen service in a national survey, a state survey, summer employment by a large mining company exploring new property and detailed geological work for a large corporation. Major responsibility as a college instructor has left me free to view each of these assignments in unprejudiced fashion and at the same time study the relation of government surveys to large natural resource industries, average industrial and construction work and service to nongeologists and laymen. Considerations Governing Geologic Public Service Three groups of people must be satisfied by the surveys if dissatisfaction is to be dispelled. First there is a large group of people who pay taxes to support the government activities and must receive some service

Jan 1, 1935

By R. W. Raymond

THE question, what is the best proportion among weight, fall, and speed of stamps, is one which has not yet received thorough and systematic examination. In considering the economical application of stamping machinery, we meet, at the beginning, with serious difficulties in obtaining accurate data for comparison. The weight and fall of stamps vary as the shoes and dies wear out; and this may lead to a change of speed also. Moreover, defects in engines, boilers, or machinery for the transmission of power, may occasion serious losses, which cannot fairly be charged to the arrangements of the stamps proper. Again, the capacity of stamp-mills is directly dependent, in some degree, upon the nature and extent of discharge, fineness of screens, and other peculiarities of the battery. Finally, the hardness and tenacity of the rock crushed varies so much that comparisons between different localities cannot be implicitly trusted. The safest experiments are those made in the same mill, by changing first one and then another condition of working; but this is seldom possible for such conditions as weight and lift of stamps, and only within narrow limits for their speed. We may eliminate of friction, transmission, and generation of power, in the case of stamps, by measuring the power actually developed by their fall. Thus, the weight, multiplied into the fall in feet, and the number of drops per minute, gives us exactly the number of foot-pounds exerted by each stamp. Dividing by 33,000, the number of foot-pounds per minute in one-horse power, we have the horse-power per stamp, from which the effective power of the whole mill may be obtained. Dividing the amount of rock crushed daily by the effective horse-power, gives us the daily amount per horse-power ; and this is the best measure that can be obtained for the effectiveness of the stamps. A complete discussion of the subject would require us to determine the exact influence of the discharge, etc., and the exact resistance offered by different classes of rocks, for both of which points the data are wanting. Professor J. D. Hague, in the third volume of the United States Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, gives a valuable

By L. W. Saperstein, Y. J. Wang

The development of computer programs to solve complex ventilation networks has reached a point of refinement where these programs become a necessary tool of the ventilating engineer. Such a program is presented. This program has an increased efficiency over its predecessors; it also includes the important facility of fixed quantity branches. This is in addition to the earlier capabilities of free-splitting, internal or external fans, and natural ventilation pressures. The program is written in Fortran IV with double-precision arithmetic and is listed here. Sample problems with input and output are also given. The recent, and presumably continuing, official interest in mine safety is bound to result in more stringent control requirements for ventilation. Anticipating this requirement, the Dept. of Mining, The Pennsylvania State University, has developed a computer program for the solution of complex mine ventilation networks. It is the opinion of this department that the program has sufficient merit to warrant its use in normal industrial operating conditions. Although the undergraduate mining engineering students of this department are routinely trained to use the program, it was felt that this training did not present a fast enough means of dissemination; consequently, this paper was written. The conception of the program is not new;1; however, the present version incorporates features that changes it from a scientific endeavor to a useful operating tool. These features include those of earlier programs, such as free-splitting, external or internal fans, and natural ventilation processes plus the important ability of handling fixed quantity branches, and of increased efficiency giving reduced cost. The facility for fixed quantities will be discussed in more detail. The solution of any network depends upon satisfying Kirchchoff&apos;s laws. These state that the sum of flow at any junction is zero, and that the sum of the pressure drop in branches totals the pressure drop in the mesh constituted by those branches, that is that the pressure drop around any mesh is zero. The terminology is derived from Synge," and is, in fact, that used by Topologists. A branch is any airway of uniform characteristics; a junction is where two or more airways meet (the minimum number of two airways is useful for describing the point where a low resistance airway changes into a high resistance one due to some physical constriction); a mesh is a path, along some branches, that returns on to itself, but does not need to traverse the same branch twice in order to do so; and a tree describes all those branches in a network which, while connected through all the junctions, do not form any meshes. Obviously the branches-in-tree are open-ended and can be shown to be one less than the number of junction (J-1). The branches-out-of-tree, also called basic branches, are equal to the number of basic meshes and are M = N — J + 1, where M is the number of meshes and N is the number of branches. The major difference between this network and an electrical one is that the law attributed to Atkinson for pressure drop is utilized rather than Ohm&apos;s law. Atkinson stated that the pressure drop (potential) is equal to a resistance factor multiplied by the quantity squared. This is written H = RlQlQ where H is the head loss. Q? is written in this factored fashion so that H will always have the same sign as Q. A negative sign is used to indicate that flow in a branch is opposite to that of its containing mesh. A mesh takes the direction of its basic branch. Utilizing Atkinson&apos;s law in Kirchchoff&apos;s second law and bearing in mind that the first law must remain satisfied, the program will determine all quantities, or head losses as they are related, for the branches of the network. The program uses a Geuss-Seidel form of in-teration, starting from an arbitrary Q and using a correction factor of the type first suggested by Professor Hardy Cross&apos; that will handle the nonlinear equation of Atkinson&apos;s law. A fuller description of the interative process is included in Wang and Hartman.&apos; Iteration continues until the correction factor is less than or equal to a preset error (E) or until a maximum number of iterations (MAXIT) have been reached. Utilizing an E of 50 cfm, sample problems have had rapid solutions. Rapidity of solution is also ensured by the method of selecting meshes and basic branches. This is done by the computer, which chooses the highest resistance branches, fixed quantity branches, and those containing fans, as basic branches. Natural ventilation pressures are handled as fans of constant pressure and may be assigned to any branch. The computer will generate a fan characteristic by polynominal fitting if a few operating points from the desired fan are input. A fan may be placed in any branch of the network, except those with fixed quantities. The strength of the present program over its earlier versions is its ability to handle fixed quantity branches. This means that certain branches can have their quantity determined, or preset, by the ventilating engineer. Operating under this constraint, the program will analyze the network and output the pressure change necessary to achieve this desired quantity. A call for positive head loss would require an auxiliary fan; negative head loss would require a regulator. This represents a powerful tool for the ventilating engineer who must insure that certain quantities of air pass across the operating faces or through working stopes. McPherson6 suggested that a ventilation program would be useful for determining in advance which branches were receiving inadequate air, and that subsequent calculations would then indicate the necessary corrections. The present program makes these corrections. Thus the mine manager can know immediately the consequences of changes to his system;

Jan 1, 1971

By Michael E. Zellars

The environment for deposition of marine phosphorite is controlled by the relationship of prevailing climatic, oceanographic, structural, and sedimentary conditions. The set, or sets, of conditions that has evoked the accumulation of economic concentrations of phosphorite has been the subject of a number of previous works. Phosphorite presently considered ore is generally in excess of 10% P205 with an extractable phosphate product in excess of 30% P2O5. The concentration of the product in the ore, its amenability to state-of-the-art extraction, and thickness of the overburden are major controlling factors in determining its mineability. A recent survey of phosphorite deposits in the south-eastern United States included a review of the depositional and structural setting for the major areas of occurrence. The application of previous work regarding phosphorogenesis has led to the establishment of a general depositional model for most mid-Miocene primary phosphorites, and, is also possibly applicable to the Bone Valley (Pliocene-Miocene) district of central Florida.

Jan 12, 1978

By J. S. Harris

AS a result of the study of social problems to which so much thought has been given in this country and Europe in the last half century, many employers of labor have come to think that some provision should be made for their workingmen in case of injury. There has been a growing tendency so to administer the laws governing industrial pursuits in these countries as to add self-interest on the part of capitalists, to the plea urged by humanity, that every possible care should be taken to guard the workers from accident; but as no care can guarantee immunity, there is a necessity to supplement these precautions by some method of providing pecuniary aid that shall be available when disabling accidents do occur. It was once a favorite idea of theorists on political economy, that in the ideal state of society every man should take care of himself, and that the less care or control there was assumed by any man over others&apos; private affairs, the better; but this gospel of selfishness has had its day, and it is now generally recognized that in the existing state of affairs the stronger and richer cannot escape the duty of being to some extent, the keepers of their less fortunate brethren ; and, on the other hand, that an assumption of care for them involving to some extent an exercise of authority, is not a thing to he necessarily and always resisted. Out of these convictions, many efforts for the amelioration of the condition of workingmen have grown—which or one result have produced various plans which combine the con-

Jan 1, 1884

By E. V. Potter, E. T. Hayes, H. C. Lukens

LARGE volumes of hydrogen are liberated at the cathode during electrolytic precipitation of manganese. Most of the gas escapes from the electrolyte, but a considerable amount may be entrapped in the manganese plate. Gas has been observed to escape from manganese melts in puffs that ignite at the surface. It has been reported that castings made with electrolytic manganese tend to rise in the molds; for this reason the manganese is often treated to remove hydrogen before the melt is made or it is premelted and used as cast manganese in making the alloys. The effect of hydrogen on the properties of manganese and its alloys is not known, but its effect on iron and iron alloys has been studied extensively.1.2 The close relationship between iron and man¬ganese suggests that hydrogen may have a similar effect on the properties of manganese and its alloys. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the amount of hydrogen or other gases in typical commercial electrolytic manganese sheet and to investigate ways of removing it most conveniently. APPARATUS The apparatus used is shown schematically in Fig. I. It consists of a chamber A in which the metal sample is placed, a vacuum or pressure gauge B, volume gauge C, vacuum pump D, hydrogen container E, auxiliary gas chamber F, and furnace G. The specimen chamber was made of two concentric quartz tubes. The outer one, a, connects with the closed gas system and is surrounded by the furnace G. A second tube, b, fits closely inside a and has a small end that projects into the space for the specimen and holds the thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the sample. The inner tube is joined to the outer tube outside the furnace, with rubber tape and sealing wax, to prevent gas leakage into or out of the closed system. This type of specimen container is loaded very easily and can be used several times if molten metal does not come in contact with the quartz. An ordinary mercury manometer B is used to measure the pressure in the system. The volume gauge C is essentially another mercury manometer, but the volume of the column is much larger than normal and the height of the mercury can be varied by raising or lowering the well H. In this apparatus the tube had a volume of I00 c.c. for a 60-cm. length. For larger changes in gas volumes; auxiliary containers F were used to increase the volume of the system by known amounts. Valves were arranged so that these auxiliary containers could be filled from the system and evacuated by the pump as often as necessary to accommodate the increases in the volume of gas in the system. The furnace G, used to heat the samples, was equipped with an automatic temperature controller, which maintained the desired temperatures within ± 5°C.

Jan 1, 1945

Constraints in the location, process selection, and operation of the modern zinc refinery brought about by the heightened environmental awareness of the public were explained by Sanjoy Shome, project engineer for Kaiser Engineers Inc.

Jan 11, 1977

By G. W. P. Rengstorff, L. E. Olds

High purity molybdenum ingots containing controlled amounts of a single impurity element (oxygen, nitrogen, or carbon) were prepared. These ingots were tested for ductility by bending test specimens at various temperatures. The relationship between the plastic behavior of the ingots and their chemical composition has been determined. MANY proposed applications for molybdenum require ductility at or near room temperature. At the present time, it is possible to obtain wrought molybdenum with considerable ductility only if special fabrication techniques are used to control the grain structure. Starting with are-cast or powder metallurgy ingots, the usual methods for obtaining ductility rely on fabrication procedures that result in fibered microstructures in the finished product. Recently, it has been found that the ductility of either powder metallurgy or are-cast molybdenum can be improved by uniform recrystallization of the metal to a very fine equiaxed grain structure.&apos; The need for a fibered or a fine grained structure may limit the practical usefulness of molybdenum. For example, welding. which may be used in fabricating the metal, generally produces coarse grained structures that lead to brittleness. This applies, certainly, to currently available commercial molybdenum. Although commercial molybdenum is brittle when the grains are coarse, it has been shown experimentally that fine grained structures are not always essential for ductility. For instance, as-cast molybdenum with a coarse columnar grain structure is ductile if it is sufficiently pure.&apos; Because high purity cast molybdenum has good ductility even when coarse grained, it is probable that the brittleness in coarse grained commercial molybdenum is caused by the impurity content of the metal. Although the general effects of impurities on the cold ductility of molybdenum have been known in a qualitative manner for some time, no quantitative evaluation of these effects has been available. The present investigation was made in order to determine more accurately the effects of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon on the cold ductility of cast molybdenum. Oxygen has long been known to be detrimental to ductility, although the minimum amount which will embrittle molybdenum has been open to speculation. Parke and Ham" showed that ingots with oxygen contents above 0.003 pct could not be forged. Maringer and Schwope have described the embrittle-ment of molybdenum wire by oxygen. A discussion on the effects of heat treatment on the distribution of oxygen in molybdenum has been given by Perry, Spacil, and Wulff." Although nitrogen would also be expected to have harmful effects on ductility, no extensive work has been done previously to determine whether this is so. However, Tury and Krausz" found that wires presumably with less than 0.007 pct N were brittle. Carbon is added to commercial cast molybdenum for deoxidation. Parke and Ham" have shown that molybdenum containing as much as 0.06 pct C could be forged if the oxygen was kept below 0.003 pct. Also, Bruckart and others&apos; found that the room temperature ductility of sintered molybdenum improved with carbon contents up to 0.84 pct. However, Rengstorff and Fischer&apos; found that residual carbide particles in cast molybdenum apparently had an unfavorable effect on room temperature ductility.

Jan 1, 1957

By W. O. Philbrook

An engineering analysis indicates that the coke rate in present blast-furnace practice is set not by chemical or thermal needs but to give adequate charge permeability for economical driving rates. An equation showing interrelations among pressure drop, gas flow, and charge characteristics has been derived. Flooding conditions and the location of the fusion zone are discussed. Maximum ore size is probably limited by chemical re-ducibility rather than by heat transfer. THE intention of this paper is to show that the ].imitations on the production rate and coke requirement of the iron blast furnace are not primarily chemical or thermal in nature but are related to characteristics of the burden and operation that govern gas flow, heat transfer, and stock movement. A semiquantitative analysis will be developed in terms of standard engineering principles to give a useful picture of the relative importance of physical and mechanical factors in contrast with the chemical features of the process that are more commonly emphasized. Most of the details of calculation have been omitted in the interest of brevity and to avoid submerging the rnain points in a sea of arithmetic. Numerical values have been arrived at by objective methods from reported operating data or by reasonable estimates of material properties where exact data are lacking and then tested to see how well they fit practice, rather than by working backward to find what assumptions are needed to give the desired answers. The analysis is oversimplified in many ways because exact engineering relations have not yet been studied for bed distributions as complex as are known to exist in the blast-furnace stock column. One objective of this paper is to show that the blast furnace, in spite of its complexity, can be at- tacked by engineering methods in the hope that this viewpoint will stimulate the kind of research needed for a more exact treatment. The basic ideas and many of the conclusions presented are qualitatively well known. A careful literature survey to credit the source of all observations not original to the author would indeed be voluminous, and such has not been attempted. T. L. Joseph&apos;s Howe Memorial Lecture&apos; gives an excellent background of what is known about the internal workings of a blast furnace. Other important reference works or sources of specific information will be noted. It is hoped that the present paper will contribute something new, in method of attack and interpretation, that will aid in a clearer understanding of how to operate the blast furnace to best advantage. Factors Limiting Production and Coke Rates The rate of combustion of coke in a blast furnace, as in any fuel bed, is exactly proportional to the rate at which air is supplied. It is axiomatic, then, that the production rate of a furnace is limited by the rate at which it will take wind, i.e., burn coke, and the amount of coke that must be burned at the tuyeres to make a ton of iron of suitable composition. These two possible limiting factors will be considered briefly in the order mentioned. One common restriction on wind rate is flue-dust production. Since the volume of top gas is nearly proportional to the blast volume (by a factor of about 1.35 on a dry basis), an increased wind rate causes a correspondingly increased linear velocity of top gas in the throat of the furnace. The higher

Jan 1, 1955