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By R. J. Wysor

Since the outbreak of the European war, few problems of raw-material supply have commanded more nation-wide attention than potash. It is well known that before the war the domestic production of potash was an insignificant percentage of the imports. The average annual importation of raw potash salts for several years prior to 1914 was slightly over 300,000 net tons, and of other potash manure salts about 700,000 tons. The sudden and almost total cessation of these imports created a unique and stringent situation. Methods of recovering potash from feldspar and other native mineral sources, and reclamation from hitherto waste products, have received a marked impetus. Soaring prices have been a keen incentive to research and industrial development. Although several brief articles concerning the possibilities of potash recovery have appeared in recent trade journals, it still may be a matter of some surprise to the average technical mind that potash might be reclaimed as a profitable byproduct in the manufacture of pig iron. At the present time it may be of special interest to present some data, largely of a technical nature, on this subject. A fairly thorough search of the literature reveals a number of articles concerning salts of the alkali metals in the blast furnace. Many of them deal with the theoretical rôle of alkali cyanides in the furnace. Several discuss the probable effect of the alkalies on the furnace brickwork. Two or three ambitious patents have been granted for reclaiming potash or other products from blast-furnace gas. However, we have heard nothing further as to the practical application of these patents. Little literature of importance has appeared during the last 10 years concerning alkalies in blast-furnace practice, and I have discovered no record whatsoever as to the actual sale or commercial disposal of flue dust for its potash content until this was inaugurated in our plant at Bethlehem. A bibliography of the most important articles discovered is appended. About 4 years ago, in the course of investigating blast-furnace stove efficiencies, I analyzed the fine, yellowish fume of which a considerable

Jan 1, 1917

Adams, John H., Pres. & Mgr., Alabama Lime & Stone Corpn., 1302-4-8 First Ave., Birmingham, Ala. '14 Adams, L. W., Otis Steel Co., Riverside Plant Cleveland, Ohio. '15 Adams, Leland D., Min. Engr., Mgr., Signal Mines Co., Goldbanks Quicksilver Co., 485 California St., San Francisco, Cal. '14 Adams, R. L., Min. Engr., Old Ben Coal Corpn., Mine 12 Christopher, III. `19 Adams, Robert M., Robert M. Adams Co 1201 Fidelity Bldg., Duluth, Minn. '20

Jan 1, 1925

By William Schriever

The flow of a gas-free liquid through a spherical-grain sand has been investigated by S1ichter.l By theoretical considerations involving a rather large number of approximations he arrives at the following flow-formula: V = CPd2At NLB{1 - m) where V is the volume of liquid delivered in time t through a cylindrical column of sand of length L and cross-sectional area A by a pressure-drop P when the sand grains of diameter d are packed to a porosity m and the coefficient of viscosity of the liquid is n. C and B are constants which were determined from geometrical relations; B was in reality a function of . Values of B(l — m) for various values of m were given in a table. In the same Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey, King reported the results of his experiments on the flow of water through porous media. He found that there was a departure of about 86 per cent. from a linear relationship between rate of flow and pressure, for a specimen of Dunnville sandstone for pressure drops not exceeding 60 cm. of mercury. The specimen was approximately 4 cm. in diameter and 5.1 cm. in length. Over the same range of pressure he found a departure of 45 per cent. for a specimen of Madison sandstone. For unconsolidated sands he found departures as great as 49 per cent. for pressure drops of 70 cm. of mercury; for pressure drops not exceeding a few inches of water he obtained a close approximation to a linear relation. He also investi-

Jan 1, 1930

By Morris Cohen

STAFF: Editor, Gerhard Derge Acting Editor, Paul G. Shewmon Carnegie Institute of Technology Schenley Park Pittsburgh 13, Pa. Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmerski Production Editor, Otto T. Johnson THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: Karl L. Fetters, President; J.S. Smart, Jr., Past-President; R. C. Cole, Vice President; R. L. Hennebach, Treasurer; R. W. Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: W. O. Phil-brook, Chairman; H. L. Bishop, R. C. Cole, J. N. Hobstetter, W. A. Krivsky, E. R. Morgan, F. C. Langenberg, R. E. Lund, Paul Queneau, L. L. Seigle, R. L. Smith, and T. V. Wainwright. Review and selection of manuscripts is under the supervision of the following Publicotions Committes: Extractive Metallurgy Division: R. E. Lund, Chairman; M. E. Wadsworth, Vice Chairman; D. H. Baker, Jr., G. M. Bell, R. E. Grace, W. A. Krivsky, R. A. Lewis, Charles O'Neill, A. W. Schlechten, R. E. Shinkoskey, and W. W. Stephens. Iran and Steel Division: T. V. Wainright, Choirman; H. L. Bishop, R. E. Boni, T. E. Dancy, D. W. Murphy, Johannes M. Uys, J. B. Wogstoff, and R. G. Ward. Institute of Metals Division: J. N. Hobstetter, Chairman; P. A. Beck, J. J. Becker, G. F. Bolling, J. 0. Brittain, J. B. Clark, R. S. Davis, A. E. Dwight, R. W. Fountain, L. R. Girifolco, J. C. Gurland, H. S. Kalish, E. L. Harmon, J. J. Heger, A. A. Hendrickson, L. Himmel, J. P. Hirth, H. H. Johnson, Jr., R. R. Nosh, T. N. Rhodin, R. H. Richman, H. C. Rogers, W. Rostoker, C. Sherby, C. W. Spencer, L. Slifkin, J. K. Stanley, R. Steinitz, H. C. Stumpf, and R. Swalin. Published bimonthly by the Americon Institute of Mining, Metallurgicol, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York 17, N. Y. Telephone PLaza 2-6800. Subscription $30 peryear for non-AIME members in United States and North, South, and Centrol America; $32, foreign; $30per$7.50 for AlME members. Single copies, $6.00, single copies foreign, $6.50. The AlME is not responsible for any stotement made or opinion expressed in its publications ... Copyright 1962 by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. . . . Registered cable address, AlME New York . . . Indexed in Engineering Index, Industrial Arts Index, and Chemical Abstracts . . . Second class postage paid at New York, N. Y., and Ann Arbor, Mich. Volume 224, Number 4.

Jan 1, 1962

By Archer E., Wheeler

Producing copper companies were active during 1941 owing to the national defense program the United States and the requirements of the friendly belligerent nation. This activity extended to the American owned properties in South America, the major part of whose product was taken by the Metals Reserve Co., a U.S. Government agency. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. is building a new converter plant at Anaconda, with four units of the Peirce-Smith type. The addition is being built adjacent to the reverberatory plant so as to avoid the necessity of hauling matte and slag. It is expected to be completed this year.

Jan 1, 1942

By A. W. Fahrenwald

FLOTATION practice in Idaho is now about 13 years old. The advance has been steady during these 13 years. The operators have been alert to take advantage of the newest developments and they have themselves made a constant effort to improve their work. The metallurgical improvements are due to the development of (1) better equipment, (2) better reagents, and (3) better understanding and control of the process. During the eight years the writer has been in this district, there has been continuous experimentation by several companies to improve the ore dressing by flotation methods. Gravity concentration has fought hard to hold its place, and although it is true that gravity processes have been improved during this period, nevertheless, in several of the important mills of the district the few tables that managed to hang on have finally given way. On the straight-lead ores, tables and jigs are still used; and, due to better classification, their hold on this job has been strengthened. ORES OF THE DISTRICT The ores of the district are of two general classes: (1) clean lead ores, such as those from the Bunker Hill and Hecla mines, and (2) complex lead-zinc ores. The general impression prevails that the clean lead ores, class 1, are simple and that it is easy to obtain high recoveries and good grade products. This, in a way, is a false impression; there is quite a high percentage of locked middling in these ores at 100 and 150-mesh sizes. Improved classification preparatory to table treatment of this type of ore has made it possible to segregate effectively a high-grade middling which is further comminuted and floated. The complex lead-zinc ores of the district, of which the ore from the Morning mine of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co. is a typical example, always have presented a difficult problem. It always has been comparatively easy to make a clean lead concentrate, but it never has been possible to concentrate sphalerite with a-specific gravity of 4.10 from siderite of gravity 3.88. Also, a large percentage of the galena and sphalerite of this class of ore refuses to separate out until the crushing has been carried

Jan 1, 1928

Some Things We Don't Know about the Creep of Metals. By H. W. Gillett (T.P. 1087) Reduction of Iron Ores under Pressure by Hydrogen. By Michael Tenenbaum and T. L. Joseph (T.P. loll, with discussion) Induction Furnaces for Rotating Liquid Crucibles. By E. P. Barrett, W. F. Hol- bRook and C. E. Wood (T.P. 986, with discussion) Mechanism of Solidification and Segregation in a Low-carbon Rimming-steel Ingot,. By Anson Hayes and John Chipman (T.P. 988, with discussion) Solidification of Rimming-steel Ingots. By A. HultGRen and G. PhRagmen. (Contribution 112) Dendritic Structure of Some Alloy Steels. By Daniel .I. Martin and James L. Martin (T.P. 1066, with discussion) Occlusion and Evolution of Hydrogen by Pure Iron. By George A. Moore and Donald P. Smith (T.P. 1065, with discussion) Structure of Iron after Con~pression. Hy Charles S. Barrett (T.P. 977, with discussion) Structure of Iron after Drawing, Swaging, and Elongating in Tension. Ry Charles S. Barrett and L. H. LevensoN (T.P. 1038, with discussion) Magnetic Torque Studies of the Texture of Cold-rolled and of Recrystallized Iron-silicon Alloys. By Leo P. TaraSovJ(T.P. 1012, with discussion) Influence of Atmosphere and Pressure on Structure of Iron-carbon-silicon Alloys. By Alfred Boyles (T.P. 1046) Kinetics of the Decomposition of Austenite at Constant Temperature. By J. H. Austin and R. L. Rickett (T.P. 964, with discussion) Reaction Kinctics in Processes of Nucleation and Growth. By William A. Johnson and Robert F. Mehl (T.P. 1089, with discussion) Phase Changes in 3.5 Per Cent Nickel Steel in the Acl Region. By I. N. Bavarine (T.P. 1031, with discussion) Chromium in Structural Steel. By Walter Crafts (T.P. 1055) Surface Allotropic Transformation in Stainless Steel Induced by Polishing. By J. T. BuHwell and J. WUlff (T.P. 1032, with discussion) Nature of :Passivity in Stainless Steels and Other Alloys, I and 11. Ry H. H. Uhlig and John WUlff (T.P. 1050, with discussion) Thermal Expansion of Nickel-iron Alloys (Nickel from 30 to 70 Per Cent). Ry J. M. Lohr and Charles H. Hopkins (T.P. 987, with discussion) Low-temperature Transformation in Iron-nickel-cobalt Alloys. By L. L. Wy~Ian (T.P. 1013, with discussion) Fracture of Steels at Elevated Temperatures after Prolonged Loading. By R. H. Thielemann and E. R. Parker (T.P. 1034, with discussion)

Jan 1, 1939

Some Things We Don't Know about the Creep of Metals. By H. W. Gillett (T.P. 1087) Reduction of Iron Ores under Pressure by Hydrogen. By Michael Tenenbaum and T. L. Joseph (T.P. loll, with discussion) Induction Furnaces for Rotating Liquid Crucibles. By E. P. Barrett, W. F. Hol- bRook and C. E. Wood (T.P. 986, with discussion) Mechanism of Solidification and Segregation in a Low-carbon Rimming-steel Ingot,. By Anson Hayes and John Chipman (T.P. 988, with discussion) Solidification of Rimming-steel Ingots. By A. HultGRen and G. PhRagmen. (Contribution 112) Dendritic Structure of Some Alloy Steels. By Daniel .I. Martin and James L. Martin (T.P. 1066, with discussion) Occlusion and Evolution of Hydrogen by Pure Iron. By George A. Moore and Donald P. Smith (T.P. 1065, with discussion) Structure of Iron after Con~pression. Hy Charles S. Barrett (T.P. 977, with discussion) Structure of Iron after Drawing, Swaging, and Elongating in Tension. Ry Charles S. Barrett and L. H. LevensoN (T.P. 1038, with discussion) Magnetic Torque Studies of the Texture of Cold-rolled and of Recrystallized Iron-silicon Alloys. By Leo P. TaraSovJ(T.P. 1012, with discussion) Influence of Atmosphere and Pressure on Structure of Iron-carbon-silicon Alloys. By Alfred Boyles (T.P. 1046) Kinetics of the Decomposition of Austenite at Constant Temperature. By J. H. Austin and R. L. Rickett (T.P. 964, with discussion) Reaction Kinctics in Processes of Nucleation and Growth. By William A. Johnson and Robert F. Mehl (T.P. 1089, with discussion) Phase Changes in 3.5 Per Cent Nickel Steel in the Acl Region. By I. N. Bavarine (T.P. 1031, with discussion) Chromium in Structural Steel. By Walter Crafts (T.P. 1055) Surface Allotropic Transformation in Stainless Steel Induced by Polishing. By J. T. BuHwell and J. WUlff (T.P. 1032, with discussion) Nature of :Passivity in Stainless Steels and Other Alloys, I and 11. Ry H. H. Uhlig and John WUlff (T.P. 1050, with discussion) Thermal Expansion of Nickel-iron Alloys (Nickel from 30 to 70 Per Cent). Ry J. M. Lohr and Charles H. Hopkins (T.P. 987, with discussion) Low-temperature Transformation in Iron-nickel-cobalt Alloys. By L. L. Wy~Ian (T.P. 1013, with discussion) Fracture of Steels at Elevated Temperatures after Prolonged Loading. By R. H. Thielemann and E. R. Parker (T.P. 1034, with discussion)

Jan 1, 1939

The plans involve about ten technical sessions, a day spent in Cripple Creek and in Pueblo, where there will he optional visits devoted to steel, non-ferrous metals, etc.; half-a-day each to mills in Colorado Springs district and an auto trip to the top of Pike's Peak. Finally, a day at Leadville devoted to visits, including the molybdenum works.

Jan 4, 1918

Jan 1, 1959

By J. E. Andersen, J. Halpern, C. S. Samis

In the presence of oxygen, galena is oxidized in an aqueous medium containing sodium hydroxide, in accordance with the following reaction: PbS + 2O2 + 3OH ? HPbO2 + SO4 = + H2O A novel method was devised for following this reaction which takes place in an autoclave under oxygen pressure, by measuring the concentration of HPbO2- in the solution with a cathode ray polarograph employing stationary platinum electrodes. Using this procedure a study was made of the kinetics of the reaction, in which the effect of a number of variables, including temperature, oxygen pressure, NaOH concentration, and agitation, on the rate, were determined. The results of this study are described and discussed, in terms of possible mechanisms for the reaction. IT is known that sulphide minerals can be oxidized in aqueous media in the presence of oxygen under pressure. Reactions of this type can be classified in two categories depending upon whether the products of oxidation are insoluble or soluble in the aqueous medium. An example of the first type of reaction is the oxidation of pyrite in alkaline solutions, giving rise to an insoluble iron oxide. The kinetics of this reaction have been investigated and its mechanism established.' It has been applied in the oxidation of iron sulphides present in refractory gold ores to improve the subsequent recovery of gold by cyanida-tion.' The second type of reaction finds application where it is desired to recover the metal by leaching during oxidation. In this case a medium is selected in which the oxidized mineral is soluble. For example, nickel, copper, and cobalt sulphide ores can be treated by oxidation in the presence of a solution of ammonia dissolving the nickel, copper, and cobalt as the metal ammine sulphate salts.:' A similar treatment has also been reported to apply to zinc sulphide ores.' It is known that lead sulphate is soluble in solutions of sodium hydroxide or ammonium acetate. It should therefore be possible to dissolve the lead from galena ores by aqueous oxidation with oxygen under pressure using either of these solutions. The applicability of the ammonium acetate treatment has been investigated and confirmed in a recent study.' The present paper describes the results of a similar study in which the kinetics of the oxidation of galena in sodium hydroxide solutions have been investigated. The object of this investigation was pri- marily to obtain information of a fundamental nature relating to the kinetics and mechanism of this reaction. The use of pulps of comminuted ore in a study of this type is undesirable because of the difficulty in controlling and measuring the surface area. The measurements were therefore made using galena crystals of measured surface area and in this way absolute reaction rates were obtained. The reaction was found to proceed as follows: PbS + 2O2 + 3OH ? HPbO2 + SO4 + H2O [I] The products are sodium plumbite and sodium sulphate salts which dissolve in the aqueous solution. The reaction studies were carried out in an autoclave in which a desired pressure of oxygen was maintained. The reaction was followed by measuring the concentration of lead in the solution with a cathode ray polarograph. The results obtained in this investigation are presented and discussed in the present paper. Experimental Materials: The crystals of galena were obtained from Violamac Mines, Sandon, B. C. The following impurities were indicated by spectrographic analysis carried out by the Provincial Assay Office, Victoria, B. C.: Sn, 0.02 to 0.2 pct; Sb, 0.07 to 0.7; Zn, 0.01 to 0.1; Si, Fe, Mg, As, less than 0.05 pct; Ag, 126 oz per ton, the latter determined by standard fire-assaying procedure. After cutting a specimen measuring approximately 5x7x12 mm, the crystal surfaces were ground parallel to the 100 axes using No. 2 emery, washed with water, and the dimensions were measured with a micrometer. Oxygen gas was of commercial grade and supplied in cylinders by Canadian Liquid Air. Solutions were made up with chemicals of chemically pure grade and distilled water. Equipment: Autoclave: The autoclave used in these studies was constructed of stainless steel and

Jan 1, 1954

By Francis B. Foley

In examining steel under the microscope, one is constantly confronted with structures that are difficult to interpret. Recently, in a collection of samples for exhibition purposes, the writer found a piece of open-hearth runner metal, 2 in. (50 mm.) in diameter, that had been fractured for use as a sample of cast-steel structure. On polishing and etching a section for the purpose of photographing a field to typify the microstructure of steel in the "as cast" condition, a variety of structures was found (Fig. 1) so arranged as to arouse interest at once. For a distance of about 0.065 in. (1.6 mm.) from the skin of the runner, normal ingot structure was found (Fig. 2); this was followed by a zone, about 0.215 in. (5.5 mm.) wide, of considerably lower carbon content in which occurred a most pronounced Widmannstattian structure (Fig. 3); from this point on to the center of the runner, the metal was again of normal ingot structure (Fig. 4). Representative samples taken from the metal in the three zones showed the following analysis: Carbon Nickel Chromium Per Cent. Per Cent. PeR Cent. Metal from skin........................... 0.34 1.26 0.63 Widmannstattian zone.................... 0.21 1.18 0.63 Metal from center......................... 0.34 1.32 0.67 Such a condition might result from decarburization followed by recarburization of the skin. This section came from one of the branch runners to the bottom of the mold, not from the main runner, and it is difficult to conceive of decarburization occurring in this portion of a runner. If the metal were stripped while quite hot, some oxidation would take place but the recarburization is unaccounted for. It could not occur by segregation after solidification—the tendency then is for diffusion and homogeneity. The following seems to fit the conditions and is offered as an explanation. The outside layer of normal structure 0.065 in. (1.6 mm.) thick was chilled on the walls of the runner brick when the molten metal first entered the runner. As the molten metal flows by, the outside of the stream

Jan 1, 1920

By G. V. Kurdjumou

STAFF: Editor, Gerhard Derge Acting Editor, Paul G. Shewmon Carnegie Institute of Technology Schenley Park Pittsburgh 13, Pa. Editorial Assistant, M. A. Redmerski Production Editor, Otto T. Johnson THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: Karl L. Fetters, President; J. S. Smart, Jr., Past-President; R. C. Cole, Vice President; R. L. Hennebach, Treasurer; R. W. Shearman, Secretary. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE METALLURGICAL SOCIETY: W. 0. Phil-brook, Chairman; H. L. Bishop, R. C. Cole, J. N. Hobstetter, W. A. Krivsky, E. R. Morgan, F. C. Langenberg, R. E. Lund, Paul Queneau, L. L. Seigle, R. L. Smith, and T. V. Wainwright. Review and selection of manuscripts is under the supervision of the following Publications Committes: Extractive Metallurgy Division: R. E. Lund, Choirmon; M. E. Wodsworth, Vice Choirmon; D. H. Boker, Jr., G. M. Bell, R. E. Grace, W. A. Krivsky, R. A. Lewis, Chorles O'Neill, A. W. Schlechten, R. E. Shinko~ke~, and W. W. Stephens. Iron and Steel Division: T, V. Wainright, Choir- mon; ti. L. Bishop, R. E. Boni, T. E. Doncy, D. W. Murphy, Johonnes M. Uys, J. B. Wogstaff, ond R. G. Word. Institute of Metals Division: J. N. Hobstetter, Choirmon; P. A. Beck, J. J. Beckar, G. F. Boiling, J. O. Brittain, J. 0. Clark, R. 5. Davis, A. E. Dwight, R. W. Fountain, L. R. Girifolco, J. C. Gurlond, H. S. Kolish, E. L. Harmon, J. J. Heger, A. A. Hendrickson, L. Himmel, J. P. Hirth, H. H. Johnson, Jr., R. R. Nosh, T. N. Rhodin, R. H. Richrnon, H. C. Rogers, W. Rostoker, O. Sherby, C. W. Spencer, L. Slifkin, J. K. Stanley, R. Steinitz, H. C. Stumpf, ond R. Swolin. PuUlished bimonthly by the American lnstitute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York 17, N. Y. Telephone PLaZa 2-6800. Subscription $30 peryear for non-AIME members in United States and North, South, and Central America; $32, foreign; $30peryear$7.50 for AIME members. Single copies, $6.00, single copies foreign, $6.50. The CentralAmerica;AlME is not responsible for any statement made or opinion expressed in its publications ... Copyright 1962 by the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. . . . .Copyright.Registered cable address, AIME New York . . . Indexed in Engineering Index, Industrial Arts Index, and Chemical cableaddres .. . AlME class postage paid at New York, N. Y., and Ann Arbor, Mich. Volume 224, Number 3.

Jan 1, 1962

By David B. Reger

Exploration for new pools of gas in the Oriskany sand and continued exploitation of areas already known to be productive in that sand were the main features of petroleum activity in West Virginia during 1938. To a considerable extent the exploration program resulted in failure, but the extension of former areas was eminently successful. Throughout the state, in general, less drilling was done than in 1937. According to the West Virginia Department of Mines, only 631 permits to drill were issued, as compared to 1034 in 1937. The account of operations, as reported by trade journals and other sources, shows that 766 wells were drilled, resulting in 131 oil wells with 1609 bbl. of daily production; 484 gas wells with 1,232,216,000 cu. ft. of daily open flow; and 151 dry holes. Several discoveries indicate new pools of oil and gas; and several extensions of old gas pools have been made. In spite of a decreased number of total wells, the figures for new gas and oil are both larger than in 1937. The new oil average is 12.3 bbl. per well per day; the gas average is 2,545,900 cu. ft. per well per day, the ratio of dry holes to completions is 19.71 per cent. No general attempt was made to discover new pools of oil. A continued low price, coupled with reduced takings, combined to make drilling unattractive. The principal oil wells completed, by counties are: Boone, 6; Calhoun, 10; Clay, 7; Gilmer, 5; Kanawha, 5; Lincoln, 7; Pleasants, 13; Ritchie, 32; Roane, 6; Tyler, 7; and Wirt, 14. Production for the year, according to the Oil and Gas Journal, was 3,724,750 barrels. The leading counties in gas, with the number of successful wells in each, are: Boone, 16; Braxton, 13; Cabell, 47; Calhoun, 29; Doddridge, 10; Gilmer, 55; Kanawha, 127; Lincoln, 18; Ritchie, 29; Wayne, 19; and Wetzel, 26. Production for the year is estimated as 150,000,000,000 cubic feet. Pipe-line construction, which was extensive in 1937, was insignificant in 1938. Exploration was not as active as in 1937. Field prices of both oil and gas have severely declined.

Jan 1, 1939

By David B. Reger

Exploration for new pools of gas in the Oriskany sand and continued exploitation of areas already known to be productive in that sand were the main features of petroleum activity in West Virginia during 1938. To a considerable extent the exploration program resulted in failure, but the extension of former areas was eminently successful. Throughout the state, in general, less drilling was done than in 1937. According to the West Virginia Department of Mines, only 631 permits to drill were issued, as compared to 1034 in 1937. The account of operations, as reported by trade journals and other sources, shows that 766 wells were drilled, resulting in 131 oil wells with 1609 bbl. of daily production; 484 gas wells with 1,232,216,000 cu. ft. of daily open flow; and 151 dry holes. Several discoveries indicate new pools of oil and gas; and several extensions of old gas pools have been made. In spite of a decreased number of total wells, the figures for new gas and oil are both larger than in 1937. The new oil average is 12.3 bbl. per well per day; the gas average is 2,545,900 cu. ft. per well per day, the ratio of dry holes to completions is 19.71 per cent. No general attempt was made to discover new pools of oil. A continued low price, coupled with reduced takings, combined to make drilling unattractive. The principal oil wells completed, by counties are: Boone, 6; Calhoun, 10; Clay, 7; Gilmer, 5; Kanawha, 5; Lincoln, 7; Pleasants, 13; Ritchie, 32; Roane, 6; Tyler, 7; and Wirt, 14. Production for the year, according to the Oil and Gas Journal, was 3,724,750 barrels. The leading counties in gas, with the number of successful wells in each, are: Boone, 16; Braxton, 13; Cabell, 47; Calhoun, 29; Doddridge, 10; Gilmer, 55; Kanawha, 127; Lincoln, 18; Ritchie, 29; Wayne, 19; and Wetzel, 26. Production for the year is estimated as 150,000,000,000 cubic feet. Pipe-line construction, which was extensive in 1937, was insignificant in 1938. Exploration was not as active as in 1937. Field prices of both oil and gas have severely declined.

Jan 1, 1939

By Charles E. Wait

HAVING had some experience in the use of gasoline-gas in a laboratory, I have been induced by frequent inquiry to present a few hints concerning it, which I hope may be of some value to those who are out of the reach of coal-gas, and who contemplate using this gas. While I will not delay to describe the method by which this gas is made, it may not be out of place to note that, unless frequent charges are put into the carburetter, the gas is variable in richness. This may be partially avoided, it is said, by repeatedly pumping from one cell in the carburetter to another. If a machine is in constant use for many months without re charging, the gas becomes rather poor for illuminating purposes ; but in this condition it may be burned in a Bunsen burner with advan tage. Could the gas be used always in this condition, no difficulty would be experienced, and it would be quite satisfactory for general laboratory purposes. Considerable annoyance, however, is experi enced whenever the machine is filled with gasoline. The Bunsen and other burners then produce a flame too smoky to be used with com fort, and, in fact, with most of them, a full supply of air; turned on at the base of the burner, will not suffice to completely burn off all the carbon. Finding it necessary to adopt some method by which I could get a flame free from unconsumed carbon, I adopted a plan which has in every way proved satisfactory. In addition to the pipe conveying the gas to the table, and ar ranged with a stopcock, there is brought to the table, within a fern inches of the gas-pipe, another pipe, conveying air direct from the pump. This pipe is also arranged with a stop-cock. The air- and gas-pipes are now connected with one pipe by a T joint; and to this last pipe is attached, by rubber tubing, the Bunsen or other burner. I have successfully used this simple system in connection with both small and large Bunsen burners, a burner with three tubes, arid a Fletcher burner; and recently I have added a new still to our equipment, and have been tising with it a Fletcher special high power burner No. 6, to which this system has been applied. With

Jan 1, 1886

By Frederic K. Bunton

The smelting plant of the British Columbia Copper Co. at Greenwood, B. C., now closed because of the decline in the price of copper due.to the European war, is of special interest to metallurgists for several reasons. It was successfully smelting in blast furnaces the lowest grade copper ore of all plants in America. In order to do so, it had to run at very hig~; efficiency, which necessarily required a large tonnage per square foot of hearth area, together with the minimum amount of labor and other costs. The furnaces smelted daily 2,250 tons of ore (6.62 tons per sq. ft. of hearth area), carrying 0.85 per cent. of copper, at a smelting cost of 81.18 per ton. The entire plant required 130 men to operate it and keep up repairs, showing a labor efficiency of about 17.5 Dons per man per day. In the present paper, the method of obtaining these results is shown. Most of the information contained in this description I obtained as Assistant Superintendent, during the two years preceding the present shutdown. Other sources of information to which I am indebted are: The British Columbia Copper Co., Ltd., by ALfred W. G. Wilson, in The Copper Smelting Industry of Canada; Greenwood Smelting Worlrs, by J. E. McAllister, Engineering and Mining Journal, vol. xci, pp. 1011 to 1015 (May 20, 1911); and Description of the Copper Smelter of The British Columbia Copper Co., by W. L. Bell, in Transactions of the Canadian Mining Institute, vol. xvi, pp. 151 to 154 (1913). II. Location and Connections The smelter of this company is about half a mile south of GreenGood, in the Boundary district of British Columbia, on the Columbia & Westerg branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was originally built in 1900 by Paul Johnson, to handle 600 tons of ore a day in two small furnaces of 300 tons capacity; but in 1907 the old furnaces were torn out, the plant was remodeled, and three blast furnaces, 48 by 240 in. at) the tuyéres, were installed. In 1910, two of these were enlarged to 51 by

Jan 1, 1916

By J. J. Mulligan, F. F. Colcord, E. F. Kern

The electrolytic separation of silver and gold has been practiced by the refineries in the United States for a good many years, and probably because of frequent visiting between officials of plants and the consequent exchange of views, operations in the various silver and gold refineries are very similar. We find, for instance, they practically all use electrolytes of approximately the same composition, which, no doubt, is more the result of experience than of studies of electrolytes. At the new electrolytic parting plant of the U. S. S. Lead Refinery, Inc., East Chicago, Ind., considerable attention has been given to the composition of electrolytes, especially to their conductivity and their effect on the character of the silver deposit. We are not aware that anything has been recently published on this subject and are, therefore, presenting such data as we have with the idea that, although it will not be wholly new, it may stimulate interest in the subject. Effect of Copper Content on Conductivity The first work was to determine the specific conductivity of silver nitrate and copper nitrate solutions. Concentrated solutions of silver nitrate and copper nitrate were prepared by dissolving analyzed chemically-pure salts in distilled water, and determining the silver and copper in each. Definite amounts of the concentrated solutions were taken, mixed and diluted to a definite volume. The silver and the copper were determined in each of these solutions and the conductivity was then determined. The plotted results are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The effect of increasing quantities of silver and copper is readily seen. A comparison of the two sets of curves shows conclusively the benefit of holding the copper content of the electrolyte above 5C g. per liter, as its effect is to increase greatly the conductivity in an approximate propor-

Jan 1, 1926

By Maurice L. Pinel, Thomas Wright, Thomas T. Read

The erroneous, but until recently widely prevalent, belief that iron castings were first made in Europe in the fourteenth century has been adequately refuted in a number of earlier papers;1, ll, l² but except for an unpublished metallographic study by the late William Campbell, and a phosphorus analysis by T. A. Wright of the metal of the Han dynasty cast-iron stove described by Laufer,2 nothing was known of either the chemical composition or the metallographic structure of the metal of any ancient iron casting, although data on castings of recent manufacture are abundantly available. The metal of the stove, which had been buried in a grave for at least 15 centuries, was so corroded that it seemed inadvisable to publish the results on it until morc and better specimens from other ancient castings could be obtained. During a journey through China, extending from Peking in the north to Canton in the south and Cheng-tu, Ssu-chuan, in the west, in the late summer and autumn of 1936, one of us (T. T. Read) was fortunate enough to obtain, and bring home for study, nine castings, all more than 1000 years old, of which the date of manufacture is precisely known because of inscriptions cast in them, another that lacks a dated inscription, but of which the date, as explained below, can be otherwise established, and a specimen from the largest iron casting ever made," which is also dated. The period covered by this suite of specimens extends from 502 to 1093 A.D. In addition, a sample was obtained from a casting of date unknown, but which was certainly cast before 1000 A.D. and possibly as early as the third century A.D. A detailed description of these specimens is as follows: I. 502 A.D. A pair [right and left) of recumbent lions (Fig. 1). Base 7¼ by 113/8 in., height over-all 5½in, weight 26 Ib. each. The tranblation of the inscription on the base is: "Made on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month of the third pear of Ching Ming of Great Wei" (Sept. 11, 502 A.D.).

Jan 1, 1938

By Maurice L. Pinel, Thomas Wright, Thomas T. Read

The erroneous, but until recently widely prevalent, belief that iron castings were first made in Europe in the fourteenth century has been adequately refuted in a number of earlier papers;1, ll, l² but except for an unpublished metallographic study by the late William Campbell, and a phosphorus analysis by T. A. Wright of the metal of the Han dynasty cast-iron stove described by Laufer,2 nothing was known of either the chemical composition or the metallographic structure of the metal of any ancient iron casting, although data on castings of recent manufacture are abundantly available. The metal of the stove, which had been buried in a grave for at least 15 centuries, was so corroded that it seemed inadvisable to publish the results on it until morc and better specimens from other ancient castings could be obtained. During a journey through China, extending from Peking in the north to Canton in the south and Cheng-tu, Ssu-chuan, in the west, in the late summer and autumn of 1936, one of us (T. T. Read) was fortunate enough to obtain, and bring home for study, nine castings, all more than 1000 years old, of which the date of manufacture is precisely known because of inscriptions cast in them, another that lacks a dated inscription, but of which the date, as explained below, can be otherwise established, and a specimen from the largest iron casting ever made," which is also dated. The period covered by this suite of specimens extends from 502 to 1093 A.D. In addition, a sample was obtained from a casting of date unknown, but which was certainly cast before 1000 A.D. and possibly as early as the third century A.D. A detailed description of these specimens is as follows: I. 502 A.D. A pair [right and left) of recumbent lions (Fig. 1). Base 7¼ by 113/8 in., height over-all 5½in, weight 26 Ib. each. The tranblation of the inscription on the base is: "Made on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month of the third pear of Ching Ming of Great Wei" (Sept. 11, 502 A.D.).

Jan 1, 1938