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By A. M. Gaudin

Of the various reagents employed in the flotation of zinc-bearing ores none have attained the wide popularity that is enjoyed at present by xanthates, copper sulfate and cyanides. This situation suggests the existence of an unusual dependence in the reactions of these chemicals and of sphalerite. A study of the flotative characteristics of sphalerite when using xanthates as collectors, as related to the chemical properties of copper salts and cyanides, has therefore been conducted at the University of Utah by the writer and his associates1 during the period of 1926 to 1929. In perusing the technical literature concerning the flotation of zinc ores and of zinc-bearing lead and copper ores, a striking and general lack of agreement as to the floatability of sphalerite was observed. The underlying cause for the erratic behavior of sphalerite has not been definitely ascertained but the presence in various proportions of iron sulfide in solid solution in the sphalerite has frequently been implicitly regarded as a major factor in this respect. Although the effect of iron sulfide in solid solution in sphalerite has not been investigated in relation to the behavior of sphalerite in flotation, it is likely that it is not as important a factor as was thought at one time. The variable float-ability of sphalerite has led to the use of fairly large amounts of cyanide to prevent its flotation in the case of certain ores, whereas mere fractions of that amount of cyanide, or even none at all, have been sufficient to achieve the same result for other ores2 Similarly, the amount of copper sulfate used to promote the flotation of sphalerite has been found to vary widely. Effect of Copper Salts in Distilled Water on Sphalerite In the work at the University of Utah, over a year was spent in futile attempts at duplicating experiments until it was discovered that the

Jan 1, 1930

By Edward Keller

In order to conduct intelligently the sampling of copper of various forms and grades, solid or in molten furnace-charges, a knowledge of this subject is essential. Yet figures and tests have been persistently withheld from publication, and the books at our command give us little or no information in this regard. This gap in our copper-literature has led to a series of experiments, the results of which are given below. Nearly all gold- and silver-bearing copper, destined for shipment, is cast into the form of bars or pigs. For the sampler, the question arises, Does copper, so cast, remain homogeneous ? If it does, sampling should present no difficulties; but, from experience, we know that this is not the case, and we are thus led to study the behavior of the precious metals arid impurities in copper when the latter changes from the molten to the solid state. For the purpose of the experiments here described, all available grades of copper were selected, and all of them mere subjected to the same conditions, an important requisite for proper comparison. The molten copper obtained directly from reverberatory- and blast-furnaces was cast in a cast-iron mould, the sides and bottom of which were 1 inch thick, and would, therefore, give the copper a fair length of time to chill. The inside dimensions of the mould, and, consequently, of the block of copper obtained, were: length, 10 inches; width, 9 inches; and depth, 5 inches. Fig. 1 illustrates the method employed to obtain samples from these blocks. A was cut away, and the face so produced BALTIMORE COPPER WORKS,

Jan 1, 1898

By E. H. Kelton

THE purposes of this paper are to describe the use of adjustable cut and draw tools as a control test of drawing properties and to point out that no other well-known test or combination of tests determines this quality in zinc and zinc alloys. Rolled zinc has been used for making drawn articles, particularly battery cans, for many years. The development of rolling treatments satisfactory for, these purposes followed the usual course of trial and error experimentation depending upon cooperation with customers to determine what type of material was suitable. A quick test of drawing quality was highly desirable, of course. Scleroscope hardness and temper,1 having no apparent relation to drawing quality, were used simply to check the duplication of rolling treatment and grade of metal. The dynamic ductility1 test, on the other hand, was believed to be so like the drawing operation as to provide a reliable index and came to be taken as the criterion of good drawing properties. Faith in this test was strengthened by the fact that metal having the highest ductility was more satisfactory for operations, such as the manufacture of battery cups, that required several redraws. No distinction was made at that time in specifying metal as to whether it was to be subjected to simple cut and draw, redrawing or forming operations. It developed, however, that in some grades of metal the highest ductility did not coincide with the most satisfactory quality when the material was used for a single draw.

Jan 1, 1934

By C. P. McCormack

The Cuyuna manganiferous iron ores can be a principal source of manganese for the iron and steel industry in the United States, provided metallurgical methods as a whole are adjusted so as to use run-of-mine ore. The use of manganese in steelmaking is growing. Increasing amounts of impurities in raw materials call for more manganese, a constant cheap supply of which is wanted. There are few deposits of ore in the United States carrying over 35 per cent. manganese that can be mined and marketed at a profit in normal times. We are largely dependent on foreign ores. The small domestic deposits should rightly be held in reserve for an emergency, such as a war, when importation might cease. Even the production from lean ores, concentrated it may be, might not carry us through a protracted stringency. The Cuyuna district is, therefore, during normal times capable of supplying a large total of manganese. The ores are iron ores containing 5 to 25 per cent. of manganese with the inverse range of 52 to 28 per cent, of iron. The manganese costs no more per unit in the ore than the iron, because cost of mining, largely by open-pit methods, is not affected by the manganese content. The manganese units should, perhaps, command a higher price, but as their value is contingent on metallurgical practice, a higher price may be justified only when a shortage in manganese occurs. Manganiferous iron ores can never entirely supplant straight manganese ores though methods are employed that will permit them to do so partly. For the manufacture of ferromanganese, ores carrying above 42 per cent. manganese are needed. Ores with manganese running between 20 and 42 per cent. are used for making spiegeleisen. But established practice in certain plants, based on the admixture of manganiferous iron ores to straight iron ores has greatly lessened the consumption of high-priced, scarce, manganese alloys with good results. The substitution of manganiferous ores for ferro and spiegel affects the manufacture of basic iron and its conversion into basic open-hearth

Jan 1, 1925

By R. V. Norris

IRving Ariel Stearns died at his home, 60 South River St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Tuesday morning, Oct. 5, 1920, of pneumonia, after an illness of about a month. In his death, the Wyoming Valley loses one oflits most eminent and best loved citizens, and the loss of so strong a participant in the activities of the Valley will leave a gap most difficult to fill. Despite his more than three score and fifteen years, Mr. Stearns, at the time of his death, was president of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital, Wyoming National Bank, and the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, chairman of the Board of the Vulcan Iron Works, and a director of the Spring Brook Water Supply Co., and of the Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Co. Mr. Stearns came of New England stock, a descendant in the eighth generation of Charles Stearns who was admitted freeman in Watertown in 1646. Irving Ariel Stearns was born Sept. 12, 1845, in Rushville, N. Y., a son of George W. and Miranda (Tufts) Stearns. He was graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y., in the celebrated Class of 1868. After graduation, he was assistant professor of chemistry in charge of the analytical laboratory for a year, then went to Wilkes-Barre in 1869, as engineer in the office of R. P. Rothwell, at that time the leading mining engineer of the region. From 1871 to 1872, he was superintendent of the McNeal Coal & Iron Co. of Schuylkill County, Pa. and in 1872 succeeded to Mr. Rothwell's business when the latter became editor of the Engineering & Mining Journal of New York. From 1872 to 1885, Mr. stearns was in private practice as a mining engineer, handling a great amount of business in the anthracite region, including the building of the bridges at Shickshinny and Pittston, and the surveying and mapping of many of the individually operated mines. His practice extended throughout the country, with numerous examinations and reports upon mining properties in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah; he was responsible for the design and execution of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Co.'s great Tifft Farm improvements at Buffalo, N. Y. including canals, docks, coal stocking plant, etc. He was commissioned Quartermaster of the Ninth Regiment, N. G. P., March 29, 1880, was promoted to Major on May 15, 1884, and resigned Apr. 1, 1885. He always retained his interest in the National Guard and was trustee and president of the Ninth Regiment Armory Association.

Jan 1, 1922

By Sir Robert A. Hadfield

The Hadfield method of producing sound steel ingots has been the subject of a paper read before the Iron and Steel Institute, so that it will be unnecessary to describe it fully here. The object of the method is to make poseible the production of steel ingots in which the pipe is almost entirely obliterated, and it is applicable particularly to the production of sound ingots, from which good rails could be rolled. The method in brief consists in casting the ingots on cars, usually with the small end down. Each ingot mold is provided with a sand top, rammed up in the well-known manner. After the mold is filled to the desired height with steel, a layer of slag about 0.5 in. thick is placed upon it and the balance of the mold is then filled with charcoal. Then, through suitable piping, an air blast is directed in numerous jets upon the charcoal, which is burned thereby, the combustion supplying addi, tional heat to the top of the ingot, which helps to keep the top fluid and to retard its solidification, while the lower parts are rapidly losing heat by its transfer to the mold. By one plan the ingots are cast in molds placed upon bogies, movable trucks, or platforms, in the position A, Fig. 1. The ingots are cast vertically on bogies, say four or more ingots on each bogie, as may be found most convenient, and the upper surface of the steel is maintained in a molten condition during the transit of the ingots from the casting pit to the stripper. This is effected by a series of air pipes, for example, three in number, with jets or holes on the under surface of such pipes, placed preferably horizontally, arranged in such a manner as to cause jets of air to impinge on the upper surface of the ingots. These holes or jets are made throughout the entire length of the overhead pipes, the length of such pipes being

Jan 1, 1914

By William L. Fink, Kent R. Van Horn

Aluminum forms not only binary compounds with most of the metallic elements but also forms many ternary or more complex constituents. Several of those occurring in the more important alloy systems have been identified under the microscope and the action of various etching reagents has been carefully studied.' The determination of the structure and composition of these complex constituents is a matter of some difficulty and little information is available. X-ray crystal analysis offers a promising method for the study of such constituents. First, and of considerable importance, is the possibility of recognizing the presence of a given constituent by means more positive than microscopic observation. Evidence can also be obtained concerning the nature and composition of the constituent in question and ultimately it should be possible, at least in some cases, to describe the structure including the relative locations of the various atoms. In this paper some results of an uncompleted study of the constituents of the aluminum-iron-silicon system are given and the methods employed are described. Inasmuch as iron and silicon are the chief impurities in aluminum, the constitutional relations of this system are of fundamental importance in the metallurgy of pure aluminum and its alloys; the system has been studied by several investigators and the more important contributions have been reviewed recently.² Fig. 1 shows the structure of the aluminum-rich alloys after prolonged annealing at 560" C., in accord with one of the most recent investigations.3 The ternary alloys examined in the course of the present investigation were all annealed at 550" or 560' C.; in fact, some of the specimens were the identical ones used by nix and Heath, who kindly supplied them for this work. Since the results

Jan 1, 1931

By Frederic A. Delano

In adding one more to the list of papers that have been presented on the subject of steel rails, I wish to explain at the beginning that in enumerating the steps in the manufacture which, I think, have an all-important effect on the wearing-qualities of the rail produced, I do so with no little hesitation. As a student in the field, I am anxious for the opinions of others, and have finally decided to ask for it in this way. I have not stated everything which I think affects, in one way or another, the life of rails, but have confined myself to those steps in the manufacture which I felt most sure did do so. Recognizing the danger of being carried away by enthusiasm, I have endeavored to make my assertions with caution, and to understate my case rather than to overstate it; but if I have succeeded in throwing a ray of light on this vexed question and placed it in the eyes of some railroad men in an aspect which they have not fully considered, my boldness will be more than justified. I. Uniformity in the quality of the material charged into the converter assists the attainment of uniformity in the steel produced.— This is the argument which is used by the champions of the cupolamelting or indirect process, and has considerable weight. It takes vastly more skill to make good steel if there is a great irregularity in the iron charged into the vessel than if there is not this irregularity ; but on the other hand, there are certain advantages in the direct method, such as a lower sulphur-percentage from the same furnace-iron, while it is possible to get as great uniformity in the iron charged by having the furnace-capacity enough in excess of the demands from the converting department, to allow for occasional " slips " in the furnaces, and permit the mixing of the iron from two furnaces which are respectively too " hot" and too "cold." 11. Care in pouring ingots at the proper temperature into warm moulds, and the treatment of ingots before rolling, have important effects on the rails made from them. In other words, many of the failures in rails and the uneven wear of rails are often traceable to

Jan 1, 1888

By R. Taggart, J. W. Barton, G. R. Purdy, J. G. Parr

The constitution and mechanical properties of heat-treated alloys containing up to 10 pct* Ni in Ti have been investigated. The effects of quenching and of various isothermal treatments ale described, and C-curves are presented. The production of the precipitated and the martensitic hexagonal phases on quenching is discussed. MARGOLIN, Ence, and Nielsenl have determined the titanium-nickel phase diagram. A study of the transformations in gas-quenched and tempered powder specimens was made by Polonis and Parr.' Some isothermal transformation work was carried out by Margolin and ~unshah, who determined transformation curves for 4 and 6 wt pct alloys, while Robinson et al.investigated the formation of the w phase in a quenched and tempered alloy, Margolin and Bunshah showed that while a martensitic transformation could be obtained on quench- ing thin sections of a 4 wt pct alloy, a 6 wt pct alloy precipitated a nonmartensitic phase. The present investigation was undertaken to obtain more information on the transformations in quenched, quenched and tempered, and isothermally transformed lump specimens of alloys containing up to 10 pct Ni. Isothermal transformation curves have been determined for 7 and 10 pct alloys and cooling curves have been obtained for quenched alloys containing up to 7 pct Ni. The mechanical properties of 2, 5, and 10 pct alloys were studied, with the object of relating properties to microstructures. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS Alloys containing up to 10 pct Ni were prepared from sponge titanium and spectrographic standard nickel by levitation-melting and chill-casting in a split copper mold. The 5 and 10 pet alloys were prepared from sponge Ti having an as-melted hardness of 115 Vpn. The other alloys were made from a sec-

Jan 1, 1961

By E. W. Krampert

Oil development continued active in Wyoming during 1937, with much of the interest centered on prospecting for new pools, following a rather intensive seismograph play in 1936. The new fields of Lance Creek, Medicine Bow and Quealy were the centers of intense development in proved areas, but routine drilling occurred in most old fields. A new and deeper producing horizon (the Leo sand) was opened up in the Lance Creek field, which materially extends the producing area and will probably account for continued active development during 1938. The discovery in 1936 of oil in the Eocene Wasatch formation at Powder Wash, northwestern Colorado, tended for a time to stimulate prospecting in the deep Tertiary basins, but this interest as rapidly declined after drilling several failures on similar structures and the discovery that the productive area at Powder Wash itself was very small. A most interesting test of an Eocene structure was drilled by The Superior Oil Company of California on the South Baggs structure, in Carbon County, Wyoming. South Baggs is one of the best developed structures in the Red Desert Washakie Basin, which also includes the Hiawatha gas field and the Powder Wash gas and oil field. The Superior Oil Co. started the well according to contract but apparently had lost interest in the prospects, for it abandoned the well at 2138 ft. without testing the oil-bearing and gas-bearing horizons of the Wasatch. The Sinclair Wyoming Oil Co. drilled a deep test in the Muskrat gas field to the Madison. This well discovered oil in the Embar formation, which was considered noncommercial because of depth. After the Embar was abandoned the hole was plugged back and the various sands tested by shooting through the casing with the Lane-Wells gun. The Lakota sand was found to contain high-pressure gas and the well was completed as a 24-million-foot gasser at 2175 lb. rock pressure. This is a new sand in an old field. The Italo Petroleum Co. drilled a flank well on the Hamilton dome structure and found oil in the lower Embar formation. Thk merely extends the limits of production, as one old well on the structure had

Jan 1, 1938

By William L. Fink and

Although age-hardening in an aluminum-base alloy containing magnesium was observed by Alfred Wilml as early as 1911, it was not until 1919 that a theory of the mechanism of age-hardening was proposed. Merica, Waltenberg and Scott12 studying the age-hardening characteristics of Duralumin at the National Bureau of Standards, came to the conclusion that age-hardening of this alloy is caused by the precipitation of CuAl2, which is less soluble at the aging temperature than at the solution heat-treating temperature. It was postulated that the initially precipitated particles were of fine colloidal dimensions but that they gradually grew in size. Maximum hardness was assumed to be attained when the particles reached a critical size. This theory was at first received skeptically, since it was a widely accepted view at that time that the solid solution state should represent the hardest state of an alloy. Shortly thereafter, Jeffries and Archer proposed their well-known slip interference theory.'13 They suggested that age-hardening was accomplished by the precipitated particles acting as keys interfering with slip along crystallographic glide planes. They showed that this mechanical theory led direct,ly to the assumption that maximum hardening would be produced by particles of a critical size, which they suggested would have a diameter approximately 10 times that of the aluminum atom. This contribution amplified and explained so rationally the age-hardening theory of Merica, Waltenberg and Scott that wide acceptance resulted. Objections to Simple Precipitation Theory From time to time certain experimental facts have been cited against the simple precipitation theory. The first of these was the discovery by Fraenkel4 that, although the electrical resistivity of Duralumin decreased during aging at higher temperatures (from 100' to 250' C.), it increased during aging at ordinary temperatures. This was not in accordance

Jan 1, 1940

By Robert F. Mehl

METALLURGISTS are properly interested in papers dealing with subjects ranging from the theories of the metallic state to very practical details on the use of metals. A review of theoretical metallurgy naturally excludes papers concerned with the usefulness of metals and limits itself to those concerned purely with the science of metals. Even in this more limited field the reviewer is confronted with thousands of papers dealing with facts and theories of metallic behavior, from which he can select only a few hundred. The selection is necessarily highly arbitrary. Certain classes of papers definitely fall within the scope of this review. Thus, papers on the deformation of metals, on the structure of alloys, on recrystallization, to select only a few, are fully represented. Other subjects, which verge on what is generally accepted as the science of metals, such as the magnetic properties of metals, the less familiar electrical properties and theories, adsorption of gases by metal surfaces, and the like, are treated scantily. Particular attention is given to reviews of subjects that fall with in the groups chosen; in a summary such as this, which is largely in the nature of a progress report, capably written reviews are of importance, particularly since the monograph and text book literature is so meager in this field. THEORIES OF STATES OF AGGREGATION The electron theory of metals and the relation between possible electron structure and the magnetic properties have been discussed (317.307)† the electron theory of liquid metals, especially with respect to electrical conductivity, has been considered(306).

Jan 1, 1935

By C. A. Stetefeldt

In May and June, 1885, I was engaged in examining the goldores of Las Minas, in the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, with a view of finding a cheap and efficient method for extracting the gold. The following minerals could be plainly seen in the ore : magnetite, pyrites of iron, pyrites of' copper, quartz, and garnet. Neither galena nor zinc-hlende mere visible, but the ore contained a trace of lead, and in some samples of ore from the Muertos mine, 1.19 per cent. of zinc mas found. Antimony and arsenic were not present. Native gold could scarcely be seen in specimens of' the ore, and it only appeared—mainly in extremely fine particles—after pulverizing and washing. Magnetite was in every instance the most prominent mineral, its quantity varying between 43 and 67 per cent. Determinations of copper and sulphur showed that from 3.5 to 7 per cent. pyrites of copper, and from 3 to 22 per cent. pyrites of iron were present. The gold-value of the ore varied between 0.3 oz. and 0.8 oz. per ton. I do not speak of specimens, but of average samples of large quantities of ore put through the battery. In ore that had been crushed through a No. 40 screen, the gold appeared, in part, as free gold, the rest being thoroughly mixed with the magnetite and pyrites, both minerals containing about the same percentage of gold. If this free gold was brought in contact with pure quicksilver it (lid not amalgamate readily, even if the quicksilver was charged with sodium amalgam.

Jan 1, 1886

By S. S. Rumsey

Introduction IN order to realize the economies which would result in operating the mine pumps at the Chapin mine with electricity. generated by water power, the Oliver Iron Mining Co. recently installed a hydro-electric plant at the upper Quinnesee, falls on the Menominee river, and constructed a transmission line to the mine. On account of the large flow of water in the Chapin mine, and the great depth from which it has to be handled, it was necessary to make a thorough investigation of the merits of both the motor-driven centrifugal and motor-driven plunger pumps, in order that the most economical results as regards power, cost of installation, maintenance, and operation, be obtained. This investigation resulted in the selection of motor-driven centrifugal pumps, as the cost of the pumps and motors, installation, and maintenance was considerably lower, and the space required in the underground workings very much smaller, than for the plunger pumps. The overall efficiencies guaranteed by several of the centrifugal-pump manufacturers were so nearly those guaranteed by plunger-pump manufacturers that the saving in power which would result from the installation of plunger pumps did not justify their increased first cost and the increased cost of installation under the conditions prevailing at the Chapin nine. In order to substantiate the representations of the centrifugal-pump builders it was deemed necessary to insist upon a factory test of the completed units before shipment, the test to be conducted under conditions of head and capacity approximating as nearly as possible those under which the pumps would operate in service. Furthermore, it was considered necessary to demonstrate, by test, that there were no deficiencies in design or capacity of the pumps or motors before their final installation in the mine, as it would be extremely difficult to make alterations in the pumps or motors after they were installed.

Jan 10, 1914

A BLAST can be "full of sound and fury," signifying nothing but a poorly confined charge, or it can be a muffled, well controlled explosion which moves the rock efficiently and places it in the desired location with the least amount of fuss and bother. Why one method will do the job and another proves to be almost useless is shown by the machine-gun camera studies of quarry blasting made by the Atlas Powder Co. staff. The sequence, or machine-gun, camera is the latest scientific device for the study of cause and effect factors in blasting. Movie cameras, previously used, although of some use, were limited because slow shutter speeds and small negatives failed to give clear, sharp prints. During World War II, the AAF developed the sequence camera, which figuratively stops the blast at regular intervals, making study and evaluation feasible. The camera is simple and inexpensive and offers material for accurate examination of blasting techniques. The machine-gun camera takes three 5x5 in. exposures per sec at a 1/450 sec shutter speed, four times faster than a movie camera. Negatives are 30 times larger than those of movie cameras, giving large, sharp prints. The rock movement is frozen on the picture as the sequence of the blast takes place. Pictures on this page show the advantage of individual machine gun photographs. But the sequences made possible by this camera give graphic, dramatic and conclusive support to recently developed detonation theories.

Jan 1, 1952

By P. H. Brace

THE study of the relations between gases and metals is one of perennial interest to all who are connected with the production of high-grade metallurgical products. The data reported here are the outcome of work of which the object is to determine the effects of dissolved gases upon the properties of metals and to gain a more detailed knowledge of the reactions between gases and molten metals, particularly; iron, under definitely controlled conditions. We have attempted to reduce our margin of error by dealing with relatively large quantities of metal, from 4 to 13 lb. (2 to 6 kg.), and keeping the ratio of refractories to metal as small as practicable. The ingots produced are large enough to provide adequate material for making determinations of magnetic and other physical properties. In choosing the bell-jar type of furnace we were influenced by the results of considerable experimentation along the same general line which indicated that, for the scale or which we were to work, it was important to have the furnace structure independent of the vacuum enclosure. The use of a bell-jar surrounding the entire furnace accomplishes this and also gives great freedom of observation during operation and ready accessibility for the replacements which are necessary after each run. Our choice of analytical method was made in the light of the results secured by H. M. Ryder, who used a method similar in principle for the analysis of very small quantities of gas extracted from strips of metal heated electrically in high vacuum. We have presented some selected preliminary experimental data as being illustrative of the quantity and nature of the gases which occur in iron of different origins, but do not urge any hypothesis at this time.

Jan 1, 1928

By Arnold Hague

In the short time allotted to me* I can only hope to present to you a brief sketch of the main geological features of the country which you are about to visit. My remarks must, of necessity, be more or less incomplete, as my desire is not so much to elucidate any special problem connected with the many interesting geological questions to be found here, as rather to offer such a general view of the region as will enable you, during your five days' trip through the Park, to understand clearly something of its physical geography and geology. The Yellowstone Park is situated in the extreme northwestern portion of the Territory of Wyoming. Its boundaries, as determined by the original Act of Congress setting apart the Park, are very ill-defined. At the time of the enactment of the law establishing this national reservation, the region had been but little explored, and its relation to the physical features of the adjacent country was but little understood. Since that time, surveys have shown that only a narrow strip, about two miles in width, was situated in the Territory of Montana, but it was also found that a still narrower strip extended westward into the Territory of Idaho. The question of properly establishing the boundaries, -based upon our present knowledge of the country, is now before Congress, and an Act has already passed the Senate, proposing to make the northern boundary coincide with the boundary between Wyoming and Montana, and the western boundary coincide with the Wyoming and Idaho line. The Act under consideration extends the southern boundary of the Park to the 44th parallel of latitude, carrying the area of the reservation southward nine and one-half miles. The eastern boundary is made to coincide with the meridian of 109' 30') adding a strip of country about twenty-four and one-half miles in width along the entire eastern side of the Park.

Jan 1, 1888

By E. H. Rose

The question is often pondered whether the flotation process is still an art or has become a science. The fact is that flotation is a science in so many variables that only art can blend them. It is demonstrable that no less than one hundred variables are involved in any flotation operation, most of them immeasurable on a routine basis. The behavior of every one of them is always governed by orderly and unchanging law, as no man can doubt. There is nothing truly indefinite about that behavior; the only indefiniteness is in our knowledge of it, either in general or from hour to hour in the circuit. In dealing with a simultaneous equation in, say, one hundred variables, all not only affecting the outcome to some degree but many influencing each other as well, it is small wonder that the mineral-dressing profession presents a case history of debate and controversial opinion. The statement of the subject of this symposium—a symposium on flotation machines—seems to delimit and define the matters to be considered and at least the general nature of the conclusions sought. Nevertheless, in such a meeting it is not possible to meditate upon all the variables that do in one way or another affect performance of flotation machines. To attempt it would be much like trying to operate a hundred-ring circus. Perverse variables being what they are, one could expect the elephant in ring 36 to squirt a trunkful of water at the tightrope performer in ring 37 to ruin that artist's act, just as our learning to depress pyrite in the early 1920's ruined the act of the formerly faithful old Callows. Honest Disagreements Selective flotation dates from 1922 or 1923, when several plants established their regular flotation operations on a selective basis. Since then, two decades of efforr have gone into the development of better and better flotation machines. Many have come and gone. The competition has simmered down to perhaps a dozen machines, each one of which is staunchly defended by some operators as being the best for their particular jobs, and as scornfully dismissed by at least a few others elsewhere as being positively the poorest for theirs. These disagreements are honest disagreements, honestly arrived at after plenty of sweat. In many a flotation plant, one machine has been tried out against another under conditions as fair as they could possibly be made. Sometimes the results are on a par but more often one machine shows a consistent and unmistakable margin of superiority over the other. In equally honest and enlightened tests, machine A may win over machine B in one place, and machine B over machine A by as great a margin in another. This paper purposes to identify some of the more prominent reasons why this is so,

Jan 1, 1947

By L. C. McCabe

This paper is a progress report on a study of the distribution of the banded ingredients (Figs. 1 and 2) in Illinois screenings and the method of determining their distribution. Proximate analyses and screen tests1 have been reported and a further report on the washability characteristics of the screenings is in preparation. The microscopic study of the screenings is not yet far enough advanced to permit a conclusive report on the effect of mining, screening and washing on the distribution of the banded ingredients in the coals of Illinois. However, considerable fundamental data have been collected as a background for the screenings investigation and for a proposed study of fuels composed of known quantities of vitrain, clarain and fusain, the three common banded ingredients of Illinois coals. These fundamental data and the preliminary information now available from the microscopic study of screenings are broadly indicative of the reaction of the coals to the physical processes affecting them in mining and preparation. Proximate analyses of samples of vitrain, clarain, and fusain from several Illinois mines have been published2, but those given in Table 1 serve to show the differences that are apparent in proximate analyses. The vitrain samples are consistently low in ash, and the unit-coal value is uniformly lower than in clarain. The average fuel ratio (F.C./V.M.) of the vitrain samples in the table is 1.57 whereas the clarain average is 1.42. The fusain analyses vary considerably in ash and moisture. In the two samples from this mine the moisture values range from 8.99 to 22.80 and the ash from 4.86 to 16.91 per cent. Fusain has higher fixed carbon than either vitrain or clarain but the percentage is erratic from sample to sample. The relative proportions of the banded ingredients in the Herrin (No. 6) coal in Illinois is reasonably well known but detailed information

Jan 1, 1936

By V. F. Parry, S. P. Burke

The presence of gas in coal mines necessitates the use of costly ventilation arrangements and the use of expensive mining methods. On the other hand, the gas itself in many instances is of considerable intrinsic value, and its separate recovery might conceivably be a profitable undertaking. This paper is concerned with a study of the movement of gas in coal strata with the object of determining the laws governing gas movement and thus making at least a preliminary step toward the solution of the more practical problem of its control or recovery. Naturally, so important a subject has received much attention from scientists and engineers. In most cases, however, the studies have been concerned with the origin1$, the amount" the composition3 and the method of retention4 of the gas in coal; or, from the more practical side, have been concerned with the phenonlena and conditions associated with outbursts5 or explosions and their control. Numerous studies also have been made of the permeability of coal to gas" of gas pressures measured in coal seams, etc. The authors are unaware, however, of any attempt to present a consistent or complete picture of the laws governing the movement of gas through the coal. Study in West Virginia A recent study conducted at this University7 gives the first presentation of the distribution of pressures in a small section of a coal seam. Holes were drilled into the coal rib to various depths and at various distances from the coal face. The location selected for study was as remote as possible from disturbing influences of mining operations, faults, "wants," etc. The pipes extending into the coal that were used to determine pressures were grouted into the borehole for the entire depth of the hole, and great precaution was taken to insure accurate pressure readings. A map of the geology of the region, a map of the probable boundary and extent of the coal seam, a current map of the mine and a

Jan 1, 1936