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By VlNTON H. CLARKE

Diamond-drill blasthole sloping has now been used for a long enough time to permit us to discuss fairly its problems from the ore-breaking angle and to attempt to peer into its future. To do this we have gathered information from many properties through questionnaires. The operators have indicated fairly well in their answers what they think of the method. The many variations of methods have by now been fairly well developed, and performance rates and. mining costs are well established at each property. All this can be laid down on paper with fair completeness. Now. knowing all this, what will the future of the method be? To attempt to look into the future of a mining method immediately brings to light many problems and variables. For instance: why were diamond drills used in the first place? What has the cost trend been? In what type of deposit has the method proved most advantageous? What will the future cost of diamonds be? What are the possible substitutes?

Jan 1, 1949

By E. S. Machlin

An extension of the thermodynamic theory has been made for the case of irreversible growth processes occurring by the motion of an interface. The theory is applicable to such diverse phenomena as diffusion, growth in recrystallization, continuous grain growth, growth of carbides, etc., growth of eutectoid products, growth in solidification, recovery, "slipless" flow, etc. THE publication of a recent book1 has served to focus attention on a very powerful means of treating certain irreversible processes. This method which has been formally described as the thermodynamic theory of irreversible processes is applicable to processes which involve an approach to equilibrium and for which the deviations from equilibrium are small. The irreversible processes can be classified into three groups: chemical reactions, transport processes (diffusion, heat and electrical flows), and relaxation phenomena involving a degradation of internal energy to more stable states. The limits of applicability of the theory can be precisely defined1,2 for each type of irreversible process. For example, in a chemical reaction at constant temperature and pressure, the Gibbs free energy released per mol in the process should be less than the thermal energy, RT. Another type of irreversible process, which sometimes involves a combination of the first two of the above-mentioned groups, is treated in this paper. This process is one characterized by the motion of an interface separating two regions having different values of free energy and may be briefly described as a growth process. Prigogine2 and Herring3 have treated special cases of this type of process. Previous conscious applications of the theory in metallurgy have been limited to the field of diffusion, one of the transport processes. Darken,4 Bardeen,5 Prigogine2 and others have made significant contributions in this respect. Some other applications of the theory are described in this paper. The Theory The thermodynamic theory of irreversible processes is based on the work of Onsager,6 DeDonder,7 Prigogine2 and others. A resume of the theory has been given by Prigogine2 and DeGroot.1 A brief description of the theory follows, although for a complete understanding the reader is urged to read the references. It is first assumed that the change in entropy, even for a system removed from equilibrium, is given by dS = [dU + pdV - Si µi, dn, - Sk Pk dxk]T-1 Using this expression, the irreversible entropy production in the system is calculated by subtracting the contribution to the change in entropy of the system by transfer of heat, work, or matter from the surroundings. Thus, for example, the irreversible entropy production of a system at constant temperature and pressure is given by dtS = — — dG (DeDonder7) Now it has been shown by Prigogine,2 DeDonder,7 and DeGroot1 that the rate of irreversible entropy production diS/dt, when calculated in the manner suggested, can be written as a sum of products of conjugate forces XK and fluxes Jk, i.e., d,s/ = Sk Jk Xk [I-1] dt The assumption is next made that a linear relation exists between a given flux and the forces, obtained from Eq. I-1, i.e., Ji = Sk Lik Xk (i = 1, 2, . . . n) [I-2] Generally, there is a degree of freedom in choice of the fluxes and forces. However, for all the choices consistent with Eq. I-1 the Onsager8 relations, based on the principle of microscopic reversibility, namely, Lik = Lki, are valid. The coefficients Lik, depending upon the choice of the conjugate fluxes and forces, may be more or less dependent upon the parameters defining the state of the system. In general, the proper choice of fluxes and forces utilizing Eq. I-1, makes the coefficients Lik independent of time. Also, because many of the three classes of irreversible phenomena have already been treated,1,2 a proper choice can be made by analogy. In any case, the validity of Eq. 1-2, from whatever choice made using Eq. I-1, must be tested by experimentation. The theory, thus, comprises the following steps: 1—The irreversible entropy production is calculated to yield Eq. I-1. 2—The terms in Eq. I-1 are grouped

Jan 1, 1954

By LESTER W. STRAUSS

OUR early knowledge of history and geography attracted most of us to the mineral resources of South America. The romantic tales of the Spanish activities, which were curiously alluring, and Prescott's exceptional bi-Conquest histories-Mexico and Peru-no doubt fired our minds with the .then metallic wealth of the Spanish colonies. Later developments, intensified within the past eighty years, have, however, changed its fame which now rests on such metallics as copper and tin, and among the non-metallics on nitrate of soda and petroleum. South America proper, excluding Panama, is made up of thirteen countries, a coincident parity with our original thirteen States. Its area is given as 7,231,300 square miles, or slightly less than North America (8,037,000 square miles), is made up as follows:

Jan 1, 1930

By H. T. Hildage

ALTHOUGH Greater New York does not bear any resemblance to a great mining district, the mining operations that are being conducted in and about the city are both extensive and interesting in character. With regard to the extent, it may be mentioned that, at. present, there is more dynamite used in New York than in any mining district in the United States; that there are under construction about 38 miles of tunnel, and that 66 miles more are projected, most of which must be constructed in the near future ; that since 1902 at least 2,000,000 tons of earth has been removed in underground work, in addition to about 3,500,000 tons that has been removed in, open-cut in connection with tunnel-work, and many times this quantity that has been removed in excavating foundations for buildings not connected with tunnel-work; and that there are to-day probably more than 5,000 men engaged in mining-work in and about New York City. These undertakings include almost every operation connected with underground work, from exploration by means of trench and boring, to the sinking of large shafts and the driving of large tunnels through every kind of ground from hard rock to soft, semi-fluid silt and quicksand. It is proposed in this paper to give a general description of some of the methods and appliances used in the opening-up ,of a "mine" in a large city, and a brief description of some of the "mines" now being developed in New York, connecting as far as possible the methods described with the particular work for which they were designed, in order to give a general idea of the

May 1, 1907

ANNUAL meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary of the American Institute of Mining and Metal-lurgical Engineers convened on Tuesday morn-ing, Feb. 20, the president, Mrs. H. W. Hardinge, presiding. President Hardinge, in opening the meet-ing, said: "I have the honor and great pleasure to welcome you to our seventh annual meeting. It has been a happy year, though I started in fear and trembling. My fear is partly gone and my trembling becomes less as time goes on. Never has a chairman had such splendid cooperation and harmony in her work; no. matter how much was asked nor what the task, I have always received the same answer, `We are with you, of course we can do it.' Often the road has been untried and the way full of snares, but we have all pulled together. Is it any wonder we have had a prosperous year? I cannot thank the governing -board and officers enough for their help." Mrs. Hardinge described her trip through the West last summer, during which she visited many of the local sections of the Auxiliary. She also spoke of the work of the Rossiter Raymond memorial library which has been started as an activity of the Woman's Auxiliary. Mrs. Reynders read the minutes of the last annual meeting, and Mrs. Kemp read the treasurer's report. The latter showed that on Feb. 1, 1922, there was a bank balance of $683.61 and on Feb. 10, 1923, the bal-ance was $947.93. Mrs. Westervelt expressed the sorrow of the Auxiliary for the death -of Mrs. Florence Howe Hall and of Mrs. Levi P. Holbrook.

Jan 4, 1923

By George Simkovich

It was hypothesized that solid-state point defects should alter the flotation properties of solids. Tests conducted on pure AgCl and AgCl doped with CdC12 show that atomic point defects exhibit an important role in the floatability of AgC1. Tests conducted on PbS doped with Ag2s or Bi2S3, also show that the defect structures resulting from these dope additions, i.e., a combination of electronic and atomic point defects, contribute significantly to the flotation of PbS. IT has been established that flotation occurs only when a finite contact angle exists between a solid and a gaseous bubble.' This angle, measured through the liquid phase, is expressed by the equation where the are inter facial free energies and the subscripts S, G, and L represent solid, gas, and liquid phases, respectively. As is seen in Eq. [I] three interface free energies, sG, sl, and GL, enter into the contact angle equation. Therefore, any variation in these energies which sufficiently varies the contact angle will, in turn, vary flotation processes. Changes made in any of the phases concerned, i.e., gas, liquid, or solid phase, are reflected through the changes occurring in two of the surface energy terms. Thus, a change in the liquid composition would be noted in sL and GL, and it is this phase, the liquid, which is most frequently altered in flotation studies., Changes in the solid phase must be reflected through the changes occurring in the sG and sL terms. In particular, it is hypothesized that changes in the surface concentrations of point defects in the solid-phase will alter the sG and sL terms which, in turn, will be reflected by flotation results. As an illustration of this hypothesis one may consider the defect structure and the flotation of AgC1. The bulk defect structure of AgCl is essentially one involving equal number of cation vacancies and interstitial cations.3 Upon adding CdC1, to AgC1, a greater number of silver ion vacancies are created in the bulk of the crystal.4 On the surface of the crystal the smaller binding forces and the free space accomodations may also allow for the creation of "surface interstitial anions", which will be designated as ad-anions. Thus, the point defect structure of the surface of AgCl doped with CdCl, will consist of cation vacancies and/or adanions. If the molecular forces responsible for the surface energies, ?SG and ?sL, are significantly altered by the presence of these surface point defects, then differences in flotation results will be noted as the concentration of these defects is varied. The defects present in AgCl are predominantly atomic in nature. In the case of PbS both electronic and atomic defects are present.5 This compound conducts electrically by either electrons or electron holes depending upon whether excess lead or excess sulfur is present. Upon disolving BiS3 in stoichio-metric PbS, one increases the concentration of cation vacancies and the number of electron carriers in the bulk of the crystal.5" At the surface, the possibility of ad-anions must also be considered. Conversely, upon dissolving AgS in stoichiometric PbS one increases the concentration of interstitial cations and the number of electronhole carriers in the bulk of the crystal.5,6' At the surface the interstitial cations will be designated as ad-cations. Thus, the point defect structure of the surface of a PbS crystal doped with Bi2S3 will consist of a number of cation vacancies and/or ad-anions and an excess of electrons. Conversely the point defects on the surface of a PbS crystal doped with Ag2S will consist of a number of ad-cations and an excess of electron holes. Again, as in the case of AgC1, should the molecular forces responsible for the magnitude of the interface free energies, ?sG and ?sL, be significantly altered by the presence of these surface defects then significant differences in flotation results will be noted as the concentration of these defects is varied. EXPERIMENTAL To test this hypothesis flotation tests were conducted on pure and doped AgCl and on PbS doped with either Bi2S3 or Ag2S. Preparation of the AgCl samples was performed as follows: AgCl and weighed amounts of CdC1, were melted in a porcelain crucible. The melt was then forced through a capillary tube and the particles emitted solidified in air as they fell about 1.5 meters. Spherical particles, -0.50 + 0.25 mm, were separated from the remaining solidified material

Jan 1, 1963

Institute of Metals Division Iron and Steel Division Extractive Metallurgy Division Council A W Thornton (ISD), Chairman, R W Shearman, Secretary, C S Barrett (IMD), J C Kinnear, Jr (EMD), John Chipman (ISD), J S Smart, Jr (IMD), A W Schlechten (EMD), M E Volin (MED), D S Eppelsheimer (MIED) Journal of Metals Editorial Advisory Committee J S Smart, Jr, Chairman, W A Dean, J J Golden,T D Jones, Evan Just, J C Kinnear, Jr, M Tenenbaum Pacific Northwest Regional Conference E R Marble, General Chairman, Marshall Huntting, Assistant General Chairman, W C Douglass, Mining Chairman, H C Hughes, Mining Chairman for British Columbia, W C Douglass, Mining Chair¬man for United States, Paul Billingsley, Geology Chairman, W D Nesbeitt, Miner¬als Beneficiation Chairman, H D Kelley, Industrial Minerals Chairman, J G Johnston, Metals Chairman, Lloyd Banning, Iron and Steel Chairman, W G Rouillard, Extractive Metallurgy Chairman, E C Roberts, Physical Metallurgy Chairman, D A Pifer, Mineral Industry Education Chairman, Frederick Brien, General Arrangements Chairman Metals Branch Membership Committee C M Squarcy, Chairman, R C Cole, Harold Mar¬golin, M E Nickel, S K Scovil Bylaws Committee A W Thornton, Chairman, W R Hibbard, Jr, J S Smart, Jr (IMD), John Chipman, T S Washburn (ISD), T D Jones, J D Sullivan (EMD)

Jan 1, 1956

By E. P. Bayer

MESABI RANGE ore is mined largely by the open-pit method. This involves having available at all times sufficient working places which in combination will produce ore of guaranteed analysis. Fast- loading power shovels turn out under favorable conditions 1000 tons per hour from each unit. Each unit loads ore differing materially in analysis from that loaded by the others, One may load high grade, another low grade, and another may be in a mixed bank with the lead ore so placed that the product must be mixed at the shovel before it is loaded into cars. In such cases the bank is combed with the bucket, the door being left open to permit the material to fall through.

Jan 1, 1937

By Charles Janin

(San Francisco Meeting, October, 1911.) THE first successful bucket-elevator dredge to operate in California was put in commission at Oroville in March, 1898. There had been numerous previous attempts at dredging, but none of the earlier boats proved a success. The gold-miners in California early conceived the idea of a machine to dig gravel from the beds and bars of auriferous streams that were inaccessible by the methods then employed, and it was only a few months after the discovery of gold in California that such a machine was. shipped around Cape Horn from New York to San Francisco. This was, however, but the forerunner of many failures in gold-dredging, and was soon at the bottom of the Sacramento river. During succeeding years many other unsuccessful attempts were made, and it was not until 1897 that a dredge of the single-lift bucket-elevator type was floated on the Yuba river. This dredge was built by the Risdon Iron Works for R. H. Postlethwaite, and would probably have been a success if it had been operated on some of the rich Oroville ground instead of in a turbulent stream, where the dredge was wrecked during a flood, and was not repaired. Fig. 1 is a sketch-map of California, showing gold-dredging areas. It is not my intention to narrate in detail the history of the early failures in gold-dredging, and the various steps in the development of the modern boat, but merely to touch upon this in a general way, and to call attention to the wide difference in capacity and operating-cost between the first successful dredge, with an actual capacity of 600 cu. yd. per day-though its rated capacity was in excess of this-and the present modern dredge with 15-cu. ft. buckets, and an average capacity of 250,000 cu. .yd. per month. Even this enormous capacity has several times been exceeded on monthly runs. The first successful dredges

Mar 1, 1912

By H. NORTON JOHNSON

THE oil industry in California during 1929 reached new heights and new depths in the discovery and development of the oil resources of the State. The discovery of new fields, and more especially the discovery and development of deeper prolific sands in known fields has, for the first time in its history, brought the potential production of completed wells within the State to over 1,000,000 bbl. oil per day. Constant improvement in equipment and technique has made possible economic development to depths unheard of but a few short years ago. Commercial production from a depth of over 4000 ft. was considered quite an accomplishment in 1923 when the Meyer sand at Santa Fe Springs was developed, and when later oil was successfully raised from this depth.

Jan 1, 1930

The Carol concentrator of the Iron Ore Company of Canada was completed in 1962 and through expansions .has become one of the largest iron ore beneficiation plants in the world with a new feed capacity of 147,000 It (149,350 mt) per day. The Carol ore contains specular hematite and magnetite having a bulk density of 166 lb/cu ft (2660 kg/m3) It is crushed to 7 in. (178 mm) for feeding to autogenous mills for subsequent concentration by Humphrey’s s spirals. Mine ore is loaded into 150 It (152 mt) trucks by 10 cu yd (7.65 m3) shovels and then, at a transfer station, is loaded into side-dump rail cars of 100 It (101.6 mt) capacity. Each train is composed of twenty cars and operates completely automatically as it hauls the ore to the primary crushing station, dumps its loads, and returns to the loading station, a 11.5 mile (18.5 km) round trip. The primary crushing station is composed of two 60 in. by 89 in. gyratories installed in 1962 and 1972. Neither crusher has a grizzly ahead of it. Rail cars are dumped into 300 It (305 mt) pockets which contain splitters for spider protection. What few oversize boulders which do not go through the crushers are drilled and blasted. Liners in the dump pocket and the crushed ore pokcet under the crusher are manganese steel. Both crushers are direct driven by 700 hp (5 15 kw) motors, and the hardness of the ore causes them to pull almost their full power. Crushed ore drops into a 160 It (163 mt) pocket equipped with radioactive level control units for low-intermediate, and high level indications. The low level unit stops and starts the apron feeder, the intermediate unit controls the feeder speed, and a high-level reading stops the car dumping. Apron feeders are 72 in. (1. 82 m) wide and are variable speed from 12 to 52 fpm (3. 7 to 15. 8 mpm). They discharge to 60 in. (1.52 m) wide takeaway belts. Crushing capacity, nominal and maximum for each crusher, is 4, 000 ltph (4. 064 mtph) and 4,600 ltph (4,674 mtph). The crusher eccentric is removed by a conventional cart which travels on removable rails. Mainshaft removal and maintenance is done by 65 and 75/10 ton cranes. Mainshaft replacement requires eight hours, a usual time, but concave replacement requires only sixteen hours, a result of a fine maintenance organization. Mantle relining is done at grade next to a repair track. Zinc is used for backing both mantles and concaves. Both the electrical rooms and the dust collectors are located below grade,

Jan 1, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE FULTON, CHARLES H., and READ, J. BURNS-A New Roasting Furnace for Zinc Flotation Concentrate. Discussed by Charles H. Fulton, Arthur S. Dwight, B. M. O'Harra, Kurt Stock 1 STOCK, KURT.-Redistillation of Zinc. Discussed by G. E. Dalbey, Kurt Stock.. 3 BEASLEY, F. E.-High Zinc in Lead Blast-furnace Slags. Discussed by R. C. Canby, R. L. Lloyd, C. R. Haywood, G. E. Dalbey, A. S. Dwight, E. P. Mathewson, A. L. Walker, B. M. O'Harra, and C. P. Linville 4 STEELE, E. W.-Application of Pulverized Coal to Copper Refinery Furnaces. Discussed by F. R. Pyne, E. P. Mathewson 11 LINVILLE, C. P.-Recovery of Arsenic and Other Valuable Constituents from Speiss. Discussed by C. R. Hayward, C. P. Linville, G. E. Dalbey, A. S. Dwight, Edward F. Kern, Karl Eilers, E. P. Mathewson 12 A New Roasting Furnace for Zinc Flotation Concentrate Discussion of the paper of CHARLES H. FULTON and J. BURNS READ, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1925, and issued, as Paper No. 1362-D, with MINING AND METALLURGY,. October, 1924. G. E. DALBEY, East Berlin, Conn. What would be the, effect on the formation of sulfates of an increased water vapor content in the roasting gases? CHARLES H. FULTON.-I cannot answer that from our experience. The question of the formation of sulfate in the roasting of zinc is mainly one of temperature and the concentration of S02 and S03 in the gases. We found we could roast almost completely to sulfate if the concentration was kept at the proper point. We, however, did not care to do this because we wished to make a 5 to 6 per cent. S02 gas for sulfuric-acid work. The sulfating of the zinc oxide in the proper concentration of gases goes on very rapidly. There are certain places in the furnace system such as the Cottrell and in a part of the dust chamber in which the roasted

Jan 6, 1925

By M. M., Fine

In a laboratory study of grinding and classification' of silica sand, a satisfactory means of producing the medium-fine specification sand desired by producers of flint-glass containers was developed. The best procedure consisted of ball-mill grinding and double classification, which gave a properly sized sand containing less iron than the feed.

Jan 1, 1950

The earliest U. S. patent on a crushing machine was issued in 1830. The device incorporated the drop hammer principle later used in the famous stamp mill, whose history is so intimately linked with that of the golden age of American Mining. Eli Blake invented the first successful mechanical rock-breaker --the Blake jaw crusher--patented in 1858. The idea of his mechanical principle, the powerful-toggle linkage, was so sound that today the Blake -type jaw crusher is the standard by which all jaw crushers are judged. In 1881, Philetus Gates was granted a patent on a machine which included in its design all the essential features of the modern gyra tory crusher. For some years after these pioneer machines were developed, crushing requirements were quite simple. All underground mining and open-pit quarrying was done by hand with tonnages and rock sizes generally small. In the milling of precious metal ores, stamp mills were popular as the final reduction machine. The stamps were fed with an ore size readily produced by one break through small gyratory or jaw crushers. Even in large underground mining operations, there was no demand for large crushers; and increasing tonnage requirements were met by duplicating the small units. The Homestake gold mine in South Dakota was a good example, where in 19 15 twenty -two small Gates gyratory crushers were used to prepare the ore for the batteries of 2,500 stamps. Open pit mines and the introduction of the steam shovel created a demand for larger crushers, which led to the development of a gyratory with an 18 in. (457 mm) receiving opening. Up to this time, the jaw crusher had kept pace with the gyratory, both from the standpoint of receiving opening and capacity; but now the gyratory stepped into a 15-year lead with larger and larger sizes. This trend toward large primary crushers started just before the turn of the century, and in 1910 crushers with 48 in. (1.22 m) receiving openings were being built. About this time, the jaw crusher was revived in a great contribution to primary crushing by the introduction of the 84 in. by 60 in. (2. 13 by 1. 52 m) machine. This crusher was usually followed by a 24 in. (6 10 mm) opening gyratory crusher for secondary breakage, a system which reawakened the industry to the use of the jaw crusher as a primary breaker. It is interesting that although his machines never came into general use, Thomas A. Edison ranks as a pioneer in the development of the large primary breaker. Edis on reasoned that the recoverable electrical energy

Jan 1, 1978

By W. R. Ingalls

Jan 1, 1922

By W. R. Ingalls

Jan 1, 1922

First Session BRASS Wednesday, A.M., Nov. 29 Co-Chairmen: CARTER S. COLE, Staff Engineer, A.S.T.M. E. A. ANDERSON, Chief of Metals Section, Research Div., New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pa.) Second Session BRASS Wednesday, P.M., Nov. 29 Co-Chairmen: D. K. CRAMPTON, Director of Research, Chase Brass and Copper Co., Inc. A. W. TRACY, Metallurgist, The American Brass Co. Dinner and Technical Session Wednesday Evening, Nov. 29 Toastmaster: N. L. MOCHEL, Manager Metallurgical Engineering, Westinghouse Electric Corp. Talk on "How Do Things Look Today and For the Future" RALPH KELLY, President, Baldwin Locomotive Works Technical Paper on Stress-Corrosion Cracking E. H. Dix, JR., Assistant Director of Research and Chief Metallurgist, Aluminum Company of America Third Session BRASS Thursday, A.M., Nov. 30 Co-Chairmen: W. B. PRICE, Director of Research, Scovill Manufacturing Co. A. L. JAMIESON, Associate Metallurgist, Frankford Arsenal First Session LIGHT METALS Thursday, P.M., Nov. 30 Co-Chairmen: L. L. WYMAN, Metallurgist, General Electric Co. M. A. HUNTER, Professor of Metallurgical Engineering and Head, Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Second Session LIGHT METALS Thursday Evening, Nov. 30 Co-Chairmen: R. T. WOOD, Chief Metallurgist, American Magnesium Corp. J. D. HANAWALT, Director, Metallurgical Dept., Dow Chemical Co. First Session STEEL Friday A.M., Dec. I Co-Chairmen: H. S. RAWDON, Chief, Division of Metallurgy, National Bureau of Standards A. L. FEILD, Director of Research, Rustless Iron and Steel Corp. First Session MISCELLANEOUS METALS Friday P.M., Dec. I Co-Chairmen: E. A. ANDERSON, Chief of Metals Section, Research Div., New Jersey Zinc Co. (of Pa.) CARTER S. COLE, Staff Engineer, A.S.T.M.

Jan 1, 1945

By Donald L. Johnson

REVIEWS on the applications of optical ellipsometry to the study of polycrystalline metal surfaces and oxidation-corrosion processes have been presented by Kruger and Hayfield, and white.' In view of the ability of this method to measure differences in film thicknesses to below 10A, ellipsometry was used to study nitrogen chromium surface reactions during the early stages of growth. Chromium specimens in the form of a vapor-deposited film on glass substrate were exposed to purified nitrogen for selected time increments at 700°F. This temperature was selected because it gave the best combination of exposure time and thickness change. Ellipsometer readings were taken immediately after exposure to determine polarizer and analyzer angles using monochromatic light at 5000A.2 After each set of readings was obtained, the specimens were exposed for an additional increment of time in nitrogen and a new set of readings taken. Film thickness was computed from LUCy's3 equation for nonabsorbing thin films. In Lucy's derivation, two equations for computing thickness were obtained. Peterson and Bashara4 have discussed the validity for using one of these equations when an independent value of the refractive index is used. The film was assumed to be Cr2N (Ref. 5) and was determined to be optically isotropic. Optical isotropy was determined by rotating the films about the surface normal and noting that the azimuth and phase difference did not change. Since Cr2N is reported to be hexagonal, it is assumed that optical isotropy results from randomly oriented grains of very small size. The thickness was computed using refractive indexes varying from 1.6 to 2.0. The maximum variation in computed thickness over this range for a given exposure was 20 pct. The data reported are based on a refractive index of 1.8. Reference readings on the metal surface were taken just prior to nitrogen exposure. No attempt was made to deoxidize or denitride the metal surface after vapor deposition, although specimens were observed to gain approximately 2A per day in air at room temperature. Twelve experimental exposures were made on a single sample over a total accumulative time of 132 min. Additional experiments over longer time intervals were made to determine the effect of heat up and cool down during and after exposure. As a result of these experiments, the thickness computed for each exposure was increased by 4A. Time profiles based on the linear law are similar to the oxidation profiles for many metals.' The rate of accumulation of the nitride film is rapid at first and slows down as the film thickness increases. The parabolic law x2 =k1t +k2 [11 gives a straight line in Fig. 1; therefore, it is concluded that the kinetic behavior is parabolic. Sey-bolt and Haman5 reported similar results for CrlN on chromium at 1000°C although the order of the thickness was much greater (10-3 cm). Analysis of thickness data based on other values of refractive index shows that the curves are shifted vertically but retain the same shape. According to Mott,7 it is expected that for thin films k2 is zero in Eq. [I]. Since the plot in Fig. 1 is linear through the origin, k2 is zero and the parabolic nature of the film growth is further indicated. The parabolic rate constant, calculated from the slope in Fig. 1, is 4.4 x 10-16 sq cm per sec. The corresponding work (+) required to bring an electron from the metal into the oxide is estimated to be 1.5 ev.7 The author thanks professor N. M. Bashara and D. W. Peterson, Electrical Materials Laboratory, University of Nebraska, for making the ellipsometer available and providing technical assistance. The Electrical Materials Laboratory is supported by the office of Naval Research, NONR 3718 (01). This work was partially supported by the Engineering Experiment Station and the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Nebraska.

Jan 1, 1967

By Willard P. Ward

SOME TIME in the year 1874 or 1875, I conceived the idea that spiegeleisen might be made -in a blast furnace from ores that were not carbonates, and which did not contain both manganese and iron in the same ore. Up to this time, such ores had formed the basis of all the spiegel that had been produced; and all the ferromanganese that was on the market before 1875 was made in crucibles, and cost about 00 per ton, for 80 per cent. Mn. I consulted the great steel metallurgist of the day, Alexander Holley, who listened attentively to what I had to say, and told me he did not think my plan was practical, so I abandoned it for the time being. But I was so stubborn that I could not get the notion out of my head. It seemed to me that a good metallurgist should be able to work the thing out in some way. I had already had some experience in smelting refractory lead ores in Utah, and was young and not lacking in self confidence, so after waiting a bit, I got Anton Eilers, the best all-around metallurgist I knew, and J. H. Bramwell, the best iron blast-furnace man I knew, both intimate friends of -mine, to come to my place in Bartow County, Georgia, and look over things. They remained for several days, and made all the examination they thought necessary; and they also advised me to give up the project, and either to keep the furnace running on car-wheel iron or to blow it out. After my talk with Holley, I improved my plant in several ways. I closed the top of the furnace, put in a hot-blast stove, a steam boiler and a Weimer blowing-engine which gave me blast enough, at a pressure high enough for all the requirements of, the furnace, and which I could bring up to a temperature of 600° to 700° F.

Jan 1, 1921

By Roswell Johnson

THE prevailing system of wells on a rectangular basis, as shown in Fig. 1-A, has developed because of the exigencies of offsetting at boundary lines. When, however, a very large tract is, being drilled, it is often possible to abandon this inferior method for the superior arrangement C- PROPER STAGGERING FIG. 1.-THREE SYSTEMS OF SPACING WELLS. known as "staggering," which is illustrated in Fig. 1, B and C. The advantages of the triangular over the rectangular method are evident from Fig. 2, computed on the basis of one well to 10 acres (4 ha.). With the triangular system, no land is more than 409.4 ft. (124.8 m.) from a

Jan 8, 1918