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By A. G. H. Andersen, A. W. Kingsbury

SILICON bronzes containing iron are used to a considerable extent in industry, under the trade name of P.M.G. alloys. Various classes of wrought alloys fall in the composition range 1.5 to 3.5 per cent silicon, and 0.5 to 2.5 per cent iron. Castings may contain as much as 6 per cent silicon and 3 per cent iron at present. The constitutional diagrams of these alloys are thus of considerable practical importance. Copper-silicon-binary alloys have been thoroughly investigated by a number of workers, the latest reports being those of C. S. Smith' and of A. G. H. Andersen .2 Although much work has been done on iron-copper alloys,3 recorded investigations on the copper-rich copper-iron binary constitutional diagram are not numerous. Tammann and Oelsen4 determined the solubility limits of iron in copper by means of magnetic measurements, and found that the solubility of iron in copper amounts to a fraction of one per cent at 400°C., increasing slowly to one per cent at 800°C. From 800°C., the solubility increases rapidly and attains 4 per cent at 1100°C. Hanson and Ford," using electrical resistivity measurements and the microscope, determined a somewhat different solubility limit. Of earlier X-ray works on the copper-iron system, very little has been published. The work by Bradley and Goldschmidt6 on copper-iron-aluminum alloys includes some information on the copper-iron binary. These investigators conclude that substitution of iron in the copper lattice decreases the spacings, which is contrary to the evidence of the present work. Hanson and West7 have investigated the ternary alloys of copper with iron and silicon. Although their diagrams are valuable contributions to the understanding of these alloys, they did not recognize the kappa phase,1,2,7,8 and their diagrams do not everywhere conform to the phase rule. The present work contains a check by means of X-rays of the solid solubility limit of iron in copper, and an X-ray investigation of the ternary-phase diagram, which, owing to present conditions, it became necessary to curtail considerably. PREPARATION OF SAMPLES Castings weighing about 75 grams were melted under vacuum. The charges were made up of ingot iron, copper cathodes from Laurel Hill, and refined silicon supplied by the Electrometallurgical Co. Alundum crucibles were generally used. The exceptions were alloys 77 and 78, which were melted in graphite crucibles. The ingots were annealed at 800°C. for one week, then samples were cut for chemical analysis. Longitudinal sections of the binary alloy ingots were hammered into plates h in. thick. Wherever possible, these plates were homogenized at temperatures ensuring

Jan 1, 1942

By H. E. Stauss

THE time-to-fracture test has been applied to pure platinum and to two alloys of platinum under the special conditions of small cross-sectional area of the specimens and of a test temperature above the annealing temperature. While the results are similar in character to those secured with large specimens of steel at temperatures below the annealing temperatures, two differences are noted: (I) an upward inflection in the curves for log stress vs. log time for the alloys, and (2) a sharp break in the curve for log stress vs. log time for pure platinum when single crystals filled the wire. The experiments showed that: (I) platinum and 10 per cent rhodium-platinum maintained their strengths at 1100°C. better than did 10 per cent iridium- platinum, and (2) the rhodium-platinum after a time exceeded the iridium-platinum in strength at 1100°C. Platinum alloys in their service at high temperatures encounter conditions some- what similar to those that exist in the usual form of the time-to-fracture "l test with steel. This paper is intended primarily to present results obtained by a "time-to- fracture" test under conditions approximating actual service for platinum (at the temperature 1100°C. under oxidizing conditions) with three materials, pure platinum (99.99 per cent), a platinum alloy with lo per cent iridium, and a platinum alloy with 10 per cent rhodium. The experimental procedure differed from that previously used in this type of measurement in that the samples were of small diameter (0.010 in.), were fully annealed, and were tested at a temperature definitely above their annealing points (600°C., 1000°C. and 1050°C., respectively, for 60 per cent cold reduction and 15 min. heating time2,3). The experimental arrangement was similar to that previously described,4 using as heating unit a small, horizontal, platinum- wound furnace, ½ by 12 in., maintained at constant temperature by an automatic controller. The samples were 0.010-in. wires, which had been annealed at 1200°C. by drawing them slowly through the furnace. The time-to-fracture was measured electrically. Elongation was not determined because of the difficulties inherent in the experimental arrangement. Life-that is, the time-to-fracture-was considered the important property in these first tests. No attempt was made to measure the reduction in area, but the types of fracture were noted qualitatively; in the text they are referred to as (I) the normal, plastic, or necked fracture, (2) the knife-edge fracture, and (3) the brittle or intercrystalline fracture with small reduction of area. Results for different constant applied stresses are plotted in Fig. I. In all cases at least two trials were made for each stress, although they cannot always be indicated separately on the curves. The breaking stresses drop very rapidly to a small frac-

Jan 1, 1943

By Robert W. Pack

Sooner or later in the development of any natural resource it becomes highly desirable to know the quantity of this resource in the country as a whole, as well as of the part that is being developed, for the general course and conduct of the development work must be governed, to some extent, by the total supply available. An accurate estimate of the quantity of any natural resource is difficult to make; yet if one is diligent enough one can obtain a pretty accurate idea of the quantity of marketable timber, the acreage of tillable land, or the horsepower that may be developed from the streams, for these are things that may be measured. But any attempt to estimate the quantity of some mineral in the ground appears to enter the realm of imagination and it seems that the estimate can be nothing more than a blind guess. It may appear to be especially futile to attempt to determine the quantity of oil and gas that is available in the ground, for these minerals are so vagrant that even if the quantity now available should be known quite exactly, the quantity that will eventually be obtained may be much less, for certain losses in the extraction of both oil and gas are unavoidable, and just what these losses will be cannot be predicted. Though necessarily inaccurate, estimates of such mineral reserves are, however, of distinct value, for they summarize the existing knowledge of the deposits of the mineral and thus enable those who are interested in some industry that depends in one way or another on this mineral to formulate a rational commercial policy. Some time ago, when the price of gasoline suddenly rose in a rather spectacular manner, the writer was one of the U. S. Geological Survey geologists called upon to help to estimate the quantity of oil that could be obtained in the United States, for the fear had become widespread that perhaps the rate of increase in the price of gasoline was a measure of the rate of depletion of the supply of petroleum. It thus became his

Jan 1, 1918

By Joseph Perry

MAGNESITE is found in 22 California counties, but many of the deposits are too small or too impure to be of commercial value. Several of sub-stantial size and quality were entirely exhausted by wartime operation. At present, three properties comprise the only known workable deposits in the state. Of these, the Western mine and the Patterson mine have been known and worked for many years, and have been described in con-siderable detail in various publications, therefore need only brief mention here, because of their proximity to the Bald Eagle mine. The latter, recently developed, is unusual in type of ore deposit, plant design and operation, as well as products made, and very little has been written concerning it. WESTERN MINE The Western mine, 32 miles south of Livermore, Calif., was formerly operated by C. S. Maltby. It has been a consistent producer for many years.1 The ore is of amorphous variety, occurring along fracture zones in serpentine. The veins vary greatly in width, the average being perhaps 8 ft., with the maximum indicated in one early stope of 40 ft.; 2 ft. is considered the minimum for economical mining. The strike of the veins is predominantly north and south, with dip to the west varying from 40° to 75°. Walls are well defined and as a rule firm and easily supported, Veins range in length from a few hundred feet to 1000 or more. Their maximum vertical extent is about 350 ft., but many run less. Early mining consisted of open-cut and glory-hole work on the larger outcrops. This was followed underground by a modified shrinkage system, the waste and low-grade horses being removed by hand sorting on the tramming levels and transported to surface dumps. Filled-stope mining is used now, in order to eliminate the handling of waste, which has

Jan 1, 1938

By G. W. Jarman

THE purpose of this paper is to present briefly a description of some of the special methods of separation or concentration, either singly or in combination with others, and to give certain operating data and examples. Explanation of the usual methods of large-production mill treatment, such as flotation or wet tabling, or of chemically treating industrial minerals, is not included in the scope of this paper, although one of these methods might be, in certain instances, augmented by one or more of the special methods that will be enumerated herein. Description of these special methods will be centered on magnetic separators, electro- static separators and air flotation or air tables. MAGNETIC SEPERATORS In general, separating is achieved by exerting upon a particle some kind of force opposed to gravity, either directly or at an angle. For example, in the Wetherill or cross-belt type of magnetic separator some particles are lifted vertically from the others because they have been exposed to a force to which they respond more readily than particles of lesser magnetic susceptibility. Of course, there is a limitation to this vertical rise, for the particle must be of a high enough susceptibility to receive a magnetic force greater than the 980 dynes per gram of gravitational urge. To overcome this limitation, the induction type of magnetic separator was developed, so that it is only necessary to instill, say, 30 to 60 dynes per gram instead of the 980, to cause a deflection away from the vertical in falling, and that deflection can be used advantageously when falling by inserting a dividing knife-edge. The induction magnetic separator (Fig. 1) has become a fairly well known method of concentrating and purifying. For example, abrasive grain was among the materials that did not respond to the previously best known type of magnetic separator, such as the Wetherill type, and the development of the induction magnetic separator in the plant of a

Jan 1, 1938

By Schlumberger, C

IN the search for practical geological problems amenable to solution by the potential methods, the geophysicist is led to study mathematically various theoretical cases. In these idealistic discussions, the media under consideration are generally supposed to be homogeneous and iso-tropic. The geophysicist, of course, realizes perfectly that these condi-tions do not occur in their entirety in reality. However, the assumptions made are justified, because very often they are necessary in order to render possible an exhaustive study of a given problem, which otherwise would be too complicated, and would not lend itself to a complete mathe-matical analysis. Of the above two assumptions, that concerning the homogeneity of a given geological formation is satisfactorily realized except in so far as isotropy is concerned, since this property is not often encountered in practice. As a consequence, it is very desirable for the geophysicist to have quite an extensive knowledge of the properties of anisotropic forma-tions, and of the laws that govern the propagation of electric current therein. With such principles in mind, he will be able to decide whether the conclusions arrived at in simple, isotropic conditions are still correct in more complex cases, or in what way they must be modified or adapted in order to constitute a sound basis for the interpretation of the results obtained in anisotropic media. On the other hand, the fact that in anisotropic formations themobility of the ions is greater along the strike than perpendicular thereto can be utilized for determining the direction of the dip by induc-tion measurements. We therefore propose to study in three successive chapters the following points: 1. Propagation of the electric current in anisotropic media. 2. Some consequences of the anisotropy of geological formations with reference to the surface electrical measurements, and their interpretation. 3. Determination of the direction of the dip of anisotropic formations by surface induction measurements.

Jan 1, 1933

By C. L. Clark, J. Russ

FOR many years attempts have been made to develop a laboratory test that would serve to indicate the proper temperatures to be used in the various hot-working applications to which metals may be subjected as they are being processed from the cast ingot to the desired finished products. That these attempts have not been very successful is indicated by the fact that most of the temperatures in use today in these operations have been developed over a period of years by trial and error. In other words, the selection of the proper temperatures for the hot-working of metals is generally an art rather than a science. Our knowledge with respect to the behavior of metals at elevated temperatures has been greatly extended during the past several years. While most of the work in this field has been done at proposed operating temperatures of equipment, rather than at processing or fabricating temperatures, one outstanding fact has been developed, which is applicable to the entire high-temperature range; that is, that the rate of deformation to which the metal is subjected is of the same order of importance as the temperature. The failure to properly recognize this fact has greatly retarded the development of a suitable laboratory test for determining hot-working temperatures. INFLUENCE OF RATE OF DEFORMATION ON HIGH-TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES It is not the intent of this paper to survey all the work that has been done on the effect of deformation rate on the properties of metals. The importance of this factor, however, was shown by Zay Jeffries1 as early as 1919, when he called attention to the existence of the so-called equicohesive temperature and to the effect of certain factors on the location of this temperature. Fig. I is a diagrammatic sketch showing the effect of temperature on the relative strength of the crystals and grain boundaries and the type of fracture that will result, depending on the location of the test, or working temperature with respect to the equicohesive temperature. Since the type fracture varies, it also follows that at temperatures below the equicohesive temperature the major deformation occurs in the grains; while at temperatures above, the deformation results either from the movement of the grains with respect to each other or recrystallization of the strained material occurs almost instantaneously, producing new crystals at the fracture. As previously indicated, it is an established fact that the position of this equicohesive temperature for any given metal is dependent on the deformation rate. For example, in 0.15 per cent plain carbon steel the location of this temperature under

Jan 1, 1945

By R. W. Woodward, G. K. Burgess

minum bronze. Nearly all copper-base alloys are improved by rolling processes, but the copper-aluminum alloys seem to possess equally good properties when cast or rolled; this is a remarkable metallurgical fact. Another important property of these copper-aluminum alloys is their resistance to alternating stress. Many tests indicate that their resistance is greater in this respect than that of some steels, and I have seen instances when cast aluminum-bronze bolts have outlived five steel bolts in foundation work subject to severe shocks. I mention these various instances to indicate that work originally started as research for substitution of one material for another frequently develops 212 article which has properties not possessed by the original metal or alloy. I have dwelt particularly on the aluminum bronzes because recently I have done more special work on them than on other alloys, but I believe that the use of aluminum itself, in many combinations of metals, is a very important subject for investigation. Undoubtedly, after the war, the cost of aluminum will be reduced from its present price, and considering its low specific gravity it offers a very interesting and important field for research in the non-ferrous business. Naturally, if combinations containing aluminum can be developed in view of a probably increasing supply of metal, the cost will be reduced. This will benefit the industry generally and will immediately conserve tin. Bronzes, Bearing Metals, and Solders G. K. Burgess* and R. W. Woodward,† Washington, D. C.— From a metallurgical standpoint, there are several ways in which a reduction of the tin consumed in commercial non-ferrous and white-metal alloys can be effected. First, a reduction of the tin content of the alloy; second, substitution of part or all of the tin content by some other metal; third, a substitution of a different type of alloy, which in some cases also involves a change in mechanical design. The Bureau of Standards has been studying these methods of conservation for tin alloys, particularly in regard to babbitts and bearing metals, bronzes, and solders. Much of the information sewed by the Bureau was obtained from answers to questionnaires sent to manufacturers and users of these materials, so that, in general, any of the following suggestions or recommendations can be considered as being practical and as having already been thoroughly tried. Bearing Metals There is no question that the tin content of nearly all bearing metals can be reduced to some extent, and in some cases actually eliminated

Jan 1, 1919

By Alfred H. Bell

The year 1937 has been outstanding in the history of the Illinois oil industry. During the course of the year the state's daily production has been trebled, increasing from 12,000 bbl. per day at the beginning to 37,000 bbl. per day at the end, and the year's total, 7,426,000 bbl. is 66 per cent above the previous year's production of 4,475,000 bbl. The production in January was 368,000 bbl.; in December it was 1,085,000. Production from the old fields increased slightly. Most of the new production is from fields in the central part of the Illinois Basin, an area that for many years was considered unfavorable to the occurrence of oil and gas. The principal producing horizon of the new fields is the McClosky "sand," an oolitic limestone in the Ste. Genevieve formation of lower Mississippian age. Although development has not yet gone far enough to permit accurate estimates of oil reserves in the new fields, it is believed that they are of the order of 100,000,000 barrels. The following are the oil fields discovered in 1937 listed in order of amount of daily production at the end of the year; Noble (Richland County), Clay City, including Southeast Clay City (Clay and Wayne counties), Patoka (Marion County), New Centralia (Clinton County), Olney (Richland County), Cisne (Wayne County),.Beecher City (Fayette County), and Rinard (Wayne County). One gas field, the Russellville, in Lawrence County, was discovered in 1937. For locations of the new fields see Fig. 1. A generalized geologic column for Illinois, showing producing horizons in the new fields, is given in Fig. 2. The total productive area of the new fields at the end of 1937 was 1712 acres, in which 230 wells were producing. Thisrty-five dry holes were drilled within 1/4 mile of producing wells. At the end of the year there were 19 drilling wells, 28 rigs standing, 18 rigging up and 4 new locations in these fields. In the whole state 447 wells were completed, of which 284 were oil producers and three gas producers. Total initial daily production of

Jan 1, 1938

By J. F. Bryson

Instantaneous outbursts of coal in underground workings have occurred frequently in various coal fields in Nova Scotia; British Columbia; Canada; South Staffordshire, England; and the states of Washington, Virginia, West Virginia and eastern Kentucky in the United States. Such outbursts in eastern Kentucky have been called "mountain bumps " because they are more likely to occur under mountain cover than elsewhere, but recently they have become generally known as "coal bumps." The eastern Kentucky coal field has been troubled by these outbursts since 1923. Many men have been injured and killed, and the morale of the workmen in the vicinity of such outbursts has been affected to such an extent that mine production has suffered for a considerable period following each outburst. Such phenonlenal occurrence in any coal field naturally has led to discussion as to the cause and means of prevention. In the eastern Kentucky field, local mine officials, workmen, mining engineers, and many others have offered many ideas as to the cause and many methods of prevention have been suggested, and tried without success. Some of the plans were either practically or economically unsound and in general impossible to follow. To enumerate all the suggestions would require a large volume. One cause mentioned was that they might be due to gas under high pressure, as in Lower Silesian mines, and the remedy reeommcnded was to drain the gas by drilling holes into a suspected area. A hole 30 ft. long was drilled into a 60-ft. pillar to allow the gas to drain off, hut the pillar bumped the next day. Realizing the importance of obtaining the best information available on coal bumps, the writer, with the permission of the Harlan County Coal Operators' Assoeiation, invited Mr. George S. Rire, Chief Mining Engineer of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, who had investigated bumps in several countries, to conduct an investigation of coal bumps in this field. Mr. Rice, by permission of the Director of the G.S. Bureau of Mines, accepted the invitation, and it was the writer's privilege, in company with

Jan 1, 1936

THE Institute of Metals Division opened its series of meetings by a session* on lead, R. S. Dean be-ing in the chair and G. 0. Hiers acting as vice-chairman. A large and representative audience listened to the papers in the abstract and contributed an inter-esting and fruitful discussion. The main points of these papers and discussion are given below: In the absence of Carl E. Swartz, the summary and conclusions of his paper, "A Study of the Lead-Tin-Cadmium System with Reference to Their Use as Solders," were read. Swartz investigated a number of alloys in the lead-tin-cadmium system and prepared a diagram representing the solidification ranges of these alloys. He also made tensile strength tests of joints made with these alloys, and compared these with joints made with ordinary lead-tin solder. The tests showed solders containing cadmium were equally strong as the lead-tin series and that the cadmium alloys were suit-able in other respects for use as solders. In general, solders of the composition near to the ternary lead-tin-cadmium eutectic appeared to be the best for most soldering work although compositions widely differing are desirable for special purposes. The lead-tin-cad-mium solders are finding a market particularly in the fields requiring lower solidification temperatures than common solders. Mr. Darby opened the discussion and asked whether it was a fact that the lead-tin-cadmium solders were more useful than ordinary solders on galvanized and tin-plated sheet. C. Smith said he thought it to be a fact that galvanized sheet was more easily soldered by the lead-tin-cadmium solders than common lead-tin-solder. Continuing, Mr. Smith showed lantern slides of his own investigation of the thermal diagram and recommended the 70 per cent lead, 20 per cent cadmium, and 10 per cent tin for general employment. He thought the author did not differentiate between wetting and alloying and pointed out that wetting was more a ques-tion of the flux than the metal. In some cases a definite alloy was formed by soldering and in some no evidences of alloying were found. Illustrating the former case he showed slides and demonstrated that failures always took place longitudinal with the brittle compound alloy and transversely across the solder itself.

Jan 3, 1928

By Norman Pilling

THE solubilities of a series of experimental alloys covering the range 0 to 100 per cent. Ni, 0 to 30 per cent. Cr have been studied under conditions of complete submersion in several fully aerated acid solutions, and in solutions containing sulfurous acid. In nonoxidizing, hydrogen-discharging acids, if the nickel content is below a certain critical amount, chromium increases the rate of solution and nickel decreases this rate; this critical content of nickel is about 13 per cent. Alloys containing more than this corrode at a constant minimum rate independent of iron, nickel or chromium contents. Austenitic chrome-nickel steels may thus have a resistance to these acids equal to that of nickel-chromium alloys. In nitric acid and in unaerated sulfurous acid rather sharp limits of attack occur which are principally dependent on chromium content. In the former the limit of attack is not related to a particular chromium content but varies continuously with acid concentration. The action of sulfurous acid on these alloys is highly dependent on the presence of small amounts of other substances in solution, and many sulfurous acid mixtures rapidly attack alloys to which the pure acid is wholly inert. The observed effects are. not compatible with Tammann's theory relating corrosion resistance to lattice structure but are believed to be concordant with current views of the electrochemical nature of corrosion.

Jan 1, 1929

By David R. Hargis, John W. Harshbarger

The Upper Santa Cruz Basin lies in the drainage area of the Santa Cruz River in Arizona, and extends upstream from the community of Rillito to the international boundary [(Fig. 1)]. The principal water use area lies between, and includes, the cities of Tucson and Nogales. A subsurface geologic barrier near Rillito provides a reasonable dividing line between the ground waters of the upper and lower Santa Cruz basins. The upper basin contains the Tucson and Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water areas. The Tucson water use area encompasses the Tucson metropolitan area and extends from the northern boundary of the basin south to the boundary between the Tucson and Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water areas near San Xavier. The San Xavier use area is the San Xavier Indian Reservation. The north and south boundaries of the Continental use area coincide with the limits of the Sahuarita-Continental critical ground water area. The first study of ground water in this valley was initiated by Dr. G. E. P. Smith in 1905, and the results were published in 1910, followed by a series of bulletins of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arizona, covering the general field of ground water development and utilization. Beginning in 1939, the ground water branch of the US Geologic Survey, in cooperation with the Arizona State Land Department and the Arizona Water Commission (AWC), published a series of bulletins concerning ground water occurrence and utilization in various areas of the state. In 1975 and 1977, the AWC published the Arizona State Water Plan (Arizona Water Commission, 1975) comprising a detailed inventory of water availability and use in Arizona and a study of alternative futures. The importance of ground water supplies in the Upper Santa Cruz Valley cannot be overemphasized. Metropolitan Tucson, surrounding agricultural areas, and the mineral industry are completely dependent upon ground water. Agriculture has been the largest user of ground water. The land distribution of the Upper Santa Cruz Basin is rural in character with large tracts of land included in national monuments and national forests. The Upper Santa Cruz is one of several state basins that does not depend upon one single industry as its major economic activity. Agriculture, mining, tourism, international commerce, and manufacturing all contribute to a viable economy. The city of Nogales, on the Mexican border, and the city of Tucson, to the North, are the centers of commerce in the basin.

Jan 1, 1982

By R. W. Waterfill

MANY existing ore deposits of valuable metals have been worked out in their upper surface levels and the continued productivity of these mines is dependent on their extension to greater depths in the earth. The maximum depths at present reached are about 6000 to 8000 ft. below the surface, with no evidence of an impoverished ore vein. These mines are widely distributed; some of the best known are in South Africa, Brazil, India and in the western sections of the United States. Among the factors which increase the difficulty of working these mines at increasing depths are hoisting, rock pressure and temperature. The manner and effectiveness with which these problems arc met will, no doubt, determine in a large measure the ultimate depths to which any mine can be profitably worked. The most critical of these three factors at present is the increase in temperature with depth. The high temperature and humidity in many of these mines at present are severely detrimental to the health of the workers and greatly hamper their efficiency. Some have almost reached a condition in which the human system cannot survive. The problems involved in the cooling and ventilation of mines have all been ably analyzed and presented in previous articles. For this reason, only a résumé of conditions affecting the cooling and conditioning of deep and hot mines will be given in this paper before attention is directed to possible methods of improving atmospheric conditions in the working levels. Physiological Effects of Temperature, Humidity and Air Motion Many data on the physiological effects of different atmospheric conditions on the human system have been compiled and published through the combined efforts of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers, the U. S. Bureau of Mines and U. S. Public Health Service. These data were not primarily developed around the conditions existing in deep mines, but the upper temperature limits of the investigations extend into, and are applicable to, mine atmospheric conditions. While the exact values of the standard comfort conditions, established for persons of such habits as those employed in detecting the different degrees of comfort, might not produce identical effects upon persons inured to

Jan 1, 1929

By Karl Sundberg

ElectRical investigations carried out in regions containing sedimentary rocks showed that sediments generally are good electrical conductors, a fact which at the present time is used for structural investigations by electrical methods. It is of fundamental importance, not only for these investigations but also for electrical prospecting in general, to know the electrical properties of various soils and rocks. It will be useful, therefore, to discuss this question with the hope that the general points of view discussed in this paper will perhaps be completed by further observations and determinations of material from various localities. This paper is based principally on the study of literature, and the purpose is primarily a discussion of the main factors that determine the electrical conductivity of soils and rocks. It will follow, however, that the factors discussed here also frequently decide how far a certain orebody can be regarded as a good electrical conductor compared with the surrounding rocks. All rocks are more or less porous, and the pores are filled with liquids and gases. Their electrical conductivity, therefore, depends on the following factors: 1. The electrical conductivity of minerals composing the rock. 2. Electrical conductivity of the liquid filling the pores. 3. Proportion of the volume of liquid filling pores of the rocks to the solid rock material. 4. Shape of the pores. 5. Arrangement of the particles of gas and liquids. 6. Temperature. Dry minerals, with the exception of certain ore minerals, are complete nonconductors from the point of view of applied geophysics; in the present investigation we deal with rocks which have no conducting minerals, and factor 1, therefore, is not important. The same is true of soils. The liquids contained in soils and rocks in most cases are waters, sometimes oil. As oil is a nonconductor of electricity, the impregnating waters will determine the electrical conductivity of soils and rocks.

Jan 1, 1932

By W. Luyken, E. Bierbrauer

A number of articles have been published, notably those by R. S. Handy, R. T. Hancock and A. P. Watt in Engineering and Mining Journal, dealing with the calculations involved in ore dressing. These publications demonstrate both the importance of the subject and the lack of success in developing a generally recognized method for comparing enrichment effects. Considering that we may wish to compare enrichment results on similar or dissimilar ores, that we may desire to make the comparison on the basis of either the absolute or the economical efficiency, and that the number of factors upon which the result depends is large, the question arises whether it is possible to set up a positive method for such calculations. In the following pages it is our aim to show that a sure, complete and successful way to overcome existing difficulties has been found. Graphical Analysis of Ore-dressing Processes The following is from Truscott's Text Book of Ore Dressing (London, 1923): x = assay of ore treated (feed). y = assay value of the concentrate. 2 = assay value of the tailing. a = weight of feed. 6 = weight of concentrate. c = weight of tailing. C = fractional concentration = = . a y - z K = ratio of concentration = 1/c a/b = y-z/x-z 2 B = fractional recovery = 9 = C y/x (3) 100R = percentage recovery. Copt. = theoretically best concentration. 100 — Copt = waste in the feed.

Jan 1, 1930

By M. Friedman

Applications of rock mechanics to the design of engineering structures in rock involve the assumption that the stresses are due entirely to the present applied loads. For instance, it is assumed that the vertical normal stress in undisturbed rock free of topographic effects is equal to the weight per unit area of the overburden. In fact, vertical dilatational strains associated with stresses of more than 100 times the present overburden pressure have been measured by strain-relief methods on outcrops. 1,2 The notion of residual strain (stress) or latent stress3 seems unassailable; and indeed this has long been recognized by metallurgists. It is difficult, however, to assess the residual component of the in-situ state of elastic strain with conventional strain relief methods employed in mines or down boreholes. That is, in principle, the in-situ state results from the superposition of present applied loads (natural or man- induced) and potentially recoverable elastic strains (stresses) that exist in a given volume of material even though there are no external forces across the boundaries of the body (Voight,4 and Fig, 1). Accordingly, only in unloaded blocks can the true residual strains be measured by strain relief methods. Using X-rays, the elastic strains locked within the quartz grains or crystals of a rock can be measured. These strains are known to persist even when the rock is reduced to small chips but to vanish when the rock is disaggregated and the grains are powdered. Although we have just begun to investigate the mechanisms by which the strains are stored (see Preliminary Results), we believe that "pressure solution'' at grain boundaries, secondary cementation under load, permanent ("plastic") deformation, and temperature changes are possible processes. In any event, in our study of naturally deformed rocks, it is significant that we are work-

Jan 1, 1972

By J. E. Tobey, David R. Mitchell, J. H. Kerrick

DETAILED knowledge of purchase specifications established by coal consumers is essential to the successful design and operation of a coal-preparation plant. ANTHRACITE Specifications should be considered by both the consumer and the producer as guide posts outlining a certain path for both to follow. Plants differ, therefore specifications must differ to meet the varied requirements. Specifications are not of themselves a "cure all" or an assurance of complete satisfaction in fuel utilization. Specifications should not be regarded as a license to engage in an orgy of buying any and all coals that may happen to fall within their limits. This would lead to the-indiscriminate mixing of coals which may vary in their burning characteristics. Different coals of equal grade tend to be individualistic in their burning characteristics. Rather, specifications should be used to help simplify coal selection, to reduce the actual number of coals used over a given period; in other words, to have a stabilizing influence on coal or customer turnover. In the final analysis, the use of too many coals per year in a plant is costly to both the consumer and the producer. Too many sources usually result in higher operating and maintenance costs for the consumer and higher sales costs for the producer. Finally, the statement included in the report accompanying the comprehensive Coal Selection Charts prepared by the Coal Committee of the National Association of Purchasing Agents, and released in 1938, is significant. This Committee worked diligently for a period of 15 years seeking to find a scientific and reliable method for selecting coals. The two following paragraphs are quoted from its report: More important is the fact that no ready-made classification or set of specifications can possibly replace the judgment and resourcefulness of an experienced combustion engineer, or fuel technologist, nor the usual need for full scale plant tests under the exact conditions of use before a final decision is made . . .

Jan 1, 1943

By E. M. Bennett

HISTORY In 1923 John Campbell Miles discovered the Mount Isa deposit after finding and submitting for assay some “unusual and heavy rocks”. Six months after submission he received the assays of his original samples which indicated high lead-silver values. The deposit area was isolated and unknown geographically and not served by even a rough country road. The isolation of Mount Isa coupled with the depression years had a strong influence on the rate of development of the area. These two factors resulted in a slow amalgamation of the early individually held leases and the lack of ready finance to begin serious mining of the deposit. Initially, surface lead-silver-zinc mineralisation was proved and diamond drilling to shallow depths showed the presence of a viable orebody. Limited underground development work was initiated and open cutting associated with glory holing commenced. Due to the metallurgical problems associated with the ore and due also to unsuspected change in metallurgical conditions as the ore deepened into what is known today as the transition zone, major problems of finance were recurring at frequent intervals. Despite low metal prices the development of the mine continued due to continuing infusion of capital. During the 1939-45 war years a surplus of lead was being produced in Australia, but a grave shortage of copper was apparent. About this time copper ore had been found to the hanging wall of the then known major lead orebodies. At the request of the Australian Government, lead production ceased and copper production commenced.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. R. Campbell

It is the purpose of this paper to review somewhat in detail the literature on the subject that is extant, which ought to provoke considerable beneficial discussion. The value of 1 per cent. ash in blast-furnace practice was brought to the attention of the writer when he was connected with the U. S. Steel Corpn. Various groups of blast furnaces in the Pittsburgh district compiled a statement in which the average saving was about 6 c. per ton on pig iron for every 1 per cent. of ash reduction. Later, the same groups of furnaces, when materials had reached a higher price, compiled a statement in which there was a 30-cent saving on pig iron for every 4 per cent. ash reduction in the Pittsburgh district, which was equivalent to 7½ c. for every 1 per cent. ash reduction. In the Chicago district, on long freight hauls of coal and coke from the Pocahontas district, the set-up was 30 c. per ton of pig iron for every 2 per cent. ash reduction, or 15 c. for every 1 per cent. Some years ago, Ralph H. Sweetser, of the American Rolling Mill Co., presented a paper which provoked considerable comment.' To get the matter again before this body a résumé of his computations is given below: Comparison of Pig Iron Costs Ash in Coal. Ash in CoKe, Fixed Carbon in Coke peR Ton OB PIG Iron peN Day, Per Cent. PeR CeNt. Coke. Per Cent. PIG IRon. Lb. Tons 6.00 8.70 89.80 1800 365.0 7.00 10.15 88.35 1860 353.2 Coke with 8.70 Per Cent. Ash Ore mixture, 4144 It). = 1.85 tons @ $5.50.............................. $10.17 Coke, 1800 lb. = 0.90 ton @ $6.50..................................... 5.85 Limestone, 1000 lb. = 0.50 ton @ $1.50................................. 0.75 Labor, $365 per day on 365 tons....................................... 1.00 Supplies and service, $250 per day...................................... 0.68 Overhead, $200 per day............................................... 0.55 Reserve for relining and depreciation................................... 1.00 Total............................................................. $20.00

Jan 1, 1931