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By Cyril Stanley Smith

Jan 1, 1949

By P. LEROY FOSTER

G EOPHYSICAL prospecting was presented in its several aspects and discussed with much vigor at two sessions during this year's annual meeting of the Institute. The first session was devoted entirely to the presentation and discussion of various technical papers, while the second meeting took the form of a round table conference on the advisability of revising the existing mining laws to recognize the results of geophysical prospecting. This conference was immediately followed by further consideration of technical papers. Each session was well attended and great interest was displayed by everyone present.

Jan 1, 1929

By R. D. Parks

DESPITE the handicap of reduced production in many districts, the mining industry in 1938 forged steadily ahead toward solution of its minor technical problems and has of-defected major advances in several fields. In California hydraulic mining for gold, shut down for forty years, will shortly be resumed following revision of restrictive laws. Disposal of hydraulicked ground is to be regulated by settling dams so as not to interfere with agriculture. Gold mining has been aided also by the development of a new high-efficiency dry amalgamator which applies the Ramsay mercury separator to the original de Phily process. Based on the principle that crushed ore will follow a rod into a mercury bath, this simple device is primarily adapted to dry areas and is to be available in small, multiple units suitable

Jan 1, 1939

By J. Nagy, D. W. Mitchell, E. M. Murphy

In 1957 research was initiated in the U.S. Bureau of Mines experimental coal mine near Pittsburgh, Pa., to study factors affecting foam generation and transport, to evaluate the effectiveness of high-expansion foam for controlling mine fires, and to develop techniques for applying the method under U.S. mining conditions. These investigations showed that high-expansion foam containing at least 0.2 oz of water per cu ft of foam is effective in controlling experimental underground fires burning coal, wood, and oil. Sometimes the fire was completely extinguished, but more often, it was brought under sufficient control to permit either a direct attack on the fire with a stream of water or loading of the hot material into cars. A progress report' prepared in July 1958 summarized the initial achievements of the USBM experiments. Since then other phases of the foam-plug method for attacking fires have been studied in the laboratory and in the mine. Previous studies by British engineers' of the foam-plug method for fighting mine fires indicated that high-expansion foam was effective in controlling experimental timber fires in an underground passageway. Their subsequent workx-1 pertained to the practical aspects of fighting large fires within a mining area with a foam-plug. CONTROLLING EXPERIMENTAL FIRES In the USBM tests foam was formed by spraying a dilute solution of a foaming agent on a metal or cotton net of 1/8 to 1/4-in. mesh. Air passing through the continuously wetted net forms bubbles of 1/2 to 11/2-in. diam and produces a honeycomb of foam that fills the passageway. Under the ventilating-air pressure, this light-weight plug moves forward through the passageways, around sharp corners, and over obstacles. as illustrated in Fig. 1. High-expansion foam was transported to a wood fire, an oil fire, and 13 coal fires. Figs. 3 and 4 show a typical coal fire before and after attack with foam. In 12 of the 15 experiments the fire was brought under control when the water content of foam was 0.2 oz or more per cu ft. A fire was considered controlled when the flames were quenched and observers could cross the area without wearing breathing apparatus or protective clothing. In the other three experiments, conducted when the water content was less than 0.2 oz per cu ft of foam, the flames were retarded but the fire was not controlled. Coal fires have been attacked successfully by foam introduced at points varying from 155 to 1010 ft from the fire. The time of burning in coal beds 10 in. thick ranged from 11/2 to 5 hrs or more. Most of the experimental fire beds were 15 ft in length. However, in one experiment a floor fire 25 ft long and 5 ft wide was constructed $5 upwind from another fire 15 ft in length; in another instance, the fire was 100 ft long and 5 ft wide. Foam was applied to the fires for periods ranging from 7 to 36 min. The time required for foam application depends on the extent of the fire, time of burning, water content of foam, foam velocity, and degree of fire control desired. In addition to the coal fires, foam was transported to a fire covering 45 sq ft, produced by 15 gal of oil burning in metal trays on the floor. The foam extinguished the oil fire in about 1 min. In one other test, the burning of 1100 lb of dry sawmill slabs stacked in open cribs 4 ft high and 16 ft long was brought under control by foam in 2 min. Composition of Gases in Return Air: In several of the experiments samples of the return air from fire zones were collected; composition of the atmosphere before, during, and after foam application was then determined. Because of condensation in the relatively cool sampling tube, the amount of water vapor was not determined. Analyses showed that concentration of carbon dioxide and combustible gases increased as the foam began passing over the fire. This resulted from the decrease in the volume of air when foam generation started and from the formation of gases when water reached the fire.* The quantity of gases generated would not be greater than that from an equivalent amount of water applied directly to the fire. The highest total concentration of combustibles (CO, CH1, and H2 mixture) obtained during the experiment was about 2 pct; this occurred 6 min after foam reached the fire. This atmosphere was nonex-plosive, but calculations show that if the air flow were reduced to about 5 fpm and if the rate of gas liberation from the fire remained constant, the mixture would be explosive. The use of foam on a fire in all probability would affect the normal ventilation of a mine. If the mine is gassy, this factor must be carefully considered before the foam is applied. APPLICATION OF THE FOAM-PLUG TECHNIQUE IN MINES Equipment and procedures for applying the foam-plug methods must be adapted to the prevailing conditions at a particular mine. Some factors to be considered in developing equipment are: size or extent of the mine, dimensions and number of entries, ventilation system, mining methods, haulage facilities, availability of water, amount of methane liberated, and existing fire-control apparatus. • In most experiments the initial air velocity of 200 fpm decreased to 50 to 100 fpm as the foam plug increased In length.

Jan 1, 1961

By J. L. Huitt, D. K. Lowe

This laboratory flow study covers propping agent transporl in horizontal fractures as influenced by the characteristics of the propping particles, fluid and fracture. Correlations are presented for the transport of particles, deposition and fingering through dunes. For particles moving individually, the article velocity in some cases may be low compared to the hulk average fluid velocity; in other cases, the particle velocity may exceed the bulk average fluid velocity. At high propping agent concentration or low fluid velocity, the likelihood of particle deposition and dune formation increases. Fingering and channeling accompany dune formation. Dune formation can be limited to the outer region of tile fracture by adjustment of pump rate, fluid viscosity and particle concentration. A method is presented by which pump rate and fluid vircosity may he selected to control dune formation for given propping agent concentrations. INTRODUCTION The area and flow capacity of a fracture predominantly control the stimulation derived from hydraulic fracturing. Generation of fracture area exposes the rock matrix to a flow channel; the flow capacity of the fracture controls the flow through the channel to the wellbore under a given pressure gradient. This paper pertains to an important factor that affects the flow capacity of a fracture: the transport of the propping particles in the fracturing during the hydraulic fracturing treatment. With a better understanding of particle transport, fracturing treatments may be designed to obtain more effective distribution of the propping agent. RELATED STUDIES In recent years, the approach to obtaining high fracture flow capacity has been partial monolayer propping. Three papers1-3 have dealt with various facets of this concept. However, in some papers dealing specifically with particle transport, the results generally indicate that packing the propping particles within a fracture is inevitable. In early work&apos; with a sand slurry flowing in a pie-shaped flow cell, qualitative results showed that particle deposition in a fracture during transport should be expected. In other studies"" correlations based on slurry flow in vertical linear flow cells showed particle deposition was primarily a function of fluid velocity. In a recent paper the rate of sand advance (movement of dunes) in a horizontal linear flow cell was discussed. Subsequently, a method was given for designing fracturing treatments, based on the extent of sand advance during a treatment. In this work, particles whose diameter was small relative to the fracture width (i.e., dl W< 0.2) were primarily considered. The particle transport approaches that of sand transport in a stream bed. The industry trend, however, has been to use larger size propping agents. That is, particles with diameters approaching fracture widths predicted by Perkins and Kern.&apos;&apos; This trend has led to generally better fracturing treatments with particle relative sizes in the range 0.2 <d/W < 1.0. In all of the particle transport studies previously cited, the fluid characteristics were discussed. However, little or no attention was given to the parzicle characteristics. In this study the particles. as well as the fluid and fracture, are considered. VARIABLES AFFECTING PARTICLE TRANSPORT In the exploratory work to set LIP a program for this study, it was noted that particles within a batch moved at different velocities in a horizontal linear flow cell. In some cases the particles moved independently. In others there was particle interference. Also, particle deposition and fluid fingering occurred in some cases (Fig. 1). As a result of observing the easily distinguishab&apos;le types of particle movement, the particle variables as well as the fluid variables were included. In addition, the fracture width was included because the fluid velocity profile surely must affect the movement of the larger particles differently than that of smaller particles. Particle variables were density, diameter (based on a sphere of equal volumetric displacement), long and short dimensions, drag coefficient and velocity. Fluid variables were density, viscosity, yield shear strength and velocity. Fracture variables were the width and the angle between the plane of flow and a horizontal plane. Two factors which may prove to be important were omitted because of the complexity resulting from the parameters cited above. These are the fracture-surface roughness and gross irregularities that cause changes in the direction of flow. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE A linear parallel-plate flow cell (Fig. 2) was used in the study. Lucite plates 1 in. thick formed the test section and permitted a viewing section 11 ft long and 10 in. wide. Spacing between the plates was adjusted with shims to give fracture widths 1/36 to 1/2 in. The model could be tilted to an angle of 45" with the horizonltal plane. Fluid flow was maintained with a Moyno positive displacement pump. Single particles were placed in the flow stream with a particle injector. A .4 - in. diameter plunger moving at a constant rate in a

Jan 1, 1967

By P. Martinez, A. F. Hoyte, F. E. Senftle

The possibility of applying a neutron activation technique for silver exploration is considered. A mobile positive-ion accelerator type neutron source is used to irradiate a small area of rock or soil in situ. By using a short period of irradiation and gamma ray spectral analysis, a technique is shown for silver exploration. Two different mobile units are described. Laboratory and preliminary field tests both indicate that a sensitivity of less than 1 oz of silver per ton of ore can be achieved. The increasing consumption of silver for industrial uses and also for coinage has caused a serious shortage of silver in this country. The silver shortage has been reviewed and analyzed by kiilsgaard1 who concludes that, "The best hope for meeting future demands for silver is through accelerated exploration for precious ores." As almost all the exposed "bonanza" type silver deposits evidently have been found, it is urgent that some sensitive geophysical technique be found to detect large, extended, but generally low-grade, secondary ores, as well as hidden vein deposits. Silver is easily made radioactive by exposure to slow neutrons; hence a neutron activation method appears promising for locating silver deposits. The principles of mineral beneficiation using neutron activation techniques were discussed some years ago.2-4 Using the same approach, a preliminary description5 has been published of neutron activation as a mineral exploration tool. An exploration technique is described in which silver is made radioactive in situ and detected with a gamma radiation counter. The technique is similar to the well-known method used for uranium exploration. THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS Elemental silver consists of two isotopes, Ag107 and Ag109, having naturally occurring isotopic abundances of 51.4% and 48.6%, respectively. For short periods of irradiation of silver by thermal neutrons, the long-lived 250 day, half-life isotope, Ag110m, is not produced in significant quantities. However, significant quantities of 2.3 min half-life Ag108 and 24.5 sec half-life Agl10 are formed by the following reactions. Ag108 and Agl10 emit a 0.44 Mev (million electron volts) and a 0.66 Mev gamma ray, respectively. Ag107 + n + Ag108 (2.3 min) Ag109 + n + Ag110 (24.5 sec). Because of the large capture cross section (110 barns) of Ag109, and short half-life of Ag110 (24.5 sec), the 0.66-Mev gamma ray is the most prominent emission from silver for neutron activation periods of about a minute&apos;s duration.* The 0.44-Mev gamma ray from Ag108 will also be present, but will be one or two orders of magnitude lower in intensity. The decay scheme of Ag110 is shown in Fig. 1. If the neutron irradiation time is limited to about 100 sec, the Ag110 activity will essentially reach saturation and can be used to detect the presence of silver. In a neutron flux of 10 8 neutrons/cm2/set, the induced 0.66-Mev activity in 1 g of silver will be about 2 x 107 disintegrations per sec. This is about 1000 times the measurable gamma activity of 1 g of uranium in equilibrium with all its decay products; hence there is ample activity for detection. Under the same conditions of activation, most of the other elements do not reach this relatively high disintegration rate. Although this is in favor of the proposed technique, other problems must be considered. For mobile operation, it is desirable to obtain the largest neutron flux to weight ratio. Hence we have used a small 150-kev accelerator-type neutron source rather than an isotopic source such as an americium-beryllium neutron source. By use of remote control system, an accelerator-type neutron source can be safely used without the massive shield required for an isotopic source. Moreover, an accelerator-type source is more versatile in that it allows one to use a flux of either 14-Mev or 3-Mev neutrons, depending on whether a tritium or a deuterium target is used. With a 14-Mev generator, one can obtain a flux of 10 9 neutrons/cm 2/sec, and with a 3-Mev generator, the flux is generally two orders of magnitude less. Although silver will become activated with either generator using proper moderation, detection may be

Jan 1, 1968

By W. R. Atkins

THE Negaunee mine is at the east end of the Marquette Range, in the city of Negaunee, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Iron ore was first discovered on this property in 1883 by diamond drilling. A shaft was sunk soon afterward, and the mine has been worked continuously ever since. The total shipments from 1887 to&apos; Jan. 1, 1945, were 20,417,587 long tons. The mine was taken over by the present operators, The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., in 1903. During the past four years, 1941 to 1944 inclusive, the property has produced an average of nearly a million tons a year, and has employed more than 400 men. GEOLOGY The ore body at the Negaunee mine lies in a large syncline dipping about 15° to the west, the ore coming to ledge at the east end of the trough. The ore occurs in the Negaunee formation of the middle Huronian age, which consists of ferruginous cherts and slates through which intrusions of diorite have occurred. Although these intrusions of diorite have an important bearing on the formation of ore on the range, they are not important in this ore body. Some faulting has taken place along the diorite intrusions, or dikes as they are called locally, and also other faults are known to exist across the formation. These faults do not complicate either mining or development of the ore body. The footwall consists of jasper underlain with Siamo slate; the hanging wall is jasper and ferruginous chert. Fig. I shows a typical cross section of the ore body. The ore body is quite regular, about 120 ft. thick in the middle of the syncline and thinning out toward both sides of the fold. Its width ranges from 400 to 800 ft., the average being about 600 ft. The footwall is uniform in dip and strike, but irregular lenses of ore often extend 50 to 75 ft. up into the overlying jasper capping. METHOD OF MINING Ore in the Negaunee mine has been mined by top slicing almost exclusively since 1903. This method of mining has been employed because it is especially adapted to the size and shape of the Negaunee ore body, and to the soft, sticky nature of the ore as well as the generally soft, broken jasper capping. Development The ore body has been developed from six different levels with intervals varying between l00 and 125 ft. On the average, the dip causes a horizontal offset of 350 ft. per level, and under these circumstances it has been necessary to carry on considerable development in rock to make available the ore lying along the north and east footwalls. This is not as disadvantageous as might be supposed, because of reduced pressure and the accompanying saving in maintenance costs. The development of the

Jan 1, 1946

By W. R. Atkins

The Negaunee mine is at the east end of the Marquette Range, in the city of Negaunee, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Iron ore was first discovered on this property in 1883 by diamond drilling. A shaft was sunk soon afterward. and the mine has been worked continuously ever since. The total shipments from 1887 to Jan. I, 1945, were 20,417,587 long tons. The mine was taken over by the present operators, The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., in 1903. During the past four years, 1941 to 1944 inclusive, the property has produced an average of nearly a million tons a year, and has employed more than 400 men. Geology The ore body at the Negaunee mine lies in a large syncline dipping about 15° to the west, the ore coming to ledge at the east end of the trough. The ore occurs in the Negaunee formation of the middle Huronian age, which consists of ferruginous cherts and slates through which intrusions of diorite have occurred. Although these intrusions of diorite have an important bearing on the formation of ore on the range, they are not important in this ore body. Some faulting has taken place along the diorite intrusions, or dikes as they are called locally, and also other faults are known to exist across the formation. These faults do not complicate either mining or development of the ore body. The footwall consists of jasper underlain with Siamo slate; the hanging wall is jasper and ferruginous chert. Fig. I shows a typical cross section of the ore body. The ore body is quite regular, about 120 ft. thick in the middle of the syncline and thinning out toward both sides of the fold. Its width ranges from 400 to 800 ft., the average being about 600 ft. The footwall is uniform in dip and strike, but irregular lenses of ore often extend 50 to 75 ft. up into the overlying jasper capping. Method of Mining Ore in the Negaunee mine has been mined by top slicing almost exclusively since 1903 This method of mining has been employed because it is especially adapted to the size and shape of the Negaunee ore body, and to the soft, sticky nature of the ore as well as the generally soft, broken jasper capping. Development The ore body has been developed from six different levels with intervals varying between loo and 125 ft. On the average, the dip causes a horizontal offset of 350 ft. per level, and under these circumstances it has been necessary to carry on considerable development in rock to make available the ore lying along the north and east footwalls. This is not as disadvantageous as might be supposed, because of reduced pressure and the accompanying saving in maintenance costs. The development of the

Jan 1, 1949

By R. P. Smith

Iron-carbon alloys containing a single-phase austenite region and a two-phase azcstenite + cementite region at the desired temperature were prepared by partial carburization of iron or partial decarburization of carburized iron. Each sample was held at a fixed temperature until equilibrium was achieved. Analysis of the austenite for carbon then gave the solubility of cementite in austenite. Solubility measzcrements were made for the temperature range 734° to 1012°C. These values together with other data give 7560 cal for the mean heat of solution of cementite in austenite, and 0.765 pct C for the eutectoid composition of austenite. They also indicate that graphite is the stable phase at all temperatures between the eutectoid and eutectic temperature. Measurements of the solubility of cementite in austenite at 927oand 1011 "C, using a method based on the equilibration of iron with boro-cementites, are reported. The solubility of cementite in austenite (?-iron) has been computed by Darken and Gurry1 from the observed solubility of graphite in austenite, and the thermodynamic properties of pure iron and of iron-carbon alloys. They have shown that the solubility of cementite is greater than that of graphite in the temperature range between the eutectoid and eutectic, and thus that cementite is metastable with respect to graphite and austenite saturated therewith. Since their computation is not in accord with the earlier experimental work of Mehl and wells,&apos; the present direct determination of the solubility of cementite in austenite was undertaken. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Each iron rod about 1/2 in. O.D. by 4 in. was first carburized at a temperature and with a H2-CH4 gas mixture such that the carbon content would be greater than that corresponding to the solubility of cementite in austenite at the desired (lower) temperature; sufficient carburizing time was allowed that the carbon content became substantially uniform, as illustrated by Curve A, Fig. 1. The sample was then partially decarburized with a hydrogen-water vapor mixture, giving a carbon distribution as schematically illustrated by Curve B. The sample was then held in a helium atmosphere at the temperature at which the solubility was to be determined until the decarburized portion of the sample came to equilibrium with that containing cementite. Curve C of Fig. 1 represents schematically the final carbon distribution; the horizontal portion corresponds to the carbon content of austenite saturated with cementite. To bring the sample to room temperature without change in the carbon distribution and in machinable condition, it was first quenched in a salt pot at 480°C, then in water at room temperature. Successive layers were machined from the center 2 in. of the sample and analyzed for carbon by the usual

Jan 1, 1960

I do not think too much emphasis can be placed upon creation of favorable climate for development of foreign mineral resources to feed the hungry maw of our industrialized nation. We have become dependent, not only upon the ten raw products indicated in Mr. Bancroft&apos;s article, but upon 71 mineral substances listed by DMPA as in short supply. Forty-four of these are metals, 9 are chemical minerals and 18 are nonmetallic minerals. Of this list only 8 are produced in any large quantity in the United States, and all are vital in peace-time industry. Even more, they are absolutely essential for defense. This represents our present needs. But if our consumption and requirements are projected over the next 25 years as is done by the President&apos;s Materials Policy Commission-The Paley Report-our future outlook becomes appalling. The divergence of consumption over production, even allowing for substitution and conservation, will widen in the future. This means our dependence upon foreign raw materials, mainly minerals, will grow. What are the chief foreign sources of minerals for our future needs? They are chiefly Latin America and the dominions and colonies of the Western European nations. The British Commonwealth countries contain in abundance those minerals which the U. S. lacks. Of 32 of the most critical minerals the Commonwealth is deficient in 7 and lacks only 1; whereas the U. S. is deficient in 18. Strikingly, our deficient minerals are abundant in the Commonwealth and several of their deficiencies are in excess in the U. S. Resources of the two nations complement each other. If Europe should be overrun by an unfriendly power that could control the destinies and resources of the European dominions and colonies, our industrial life would be placed in severe jeopardy. Therefore, I heartily endorse Mr. Bancroft&apos;s statements regarding the Point IV program, provided the program is wisely administered and implemented. It is from the underdeveloped countries, as pointed out by Mr. Bancroft, that most of our future mineral supplies will have to come. Many of the underdeveloped source countries are African colonies and dominions of Western European nations. Our present aid to Europe, therefore, is not, as many infer, a purely one-sided affair; it safeguards our future industrial development and security. Development aid directly to the underdeveloped countries through a well administered Point IV program, can do much, I believe, to safeguard our prosperity. I regard it as a wise investment for future U. S. mineral needs. Dr. Alan M. Bateman Department of Geological Sciences Yale University Mr. Howland Bancroft&apos;s article, The Broadening Road to Foreign Investment, appeared on page 666 of the July MINING ENGINEERING.

Jan 1, 1952

By F. Keller, J. D. Edwards

The anodic treatment of aluminum presents problems of scientific as well as of commercial interest.l-3 Of particular interest is the fact that, during the anodic oxidation process, the oxide continues to form at the metal-oxide interface under any oxide previously formed. This has led to speculation as to the mechanism involved in the formation of the relatively thick oxide coatings that are used commercially for decorative or protective purposes. Furthermore, the ability of certain types of oxide coatings to adsorb dyes and other substances has stimulated research to determine the actual structure of these adsorptive coatings. It has been found that anodic oxide coatings on aluminum are composed essentially of aluminum oxide. They are formed by the action of oxygen ions penetrating to the metal surface during the electrolytic oxidation treatment. These coatings can be formed in a number of different electrolytes, as for example, those which contain sulphuric acid, chromic acid, oxalic acid, or boric acid. These are the commonest and most useful electrolytes employed commercially. Except for certain specific conditions of formation, the coatings in general have been found to be amorphous alumina, as far as can be determined by X-ray or electron-diffraction methods. Anodic oxidation processes can be arranged in three rather general classes if they are grouped in relation to the solvent action of the electrolyte on the coating.4 In the first class, the electrolyte has little or no solvent action on the coating that is formed. In general, coatings produced under such circumstances are nonporous and non-adsorptive. In the second class, the electrolyte exerts an appreciable solvent action on the coating. These coatings are porous and adsorptive. Finally, for the third class, the electrolyte tends to dissolve the coating about as rapidly as it is formed. This action produces electrolytic brightening or anodic polishing of the aluminum surface and at most leaves only a very thin film of oxide. The nonporous and nonadsorptive type of oxide film is represented by the coatings that are formed when solutions of boric acid are employed as the electrolyte. It is especially significant that these impervious films are formed in electrolytes that exert little or no solvent action on the coating. Where a boric acid electrolyte is used, the coating tends to form rapidly, with the result that the flow of current is soon reduced to substantially zero. This indicates that the growth of the coating has stopped. As a rule, the thickness of the coating is roughly proportional to the voltage employed for formation and the coatings of this type are exceedingly thin. In an electrolyte of this type, the coating has a high resistance when the aluminum is made anode; consequently, any current that may flow (leakage current) is very

Jan 1, 1944

By F. Keller, J. D. Edwards

The anodic treatment of aluminum presents problems of scientific as well as of commercial interest.l-3 Of particular interest is the fact that, during the anodic oxidation process, the oxide continues to form at the metal-oxide interface under any oxide previously formed. This has led to speculation as to the mechanism involved in the formation of the relatively thick oxide coatings that are used commercially for decorative or protective purposes. Furthermore, the ability of certain types of oxide coatings to adsorb dyes and other substances has stimulated research to determine the actual structure of these adsorptive coatings. It has been found that anodic oxide coatings on aluminum are composed essentially of aluminum oxide. They are formed by the action of oxygen ions penetrating to the metal surface during the electrolytic oxidation treatment. These coatings can be formed in a number of different electrolytes, as for example, those which contain sulphuric acid, chromic acid, oxalic acid, or boric acid. These are the commonest and most useful electrolytes employed commercially. Except for certain specific conditions of formation, the coatings in general have been found to be amorphous alumina, as far as can be determined by X-ray or electron-diffraction methods. Anodic oxidation processes can be arranged in three rather general classes if they are grouped in relation to the solvent action of the electrolyte on the coating.4 In the first class, the electrolyte has little or no solvent action on the coating that is formed. In general, coatings produced under such circumstances are nonporous and non-adsorptive. In the second class, the electrolyte exerts an appreciable solvent action on the coating. These coatings are porous and adsorptive. Finally, for the third class, the electrolyte tends to dissolve the coating about as rapidly as it is formed. This action produces electrolytic brightening or anodic polishing of the aluminum surface and at most leaves only a very thin film of oxide. The nonporous and nonadsorptive type of oxide film is represented by the coatings that are formed when solutions of boric acid are employed as the electrolyte. It is especially significant that these impervious films are formed in electrolytes that exert little or no solvent action on the coating. Where a boric acid electrolyte is used, the coating tends to form rapidly, with the result that the flow of current is soon reduced to substantially zero. This indicates that the growth of the coating has stopped. As a rule, the thickness of the coating is roughly proportional to the voltage employed for formation and the coatings of this type are exceedingly thin. In an electrolyte of this type, the coating has a high resistance when the aluminum is made anode; consequently, any current that may flow (leakage current) is very

Jan 1, 1944

By C. R. Boyd

This section is about fifty miles in length, extending from the semi-magnetic and brown iron-ore deposits, near South Fork of Holston River, on Virginia and Tennessee State line, through Bristol, Tenn., Goodson, Imboden, or Mineral City, and Big Stone Gap, Va., to the Cumberland Mountain, on the line between Virginia and Kentucky. Following a geological section from the southeast for near South Holston River), to the northwest, we encounter, first: The slates of No. III.,* generally dipping southeasterly with a trend of N. 65&apos; E. They ontcrop along the north bank of South Holston River, having a thickness of 375 feet, 260 feet of which, as at Pen Rhyn quarry and the James quarry, southeast of Bristol, is slate of high grade for interior architectural uses. Next northwest is an undulating series, giving surface-exhibits of these slates, alternating with Trenton limestone, for 21/2 miles, to the&apos; line of semi-magnetic red iron-ores and brown iron-ores, of the upper horizon of No. II., generally pitching southeasterly, as though the whole series, including the slate described, formed a great trough, with its middle

Jan 1, 1887

By Charles Behre

THIS paper deals with recent geologic studies in the slate belt of Northampton, Lehigh and Berks counties, Pennsylvania. The work was conducted under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Topographic and Geologic Survey. Three years have now been spent in detailed consideration of the economic geology of this region. In the field, particular attention was paid to the bearing of geology on quarry development and property valuation and the object of this paper is to summarize the results from that viewpoint. Excellent studies of a somewhat similar nature have already been carried out by Bowles,1 but with the emphasis upon the details of quarrying and fabricating methods, rather than upon the geologic relations. THE NORTHAMPTON-LEHIGH-BERKS DISTRICT Location The region here discussed lies in east-central Pennsylvania and extends southwestward from Delaware River, on the New Jersey line, to the Schuylkill in north-central Berks County. It is an elongated belt occupying the northern sections of the three counties mentioned and lying along the southern edge of Blue Mountain. Its length is about 50 miles and its average width five or six, though in places it attains a maximum of 10 miles.

Jan 1, 1928

By H. H. Hausner, H. S. Kalish

M. Hansen—This paper certainly is an interesting study. Although I have not had too much experience in the powder metallurgical methods of studying phase equilibria, I would like to say the following concerning the interpretations of the results obtained: 1. The existence of a zirconium-rich eutectic having a melting point close to 950°C and containing approximately 5 pct beryllium is well established. 2. Undoubtedly sintering of the original compacts (i.e., without repressing and resintering at 1350°C) resulted in a condition being far from equilibrium, even in the low-melting point zircon-rich region where undissolved zirconium particles have been observed. This means that only partial reaction between the component powders has taken place. 3. In preparing and handling powder mixtures for pressing and sintering, we have found that with powders differing considerably in density, and also in particle size, separation in layers of different composition may occur. This means that a concentration gradient would exist within such samples. This phenomenon may, at least to some extent, account for the difference in microstructure of the top and bottom regions of some of the sintered samples. If this is the case, density figures for some of the nominal compositions would not represent actual densities of those mixtures. 4. Fig. 1 shows that the low densities of mixtures with 40 and 60 pct beryllium sintered at 1350°C are changed to much higher densities if the products sintered at 1100°C are repressed and resintered at 1350°C, whereby an approach toward equilibrium takes place. This would mean that the low density and growth in volume is due to nonequilibrium conditions. If this is true, would it be justified, then, to conclude that "the remarkable growth of the alloys in the vicinity of 40 to 60 pct Be indicates the formation of a high-melting point phase, probably accompanied by a considerable change in volume due to a large alteration of the crystal structure from that of the original compounds"? If some compound formation has taken place already during the first sintering at 950" to 1350°C, more compound would be formed by repressing and re-sintering of the 1100" samples. This treatment, however, results in higher, rather than lower, densities. In general, the density-composition curve of alloy systems containing one or more intermediate phases is characterized by a more or less defined contraction (decrease in specific volume, increase in density) over the "theoretical" density. Does not discrepancy exist between the two statements that "growth of the alloy indicates the formation of a high-melting phase . . ." and "even at 1350°C, no indications of sintering have been observed"? 5. I am not sure that the explanation given for the fact that fig. 4 did not reveal as much eutectic as the top portions of the mixture with 2 pct Be, is correct. The density of the melt containing only 5 pct Be or even perhaps less, is not too much different from that of the nominal composition. The reason might be also that there was already some separation of the components in the pressed compact. 6. I do not understand why the microstructure of the bottom regions of the compact with 5 pct Be (fig. 6) is so different from that of the top regions (fig. 5). The compact was melted on sintering at 1100°C. Its composition lies close to the eutectic point. There should be at least some lamellar structure in the bottom regions too; otherwise, the composition of top and bottom must have been very different after sintering, because the eutectic is said to extend as far as the composition ZrBe2. In case the white and gray areas of fig. 6 are both gamma, and the black areas undissolved zirconium, this composition would be close to the phase coexisting with zirconium, that is, ZrBe2, according to the hypothetical diagram, or a compound richer in zirconium. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 are not mentioned in the text. 8. The great difference in microstructure of the composition 20 pct Be of figs. 8 and 14 on one side and fig. 15 on the other side proves that sintering at 950" and 1100°C results only in partial reaction of the powers. 9. The mixture with 60 pct Be (fig. 19) seems to consist of two phases, rather than one phase, one interspersed in a matrix of another. 10. The statement that the eta phase "may be an intermetallic compound or the product of a peritectic or monotectic reaction" seems to be misleading, because the product of a peritectic or monotectic reaction in this region of the system must be an intermetallic compound. 11. If there is some solid solubility of Be in alpha and beta-Zr, it would be expected to be higher in beta-Zr (b.c.c.) than in alpha-Zr (h.c.p.). The temperature of the polymorphic transformation of zirconium then would be lowered, rather than increased. In accordance with this, Battelle has found that the transformation point of titanium is decreased by beryllium. 12. In case the phases present in alloys with 80, 90, and 95 pct Be are identical (which appears to be correct), it is striking that the relative amounts of both phases (eta and beryllium) are not too different within this wide range of composition. With 60 to 65 pct Be

Jan 1, 1951

Discussion of the paper of DR. L. EDELEANU, presented at the Pittsburgh meeting, October, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 93, September, 1914, pp. 2313 to 2332. F. W. BUSHONG,* Pittsburgh, Pa.-This process of extraction is particularly advantageous in the case of Roumanian oil, on account of its high aromatic content. I have prepared a paper, which will appear probably next month in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, describing a series of two-degree fractions of oil from the Nowata field in Oklahoma. I have made extractions with liquid sulphur dioxide in accordance with Dr. Edeleanu&apos;s method, and found that the Oklahoma oils, for instance the kerosene fractions, are purified in this way, although the quantity taken out does not at all compare with that taken out of the Roumanian oil. I have made careful analyses of separate fractions, before and after extraction, and they show a very distinct fractional separation-. I like the distinction, brought out by Dr. Day in previous discussions, in regard to oils, rather than oil, and his beautiful illustration of fractionation. Just as fuller&apos;s earth, and other clays, will enable us to obtain lower-boiling fractional portions of the oils, and eventually retain a residuum which is hard to get rid of, or to remove, so there is an advantage to be gained by the use of a reagent which begins at the other end by taking out these last constituents first, namely, ozone. I have also analyzed the ozonides and they are derivatives of hydrocarbons very much poorer. in hydrogen than we have heretofore supposed. Similar results have been obtained with Roumanian, Russian, and Italian petroleums. Furthermore, I have prepared ozonides from a fraction of Oklahoma oils, both before and after ex-&apos; traction with liquid sulphur dioxide, and found that the ozonide obtained from the extract is the same as that precipitated out of the original oils. In other words, the residual substance, which the fuller&apos;s earth retains, is the one first thrown down by the use of ozone, but it may also be extracted by liquid sulphur dioxide- and be thus separated in apparently unaltered condition. The analysis of this extract corresponds to the formula C15H20, which is surprising, since it is lower in hydrogen content than we have been in the habit of considering among the constituents of our oils. The extract was probably contaminated with other hydro-carbons, but I think it is unquestionable that we must look for hydro-carbons in petroleum which correspond to a formula at least -as low in hydrogen as C15H2o, and possibly even as low as C15H16.

Jan 4, 1915

By E. F. Poncelet

Forty years ago A. A. Griffith developed a theory explaining why brittle materials displayed such low tensile strengths.&apos; He based his views on two points. First, he found himself compelled to assume that all brittle materials are replete with flaws, cracks, and other defects that act, although quite invisible, as large stress raisers. Second, he applied the "theorem of minimum potential energy," which says that the total potential energy of a system must pass from the unbroken to the broken condition by a process involving a continuous decrease in potential energy. By this means he satisfactorily accounted for the noted low strength of such solids and also for the wide spread obtained in experimental measurement of these strengths. So successful has the theory been that it is favored by some to this day. Unfortunately this theory is of limited use beyond the explanation of these two noted phenomena and it is keenly felt that a better theoretical insight into the physics of the fracturing process is needed as the volume of experimental evidence accumulates. The author proposes in the following to build on the fundamentally sound concepts of Griffith and, with the help of increased theoretical knowledge over that available to Griffith, develop a mechanism for frac-ture which will provide far greater understanding of the experimental evidence accumulated to date than is possible from the original Griffith idea. THE GRlFFlTH THEORY Very little progress indeed can be made without accepting the first postulate of Griffith which supposes all brittle solids to be full of microcracks. It would be difficult indeed to find a better mechanism for the small strength of such brittle materials, in conjunction with the fact that the energy that must be expended for comminution is by no means small. The postulate of the existence of the microcracks permits the breakup of the various bonds a few at a time by concentrating the stress at the tip of the progressing crack, while the total energy expended is the same as if they all had been ruptured simultaneously. The only flaw in the argument is that no reasonable explanation has been proposed to account for the genesis of such cracks. Indeed their very presence is in violation of the Griffith second postulate, the potential energy theorem. This theorem is straightforward for isothermal processes, and, in spite of Griffith, there is some doubt that treating the problem isothermally is legitimate. The surface energy of bodies is a free energy, not a potential energy as stated by Griffith, and the production of new surface free energies is not necessarily an isothermal process. There is ample evidence to the contrary. Generally speaking, if heating a body increases its surface area, then, by virtue of Le Chatelier&apos;s principle, any increase of that area by other means will tend to lower its surface temperature. Lord Kelvin calculated the actual cooling that resulted in drawing out a film of liquid.2 R. A. Houston calculated the surface cooling that resulted in stretching a metal wire.3 These calculations were made by applying the Carnot cycle to the process and evaluating the thermodynamics thereof. IRREVERSIBILITY OF THE FRACTURING PROCESS While Griffith was very careful not to say so, the impression gained from studying his papers is that he considered the fracturing process as reversible, that is, a succession of quasi-equilibrium states. There is ample evidence that it is not. The indication that the new surfaces produced by the propagation of a crack are cooler than the original body points to an irreversible heat flow from the interior to the new surfaces to equalize the temperatures. If the process be reversible, any crack accidentally formed should immediately close up as, in the absence of any strain energy, the potential energy would thereby be lowered. The fact that they do not, constitutes a paradox. Such paradoxes are nothing new where certain phenomena that propagate from minuscule nuclei are assumed to be reversible. Such is, for instance, the condensation of a pure saturated vapor that is suddenly chilled by adiabatic expansion. At the beginning the tiny droplets that are formed should be only a few angstroms in size, but the vapor pressure at such droplets is so high that they should evaporate at once. A similar situation arises if a saturated pure solution becomes super-saturated upon cooling; the first tiny crystal nuclei should dissolve as fast as

Jan 1, 1964

By J. C. Swartz

Measurements of the effect of precipitation stresses on the solubility of cementite (Fe3C) precipitates in a iron are reported. Solubilities were determined from measurements of the Snoek relaxation due to interstitial carbon after quenching from various equilibrium treatments. Stress-free precipitates were obtained by a spheroidizing treatment of vacuum-melted Fe 0.06 wt pet C. Subsequent equilibration treatments were designed to suppress nucleation of other precipitates. The results for stress-free cementite give a heat of solution of 14.8 i 0.2 keal per mole and an entropy change of 1.1 i 0.2 eu in the temperature range 400" to 715°C. Comparison with previous data indicates that the heat of solution increases about 6 keal per mole as temperature increases from 700" to 1000°C. Data on self-stressed cementite in quench-aged specimens of Fe 0.013 wt pet C indicate 1) an apparent heat of solution of 12.1 i 0.4 keal per mole in the range 280" to 690°C, 2) a strain energy of- 1.1 keal per mole Fe3C accompanying precipitation at 280°C, and 3&apos;) a gradual decrease in the strain energy of precipitation with increasing equilibration temperature. In com-parison with 2 and 3 the strain energy calculated for an isotropic model is 1.7 keal per mole Fe3C. The lower values obtained from the experiment indicated substantial stress velaxation by dislocation motion. WHEN a supersaturated solution of carbon in a iron is aged at temperatures in the range 200o to 700oC, the carbon clusters by interstitial diffusion and forms cementite (Fe3C) precipitate particles. Unstressed cementite has a volume per iron atom 9 pet higher than that of a iron;&apos; hence, cementite precipitate particles are usually under pressure from the iron matrix. The pressure would tend to increase the solubility of cementite in iron.&apos; This report describes anelastic measurements of the solubilities of self-stressed and stress-free cementite in a iron. Previous determinations of the cementite solubility are summarized in Table I. The method of cementite formation for each reference was studied to ascertain the state of stress of the cementite. The results judged to be for stress-free and stressed cementite are distinguished in the table. In the next section an estimate of the stress effect is obtained which is clearly too small to account for the large difference between the previous results in parts A and B of the table. THEORETICAL Let AGO be the standard free-energy change of the reaction Fe3C (eem.) = 3Fe (a) + C (in a) [1] in the absence of stresses. Since cementite precipitates appear to be rather pure10 and the carbon is so dilute in the iron,8 the cementite and iron of Eq. [ I] for the stress-free case have essentially unit activities and the activity of carbon equals its atom fraction xoC Then the stress-free equilibrium is expressed by RT In XoC = -?GO 121 To first approximation the change in the chemical potential of carbon due to the precipitation stresses equals the elastic strain energy W accompanying precipitation of a mole of cementite.2 Hence, in the presence of the precipitation stresses the equilibrium is described by RT In x sq = -?G° + W [3] where xsC is the mole fraction of dissolved carbon in the stressed case. An approximate value of W can be obtained from analysis of the inclusion problem in elasticity theory. The inclusion is a small portion of the matrix phase which has suffered a transformation while still imbedded in the matrix. In the absence of the constraint of the matrix the transformation would be equivalent to a uniform dilational strain eT. Both the matrix (a) phase and inclusion (0) phase are assumed to be homogeneous, isotropic materials. When the a and 0 phases have the same elastic moduli, which is approximately true for iron and cementite,11 the total strain energy per mole ß is12 2µVß(eT)2(3 +4 µx)-I [4]

Jan 1, 1968

By R. A. Vandermeer, J. C. Ogle

Two distinct types of depth-dependent variations in texture have been observed in niobium cold-rolled various amounts up to 99.5 pct reduction in thickness. These nonuniformities are thought to be the results of nonhomogeneous plastic dewmation during rolling. The first type is characterized by a zone at intermediate depths that tends to lack certain strong orientations which are present in the surface and center layers of the rolled stock. This type of texture modification seemed to be associuted with "high" body rolling and may be related to the shape of the zone of deformation in rolling. The second type of texture inhomogeneity found involved the formation of a unique texture in the surface layers of heavily rolled strip. High fiiction forces between work piece and rolls appear to be needed to generate and maintain this texture. We believe that this unique surface texture results from a shear mode of deformation in the surface layers. THE evolution of texture in both the surface and center regions of cold-rolled niobium as a function of increasing deformation from 43 to 99.5 pct reduction in thickness was reported in a previous paper.&apos; It was noted that for strips rolled between 95 and 98 pct reduction a distinctly different texture appeared in the surface layers which was unlike the center texture. Certain other layer to layer textural variations were also detected during the experimental phase of that work but were not described in the paper. Surface textures have been reported previously for the bcc materials iron and Steel2-4 and are well known in the fcc metals.5 It is usually stated that these are shear textures which arise under conditions of high friction between specimen and rolls. Work by Mayer-Rosa and Haessner5 n niobium rolled under conditions presumed to be high roll friction gave no indication, however, of a surface texture in that material. This is indeed puzzling in view of our results.&apos; Thus we undertook additional experiments designed to study the stability of the surface texture for certain rolling variables. The variables investigated were the presence or absence of lubrication, amount of reduction per pass, and reverse vs unidirectional rolling. It is the purpose of the present paper to describe the kinds of depth-dependent textural inhomogeneities that we have observed in rolled niobium as well as to present the results of our recent experiments on the stability of the surface texture. Possible explanations for the depth-dependent texture variations will be discussed in terms of nonhomogeneous plastic deformation during rolling. EXPERIMENTAL Specimens cut from the niobium rolled to different reductions in the previous study1 were examined at various layer levels throughout the strip thickness for textural inhomogeneity. The specimen surfaces were either etched or machine ground and etched to remove material to a specific depth. Textures were determined by means of the Schulz X-ray reflection pole figure method with a Siemens texture goniometer and Cum X radiation. Since the important intensity peaks of the textures in niobium are usually located on the normal direction (N.D.) to rolling direction (R.D.) radius of the (110) pole figures, it was sufficient in many cases to scan only along this radius. At selected depths or where additional information was required the entire (110) pole figure was also obtained. In studying the stability and formation of the surface texture, experiments were conducted on 0.400-in.-thick, fine-grained, randomly oriented niobium specimens extracted from the same starting stock as that used in the earlier study.&apos; Two of these specimens were rolled at room temperature to a total reduction of 96.4 pct. One was rolled between cleaned and degreased rolls with no lubrication. The other was lubricated between passes with Welch Duo Seal vacuum pump oil. The rolling schedules of each were kept as nearly identical as possible. Drafts were of the order of 0.006 to 0.012 in. per pass. Other experiments consisted of rolling specimens at constant fractional reduction per pass, i.e., (ta- tb)/ta equals a constant where ta and tb are the entrance and exit thickness of the rolled stock, rather than at a constant draft, i.e., ta- tb equals a constant. Ten specimens were rolled at room temperature on a two-high, motor-driven rolling mill with 8-in.-diam rolls. These specimens were rolled to thicknesses of between 0.041 and 0.073 in. (82 to 90 pct total reduction) at approximately constant reductions per pass ranging from 9 to 45 pct. Kerosene was used as a lubricant. Half of the specimens were always rolled in the same direction while the other half were reversed end to end at each pass. The texture in the surface regions was determined with the X-ray technique described above. RESULTS The textural inhomogeneities noted in niobium rolled from fine-grained, randomly oriented stock 1.5 in. long by 0.75 in. wide by 0.40 in. thick can be classified into two types. The first may be discussed with the aid of Figs. 1 to 3. Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional plot of the X-ray intensity in units of times random vs f , the angle from the N.D. to any point along the N.D. to R.D. radius of the (110) pole figure, and depth, given as percent of the thickness (?t/to X 100, where at is the thickness of material removed and to is the as-rolled

Jan 1, 1970

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Jan 1, 1938