Search Documents

By Bernard MacDonald

Of the treatment of the slime-pulp of gold- and silver-ores by cyanidation, agitation is an essential part. When prepared for treatment, this pulp, consisting of ore reduced to such fineness that approximately 80 per cent. of it will pass through a 200-mesh screen, is mixed with a certain proportion of water, carrying in solution the cluantity of cyanide (KCN) and other chemicals required. The water-constituent of the pulp thus prepared usually ranges from 1 to 2 parts by weight to 1 of the dry ore. Thus constituted, the pulp is charged into treatment-tanks, the shape and capacity of which vary, according to the quantity of pulp to be treated daily and the method of agitation to be employed. Tanks have no other function in a cyanide,plant than that of being economical and corlvellient containers or receptacles for holding the pulp, solutiou, or water used in the operations. It is by agitation that the solids in the pulp charged into the tanks are kept in suspension in, and mixed with, the solution in the proper proportions required for the treatment. If the proper mixture of solution to dolids be determined to be 2 to 1 by weight (which is, approximately, 5 to 1 by volume), this proportion should be maintained in every part of the charge; that is, each solid particle of the pulp, whether it be of' 180- or 400-mesh size, should be surrounded by five times its own volume of solution throughout the whole period of treatment. The reason is, that the amount of chemicals ascertaiued to be necessary for dissolving the gold and silver contained in the solids, is held in uniform solution in the water-constituent of the pulp, and, therefore, the determined proportions of solution and solids must be maintained at all times during treat-

Jan 1, 1912

By O. D. Sherby, J. E. Dorn

For elevated temperature-constant load creep tests of a solid solution alloys, the creep strain is a function of a temperature-compensated time parameter 0 = je H/RT dt. The activation energy H is equal to o constant of about 36,000 cal per mol. The substructures resulting from a given creep stress condition are functions of the creep strain independent of temperature. Each new creep stress gives a new unique set of grain substructures; this is one of the factors responsible for the failure of the mechanical equation of state for creep. IN this report an attempt is made to correlate the creep properties of dilute a: solid solutions in aluminum with the subgrain structures that are developed during creep. The possibilities of such correlations have already been suggested by Wood et al. and others1-" who demonstrated that the subgrain structures are functions of the creep stress, creep strain, rate of creep, and temperature. Investigations by Sherby and Dorn' have shown that the creep strain, E, at constant load for dilute a solid solutions of aluminum is given by the functional relationship: e = f(8,u,) [1] where: 0 equals te-AH/RT = temperature-compensated time; t, time; AH, activation energy, - 35,800 cal per mol; R, gas constant; T, absolute temperature, above 400°K; and u,, initial creep stress. Consequently, it was anticipated that the subgrain structure that develops during a constant load creep test should also correlate with any two of the three significant variables C, 8, and Another possible correlation between the subgrain structure and the creep variables is obtained by differentiating Eq. 1 with respect to time, whence the creep rate, 2, becomes: = (2L) (2) =f (, u,) e-AHRT [2] or: e = F (c e H/RT, 0) [3] For the minimum creep rate, ;,, 8 is solely a function of U, as revealed by Eq. 1. Consequently, at the minimum creep rate Eq. 3 reduces to: = F (eAH/RT) [41 Correlations between U, and i, eAH/RT were found valid for solid solution alloys of aluminum where AH was a constant of about 35,800 cal per mol. The parameter ;, eH/RT is identical to the Zener-Hollo-mon parameter8," used by them in evaluating the tensile properties of copper and other metals. Eq. 4 suggests that the subgrain structure developed during secondary creep might be correlatable with either of the two variables 2, e H/RT or u,. Some of the solid solution aluminum alloys which were discussed in an earlier report' were also used in the present investigation. Sheets of these alloys were homogenized, cold rolled from 0.100 to 0.070 in. in thickness and then recrystallized to about the same grain size. Their chemical composition and grain size are recorded in Table I. Creep specimens were selected with their tensile axes in the rolling direction. The details for creep testing have been described10 and will not be repeated here. All creep tests were performed under constant load conditions. Experimental Results and Discussion Metallographic Structure of Creep Specimens: In order to obtain a preliminary concept of creep on the metallographic structure of high purity aluminum, the various ruptured specimens previously used to obtain the creep data for pure aluminum were polished and etched electrolytically in a dilute solution of fluoroboric acid. Oblique illumination was used to reveal the substructures which, for convenience, are shown in correlation with the vs. ;, eH/RT curve in Fig. 1. It is necessary to emphasize that the data for the curve refer to the various secondary stages of creep whereas the micrographs refer to the fractured creep specimens. Nevertheless a regular and systematic correlation is observed between E, eAH/RT (or the creep stress) and the micro-structure at fracture. For In (e, eAH/RT) = 42.3, which refers to creep at a high creep rate and a low creep temperature, the fractured aluminum specimen, as shown by the micrograph in the upper right-hand corner of Fig. 1, exhibited extensive deforma-

Jan 1, 1954

By Charles W. Dickson

Jan 1, 1904

CONTENTS PAGE BAIN, EDGAR C.-The Nature of Martensite. Discussed by Ancel St. John, Henry S. Rawdon, Jerome Alexander, Howard Scott 1 FEILD, ALEXANDER L.-Effect of Zirconium on Hot-rolling Properties of High-sulfur Steels and the Occurrence of Zirconium Sulfide. Discussed by Beram D. Saklatwalla, Bradley. Stoughton, Andrew M'Cance, George F. Comstock, Alexander L. Feild 12 SAUVEUR, ALBERT and KRIVOBOK, V. N.-Use of Sodium Picrate in Revealing Dendritic Segregation in Iron Alloys. Discussed by George F. Comstock, John H. Hall 17 KINNEY, C. L., JR.-Economic Significance of Metalloids in Basic Pig Iron in Basil Open-hearth Practice. Discussed by V. J. Pazzetti, George B. Waterhouse, C. L. Kinney, Jr 19 NEAD, J. H.-Absorption of Sulfur from Producer Gas in Open-hearth Furnaces.. Discussed by George B. Waterhouse, C. L. Kinney, Jr 26 PRIESTLY, WILLIAM J.-Effect on Steel of Variations in Rate of Cooling in Ingot Molds. Discussed by Emil Gathmann, Paul E. McKinney, George A. Dornin. 27 MONYPENNY, JOHN H. G.-Stainless Steel, with Particular Reference to the Milder Varieties (Stainless Iron). Discussed by P. A. E.-Armstrong, Beram D. Saklatwalla 33 ROYSTER, P. H., and JOSEPH, T. L.-Effect of Coke Combustibility on Stock Descent in Blast Furnaces. Discussed by Ralph H. Sweetser,. Richard Franchot, Sidney Cornell, T. L. Joseph 41 DAVIS, F. W., and BOLE, G. A.-Observations on Requirements of Refractories for Open Hearth. Discussed by C. L. Kinney, Jr., L. F. Reinartz, P. E. McKinney 46

Jan 5, 1924

By P. de Vitry, Oliver Bowles

The conventional wire saw, introduced in the slate district of Pennsylvania by the Bureau of Mines in 1927, and used thereafter with remarkable success, consists of a three-strand steel cable having a diameter of 93/16 or 54 in. The equipment, methods used, and accomplishments have been described in previous reports.'-I Similar wire saws have been used extensively in Europe, in quarries and in shaping blocks and slabs. During the period 1932-1937, competition in European marble quarries was keen, prices were declining, and orders were not abundant. When orders were received, there was generally an urgent call for speedy delivery. Because of the diversification of demands, it was impossible to maintain in stock marbles of the color, size, and thickness called for, therefore the material generally had to be fabricated after the order was received. The wire saw enabled stone mills to fill such orders promptly. With skillful handling, 7/8-in. slabs could be cut accurately and rapidly with this equipment. It was found, however, that, as the three-strand wire became worn, the cutting speed dropped rapidly and the cut became less accurate. To overcome these difficulties the junior author of this paper, after much experimentation, developed a new type of wire consisting of a single ribbon-shaped strand, twisted as shown in Fig. I. To ensure straight sawing, the twist of the ribbon is reversed from right to left and vice versa every 25 ft. The reversal of the twist is shown in Fig. 2. This is not a new feature; it has been used to advantage with the three-strand wire both in Europe and America for several years. However, some difficulties arise in splicing the three-strand reverse-twist wire, and the claim is made that cutting is less accurate as the wire becomes worn. To make an endless belt, the ends of the single-strand wire are brazed together with Pyrophyllite is a hydrous aluminum silicate (A1²Si4O10(OH)²)1 that, occurs in both the foliated and the massive forms. The foliated variety resembles talc in that it has a greasy feel, a pearly luster, perfect basal cleavage, and usually is white, although in some deposits apple green, gray, brown, russet, and nearly black specimens may be found. The massive deposits of pyrophyllite yield pearl gray to light tan aggregates, some of which are so friable that they may be crushed with the hands into a fine gritty powder. Frequently specimens of the massive variety are studded with crystals of radial structure. The mineral has a specific gravity of about 2.7 and a hardness of 1 on Mohs' scale.' The chemical composition of commercial pyrophyllite reflects the mineralogy of the deposits, which, according to Stuckey12 contain pyrophyllite and quartz, together with chloritoid, sericite, and a few other minerals of negligible importance. The latter, he says, ('are noticed in but small quantities to the extent they might occur as accessory constituents of an igneous rock or as products of regional metamorphism or weathering. . . . Quartz is abundant everywhere except in the very best grades of pyrophyllite." Analyses of specimens from several deposits are listed in Table 1, showing that the silica content varies from 57 to 73 per cent and the alumina from 22 to 33 per cent. Oxides of iron and the alkaline metals are collectively present, with one exception, to an extent of about 1 to 1.5 per cent. Sources At present, North Carolina is the only commercial source of pyrophyllite, although the mineral has been found in small quantities in many parts of the world. The North Carolina deposits are in the "Carolina Slate Belt," which traverses the center of the state in a southwesterly direction. This belt varies from 8 to 50 miles in width. Two major deposits of pyrophyllite lie along its eastern boundary, in what is known as the Deep

Jan 1, 1942

By P. de Vitry, Oliver Bowles

The conventional wire saw, introduced in the slate district of Pennsylvania by the Bureau of Mines in 1927, and used thereafter with remarkable success, consists of a three-strand steel cable having a diameter of 93/16 or 54 in. The equipment, methods used, and accomplishments have been described in previous reports.'-I Similar wire saws have been used extensively in Europe, in quarries and in shaping blocks and slabs. During the period 1932-1937, competition in European marble quarries was keen, prices were declining, and orders were not abundant. When orders were received, there was generally an urgent call for speedy delivery. Because of the diversification of demands, it was impossible to maintain in stock marbles of the color, size, and thickness called for, therefore the material generally had to be fabricated after the order was received. The wire saw enabled stone mills to fill such orders promptly. With skillful handling, 7/8-in. slabs could be cut accurately and rapidly with this equipment. It was found, however, that, as the three-strand wire became worn, the cutting speed dropped rapidly and the cut became less accurate. To overcome these difficulties the junior author of this paper, after much experimentation, developed a new type of wire consisting of a single ribbon-shaped strand, twisted as shown in Fig. I. To ensure straight sawing, the twist of the ribbon is reversed from right to left and vice versa every 25 ft. The reversal of the twist is shown in Fig. 2. This is not a new feature; it has been used to advantage with the three-strand wire both in Europe and America for several years. However, some difficulties arise in splicing the three-strand reverse-twist wire, and the claim is made that cutting is less accurate as the wire becomes worn. To make an endless belt, the ends of the single-strand wire are brazed together with Pyrophyllite is a hydrous aluminum silicate (A1²Si4O10(OH)²)1 that, occurs in both the foliated and the massive forms. The foliated variety resembles talc in that it has a greasy feel, a pearly luster, perfect basal cleavage, and usually is white, although in some deposits apple green, gray, brown, russet, and nearly black specimens may be found. The massive deposits of pyrophyllite yield pearl gray to light tan aggregates, some of which are so friable that they may be crushed with the hands into a fine gritty powder. Frequently specimens of the massive variety are studded with crystals of radial structure. The mineral has a specific gravity of about 2.7 and a hardness of 1 on Mohs' scale.' The chemical composition of commercial pyrophyllite reflects the mineralogy of the deposits, which, according to Stuckey12 contain pyrophyllite and quartz, together with chloritoid, sericite, and a few other minerals of negligible importance. The latter, he says, ('are noticed in but small quantities to the extent they might occur as accessory constituents of an igneous rock or as products of regional metamorphism or weathering. . . . Quartz is abundant everywhere except in the very best grades of pyrophyllite." Analyses of specimens from several deposits are listed in Table 1, showing that the silica content varies from 57 to 73 per cent and the alumina from 22 to 33 per cent. Oxides of iron and the alkaline metals are collectively present, with one exception, to an extent of about 1 to 1.5 per cent. Sources At present, North Carolina is the only commercial source of pyrophyllite, although the mineral has been found in small quantities in many parts of the world. The North Carolina deposits are in the "Carolina Slate Belt," which traverses the center of the state in a southwesterly direction. This belt varies from 8 to 50 miles in width. Two major deposits of pyrophyllite lie along its eastern boundary, in what is known as the Deep

Jan 1, 1942

By Herbert Clark Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover

IN the last book I have explained the methods of delimiting- the meers along each kind of vein, and the duties of mine officials. In this book1 I will in like manner explain the principles of underground mining and the art of surveying. First then, I will proceed to deal with those matters which pertain to the former heading, since both the subject and methodical arrangement require it. And so I will describe first of all the digging of shafts, tunnels, and drifts on venae profundae; next I will discuss the good indications shown by canales2, by the materials which are dug out, and by the rocks ; then I will speak of the tools by which veins and rocks are broken down and excavated ; the method by which fire shatters the hard veins ; and further, of the machines with which water is drawn from the shafts and air is forced into deep shafts and long tunnels, for digging is impeded by the inrush of the former or the failure of the latter ; next I will deal with the two kinds of shafts, and with the making of them and of tunnels ; and finally, I will describe the method of mining venae dilatatae, venae cumulatae, and stringers.

Jan 1, 1950

By W. H. Emmons

Most mineral deposits change as they are followed downward on their dips. Some of these changes are due to primary arrangement; different ores were precipitated at different depths when the deposits were formed. Other changes are due to weathering or secondary enrichment. The chief changes resulting from weathering, in the main, are understood and standard changes are recognized. The processes are relatively simple. They take place at ordinary temperatures and pressures and can be duplicated in the laboratories. Moreover, there are thousands of deposits available for study, because the processes take place near the surface where the development of mines is begun. The changes due to primary arrangement of the deposits of the metals are not so well understood. Deposition has taken place at higher temperatures and our knowledge of the chemistry of the processes leaves much to he desired. Very few experimental data are available. The deposits, moreover, offer fewer examples because many mines are not developed to depths where the changes can be studied and a change to unprofitable material usually results in stopping work. Most students of ore deposits now accept, as confirmed, the hypothesis that nearly all lodes and related deposits were formed by solutions originating in intrusive igneous masses. Outward from these masses, the deposits at many places are grouped in zones and the arrangement noted from the intrusions outward are commonly the reverse of the changes noted from the surface downward in a single lode. A study of the changes in groups of deposits, from the parent intrusion outward, will throw light on the changes to be expected in a single lode downward. Recause the changes in series of deposits from the intrusive outward may all be observed near the surface, where more data are available, it is possible to increase the number of examples many fold and to apply the statisttical method of study with greater confidence of avoiding error. It is not everywhere possible to identify the parent igneous body to which a group of ore deposits are related. Several kinds of criteria are available; certain groups are superior to others. By applying the

Jan 1, 1924

By Arthur F. Taggart

PROGRESS in a technical art is of several kinds. It springs .from many diverse sources. It comprises invention, mechanical improvement, operating advance, analytical study, education. Invention is, by definition, a relatively great, essentially individual step, taken quickly. Operating advance is the slow, cumulated march of practice; in contrast, it moves at the pace of the tortoise, but over, the years its effects rival and, in some cases, surpass those of invention. Mechanical improvement- is a usual concomitant of the reduction of invention. to operating practice; thereafter it is a primary tool of operating advance. Analytical study is the process of mental digestion of the fruits of invention and practice. Its purpose is to render these into a form assimilable by the art as a whole, and by the perennial crop of would be practitioners. Education, disseminating the results of such study, consolidates and maintains the positions gained. Thus, slowly at first, but continuously accelerating, the tide of progress grows- to flood. Such growth, in mathematical parlance, is expressible in the general form y = mxn, where x is time, n is some positive number greater than one, m is another positive number, and y is the state of the action at instant x. When n is 2, the readers will recognize the graph of the equation as one branch of the familiar square parabola, whose property it is to become parallel to the y-axis; i.e., to move at an infinite rate, in that never-never

Jan 1, 1947

By S. R. Krogh, T. O. Olsen

Analytical expressions for the breakage rate as functions of mill charge, mill speed, particle size, ball diameter, and ball load are derived, using idealized models for probability of breakage (Gaudin and Meloy), energy distribution (Mempel), and arithmetic mean of effective ball energy (Langemanns). Computational results using the theoretical equations are compared to experiments. The equations enable simulation of ball mill grinding at different grinding conditions.

Jan 1, 1973

By Rudolph G. Wuerker

MUCH descriptive matter[ ] has appeared on the subject of suspension roof supports, or roof bolting, as it is more commonly called. The wide- spread introduction of roof bolting into coal mines and metal mines is truly phenomenal. Mine operators were quick to recognize the advantages of supporting wide openings without hindrance to machine maneuverability and ventilation.

Jan 6, 1953

Jan 1, 1970

By Fred D. Wright, Philip B. Bucky

FOREWORD By E. D. Gardner[$] THE present known petroleum reserves are limited, and unless important new fields are discovered the Nation will be dependent, in the not too distant future, upon imports or upon synthetic liquid fuels to supplement domestic petroleum supplies. As a national defense measure, it would appear desirable to develop a substitute source of liquid fuels within the borders of the country if new discoveries of petroleum should prove disappointing. Congress undoubtedly had this in mind when it passed the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act (78th Congress, approved April 5, 1944). The act directed the Bureau of Mines to construct and operate demonstration plants for producing synthetic liquid fuels from coal and oil shale, and from forestry and agricultural products. As a part of this program, the Bureau of Mines has built a demonstration plant at Anvil Points, near Rifle, Colo., for retorting the oil shale, and has developed a mine to supply the plant with oil shale. At the beginning of mining operations, the physical qualities of the oil shale, which would have a bearing upon the selection of mining methods and practices for exploiting the deposits, were largely unknown. A comprehensive mining-research program has been set up to determine the best methods and practices to follow to obtain the lowest overall practicable mining cost for producing the oil shale on a large scale. Unusually low mining costs will be necessary for shale oil to be produced commercially. Consideration now is being given to exploiting a series of flat-lying beds 70 ft thick by a room-and-pillar method of three benches with the advance heading at the top. This report is one of a series giving the results obtained in research on mining problems. INTRODUCTION The structure and physical qualities of the oil shale indicate that the 70-ft interval of the oil-shale measure can be safely mined in open stopes; studies indicate that this method would be the most economical one to use.1 As labor will be a major item of expense, the largest equipment that could be operated efficiently in the workings would be required to obtain the lowest practicable mining cost. It was therefore desirable to know the maximum safe span of unsupported rooms and the size of pillars necessary to support the overburden. This paper describes the work done at the Columbia School of Mines Barodynamic Laboratory in determining the maximum safe unsupported roof spans and the minimum safe pillar dimensions for the oil-shale mine at Rifle, Colo.

Jan 1, 1947

By Christian F. Baiz

INTRODUCTION Industrial minerals can have similar financing requirements to those needs of metaliferrous and coal mining projects. One of the outstanding differences is the understanding of the many different markets that these industrial minerals represent. There are in excess of 30 principal industrial minerals ranging in terms of annual production from the largest quantity such as sand and gravel, to possibly the smallest quantity of production of a legitimate industrial mineral which may be defined as industrial and rough gem diamond. (See Tables 1 and 2) Project finance techniques, analytical methods, and information requirements are covered elsewhere in this Chapter and Chapter 10. Some comments on equity finance aspects follow. EQUITY AMOUNT The amount of equity in a financing transaction provides a cushion to the lender in case the project runs into trouble. Generally speaking, the greater the amount of risk in a project, the more equity a lender will require. The amount of cash equity in a project financing transaction is between 25 and 40 percent. The amount of leverage (debt/equity) is negotiable based on such factors as the strength and extent of the sponsor's undertakings, of the project's economics, and the term of a strong sales contract. Naturally, a borrower seeks to obtain d loan with as little equity required as can be negotiated. Zero percent equity is usually associated with a take-or-pay contract (a hell-or-high- water unconditional commitment under which the purchaser must pay for the commodity as though it were shipped regardless of whether it is actually mined or shipped) with a financially strong corporate entity i.e., the parent company or an end user. As a take-or-pay contract is tantamount to a guarantee of payment, the banker views the credit basis of the loan as being other than the borrower's mining operation and therefore will analyze the creditworthiness of the institution purchasing the commodity on the basis of its corporate balance sheet. Do not confuse a take-or-pay contract with a take-if- tendered or take-and-pay contract. Another means in the United States of obtaining zero percent equity is the carved out production payment financing, typical of coal mine financing. This involves the sale, or conveyance, by the owner of the mineral property of a production payment to a nominally capitalized company. The nominally capitalized company is formed solely to buy the production payment and usually borrows 100 percent of the purchase price from a lender. Equity amounts of 10 to 20 percent generally are found in transactions which employ techniques such as an advance sale or a subordinated lease/loan. These agreements are viewed as quasi equity by most banks for several reasons. First, the proceeds represent a cash infusion early in the project's life - usually prior to the bank lending any funds. Thus, the repayment schedule is "behind" that of the bank debt. In the case of an advance sale, repayment is in the form of a long-term supply contract with favorable terms, usually priced close to the mining operation's costs. There is also usually a requirement that all costs of the project be paid for by the loan or equity, often making the sponsors financially responsible for any cost overruns. Cost overruns are a major risk in any project, large or small, and are often due to unforeseen factors such as wildcat strikes, a piece of faulty equipment, or any event which delays completion, e.g., remote location, weather, etc.. . The question of how overruns are covered can be negotiated. For example, in addition to the original debt/equity ratio of the project, there can also be a cost overrun ratio that will

Jan 1, 1985

By Earl C. Willis

In selecting new or replacement mining machinery to be purchased, there are many considerations to be discussed and taken into account, the most important being the productivity of the machine and the maintenance cost and downtime to be expected with the new equipment. Productivity of a given mining machine is evaluated by the Industrial Engineering Department: analysis of potential upkeep and downtime calls for the Maintenance Department to enter into the task of evaluating new mining machines. This is a very important function of the maintenance department because a wrong decision or mistake in judgment, particularly in a commercial mining company, can be exceedingly expensive. Once the type and size of a machine is decided, an examination of units fitting the basic requirements will sometimes show one particular machine which has a distinct edge on the competitive machine. In this case, the decision is easy. However, in most cases, the performances of the machines being considered are so close that the decision becomes one that is very difficult to make on performance alone. Serious consideration must then be given to maintenance performances and features of the machine which would permit lower maintenance and less downtime.

Jan 7, 1963

By A. H. Geisler, R. F. Mehl, C. S. Barrett

The mechanism by which the supersaturated solid solution of 20 per cent silver in aluminum decomposes has been reported in two previous publications.1'2 The analysis of streaks in Laue photograms showed that thin platelike particles (the so-called Guinier-Preston aggregates) form upon matrix planes in the early state of decomposition.1 The size of these particles is larger, the higher the temperature at which they form in accordance with nucleation theory;³ at all temperatures they increase in size with aging.2 When they have grown thick enough to afford three-dimensional diffraction, powder X-ray photograms show that the structure is not that of the equilibrium precipitate but that of a transition lattice . Sincc this is also platelike in shape and also lies upon the (III) matrix planes with the [IIO] direction in the matrix parallel to the [II.O] direction in it seems likely that the original platelet particles are merely in an early stage of formation, and thus finely dispersed. The atomic spacing and pattern on the (00.1) plane in y' are identical with those on the (111) matrix plane to which it lies parallel, and since comparable directions in the two planes are parallel, the lattices are thus coherent at the interface; an analogous coherence has been found in aluminum-copper alloys.3 The structures y' and y are both close-packed hexagonal and are oriented alike; they differ only in interatomic distances. Consequently, y' is regarded as y strained from its ordinary dimensions by the lattice coherency between it and the matrix.2 The lattice movements that transform the matrix to the equilibrium precipitate appear to be very simple.2 The mechanism of precipitation in this system is simpler and is more precisely known than that in any other system hence the system should be a profitable one for the difficult task of correlating property changes with structural alterations. The present report provides additional studies on powder X-ray diffraction from alloys of 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent Ag, and presents the correlation of crystallographic changes with changes in microstructurc, Brinell hardness and electrical resistivity of the three alloys. Preparation of Samples and Experimental Procedure The preparation of the 20.2 per cent Ag alloy has been described2 Alloys containing 9.9 and 29.7 per cent Ag were prepared from 99.97 per cent A1 and 99.99+ per cent Ag using a similar procedure. Rolled

Jan 1, 1943

By R. F. Mehl, C. S. Barrett, A. H. Geisler

The mechanism by which the supersaturated solid solution of 20 per cent silver in aluminum decomposes has been reported in two previous publications.1'2 The analysis of streaks in Laue photograms showed that thin platelike particles (the so-called Guinier-Preston aggregates) form upon matrix planes in the early state of decomposition.1 The size of these particles is larger, the higher the temperature at which they form in accordance with nucleation theory;³ at all temperatures they increase in size with aging.2 When they have grown thick enough to afford three-dimensional diffraction, powder X-ray photograms show that the structure is not that of the equilibrium precipitate but that of a transition lattice . Sincc this is also platelike in shape and also lies upon the (III) matrix planes with the [IIO] direction in the matrix parallel to the [II.O] direction in it seems likely that the original platelet particles are merely in an early stage of formation, and thus finely dispersed. The atomic spacing and pattern on the (00.1) plane in y' are identical with those on the (111) matrix plane to which it lies parallel, and since comparable directions in the two planes are parallel, the lattices are thus coherent at the interface; an analogous coherence has been found in aluminum-copper alloys.3 The structures y' and y are both close-packed hexagonal and are oriented alike; they differ only in interatomic distances. Consequently, y' is regarded as y strained from its ordinary dimensions by the lattice coherency between it and the matrix.2 The lattice movements that transform the matrix to the equilibrium precipitate appear to be very simple.2 The mechanism of precipitation in this system is simpler and is more precisely known than that in any other system hence the system should be a profitable one for the difficult task of correlating property changes with structural alterations. The present report provides additional studies on powder X-ray diffraction from alloys of 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent Ag, and presents the correlation of crystallographic changes with changes in microstructurc, Brinell hardness and electrical resistivity of the three alloys. Preparation of Samples and Experimental Procedure The preparation of the 20.2 per cent Ag alloy has been described2 Alloys containing 9.9 and 29.7 per cent Ag were prepared from 99.97 per cent A1 and 99.99+ per cent Ag using a similar procedure. Rolled

Jan 1, 1943

By H. J. Wasson

DEVELOPMENTS in Venezuela during the past few months have been obscured by the hap-penings in Seminole and, more recently, those in southwest Texas. The question has been asked whether or not the opening of these vast new, prolific areas in the United States may not have depressed prices to a point so low as to give the developments in the Caribbean countries a serious setback. Nothing of the kind, however, has taken place, and on the contrary, there has been demonstrated the fact that Venezuela can profitably produce great quantities of oil under existing market conditions, and at the same time finance the foundation for further large expan-sion in the future. The three big factors which contribute to place Venezuela in a unique position and tend to insure the steady expansion of its oil industry are, in the order of their importance: I. Reasonable oil laws backed by a sound govern-ment, which comprehends the all-important fact that the country's prosperity depends on the prosperity of its industries, in a word, perceiving that the goose which lays the golden egg merits considerate treatment. II. The low cost of placing Venezuela oil on our At-lantic seaboard; not over $0.60 per barrel. III. The uniformly high average production per well and the large area of some of the individual pools. Under these conditions Venezuelan producers may be expected to continue steady and profitable ex-pansion even in the face of further market slumps. Their position is analogous to that of the low-cost copper producers, and unless artificial barriers, such as tariffs, come into play, Venezuela will steadily grow in importance. Within less than five years it should be second only to the United States among the oil-producing countries of the world.

Jan 10, 1927

By Graham Bright

THE rapid increase in reliability, the low cost f operation, the ready application of safety devices, and the growing availability of central-station power have made the question of installing a hoist of the electric type no longer debatable. Where adequate electric power is available, there are few cases where it would be advisable to install a steam or air hoist. The type of electrical equipment depends largely on the nature of the power supply, its capacity, and the form of the power contract under which power is purchased. In a large majority of cases, the available electric power is alternating current, three phase, 60 cycles. There is, however, considerable 25-cycle power in use; and in a few instances constant voltage direct current is the only power available for a small or an occasional medium-size hoist. Where a new hoist is to be installed, the designer of the mechanical parts can readily take care of the maximum stresses likely to be imposed by the' motor. Where the hoist is already installed and operated by steam or air and it is desired to substitute an electric motor for the engine, a careful check should be made to determine the advisability of using the old mechanical parts. In most cases it is better to install a complete new hoist than to attempt to use old mechanical parts. A steam engine has a definite maximum torque, which the hoist has been designed to withstand, while a motor may be able to deliver momentary torques beyond the strength of the mechanical parts of the hoist. The selection of the proper type of electrical equipment can only be made after complete information is obtained and certain calculations made to determine the capacities required. There are several methods used in making hoist calculations, but no matter what method is utilized a fair degree of familiarity with hoists and hoisting conditions is necessary before an intelligent analysis and proper selection can be made.

Jan 9, 1921

By R. S. Archer

SILICON is one of the most important elements in the metallurgy of aluminum. It is always present in small amounts in the ordinary grades of "pure" aluminum, and hence in all alloys made therefrom. Within the last few years binary alloys containing up to 13. per cent, of silicon have come into extensive use for castings. Silicon is also added, beyond the amount present as an impurity, in alloys containing one or more other elements such as copper, manganese, magnesium and nickel. The binary aluminum-silicon alloys are not yet heat treated to any extent in commercial practice, although, as will be shown, their properties are affected to a very considerable degree by heat treatment. There are other aluminum alloys that develop higher strength, but the special characteristics of the silicon alloys may well lead to the application of heat-treating processes on a commercial scale. The role of silicon in the heat treatment of aluminum alloys is more important than would be indicated by consideration of the binary alloys alone, because many of the alloys that are heat treated in regular commercial practice contain some silicon in addition to that derived from the aluminum ingot as an impurity. Among these may be mentioned the heat-treated 195 alloy castings, and the wrought alloys 258, Special 178 and 51S of the Aluminum Co. of America, and the German wrought alloy, Lautal. It is the purpose of this paper to present the results of experimental work and the conclusions derived therefrom regarding the heat treatment of the binary aluminum-silicon alloys. The products heat treated included forgings, chill castings and both "normal" and "modified" sand castings.

Jan 1, 1927