Search Documents

By Cyril Smith

ALTHOUGH not of the same importance as electrical conductivity, the capacity for conducting heat is nevertheless a very important property of metals and alloys. A knowledge of thermal conductivity is of value in selecting alloys for many purposes and in the calculation of the efficiency of apparatus which is being designed. Unfortunately, the determination of thermal conductivity is extremely slow and tedious, consequently few data have been obtained. A further reason for the lack of information is that there has long been an impression that the thermal conductivity of an alloy is directly proportional to the electrical conductivity and that it can therefore be calculated from the latter. The Wiedemann-Franz-Lorenz law of constant ratio of the two conductivities holds with a considerable degree of precision for all the pure metals, but appreciable deviations occur in certain alloys-particularly those containing nickel-and it seems difficult to predict exactly what the ratio will be. Therefore direct determinations of thermal conductivity should be made whenever the results are, needed with any accuracy. This research is intended eventually to cover all the alloys of copper that are of commercial importance, including the binary alloys of copper with zinc, tin, aluminum, nickel, silicon, manganese, cadmium and phosphorus, and the ternary alloys copper-nickel-zinc, copper-nickel-silicon, copper-manganese-silicon, copper-zinc-tin, etc. Most of these alloys are customarily used in the wrought condition and therefore were tested in the form of annealed rods. A limited number of sand castings were also obtained and examined. This paper contains a complete review of all the previous work that has been done on copper alloys, and includes a detailed description of the apparatus and method of procedure used in the present research, together with the new results obtained on the copper-zinc series, which is the only one completed at the present time. Subsequent papers describing the other alloys will contain the experimental results and discussion only.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. W. Hickman, E. A. Gulbransen

One of the important factors that determine the resistance of a metal or alloy to further chemical reaction is the structure of the superficial oxide film. A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film formed on the surface as a function of time and temperature of the chemical reaction might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective nature of the film. A comprehensive program has been undertaken to study these phenomena. This paper summarizes the structure of the oxide films formed on the metals iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium and copper at temperatures up to 700°C. Before the introduction of the electron diffraction technique, it was necessary to use either direct chemical analyses or X-rav diffraction analyses to determine the nature of the oxide film formed on the metal or alloy. Chemical analyses yields information on the percentages of the several atomic species present in the film while X-ray diffraction analyses yield information on the atomic geometry. In special cases the information obtained may be identical, but in general both viewpoints are necessary. Much of the early work was carried out on the oxidation of bulk samples where thick films were obtained. The products were identified after cooling to room temperature by X-ray diffraction and chemical analyses. Although much useful information has been obtained in this manner. little could be learned about the character of the protective oxides during the period when the films were actually protective. Evidence concerning the chemical structure of thin oxide films has been made possible by the development of the electron diffraction reflection technique. In this method the most fruitful investigations have been made by carrying out the reaction in situ at the temperature at which the film is actually protective. Literature The oxidation of iron has been extensively investigated by X-ray and electron diffraction. Jackson and Quarrelll found that oxide films formed and examined at the same temperature differed considerably from those allowed to cool to room temperature. The results showed that below 400°C the oxide that was stable in intimate contact with iron was Fe³O4; between 515° and 900°C. the stable film was FeO. Above the upper change point of iron the oxide was found to be Fe³O4. From 400' to 515°C., FeO, Fe³O4 or a mixture of the two oxides was found. Recrystallization of the air-formed film below 400' and above 900°C. led to the formation of Fe3O4. In the range where thicker films consisted of FeO, the air-formed film was converted to a new hexagonal oxide not previously described.

Jan 1, 1947

By Joshua I. Tracey, Mackenzie Gordon

THE bauxite deposits in central Arkansas were formed by weather¬ing, in early Eocene time, of fresh or kaolinized nepheline syenite above the water table in a subtropical climate of fairly continuous moisture. Four types are recognized: (1) residual bauxite deposits on kaolinized nepheline syenite, (2) residual deposits on kaolin and bauxite detritus, (3) alluvial deposits of sorted pebbles and pisolites of early Wilcox age, and (4) rubble deposits of later Wilcox age. All were invaded by kaolin and siderite during subsequent burial by Eocene sediments. PART I-FIELD RELATIONS OF THE DEPOSITS The Arkansas bauxite region for years has produced about 95 pct of the domestic supply of bauxite of the United States and it contains today reserves of more than 40 million tons-nine tenths of the known domestic reserves. During World War II, the Arkansas bauxite deposits were explored jointly by the U. S. Geological Survey and the U. S. Bureau of Mines. Some 6000 holes were drilled by rotary rigs under contract to the Federal Govern¬ment, which resulted in the discovery and delimiting of approximately 20 million tons of ore in place. Detailed study of the many sections cored through the bauxite, of data from a much greater number of drill holes made available by all the operating companies, and of the extensive mine faces exposed in the strip pits, has yielded valuable geologic information about the origin of the deposits. It is now possible to piece together a paleotopographic picture of the deposits and the now-buried land surface on which they formed. The bauxite region in the center of Arkansas (Fig 1) contains two producing districts: one in Pulaski County, just south of Little Rock, and the other in Saline County, about 15 miles to the southwest. The deposits in both districts are associated with hills of nepheline syenite, bosses of a large batho¬lith that was intruded into Paleozoic rocks and later buried beneath coastal plain sediments deposited during Cenozoic time. The folded Paleozoic rocks are exposed in the northwest half of the state and are covered in the southeast half by the nearly flat-lying coastal plain sediments. The older rocks were intruded by nepheline syenite, probably in Late Cretaceous time, and sub¬sequently were eroded so as to expose the top of the batholith. In Paleocene time, marine limestone and laminated black silty clay of the Midway group were deposited in an advancing sea, and covered all but the most elevated parts of the batholith. Erosion of the islands of nepheline

Jan 1, 1952

By E. A. Gulbransen, J. W. Hickman

One of the important factors that determine the resistance of a metal or alloy to further chemical reaction is the structure of the superficial oxide film. A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical structure as well as the stability of the oxide film formed on the surface as a function of time and temperature of the chemical reaction might furnish clues as to the nature of the reaction process and the protective nature of the film. A comprehensive program has been undertaken to study these phenomena. This paper summarizes the structure of the oxide films formed on the metals iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium and copper at temperatures up to 700°C. Before the introduction of the electron diffraction technique, it was necessary to use either direct chemical analyses or X-rav diffraction analyses to determine the nature of the oxide film formed on the metal or alloy. Chemical analyses yields information on the percentages of the several atomic species present in the film while X-ray diffraction analyses yield information on the atomic geometry. In special cases the information obtained may be identical, but in general both viewpoints are necessary. Much of the early work was carried out on the oxidation of bulk samples where thick films were obtained. The products were identified after cooling to room temperature by X-ray diffraction and chemical analyses. Although much useful information has been obtained in this manner. little could be learned about the character of the protective oxides during the period when the films were actually protective. Evidence concerning the chemical structure of thin oxide films has been made possible by the development of the electron diffraction reflection technique. In this method the most fruitful investigations have been made by carrying out the reaction in situ at the temperature at which the film is actually protective. Literature The oxidation of iron has been extensively investigated by X-ray and electron diffraction. Jackson and Quarrelll found that oxide films formed and examined at the same temperature differed considerably from those allowed to cool to room temperature. The results showed that below 400°C the oxide that was stable in intimate contact with iron was Fe³O4; between 515° and 900°C. the stable film was FeO. Above the upper change point of iron the oxide was found to be Fe³O4. From 400' to 515°C., FeO, Fe³O4 or a mixture of the two oxides was found. Recrystallization of the air-formed film below 400' and above 900°C. led to the formation of Fe3O4. In the range where thicker films consisted of FeO, the air-formed film was converted to a new hexagonal oxide not previously described.

Jan 1, 1947

By R. F. Mehl, B. Lustman

The formation of intermediate phase layers in cementation processes has been subjected to extensive qualitative investigation though to relatively little quantitative study; this work has recently been fully summarized by F. N. Rhines.' It is necessary here only to cnumerate the general conclusions drawn concerning the kinetic laws governing the growth of intermediate layers and to state what is known concerning the structural changes accompanying the generation of phase layers. I. When the intermediate phase is protective in type—i.e., when its density is less than that of the base metal, so that a continuous coating is formed and maintained—the isothermal growth of the phase follows a simple parabolic equation: X2 = kt [i] where X is the thickness of the alloy layer, k thc reaction rate constant, and t the time. The applicability of this equation to diffusion processes is tested by plotting the square of the thickness versus time, or by plotting the thickness versus the square root of time; the resultant achievement of a straight line in such a plot has been considered sufficient proof of the validity of this equation. Exceptions have been found where liquid phases are involved in the reaction, where the diffusion layer is cracked,2 and where thin semimetallic oxide and sulphide coatings are formed on metals.$ In the first two cases the thickness increases linearly with time, and in the latter it is a logarithmic function of time. 2. The rate of thickening varics with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation: k = Ae-Q/RT [2] where k is the parabolic rate constant of Eq. I, or some other rate-descriptive function, A is the action constant, e the base of natural logarithms, Q the heat of activation, R the gas constant, and T absolute temperature. This equation has been found to be generally valid except when transformations occur during reaction in either the base metal or in the reaction layer; in such instances Eq. 2 is still applicable with different values for the constants A and Q above and below the transformation temperature. 3. Ali phases that are stable at the temperature at which diffusion occurs will appear in the interdiffusion of two components. In some cases certain of the phases may be too thin to be observed and identified easily. Nonequilibrium phases have never been noted in thick reaction layers; i.e., layers of a thickness that may be discerned microscopically. The relative thickness of each phase in a diffusion layer is proportional to the concentration gradient and to the rate of diffusion in that phase.4 The reaction layers tend to have a

Jan 1, 1942

By R. F. Mehl, B. Lustman

The formation of intermediate phase layers in cementation processes has been subjected to extensive qualitative investigation though to relatively little quantitative study; this work has recently been fully summarized by F. N. Rhines.' It is necessary here only to cnumerate the general conclusions drawn concerning the kinetic laws governing the growth of intermediate layers and to state what is known concerning the structural changes accompanying the generation of phase layers. I. When the intermediate phase is protective in type—i.e., when its density is less than that of the base metal, so that a continuous coating is formed and maintained—the isothermal growth of the phase follows a simple parabolic equation: X2 = kt [i] where X is the thickness of the alloy layer, k thc reaction rate constant, and t the time. The applicability of this equation to diffusion processes is tested by plotting the square of the thickness versus time, or by plotting the thickness versus the square root of time; the resultant achievement of a straight line in such a plot has been considered sufficient proof of the validity of this equation. Exceptions have been found where liquid phases are involved in the reaction, where the diffusion layer is cracked,2 and where thin semimetallic oxide and sulphide coatings are formed on metals.$ In the first two cases the thickness increases linearly with time, and in the latter it is a logarithmic function of time. 2. The rate of thickening varics with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation: k = Ae-Q/RT [2] where k is the parabolic rate constant of Eq. I, or some other rate-descriptive function, A is the action constant, e the base of natural logarithms, Q the heat of activation, R the gas constant, and T absolute temperature. This equation has been found to be generally valid except when transformations occur during reaction in either the base metal or in the reaction layer; in such instances Eq. 2 is still applicable with different values for the constants A and Q above and below the transformation temperature. 3. Ali phases that are stable at the temperature at which diffusion occurs will appear in the interdiffusion of two components. In some cases certain of the phases may be too thin to be observed and identified easily. Nonequilibrium phases have never been noted in thick reaction layers; i.e., layers of a thickness that may be discerned microscopically. The relative thickness of each phase in a diffusion layer is proportional to the concentration gradient and to the rate of diffusion in that phase.4 The reaction layers tend to have a

Jan 1, 1942

By A. E. Wheeler, H. Y. Eagle

The copper industry in the Province of Katanga, in the Belgian Congo, which is now controlled and operated by the Union Minére du Haut Katanga, had its inception many years ago in the vision of a Scotsman, Robert Williams, now Sir Robert Williams, Baronet. He it was who personally negotiated the mineral concession with King Leopold of Belgium, sent in the prospecting parties who located most of the present mines of the company, later arranged for the Belgian participation from which the present company was formed, and has been its active mentor ever since. The idea back of his efforts was the establishment of an industry on the Congo-Zambezi divide, of sufficient importance to draw up to it the head of the Cape to Cairo Railroad, the dream of Sir Cecil Rhodes, and the consummation of which he had left as a legacy to Mr. Williams, his successor. The reports of the prospecting expeditions showed that copper in profitable quantity was there, but many difficulties lay in the way of the establishment of the infant industry. The isolated location of the mines, various tribal wars, the Boer War, and many other factors contributed to making progress very slow. However, in spite of these difficulties the railroad was finally built and a blast-furnace plant erected at Lubumbashi, near Elisabethville, the capital of the Province. Operations of this plant were started in 1911, treating high-grade oxidized ores and producing pig copper by a reducing smelting. Production has been continuous since that time and the company has grown so that at present it ranks as the largest individual copper producer in the industry. It is a fitting monument to the foresight, optimism and driving force of its founder, and the progressive policies of his Belgian colleagues. In January, 1914, the Union Miniere du Haut Katanga engaged as its consulting engineer, Archer E. Wheeler, metallurgical engineer, at that time general superintendent of the Great Falls plant of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Mr. Wheeler was commissioned by the Board of Directors to proceed into Katanga, and make all necessary investigations to enable him to report on a comprehensive development program, and to recommend a scheme of treatment particularly for their low grade

Jan 1, 1934

By John E. Greenawalt

In view of the increasing importance of sintering in the beneficiation of iron ores preparatory to their reduction in the blast furnace, the writer believes the time is opportune for an up-to-date, though brief, discussion of the general principles of sintering, as well as a discussion of some of the recent improvements and mechanical developments that have been achieved in this industry, its present trend and future possibilities. Sintering may be defined as the agglomeration of fine mineral particles into a porous mass by incipient fusion caused by heat produced by combustion within the mass itself. Its first successful application, in connection with the treatment of lead sulphide ores, was known as blast roasting. In this process the lead ore was given a preliminary roasting in a reverber-atory furnace, then the incandescent mass was placed in a pot with a grate and an updraft was applied. It was soon discovered that much better results were obtained by cooling the ore, moistening it, and placing it upon an incandescent layer of fuel previously placed upon a grate, and then applying the updraft blast of air until the charge was converted into a more or less agglomerated mass. The fuel was sulphur and the process one of desulphurization, which was the principal result desired. The application of downdraft to blast roasting brought about tremendous results; the principal one of which was that an air blast of high pressure could be passed through a layer of ore deposited on a grate, or on a grate covered by a layer of coarse porous material, without disturbing the particles of which the layer is composed. The air current is compelled to filter through the pores of the charge, whereas if the same pressure applied to the top surface of the charge with downdraft were applied to the bottom of the charge with updraft, the charge would be completely blow11 off the grate. Another result of reversing the draft was that a flame could readily be applied to the top surface of the charge for igniting purposes. Broadly speaking, sintering is an oxidizing or burning process, therefore the volume of air passing through the charge is the all-important factor. The air must pass through with sufficient rapidity to produce the necessary heat, and if sufficiently rapid the combustiorl will take place

Jan 1, 1938

By J. H. Yang, K. E. Gray

Results of single-blow bit-tooth impact tests on saturated rocks under elevated confining pressures and zero pore pressure were reported in a previous publication.1 This paper presents an extension of the earlier work to include a study of crater formation during tooth impact on both gas- and liquid-saturated Berea and Bandera sandstones at elevated confining and pore pressures. The basic data obtained were force-time, displacement-time, velocity-time and force-displacement curves during crater formation. Crater volume was also measured and the mode of crater formation determined. Bit tooth geometry, depth of penetration and velocity of impact were held constant. Results indicate that, with pore fluid present in the rock, failure trends from brittle to ductile as pore pressure is increased at constant confining pressure (pore pressure and borehole pressure were equal) For a given rock type, the mode of crater formation was dependent not only upon the nominal effective stress, but also upon the fluid which saturated the rock pore space. When confining pressure and pore pressure were equal (zero nominal effective stress), bit-tooth impact resulted in brittle failure for nitrogen-saturated Berea, and brittle to transitional failure for nitrogen-saturated Bandera; when saturated with liquid both rocks failed in a ductile manner at zero nominal effective stress. INTRODUCTION Dynamic wedge penetration tests have been conducted by investigators in several fields, but the failure mechanism of rock under dynamic stresses is not understood completely. The complex action of drilling bits, even considering the action of a single tooth, may be considered as a combination of drag bit and rolling cutter action. Thus, as a first step in understanding rock breakage in oil well drilling, single chisel impact and rock planing are of fundamental importance. For example, Gray 2 and Crisp3 studied drag bit cutting action at brittle stress states. Simon4 and Hartman5 studied the reaction of rocks to vertical impact by means of drop tests. The depth of penetration, crater volume and force-vs-time curves during crater formation were observed. The significance of indexing single-bit impacts has been noted.4,6-8 Gamer et al,9 reported impact tests on impermeable Leuders limestone at atmospheric and elevated confining pressures. In all cases the tests were accomplished on dry rock and pore pressure was considered to be zero. The importance of both confining pressure and pore pressure on the failure characteristics of rock was described. 10-12 It was found that the yield strength and ductility of porous rock depend on the state of stress under which the sample is tested. The importance of pore pressure on drilling rate in microbit experiments was noted by Cumingham and Eenink. l3 Robinson 12 also pointed out that in drilling the most important parameter in rock failure is the effective stress, where effective suess is defined as confining pressure pc minus pore pressure pp. The effect of pore pressure and confining pressure on rock strength was also noted by Serdengecti and Boozer 14 in strain rate tests, and by Gardner, Wyllie and Droschackl5 in elastic wave studies. Until recently all reported wedge impact studies under simulated wellbore stress states have been conducted on dry rock. Maurer 16 reported impact tests on samples saturated with deaerated water. Borehole and formation fluid pressures were equal in these tests except when mud was used in the borehole. With mud in the borehole and a high borehole-to-formation fluid pressure differential. Maurer observed "pseudoplastic" crater formation. Podio and Grayl reported impact tests on Berea and Bandera sandstone saturated with pore fluids having wide ranges in viscosities. In Podio and Gray's tests, confining pressure was elevated, but pore pressure and borehole pressure were held fixed at atmospheric pressure. The presence of

By John E. Greenawalt

In view of the increasing importance of sintering in the beneficiation of iron ores preparatory to their reduction in the blast furnace, the writer believes the time is opportune for an up-to-date, though brief, discussion of the general principles of sintering, as well as a discussion of some of the recent improvements and mechanical developments that have been achieved in this industry, its present trend and future possibilities. Sintering may be defined as the agglomeration of fine mineral particles into a porous mass by incipient fusion caused by heat produced by combustion within the mass itself. Its first successful application, in connection with the treatment of lead sulphide ores, was known as blast roasting. In this process the lead ore was given a preliminary roasting in a reverber-atory furnace, then the incandescent mass was placed in a pot with a grate and an updraft was applied. It was soon discovered that much better results were obtained by cooling the ore, moistening it, and placing it upon an incandescent layer of fuel previously placed upon a grate, and then applying the updraft blast of air until the charge was converted into a more or less agglomerated mass. The fuel was sulphur and the process one of desulphurization, which was the principal result desired. The application of downdraft to blast roasting brought about tremendous results; the principal one of which was that an air blast of high pressure could be passed through a layer of ore deposited on a grate, or on a grate covered by a layer of coarse porous material, without disturbing the particles of which the layer is composed. The air current is compelled to filter through the pores of the charge, whereas if the same pressure applied to the top surface of the charge with downdraft were applied to the bottom of the charge with updraft, the charge would be completely blow11 off the grate. Another result of reversing the draft was that a flame could readily be applied to the top surface of the charge for igniting purposes. Broadly speaking, sintering is an oxidizing or burning process, therefore the volume of air passing through the charge is the all-important factor. The air must pass through with sufficient rapidity to produce the necessary heat, and if sufficiently rapid the combustiorl will take place

Jan 1, 1938

On the following pages are abstracts of papers published by the Institute during the year 1931 as Technical Publications, Preprints, and in bound volumes. For abstracts of papers that appear in bound volumes in 1931 but that were published as Technical Publications in 1930, see the Transactions, 1930. Papers that appear in the volume in which this list is printed are not abstracted here. Many of the Technical Publications have been reprinted in bound volumes. Information regarding this disposition, and number of pages in each paper, may be found in the list beginning on page 616. The abstracts are grouped as follows: Page Page Metal Mining....................... 578 ing and Metallography of Non-Milling and Concentration........... 578 ferrous Alloys)................586 IronandSteel...................... 580 Coal Division.. ................ 592 Petroleum and Gas.............. 598 Mctallurgy......................... 585 .............. 613 Institute of Metals Division (Found- Geophysical Prospecting......... 613 Metal Mining Use of Models for the Study of Mining Problems. By Philip B. Bucky. (Tech. Pub. No. 425, 12,000 words.)—This paper describes a research project undertaken to provide a means of studying the behavior of weighty structures such as mines, dams, foundations, etc., with models of the same material in the laboratory. The paper shows that in general it can be done. The underlying theory is explained, the apparatus which was developed and built to do this is described, and the results of laboratory experiments with sandstone mine structures are given. There is discussion of the accuracy of results with the present equipment, the model size necessary, and of the size and type of equipment necessary for the obtaining of results of practical value in the field. Milling and Concentration Ball Mill Studies, I. By A. W. Fahrenwald and Harold E. Lee. (Tech. Pub. No. 375. 25,000 words.)—This paper presents the results of an extensive experimental study of some of the numerous elements entering into ball mill grinding. All apparatus used was equipped with ball bearings. Every experiment was accompanied by a power measurement accurate to 0.005 hp. Quartz was used. Each element studied, such as ball load, was varied systematically. Power curves were obtained for the mill for three general sets of conditions; namely, (1) balls only (2) balls and quartz and (3) balls, quartz and water. For each general condition, power curves were obtained for various mill speeds, ball loads and ball sizes. For conditions 2 and 3, feed sizc and weight and pulp dilution also were studied as variables. The mill output, in grams of finished product per unit of time, was obtained for each test. In a general way, output (mill capacity) paralleled the power data and this attached

Jan 1, 1931

By D. B. Crouch, D. A. Poulter

The engineering and metallurgical assessment of the McLaughlin Project ore body concluded that an open-pit mine and cyanide leach mill process would be feasible, producing both waste rock and residual mill tailings. As a part of the planning and permitting process, site selection studies were conducted for the tailings and waste rock disposal. The site selection process began with a regional identification of potential disposal sites and proceeded through 1) regional screening, 2) elimination of sites with obvious fatal flaws, 3) qualitative ranking of site evaluation criteria, 4) quantitative ranking of sites, 5) field investigation, 6) evaluations of field data, and 7) selection of preferred sites. Based on this approach of site rankings and field evaluations, tailings and waste rock disposal sites were selected and recommended for the preliminary design phase of the permitting and project development process. The site selection study provided the documentation necessary to justify the use of these sites for waste disposal and enabled Homestake Mining Co. to anticipate and integrate environmental concerns with agency requirements into the planning process.

Jan 1, 1986

By I. Iwasaki, K. Adam

During wet grinding the electrochemical interactions between grinding media and pyrrhotite not only accelerate media wear but also adversely affect the suede mineral's flotation response. A possible remedy of the adverse effects on floatability by applying electric potentials to grinding media was examined. Flotation tests, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study pyrrhotite surface properties. Although anodic polarization of the steels increased metal loss by corrosion, pyrrhotite flotation recovery was increased. In the case of cathodic polarization, flotation recovery improved somewhat in a narrow range of overpotentials. At higher cathodic overpotentials, however, mineral floatability was progressively lowered although the corrosive wear of grinding media might be reduced.

Jan 1, 1985

By T. S. Mohibatsela, R. V. Ramani, C. V. Manula

The Mineral Engineering Department of The Pennsylvania State University has developed a suite of computer models for anthracite open pit mining (Fig. 1)1 Individual sub-systems have been developed to (a) interpolate geologic field data to obtain coal tonnages, waste volumes, and strip ratios; (b) simulate equipment performance on selected pit profiles to generate data required to choose coal and waste removal equipment; and (c) evaluate selected cost factors to determine either a rate of return for a specified selling price or vice-versa. This paper describes the application of two of these subsystems, namely, the Reserves Model (GEOL) and the Open Pit Materials Handling Simulator (OPMHS), and how these may be applied for the selection of equipment for a prime anthracite mining site.2

Jan 1, 1981

By S. S. Clarke

THE opening of zinc-lead ore bodies in the lower chert beds of the Tri-State district, locally called sheet-ground deposits, [ ] presented several new economic operating problems to be solved before the low-grade deposits could be mined profitably. Drilling was the first high-cost problem and loading and haulage difficulties followed. At this time, the sheet-ground mines are producing about 2000 tons per day. GEOLOGY The geology and ore deposits of the Tri-State district have been covered in detail by [ ] Fowler and Lyden.* Briefly, the sheet-

Jan 1, 1942

By Larry G. Hayes

Development of the Bowers-Campbell zinc deposit, located in the Shenandoah Valley two miles northwest of Timberville, Va., was commenced in 1956 by the Tri-State Zinc Co. The occurrence of lead-zinc mineralization in this area has been known for many years, but the first serious exploration program was initiated in 1951 by the geologic staff of Tri-State Zinc Co. Ordovician dolomites. The deposit is approximately 700 ft long, 100 ft wide, and 475 ft thick. Its projected plan has an elongated ovoid shape, where- as the profile appears boot-shaped with the upper portion outcropping. Vertical cross sections show the lense as having been thrust-faulted along certain bedding planes. The movement along these bedding thrusts varies greatly and in one case, has offset the deposit so as to divide it into an upper and lower orebody. The breccia lense strikes parallel to the N 34" E strike of enclosing strata.

Jan 9, 1960

By Clarence Seyler

THE technical difficulties of cutting thin sections of coal for examination by transmitted light have hitherto restricted the investigation of the important subject of the microstructure of coal to the few possessed of the requisite skill and time. Apart from this, the method fails with anthracites and other coals rich in carbon, owing to the opacity of the material. Occasional use of the method of polishing a surface, with or without etching, has been made, but it was not until Winter1 published an account of his results that attention was seriously directed to the method. In May, 1923, a specimen of dull anthracite came into my hands; I tried Winter's method on it and the presence of megaspores and other vegetable structures became clearly visible. A preliminary notice was published by me;2 but I soon abandoned the use of Schulze's solution having found that a mixture of chromic and sulfuric acids gave far better results. In the meantime Turner and Randall, in America, had independently developed the method of flame etching, as applied to anthracite, with great success. I have spent a year studying the method of chromic etching, which gives excellent results with bituminous coals and cannels, as well as with anthracite. For anthracites, I have used the chromic method and Turner's method of flame etching, whichever was the more convenient or as a check one on the other. The polishing is done, according to metallurgical practice, by the use of a polishing machine and successively finer emery paper, followed by polishing on cloth moistened with a suspension of levigated green oxide of chromium, and a final rubbing on "selvyt" (a cotton velvet polishing cloth) moistened' with alcohol. The polished sample is examined by reflected light with a 2/3 and 1/6 in. objective. Bituminous coals usually show considerable structure, and even anthracites show it faintly in places. The sample is then etched by immersion in a boiling solution made by adding 10 c.c. of concentrated sulfuric acid to 30 c.c of a saturated solution of chromic acid; enough water is then added to dissolve

Jan 3, 1925

By Chas. Y. Clayton, Francis B. Foley, W. E. Remmers

DuRing the summer of 1919, the late Dr. Henry M. Howe, then Chairman of the Division of Engineering of the National Research Council, organized a committee to obtain a better insight into the behavior of carbon steels under the influence of various treatments by a proper control of the time and temperature factors. During part of 1919 and 1920, work in connection with this investigation was carried on at Dr. Howe's laboratory at Bedford Hills, N. Y. During 1921 there was an enforced hiatus in the work, occasioned by the illness which resulted in Dr. Howe's death in 1922. At that time one of the present authors compiled the results of the work which had been done and this was published in 1923.' Following the publication of this work, it seemed desirable to carry on in the same manner an investigation of steel of C 0.75 per cent., which steel had not been as fully treated as had the other steels of C 0.34 and 0.52 per cent., used in the published work. Furthermore, certain unusual results have been obtained in the treatment of C 0.52 per cent. steel by quenching and drawing, and repetition of this part of the work seemed advisable. This has been done during the past year at the School of Mines and Metallurgy of the University of Missouri at Rolla, Mo., by a cooperative undertaking of the School and the Bureau of Mines, working in conjunction with the Committee on Heat Treatment of Carbon Steels of the National Research Council. The present paper is a report of the results obtained in this work.

Jan 1, 1926

THE composition and quality of finished steel depend upon selection and proportioning of the raw materials of the charge as well as upon control of furnace practice. This chapter deals only with the raw materials of the basic open-hearth process that are important in determining the composition of the steel or slag. They are the metallic charge, oxygen-bearing materials, fluxes, alloying and deoxidizing additions, and certain refractory materials used for maintenance of bottoms. Other refractories, which may affect the slag composition, are discussed in Chapter 3. Wide variations are possible in the type and composition of charged materials but certain limiting relations among the elements of the charge must be observed. Since the process consists essentially of refining by the oxidation of undesired dements, a balance must be established between the sources of oxygen and the elements in the charge that are subject to oxidation (see Chapters 2 and 7). For example, if it is desired to use a high ratio of blast-furnace hot metal to scrap, it is necessary to add an oxygen-bearing material such as ore or mill scale to eliminate the excess carbon and silicon that are present in the hot metal. An example of the opposite extreme is the use of a metallic charge composed entirely of steel scrap. With this type of charge, it is common practice to substitute burnt lime for limestone as a flux and to charge some carbonaceous material such as coke to avoid an excess of oxygen in relation to the elements of the charge that are subject to oxidation. Elements such as copper and nickel, which are not oxidized or eliminated by, any other reaction, may be introduced into the charge only to the extent to which they are permissible in the finished steel. An example of adjustment of the charge for elements of this type is found in the use of steel scrap high in copper. In this case, metallic components of the charge other than the scrap should be low in copper, or a sufficiently high ratio of pig iron to scrap should be charged to dilute the copper from the

Jan 1, 1951

By Nicholas J. Grant, Oliver Preston

PUBLICATION of data by Irmann' indicating outstanding thermal stability and elevated-temperature strength properties in a sintered aluminum powder product (SAP) stimulated interest in the strengthening of metals by means of a highly dispersed oxide phase. This material was produced by compacting, sintering and extruding a fine flake aluminum powder, resulting in a dense product containing 10 to 16 volume pct alumina, which arises from the thin oxide film on the starting powder, highly dispersed in a matrix of pure aluminum. The method of producing SAP, and the stable high-temperature properties obtained from it, introduced the possibility of developing superior materials for high-temperature service by powder metallurgy methods. The composition of the materials of this type which are presently under consideration is predominantly metallic, containing from less than 1 pct up to about 20 volume pct of the oxide. As a result, other properties of these materials, such as electrical and thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance, and to a certain extent ductility, notch sensitivity, machinability and hot working properties, are also predominantly metallic. These alloys do not constitute, therefore, a completely new class of materials as do the cermets, but rather present a new means of modifying the properties of a metallic matrix. In this sense, SAP type alloys are more closely analogous to the alloy aging systems. While the strength properties realized in the oxide-pure metal systems at the lower temperatures are substantially less than the best attainable in the aging systems, the thermal instabilities in the latter make them of less value for use at temperature much above their optimum aging temperatures, as indicated in Fig. 1. While the means of obtaining an oxide dispersion are more difficult and costly than conventional aging processes, in the light of the as yet limited understanding of such systems there is considerable promise of improved high temperature properties arising from the thermal stability of these structures. Since the development of SAP in 1946, its properties and the properties of a series of similarAl,O,-A1 products containing from about 1 to 20 pct aluminum oxide have been fairly extensively studied and reported.'- "articular attention has been given to

Jan 1, 1958