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By Eric R. Jette, A. G. H. Anderson

During the period from 1910 to 1920, there was a lively interest in the subject of grain growth and many papers were published, followed by interesting discussions. Questions dealing with the fundamentals of grain growth—why and how it occurs—were treated in papers by Howe,' .Jeffries,² Sauveur,² Chappell,4 Beilby,5 Mathewson and Phillips,6 Mc Adam,7 Carpenter and Elam,8 Stead and Carpenter,9 Ruder,l0 as well as others. Since that decade, much indeed has been done regarding the practical control of grain size, and it is now possible to order material having a size sperified in the American Society for Testing Materials classification. Also, one hears the term "spliced boundaries" used in connection with certain tungsten lamp filamentsl1 wherein it is important to prevent "sagging" between consecutive turns of the helix.12 This practical use of a certain knowledge as to the things that influence or even control grain growth should not be taken as an indication that the subject has been thoroughly explored and that nothing more can be learned from fundamental studies. It is with this thought in mind that a report of some observations and experiments on abnormal grain growth is believed justified. Abnormal grain growth is met with in heat-treating high-carbon steels in the austenitic range,'? in the hardening treatments of high-speed steels,14'15 and in the low-temperature annealing of strained low-carbon steels as in sheet and wire material. Entirely aside from these instances of exaggerated grain growth, which some might consider as freakish, it is thought that abnormal growth is simply a case where the growth forces and the forces tending to prevent growth are almost, but not quite, evenly balanced. Information relative to grain-growth characteristics in general may be obtained from a study of abnormal growth conditions, which may be looked upon as vantage points. Reflection will show at once that if growth forces are great in comparison to inertia or resistance to growth, many crystals start to grow and, for that reason, none becomes very large, whereas if inertia is

Jan 1, 1938

By Eric R. Jette, Earl S. Greiner

The constitution of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600ºC. has been determined by X-ray crystal structure methods. If the results are represented isothermally by a conventional equilateral triangular plot, the single-phase solid solution (body-centered cubic structure) of the iron-rich alloys at 600°C. is bounded by four two-phase areas. Three three-phase areas separate the respective two-phase areas. Three of the phases in the polyphase areas have the same structures as the corresponding phases in the binary iron-nickel or iron-silicon alloys. There are two phases, however, that have not been reported previously and whose structures have been tentatively identified in the present investigation. The solid solubility limit of the iron-rich solid solution at 600°C. was determined by comparing the lattice constants of this body-centered cubic phase in the single and polyphase areas. It has been shown that the lattice constants of ternary alloys may be represented by surfaces whose distances above the ternary plot (representing atomic composition) are proportional to the lattice constants of the respective alloys. Then the intersections of the surface for the single-phase alloys with those for the corresponding phase in the polyphase alloys, at the respective temperatures, are the solid solubility limits of the single-phase alloys at these temperatures. The data of the present investigation were evaluated by this method, although by a system of orthographic projection it was possible to represent the three-dimensional model in two-dimensional diagrams. This investigation has shown that the solid solubility of nickel in the body-centered cubic phase of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600°C. changes from 3.7 weight per cent (Owen and Sulley) in the binary iron-nickel alloys to 5.0 per cent in the ternary alloys containing 4.8 per cent silicon. Further additions of silicon increase the solid solubility limit of nickel to 16.0 per cent at 12.6 per cent silicon. From this point the limit decreases to 9.5 per cent nickel at 15.5 per cent silicon and is, of course, zero at 15.3 per cent silicon in the binary iron-silicon alloys.

Jan 1, 1943

By Y. Nakada, E. J. Fasiska, A. S. Keh, L. Zwell

DURING an investigation of solid-solution hardening of nickel by carbon,' we found that there were no reliable data on the dilating effect of dissolved carbon on the unit cell of nickel. Bernier2 reported an increase in lattice parameter of nickel (3.523A) when an unknown amount of carbon was introduced into solid solution (3.536A). Similarly KG, Tsien, and Misek3 found an increase from 3.523 to 3.531A when nickel was carburized. strong4 studied the variation of nickel lattice constant as a function of dissolved carbon. However, in his case carbon was introduced into nickel by solidifying the melt at 65 kbar. Therefore, his carbon concentrations were much above the highest equilibrium solubility limit5 (2.7 at. pct C at 1 atm). Knowledge of the lattice mismatch between solute and solvent is essential in understanding the mechanism of solid-solution hardening. Therefore, we decided to determine the dilation of the nickel lattice by carbon under the more usual conditions of atmospheric pressure. The material used was Inco Electrolytic Nickel of 99.95 pct purity, as specified by the supplier. The impurity contents in wt pct were: Fe, 0.01; Cu, 0.01; Co, 0.03; 0, 0.005; C, Si, S, N, trace. To this base material various amounts of AUC-grade high-purity carbon were added during vacuum induction casting. Ingots, 2 in. in diam, were heated in a muffle furnace at 1000°C for i hr., hot-rolled to 1/2-in. thickness, and quenched into brine. All ingots with carbon concentration greater than 0.98 at. pct were enclosed in a cast iron box during the heating to minimize decar-burization. Small pieces were then either swaged down to 0.028-in.-diam wire or cold-rolled to 0.010-in.-thick sheets. After the final cold reduction in area of 50 pct, the specimens were recrystallized by heating in evacuated capsules at 1100°C for 60 to 80 sec and then quenched into brine. The final grain size was 50 to 100 µ. The carbon contents of the alloys, Table I, were determined by a combustion method

Jan 1, 1969

By Earl S. Greiner, Eric R. Jette

The constitution of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600ºC. has been determined by X-ray crystal structure methods. If the results are represented isothermally by a conventional equilateral triangular plot, the single-phase solid solution (body-centered cubic structure) of the iron-rich alloys at 600°C. is bounded by four two-phase areas. Three three-phase areas separate the respective two-phase areas. Three of the phases in the polyphase areas have the same structures as the corresponding phases in the binary iron-nickel or iron-silicon alloys. There are two phases, however, that have not been reported previously and whose structures have been tentatively identified in the present investigation. The solid solubility limit of the iron-rich solid solution at 600°C. was determined by comparing the lattice constants of this body-centered cubic phase in the single and polyphase areas. It has been shown that the lattice constants of ternary alloys may be represented by surfaces whose distances above the ternary plot (representing atomic composition) are proportional to the lattice constants of the respective alloys. Then the intersections of the surface for the single-phase alloys with those for the corresponding phase in the polyphase alloys, at the respective temperatures, are the solid solubility limits of the single-phase alloys at these temperatures. The data of the present investigation were evaluated by this method, although by a system of orthographic projection it was possible to represent the three-dimensional model in two-dimensional diagrams. This investigation has shown that the solid solubility of nickel in the body-centered cubic phase of the iron-rich iron-nickel-silicon alloys at 600°C. changes from 3.7 weight per cent (Owen and Sulley) in the binary iron-nickel alloys to 5.0 per cent in the ternary alloys containing 4.8 per cent silicon. Further additions of silicon increase the solid solubility limit of nickel to 16.0 per cent at 12.6 per cent silicon. From this point the limit decreases to 9.5 per cent nickel at 15.5 per cent silicon and is, of course, zero at 15.3 per cent silicon in the binary iron-silicon alloys.

Jan 1, 1943

THOMAS L. WATSON,* Charlottesville, Va. (written discussion ? ).¬Sphalerite, as is well known, occurs not only as a common constituent of many types of ore deposits formed under widely varying geologic conditions, but its sulphide mineral associates comprise a goodly number of species. In the investigation by Mr. Teas, data were obtained from a mineralographic study of about 200 ore specimens from 43 different localities grouped according to their genesis as follows: (1) Contact-metamorphic deposits, (2) deep-vein zone deposits, (3) intermediate-vein zone deposits, (4) shallow-vein zone deposits, (5) meteoric water deposits. .The object of the study was to determine the relations of sphalerite to the associated sulphide minerals and their possible genetic significance. As a result of the investigation, Mr. Teas has deduced several important conclusions. Probably the one of largest interest and value was that sphalerite formed from magmatic waters, including contact-metamorphic, deposits, could be distinguished, for the cases investigated at least, from sphalerite formed from meteoric waters, by development in the former of minute triangular or rectangular dots or stringers of chalcopyrite. Although chalcopyrite inclusions in sphalerite had been noted by previous observers, the probable significance of their apparent general occurrence in sphalerite of certain types of ore deposits and their absence from others was unknown. The large number of ore specimens studied from more than 40 different localities in the United States and foreign countries, representing the principal genetic types of sphalerite-bearing deposits, gives considerable weight to the conclusions reached by the author. Should the conclusion drawn by Mr. Teas become generally applicable, a laboratory criterion of much value will have been established for distinguishing between sphalerite formed from juvenile and that from meteoric waters. The principle seems applicable not only to sulphide deposits in which sphalerite is the principal constituent, but to those in which it occurs as a very subordinate one, as shown by the study of ore specimens from one of the principal pyrite mines in Virginia. It may be possible also that the principle will have important application in differentiating primary from secondary sphalerite occurring in the same deposit formed from magmatic waters, although there have-been comparatively few well-

Jan 4, 1918

By Percy Hopkins

KIRKLAND LAKE, the second most important gold area in Ontario, is situated in the north¬eastern part of the Province, 392 miles north of Toronto by railway. It is reached by a five-mile macadam road from Swastika, a village on the Temiska-ming & Northern Ontario Railway, 63 miles north of Cobalt. Gold, was first found at Kirkland Lake in 1911 by W. H. Wright. on claim No. 1830, now a part of the Wright-Hargreaves mine. In January, 1912, the metal associated with various tellurides was found by Harry Oakes and George Tough on the Tough-Oakes property 3/4 mile east of the lake. The shipping of hand-sorted, extremely high-grade ore, valued at $350 to $450 in gold per ton, from this property created great interest and resulted in numerous other discoveries. The early developments of the area, however, were much retarded on account of war conditions, labor troubles, and owing to the ore zone being largely under the bed of Kirkland Lake or in drift-covered depressions. It was not until early in 1918, when the Lake Shore Co. found its rich orebody under the bottom of Kirkland Lake, that the various ore deposits were believed to be more or less continuous along one main vein system. From that time most of the work in the area has been done along the "main vein" with gratifying results. Production began late in 1912, and up to the end of March, 1923, the five producing mines have yielded gold, with some silver, valued at $8,379,403. The production in 1922 was $2,162,548; that of 1923 should be over $3,000,000. The same general assemblage of rocks which occurs at. Kirkland Lake extends easterly for many miles to Larder Lake and beyond; hence there is a large area containing formations favorable for gold prospecting. In this general area numerous prospects are being operated, and among the most promising ones, may be mentioned the Argonaut, Crown Reserve and Asso-ciated Goldfields near Larder Lake. A 25-mile branch railway is now being constructed across the mineral area from Swastika to Larder Lake, passing through Kirkland Lake.

Jan 8, 1923

By William A. Longacre

In a previous paper the author discussed the problem described by the title of this paper, outlining and reviewing the Gish-Rooney method, with comparison and brief analysis of the interpretation techniques of Roman2 and Tagg.3 Some aspects of the simple type of two-layer system were reviewed from various sources.4, 5, 6 The Two-layer Problem For the configuration shown in Fig. I, and for any electrode separation A, the SurfAce of earth p, DepthH i P2 Infinite depth Fig. i.—Two-Layer system. apparent resistivity is a function of the relative depth the overburden resistivity pl, and a factor K defined by the equation P2 + P1 where p, is the resistivity of the lower bed. Thus, by the known theory of electrical images, p = pi [1+ */(*-7)] where The Multilayer Problem As the number of isotropic, homogeneous, horizontal layers increases, the difficulties of interpretation multiply. The theory becomes much more involved, and in view of the state of our knowledge, the general problem is virtually impossible of exact solution. However, certain types of multilayer problems can be worked out in terms of two-layer theory. Humme1,7 Pirson,8 Tagg,3 Watson,9 and others have pointed out the possibility of building up approximations of multilayer resistivity curves with suitable combinations of two-layer curves. Many three-layer curves can be constructed in this way to a good degree of accuracy, and special types of four-layer curves can be approximated. It is very likely that as the number of layers increases, the method of combination will not give good approximations except in very special cases. In the analysis of actual field data, the author has found that many obviously multilayer curves can be solved partially with a good degree of accuracy, using the theory that thin adjacent beds may be considered as one layer or zone, and applying two-layer theory to the extremities of the field curve. Modified Tagg Method of Interpretation Tagg's second method, though superior to his first, necessitates a large number

Jan 1, 1946

By William A. Longacre

In a previous paper the author discussed the problem described by the title of this paper, outlining and reviewing the Gish-Rooney method, with comparison and brief analysis of the interpretation techniques of Roman2 and Tagg.3 Some aspects of the simple type of two-layer system were reviewed from various sources.4, 5, 6 The Two-layer Problem For the configuration shown in Fig. I, and for any electrode separation A, the SurfAce of earth p, DepthH i P2 Infinite depth Fig. i.—Two-Layer system. apparent resistivity is a function of the relative depth the overburden resistivity pl, and a factor K defined by the equation P2 + P1 where p, is the resistivity of the lower bed. Thus, by the known theory of electrical images, p = pi [1+ */(*-7)] where The Multilayer Problem As the number of isotropic, homogeneous, horizontal layers increases, the difficulties of interpretation multiply. The theory becomes much more involved, and in view of the state of our knowledge, the general problem is virtually impossible of exact solution. However, certain types of multilayer problems can be worked out in terms of two-layer theory. Humme1,7 Pirson,8 Tagg,3 Watson,9 and others have pointed out the possibility of building up approximations of multilayer resistivity curves with suitable combinations of two-layer curves. Many three-layer curves can be constructed in this way to a good degree of accuracy, and special types of four-layer curves can be approximated. It is very likely that as the number of layers increases, the method of combination will not give good approximations except in very special cases. In the analysis of actual field data, the author has found that many obviously multilayer curves can be solved partially with a good degree of accuracy, using the theory that thin adjacent beds may be considered as one layer or zone, and applying two-layer theory to the extremities of the field curve. Modified Tagg Method of Interpretation Tagg's second method, though superior to his first, necessitates a large number

Jan 1, 1946

Records of coal in Colorado begin only a few years before the Civil War. In 1859 Macomb reported beds of lignite on both sides of Galisteo Creek, and in the foothills of the Placer Mountains, a place where an outburst and overflow-of trap had changed the lignite into bright, hard anthracite.1 The Union Pacific Railroad sent Joseph T. Hodge to investigate the coal deposits in the Rocky Mountains, close to the projected line, in the fall of 1863. He was told of coal on South Boulder and Rock Creeks, and that somewhere on Lodge Pole Creek it was being worked for supplying fuel for stage stations; a bed was also reported seven miles north of the stage road between Laporte and Latham. It was only in the vicinity of Denver that coal mines were being worked to any extent; these openings were on Coal Creek about 22 miles north of the town, said to have been opened in. 1860. The coal was used by the smiths with ,difficulty and slacked badly on exposure., Some coke was made from one of the seams, the coke being preferred to the raw coal by smiths. Another district was opened along South Boulder Creek, about two and a half miles from the base of the Rocky Mountains, two mines being worked to supply the Denver market.2 Hayden reported a large bed of coal at Golden in 1861 and of having seen a similar one in 1862 about 65 miles east of Pikes Peak, and in 1866, he saw large beds on Rock Creek 16 to 19 miles from Golden. In 1867 he saw the Belmont or Marshall's mines opened in 1863 on South Boulder Creek, which he said was the finest exhibition of coal in the state. The next one was the Murphy mine, on Ralston Creek, five miles north of Golden. A mine was also being worked near Canon City at that time.3 The coal at Golden was being worked in 1864.4 In 1867 the coal mined at Golden was being used in a firebrick' works. At Canon City and other places on the waters of Arkansas River, coal was being mined for use in the valley towns, bringing $5.00 per ton at the mines.5

Jan 1, 1942

Jan 1, 1927

By J. E. Gould, H. J. Hand

MANY independent studies are being made on slag-metal relationships in the open-hearth furnace, and these studies cannot help but result in an ultimate improvement in the quality of open-hearth steel of both the open and killed types In maintaining quality control at the National Tube Company's plant, emphasis has been placed on an evaluation of the iron oxide content of the steel in as quantitative a manner as possible, in order that the most desirable level of oxidation might be obtained for a given type of steel, and to secure a more precise basis for final deoxidation In the past, various methods were used for estimating FeO content of the metal at tap to ensure uniform and thorough deoxidation of killed steel, avoiding over-deoxidation to minimize the amount of inclusions present and to make as sound a steel as possible For the open-type steels, such control involves obtaining the necessary level of oxidation for the most suitable action of the steel in the molds to provide good surface quality and cross section for the specific grade involved While rapid analytical methods are available for determination of FeO in the liquid metal, such methods are still not sufficiently rapid for routine control on the open-hearth floor, nor do such analyses provide information as to what causes high or long FeO values The method of sampling can still be considered a problem in view of the variability encountered in taking simultaneous duplicate tests With the accurate rapid methods now available for determining carbon in the metal, estimating slag basicity and obtaining temperatures of liquid metal, it was believed possible to determine the influence of the various furnace reactions in establishing the state of oxidation at a given time Simultaneous slag and metal tests were used in this analysis, aided by statistical methods, to determine the factors that affect the metal FeO, and also to make a quantitative evaluation of these factors Data obtained are from actual furnace operations, the metal test being of the spoon, Herty type, and taken in duplicate. Metal temperatures were taken with the open-tube bath pyrometer developed by the Research Laboratory of the United States Steel Corporation This method of taking open-hearth metal temperature was invented by Collins and Oseland,1 and was developed into its present form by L 0 Sordahl,2 of the Research Laboratory The instrument and its mode of operation have been fully described by Sordahl and Sosman in three publications 3,4,5 Slag components were obtained by chemical analysis Data were taken from four 165-net-ton furnaces during the working period of the heat Recognizing that additions of ore affect the

Jan 1, 1942

By John T. Galey

The outstanding developments of the year in southwestern Pennsylvania were the establishment of the Summit Fayette County gas pool and the gas pool in Nicholson township, Fayette County, and Monongahela township, Greene County, as major producing areas, and the indication of four new shallow gas pools. Curtailment of drilling for shallow gas is expected to follow order M68 of the Office of Production Management. Gas completions were approximately 70 per cent higher, oil completions nearly 25 per cent lower, dry holes were unchanged and drilling wells as of Dec. 31, 1941, nearly loo per cent higher than last year. Shallow Development Oil.—Outside Butler County, only 11 producers were drilled, with a total initial of 221 bbl. The best of these was in a portion of Gilmore township, Greene County, which ordinarily produces gas. This well flowed 77 bbl. in 11 hr., along with about one million cubic feet of gas from the Fourth (U.Dev.) sand. Washington County had a 10.20 and a 25-bbl. well in Morris township and a 20-bbl. well in South Franklin township. These were all in the Fifth Sand. The price of oil to Jan. 27 was $1.80 per barrel, when a 15¢ increase was made. This was followed by a raise of 20¢ on Apr. 23, 15¢ on May 21, 20¢ on June 18 and 25¢ on Aug. 14. The last increase was canceled on Aug. 23 by the Office of Price Administration, which pegged southwestern Pennsylvania crude at $2.40 per barrel. Gas.—An almost doubled initial production of natural gas is the result of the large increase in number of wells drilled. The outstanding discovery of the year was in the vicinity of Armbrust, Hempfield township, Westmoreland County, where a well drilled to what at first was considered the Bayard sand, but what is now known to be the Fifth (U.Dev.) sand, at 2100 ft. found nearly 5 million cu. ft. of gas. Since this completion 14 wells have been finished, only one of which was dry, giving a combined total open flow of approximately 15 million cu. ft. The sand is 35 to 40 ft. thick and the saturation extends through most of that thickness. Rock pressure, which is 1040 lb. per sq. in., is abnormally high. An area of only about one square mile has been proven but some of the 24 new wells drilling as of Dec. 31 will no doubt extend it considerably. This development has taken place in an area heretofore considered to have had little prospect. There were three good wells in other parts of Westmoreland County. One well in Franklin township, which had 12 million cu. ft, of gas in the Fifth sand, was entirely surrounded by dry holes but is still pro- . ducing at a high rate. In Bell township a 1.6 million cu. ft. well was found in the Speechley (U.Dev.) sand and in Washington township the same sand produced 2.7 million cu. ft. with shut-in pressure of 970 Ib. at 2820 ft. This well is offset by two dry holes and one well with a capacity of only 10 M cubic feet.

Jan 1, 1942

By John T. Galey

The outstanding developments of the year in southwestern Pennsylvania were the establishment of the Summit Fayette County gas pool and the gas pool in Nicholson township, Fayette County, and Monongahela township, Greene County, as major producing areas, and the indication of four new shallow gas pools. Curtailment of drilling for shallow gas is expected to follow order M68 of the Office of Production Management. Gas completions were approximately 70 per cent higher, oil completions nearly 25 per cent lower, dry holes were unchanged and drilling wells as of Dec. 31, 1941, nearly loo per cent higher than last year. Shallow Development Oil.—Outside Butler County, only 11 producers were drilled, with a total initial of 221 bbl. The best of these was in a portion of Gilmore township, Greene County, which ordinarily produces gas. This well flowed 77 bbl. in 11 hr., along with about one million cubic feet of gas from the Fourth (U.Dev.) sand. Washington County had a 10.20 and a 25-bbl. well in Morris township and a 20-bbl. well in South Franklin township. These were all in the Fifth Sand. The price of oil to Jan. 27 was $1.80 per barrel, when a 15¢ increase was made. This was followed by a raise of 20¢ on Apr. 23, 15¢ on May 21, 20¢ on June 18 and 25¢ on Aug. 14. The last increase was canceled on Aug. 23 by the Office of Price Administration, which pegged southwestern Pennsylvania crude at $2.40 per barrel. Gas.—An almost doubled initial production of natural gas is the result of the large increase in number of wells drilled. The outstanding discovery of the year was in the vicinity of Armbrust, Hempfield township, Westmoreland County, where a well drilled to what at first was considered the Bayard sand, but what is now known to be the Fifth (U.Dev.) sand, at 2100 ft. found nearly 5 million cu. ft. of gas. Since this completion 14 wells have been finished, only one of which was dry, giving a combined total open flow of approximately 15 million cu. ft. The sand is 35 to 40 ft. thick and the saturation extends through most of that thickness. Rock pressure, which is 1040 lb. per sq. in., is abnormally high. An area of only about one square mile has been proven but some of the 24 new wells drilling as of Dec. 31 will no doubt extend it considerably. This development has taken place in an area heretofore considered to have had little prospect. There were three good wells in other parts of Westmoreland County. One well in Franklin township, which had 12 million cu. ft, of gas in the Fifth sand, was entirely surrounded by dry holes but is still pro- . ducing at a high rate. In Bell township a 1.6 million cu. ft. well was found in the Speechley (U.Dev.) sand and in Washington township the same sand produced 2.7 million cu. ft. with shut-in pressure of 970 Ib. at 2820 ft. This well is offset by two dry holes and one well with a capacity of only 10 M cubic feet.

Jan 1, 1942

By F. V. Lenel, M. V. Rose, A. B. Backensto

WHEN aluminum-flake powders are compacted and hot pressed and the resulting compacts are extruded or hot forged, a group of materials with unique properties is obtained. Not only do they exhibit high room-temperature strength of the order of some of the aluminum alloys, but they maintain this strength even after prolonged heat treatment at temperatures up to 900°F. Moreover, their strength decreases much less with increasing temperature than that of aluminum alloys of comparable room-temperature properties. Irmann,'" who discovered and first described this group of materials, which was called SAP, showed that the room-temperature mechanical properties of the extrusions are a function of the oxide content of the powders and therefore the oxide content of the extrusions. The higher the oxide content, the higher are their tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness, and the lower their ductility. Lyle" investigated the relationship between mechanical properties at elevated temperature and oxide content in the course of the development work of the Aluminum Co. of America on materials, called APMP, similar to those developed in Switzerland. He found that at 600 °F, just as at room temperatures, tensile strength and yield strength increase and elongation decreases with oxide content. A careful study of his data (Fig. 3, loc. cit.) shows, however, that the scatter is more pronounced than at room temperature. Gregory and Grant's data on the creep5 and stress-ruptureb roperties of the one commercial grade of the Swiss SAP and the various grades of APMP indicate that creep strength and stress to rupture also generally increase with increasing oxide .content. Ever since this new group of materials was discovered, attempts have been made to explain the mechanism by which they obtain their high room-temperature and particularly their elevated-temperature strength. In most of the attempts the new material was considered as a dispersion of aluminum oxide particles in a matrix of aluminum. Ir-mann, Von Zeerleder, and Rohner' applied a theory on dispersion strengthening developed by Rohners to the flake-powder extrusions. According to this theory the elastic limit S, of a dispersion would depend upon the average distance between the dispersed particles L according to the equation: 2 E ¦ a where E is the modulus of elasticity and a the distance between nearest neighbors in the lattice of the matrix material. Irmann and co-workers assumed

Jan 1, 1958

By C. L. Berrien

Many fires have occurred in the mines of Butte in recent years, and while all have been of a serious nature, simply because they were mine fires, six of them have been especially dangerous in respect to loss of life and property, and the expense of extinguishing or controlling them. It is not my intention to discuss the relative merits of methods used in fighting these different fires because the conditions under which they occurred varied in each case, and it was not always advisable to expend the large sum of money necessary to actually extinguish them if they could be bulk-headed off from the rest of the mine. It is needless to say that everything possible has been done to check all fires at the beginning, but without success in some cases; and it has then become necessary to bulkhead all connections to them, in which state several now exist. The mine fires of Butte, or fires in any mine, may be divided into two classes, namely: Those occurring in accessible workings, and those occurring in inaccessible workings; because these two conditions govern to the greatest extent the methods of fighting fires. Accessibility and inaccessibility in the case of mine fires concern not only new open workings and old closed workings, respectively, but also the condition of the ventilation in and about those places. When a fire is accessible at the start it should not be difficult to confine it to a small area and extinguish it in a relatively short time, but when it is impossible to actually reach a fire in old filled, abandoned workings, or there is no opening by which the gases may be conducted away from the fire zone, then the time consumed in changing those conditions permits the fire to increase to such an extent that it is a long, hard fight to overcome it. These different conditions have been met in Butte, and of the six fires of serious proportions the Steward mine fire and the High Ore-Modoc mine fire were in new accessible workings and were extinguished in a month or so. The Anaconda mine fire, the Leonard-Minnie Healy mine fire, the West Colusa mine fire, and the Mountain View mine fire, were all inaccessible. The Anaconda mine fie started about 25 years ago and though safely bulkheaded is still active. The Leonard-Minnie Healy

Jan 1, 1916

By R. C. Patterson

In view of the circumstance that very few important changes have been made within the last 15 or 20 years in the equipment of rod and wire mills, the description of a new process introduced by Grenville Mellen, of LleweIIyn Park, N. J., to take the place of the present laborious system of producing rods of lead, zinc, brass, copper, aluminum, etc., may be interesting to members of the Institute. This new process consists in the production of cast rods at one operation in a small continuous casting machine. The hot liquid metal is transferred from the melting crucibles directly into an endless chain of mold blocks in the machine, where solidification takes place, and the rod comes out continuously in a solid form at one end as long as the molten metal is supplied. The operation of these mold blocks so as to produce a solid rod of uniform structure constitutes an important part of Mr. Mellen's invention. The machine (Figs. 1 and 2), 12 ft. in height over all, 2 by 3 ft. in horizontal cross-sectional area, and 6,000 Ib. in weight, has a framework of cast iron, holding in position two endless chains of mold blocks, which are made in sections and join in center alignment. The mold orifice is made up of these mold sections, into which the liquid metal flows. The molding chains are composed of steel blocks, grooved on one face to form the molding cavity, and linked together with flexible joints. Each block is carried on four rollers which guide the chain around the end sprockets and carry it in its course through the machine. The accuracy of alignment requisite to the production of a perfect rod in the mold groove formed by these sections is secured by careful machine work, and by building the four ways, down which the alignment takes place, so that two of the sides are fixed permanently, whiIe the opposite sides are held to their position by spring pressure. The guides carrying the molds, while in casting position, are water-cooled square tubes. The length of this machine is somewhat indeterminate. A certain amount of both time and cooling surface is required to solidify the metal jn the mold; and one may either use a long molding chain and run it fast, or a shorter chain and run it correspondingly slower. We have found,

Jan 1, 1916

T. A. Rickard, Denver, Colorado: The observations made by the author concerning the treatment of gold-bearing ores, deal with the subject only briefly and in a general way; but, coming from an authority, they invite comment. In stating the fact that a " finely-divided condition " is a necessary characteristic of ores containing free gold, the author must be refer ring to those mining districts only with which he himself is ac quainted. The statement would not be true of certain gold-mining regions in America and Australia. The ores of some Californian mines and the mill-stuff treated at certain of the mills of Clunes and Ballarat in Australia, and of Otago in New Zealand, contain the gold in a free but in a coarse state. Moreover, "reduction to fine sand and flour" is not required by certain ores, even though the gold be in a finely-divided condition. In such cases the gold becomes de tached from the quartz before the gangue has been pulverized into particles as small as those in which the gold occurs. The dry-crushing of free-milling gold-ores is onknown in the new mining regions of the world. It is not clear whether the author has in mind any European district in which such a process is in actual use. If he has, a description of the method and the results obtained would be very valuable. Dry-crushing is, other things being equal, twice as slow and twice as expensive as wet-crushing. In the case of free-milling gold-quartz it serves no purpose, since such ore does not carry sulphides which contain any large percentage of value, and which, by being slimed, may carry away part of that value. The dry-crushing of a free-milling gold-quartz would be considered an absurdity by an American metallurgist. If the ore contain "free gold only," why submit it to a further treatment, such as concentration, after its passage over the amalga mating-plate ? What does the author propose to concentrate ? Again, why anticipate the treatment of tailings by the McArthur Forrest, or some other process ? The satisfaction felt by a mill-man in saving gold by a subsequent treatment of the tailings from his mill appears to me to be like that of the man who shoots at a rabbit,

Jan 1, 1894

By Arthur Dwight

WE NOT have to go so very far back, when measured in actual years, to what may be considered the beginning of the industrial era of the great West, the discovery of gold in California in 1848, just 74 years ago. By a strange coincidence, this event occurred within a few days of the signing of the treaty with Mexico which ceded California to the United States. Needless to describe the mighty wave of humanity that hurled itself toward the setting sun in response to that call. The single thought in every one's mind was gold. The gold as they found it in placers or ledges could be so easily worked, and the product was so readily transportable, and available immediately as money, that practically no attention was paid to deposits of the base metals, in the treatment of which cheap transportation was a paramount con-sideration; consequently little progress was made in anything but gold mining until after the Civil War. The next great step was accomplished when East and West were united by the successful construction of the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha across the great plains and through the Rockies to meet the rails of the Central Pacific coming eastward across the Sierras. The industrial history of our great West really dates from the day when those two hands of steel were joined, on the shores of the Great Salt Lake at Prom-ontory Point,. May 10, 1869. That seems a long time ago when we think of the enormous changes that have been wrought since that day, and when we regard the rich empire that has sprung up in that western land. Into the new empire thus made accessible, by this first thread of steam transportation, flocked a new brood of adventurous spirits from the older communities of the East. This way walked Fate; and as she, went, flung far the line of destiny, That bound an untracked continent to brotherhood from sea to sea; That long gray trail of dream and hope, marked mile by mile with graves that keep On every barren hill and slope some stout heart lost in dreamless sleep. Patience and faith and fortitude were willed to it and justified; Stern, homely virtues, plain and rude, eternal as the sky and wide. Nor ever sea-king dared the sea in sterner mood than these who went Strong armed to wrest from Mystery their birthright, half a continent.

Jan 4, 1922

By John F. Knudsen

Following the flowsheet from the primary crushing plant of Ray mines division through the final products sample mill, there are eight exhaust systems ranging in size from 12,000 to 30,000 cfm. Where possible, hood face velocities are kept around 500 ft per min, permitting branch velocities of 2500 ft per min. Tight-fitting enclosures are provided over all ore drops, crushing operations, and vibrating screens. All enclosures are exhausted either primarily or secondarily, except those around conveyor head-pulleys where the ejector effect of the falling ore creates sufficient indraft to abate dust dissemination. IN 1947 an Industrial Hygiene Department was organized to represent and assist the four western mining divisions in industrial hygiene problems. Department headquarters are located at the Utah Copper Division, Magna Plant, Magna, Utah, with a branch office at the Chino Mines Division, Hurley, N. M. The headquarters staff includes a director, a department secretary, an industrial hygienist, a supervising ventilation engineer, and two ventilation designers. To be in closer association with work at the Southwest properties, a field engineer at the branch office conducts field studies which include ventilation problems at the New Mexico and Arizona properties;i.e., the Chino and Ray mines divisions. Functions of the department are to discover and evaluate existing hazards and to develop protective measures, either by personal protective devices or by proper ventilation, depending on the nature of the contaminant. Other than dust counting, all air samples collected at the four properties are processed at the home office. If through plant surveys or by suggestion of management some type of ventilation or air conditioning is required, the problem is usually handled by the ventilation section of the headquarters department, where general arrangement or line drawings are prepared, showing hoods, ducting, and equipment. Some hood and special parts detailing is done at headquarters; otherwise, required detailing is done by the respective plant engineering departments. Prior to the design of industrial ventilation, either new projects or the revamping of old ones, a thorough survey is made of existing conditions. In so far as possible weighted average exposures are determined and adequate ventilation provided on the basis of maximum allowable concentrations of the contaminant in question, as well as medical case histories, if these are available.

Jan 1, 1954

By R. S. Shoemaker, R. M. Darrah

Expanded markets for copper in the past few years and a consequent search for new ore bodies have revitalized the widely known but seldom applied method of producing copper called heap leaching. Heap leaching is defined here as the process applied to oxide ores which have been mined solely for the purpose of leaching. In this case, all costs of mining the ore become a part (and a substantial one, as will be shown) of the cost of the copper produced, whereas in dump leaching the mining cost has already been accounted for as a stripping cost for the sulfide ore. Of course, with newly opened ore bodies, stripping costs may be divided through accounting procedures, between the copper produced by the mill and that obtained by leaching, but in general this type of operation must be economic on the basis of the sulfide ore alone. Heap Leaching Requires Low Capitalization Heap leaching, as a beneficiation method, is unique in that it is the only process used for the recovery of a metal in which the time involved from mining the ore to metal production is measured in months instead of hours or at the most, days. Then too, after the ore body has been depleted and mining has ceased, metal production will continue for some substantial period of time. Heap leaching is also unique because unlike any other method of beneficiation, metal recovery cannot be accurately forecast ahead of time and recovery will never approach that of a conventionally milled sulfide ore or even that of a vat leached oxide ore. Counter-balancing this drawback, however, is the relatively low capital expenditure necessary to put a heap leaching operation into production and the consequence that smaller ore bodies which would not support the higher capital cost involved in a vat leaching plant can be made into producers. Stated more simply, in heap leaching the operator accepts low recovery in exchange for low capital costs and low break even point. Whether the operator chooses vat leaching with its higher recovery and higher capital costs, is a mater of economics which depends in part on the nature of the ore to decide. For instance, an ore that will vat leach in 7 to 10 days using 7 pounds of sulfuric acid per pound of copper produced might use double or triple that amount of acid during the months that are required for heap leaching.

Jan 12, 1968