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By F. M. Lewis, J. F. Meyers

This second progress report of grinding presents comments regarding ball consumption and data pertaining to the hydroscillator, which is closed circuited with the tricone mill. A study and postulate of how balls function is presented. The paper summarizes cost reduction obtained by the method of "grinding for the tail race" rather than for "mesh tons." AT the Regional meeting in Columbus, Ohio, in September 1949, the authors presented a progress report of the first year's operation with a Hardinge tricone mill in closed circuit with a Dorr hydroscillator. The present report covers our findings on this grinding circuit to January, 1950. In order to clarify our position, the authors wish to state that no invention or discovery is claimed. The Tennessee grinding circuit is simply an engineered arrangement of known equipment arranged to incorporate all of the recognized efficiency factors of comminution as they are known today. As we concluded our first report, it was not clear how effective the Tennessee mode of operation would be on harder ores. The only information we had at that time was that the Bond grindability test at 48-mesh gave 6.04 g of undersize per revolution. A later test on the same sample at 100-mesh reduced this to 2.04 g, which is definitely in the harder ore class, and which makes the reported 8.80 kw-hr per ton of —200-mesh produced a very creditable figure. Hydroscillator Operation The machine as now developed has proved dependable and easy to operate. It starts easily under full load and responds quickly to operating adjustments. The hydraulic holes in the oscillating plate do not plug when shut down under full load. Absolutely clean hydraulic water is essential. An Elliott water screen or similar device should be an essential part of the machine to keep all scale and trash of all kinds from the hydraulic compartment. The shift operators have expressed approval of the machine. In table I we show a typical screen analysis of the hydroscillator rake sand as compared to conventional classifier rake sand on our ore. We have previously reported that of the 28.7 pct reduction in power, the hydroscillator contributed 6 pct, on a —200-mesh basis. This is a conservative figure. Some of our test runs indicated that the saving was as high as 10 pct. Laboratory studies by the Dorr Co. engineers indicate that still greater efficiency is possible. Nevertheless, the 10-ft plate is overflowing 2100 tons per day at 3 to 4 pct + 65-mesh, which is a very creditable performance by

Jan 1, 1951

By Kenneth C. Vincent, A. M. Gaudin

In a study1 of the action of amyl xan-thate on chalcocite in water suspension, it was found that if the xanthate is added in relatively large quantity the xanthate group can be accounted for in three forms: (1) as xanthate ion remaining in water, (2) as benzene-soluble cuprous xanthate on the chalcocite, (3) as a benzene-insoluble coating on the chalcocite. Reduction in the amount of xanthate added leads to disappearance of form I then of form 2. With minute quantities of added xanthate, substantially all the reagent is of the "unleachable" kind. Yet this unleach-able xanthate can be dissolved by pyridine to form a soluble cuprous xanthate complex, and it is sufficient in effectiveness to make chalcocite flotable even if insufficient in quantity to form a complete mono-molecular film on the mineral. In that study it was also found that chalcocite abstracts cuprous xanthate from benzene so1ution, in what may (or may not) be a case of molecular adsorption. It seemed desirable, therefore, to study further the "unleachable" xanthate on the chalcocite, and particularly to ascertain whether it is formed as a result of the benzene leach or is actually formed during the conditioning of chalcocite in aqueous xanthate solution. A 'splendid tool to make such studies has recently been perfected; that is, the use of radioactive spies or tracer atoms. With this tool, it was thought possible to answer the problem stated above, but, unfortunately, this did not prove to be true. Answer to the flotation question was clouded by the existence of rapid and selective diffusion of copper atoms in the solid mineral—a phenomenon that was totally unexpected yet remains interesting and perhaps important. Method of Radioactive Spies The method of radioactive spies is discussed in many places. Two convenient references are the article by Evans2 and the book by pollard and Davidson.3 The method was first developed by van Hevesy and paneth in 1013, when only natural radioactive isotopes were available. These isotopes are few in number, and so the method remained limited in scope. Recently the synthesis of over 350 active isotopes of all the known stable chemical elements4 has opened widely expanded possibilities for the method, A fundamental tenet of the method is that a radioactive atom and a nonradio-active atom are exactly alike until disintegration of the radioactive atom. Then, by its sudden death, the spy reveals its location. The relative abundance of spies at various locations makes it possible to ascertain the relative abundance of the corresponding nonradioactive atoms at the same times and locations. A second fundamental tenet of the method of radioactive tracers is that the radioactivity lies in the nucleus of the atom: transfer of radioactivity from one

Jan 1, 1947

By Kenneth C. Vincent, A. M. Gaudin

In a study1 of the action of amyl xan-thate on chalcocite in water suspension, it was found that if the xanthate is added in relatively large quantity the xanthate group can be accounted for in three forms: (1) as xanthate ion remaining in water, (2) as benzene-soluble cuprous xanthate on the chalcocite, (3) as a benzene-insoluble coating on the chalcocite. Reduction in the amount of xanthate added leads to disappearance of form I then of form 2. With minute quantities of added xanthate, substantially all the reagent is of the "unleachable" kind. Yet this unleach-able xanthate can be dissolved by pyridine to form a soluble cuprous xanthate complex, and it is sufficient in effectiveness to make chalcocite flotable even if insufficient in quantity to form a complete mono-molecular film on the mineral. In that study it was also found that chalcocite abstracts cuprous xanthate from benzene so1ution, in what may (or may not) be a case of molecular adsorption. It seemed desirable, therefore, to study further the "unleachable" xanthate on the chalcocite, and particularly to ascertain whether it is formed as a result of the benzene leach or is actually formed during the conditioning of chalcocite in aqueous xanthate solution. A 'splendid tool to make such studies has recently been perfected; that is, the use of radioactive spies or tracer atoms. With this tool, it was thought possible to answer the problem stated above, but, unfortunately, this did not prove to be true. Answer to the flotation question was clouded by the existence of rapid and selective diffusion of copper atoms in the solid mineral—a phenomenon that was totally unexpected yet remains interesting and perhaps important. Method of Radioactive Spies The method of radioactive spies is discussed in many places. Two convenient references are the article by Evans2 and the book by pollard and Davidson.3 The method was first developed by van Hevesy and paneth in 1013, when only natural radioactive isotopes were available. These isotopes are few in number, and so the method remained limited in scope. Recently the synthesis of over 350 active isotopes of all the known stable chemical elements4 has opened widely expanded possibilities for the method, A fundamental tenet of the method is that a radioactive atom and a nonradio-active atom are exactly alike until disintegration of the radioactive atom. Then, by its sudden death, the spy reveals its location. The relative abundance of spies at various locations makes it possible to ascertain the relative abundance of the corresponding nonradioactive atoms at the same times and locations. A second fundamental tenet of the method of radioactive tracers is that the radioactivity lies in the nucleus of the atom: transfer of radioactivity from one

Jan 1, 1947

By A. Tobey Yu

The recent adverse economic climate has added further impetus to the demand for better-grade and lower-cost raw materials, for which increasingly larger quantities of muck are being moved and processed at higher unit labor costs. As a result, the cost impact of handling and shipping has never been as keenly felt by the mining industry as it is today. Thanks to joint innovative efforts by users and manufacturers, new and improved automated bulk-handling systems and devices are now blossoming everywhere to give the mining man the tools he needs to move ore, waste and concentrates more efficiently and economically.

Jan 1, 1970

By Basil Prescott

A thorough knowledge of the peculiarities of this type of orebody is necessary in sampling these limestone replacement deposits. Oxidized ores are often overestimated because of error in determining specific gravity and actual cross-section of the orebody, and sulfide ores are often underestimated because it is difficult to scatter the samples so that they will accurately represent the area under consideration. This paper describes various methods of sampling and cites factors that enter into the estimation of these deposits. IN THE science of evolution of the species, there is a law which, simply stated, avers that the history of the individual repeats the history of the race. Similarly, if unassisted by the experience of others, each successful engineer would perfect and develop his methods and technique from the rough grab sample up to the carefully taken, recorded and studied samples and observations which now determine and decide the expenditure of the large sums required for modern mining. Hence real progress results from the interchange of experience, as in that way the entire experience of the profession can be made available to every engineer. The literature of this subject is already voluminous, but some progress has been made in the gathering of data and in their compilation or presentation.

Jan 3, 1924

By H. A. Doerner

PROPOSALS to use hydrocarbon or natural gases for the reduction of zinc from oxide materials may be traced back through Patent Office files to the early years of the present century. Natural gas at rates cheap enough to compete with solid fuels has been available at or near one major zinc district for more than a decade. That the seemingly meritorious and economically interesting applications of these proposals have not devel-oped into workable processes for direct production of zinc by natural gas cannot be completely ascribed to the proverbial conservatism of the zinc industry. It is possible to produce spelter commercially in normal times from zinc oxide and carbonaceous reducing agents without having a very precise understanding of the chemistry of the process. The reduc-tion by hydrocarbons is not, however, in this class, and the technical complexity of this reduction metallurgy and chemistry prohibits solution of the inherent difficulties by the "hit and miss" methods that are some-times thought to be practical. In a thermodynamic study of the chemistry of zinc smelting, Maier1 made a preliminary study of the chemistry of the use of methane for reducing zinc oxide by thermodynamic means, pointing out that the following reactions, the limits of which could be theoretically predicted, were important: ZnO + CH4 = Zn(gas) + CO + 2H2 [1] CH4 = C -I- 2H2 [2] ZnO + CO = Zn(gas) + CO2 [3] ZnO + H2 = Zn(gas) + H2O [4] Other possible reactions, not discussed in the reference quoted, are: CO2 + CH4 = 2CO + 2H2 [5] H2O + CH4 = CO + 3H2 [6]

Jan 1, 1933

By John H. Hollomon

The interpretation of notched-bar impact results has been a matter of controversy since the introduction of more or less standard tests by Fremont,' Charpy2 and others at the turn of the century. Many investigators3-l1 have contributed to the understanding of the significance of such tests. Several symposiums12,13 have been held with the express purpose of discussing the significance and interpretation of the impact tests. It is not the purpose of this paper to review all these contributions to the development of the knowledge on this subject, but rather to present an interpretation of notched-bar impact tests that appears to be in agreement with the available published data. Fundamentally, the interpretation discussed in this paper of the brittle failure of some steels in notched-bar impact test is similar to the qualitative analysis presented by Ludwik3 in the I92o's. Essentially, Ludwik stated that the function of the notch was to increase the tensile stress necessary for yielding, and that brittle failure occurred when the stress necessary for yielding exceeded the normal stress required for fracture (with no plastic deformation). Ludwik, however, had no means of measuring this normal stress necessary for failure of a plastically* undeformed metal, therefore he could not extend his interpretation beyond the qualitative stage. Kuntze14 and recently Mc-Adam15 attempted to determine the effect of deformation on the stress necessary for fracture by testing, in tension, specimens notched to various depths and angles. Because of the uncertainties in Kuntze's (and McAdam's) analysis of the stresses (which have been pointed out by Sachs16) and the inherent nonuniformity in the stress distribution in notched bars, the results of such investigations are difficult to interpret. A more direct method of measuring the effect of deformation on the fracture stress was suggested in previous papers"-18 and has been utilized in the present investigation. The present paper concerns itself primarily with the behavior of notched impact specimens. The effects of strain rate, temperature, and stress distribution, which are discussed with reference to the impact specimen, apply just as well to the behavior of metal at the bases of notches in any engineering structure. All that is necessary is to determine the stress distribution in the structure at the base of the notches.

Jan 1, 1944

By John H. Hollomon

The interpretation of notched-bar impact results has been a matter of controversy since the introduction of more or less standard tests by Fremont,' Charpy2 and others at the turn of the century. Many investigators3-l1 have contributed to the understanding of the significance of such tests. Several symposiums12,13 have been held with the express purpose of discussing the significance and interpretation of the impact tests. It is not the purpose of this paper to review all these contributions to the development of the knowledge on this subject, but rather to present an interpretation of notched-bar impact tests that appears to be in agreement with the available published data. Fundamentally, the interpretation discussed in this paper of the brittle failure of some steels in notched-bar impact test is similar to the qualitative analysis presented by Ludwik3 in the I92o's. Essentially, Ludwik stated that the function of the notch was to increase the tensile stress necessary for yielding, and that brittle failure occurred when the stress necessary for yielding exceeded the normal stress required for fracture (with no plastic deformation). Ludwik, however, had no means of measuring this normal stress necessary for failure of a plastically* undeformed metal, therefore he could not extend his interpretation beyond the qualitative stage. Kuntze14 and recently Mc-Adam15 attempted to determine the effect of deformation on the stress necessary for fracture by testing, in tension, specimens notched to various depths and angles. Because of the uncertainties in Kuntze's (and McAdam's) analysis of the stresses (which have been pointed out by Sachs16) and the inherent nonuniformity in the stress distribution in notched bars, the results of such investigations are difficult to interpret. A more direct method of measuring the effect of deformation on the fracture stress was suggested in previous papers"-18 and has been utilized in the present investigation. The present paper concerns itself primarily with the behavior of notched impact specimens. The effects of strain rate, temperature, and stress distribution, which are discussed with reference to the impact specimen, apply just as well to the behavior of metal at the bases of notches in any engineering structure. All that is necessary is to determine the stress distribution in the structure at the base of the notches.

Jan 1, 1944

By Henry M. Howe

THE death of Sir Lowthian Bell removes almost the last of the group of heroic leaders who made their age and ours the Age of Steel-a group which his luster and the luster of his peers, Bessemer, Siemens and Tunner, made one of the most brilliant, perhaps even the most brilliant, in the annals of industry. Born on February 15th, 1816, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, he was the eldest son of Thomas Bell, an alderman of Newcastle, and of his wife Catherine Lowthian of Newbiggin, near Carlisle, in Cumberland, and was christened Isaac Lowthian, the name of his maternal grandfather. His father was born about 1788, and came in 1808 from Newbiggin to Newcastle, where he entered the office of the Cumbrian firm of Losh and Company, manufacturers of alkali and wrought-iron, at the Walker Iron and Alkali Works, at Walker, Dear Newcastle. Young Isaac Lowthian Bell was educated at Dr. Bruce's school in Newcastle, whence he went to Germany and Denmark, learning there German and Danish. On his return he studied at Edinburgh University, and then at the Sorboune in Paris. As a student he already showed the remarkable character and application which later gained him such distinction. After studying the manufacture of alkali near Marseilles, he returned, and when about twenty years old (A.D. 1836) was employed in his father's firm, then called Losh, Wilson, and Bell. After spending a year in their Newcastle offices, and after visiting the important iron-making districts of France, Germany, Poland, and Austria, he took charge of their rolling-mills at Walker, and profited so well by his opportunities, and especially by the teachings of his father and of Mr. John Vaughan (later one of the founders of the great firm of Bolckow, Vaughan & Co.), that he was made manager of the Walker works in or about

Sep 1, 1905

By J. W. Hickman

Most of the electron diffraction studies of oxide films which form on metals and alloys have been carried out by oxidizing the specimens in an auxiliary furnace, cooling down to room temperature and then inserting the sample in the camera and taking a diffraction photograph. Prior to the investigations at the Westinghouse Research Laboratories, no systematic study of the oxidation of any metal or alloy had been made over a wide temperature range with photographs taken at elevated temperatures except the investigation of iron by Jackson and Quarrell.' In order to interpret the electron diffraction patterns of the oxides which may form on alloys, it seemed advisable to make a comprehensive study of the oxidation of the purest metals available in the bulk form. Thus far studies have been completed on iron,2 cobalt,~ nickel,= chromium,= copper,z tungsten,s molybdenum,3 beryllium,' uranium,' thorium,' titanium6 and zirconium6 while investigations are in progress on tantalum and columbium. The next step in the study is concerned with the investigation of the oxides which form on binary alloys. Some of the alloys consist of a single phase while others contain more than one phase. The identification of the oxides on the surface of a binary alloy may be more difficult than on the metals since oxides containing both metals as well as those of each metal separately may form. Furthermore, it is possible that solid solutions of the various oxides may occur. In these cases the electron diffraction method may not be able to identify the oxidation products unequivocally. Examples of solid solutions which may present difficulties are MOO* and WOp, Fe304 and FeO.CrnOa since the diffraction patterns are so similar. Since electron diffraction can determine only the structure of the oxide, the chemical composition must be inferred from the diffraction data based upon X ray diffraction investigations of specimens of known composition. It is possible in some cases to decide whether a given solid phase reaction can occur on the surface of an alloy by a study of available thermodynamic data. Table I lists the equations for the formation of most of the oxides from the elements together with values of loglo Kg for the several temperatures. AF"B = -RT In KR AF°R and KR are the free energy and equilibrium constant of the reaction. Calculations may be made using the the given in I 1 to determine whether a given solid phase reaction is possible thermodynamically. For example, a solid phase reaction should occur between aluminum and chromium oxide to form

Jan 1, 1949

By Robert S. Moehlman

Is recent years, exploration and development by diamond drilling has become a popular attack on the problem of finding new ore shoots and developing extensions of known shoots. Diamond drilling has been used in recent years in extensive sampling of disseminated copper deposits, in preference to churn drilling. At the Harvard gold mine, near Jamestown, California, Philip R. Bradley, Jr., general superintendent, reports that: "The Harvard work was a singular example of the reliance that can be placed on diamond drilling in evaluating an ore body." Drilling at the Harvard mine will be discussed in a subsequent section of the paper. So popular has diamond drilling become, indeed, that many who have had slight experience with drilling are inclined to regard it as a cheap cure-all. This paper proposes to show some of the limitations on the application of drilling and some of the steps that should be followed in drilling programs to obtain reliable results. Cost oF Drilling Drilling has the advantage, over shaft sinking and drifting, of lower cost and greater speed. As compared with churn drilling, the advantage of bringing up a coherent sample instead of fine cuttings for a sample is obvious. Diamond drilling is generally more expensive, however, and more engineering effort is required in combining the average of core and sludge samples. Exploration of drift walls by hammer drills to a depth of less than 30 ft. is generally cheaper than diamond drilling, but beyond this depth the diamond drill is cheaper and more efficient. The principal factor in determining cost of drilling is the character of the ground drilled. Broken ground with many fissures is most expensive to drill. Hard ground is less of a problem with diamond drills than with ordinary machine drills. Hardness or softness affects only the speed of drilling. Caving, easily washed, sandy or clayey ground requires continual cementing and casing, which is the greatest cost problem. Thus, soft, incompetent ground is more costly to drill than hard, massive ground. Cost of drilling per foot in good to fair ground varies from less than $I per foot, achieved in some districts in Ontario, the Mother Lode, and Missouri, to $5 per foot in many western states. In bad drilling ground, costs may range from $5 to $15 or more per foot, thus approaching the cost of drifting. Other factors that increase the cost per foot are: I. Short total length of hole drilled, so that the cost of moving in crews and equipment must be spread over a relatively few feet. 2. Cost of drilling per foot increases with depth beyond about 500 ft.. as more time is consumed in pulling rods' 3. Cost of preparing drilling stations, getting air underground to stations? etc' 4. Inaccessibility and lack of water on the job make for higher costs.

Jan 1, 1946

By Robert H. Weber

Increasing acceptance of perlite products, chiefly in the fields of lightweight structural aggregates and thermal and acoustic insulation, has led to expanding market demands that have encouraged many new producers to enter the field. In some instances, however, the failure of these producers to anticipate the variable response of perlite to conventional processing methods has led to difficulty in establishing an economical flowsheet by which a predictable specification product could be obtained. It is not the writer's intent to provide a solution to these problems, but rather to summarize their nature. It is to be hoped that members of the industry who have hurdled some of these obstacles will document solutions arising from their experience.

Jan 2, 1955

By Karl Fetters

IN the process of making steel in the open-hearth furnace the refining of the metal during the working period of the heat is largely accomplished through the agency of the slag. From the birth of the process until the present day steelmakers have recognized the importance of the slag in determining the composition of the metal and the quality of the product. The general relationships between slag composition and metal analysis have long been known, at least in a qualitative or approximate fashion. For examples, the iron oxide content of the slag is higher on lower carbon heats; the more basic slags are higher in iron oxide for a given carbon content; certain amounts of iron oxide and lime are required for phos-phorus removal and a high lime-silica ratio is needed if the sulphur content of the metal is to be diminished. In recent years a number of quantita-tive relationships involving these and other variables have been developed through plant and laboratory studies by numerous investigators in this country and abroad. The direct comparison of laboratory and open-hearth data involves the question of the degree to which each approaches the conditions of chemical equilibrium, a question which, from the open-hearth standpoint, we are scarcely yet in position to answer. And, although a considerable body of dependable equilibrium data has been obtained in the laboratory, this work has not yet been extended to cover the ranges of slag composi-tion encountered in basic open-hearth practice. In the present study we shall not attempt to draw comparisons between data from the two sources; nor do we attempt to draw conclusions as to the approach to chemical equilibrium in the open-hearth furnace. Many of the operating variables that are likely to be erratic or unrecorded during the earlier stages of the heat become more consistent and are more readily subject to observation and control during later stages. For example, undigested lime or ore gradually goes into solution, the rate of carbon drop levels off, and the temperature of the metal is brought under control. For these and other reasons a greater degree of self-consistency is likely to be found among data obtained during the

Jan 1, 1940

By J. R. Finlay

The Cæur d'Alene silver-lead mining district of northern Idaho is probably best known to the general public as a seat of labor-troubles. So far as the writer is aware, little has been written and little is known about its geology and resources. People interested in lead-smelting are, of course, cognizant of the economic importance of the region, but they have not communicated much of their knowledge to the public. Exact figures as to the total output of the district are not obtainable, but the following estimates, covering the entire output of the 15 years during which the mines have been operated, are believed to be approximately correct: Group of Mines. Product. Wardner Group, including the Bunker Hill and Sul livan, Empire State-Idaho, Last Chance, Sierra Nevada, bur d'Alene Development Co... . $17,500,000 Cafion Creek Group, including the Gem, Frisco Con solidated, Granite, Standard, Mammoth, Hecla, Tiger-Poorman, Custer and Bell,.... 35,000,000 Mullan Group, including the Morning, You Like and Gold Hunter,........7,500,000 $60,000,000 This output covers the period of discovery and early struggles, and several periods of stagnation caused by strikes and other serious labor-troubles. In 1900 the output of the district was fully $10,000,000, and this figure would have been considerably increased in 1901 had not a curtailment of production been forced by the condition of the lead-market. In 1901 the product was about 150,000 tons of concentrates, with a gross. value of $8,250,000.

Jan 1, 1903

By J. E. Dutrizac, R. J. C. MacDonald, T. R. lngraham

When sintered disks of synthetic chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) were leached in acidified aqueous solutions of ferric sulfate, the following reaction stoichiometry was obtained: CuFeS2 + 2Fe2(SO4)3 = CuSO4 + 5FeSO4 + 2S Over the temperature range from 50º to 94ºC, the reaction displayed parabolic kinetics. The parabolic rate constant for the dissolution of copper is given by the equation: log.k(mg2/cm4-hr)= 11.850 - 3780/T The activation energy for the dissolution process is 17 ± 3 kcal per mole. The parabolic kinetics have been attributed to the progressive thickening of a sulfur film on the surface of the chalcopyrite. When the leaching solutions contain less than 0.01 molar Fe+3 , the Fe concentration influences the rate of leaching, probably through a mechanism involving the diffusion of ferric sulfate through the sulfur layer. At higher Fe+3 concentrations, the rate control in the leaching. reaction has been attributed to the diffusion of ferrous sulfate through the sulfur. The rate of reaction is insensitive to changes in acid concentration and in disk rotation speed. ThE reaction of acidic ferric sulfate solutions with various sulfide minerals is of practical interest for both bacterial and heap leaching. This leaching medium is generally used with low-grade ores that cannot be treated profitably by conventional means. In both bacterial leaching1-3 and heap leaching, the active agent for sulfide dissolution is ferric sulfate. Although the reactions of ferric sulfate with chalcocite, covellite, and bornite have been investigated,4*7 the kinetics of leaching chalcopyrite with ferric sulfate have not been thoroughly studied. This paper reports a study of that reaction. EXPERIMENTAL Reagent-grade sulfur was purified by the method of Bacon and FanelliB and then it was vacuum-distilled to remove any soluble magnesium salts that had been introduced during the purification procedure.9 From stoichiometric quantities of the purified sulfur and hydrogen-reduced electrolytic copper sheet (99.90 pct Cu), CuS was synthesized at 450°C in a vacuum-sealed, pyrex vessel. About 24 hr was required for the completion of the reaction. A similar procedure involving hydrogen-reduced iron wire (99.90 pct Fe) was used to synthesize FeS1.002. A 2-furnace arrangement was required. The iron was heated to 800°C while the sulfur was maintained at about 400°C. Although the reaction to consume the sulfur was rapid, the material required additional heating (1 week) in a sealed silica ampoule at 800°C before it was homogenized. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirmed that the copper sulfide was covellite and that the iron sulfide was troilite. The composition of the iron mineral was confirmed by wet chemical analysis. The two sulfides were ground to minus 100 mesh, weighed in equimolar amounts, mixed thoroughly, and pressed into pellets at 80,000 psi. The pellets were vacuum-sealed in pyrex ampoules and then sintered for 3 days at 550°C after an initial heating at 450°C for a few hours. The pellets were then cooled, polished with 3/0 emery paper, rinsed in acetone, and stored. The material had the characteristic brassy color of chalcopyrite and was shown by X-ray diffraction to be CuFeS2. Microscopic examination of the polished surfaces revealed small inclusions of pyrite (approximately 0.5 vol pct) as the only impurity. The presence of small amounts of a second iron compound will not alter the amount of dissolved copper but might increase the amount of ferrous ion slightly. It was calculated that dissolution of all of the pyrite and 100 mg of Cu (a typical value) would change the expected ferrous concentration by only 4 pct. Microscopic examination of a pellet after leaching revealed that the pyrite was not preferentially solubilized; only those pyrite grains at the surface were attacked. Hence, the pyrite is unlikely to alter the rate of copper dissolution. The chalcopyrite disks were about 1.7 mm thick and 27 mm in diam. They were about 80 pct of theoretical density, and for this reason their true reaction area was somewhat larger than the 5.8 sq cm area presented by the polished face. The disks were cemented to lucite cylinders in such a way that only the polished face was exposed. The disks were then leached by methods previously described.6,7 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Stoichiometry and Kinetics. The initial experiments were directed to the problem of resolving the stoichiometry of the leaching reaction. Disks of CuFeS2 were leached at 80°C for various periods of time in acidified ferric sulfate solutions that were protected from oxidation by a cover of flowing nitrogen. When the disks had been partly leached, they were removed, their soluble salts were washed out, and then they were treated with CS2 in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. The ratio of elemental sulfur to dissolved copper thus obtained was approximately 2 to 1. After the extraction of elemental sulfur from the pellet, the residue consisted of unreacted chalcopyrite only. For runs in which an appreciable amount of copper was dissolved, the ratio of ferrous ion to cupric ion in the solution was

Jan 1, 1970

By Albert J. Phillips

IT is a privilege and a pleasure to deliver this, the Twenty-sixth Annual Institute of Metals Division Lecture. Eleven years ago C. A. Edwards addressed this audience on the subject "Gases in Metals." In spite of this relatively recent presentation, I propose to, present to you some quantitative considerations of industrial significance on the separation of gases from molten metals because recent observations and measurements, presented in the literature, have made it possible to evaluate mathematically the gases or gas-forming elements and to develop an understanding of the mechanism of gas separation that should permit, in many cases, the control of this baffling phenomenon. DEFINITIONS Before becoming involved in the subject it seems desirable, for the sake of clarity, to state certain definitions and axioms: I. We are dealing only with gases that separate from the molten metal either during cooling or in the transition from liquid to solid. Gases injected by the liquid stream and trapped in the solidified metal, or those forced into the solidifying metal from the mold due to either thermal or cher4ical effects are not considered. Neither are we concerned with the separation of gases within the metal after solidification is complete for the data on this subject are at least complete enough to permit the practicing metallurgist to satisfactorily control the phenomenon. 2. Only where there is a decrease in solubility or a change in equilibrium of either a gaseous element or an element that reacts to form a gaseous compound, can there be a separation of a gaseous phase from the liquid or solidifying metal. 3. The amount of gas separating from the liquid during solidification can be computed directly from the amount of the element contained in the liquid when freezing commences less the amount of the element found in the solid either as a separate solid phase or in solid solution. 4. There can be no separation of gas bubbles unless the told pressure of the gases in the liquid meld exceeds atmospheric pressure plus the hydrostatic pressure of ' the liquid metal head. (In addition, pres- sure resulting from surface tension in- creases the total pressure requirement for initial gas separation. Probably the remarkable differences in appearance caused by different gases in the same host metal are influenced greatly by the rate of diffusion of the gas in the liquid metal balancing the decrease in pressure as the gas bubble size increases and the surface tension effect decreases. Thus hydrogen with its high diffusion rate in liquid copper separates in the form of relatively coarse cavities for a given rate of heat extraction.) 5. Gas separation can take place at less than atmospheric pressure in the voids created by the shrinkage from liquid to solid, but since the voids are not caused by the gas the presence of gas in the voids is of importance only where it

Jan 1, 1947

By C. S. Smith, E. W. Palmer

For several years an investigation has been in progress in the research laboratory of The American Brass Co. to determine the thermal and electrical conductivities of most copper alloys of commercial importance and several of scientific interest. This paper contains such data on the binary alloys of copper with silicon, aluminum, manganese and nickel, and on a large number of ternary or more complex alloys. Some interesting general relationships between the thermal and electrical conductivities for all copper alloys at all temperatures are pointed out. The data for the copper-zinc, copper-phosphorus and copper-tin binary systems have already been published1,2 † except for the electrical conductivity at 200" C., which is given in the appendix of this paper. Literature on Thermal Conductivity of Copper Alloys The papers referred to above contained a summary of the figures available in 1929 for the thermal conductivity of copper alloys. There is given in Table 1 herewith a selection of the data that have appeared since that time. The measurements of Hanson and Rogers3 are particularly interesting since they cover a series of alloys in the alpha solid solution range and show the effect of heat-treatment. Their alloys were tested as annealed castings, and are not therefore directly comparable to the worked alloys measured in the present investigation, although the difference is small. Bailey's determinations4 were carried out on the alloys used by Lees6 in 1906, and extend his results to higher temperatures. It is most unfortunate that the alloys were not analyzed, for the approximate compositions given are hardly sufficient identification of the material. It is equally to be regretted that neither Hanson and Rogers nor Bailey give data for the electrical conductivities of their samples. Sager6, using the heat-wave method of King, determined the thermal conductivity of copper, nickel and four alloys of the two metals. His results are included in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1935

By C. S. Smith, E. W. Palmer

For several years an investigation has been in progress in the research laboratory of The American Brass Co. to determine the thermal and electrical conductivities of most copper alloys of commercial importance and several of scientific interest. This paper contains such data on the binary alloys of copper with silicon, aluminum, manganese and nickel, and on a large number of ternary or more complex alloys. Some interesting general relationships between the thermal and electrical conductivities for all copper alloys at all temperatures are pointed out. The data for the copper-zinc, copper-phosphorus and copper-tin binary systems have already been published1,2 † except for the electrical conductivity at 200" C., which is given in the appendix of this paper. Literature on Thermal Conductivity of Copper Alloys The papers referred to above contained a summary of the figures available in 1929 for the thermal conductivity of copper alloys. There is given in Table 1 herewith a selection of the data that have appeared since that time. The measurements of Hanson and Rogers3 are particularly interesting since they cover a series of alloys in the alpha solid solution range and show the effect of heat-treatment. Their alloys were tested as annealed castings, and are not therefore directly comparable to the worked alloys measured in the present investigation, although the difference is small. Bailey's determinations4 were carried out on the alloys used by Lees6 in 1906, and extend his results to higher temperatures. It is most unfortunate that the alloys were not analyzed, for the approximate compositions given are hardly sufficient identification of the material. It is equally to be regretted that neither Hanson and Rogers nor Bailey give data for the electrical conductivities of their samples. Sager6, using the heat-wave method of King, determined the thermal conductivity of copper, nickel and four alloys of the two metals. His results are included in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1935

By P. G. Shewman, T. L. Wilson

Using published surface-diffusion (D,) data and published sintering equations, it is shouln that surface difusion should dominate the neck-growth stage of intering for all materials in which D, has been measured (six metals and A1as). Also, grain boundary diffusion can be expected to contribute appreciably to shrinkage and possibly to neck growth below some critical temperature of the order of 70 pct 01- the absolute melting temperatuve. In view of the widespread conclusion in previous sintering work that volume diffusion dowzinates neck gvowth, experiments were conducted using spherical copper powders to test this conclusion. Scaling studies on neck growth at 950°and 1020°C clearly demonstrated that suyface diffusion dorninates. Kinetic studies on shrinkage gave more equivocal results that indicated an increasing role of' grain boundary transport at lower temperatures. Five diarszeters from 100 to 300 u were used in the scaling sludy and a temperature range of -650' 10 950 C was covered in the shrinkage studies. All experiments were conducted in dvy hydrogen. In 1949, Kuczynski published his now classic paper on the determination of the transport mechanism in sintering from the time laws of neck growth. In the interim, these laws have been applied to many systems and slightly modified by several authors. Essentially all these authors concluded that, for crystal- line materials, the dominant transport mechanism in neck growth is volume diffusion. This stems from the observation that the neck radius increases about as t"5 and that the activation energy approximates that for lattice diffusion. A related but independent series of studies stems from Mullins' rigorous analysis of the growth of the groove formed where a grain boundary meets a free surface." xperimental work stemming from this analysis has shown that for each crystalline material studied (Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pt, Al2O3) surface diffusion was clearly the dominant transport mechanism for groove widths up to the order 10 to 20 p. The ratio of the quantity of material being carried by lattice diffusion to that carried by surface diffusion increases linearly with the groove width, so surface diffusion is dominant for all widths under 10 to 20 u. The analysis of the relative contributions of surface and volume diffusion to grain boundary grooving, and to neck growth in sintering, shows that they are quite similar. Thus, using the available surface-diffusion data and the approximate equations of Kuczynski, or the more rigorous recent equations of Nichols and Mullins, 3 it can be shown that the small necks between particles must grow almost entirely by surface diffusion. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the basis for the conclusion that the neck-growth stage of sintering proceeds by volume diffusion. Using spherical copper powders, of several different diameters, precise experimental measurements were made of both neck growth and shrinkage. Application of Herring's scaling laws to the neck-growth data clearly indicated that neck growth occurred by surface transport, even though the neck radius increased as or Using the recent analysis of Mullins and Nichols as well as published data on surface diffusion, it is shown that the observed time law, as well as actual rate of neck growth, can be satisfactorily explained by a surface-diffusion mechanism.

Jan 1, 1967

Discussion of the paper of E. G. Woodruff, presented at the Butte meeting, August, 1913, and printed in Bulletin No. 78, June, 1913, pp. 1001 to 1010. F. A. LINFORTH, Butte, Mont.:-I have not had an opportunity of reading this paper thoroughly, but I would like to call attention to the possible use of the contours on fault planes. It is obvious that if the contours of fault surfaces call be determined, we will be able to determine the axes of the hollows in the fault surface. It seems probable, and there are examples to point to the accuracy of, the assumption, that the axes of these hollows may be the direction of movements on the faults, and if that is true it will aid materially in locating faulted ore bodies or the shoots of ore on the opposite sides of faults. A few such contour maps of faults have been attempted on some of the faults of the Butte district, and those faults which are believed to have the nearly normal movement exhibit for the axes of these hollows a line nearly up and down in the plane of the fault, but in those cases where the throw is believed to bee nearly horizontal we find that the axes of the hollows are almost horizontal lines. In other words, the movements on faults, I believe, would be more nearly indicated by the larger grooves in the fault surfaces than by the small slickensides and minor hollows that are seen, so that contour maps might be valuable in geology in that way. C. W. GOODALE, Butte, Mont.:-I received a letter from Mr. Woodruff asking me to take part in the discussion of his paper, but I have not had time to give the paper any study. I can certainly add my opinion to that of all the engineers here that the topographic maps of the government are of great aid to the engineer. When I visit a new district, the first thing I do is to see if that district has been covered by the U. S. Geological Survey avid if topographic map has been issued. And I find that some of the younger engineers frequently come into my office to see if I have such maps. I know in some cases the reports made out by engineers contain copies of these topographic maps, or clippings from them. I am sure that. the topographic maps furnished by the government are of very great value to our engineers.

Jan 11, 1913