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By F. C. Stanford

THE work of an engineer is to direct natural forces so that they bring about the results that he wishes to secure. Heretofore he has concerned himself chiefly with physical forces and inanimate objects, until he has secured a truly marvelous degree of control over them. The great problem of the present age is to secure a like degree of knowledge and control of the human factor. Progress has already been made along this line, but, it is only a beginning. Wilhelm Ostwald says that scientific knowledge enables a man to be a true prophet; but it must be remembered that a good many people do not seem to be able to maintain a high average in prophecy. In short, the average of knowledge is not equal to the average needs of the present time, but continually fails to keep pace with it. It has been aptly said that the really essential need of the period is for more brains; if we only had sufficient knowledge and sagacity we could not only solve all difficulties, but prevent them from arising. This generalization holds good for an industrial organization. The most vital need of the management is for more brains. The logical course for an engineer in charge of an industrial organization is, therefore, to direct whatever forces may be at his command toward the development, training, and guiding of all the brains in his organization. This is easier said than clone, for it involves the carrying on toward two objectives, the maximum of productive work, and the development of the individuals who perform it. This is essentially like the rebuilding and enlarging of a plant, keeping it in full operation the while. On the other hand, if the aim is merely for maximum production from an organization, without offering opportunity for development, the final outcome will necessarily be like that f a plant that is driven at full capacity without stopping for repairs or improvements; it eventually becomes so run down that either a complete rebuilding is necessary or else it has to be abandoned.

Jan 2, 1918

By R. E. Lund

Josephtown Smelter employs the St. Joe-developed electrothermic process for producing zinc metal and zinc oxide. The process uses resistance-type electric furnaces. Flow of current through the sintered ore and coke charge develops the energy required for smelting at the reaction sites. To produce zinc metal, the furnace off-Gases bubble through a large "U"-tube filled with molten zinc which condenses the zinc to liquid; the metal is then mechanically cast into slabs. To produce zinc oxide, the furnace vapors burn in air and the resultant powders are collected. The smelter comprises three distinct circuits. One circuit produces American Process zinc oxide and high grade metal; another circuit produces tailor-made alloys of controlled lead and cadmium content; the third circuit produces prime western zinc metal and feedstock which is refined into special High grade metal and French Process zinc oxide. The roasting circuit utilizes multiple-hearth furnaces for deleading the zinc concentrates; fluid bed and suspension roasters are employed for desulfurization. Sintering produces a hard, porous furnace feed. The flexible smelting process is adaptable to consuming various kinds of secondary material. Extensive residue treatment accomplishes high overall zinc recovery. Smelter by-products include sulfuric acid, cadmium, and mercury.

Jan 1, 1970

By Paul F. Kerr

Uranium mineralization occurs in the footwall of the Sunshine vein from the 2900 to the 3700 level. Veinlets of uraninite associated with pyrite and jasper have been so extensively divided and recemented that units more than a few feet in length are seldom observed. The wall rock is St. Regis quartzite of the Belt series. The age of the uraninite, on the basis of isotopic analyses, is 750 t- 50, which agrees with geological data suggesting that phases of the Sunshine mineralization are pre-Cambrian.

Jan 5, 1953

By R. L. Wiegel

The generation of operating information for mineral beneficiation processes has become more sophisticated as a result of the use of improved laboratory analytical techniques, some of which provide multiple component assays, as well as the introduction and gradual industrial acceptance of process sensors for the measurement of flow, density, size, and chemical composition. In general, however, the mineral processing engineer's ability to tie together this wealth of information has not kept pace with these developments. In fact, in almost all existing plants, the metallurgical inflow-output balance, wed to indicate current process performance, is still being calculated from only a small portion of the information routinely available. There is substantial activity in the development of techniques for using all available process information to significantly improve the reliability of the metallurgical balance. While the use of these improved techniques does require access to computing facilities and a slight change in perspective on the part of the mineral processing engineer regarding the inviolability of process information, there are numerous practical benefits to be derived from their application. In addition to summarizing some of the concepts basic to these techniques, this paper describes the experience of the author in applying one of these advanced metallurgical balance techniques to a variety of pilot plant and commercial plant flowsheets during the past eight years.

Jan 1, 1983

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGICAL ENGINEERS. GENTLEMEN: Submitted herewith are the report of the Treasurer for the year 1941 and re¬ports for the same year of the following standing committees: Admissions, Mem¬bership, Papers and Publications, Mining and Metallurgy (Magazine), Library, and Student Relations. These reports present additional details. Membership For the fourth year in succession, mem¬bership reached a new all-time high, level as shown in Table 1. The total at the

Jan 1, 1942

By E. R. Shorey

FLOTATION-Mill operator's have recognized that slimes are detri-mental to the flotation concentration of zinc ores. The, presence of primary slime in many of the Wisconsin ores is largely responsible for the failures experienced in treating these ores by flotation. These failures have discouraged the adoption-of the flotation process by opera-tors in the Wisconsin zinc district. The removal of slimes by decantation seemed to be the obvious way to meet the problem of treating slimy or' clayey ores by flotation. To facilitate the removal of slime, it was decided to mix the ore pulp with sodium silicate, which acts to deflocculate the pulp.1 Deflocculation causes slime suspension, making it possible to separate the slime from the sands by decantation.2 Since the literature contains little definite information on the use of sodium silicate to deflocculate ore pulps, a series of tests was conducted to obtain the necessary information. Tests to determine the settling rates of sand and slime in deflocculated pulps were conducted on a dolomite-marcasite-sphalerite ore ground to minus 80 mesh (175 microns) and mixed with water to form a pulp. The deflocculator3 was Mallinckrodt 40° to 42.5° Bé. liquid sodium silicate (Na20 + 3.25Si02). .By microscopic analysis the suspended slimes4 were found to be minus 15 microns (approximately 1000 mesh).

Jan 1, 1934

By John S. Johnson, Thomas Fraser

SIZING is the process of separating mixed particles into groups of particles all of the same size, or into groups in which all particles L range between certain definite maximum and minimum sizes. In coal preparation, sizing is generally accomplished by passing the coal over screens. Separation by differential settling in air or water currents has been adapted to the special field of separating very fine sizes, and these processes are in commercial use to a relatively small extent in the coal industry. Separation with screens is a very old industrial practice. Agricola 1 described the use of screens for ore treatment in the middle ages. In the literature of the British coal industry references were made to the screening of coal as early as 1589, but the practice of extensive sizing for the market did not become general until the last half of the nineteenth century. In America, the practice of sizing developed first in the Pennsylvania anthracite region, beginning with the use of rakes2 in the mine working places to recover coarse coal. This mining procedure left the fines in the mine. Preparation outside the mine started with the installation of stationary cast-iron plates with 4 to 6-in. square holes. The run-of-mine coal was dumped upon the platforms, the large pieces of rock were picked out by hand, and the large lumps of coal were broken with hammers. The term "breaker," which still applies to the anthracite-preparation plant, originated with this practice, but the term is no longer descriptive of the entire function of the plant. In 1884, the first power-operated anthracite coal breaker3 was erected by Gideon Bart at his colliery at Wolf Creek near Minersville, Pa. This plant utilized a system of rolls for breaking the coal and revolving screens for sizing. The plant was driven by a steam engine. It could handle

Jan 1, 1943

By T. A. Wright

THE SAMPLING of waste materials containing copper, lead and tin has taken on a new significance within recent years, and is of increasing importance, on account of the entry of some of the copper refineries into this field and the tendency towards consolidations among the smelters. In the past, such material was sold on the basis either of a rough or grab sample or of casual inspection of the lot. The two principal sources of this waste are the processes of fabrication and the scrapping of automobile, electrical, plumbing, railroad and other equipment. In both cases much material can be sorted, salvaged and sold by classification and grade to be melted "as is" or with the addition of new or virgin metal. The increasing care in classifying exercised in the large manufacturing plants tends to increase the proportion of this usable scrap; on the contrary, the increasing use of more complex and special non-ferrous alloys tends to make sorting and grading more difficult in turnings, borings, clippings, etc., and consequently is making sampling of more moment. In tin, lead, aluminum, and zinc furnace by-products such as ashes, drosses, skimmings, etc., the trade practice of evaluation has not varied much. For instance, tin drosses, battery lead, and aluminum skimmings are ordinarily sold on what is called "metallic button" or "metallic recovery" or "metallic yield." Copper and lead waste, however, is being sold more and more on actual copper and lead contents based on sample and chemical analyses. This paper will be devoted chiefly to the sampling of materials suitable only for refining and recovery of one or more of the metals present. The methods described are often based on the fact that but one metal, such as copper, is to be paid for. The loss of volatile constituents in melting does not appreciably affect the final copper result, as the "after-melting" assay can he readily calculated to the "before-melting" basis, but if smelter efficiency continues to increase, so that in time zinc, for instance, may be recovered on a paying basis, the method of sampling dirty brass, for example, will have to be changed also. As a matter of fact, we may expect that improved refining processes will make possible the partial recovery of lead and tin which are now lost.

Jan 1, 1928

By R. V. Wheeler

A MATTER of much concern at present to the coal-mining industry of-Great Britain is the effect of the working of the Coal Mines Act, 1930. This Act, which received the Royal Assent on Aug. 1, 1930, contains five parts: (I) production, supply and sale of coal; (II) the reorganization of the coal-mining industry; (III) hours of work; (IV) the Coal Mines National Industrial Board; (V) general. The first three parts are of major interest and discussion can be confined to them.

Jan 1, 1931

By Robert Forsyth

IN working the Bessemer process, the bottom of the converter has always been a source of trouble and annoyance, and the subject of more experiments, probably, than any other part of the complex mechanism called a Bessemer plant. This will not appear remark- able when the duties this important piece of refractory material has to perform are taken into consideration. In the first place, by means of the tuyeres, it delivers at a high pressure the air necessary for the conversion of the bath of metal, and has then to resist the intense

Jan 1, 1876

By Smith Bracewell

First evidence of bauxite in Jamaica resulted from an analysis of a soil sample collected at Bull Savannah in 1938 during a systematic local investigation of the island's soil types. Results of subsequent work indicated the possibility of the occurrence of deposits of commercial grade and dimensions, and in 1942, with a view to emergency development of the deposits as a war measure, the Jamaican Government declared all bauxite in the colony to be Crown property.

Jan 10, 1958

By N. F. Mott

Jan 1, 1961

By Ian Wark

IN the paper on the development of the flotation process at Broken Hill (Australia) prepared by the Broken Hill Branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and published in its Proceedings for 1930 (N. S. 80), it is stated that the concentration of ores by flotation has been established on a commercial basis in Australia since 1904 and that differential flotation was practiced at Broken Hill in 1912. Since then, progress in flotation practice throughout the world has been rapid, and during recent years the knowledge of the reactions between comparatively modern so-called chemical promoters or collecting agents and the mineral surfaces has been broadened by the published accounts off many investigators, particularly those working in American universities. Because of the benefits the Australian mining industry has derived from the flotation process, it was felt that the industry should take some part in the efforts that are being made to extend the knowledge of the principles on which the flotation process is based. Accordingly, early in 1930, three Broken Hill mining companies-the Broken Hill South, the North Broken Hill, and the Zinc Corporation-together with the Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia, Ltd., and the Mount Lyell Mining & Railway Co., established a laboratory in the chemistry department of the University of Melbourne for the purpose of investigating the principles underlying flotation. Subsequently, the Burma Corporation, Ltd., expressed a desire to cooperate. The two authors are directly employed and controlled by these six organizations, and the cost of the investigation is divided equally among them. The research has been carried out under the general direction and in close cooperation with Harry Hey, chief metallurgist for the Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia, Ltd., and the authors desire to place on record their indebtedness to him for his ever willing help and constructive criticism.

Jan 1, 1932

By Harrison Everett Ashley

Slimes are usually defined as all material passing a certain sized sieve, which is invariably the finest sieve employed by each metallurgist in his tests; 100-mesh and 200-mesh have been taken as the limits by different writers in recent volumes of the Transactions; 150-mesh is common practice. The reader of the first two volumes of Richards' is impressed by the inflexibility with which all grinding-arrangements are praised or condemned according as they make little or much slime. Until recently, one of the principal aims of the mill-man was to keep down the slimes. He was obliged to have separate apparatus for sand- and slime-treatment. The latter was sometimes puzzling and erratic. Often it was found most economical to omit treatment of the slimes entirely, or to store them in immense basins or heaps, waiting for possible future improvements in methods of treatment. Recently, improved processes of agitation and filtration have made possible the successful extraction of values from many slimes. The tendency, when the metal is exceedingly finely disseminated, is to cut out all sand-treatment and to slime everything. These processes have been almost entirely mechanical in their conception, and it is the object of the present paper to show that certain chemical considerations may greatly hinder or assist their successful operation. It has long been a source of dissatisfaction to chemists that their analyses fail to be of much help to the clay-worker; that it is a matter of common occurrence for clays of closely identical ultimate chemjcal constitution to show the widest possible divergence in physical properties.

Jan 1, 1911

By J. W. Hickman

Most of the electron diffraction studies of oxide films which form on metals and alloys have been carried out by oxidizing the specimens in an auxiliary furnace, cooling down to room temperature and then inserting the sample in the camera and taking a diffraction photograph. Prior to the investigations at the Westinghouse Research Laboratories, no systematic study of the oxidation of any metal or alloy had been made over a wide temperature range with photographs taken at elevated temperatures except the investigation of iron by Jackson and Quarrell.' In order to interpret the electron diffraction patterns of the oxides which may form on alloys, it seemed advisable to make a comprehensive study of the oxidation of the purest metals available in the bulk form. Thus far studies have been completed on iron,2 cobalt,~ nickel,= chromium,= copper,z tungsten,s molybdenum,3 beryllium,' uranium,' thorium,' titanium6 and zirconium6 while investigations are in progress on tantalum and columbium. The next step in the study is concerned with the investigation of the oxides which form on binary alloys. Some of the alloys consist of a single phase while others contain more than one phase. The identification of the oxides on the surface of a binary alloy may be more difficult than on the metals since oxides containing both metals as well as those of each metal separately may form. Furthermore, it is possible that solid solutions of the various oxides may occur. In these cases the electron diffraction method may not be able to identify the oxidation products unequivocally. Examples of solid solutions which may present difficulties are MOO* and WOp, Fe304 and FeO.CrnOa since the diffraction patterns are so similar. Since electron diffraction can determine only the structure of the oxide, the chemical composition must be inferred from the diffraction data based upon X ray diffraction investigations of specimens of known composition. It is possible in some cases to decide whether a given solid phase reaction can occur on the surface of an alloy by a study of available thermodynamic data. Table I lists the equations for the formation of most of the oxides from the elements together with values of loglo Kg for the several temperatures. AF"B = -RT In KR AF°R and KR are the free energy and equilibrium constant of the reaction. Calculations may be made using the the given in I 1 to determine whether a given solid phase reaction is possible thermodynamically. For example, a solid phase reaction should occur between aluminum and chromium oxide to form

Jan 1, 1949

By J. P. Carson

THE Croton water-shed furnishes the source and storage of watersupply to both the old and the new aqueduct. The Croton river rises in the southern part of Dutchess county, about 68 miles from the lower end of New York city. Its three main branches, called the East, Middle and West branches, flow southward across Putnam county, joining, near its southern boundary, to form the Croton, which continues thence in a general southwest direction across Westchester county to the Hudson river at Croton Point, about 35 miles north of the city. The water-shed above the proposed site of the Quaker Bridge dam extends about 33 miles north and south, with an average width of 11 miles, making in all about 362 square miles, from which, by complete storage, an average daily supply of 250,000,000 gallons may be collected—sufficient for the needs of the city, probably, for the next fifteen years. The water-shed above the Croton dam is 23 square miles smaller, and furnishes the present daily supply of 100,000,000 gallons. By referring to the map it will be seen that the shortest approximately straight line between the proposed site of Quaker Bridge

Jan 1, 1891

On the following pages are abstracts of papers published by the Institute during the year 1936 as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS and CONTRIBUTIONS, papers in bound volumes appearing for the first time, and papers in MINING AND METALLURGY For abstracts of papers that appeared in bound volumes in 1936 but that were published as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS in 1935, see the YEAR BOOK dated January 1936.

Jan 1, 1937

By E. Orowan

LONG before the role of dislocations in the plastic deformation of crystals was recognized, the stress-strain field around dislocations received considerable attention in the theory of elasticity. It seems that Weingarten1 was the first to consider dislocations as simple and typical sources of internal stress in elastic solids, and Volterra2 and Timpe3 investigated their elastic field. Fig 3-1 shows the two basic types of dislocations considered by Volterra. The first arises by making a straight-edged .plane cut in a solid, displacing the two surfaces of the cut in their own plane relatively to one another by a constant amount in a direction perpendicular to the edge, and welding them together; this is shown in Fig 3-la, where the outer cylindrical surface represents the boundary of the solid, and the thin spiral cylinder around the edge of the cut has been removed in order to avoid infinities of stress and strain. The second type of dislocation is shown in Fig 3-lb; here the surfaces of the cut have been displaced relatively to one another by a constant amount parallel to the edge, and then welded together. After J. M. Burgers,4 these two types are called edge and screw dislocations, respectively. They represent simple limiting cases; in the general case, the surfaces of the cut are displaced by a constant vector that lies in the plane of the surface but has components both parallel and perpendicular to the edge of the cut. This vector is the Burgers or slip vector. The name “dislocation” was given by A. E. H. Love;5 it was bor-

Jan 1, 1954

The Institute is custodian of funds for support of numerous gold medals and prizes and has representatives on boards awarding still others. Details regarding the Institute Awards are given below. The Institute is represented on the boards of the John Fritz Medal, the Hoover Medal and the Washington Award, in connection with the three national societies of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering; and, also, in the case of the Washington Award, with the Western Society of Engineers. The Institute is represented with these four societies on the committee in charge of the Alfred Noble Prize.

Jan 1, 1939

Mills Day left a journal of his travel to Ohio and return by way of Pittsburgh in 1810. He left this comment about western Pennsylvania: "June 19. As I proceeded toward Pittsburg, (From Washington and Canonsburg) the country grew more populous. The hills appeared to consist of strata of freestone, iron, coal, and slate. June 20. Its (Pittsburg's) water communication with a vast extent of country and the immense beds of coal in its immediate vicinity render it a place peculiarly adapted to manufactures. Coal may be obtained of a good quality, ready delivered at 5 cents a bushel."1 Until within a year or so of this period, coal was used for domestic purposes, brick-making, by blacksmiths, etc.; now the industry entered a period of rapid growth caused by the introduction of the steam engine. As manufacturing was increasing due to the settlement of the western country, the additional facilities created by mechanical power were welcome. Apparently the first engine was installed in Pittsburgh, in a steam grist mill, in 1808; it is described in the Navigator of 1811: "The water of the boilers are heated by large fires made of stone coal, which is introduced at one end into a grated fire place as long as the cylinders themselves; the quantity of coal consumed daily by these boilers is said to be about twenty bushels, which cost one dollar." Later it mentions the effect of burning coal:

Jan 1, 1942