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ZAY JEFFRIES (author's reply to discussion *).-Messrs. Merica's and Humfrey's criticisms of some of my conclusions are rendered in the true scientific spirit by means of which differences of opinion are gradually smoothed out and all participants are benefited. It is true that the statement of generalizations on such a complex subject is hazardous, but I shall endeavor to point out the explanations for the discrepancies noted. Owing to the fact that I am now submitting a long paper on the same general subject to the Institute, my present remarks will be brief. Dr. Meric&s Assumptions' I agree with No. 1 and No. 2, with the modification that the A (amorphous) metal between grains of annealed metal has substantially the same properties as that at slip planes in deformed metal, but the two have different arrangements with reference to C (crystalline) metal and they may be in different conditions as regards internal stress, thickness, and nature of contact with C metal. Assumption 3.-I believe Fig. 1 is wrong. I know of no evidence to substantiate the curves. I believe cc (elongation of C phase) = 0 (approximately) at all temperatures and ?A (elongation of A phase) has finite values at elevated temperatures only; but these play no important direct role in the ordinary deformation of metals at low temperatures. I believe Ec (elastic limit of C phase) = Tc (tensile strength of C phase) because as soon as C metal begins to deform permanently it would rupture were it not for the A metal generated by its breakdown. We know that Ec = Tc in brittle crystals and a crystal cannot be permanently deformed without generation of A metal. Therefore Dr. Merica's

Jan 12, 1918

Executive Committee, Board of Directors C E Reistle, Jr, Chairman, H DeWitt Smith, Vice-Chairman, T B Counselman, Grover Holt, A W Thornton Finance Committee, Board of Directors Andrew Fletcher, Chairman, R B Caples, C R Dodson Investments Erle V Daveler, '57, Chairman, Henry Krumb, '59, John E Warren, '57, G F Moulton, ex officio as Treasurer, Andrew Fletcher, ex officio as Chairman, Fi¬nance Committee Endowment W W Mein, Jr, Chairman, N G Alford, E V Daveler, W J Coulter, J V N Dorr, R B Gilmore, J B Haffner, 0 H Johnson, Henry Krumb, D H McLaughlin, J R McMillan, J B Morrow, L F Reinartz, Wilfred Sykes, C E Weed Honorary Memberships Andrew Fletcher, Chairman, L F Reinartz and H DeWitt Smith, ex officio as Past Presidents, C E Reistle, Jr , ex officio as President, M L Rai¬der, '60, Henry Krumb, '58, D H McLaughlin, '57, P D Merica, '59

Jan 1, 1956

As already announced in the notice of the 114th (New York) Meeting of the Institute, the ladies present met and organized the Women's Auxiliary of the Institute. All ladies of the families of members of the Institute-are eligible to this Auxiliary. The purpose and objects of the Auxiliary are well stated in the address of the President, Mrs. S. J. Jennings, in opening the organization meeting on the morning of Feb. 20, 1917. The address follows: "Ladies: Friends from far and near, on behalf of the Women's Entertainment Committee of the A. I. M. E., I extend to you a hearty welcome. "Most especially are we glad to see our friends from the Pacific Coast and the middle West, .whose royal hospitality to the members of the A. I. M. E. and their wives and daughters on their trips to California and to the Copper Country of the Southwest can never be forgotten. We are glad to be able in some small measure to return it.

Jan 4, 1917

By N. H. Emmons

(Canal Zone Meeting, November, 1910.) AN interesting development of copper blast-furnace construction has been brought about in adapting the blast-furnace to be a "burner" for sulphuric acid making. When the Tennessee Copper Co. first decided to construct an acid-plant, the standard type of brick-top furnace, supported by structural steel, was the only one in use at this plant. All the tests for temperature and strength of gas had been made on these furnaces, and had been satisfactory. When, however, the acid-plant was put on the flue, and the flue had to have a damper put in it to force the gas into that plant, troubles began. The furnaces were fairly tight, and for a few months the work was quite satisfactory., Fig. 1 shows the old type of furnace-top used at the start. It was soon found that this top would not stand the temperatures, particularly when dampered back, as was necessary to force the gas into the Glover towers. The structural steel, of which the furnace skeleton was constructed, warped and twisted so badly that it was not safe to use the furnaces. This effect is shown by Fig. 2, which is a photograph of old No. 4 furnace, after the brick-work had been removed. It became apparent that a new type of top was necessary and the engineering force was started oil the design of a new furnace-top, with the result that a low top, with brick-lined flues at each end below the feed-floor, leading to the main concrete dust-chamber, was constructed. This furnace, No. 7, is shown in Fig. 3. The charging-doors are made of cast-iron sections, three sections to a door, and three doors to a side. A door to the furnace was made of cast copper, but the heat was so great that the copper bent readily, due to the jarring of its * General Manager, Tennessee Copper Co.

Feb 1, 1911

By R. E. Barnes

An overall view of the perlite industry is concisely presented. The geology, mining, milling, processing, and applications of perlite, as well as the present status of the perlite industry are treated. Perlite, in strict petrological usage, describes a specific variety of volcanic glass in which strain, incident to cooling, yielded a concentric structure of fracturing which may be visible either to the naked eye or under a microscope. In commercial usage, the term perlite includes any naturally occurring acidic glass of volcanic origin that will expand when heated to a suitable temperature. The name perlite is a derivation of perlstein which originally defined "certain glassy rocks (hyaloliparites, hyalo-rhyolites) with numerous concentric cracks, from the fancied resemblance of broken out fragments to pearls."1 While perlite has been known to geologists for many years, it was not until 1941, while investigating perlite for use in enamel, that an assayer in Superior, Ariz., noted the unusual expansion characteristics of the ore. Further investigations were delayed until following World War II when many small plants were built and experimentation in the treatment and uses of perlite began. The Perlite Inst. was organized in 1949 to promote the development of the new industry, establish commercial standards through research, and to explore new uses and markets. The Institute, located in New York, represents some 50 producers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand. In 1949, 71,l002 short tons of crude perlite were produced, sold or used by U. S. producers, and this figure increased to 325,0003 short tons by 1959. Such a rate of increase indicates the rapid and continuing growth of the perlite industry. GEOLOGY Perlite ore in its crude form has been found in seven of the mountainous western states, since un-devitrified siliceous volcanic rocks are limited to this section of the U. S. Commercially operated perlite deposits are normally of Eocene and Oli-gocene age.4 These deposits are often several hundred feet thick and may extend over hundreds of acres. In 1959, 13 companies in six states produced crude perlite, although the output in New Mexico comprised 79 pct of the total domestic crude output. Other states in order of their production were: Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Utah.5 Foreign deposits of perlite which are either producing or under exploration are Australia, Canada, Greece, Hungary,6 Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and Sardinia. The ore may exhibit a variety of characteristics depending partially on its water content and eruption history and may range through many shades from black to white. While these characteristics may vary slightly among deposits, perlite ore from a particular source is normally quite uniform. Available chemical analyses of perlites from a large sampling of domestic deposits were recently assembled by the Technical Committee of Perlite Institute and are presented in Table I. While the ranges given do not apply to a particular perlite, they are an indication of the chemical analysis which may be expected from any presently commercially operated deposit. The specific gravity of the perlite ore ranges between 2.2 and 2.4, and its bulk density when crushed and sized is 75 to 90 Ib per cu ft. MINING AND MILLING Perlite ore is quarried from open pits by conventional power equipment, although blasting has been occasionally employed. The rock is then stock-piled until needed. While the milling of perlite may seem a simple process compared to that required for basic metals, or even other nonmetals, the need for accurate control of particle size becomes extremely important in further processing. The first step in this operation is the primary crusher, which is normally a jaw crusher. Following crushing, the material is dried, if necessary, in a rotary dryer and conveyed to a secondary grinder which may be a rod mill, hammer-mill, or cone crusher. However, the crushing characteristics of the perlite, caused by incipient cooling fractures, requires it be removed from the grinding operation once it is reduced to the required size so as to prevent overgrinding. Following the grinding operations, various size screens are used to separate the ore according to particle sizes required for particular uses. Most plants use two or more stages of crushing with perhaps four stages of screening.

Jan 1, 1961

By A. W. Schlechten, A. H. Larson

Equilibrium H2S/H2 ratios were determined as functions of temperature (500o to 900°C) and composition in a hydrogen-circulation apparatus. Within the composition range studied there exists a two-phase region of "Zr3S4" and "ZrS2". The upper composition limit of this two-phase region is hounded by a disulfide phase and is practically constant over the temperature range investigated. The lower composition limit of this two-phase region is bounded a "Zr3S4 " phase and varies appreciably with tem- perature. The upper composition limit of the homogeneous region of the disulfide phase is not definitely determined, but it appears to he bounded by the stoichiometric composition of ZrS2. The lower composition limit of the homogeneous region of the Zr3S4 phase could not he determined due to the extremely low values of the equilibrium H2S/H2 ratios. Various thermodynamic quantities are evaluated from the data. PUBLISHED free-energy data for the Zr-S system are practically nonexistent. Strotzer, Biltz, and Meisel1 measured the sulfur pressures for the reaction 2ZrS2(s) + S2(g) = ZrS3(s) in the temperature range 783" to 874°C. The average heat of reaction calculated from the temperature dependence of the sulfur pressure is -47 keal. It should be noted, however, that according to these investigators, the two-phase region as determined by sulfur pressure constancy under isothermal conditions extended from approximately ZrS2, 3 to ZrS2.7. From consideration of X-ray data they concluded that the homogeneous regions of the disulfide and trisulfide phases are ZrS1.8-2.0 and ZrS2.8-3.2, respectively. Hahn and coworkers2 have made a structure study of the zirconium sulfide phases. They summarized the zirconium sulfide phases as follows: the compounds ZrS3 and ZrS2 with narrow homogeneous regions, a "Zr3S4" phase with a homogeneous region roughly within the limits of ZrSl.5 and ZrSo.9, the compounds ZrS and Zr4S3, and a "Zr3S2" phase with a homogeneous region within the limits ZrSo.8 and ZrSo.5. It is noted that the compounds ZrS and Zr4S3 are only formed in the gaseous state through sublimation of a phase which has the approximate composition of the compound. This paper describes the determination of the stability of the zirconium sulfide phases by a hydrogen-reduction method in which hydrogen is circulated over the heated sulfide until equilibrium is attained. The resulting H2S-H2 mixture is then analyzed. Partial molar free energies, enthalpies,

Jan 1, 1964

By Charles H. Fulton

ONE of the events of note in mineral industry education circles during the year was the summer school for engineering teachers, devoted to mining and metallurgical engineering, which was conducted by the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education in co¬operation with the University of Wisconsin. It was in charge of Prof. Harry P. Hammond, director of the summer school, and Prof. Richard S. McCaffery of the University of Wisconsin. It was attended by 63 people, and practically every educational institution offering mineral industry courses had representatives present. The session was successful and those in attendance spoke highly of the pro¬gram and results obtained. The Mineral Industry Education Division cooperated with the S.P.E.E. in this project. Prof. Hammond will discuss the purpose and results of this session at the February meeting.

Jan 1, 1934

By John C. McDonald

The amount of published literature in the field of mechanical properties of magnesium alloys is not great; particularly with respect to rolled alloys. Haughton and Prytherchl have summarized most of the articles to 1937, including their own work on sheet. Although many papers can be found dealing with the technology of magnesium and the alloys now in commercial use, there does not seem to be any work dealing exclusively with the variation in properties of rolled alloys as caused by changes in alloy composition. Comparison of published data reveals considerable discrepancies in properties of alloys of the same composition, probably due to differences in the details of working and heat-treating followed by different workers. The purpose of this paper is to study the properties of alloys in conditions where the effects of such differences have been eliminated. It is well known that the strength and ductility of metals are functions of the working and heat-treating they have received, as well as of their chemical composition. In comparing alloys with respect to these properties, therefore, all possible combinations of the variables of the fabrication procedure ought to be carried out on each alloy. One or more of these treatments mill produce the highest ductility, or strength, or both. These highest properties would then be selected as characteristic of each alloy, and alloys would be compared on the basis of those properties. Thus a separation of the effect of composition and that of workiiig and heat-treating would be achieved. In this paper, however, a compromise with completeness has been made by carrying out a restricted number of treatments. As a consequence, the properties obtained are not necessarily the best that the alloy is capable of exhibiting; but since all alloy3 have been treated by the same method, the results ought to be comparable. The elements selected for the study comprise a class that will alloy easily with magnesium, and that are reblatively cheap. Each was added in different amounts, up to a limit that varied with the element.

Jan 1, 1940

By John C. McDonald

The amount of published literature in the field of mechanical properties of magnesium alloys is not great; particularly with respect to rolled alloys. Haughton and Prytherchl have summarized most of the articles to 1937, including their own work on sheet. Although many papers can be found dealing with the technology of magnesium and the alloys now in commercial use, there does not seem to be any work dealing exclusively with the variation in properties of rolled alloys as caused by changes in alloy composition. Comparison of published data reveals considerable discrepancies in properties of alloys of the same composition, probably due to differences in the details of working and heat-treating followed by different workers. The purpose of this paper is to study the properties of alloys in conditions where the effects of such differences have been eliminated. It is well known that the strength and ductility of metals are functions of the working and heat-treating they have received, as well as of their chemical composition. In comparing alloys with respect to these properties, therefore, all possible combinations of the variables of the fabrication procedure ought to be carried out on each alloy. One or more of these treatments mill produce the highest ductility, or strength, or both. These highest properties would then be selected as characteristic of each alloy, and alloys would be compared on the basis of those properties. Thus a separation of the effect of composition and that of workiiig and heat-treating would be achieved. In this paper, however, a compromise with completeness has been made by carrying out a restricted number of treatments. As a consequence, the properties obtained are not necessarily the best that the alloy is capable of exhibiting; but since all alloy3 have been treated by the same method, the results ought to be comparable. The elements selected for the study comprise a class that will alloy easily with magnesium, and that are reblatively cheap. Each was added in different amounts, up to a limit that varied with the element.

Jan 1, 1940

By L. P. Durham

DuRing the early mine development period, 1929 and the first part of 1930, a 300-ton pilot-plant concentrator was built at Nkana mine of the Rhokana Corporation, Northern Rhodesia. This plant operated from May 26, 1930 until Oct. 26, 1931, treating 101,080 tons of Nkana ores and producing 4372 tons of concentrate. The plant was built, primarily, as a test unit to determine the grinding characteristics, floatability, etc. of the Nkana ores and other ores of the Rhodesian copper belt and to supply sufficient data on which to base the design of a 5000-ton concentrating plant at Nkana mine. The test unit operated wholly on development ores and no attempt was made to grade or select the ores from any section of the mine. The average assays for the 17 months of operation are given in Table 1. The first ground was broken for the 5000-ton concentrator during June, 1930, and the construction of the plant was completed in November, 1931. The plant started on Dec. 10 and has operated continuously since that date: The whole of the concentrating plant is compact and closely connected, yet with sufficient space for expansion of all sections up to 20,000 to 25,000 tons per day capacity. Mining operations are carried on along a length of about four miles on the easterly limb of the Nkana syncline. This length includes the North orebody, from which all production has thus far originated, and the Mindola orebody, now being developed for production. The ore-bearing measures in the North orebody are leached for some 75 ft. below the surface; the oxidized zone varies in vertical extent from 100 to 150 ft. Practically all the ore below the 200-ft. level is sufficiently

Jan 1, 1935

By Henry M. Howe

THIS paper gives the composition of the iron and slag at different stages in the "air-furnace" process of preparing "hard metal," or white cast-iron, for conversion into malleable cast-iron by annealing. The details of the process are given in an appendix. One of us had been trying for years to work some chemist of some of our malleable-iron works up to a degree of enthusiasm which would lead him to make such au investigation. It would have had the advantage of the greater familiarity with the conditions which one habitually on the spot must have. Failing in this, he made use of an opportunity which presented itself of taking samples here represented, with such fairness as the conditions permitted, holding firmly that a rough approximation to the truth is better than the complete lack of data, or that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. We hope that this attempt may stimulate others effectively to duplicate this work, and thus correct or confirm it. Our results are shown in Table I. and graphically in Figs. 1 and 2. Discussion.-At the time when the first two samples were taken, the metal and slag were still too sluggish to permit fair sampling, and not until sample 6 were the conditions really favorable, because at the time of the fourth sample the metal was not fully melted, and even at the time of sample 5 it was still sluggish. Indeed, the slag was probably very heterogeneous throughout, because it took up silica and alumina rapidly from the bottom, and because it was so siliceous as to be sluggish at this relatively low temperature. This hetero-geneousness is exaggerated in the two samples of slag 8, apparently by the great viscosity due to its extraordinary acidity. Note that the manganous oxide of one sample is about two and

Mar 1, 1909

By H. L. B. Gould, Jr. Wenny D. H.

TO date there has been but limited interest in alloys of 80 to 95 pct Co and Fe with or without other additions. In 1932, S. R. Williams' reported practically zero magnetostriction for the 90 pct Co-10 pct Fe alloy. This same composition was used for pole pieces to control the magnetic field in magnetrons operating at high temperatures.' In 1947, a 90 pct Co, 9.5 pct Fe, and 0.5 pct Mn composition was investigated3 for use in ballast lamps because of its high temperature coefficient of resistance. Recently, as part of a survey of ductile and malleable magnetic alloys capable of being processed to thin gages for possible applications in memory devices, the high Co-Fe alloys have been re-examined to determine their fabricating and magnetic characteristics. Alloys from 80 up to 95 pct Co and Fe with and without additions such as vanadium were prepared. In general these all had excellent ductility and malleability. Wire was drawn to thin gages without difficulty and fine hard-drawn wires flattened to 2) The phenomenon may have potential in estimating the carbon content of molybdenum. A given solution-treating temperature and cooling rate could perhaps be calibrated so that the area fraction of surface covered by carbide could be interpreted in terms of carbon concentration. By segregating to the surface, a big "magnification" of the carbon content is obtained, which should make the method cheap, direct, and sensitive and, therefore, perhaps of interest to the molybdenum industry. This work was conducted at Battelle Memorial Institute. Financial support by the Aeronautical Systems Division, United States Air Force, under Contract No. AF 33(657)-7376, is gratefully acknowledged, and the writer is thankful for the experimental assistance of Miss Marjorie Cantin. ribbon without splitting. Similarly, strip was cold-rolled as much as 99.75 pct reduction to a 0.25 mil thickness without intermediate anneals. Samples of round and flat wire and foil, in the severely cold-worked and annealed states, were checked for magnetic characteristics. The alloys exhibited widely divergent magnetic characteristics depending on the processing and heat-treating procedures used in preparing the samples. Direct-current hysteresis loops showing the different magnetic characteristics of 90 pct Co, 9.5 pct Fe, and 0.5 pct Mn alloys are shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, while Figs. 9 and 10 show the loops for an alloy of 82 pct Co, 11.75 pct Fe, 5.6 pct V, and 0.65 pct Mn. Figs. 1 and 2 show the high remanence and exceedingly square-loop characteristics of the hard-drawn wire and ribbon roll flattened therefrom. With the change in processing from roll flattening to flattening by drawing through flat diamond dies the resultant change in texture is accompanied by the drastic change in the shape of the loop as shown in Fig. 3. This skewed loop on annealing reverts to a more normal loop as shown in Fig. 8. The most unique loops are obtained with flat rolled strip. These are shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the case of the hard-rolled material, Fig. 4, there is little change in induction until the magnetizing force reaches 50 oe. From 50 to 60 oe there is a sharp increase in induction to over 15,000 gauss, which for all practical purposes is saturation. The induction remains at a constant value while the magnetizing force decreases to 40 oe. At this point the

Jan 1, 1965

By Arthur Notman

THE year 1937 started off most hopefully for the metal industry but the prices for nonferrous metals declined after reaching a peak in the first quarter. E. & M. J. average prices for March were: -electrolytic copper f.o.b. refinery for domestic delivery 15.775c., lead 7.19c., and zinc 7.38c. There was the usual talk of shortages and the accompanying peak in the market prices of securities of producing companies. In retrospect it now appears that this was the peak of general security prices as well and of most commodity prices. On Dec. 1 copper was back to 11c., lead to 5c., and zinc to 5.5c. At the same time metal security prices had fallen to less than 40 per cent of their March highs. This has not been a purely domestic phenomenon. Metal prices have followed a similar course in London, in spite of the fact that in all three metals a tariff wall separates the domestic market from the foreign. There is nothing in the record to suggest that planning has so far had any stabilizing effect on prices. It is doubtful whether anybody will he found to claim credit for the planning. Strong evidence supports the conclusion that domestic demand for these and the other metals has been dammed back by the uncertainties confronting those who are considering long term construction commitments. This is particularly true with the public utilities, who are the largest consumers of copper and lead. If the plans were designed to maintain employment rather than to maintain political control of the Government, it would appear that they should be discarded. The course of the steel industry has been followed so closely in the press that no comment is necessary to indicate its similarity.

Jan 1, 1938

By Joklik, G. F.

Most publicity about the copper industry nowadays is focused on the adequacy of ore reserves and on excessive mining capacity. These concerns, stemming from public awareness of actual and potential shortages and oversupplies, relate to production rather than consumption. Perhaps the reason for this one-sided view is that copper is thought of as a commodity which is conspicuously traded in world markets, rather than as one of many industrial materials that serve today's rapidly changing technology. Copper differs from other widely traded commodities in that its real cost of production has progressively increased since World War 11. The reasons for the increase are identifiable by analyzing operations in one of the world's large producing centres, the copper province of Arizona. Another respect in which copper differs from some other commodities is that increases in demand occur less automatically in the case of copper than they tend to in commodities whose consumption is more directly related to population growth. The copper industry's current inability to generate and attract needed investment capital is attributable to these differences between copper and other commodities; it suggests that the concept of copper purely as a commodity is outdated. The key to the problem is better integration between the activities of copper producers and users. Depending on circumstances, integration takes various forms- for example, investment tied to long-term sales con- tracts between producers in developing countries and consumers overseas; common ownership of producing and manufacturing facilities in industrialized nations like the U.S.; and consumer-oriented research and marketing by the copper producers.

Jan 1, 1978

By Society of Mining Engineers of AIME

An error has been noticed in one of the figures in the 1974 Jackling Lecture "The Henderson Ore Body-Elements of Discovery, Reflections" by Stewart R. Wallace, published in SME Transactions, Vol. 256, No. 3, September 1974, pp. 216-227. The horizontal scale shown on Fig. 5 of this article is incorrect. The horizontal and vertical scales should be equal, i.e., the horizontal distance shown as 1000 ft should be 2000 ft.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. W. Gabelman

A study of spatial relations between uranium and other metal deposits and hydro thermally altered rocks in western Colorado demonstrated districtwide and regional zoning. The pattern was later found repeated elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere Cordillera. District mineralization centers are pipelike bodies of pervasively altered rock from which intensity-temperature-pressure gradients decreased outwardly. Uranium occurs in several zonal environments but usually is economic only in outermost zones. The general similarity of zones throughout the tectoni-cally and metallogenically uniform Cordillera may reflect a consistent hydrothermal process involving zoning. By determining positions of zones it should be possible to select for examination the most favorable small portions of districts or provinces. Mineralogical zoning has been discussed by Lindgren,l3 Graton,lo Emmons,' Blanchard,' Park and many others. It is commonly found to some extent in most mineralized areas. The existence of nonmetallic alteration envelopes around lode metal deposits and their relation to metallization were first emphasized by Lovering,l4 Burbank, Sales and Meyer," Sales,2o McKinstry,I7 Lovering and others15 and Schmitt. Also, large areas of nonmetallic alteration containing porphyry-type replacement metal disseminations have long been recognized and are described by Schwartz,25-28 Kerr and others" and Gilully. In some districts, e. g., Bingham Canyon, Utah, and Santa Rita, N.M., base metal lode deposits and their alteration envelopes are zoned around large altered areas which contain porphyry copper replacement disseminations; however, the spatial and genetic relations between lodes and replacement disseminations and their associated alterations do not seem to have received sufficient attention. Bodies of altered rock containing porphyry-type replacement disseminations are many times larger than the alteration envelopes containing lode deposits. The two types are rarely superimposed. They occur adjacent to or independent of one another, but they are believed to be related through the mechanism of zoning as suggested by Gabelman and Boyer. 5'6 Most of the significant lode metal deposits are distributed around central pipelike bodies of strong, pervasive, nonmetallic alteration which may or may

Jan 1, 1962

By W. O. Philbrook, K. M. Goldman, G. Derge

T. Rosenqvist—The most interesting point in this paper is the observed transfer of iron into the slag in the initial stage of the desulphurization process, after which the iron again is reduced to the metallic state. The authors interpret this observation as showing that the sulphur enters the slag as an iron-sulphur compound which subsequently is decomposed by the slag. The present writer has previously suggested the following equation for the desulphurization process: S + O2- ? S2- + O For equilibrium in the blast furnace the oxygen potential is defined by equilibrium with graphite and CO of 1 atm pressure: C + O ? CO [2] During the desulphurization process the reactions proceed in the direction of the arrows. If one assumes eq 2 to be significantly slower than eq 1, the transfer of sulphur into the slag, in accordance with eq 1, will build up a local oxygen potential at the metal-slag interface very much higher than that corresponding to the value defined by eq 2. This is possible because the equilibrium oxygen potential in eq 1 is high as long as the sulphur content in the slag is low. This oxygen potential will again be able to oxidize some iron: Fe + O ? Fe2+ + O2- and an increase in the iron content of the slag will be observed. Adding up eqs 1 and 3 one obtains: S + Fe ? S2- + Fe2+ The net effect is thus in harmony with the experimental observation but is obtained without assuming any close ties between the sulphur and iron atoms during the process. Furthermore, it follows from eqs 1 and 2 that when the sulphur content in the slag increases, and equilibrium with C and CO is finally approached, the local oxygen potential at the metal-slag interface will decrease, and the iron in the slag will be reduced back into its metallic state. C. E. Sims-—The data and conclusions presented in this paper are thoroughly convincing in establishing the mechanism of sulphur transfer from iron to slag as in a blast furnace. The evolution of gaseous CO in step 3 of the reactions given on p. 1112 makes the process virtually irreversible. Assuming that the process is similar in slag-metal systems other than in the blast furnace, it is readily seen why free CaO and re-ducing conditions so greatly favor desulphurization. On the other hand, the very effective desulphurization obtained in oxidizing slags when strongly basic, must be attributed to the relatively high stability of CaS as compared to FeS. The ease and simplicity with which the reactions of classic chemistry agree with the experimental data and explain the mechanism is noteworthy. The concept of molecules of FeS, soluble in both phases (metallic iron is not soluble in the slag), migrating from the iron to the slag and there reacting with CaO, which is soluble only in the slag phase, is clear and uncomplicated. This is likewise true for step 3. Those who would deny the existence of molecules or molecular-type combinations in liquid iron, must strain to provide a mechanism so lucid. In the absence of molecules, the Fe and S exhibit a remarkable collusion. L. S. Darken—The investigation and interpretation of rate phenomena in the range of steelmaking temperatures is a difficult task. Most of the laboratory investigations of steelmaking reactions have been concerned with equilibrium. Having determined the equilibrium, our attention naturally focuses next on the mechanism and rate of approach to equilibrium. The authors seem to have contributed substantially to our understanding of these factors for the case of sulphur transfer. I should like to ask the authors whether they consider that the sulphur transfer reaction is diffusion controlled as many high-temperature reactions seem to be. If so, it would seem reasonable to suppose that the slow diffusion step of the process is the transfer across a pseudo-static layer or film similar to that considered in heat flow problems. As the diffusivity and fluidity are smaller for the slag than for the metal, it may tentatively be assumed that the sulphur gradient exists in a thin layer in the slag adjacent to the slag-metal interface and that the metal and the main mass of slag are each maintained uniform by convection. On this basis the amount of sulphur transferred across unit area per unit time is D p (?S%)/100 ?1, where D is the diffusivity, p the density, (?S%) the difference in percent sulphur on the two sides of the layer, and ?l is the layer thickness. At the beginning of the experiment the main body of the slag and hence one side of the layer contains no sulphur; therefore (?S%) may be replaced by (S%), the sulphur content of the slag at the slag-metal interface, which in turn is equal to L[S%] where [S%] is the sulphur content of the metal and L is the distribution coefficient. The rate of transfer thus becomes DpL[S%]/100 ?l, which the authors designate K[S%]. Equating these two quantities and setting D = 10-6 cm2 per sec, p = 3 g per cm3, L = 40, and K = lo-+ g cm-2 sec-1, it is found that ?l, the film thickness, is about 0.01 cm—a value of the order of magnitude of that found in heat transfer problems in liquids. The uncertainty of the numerical values used leaves much to be desired, but at least it can be said that this calculation tends to support the proposed model involving diffusion through a film. Although this does not seem to affect the general argument, I should like to call attention to the fact that the diffusivity3 of sulphur in hot metal is found (on conversion of units) to be about 10-4 cm2 per sec rather than 104 cm2 per sec as stated by the authors. The three equations written by the authors to express the steps in the overall process of sulphur transfer may alternatively be written ionically as only two Fe + S = Fe++ + S-- Fe++ + O-- + C (graphite or metal) = CO (gas) + Fe where the underscore is used to designate the metallic phase; ionic species are slag constituents. After the authors have so neatly demonstrated that iron and sulphur transfer together (at least initially), this fact seems almost self evident; from eq 4 it is seen that if sulphur acquires a negative charge during transfer

Jan 1, 1951

By T. A. Rickard

"The chief aim in style ought to be absolute precision", said Flaubert. "There is only one noun that can express your idea, only one verb that can set that idea in motion, and only one adjective that is the proper epithet for that noun." Let this be your motto. The engineer tries to be exact in all his measurements; he should measure his language with similar exactness. The technical term is a word of precision. It is not only precise, it is a word-saver. To the unscientific the earth is "a ball slightly flattened at the poles, something like an orange". To the scientific it is "an oblate spheroid". A similar contrast between the precision of the technical term and the vagueness of common words is afforded by a conversation between Ivanhoe and Rebecca: "' What device does he bear on his shield?' asked Ivanhoe. 'Something resembling a bar of iron, and a padlock painted blue on a black shield.' 'A fetterlock and shacklebolt azure', said Ivanhoe "-using the technical terms of heraldry. It is good style in writing, however, to adapt your manner of expression to the intelligence and experience of the person or persons to whom the writing is addressed. The description of a mine should be worded differently according as it is intended to inform a mining engineer, a director, or a bishop. REMEMBER THE READER. It is as incorrect to write in a technical way for a non-technical reader as to write in a popular way for a technical or scientific reader. That style is best which enables the writer to place himself in the closest mental touch with his reader, to establish the maximum of sympathetic understanding. Let your precision be\ proportioned to your accuracy. You should not try to be precise in matters that do not admit of

Jan 1, 1931

By W. H. Bassett, J. C. Bradley

Beads of metal frequently appear at the ends of cast-copper wire bars and on the sides of wedge cakes near the top. These are richer in cuprous-oxide than the rest of the casting. A micrographical study of these exudations has been made. 11 is suggested that the materical is forced through the surface while the copper is solidifying. If not eliminated in process of manufacture, it shows on the finished polished sheet copper in patches differing in color from the main body of the shad. Figures 1 to 4 show the copper exudations, at different magnifications, as they appear on the ends of cast wire bars, and on the sides, usually near the top, of wedge cakes. Sometimes the exudations are in fine "drops;" at other times, large masses of the material are found. Microscopic examination of the copper exudation indicates that it is high in oxide and of eutectic proportions. Because of the difficulty of securing a suitable sample, the protuberances have not been analyzed chemically; but the spectroscope shows no indication that there are any more metallic impurities present than in the balance of the copper. The lowest copper plus silver content of the coppers studied for this paper was 99.914 per cent.; the highest, 99.966 per cent.; so the oxygen content of the whole casting would be well under 0.07 per cent. Structure of Protuberances The segregation of oxide between grains in the interior of the cast bar, not far from the "set," is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In general, the amount of cuprous oxide begins to increase at a point about 0.01 in. below the normal surface of the casting, i. e., the base of the drop; but it does not attain maximum concentration in the main body of the metal. Vertical sections, Figs. 7 to 12, show that there is a definite line of large cuprous-oxide globules at the base of the drops. Horizontal sections at this place show that these large globules lie in a thin billowy

Jan 1, 1926

By D. M. Clippinger, J. J. Eidel, J. E. Frost

At Ithaca Peak, one of three peaks situated on Duval Corporation's Mineral Park property, a 'Single pulse of quartz monzonite magma intruded the isoclinally folded Precambrian Cerbat complex consisting of schist, quartzfeldspar gneiss, and amphibolite. The magma reacted with the Precambrian rocks, yielding a quartz-diorite rim. As the magma crystallized within the rim, it produced, progressing in'ward, annular bodies of quartz monzonite porphyry, quartz porphyry, and a distinctive quartz porphyry containing abundant podiform, tabular, and irregular quartz masses. These quartz masses are spatially associated with discontinuous crenulate and tabular quartz veinlets. Following crystallization, the Ithaca Peak stock and part of the surrounding Cerbat complex were fractured, producing a stockwork of predominantly northwest and northeast-trending fractures. The stockwork was then mineralized during a period of decreasing temperature by: ( 1) quartz-pyritechalcopyrite veinlets without distinct selvages and with distinct alteration envelopes in which orthoclase was altered to quartz and sericite; (2) quartz-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins and veinlets with distinct selvages and without distinct alteration envelopes; and (3) pyrite-chalcopyrite- galena-sphalerite veins. The Ithaca Peak stock was pervasively sericitized or argillized. The Mineral Park property is surrounded by a zone of propylitization Alteration and mineralization are coextensive in space and were, at least in part, coincident in time. The Mineral Park property possibly was elevated and exposed twice prior to its present exposure. The protore has been enriched by a factor of three. The Ithaca Peak supergene ore body is conformable with present topography and lies above the present water table. The shape of the ore body was controlled by erosion and oxidation of the previously enriched mineralization. Hematite, goethite, and jarosite present at the surface indicate a high primary pyrite environment, but it is possible to recognize that a small proportion of veins and veinlets contained greater amounts of chalcocite and chalcopyrite than pyrite. The igneous facies on Ithaca Peak are the products of differentiation within a solidifying rim according to Bowen's Reaction series. The innermost facies contain more quartz and orthoclase than the outer facies. Late magmatic quartz in the case of Ithaca Peak contains small amounts of pyrite and molybdenite. It is suggested that this quartz-sulfide mineralization, may also have been the product of differentiation the product of differentiation, may indicate that the later hydrothermal mineralization may also have been the product of differentiation.

Jan 1, 1968