Search Documents

By David H. Browne

Nickel has always been a fruitful mother of problems. Previous to the year 1906 nickel was regarded as an element replacing iron in copper-mattes, and it was believed that the same laws which governed the elimination of iron could be applied to nickel. This conception has lately undergone a complete change, and nickel in all its stages is now regarded as an element replacing copper; in other words, copper-nickel is considered not as two elements, but as one metal. When we commenced our investigations on Monel metal we made a great many experiment* on the conversion of mattes, both high copper and high nickel. We studied closely the composition of the mattes and the changes produced by the blow. We found in all cases certain agreements which me believe are due to some law. Briefly stated, our conclusions are as follows : 1. Nickel is not an element replacing iron in matte. 2. Nickel-copper alloys act in the matte-blow like one metal. 3. Nickel-copper alloys follow, during the matte-blow, exactly the same laws that govern the behavior of copper alone. This brings up the question: What are the laws governing the production of metallic copper, and what are the relations of copper to sulphur and iron during the Bessemer blow?

Jan 1, 1911

By Guy R. Johnson

In view of the attention now directed to the development of the iron-ores of Virginia, and of the frequent reference in the Transactions of the Institute to the Longdale mines, it is presumed that a brief account of the methods of working and surveying these mines will be of interest. For a better understanding of such a description, a few words will be said concerning the geological character of the ore-deposit. Professor Rogers says in his preliminary report of 1835, that this deposit has " more of the character of a true vein than is usually

Jan 1, 1892

By Eric Hedburg

This paper was originally prepared as a picture of the situation presented by the mining industry referred to at the end of the year 1899; and some of the descriptions and drawings of special mines, etc., may not completely show their condition a year later. The statements made as to the cost of mining and concentration, however, still hold good. As to other general statements made in the paper, it is believed that the following additional facts cover all that is required to complete them for the additional year. The condition of the mining industry in the Joplin district was better at the close of 1900 than at any time during several preceding years. Values seemed to have adjusted themselves, in considerable degree, to the commercial and technical circumstances, the cost of mining-supplies of all kinds had returned to a normal basis, and the product of ore found a ready sale,

Jan 1, 1902

By F. Gordon Smith

ALTHOUGH several geological indicators of the critical type are known, including quartz inversions and decomposition of hydrous minerals such as serpentine, there are very few of the general type. Solid solutions are excepted, but the limitations of use are very restricted and interpretations are sometimes ambiguous. General methods for determining temperature and pressure conditions during the crystallization of minerals would have considerable scientific and economic value. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss the various methods of geological thermometry and barometry, but to present one general method, applicable to all minerals, and to describe what progress has been made in the methods of measurement. The general method, in brief, is a study of the stress conditions in and around various types of foreign inclusions which are trapped in minerals during growth. The method depends upon the fact that any homogeneous gas, liquid, or solid will in general have coefficients of thermal expansion and volume compressibility different from those of any given mineral. Therefore stress must develop in and around all types of inclusions in minerals if the temperature or the pressure, or both, are changed from the conditions which prevailed during the growth of the mineral. The methods of measurement consist of determinations of the temperature-pressure conditions of fit of the inclusions in the host mineral. The types of inclusions in minerals are: I—gas, or liquid plus vapor, when observed at room temperature, due to crystallization under pneumatolytic conditions; 2—liquid, or liquid plus vapor when observed at room temperature, due to crystallization under hydrothermal conditions; 3—glassy solid, or devitrified glass, due to crystallization under magmatic or high temperature metamorphic conditions, in a siliceous liquid; and 4—crystals, due to overgrowth of other minerals crystallizing simultaneously or of other minerals which crystallized previously. A survey of the literature shows that much valuable earlier work on inclusions, especially that car- ried out in England in the last century, has dropped out of current knowledge. The following is a brief summary of the significant contributions to the problem up to the present day. Davy in 1822 asserted that fluid inclusions in minerals consist of an aqueous solution of salts and a gas bubble, the whole being either at lower or higher pressure than atmospheric.' At intervals from 1823 to 1862, Brewster contributed information concerning other types of inclusion consisting of 1—aqueous solution, a much more expansible liquid, and a gas; 2—aqueous solution, salt crystals, and a gas; and 3—the very expansible liquid and a gas. The very expansible liquid fills the gas space between 20" and 30°C. Compression strain effects were seen around inclusions in diamond, topaz, and other minerals.'-" Sorby in 1858 and 1869 further advanced the study begun by Davy, stating that fluid inclusions represent a sample of the mother liquor of crystallization and that the degree of filling of aqueous inclusions at room temperature defines the temperature-pressure relations during formation of the host. The degree of filling may be measured by determining the minimum temperature of filling of the inclusion by the liquid phase. The very expansible liquid in some fluid inclusions is liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature at which salt crystals in fluid inclusions completely dissolve in the fluid is the minimum temperature of formation. Inclusions of glass or devitrified glass indicate crystallization from a melt. Inclusions of crystals in minerals are often centers of strain, which may be seen by optical effects or by radial tension cracks. Sorby realized that an analysis of stress-strain relations about inclusions could be used to provide precise data on the temperature of crystallization, but the matter was never pursued.' , Hartley (1876, 1877),".'" Hawes (1881)," Wright (1881),'V ohnsen (1920),I3 and Holden (1925)"

Jan 1, 1953

By F. Gordon Smith

ALTHOUGH several geological indicators of the critical type are known, including quartz inversions and decomposition of hydrous minerals such as serpentine, there are very few of the general type. Solid solutions are excepted, but the limitations of use are very restricted and interpretations are sometimes ambiguous. General methods for determining temperature and pressure conditions during the crystallization of minerals would have considerable scientific and economic value. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss the various methods of geological thermometry and barometry, but to present one general method, applicable to all minerals, and to describe what progress has been made in the methods of measurement. The general method, in brief, is a study of the stress conditions in and around various types of foreign inclusions which are trapped in minerals during growth. The method depends upon the fact that any homogeneous gas, liquid, or solid will in general have coefficients of thermal expansion and volume compressibility different from those of any given mineral. Therefore stress must develop in and around all types of inclusions in minerals if the temperature or the pressure, or both, are changed from the conditions which prevailed during the growth of the mineral. The methods of measurement consist of determinations of the temperature-pressure conditions of fit of the inclusions in the host mineral. The types of inclusions in minerals are: I—gas, or liquid plus vapor, when observed at room temperature, due to crystallization under pneumatolytic conditions; 2—liquid, or liquid plus vapor when observed at room temperature, due to crystallization under hydrothermal conditions; 3—glassy solid, or devitrified glass, due to crystallization under magmatic or high temperature metamorphic conditions, in a siliceous liquid; and 4—crystals, due to overgrowth of other minerals crystallizing simultaneously or of other minerals which crystallized previously. A survey of the literature shows that much valuable earlier work on inclusions, especially that car- ried out in England in the last century, has dropped out of current knowledge. The following is a brief summary of the significant contributions to the problem up to the present day. Davy in 1822 asserted that fluid inclusions in minerals consist of an aqueous solution of salts and a gas bubble, the whole being either at lower or higher pressure than atmospheric.' At intervals from 1823 to 1862, Brewster contributed information concerning other types of inclusion consisting of 1—aqueous solution, a much more expansible liquid, and a gas; 2—aqueous solution, salt crystals, and a gas; and 3—the very expansible liquid and a gas. The very expansible liquid fills the gas space between 20" and 30°C. Compression strain effects were seen around inclusions in diamond, topaz, and other minerals.'-" Sorby in 1858 and 1869 further advanced the study begun by Davy, stating that fluid inclusions represent a sample of the mother liquor of crystallization and that the degree of filling of aqueous inclusions at room temperature defines the temperature-pressure relations during formation of the host. The degree of filling may be measured by determining the minimum temperature of filling of the inclusion by the liquid phase. The very expansible liquid in some fluid inclusions is liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature at which salt crystals in fluid inclusions completely dissolve in the fluid is the minimum temperature of formation. Inclusions of glass or devitrified glass indicate crystallization from a melt. Inclusions of crystals in minerals are often centers of strain, which may be seen by optical effects or by radial tension cracks. Sorby realized that an analysis of stress-strain relations about inclusions could be used to provide precise data on the temperature of crystallization, but the matter was never pursued.' , Hartley (1876, 1877),".'" Hawes (1881)," Wright (1881),'V ohnsen (1920),I3 and Holden (1925)"

Jan 1, 1953

ALBERT J. PHILLIPS, Chairman E. H. Dix, JR., Past-chairman R. H. LEACH, Vice-chairman R. F. MEHL, Vice-chairman W. M. COME, Treasurer LOUIS JORDAN, Secretary 29 West 39th St., New York, N. Y.

Jan 1, 1937

By Thomas D. West

The occasional reports of progressive furnace-men, giving the results of physical tests to prove the superior qualities of their pig-irons, have encouraged the writer to believe that the time is ripe for the discussion of such work, and the inauguration of some correct system by which the furnace-man and the founder could make intelligent comparison of the elements of strength, deflection, contraction, and chill presented in pigmetal. In most cases the physical tests now made by furnace-men define but one quality in the iron, and are generally too vague to permit any true comparison. For example, one furnaceman tells us he can punch holes in his cast-iron, wishing it to be inferred that the iron is very soft and strong. Another furnace casts a long wedge, the thin end running to a knife's edge, which is supposed to prove the fluidity of the iron, for the founder's benefit. Another casts in square-cornered " chills," to define the hardness or softness of the metal. To the writer's knowledge these tests are not advocated by their originators as suitable for standards; and they are, to his mind, but evidence of unrest on the part of progressive furnace-men, who feel that something should be done in the line of physical tests. The writer knows of no furnace-men who make and keep records of the strength of their iron obtained by means of tests made on recognized standard testing-scales ; but he does know of a prominent furnace-salesman, who, not long ago, came into possession of a 1-inch square bar that stood 1400 pounds

Jan 1, 1897

By D. J. Carney, J. Chipman, N. J. Grant

SINCE the beginning of this century it has been known that hydrogen contributes to the porosity of steel and that it is harmful to its mechanical properties. The evidence for this has been largely qualitative. Steel to which hydrogen was purposely added. in sufficient .amounts was shown to be either porous or brittle or both, whereas similar steel of low hydrogen content was shown to be free of porosity and to possess normal physical properties. There have been a considerable number of qualitative experiments of this type. Also, early in this century, a few attempts were made to measure the amount of hydrogen normally dissolved in commercial steels. This was usually done by placing the sample under an inverted liquid column such as mercury and collecting the evolved gas. These attempts, while not successful in measuring actual amounts of dissolved hydrogen gas, were able to prove that this gas will diffuse out of steel at room temperature, and that the amount of hydrogen dissolved is normally very small. On the basis of such qualitative evidence, hydrogen has been and still is blamed for a great number of the troubles encountered in the steel industry. In recent years, partial solutions for many steel-working problems have been obtained. These have led to increased interest in accurate quantitative work on hydrogen in steel, with the expectation that the results might possibly answer a few of the remaining unsolved problems. Commercially, two of the obvious questions which are in need of an answer are: (1) what are the most important sources of hydrogen, and (2) what quantity of hydrogen can be tolerated in various steels? There are many other unanswered questions. To begin to find the answers it seemed logical to start at the beginning of steel production with the liquid metal. Further, it seemed almost imperative to solve first the problems of analysis and sampling of the metal for hydrogen. Once these problems have been solved, it would be possible to answer more of the important commercial problems mentioned above. As a consequence, it was decided to design an analytical apparatus and, upon satisfactory completion of this, to develop an accurate method of sampling liquid metal for hydrogen.

Jan 1, 1951

By H. Evans, L. A. Hunt

The raw materials used in the blast furnaces at the Geneva Works of U.S. Steel Corp. have a high degree of variability in size-consist and chemical content. To overcome the problems caused by the use of highly variable raw materials in the blast-furnace operation, large blending piles are used. An investigation of the blending system showed that variability was significantly reduced by the use of these blending piles. This paper describes the blending system, the method used to evaluate the effect of the blending system, and the results of the investigation. The remarkable improvement in blast-furnace performance since World War II has been in large measure due to the use of beneficiated burdens to reduce the variation of both chemical analysis and size consist. This practice allows the operator better control of his blast furnace, enabling him to operate more economically and to produce chemically uniform hot metal. Planning for uniformity usually begins during mining by extracting ore from several locations within a pit to produce a final product with a specified analysis. Another approach is to stockpile ores having widely varying analyses in individual piles and then drawing the required amounts from each stockpile to provide a blend with a predetermined analysis. A further improvement in blending procedures is to take ores from several sources, bedding them horizontally in layers and reclaiming by vertical slicing from the blended pile. The last procedure, when properly executed, is one of the best methods for achieving maximum uniformity with highly variable ores. U.S. Steel Corp.'s Geneva Works initially obtained iron ore for their blast furnaces from the Cedar City area of southern Utah. These ores were formed primarily by the replacement of limestone and siltstone formations with solutions containing iron and several other elements. The original iron content of the ores in the ground varied from a high of 70% to practically zero with a minimum acceptable iron content for shipping of 37%. Substantial amounts of silica, calcium, magnesium and alumina were found in the ores along with minor amounts of copper, lead, zinc, nickel, titanium, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur which were sometimes present in detrimental amounts. Iron-to-silica ratios varied considerably throughout

Jan 1, 1968

By Paul R. Wieber, Atam P. Sikri

This paper describes the U. S. Energy Research and Development Administration's (ERDA) program to develop in situ coal conversion processes, especially gasification. The potential of this technology, the technical directions being explored, and the program strategy to carry the process concepts toward commercialization are emphasized. The geographic location of the U. S. coal resources and a market analysis are described. Commercially successful in situ coal processes could add over a trillion tons of coal to the U. S. coal reserves. The economics of these processes is compared with surface gasification. Independent studies show this process to be 25% cheaper than surface gasification for Western coals. The major projects are briefly described. The Linked Vertical Well process is in the most advanced stage and shows great promise. The last test produced a low-Btu gas averaging 171 Btu per standard cubic foot for average production rates of 8.5 million standard cubic feet per day. The other projects are Packed Bed, Longwall Generator, and Steeply Dipping Beds. Unique factors of the process development are discussed which may lead to commercial processes in the near term. A development strategy is proposed by which this technology could be commercialized before 1983 with potentially lower gas prices and lower environmental impacts, relative to mining plus surface gasification.

Jan 1, 1979

By Theo W. Robinson

The evolution of the modern blast-furnace from the embryonic stages of comparatively few years ago, has been the work of wide praetiee and experiment. That much is still to be desired, the experience of every furnace-manager mill testify. Mr. Walsh's paper on "The Irregularities of the Blast-Furnace Process, and a Practical Way to Avoid Them" (Trans., xv., 419), proposes a new solution of the problem of interior lines, and one that has given rise to not a little speculation and controversy. The investigation described in this paper was undertaken to test experimentally the theory of Mr. Walsh as to maximum reducing capacity. Briefly explained, Mr. Walsh's views (outside of his claim for increased efficiency due to having the bosh wholly within the meltingzone) are, that a furnace of contracted stack and throat, on his lines. may equal in product one of considerably greater cubical capacity. The explanation offered for the theoretical greater capacity per cubic foot of his furnace is, that the increased tension of gases caused by passing through the small area mill promote transpiration, thus facilitating reduction and permitting more rapid driving. This alleged relation will appear from a hypothetical case in which a furnace, A, constructed on Mr. Walsh's lines, has but 1/x of the cubical contents of a furnace, B, of modern type; the two being equal in height. In order that A shall have the same capacity as B, both working normally with the same mixture and burden, and

Jan 1, 1889

Jan 1, 1902

By Joseph P. Lyden

In the Picher field, structure made openings for the circulation of the mineralizing solutions by flexing, shearing, and fracturing the sedimentary beds. This structure is used with the spatial and genetic relationship of the ore minerals, sphalerite and galena, and the gangue minerals, dolomite and jasperoid, in prospecting for ore bodies.

Jan 12, 1950

By O. R. Foster

The use in the iron blast-furnace of slags high in magnesia has been generally condemned, not only on the ground that magnesia renders the slag less fusible, but also because it is said to have less power to remove sulphur from the iron. Percy? says the use of dolomite as a flux should obviously he avoided, because magnesia " tends to induce infusibility," but says nothing of its relation to sulphur in the charge. Bell suggests the absorption of SO2, by lime and magnesia in the blast-furnace, but leads the reader to suppose that the really active agent is lime. Howes says: " The greater desulphurizing power of lime than of magne-

Jan 1, 1900

By M. E. Wadsworth

The region about the south shore of Lake Superior is to geologists one of the most interesting districts of the United States, embracing as it does, in a limited area, old crystalline rocks, together with forms that are almost in their original condition of a beach sand and mud. In this region was first established the base of the geological column, the Azoic (" without life") System of Foster and Whitney, or the Archæan (" the beginning ") of Dana. Overlying this system are found the sandstones and limestones of the Paleozoic (" ancient life "), and their associated lava-flows (Algonkian ?). These systems possess a strong economic interest, owing to the stores of iron in the Azoic and of copper in the Paleozoic or Eozoic of this district, which forms one of the most important mining regions in America. The geology of this section is so difficult and complicated that, in its general discussion, perhaps no proposition can be stated concerning any portion of it to which exceptions cannot be taken. Indeed, out of the general discussion of different points comes in time the truth, and various geologists, even now, are working over this region in the endeavor to arrive at some consensus, or at least to determine upon what points they can agree, and upon what points difference of opinion will have to exist between them at present, until further evidence can be obtained. The writer will endeavor to give in a brief form that which appears to him at present to be the most correct statement of the geological structure of the region, admitting that from time to time, as more complete evidence shall be obtained, he expects to change his views in the future, as he has done in the past, if that evidence shall cause him to believe that he has been mistaken.

Jan 1, 1898

By F. R. Hensel

THE demand for clean steel is increasing daily. New processes of refining steel are being developed in order to remove all nonmetallic inclusions as completely as possible, as it is the general opinion that. inclusions affect the dynamic properties of steel and iron to such an extent as to justify great expense for their removal. It is surprising to note at the same time the commercial development of a new process for making artificial wrought iron. By this process slag and steel are thoroughly mixed, the amount of nonmetallic inclusions usually exceeding 2 per cent in weight. The contradiction in these two efforts is obvious and is responsible for the investigation reported in this paper. H. W. Gillett also has recently emphasized the need for further research on wrought iron.1

Jan 1, 1932

By David V. Ragone, Richard E. Balzhiser

The liquidus uranium concentration in the U-Bi system is given by the following expression for the temperature range 400° to 800°C: No break was observed in the curve over this temperature range. The partial molar enthalpy change for uranium in the liquidus reaction, UBi2— U + 2Bi, was found to equal 12,300 cal per g mole. Copper produced a continuous decrease in the liguihs uranium concentration at 600°C. The presence of copper in the solvent was observed to affect the uranium activity coefficient according to the following expression: duced no change in the liquidus combosition below 0.6 at. pct Pd. Higher palladium concentrations sharply depressed the uranium concentration. SOLUTE behavior in molten alloys has been shown to be strongly influenced by the presence of additional species. Much attention has been given to such phenomena in iron-base systems where a number of alloying elements and/or impurities are likely to be present in small but significant quantities. Frequently, the interaction of these solutes has altered their thermodynamic behavior to the extent that reaction equilibra are appreciably influenced. Consequently, much of the information available for binary behavior must be reevaluated when additional components are likely to be present. Similar interactions can be expected to occur in bismuth-base solvents. Interest in the use of bismuth solutions of uranium as reactor fuels has stimulated investigators to explore the effect of various elements on the liquidus uranium concentration. Criticality requirements necessitate close control of the uranium concentration which, at the anticipated operating temperature of 500°C, approaches saturation. Consequently, elements which suppress the liquidus concentration could produce serious reactivity problems. Since the fuel solution is cer- tain to contain additives, such as magnesium and zirconium, for corrosion inhibition as well as small concentrations of fission products and corrosion products, a better understanding of the possible interaction phenomena is mandatory. This need stimulated experimental programs at the Brookhaven National Laboratory and elsewhere to determine precisely the liquidus uranium concentration in the bismuth-rich portion of several ternary systems. Early experimental efforts were directed toward an accurate dcmtermination of the U-Bi liquidus over the temperature range from 300' to 800°c. As shown in Fig. 1, the results to date exhibit considerable scatter. The investigations of Bareis,' Teitel,2 Greenwood,3 and Cotterill and hon4 agreed well below 700°c. Greenwood and Teitel extended their studies to higher temperatures but failed to concur in their results. A more recent study by Schweitzer and weekss at Brookhaven National Laboratory between 300' and 725°c, produced values 15 pct lower

Jan 1, 1962

I BELIEVE that my work would surely be host a seed without fit and that I would fail in that cause which disposed me to satisfy your request to write and form this work [75] if while laboring on it I did not tell you of the art of casting, since it is a necessary means to very many ends. I realize even more that I must tell as much as seems necessary since I have already demonstrated the methods of recognizing the natures and locations of the metals, of smelting and reducing them to their ultimate perfection, and finally have taught you to make their associations and alloys. It is especially necessary since this art and work is not well known, so that no one can practice it who is not, so to speak, born to it, or who does not have much talent and good judgment. For this reason and also because it is closely related to sculpture, whose arms are the support of its life, it is very highly esteemed. In order to describe the whole art in every part, I say that the greatest labors of both mind and body are required for its operations in the beginning, middle, and end. It is indeed true that these labors are endured with pleasure because they are associated with a certain expectation of novelty, produced by the greatness of art and awaited with desire, particularly since the artificer sees that it is an art pleasing and delightful even to ignorant men. As a result, as if ensnared, he is often unable to leave the place of work. To conclude: The outcome of this art is dependent upon and subject to many operations which, if they are not all carried out with great care and diligence and well observed throughout, convert the whole into nothing, and the result becomes like its name [cast away]. Therefore, having considered this work many times, with its extraordinary obstacles and the bodily labors heavy as a stevedore's, instead of exalting it with praise, I wish to say that it is such that a man of noble birth, even though he be gifted or be drawn to it by pleasure, should not practice it and could not unless he is accustomed to the sweat and many discomforts which it brings. He must suffer the great natural heats of summer as well as those excessive and continuous ones from the enormous

Jan 1, 1942

By J. S. Brown, A. G. Guy

With the exception of the work of Tammann and Hartmann,1 no published information has been found on the structural changes produced in eutectic structures as the result of heating following plastic deformation. In part this lack of information may be due to the fact that many eutectic structures contain an intermetallic compound as a prominent phase, and as a consequence have been considered to be unworkable. For example, Tammann and Hartmann were able to obtain useful data only on those alloys that they could greatly reduce in thickness by cold rolling. This restriction placed on the investigation of alloys containing intermetallic compounds has been largely removed by the work of Savitskii2 which showed that large deformations of such alloys can be produced by relatively slow compression at temperatures near the melting range. It was possible, therefore, to carry out the present work on a range of binary eutectics including one composed of two intermetallic compounds. The essential results obtained on the alloy systems studied are illustrated by the Pb-Mg eutectic containing 33.2 pct Mg, Fig 1. The cast structure, Fig la, was obtained by melting together magnesium of 99.8 pct purity and chemically pure test lead, casting into a heated, small steel mold, and furnace cooling in the mold from about the eutectic temperature. The fairly coarse eutectic structure thus obtained was too brittle to work at room temperature without cracking. Fig 16 shows the worked structure obtained by compressing a 1/2-in. cube 70 pct in about 15 sec at 550°F and then water quenching. The pronounced changes in the distribution of the two phases produced by heating the worked alloy at 850°F for 1 hr are shown in Fig lc. Recrystallization of both phases appears to have taken place, and the mechanical properties of the cast alloy must have been significantly changed by the working and heat treatment. Similar results were obtained with the Mg-59.5 pet Bi, Mg-36.4 pet Sn, Mg-65.4 pet Cu, and Bi-40 pet Cd eutectics, only the last of which could be worked at room temperature. Tammann and Hartmann reported a thickening and shortening of the needles of the eutectics which they heated about 10°C below the melting range for 1 hr after drastic cold rolling. They found the following eutectics, given the indicated amounts of reduc- tion, to have a granular structure after heat treatment: Sn-9 pet Zn (98 pet); Cd-82.5 pet Pb (60 pet); and Bi-43.5 pet Pb (90 pet). On the other hand the alloy Al-11.7 pet Si (60 pet) showed no change after heating. Tammann and Hartmann observed a distinct shrinking of the needles in unworked eutectics subjected to heat-treatment. In the present work inappreciable change in the eutectic structure was found on heating undeformed alloys. In summary, it appears that eutectic structures can be recrystallized into a "spheroidized" condition by heating near the eutectic temperature after severe deformation. If the eutectic contains one or more brittle phases the necessary deformation can be accomplished by pressing at high temperatures. It is reasonable to expect that this tendency towards equiaxed grains from the plate- or needle-like eutectic structure should be general since the energy relations and mode of growth in recrystallization are so different from those that hold for eutectic crystallization. References 1. G. Tammann and H. Hartmann: Ztsch. Melallkunde (1937) 29, 141-144. 2. E. M. Savitskii: Doklady Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. (1940) 62, 349-351. Abstr. in Melal Prog. (July, 1949) 56, 126, 128.

Jan 1, 1950

By Claudio Barsotti, Leonard C. Kitchener

INTRODUCTION The major mining operations of the Ontario Division of Inco Metals Company are located in the Sudbury Basin. Around the rim of this geo- logical formation and within thirty miles of the City of Sudbury are located eleven under- ground mines of the Company, two of which are on standby. In addition, there is one mine in Northwestern Ontario at Shebandowan, 1127 Km (700 miles) northwest of Sudbury. In 1980 ore production totalled 10.6 x 10 mt (11.7 million tons) from underground and open pit operations. Underground mining methods include blasthole, vertical retreat, sublevel caving, cut-and-fill and undercut-and-fill. Inco reduction operations in the Sudbury area include two concentrators, one smelter, one iron ore recovery plant, a copper refinery a nickel refinery and a high purity plate rolling mill. As well, an electrolytic nickel refinery is located on Lake Erie at Port Colborne, near Niagara Falls. In the Sudbury District, Inco employees total 14,278 of whom 6,490 are directly employed in the mining and milling operations. I T H DRILLING Background - The use of long blastholes in underground operations at Inco mines in the Sudbury district started more than 30 years ago at the Levack Mine. At that time, diamond drills were used to mine ore by open stoping and for pillar recovery. By the 1950's the concept had been extended to all mines. The heavy percussion drill was also developed by this time and led to the acceptance of the 11.43 cm (4% in.) piston diameter drifter for bar and arm and fan drill applications. The use however, of the nominal 5.08 cm (2 in.) diameter blastholes drilled radially from the level or sublevel causes overdrilling at the periphery. As well, the smaller holes are subject to hole deviation, are difficult to drill beyond 38.1 m (125 ft.) and require the need for several drilling horizons or sublevels. The need to improve blasthole stoping techniques and our experience with large diameter blastholes in open pit mining led to the trial of an I T H drill in 1962. The test was unsuccessful however, since button bits were not available at the time and the tungsten carbide cross bit experienced short life, gauge loss, and caused hole deviation and poor penetration rates. The successful application of the raise borer beginning in 1964 and the ability to drill 20.32 cm (8 in.) to 27.94 cm (11 in.) diameter pilot holes led to the development of smaller, more portable, rotary drills for blasthole mining. As a result, a mining method based on the use of 20 cm (7 718 in.) diameter, 60.1 m (200 ft.) long rotary blastholes was developed and tested successfully at our C.C.North Mine. Between 1972, when the method was first tested, and 1973 over 4572 m (15000 ft.) of large holes were drilled with rotary drills in the recovery of 175,960 mt (194000 tons) of primary stoping and pillar remnants. A new mining method was developed that made use of this large hole drilling equipment. Instead of longhole carbide drilling by bar-and-arm or fan drill set-ups at sublevels, the large diameter holes were drilled full stope height from the top sill, which substantially reduced development, drilling time and improved fragmentation. These drills however, were difficult to move and set-up, and had a high maintenance cost and low productivity. The capital outlay and extensive technical development required to improve these drills and reduce the high drilling costs however, was economically unattractive. New development in drills and button bits INTRODUCTION The major mining operations of the Ontario Division of Inco Metals Company are located in the Sudbury Basin. Around the rim of this geo- logical formation and within thirty miles of the City of Sudbury are located eleven under- ground mines of the Company, two of which are on standby. In addition, there is one mine in Northwestern Ontario at Shebandowan, 1127 Km (700 miles) northwest of Sudbury. In 1980 ore production totalled 10.6 x 10 mt (11.7 million tons) from underground and open pit operations. Underground mining methods include blasthole, vertical retreat, sublevel caving, cut-and-fill and undercut-and-fill. Inco reduction operations in the Sudbury area include two concentrators, one smelter, one iron ore recovery plant, a copper refinery a nickel refinery and a high purity plate rolling mill. As well, an electrolytic nickel refinery is located on Lake Erie at Port Colborne, near Niagara Falls. In the Sudbury District, Inco employees total 14,278 of whom 6,490 are directly employed in the mining and milling operations. I T H DRILLING Background - The use of long blastholes in underground operations at Inco mines in the Sudbury district started more than 30 years ago at the Levack Mine. At that time, diamond drills were used to mine ore by open stoping and for pillar recovery. By the 1950's the concept had been extended to all mines. The heavy percussion drill was also developed by this time and led to the acceptance of the 11.43 cm (4% in.) piston diameter drifter for bar and arm and fan drill applications. The use however, of the nominal 5.08 cm (2 in.) diameter blastholes drilled radially from the level or sublevel causes overdrilling at the periphery. As well, the smaller holes are subject to hole deviation, are difficult to drill beyond 38.1 m (125 ft.) and require the need for several drilling horizons or sublevels. The need to improve blasthole stoping techniques and our experience with large diameter blastholes in open pit mining led to the trial of an I T H drill in 1962. The test was unsuccessful however, since button bits were not available at the time and the tungsten carbide cross bit experienced short life, gauge loss, and caused hole deviation and poor penetration rates. The successful application of the raise borer beginning in 1964 and the ability to drill 20.32 cm (8 in.) to 27.94 cm (11 in.) diameter pilot holes led to the development of smaller, more portable, rotary drills for blasthole mining. As a result, a mining method based on the use of 20 cm (7 718 in.) diameter, 60.1 m (200 ft.) long rotary blastholes was developed and tested successfully at our C.C.North Mine. Between 1972, when the method was first tested, and 1973 over 4572 m (15000 ft.) of large holes were drilled with rotary drills in the recovery of 175,960 mt (194000 tons) of primary stoping and pillar remnants. A new mining method was developed that made use of this large hole drilling equipment. Instead of longhole carbide drilling by bar-and-arm or fan drill set-ups at sublevels, the large diameter holes were drilled full stope height from the top sill, which substantially reduced development, drilling time and improved fragmentation. These drills however, were difficult to move and set-up, and had a high maintenance cost and low productivity. The capital outlay and extensive technical development required to improve these drills and reduce the high drilling costs however, was economically unattractive. New development in drills and button bits

Jan 1, 1981