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By C. H. Cheng, C. E. Birchenall

The fundamental problem in the thermodynamics of solid solutions is the determinatiorl or calculation of the activities of the components as a function of temperature and composition. Since the theory of metals is not suficiently developed to allow a priori calculation of these quantities, they must be obtained from experiment. C. Wagner1 has reviewed the literature of this subject for the period before 1940. Although several important and extensive studies have been made in the meantime, the number of systems to which any sort of quantitative information can be assigned is vanish-ingly small. These data have become of great potential importance in studies of the structure of solid solutions2 and intermetallic compounds, the nature of the diffusion process,3,4 and perhaps even the mechanism of mechanical deformation.5 For these reasons, it. seems very worthwhile to extend the experimental data in this field. Although there is little use in duplicating Wagner's review, attention should be directed to the most recently reported investigations. A brief enumeration of the methods of measurement previously employed also should be valuable. The most direct method is the determination of the partial pressure of the components in the vapor phase in equilibrium with the solution. Both equilibrium and kinetic methods have been tried in metal systems, but almost exclusively on liquid phases. Only in the ease of carbon in iron alloys and in the copper-zinc system have extensive measure- ments been made which include solid phases. When one of the components is an element, such as nitrogen or carbon, which forms compounds which are very volatile and stable at normal temperatures and pressures (CH4, Co2, CO NH3), it is frequently possible to equilibrate mixtures containing these (such as CH4-H2, CO2-CO, NH3-H2) independently with the elernents (C, X) and with the metal (Fe, Ni, etc.). Such measurernents have been made for carbon in iron, iron-silicon, and iron-manganese alloys by Smith6 and in iron and iron-nickel alloys by Toensing.7 Differences between carbon activity values at the same temperature and carbon content when carboil is introduced from CH4-H2 rnixtures or CO-CO. mixtures indicate that the effects of hydrogen and oxygen in the system are not negligible, and one can only hope that the true value lies somewhere between these sets of results, probably nearer the CH4-H2 data since hydrogen is less soluble in iron than oxygen. This is essentially an equilibrium method, although flowing gas is employed. A kirletic method has been employed which consists of sweeping an inert gas (generally hydrogen) over the alloy at a series of rates, condensing the metal vapor out,, and analyzing it. The metal content can be extrapolated to zero flow rate (equilibrium). Wejnarth's8 work on Cd-Mg and Zn-Mg is a good example of this frequently used method. A variant of this consists of equilibrating a known volume of inert gas with the alloy, sweeping it out quickly, and analyzing for metal. In common with the above method, it has the disadvantage that the "inert" gas is generally somewhat soluble in the alloy. Moreover, the former continuously displaces the system from equilihrium and may give low values if solid diffusion is involved. The dew point method applied by Hargreaves9 to the alpha and beta brasses and by Schneider and Stolll0 to A1-Zn avoids the introduction of another component to the system, but is useful only in systems in which one component is much more volatile than the other. The alloy sealed in one end of an evacuated silica tube is heated to the desired temperature. The temperature of the other end is lowered until droplets of the volatile component condense. When the temperature is raised slightly, the droplets will evaporate. By careful adjustment of temperature, the range between evaporation and condensation can be narrowed appreciably. An independent determination of the vapor pressure of the . pure volatile component is necessary to give the partial pressure over the alloy. This is the method employed here to determine the vapor pressures of zinc and cadmium over their silver alloys up to 34 pct in cadmium and 76 pct in zinc. The former involves only the a solid solution, but the latter covers the a, ß, y, and e fields. In recent determinations, Herbenar, Siebert, and Duffenbarkl1 used the

Jan 1, 1950

By Paul D. Conatore

INTRODUCTION There are important reasons for a discussion of tungsten resources, reserves, and production in the Circum-Pacific area. First, the world's chief tungsten deposits, as well as most of the world's tungsten reserves and production, occur in this region. It is well known that the world's largest tungsten reserves are located in southeastern China and that for many years, the largest individual mine in the world was there. Although China still has the world's greatest tungsten production, the very high-grade scheelite mine of Canada Tungsten Mining Corporation in the Northwest Territories is the largest producer of tungsten today. There is certainly a great quantity of tungsten in Asia, but the strategic importance of this fact is now offset by the wide distribution of mines and production facilities throughout the world, especially in other parts of the Circum-Pacific area such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. In addition, much of the Circum-Pacific area is comprised of Mesozoic-Cenozoic orogenic belts. These global tectonic units are regarded as very favorable for additional tungsten deposits, particularly scheelite-bearing tactites, and consequently, prospecting and exploration will most likely be concentrated in the Circum-Pacific area. Second, tungsten must be regarded as one of the, most important metals of modern industry because of its very special properties. It has the highest melting point, the highest tensile strength at elevated temperatures, and the smallest compressibility of any metal. The metal also possesses a very high density, excellent corrosion resistance, good thermal and electrical conductivity, and a low coefficient of expansion. As a result, tungsten has found increasing importance in a wide range of industries. From the filament in an electric lamp, to cutting tools and drilling bits, to the exotic radiation shields that protect supersonic aircraft and spacecraft, tungsten plays an indispensable role in our daily lives. The primary objective of this paper is to present an overview of important facets of known and suspected tungsten in the Circum-Pacific area. Resources, reserves, current production, planned capacity expansions, and new operations, as well as an assessment of the probability for development of deposits in the Circum-Pacific area, are discussed. RESOURCES The average crustal abundance of tungsten has been estimated at 0.0015 kilograms per tonne. A comparison of the abundance of various metals in crustal rocks to that of tungsten is presented in Table 1, which shows that tungsten abundance is similar to that of its commonly associated metals, tin and molybdenum. Table 1. AVERAGE CRUSTAL ABUNDANCE OF VARIOUS METALS (Grams per Tonne) [ ] With careful thought, it can be realized that tungsten ore deposits result from the concentration of the metal, through normal geologic processes, to levels substantially greater than its average crustal abundance. The minimum technologically and economically workable tungsten concentration, or cutoff grade, is a function of (1) deposit tonnage, (2) mining and milling methods, (3) production tonnage, (4) capital and operating costs, (5) tungsten market conditions, and (6) value of associated recoverable metals. The tungsten cutoff grade that is currently exploitable at a profit varies from 0.09% W03 to 1.55% W03, reflecting concentration factors from 470 to 8200, as shown in Table 2. Table 2. CURRENT TUNGSTEN CUTOFF GRADES [ ]

Jan 1, 1982

By K. Mukherjee

A quasi-thermodynamic calculation is presented for estirt~ating vacancy Parameters in fcc metals. For fcc metals the equilibrium vacancy concentration at the melting point can be approximated by a constant mole fraction. The Gibbs free energy of formation of the vacancies can then be expressed as a simple function of the absolute melting temperature alone. From this description the formation energy Ef, the vibrational entropy Sv, and the formation volume of a vacancy can be calculated in terms of known thermodynamic parameters. The calculated values are in good agree-rnent with available experimental results. IT appears that many of the physical parameters associated with lattice defects can be empirically related to thermodynamic melting parameters.'-7 Besides the implicit correlations between melting phenomenon and point defects, the melting temperature itself at atmospheric pressure can be used as a reference temperature for the purpose of comparison of vacancy concentrations in a given crystal class. The concentration at the melting point then corresponds to the maximum vacancy super saturation in the crystalline state at a fixed pressure. For pure fcc metals such as Au, Cu, Al, Ag, Pb, and Pt the mole fraction of vacancies at the melting point8 is of the order of 10*"3 to 10"1. The equation expressing the equilibrium vacancy concentration at the melting point contains three parameters: the formation energy, the vibrational entropy, and the absolute melting temperature, see Eq. [2]. Since these three parameters cover a wide range of values8 in the above-mentioned metals, it can be assumed that in other fcc metals, for which no reliable data are available, the mole fraction of vacancies at the melting point most likely lies in the range 10~3 to lO"4. This is then the basis of the calculations described in this article. Within this range the mixing entropy can be linearized and the vibrational entropy, the formation energy, and the vacancy formation volume can be calculated in terms of known thermodynamic constants. 1} LINEARIZATION OF MIXING ENTROPY The Helmholtz free energy of a crystal containing n vacancies at the melting point can be writteng as where Ef, T,, k, and S, are the formation energy of a vacancy, the absolute melting temperature, Boltz-mann's constant, and the vacancy formation entropy, respectively. After applying Stirling's approximation in Eq. [l] and minimizing with respect to n where (n/N), is the equilibrium vacancy concentration in mole fraction at the melting temperature at 1 atm pressure. If instead of setting (6~/6n) = 0 immediately after Stirling's approximation in Eq. [I], the configurational partition function is simplified, then some useful and significant results can be obtained by utilizing the experimental inforrnation After applying Stirling's approximation and rearranging is plotted as a function of (n/N) in Fig. 1. The points, not all of which are shown, are fitted by a straight line substituting from Eq. [5] into Eq. [I] and minimizing with respect to n combining Eqs. [6] and [2] It must be emphasized that Eq. [7] is only a crude approximation based on an oversimplified model of

Jan 1, 1967

By T. L. Joseph

IT is a distinct privilege to participate in this meeting convened to honor the memory of Henry Marion Howe, a distinguished scientist and metallurgist. Many have added to our rapidly growing fund of metallurgical knowledge but few have made the unique contribution of formulating basic concepts essential to an over-all comprehensive view of the subject of metallography. Of those previously selected to deliver this lecture, several have added a personal touch to their discourse because they were able to refer to their associations with Dr. Howe. It was not my good fortune to know him or to enjoy his inspiring influence. Like most of you, my contact has been with his published works, which are outstanding in that they provide lucid, detailed expositions of the nature and behavior of metals and alloys. His deep understanding and clarity of expression have greatly accelerated our progress in metallography and in the use of metals. The degree to which a man's thinking, experimentation and writing contribute toward an understanding of basic laws and phenomena determines whether his life's work is of transitory or permanent value. This occasion appropriately recognizes the fundamental importance of Dr. Howe's pioneer work in the field of metallurgy. On two former occasions, gray iron was selected as a subject for discussion. The fact that the production of pig iron has not been discussed before does not reflect any lack of interest on the part of Dr. Howe or former lecturers in the process that under- lies the production of steel. Although Dr. Howe's work in his later years centered around metallography, his earlier publications show a considerable interest in the production of iron and steel. He recognized that in the ascending spiral of metallurgical advancement we are not winding a single thread but are weaving a complex fabric. Specific evidence of his interest in the production of pig iron may be found in his book1 on The Metallography of Cast Iron and Steel. In explaining why blast furnaces have been in constant use for about 600 years, he says: "The process is economical because it utilizes with extraordinary completeness the calorific power of the coke due to the thorough transfer of heat from the gaseous products of combustion to the charge." This emphasis on heat transfer, overlooked in many more extended and more recent discussions of the blast-furnace process, illustrates Professor Howe's ability to see the essentials. Other distinct advantages of the blast furnace, such as the removal of much of the sulphur and practically all of the oxygen, were mentioned. It was also stated that although the blast- furnace process is complex in nature, its outward form is comparatively simple, thus permitting large-scale production at small labor costs. All who contemplate the production of metallic iron from its ores by any other process might well consider the

Jan 1, 1946

By S. Wallden, R. Lindstrom

The electrolytic copper refining process is an excellent method for producing high-purity metal for electric conductors and other demanding applications. However, the process involves very high capital expenditure, especially the amounts of metals bound in the process. Efforts have therefore been made for many years to increase the production rate by increasing the current density, without impairing the quality of the copper. One of the approaches has been to diminish the polarization by mechanical means, while another was to "polish" the cathode surface by periodic brief reversals of the current. Reversed current electrolysis was first developed for electro- plating purposes and in 1952 Boliden AB and the Dept. of Electrochemistry at the Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm tested the method for copper refining with good results. However, no suitable electrical equipment for current reversal was then available. The thyristor-controlled silicon rectifier became available during the '60s and provided the scope for industrial application of the process and the first large-scale development was made by the Bulgarian copper refinery in Pirdop. Many copper refineries are now studying or adapting the reverse current process. Further lab and pilot investigations have been carried out at Boliden AB during the past 4 years and these were mainly aimed at studying the optimization of factors influencing the quality of copper. A production unit containing two tank sections with a total of 56 cells and equipped with a rectifier for cur- rent reversal has been installed and will be started during 1973.

Jan 1, 1973

By G. Derge, W. Peifer, J. H. Richards

INTRODUCTION A WIDE variety of metallurgical defects in steel have commonly been attributed to the presence of excessive amounts of hydrogen. These defects include flakes in rails and forgings, cracks in welds, and blisters in enameled ware. They have been related to hydrogen largely by circumstantial evidence because the proper sampling and analysis of steel for hydrogen has been known to be difficult and because no general agreement has existed with regard to the relative suitability and accuracy of available methods. The need for a direct approach to these problems has been widely recognized. This general situation has been well described in the publications of the British Committee on the Heterogeneity of Steel Ingots,1 and current approaches to the problem were reviewed in a recent symposium of the AIME.12 The plans described by the present authors at that meeting have now matured satisfactorily and will form the basis of this paper. The principle object of this paper will be to describe the methods of sampling and analysis which have been developed and to illustrate the usefulness and limitations of these methods by citing their application to a specific problem. The first problem selected for investigation was the behavior of hydrogen in rail steel. This was chosen because the occurrence of shatter cracks in rails has received a great deal of study over a long period of time. The defect can be controlled by the expensive procedure of slow cooling. However, it may be hoped that a better understanding of the factors influencing the hydrogen content of rails will lead to a more efficient control of this problem. Rails provide a good starting point for a more general study of hydrogen in steel because they provide a cross section large enough to develop cracks, yet small enough for convenient handling and sampling. Rails were also selected because they are made from plain carbon steel and it was felt that the initial work should not be complicated by the effects introduced by alloying elements. The considerations which determined the original planning of this study should be reviewed. The inherently complex nature of most hydrogen problems requires that a large amount of data must be collected for any particular case. This in turn means that any analytical procedure should be as rapid and simple as possible. The same objective of speed is indicated by the fact that it may finally become desirable to use hydrogen analysis in process control. It is also known that hydrogen is highly fugitive and that any procedure which facilitates early analysis of the sample without prolonged or irregular storage has distinct advantages. The most important previously reported methods of analysis may be classified into three general groups: (I) Vacuum fusion. (2) Vacuum extraction (without melting). (3) Total combustion.

Jan 1, 1948

By George E. Thackray

In December, 1894, the Cambria Iron Company made a number of heats of Bessemer steel to be used in structures by one of its customers, subject to inspection and tests by a firm of consulting engineers, one of the requirements being that the material should riot exceed .08 per cent. of phosphorus. In other respects the requirements were such that they could only be met by material of good quality; but the general spe cification is not introduced here, as it is not the purpose of this paper to deal with anything except certain difficulties encoun tered in determining the phosphorus-content of the material in a manner satisfactory to both seller and buyer. Preliminary determinations of phosphorus were made in sample-ingots from each of the heats from which material was rolled for the order in question, and these preliminary chemical tests, made in the laboratory of the Cambria Iron Company, showed that, with very few exceptions, every heat was within the prescribed limit of phosphorus. After the material had been rolled, sample-drilling8 of finished material were taken from the various heats in the regular manner in use at the works, these samples being thoroughly mixed and divided into two parts, one of which was analyzed at the works' laboratory and the other sent to the inspecting engineer. Several hundred determinations were made from this mate rial without reaching an agreement between the work of the inspector's chemist and that of the works' chemist; but as it is not the object of this memorandum to treat of this part of the subject at length, it is considered sufficient to present herewith only a few of these first determinations. The analyses given in Table I. are those of the original series made on the heats which were afterwards resampled for final determination by an arbitrator; and they are selected for this reason, as the entire " comparison is thus rendered more complete.

Jan 1, 1896

By Geo. H. Ashley

THE year 1923 saw a decline in the production of crude oil and a strong advance in the production of natural gas. The production of petroleum in Pennsylvania has been remarkably uniform for many years, but with a slight average decline. Until 1918, production was maintained above 7,500,000 bbl. Four of the six years from 1918 to 1923, inclusive, saw a yield of between 7,400,000 and 7,500,000 bbl.; 1923 gave only 7,253,000 bbl. The production of natural gas in Pennsylvania has been variable, reaching a maximum of 138,000,000,000 cu. ft. in 1906 and nearly reaching that figure again in 1907 and 1917. In 1921 production dropped to 86,000,000,000 cu. ft., and it seemed that a rapid decline had set in. Prices were raised by most of the gas companies, and -these raises sustained by the Public Service Commission. Possibly as a result of this and the better prices realized, drilling in the gas fields has been active. The year 1923 has not been prolific in large oil wells. The largest single well was drilled by the Manufacturers Light & Heat Co. on the William Auld farm near Prosperity, Morris township, Washington County. This well started at 225 bbl, but quickly dropped to 60 bbl. A 100-bbl. well was struck in September in Springhill township, Greene County. Three wells in the Tidioute pool started at 50 bbl. or better, and a well near the 28th Ward, Pittsburgh, came in at 60 bbl. One well in Washington County started at 50 bbl., but all of the other wells started at less than 20 bbl. The Tidioute pool, which was the sensation of 1922, had by Jan. 1, 1923, dropped in daily total production to 1430 bbl., by Feb. 1 to 1040 bbl., and by May 1 to 700 bbl. At that time, most of the wells were still flowing naturally, though, as the gas pressure was rapidly decreasing, it was not anticipated that such a flow would long continue. As the wells in this pool started at from 500 to. 800 bbl.. a day, it is evident how rapidly they fell off. In August, 1922, the average production per well per day was 44 bbl. ; in February, 1923, 4 bbl.

Jan 3, 1924

By K. K. Clark, W. H. Somerton

The feasibility of reducing pressures needed to fracture formations by heating the borehole intensively has been investigated on a laboratory scale. Reductions in fracture pressures of heated Bandera, Berea and Boise sandstone cores were observed at various confining pressures, simulating reservoir stress conditions to a depth of 5,000 ft. Both permeable and impermeable borehole boundary conditions were tested. Three heating conditions were used in the tests. One group of samples was heated in a furnace to a temperature of 600C, cooled to room temperature., and then tested for fracture pressures. Two other groups of samples were heated with a borehole heater to maximum borehole wall temperatures of 625 and 792C, then cooled and tested. In all cases, heated samples showed substantial reductions in fracture pressures compared to unheated samples. The higher temperature borehole heated samples showed the greatest reduction, amounting to 70 per cent in the extreme case. In actual application to wells, it was concluded that fracture pressures may be reduced by 20 to 50 per cent by intensive borehole heating before fracturing. INTRODUCTION Hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells is an accepted and effective technique for increasing well productivity in many areas, but is notoriously unsuccessful in other areas. The technique becomes less interesting for production stimulation purposes when excessive fracture pressures are necessary. Formations which do fracture but require high pressures, probably form horizontal fractures. There is good evidence to indicate that some formations do not fracture at all, but yield plastically under high pressure. Thus, any technique which will make formations easier to fracture or will reduce fracture pressures is potentially interesting to petroleum producers. Horizontal fractures generally occur in planes of weakness, such as bedding planes, and at pressures equaling or exceeding the effective overburden stress. In the unusual case where planes of weakness do not exist, a slightly higher pressure must be applied to overcome the tensile strength of the rock. In general, high fluid-loss fracturing fluids are conducive to the formation of horizontal fractures.1 Vertical fractures, when they do occur, are initiated at pressures generally lower than overburden pressure and are favored by low fluid-loss fracturing fluids or impermeable boreholes. The pressure necessary to create a vertical fracture in an impermeable, elastic medium can be predicted from the so-called "thick-walled cylinder" equation: Pf = 2 or+ st.............(1) where pf = fracture pressure or = radial stress st = tensile strength of medium. This equation indicates that to fracture it is necessary to overcome a tangential compressive stress, induced by and equal to two times the radial confining stress, plus the tensile strength of the medium. If the above equation held strictly true for rocks, very little could be done to reduce fracture pressure. The tensile strength of the rock might be reduced somewhat, but any change in st would be small compared to the magnitude of the tangential stress at reasonable subsurface depths. Laboratory tests have shown that actual fracture pressures exceed values predicted from Eq. 1 by factors of 1.4 to 28.6.1,2 Eq. 1 thus does not properly describe the

Jan 1, 1966

By A. Keil

TO measure the absolute conductivity of metallic specimens it is generally necessary to have exact geometrical shapes and good electrical contact with the test-piece. To overcome limitations of the standard methods, an electronic conductivity-meter* Trade name, Sigmatest; model Dr. F. Forster; Reutlingen, Ger-many. has been developed, which works on the principle of inducing high frequency eddy-currents in the specimens and measuring the reaction of these curients on a measuring coil.',' To attach the instrument to the test specimen, a flat area of about 10 mm diam is all that is necessary. The reading is taken off a scale calibrated in pet of International Annealed Copper Standard. The induced eddy-currents are propagated in a circular motion parallel to the surface. Thickness of the layer included in a measurement depends on the frequency used. With a frequency of 60 kc per sec, the penetration of the currents was 0.8 mm at the upper limit of the scale, and 2 mm at the lower limit. The method is limited to nonferrous metals and other applications have been described elsewhere." The object of the present investigation was to detect the formation and growth of surface layers of differing conductivity, and to determine the depth to which these changes could be observed. A well known phenomenon which illustrates the problem is the internal oxidation of certain silver alloys containing base metal solutes, such as copper or cadmium, when they are annealed in an oxidizing atmosphere.4, 5 Until now, the only methods available for following these phenomenon have been metallo-graphic examination and hardness tests.0, 7 Changes in mechanical properties of copper alloys by internal oxidation were recently discussed in a more general way by Martin and Smith." When measuring these conductivity changes it must be remembered that the only absolute values of conductivity are those of 1) the nontreated homogeneous specimen, and 2) the final values obtained with a surface layer of depth comparable to the penetration of the eddy-currents. All intermediate values refer to the mixed conductivities of the transformed surface layer and the untransformed alloy, and are thus readings of relative value only. Experimental Results Specimens were annealed for 1/2 hr at 800°C in hydrogen, and the internal oxidation was carried out by thermal treatment in air at 800°C. Fig. 1 shows the results of the first series of experiments. With internal oxidation of a solid solution of 8 pet Cd in silver, the conductivity rises continuously until the surface layer formed has become thick enough to be the deciding factor (about 400µ). Precipitates of CdO are mainly in the form of points, Fig. 2, and, as a result, the electric contact between the silver crystals is not distorted by them. Brine11 tests were run with a 1.25 mm ball and a 7.812 kg load. The specimen annealed in hydrogen and oxidized to a depth of 400µ had a hardness of 40 Bhn,

Jan 1, 1959

By Maurice Rey, H. Brevers

THROUGH circumstances connected with the war, the senior author lost his records therefore it has been impossible to include numerical data in this paper. The arsenical quicksilver ore investigated had been roasted, with poor metallurgical results. The vapor-tension temperature curves of mercury and arsenious trioxide are similar, and the arsenical compound hampers the coalescence of mercury drops in the condenser and is the cause of large stack losses. The ore was a gray limestone carrying small amounts of carbon and mineralized with cinnabar and two arsenic minerals, realgar (As2S2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS). The proportion of realgar often exceeded that of cinnabar; the proportion of arsenopyrite was smaller. The grade of the ore varied between 0.8 and 4 per cent Hg. The problem was to make a high-grade mercury concentrate, as free from arsenic as possible. The water used throughout the testing was hard, having a pH- of about 8. FLOTATION OF REALGAR Realgar showed a very strong tendency to float. It formed a film at the surface of the pulp and floated in abundance with only pine oil. Therefore an attempt was made to float the realgar before the cinnabar, but this was not very successful; the percentage of mercury in the realgar concentrate could never be brought below 2 or 3 per cent. Cinnabar slimed easily and floated with pine oil, so that some of it always accompanied the realgar. There was also the question of the cinnabar-arsenopyrite separation. On further investigation it was found that realgar can be floated not only with pine oil but even better with a combination of hydrocarbons and pine oil. Washing the ore with ether revealed that it contained hydrocarbons, which helped to float the realgar. In this connection it belongs to the same class as carbon, sulphur and talc. It can be floated also with a xanthate, when activated by a heavy-metal salt. The conditions favoring the two types of flotation are opposed, as activation by a copper salt facilitates xanthate flotation (in fact, is even necessary to it), whereas it hinders pine oil and petroleum flotation. One type of flotation can be termed nonpolar and the other polar, a distinction that has been stressed in a previous paper. DEPRESSION OF REALGAR AND FLOTATION OF CINNABAR Many chemicals were tested in an attempt to float the cinnabar and depress the realgar. Finally starch rendered soluble with caustic soda was tried, also several grades of commercial soluble starch, and dextrin was found to be the best and the most convenient reagent. Several of these starch preparations have a strong flocculating effect on the pulp, which is a distinct disadvantage. Dextrin, with its low flocculating power, is excellent. It is noteworthy that starch preparations are also depressants for carbon and talc, so that the fact apparently has a general

Jan 1, 1941

By Maurice Rey, H. Beavers

THROUGH circumstances connected with the war, the senior author lost his records, therefore it has been impossible to include numerical data in this paper. The arsenical quicksilver ore investigated had been roasted, with poor metallurgical results. The vapor-tension temperature curves of mercury and arsenious trioxide are similar, and the arsenical compound hampers the coalescence of mercury drops in the condenser and is the cause of large stack losses. The ore was a gray limestone carrying small amounts of carbon and mineralized with cinnabar and two arsenic minerals, realgar (As2S2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS). The proportion of realgar often exceeded that of cinnabar; the proportion of arsenopyrite was smaller. The grade of the ore varied between 0.8 and 4 per cent Hg. The problem was to make a high-grade mercury concentrate, as free from arsenic as possible. The water used throughout the testing was hard, having a pH of about 8. FLOTATION OF REALGAR Realgar showed a very strong tendency to float. It formed a film at the surface of the pulp and floated in abundance with only pine oil. Therefore an attempt was made to float the realgar before the cinnabar, but this was not very successful; the percentage of mercury in the realgar concentrate could never be brought below 2 or 3 per cent. Cinnabar slimed easily and floated with pine oil, so that some of it always accompanied the realgar. There was also the question of the cinnabar-arsenopyrite separation. On further investigation it was found that realgar can be floated not only with pine oil but even better with a combination of hydrocarbons and pine oil. Washing the ore with ether revealed that it contained hydrocarbons, which helped to float the realgar. In this connection it belongs to the same class as carbon, sulphur and talc. It can be floated also with a xanthate, when activated by a heavy-metal salt. The conditions favoring the two types of flotation are opposed, as activation by a copper salt facilitates xanthate flotation (in fact, is even necessary to it), whereas it hinders pine oil and petroleum flotation. One type of flotation can be termed nonpolar and the other polar, a distinction that has been stressed in a previous paper.1 DEPRESSION OF REALGAR AND FLOTATION OF CINNABAR 'Many chemicals were tested in an attempt to float the cinnabar and depress the realgar. Finally starch rendered soluble with caustic soda was tried, also several grades of commercial soluble starch, and dextrin was found to be the best and the most convenient reagent. Several of these starch preparations have a strong flocculating effect on the pulp, which is a distinct disadvantage. Dextrin, with its low flocculating power, is excellent. It is noteworthy that starch preparations are also depressants for carbon and talc, so that the fact apparently has a general

Jan 1, 1941

By H. Brevers, Maurice Rey

Through circumstances connected with the war, the senior author lost his records, therefore it has been impossible to include numerical data in this paper. The arsenical quicksilver ore investigated had been roasted, with poor metallurgical results. The vapor-tension temperature curves of mercury and arsenious trioxide are similar, and the arsenical compound hampers the coalescence of mercury drops in the condenser and is the cause of large stack losses. The ore was a gray limestone carrying small amounts of carbon and mineralized with cinnabar and two arsenic minerals, realgar (As2S2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS). The proportion of realgar often exceeded that of cinnabar; the proportion of arsenopyrite was smaller. The grade of the ore varied between 0.8 and 4 per cent Hg. The problem was to make a high-grade mercury concentrate, as free from arsenic as possible. The water used throughout the testing was hard, having a pH of about 8. Flotation of Realgar Realgar showed a very strong tendency to float. It formed a film at the surface of the pulp and floated in abundance with only pine oil. Therefore an attempt was made to float the realgar before the cinnabar, but this was not very successful; the percentage of mercury in the realgar concentrate could never be brought below 2 or 3 per cent. Cinnabar slimed easily and floated with pine oil, so that some of it always accompanied the realgar. There was also the question of the cinnabar-arseno-pyrite separation. On further investigation it was found that realgar can be floated not only with pine oil but even better with a combination of hydrocarbons and pine oil. Washing the ore with ether revealed that it contained hydrocarbons, which helped to float the realgar. In this connection it belongs to the same class as carbon, sulphur and talc. It can be floated also with a xanthate, when activated by a heavy-metal salt. The conditions favoring the two types of flotation are opposed, as activation by a copper salt facilitates xanthate flotation (in fact, is even necessary to it), whereas it hinders pine oil and petroleum flotation. One type of flotation can be termed non-polar and the other polar, a distinction that has been stressed in a previous paper.' Depression of Realgar and Flotation of Cinnabar Many chemicals were tested in an attempt to float the cinnabar and depress the realgar. Finally starch rendered soluble with caustic soda was tried, also several grades of commercial soluble starch, and dextrin was found to be the best and the most convenient reagent. Several of these starch preparations have a strong flocculating effect on the pulp, which is a distinct disadvantage. Dextrin, with its low flocculating power, is excellent. It is noteworthy that starch preparations are also depressants for carbon and talc, so that the fact apparently has a general

Jan 1, 1943

By Maurice Rey, H. Brevers

Through circumstances connected with the war, the senior author lost his records, therefore it has been impossible to include numerical data in this paper. The arsenical quicksilver ore investigated had been roasted, with poor metallurgical results. The vapor-tension temperature curves of mercury and arsenious trioxide are similar, and the arsenical compound hampers the coalescence of mercury drops in the condenser and is the cause of large stack losses. The ore was a gray limestone carrying small amounts of carbon and mineralized with cinnabar and two arsenic minerals, realgar (As2S2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS). The proportion of realgar often exceeded that of cinnabar; the proportion of arsenopyrite was smaller. The grade of the ore varied between 0.8 and 4 per cent Hg. The problem was to make a high-grade mercury concentrate, as free from arsenic as possible. The water used throughout the testing was hard, having a pH of about 8. Flotation of Realgar Realgar showed a very strong tendency to float. It formed a film at the surface of the pulp and floated in abundance with only pine oil. Therefore an attempt was made to float the realgar before the cinnabar, but this was not very successful; the percentage of mercury in the realgar concentrate could never be brought below 2 or 3 per cent. Cinnabar slimed easily and floated with pine oil, so that some of it always accompanied the realgar. There was also the question of the cinnabar-arseno-pyrite separation. On further investigation it was found that realgar can be floated not only with pine oil but even better with a combination of hydrocarbons and pine oil. Washing the ore with ether revealed that it contained hydrocarbons, which helped to float the realgar. In this connection it belongs to the same class as carbon, sulphur and talc. It can be floated also with a xanthate, when activated by a heavy-metal salt. The conditions favoring the two types of flotation are opposed, as activation by a copper salt facilitates xanthate flotation (in fact, is even necessary to it), whereas it hinders pine oil and petroleum flotation. One type of flotation can be termed non-polar and the other polar, a distinction that has been stressed in a previous paper.' Depression of Realgar and Flotation of Cinnabar Many chemicals were tested in an attempt to float the cinnabar and depress the realgar. Finally starch rendered soluble with caustic soda was tried, also several grades of commercial soluble starch, and dextrin was found to be the best and the most convenient reagent. Several of these starch preparations have a strong flocculating effect on the pulp, which is a distinct disadvantage. Dextrin, with its low flocculating power, is excellent. It is noteworthy that starch preparations are also depressants for carbon and talc, so that the fact apparently has a general

Jan 1, 1943

By Ralph Arnold

IN OPENING the symposium under the auspices of the Petroleum and Gas Committee of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, I wish to call to your attention the following, among other subjects, which it is hoped may receive proper attention: 1. The recording of as accurate an appraisal of the oil possibilities of the various countries as is possible, with information as to the immediate availability of their supply. 2. The development of further support for the move-ment to bring about active cooperation among Ameri-can oil companies in their foreign exploration and development work. 3. The furtherance of the efforts of the industry in securing governmental assistance in foreign oil develop-ment: (a) along the lines of a modification of our domestic oil policy, so that we can go to foreign coun-tries and consistently ask fair treatment as to royalties and bonuses; (b) by a closer cooperation between the State and Commerce Departments and the oil industry. 4. The calling of attention to the unjustifiably drastic action of the price-fixing group of the oil industry during the last year or so, with the hope that it will use gentler methods in the future. None of these subjects are new, and some of them have been discussed before various organizations for years. Our justification for again bringing them forward is the hope that by everlastingly harping on them the industry, the Government, and the people who shape the destinies of this country may some time, some how, realize their importance and take effective constructive action.

Jan 6, 1922

By E. F. Kingsbury

ONE of the well-known and important uses of the noble or precious metals has been for electrical contacts. In fact, the elements of this group, comprising gold, silver and. the six platinum metals, have been called "noble" because of their ability to resist heat and corrosion, properties which. were early found to be of importance in good contacts. Of these, platinum and its iridium alloys, palladium, and silver, have been extensively used. In recent years the electrical industry has been responsible for about one-eighth of the total consumption of the platinum metals in the United States. Information is not available as to what part of this one-eighth has been used for contacts but it is certainly an important one. SUBSTITUTES FOR PLATINUM During the past 20 years a considerable number of contact alloys have been proposed in the patent literature largely with the aim of more or less replacing platinum by gold or silver, and some of these alloys are finding increasingly widespread application as the reliability of their performance becomes established. From even the partial data at hand it appears that this substitution by the less precious metals has replaced at least one-half of the amount of platinum that the entire electrical industry would otherwise be consuming at the present time. While the subject is of considerable interest to the metallurgist it is even more so to the electrical engineer and it is surprising that the literature records no systematic and' comprehensive investigation along these lines. Practically all the scattered work on noble metal contacts has centered around platinum as a standard and has had two more or less distinct aims. One of these has been the replacement of platinum by cheaper materials, and the other, the development of materials of superior electrical performance. The merit, of a contact metal has been assumed to be dependent on its infusibility, and since the more precious metals have the higher melting points there has naturally been an association of the two qualities in the sense that the more precious were

Jan 1, 1928

By F. H. Kihlstedt

The Larap iron deposits, 125 miles east of Manila, are the biggest high-grade iron deposits in the Philippines, and have in seven years produced nearly 4 million tons of 60 per cent ore. Magnetic surveying followed by churn and diamond drilling cheaply developed a score of million tons. The ore zone is a wedge of metamorphic rocks in fresh, Miocene sediments overlain by agglomerates, which seem to have filled a river valley eroded in the sediments. A mild overthrust of the competent agglomerates crumbled the shale in front. Solutions gradually turned it into more competent hornfels and deposited pyrite, then magnetite and pyrite in the pores. As the temperature rose large bodies of magnetite with some pyrite were deposited by replacement and in open cavities in tensional areas of overthrust shears. At still higher temperature magnetite and calcium-magnesium silicates formed other bodies in similar cavities, and finally the thrust zone was invaded by syenite porphyry, causing high-temperature alteration products. Possibly, as temperature abated, more high-grade ore was deposited. The complicated faulting indicates dynamic, chronological and spatial changes of mineralization rather than zoning in a static system. Noncommercial copper, molybdenum and some gold accompanied the iron mineralization. In the thirties the Philippines gained a justified reputation as a country of considerable mineral wealth. Traces of Chinese workings show that these earliest travelers and traders had in a small way exploited the latent gold resources in the Islands. The Spaniards continued this for centuries, but did not succeed in establishing any steady mining industry. Modern technology was required to get it started. The rapid development in the last decade before the war got its impetus from several financial factors, the return to sugar growers of previously collected taxes, the influx of Spanish capital during the civil war in Spain, the influx of Chinese capital when the Japanese started their "China incident," and others. Directly or indirectly much of this capital reached the mining industry; in particular, gold mining. Out of the turmoil of an exceptional mining boom emerged a sufficient number of good and well managed gold properties to send the production to a level above that of any single state in the United States at the time. Other ore deposits besides those of gold also received their share, and for a country without any heavy industries at

Jan 1, 1949

By F. H. Kihlstedt

The Larap iron deposits, 125 miles east of Manila, are the biggest high-grade iron deposits in the Philippines, and have in seven years produced nearly 4 million tons of 60 per cent ore. Magnetic surveying followed by churn and diamond drilling cheaply developed a score of million tons. The ore zone is a wedge of metamorphic rocks in fresh, Miocene sediments overlain by agglomerates, which seem to have filled a river valley eroded in the sediments. A mild overthrust of the competent agglomerates crumbled the shale in front. Solutions gradually turned it into more competent hornfels and deposited pyrite, then magnetite and pyrite in the pores. As the temperature rose large bodies of magnetite with some pyrite were deposited by replacement and in open cavities in tensional areas of overthrust shears. At still higher temperature magnetite and calcium-magnesium silicates formed other bodies in similar cavities, and finally the thrust zone was invaded by syenite porphyry, causing high-temperature alteration products. Possibly, as temperature abated, more high-grade ore was deposited. The complicated faulting indicates dynamic, chronological and spatial changes of mineralization rather than zoning in a static system. Noncommercial copper, molybdenum and some gold accompanied the iron mineralization. In the thirties the Philippines gained a justified reputation as a country of considerable mineral wealth. Traces of Chinese workings show that these earliest travelers and traders had in a small way exploited the latent gold resources in the Islands. The Spaniards continued this for centuries, but did not succeed in establishing any steady mining industry. Modern technology was required to get it started. The rapid development in the last decade before the war got its impetus from several financial factors, the return to sugar growers of previously collected taxes, the influx of Spanish capital during the civil war in Spain, the influx of Chinese capital when the Japanese started their "China incident," and others. Directly or indirectly much of this capital reached the mining industry; in particular, gold mining. Out of the turmoil of an exceptional mining boom emerged a sufficient number of good and well managed gold properties to send the production to a level above that of any single state in the United States at the time. Other ore deposits besides those of gold also received their share, and for a country without any heavy industries at

Jan 1, 1949

By A. S. Bower

Any process which has for its object the preservation of iron and steel from rust, and which will make these metals more applicable than they now are to the requirements of mankind, will be sure to meet with attention from members of this association, and from all those who are either engaged in the extraction of the ore, its reduction to metal, or the subsequent application of the metal itself. It is, perhaps, not too much to say that when iron and steel are rendered secure against corrosion and decay, they will be used to an indefinitely greater extent than they now are. The whole realm of science has, therefore, been explored in the attempt to discover some method by which the formed article may be preserved, leaving its strength undiminished by the destructive action of rust. Paints, oils, varnishes, glazes, enamels, galvanizing, electro-depositing and what is called "inoxidizing" are among the many systems now in vogue to effect the preservation of iron and steel from the corrosive action of air and water. The object of this paper is to show what may he done in protecting iron and steel from rust by forming upon their surfaces a film of magnetic oxide by an inexpensive process. It is no new thing to be told that magnetic oxide of iron is unaffected by exposure to the atmosphere or to salt water for any length of time. The black sand of Taranaki, in New Zealand, is a sufficiently good example of this. Dr. Percy has pointed out that the reason why Russian sheet iron is less affected by exposure than ordinary sheet iron is because of a coating of magnetic oxide; but this was not known

Jan 1, 1883

By John L. JR. Schroder

INTRODUCTION-SYSTEM DESIGN The design of an underground mining operation requires the integration of transportation, ventilation, ground control, and mining methods to form a system which provides the highest possible degree of safety for mine personnel; the lowest cost per ton of product; the most suitable quality of final product, considering its intended use; the maximum percent recovery of the reserve, consistent with cost and subsidence rights ; and the minimum disturbance to the environment. The selection of mining method is generally the controlling factor in overall mine design. Some important considerations in the choice of mining method are : 1) Depth of cover over the coal seam. 2) Strength and thickness of rock strata in the overburden. 3) Characteristics of the coal seam, including thickness, nature and location of impurities or irregularities, dip (or pitch), nature and direction of cleavage, hardness, and structural strength of the coal. 4) Nature and strength of the immediate roof (top) over the coal seam. 5) Nature and strength of the floor (bottom) under the coal seam. 6) Presence and amount of explosive gas (methane). 7) Quantity of water likely to be encountered in the mining operation. 8) Any previous or concurrent mining in seams above or below the coal seam to be worked. 9) Any restrictions on recovery required for subsidence control. Topographical and geological reports and maps of the area are usually available from state and federal geological surveys, and contain excellent general information to guide more detailed investigations. Exploratory drilling, and the plotting and analysis of the information thus obtained, are essential steps in any development program, and aid in the correlation and evaluation of information gained by other means. Other good sources of information are operating coal mines that may be in the same

Jan 1, 1981