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This issue presents the first of several articles making up the Bump Symposium, which was held at the 1958 Annual Meeting of AIME. Other Symposium papers will appear in the September issue of Mining Engineering. THE term mountain bump describes the sudden rupture of one or more coal pillars under excessive stress. These bursts occur with varying degrees of violence and sometimes include adjacent strata, especially the bottom rock. Many failures do not develop enough violence to be dangerous and are regarded as an aid to coal production, but severe occurrences are accompanied by tons of flying coal, dense clouds of dust, and excessive gas emission. Such bursts sometimes throw heavy machinery several feet. Major factors to be considered in the problem are the nature of the strata above and below the seam and the depth of cover. Bumps are classified as to their nature, extent of damage, and point of occurrence, e. g., face bump, coal bump, high side bump, low side pavement bump, and district bump. The problem is extremely complex, and it cannot be over-emphasized that preventive measures, if they are to be successful, must be based on a thorough study of conditions in the individual mine. In western Canada, for example, the McGillivray mine, operating in a 9-ft seam at 2000 ft, has experienced severe bumps, but there have been no occurrences in the International mine, which operates in the same coal seam at 2400 ft, where the coal averages 17 ft thick. Differences in conditions governing the operation of these two mines are described in one of the following articles (see page 883). Again, most bumps in coal mines take place along pillar extraction lines, but at the Sunnyside mine in Utah they also occur a long way from active workings and sometimes in virgin territory. It is usual, too, for such failures to occur under fairly deep cover. But at Sunnyside, to cite only one instance, there have been disturbances along the main fault zone under less than 500 ft of cover. All too often conditions favorable to bumps are revealed only by actual mining—at Springhill No. 2 mine, drilling in roof and pavement strata disclosed a 60-ft sandstone bed after operations had started— and where extraction has advanced too far for preventive measures to be incorporated in the mining plan, districts have had to be abandoned. But in an era when premium ores are being rapidly depleted in the face of rising demands, abandonment is not easily justified. There must be systematic planning to eliminate coal mine bumps, insofar as this is possible. As in the Gary district of West Virginia (see page 888) much has been accomplished by planned operations based on known factors in bump control. But even this is not enough. Precise instrumentation is needed to indicate where bumps are likely to occur, and in both the U. S. and Canada stress analysis studies are being carried out with this object in view. These pages reveal the progress being made.

Jan 1, 1959

By Hisaaki Takata, Nobukazu Nanko, Ichiro Izawa

INTRODUCTION Tochibora Mine belonged to Kamioka Mines, which are located in Gifu Prefecture, the cen- tral part of the Japanese main island, has occupied the important position as a main source of silver, lead and zinc for the smelter of Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.. The annual production of crude ore goes up to about 1 mil- lion metric tons with average grades of 20g/t Ag. 0.31% Pb, and 4.18% Zn. For the last 20 years, the mine has struggled with the depressed zinc metal price in yen and the escalation of operating cost, especially la- bour cost. For instance, prices of commodities and labour cost have been raised 8 times and 14 times respectively during this period. On the other hand, total operating cost has been con- trolled to increase 4.5 times. The productivity of the mine has been increased 4 times by means of improvement of individual works and adoption of perfectly mechanized trackless mining system to reform the mining method. Some improvements are presented as follows; Today, drifting is carried out by the tunnelling crew which consists of 9 operators equipped with 5 Mobile-Jumbos, 2 LHD's and a jeep for carrying and loading ex- plosives. In order to get the high utilization of these machines, each crew manages systematically and continuously adjacent 15 faces under the direction of a forceman. As a result, we have accomplished high advance of drift. Furthermore, raising is carried out by a set of the raise-borer in case of long raises like ore- passes and also by the stage blasting method in case of short ones like slot-cuts. Generally speaking, the sublevel stoping method is considered to be one of the best methods for various respects; high productivity, low cost, easy grade control and safety. This method has been introduced in Tochibora Mine since 1950 and is now widely applied to lodes that could not be mined before by this method be- cause of the shapes of them and the conditions of their country rock. Now we are convinced to be nearly accomplished for our method. This report presents some examples of the standard sublevel stoping method and its variations which are practised at the mine. STANDARD SUBLEVEL STOPING Up to 1979 since 1950 when this method was first applied at the mine, 17 million tons of crude ore have been produced by this method, which amounted to 55% of the total production of the mine. During three decades, the productivity has been increased considerably by means of trackless mining system using large-sized machines and etc.. In other words, mining efficiency has been increased from 20 tons/man.shift to 100 tons/man.shift at large stopes. Formerly undercutting was carried out above the drawing drift by jack-legs and small scrapers and then several cone-shaped glory holes were made by stopers between the undercut level and the draw level. But now, a undercut drift is driven in parallel with the haulage drift at the same level of it. And at the undercut drift, drilling upward is carried out by a large-sized machines like the fan drill in order to extract the broken ore directly at the drawing drift connected with the haulage drift. Simplification of the work as well as utilization of large- sized machines enables to get higher productivity. But if the deposit is comparatively wider and the broken ore around the middle part of the deposit cannot be extracted, several drawing drifts are driven to the deposit and in order to minimize dead ore at the final stage of operation, the

Jan 1, 1981

By A. Phillips, H. J. Fisher

The influence of temperature and composition on the viscosity of high-purity liquid metals and alloys of the Pb-Sn and Sb-Cd systems was investigated by the logarithmic-decrement method. The variation of viscosity with temperature above the liquidus followed the equation: n = AeE/RT No large increase in viscosity was found just before normal freezing of any of the metals or alloys investigated. Certain alloys, supercooled below their stable liquidus, however, did show a marked increase in viscosity. Experimental activation energies for viscosity were determined for the metals investigated. Liquid-metal density values were obtained by a modified Joeger's method. IK an investigation of the properties of molten metals, the study of viscosity as a suitable means for studying the physical nature of the metallic liquid state has been utilized. Although interest in the relationship of the liquid to the solid-metal state holds promise of broadening the knowledge of metals in general, much information that is available regarding the influence of temperature and composition on viscosity, especially near the freezing point, is still controversial. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of recent work on this subject. Although interest in factors influencing the fluid behavior of metals and alloys has arisen from theoretical as well as applied studies of liquid-metal properties, the development of a comprehensive theory of the mechanism of viscosity has been handicapped because so little is known about the liquid state. Several theories of viscosity have been proposed and among the more recent are those of Andrade,1 Bernal,2 Frenkel,3 Eyring,4 and Gutmann and Simmons.5 Athough these contributions have helped to establish a basis of approach for studying the nature of viscosity, the fundamental aspects of the variation of viscosity with alloy composition have, in general, been neglected. Experimental Metals and Alloys Investigated: The Pb-Sn and Sb-Cd alloy systems were selected for investigation because they form constitutional features of theo-

Jan 1, 1955

By Roland de Wit

Conclusions reached in a paper by weertmanl are amplified in a mathematical and graphical way. It is shown that in a stressed crystal a straight dis-location may be in a position of unstable equilibrium with respect to helix development, and how a small perturbation may start the dislocation off on its helical path. Helix development occurs by diffision; bulk diffusion is necessary for development from a screw, but core diffision is sufficient for development from an edge dislocation. For a mixed dislocation helix development can take place by core diffusion if the helix also climbs; a diffusion reversal takes place when the slope of the helix equals the slope of the Burgers vector. The work done on a crystal by the external forces is graphically shown to be consistent with the direction of motion of the dislocation in helix development. Finally a detailed mechanism for tangle formation from helices is presented. In the course of helix development a glide situation may be reached where a segment of each helix loop lies in a slip plane in which it can expand by glide. Thus is it visualized how a helix can deteriorate into a tangle. A paper by weertmanl proposes dislocation-tangle formation by a helical dislocation mechanism. The present paper amplifies Weertman's arguments in a mathematical and graphical way and presents some further ramifications of the proposed model. The importance of dislocation tangles is discussed in Weertman's paper and the references cited therein. The mechanism of their formation is not yet understood. Weertman proposes that in cold-worked crystals conditions exist suitable for the conversion of straight dislocations into helices and subsequently into tangles. Helix formation occurs by a diffusion process and Weertman proposes that at low temperatures only core diffusion is important. The present paper necessarily repeats some of Weertman's work. Since the mathematical development and notation used are slightly different from his, this was thought necessary for clarity. GEOMETRY OF THE HELIX weertman2 has shown that the equilibrium form of any dislocation line is a helix if it is assumed that the energy per unit length (line tension) of the dis- location is constant. For the special case that no external forces act on the dislocation, the helix reduces to a straight line. We shall assume in this paper that the dislocation has a helical form even when it is not in equilibrium. The parametric equation of a helix is, see Fig. l: where a is the radius of the cylinder tangent to the helix, and 270 the pitch of the helix. The pitch is related to v, the number of turns per unit length (along the axis) by the relation: When a = 0 Eq. [I] gives a straight line in the z direction. The growth of a straight dislocation into a helix is now described mathematically by letting a vary from zero to its final value. The tangent to the helix is given by where is the path length along the helix. This gives the direction of t and since its magnitude is unity we must have So that dcp/ds = (a2 +p2)-"'. The curvature of the helix is given by where n = -(cos + sin) is a unit vector normal to the helix. Note that the vectors k and n always point toward the axis of the helix, Fig. 1. FORCE ON THE HELIX The external force which makes the straight dis-

Jan 1, 1963

By H. M. Roche

MAGNETITE is the important iron ore of New Jersey although bog ore, limonite and red hematite were mined in sizable quantity early in the state's min-ing history. The deposits of mag-netite are found in the Highland area in the northern part of the state. These ores outcrop a broad belt 20 miles wide, extending in a northeasterly direction from Phil-lipsburg, on the Delaware River, to Greenwood Lake, at the southern boundary of the state of New York, a distance of 60 miles. The area in which the magnetite is found (see map, Fig. 1) contains 1200 square miles and the center of the area is at Dover, 40 miles west of New York City. In the general area are found 18 parallel ranges or lines of ore deposits. These ranges may be re-garded as mineralized zones in which occur orebodies that are rich enough in magnetite to war-rant mining. Usually a number of the orebodies lie one above the other in the same plane, all dipping and pitching in the same direction. Within the ranges, there may be several parallel orebodies of work-able size. The average strike of the orebodies is N.41° 30' E., with an average dip of 55° southeast and an average pitch of 15 ° to the northeast. Orebodies suitable for mining range from 6 to 100 ft. wide, as measured from foot wall to hanging wall. Their heights, as measured on the dip and normal to the long axis of the orebody, vary from 200 to 3,000 ft. The length along the pitch has never been determined by mining, al-though several of the orebodies have been worked to lengths of 10,000 ft. The grade of the ore as mined today varies from 30 to 60 per cent iron, and the gangue min-erals are chiefly silica, alumina, magnesia, lime and phosphorus.

Jan 1, 1937

By C. H. Mathewson

MY first reflection on the subject assigned to me by the officers of this symposium was that a critical description of these lesser characters in the cast of inanimate actors now before us under the title "The Role of Metals in New Transportation" would be about as well received as the description of a horse race in terms of harness buckles and jock-ey's buttons. The word "new" in the title of this symposium seems to shout strong aluminum and stainless steel, unless we transfer our attention to transpor-tation on another planet where the strength-density ratios may require very different engineering treatment. To load a speaker with the "heavier nonferrous metals" amidst the airy consideration of flying or 20th century gliding along the earth and through water, like Hermes, the messenger of the immortals, and expect an instructive or enlivening flight into the area of current exploitation and popular interest in transportation would, of course, require the performance of a miracle or at least the exhibition of genius to which I can lay no claim. But copper and nickel, headliners in other classifications, are also indis-pensable as components of the important new structural materials of transportation, and together with lead, tin and zinc perform many minor or contributory functions in this field that may indeed be con-sidered well-nigh indispensable. A complete and well planned fabric of classification, explanation and critique of even these secondary functions would take much time, and I cannot hope in the 25 minutes or so alloted for the purpose to offer more than a rambling treatment, in which a thread of continuity will be sought by anchorage to one after another of the following attributes or appurtenances of the moving vehicle: 1. The machinery and accessories. 2. The framework and superstructure, and the line or travelway. 3. Light, heat, power, water, sanitary and housekeeping services. 4. Embellishment, or style.

Jan 1, 1936

By T. G. Digges, C. L. Vold, M. R. Achter

A study was made of the effect of the growth conditions on the perfection of single crystals of niobium (columbium). Dislocation densities, determined by means of double-crystal diffractometer measurements , were not greatly affected by the method of crystal preparation but could be reduced by annealing treatments. However, the size, sharpness, and tilt angles of the substructures, observed with X-ray reflection macrograph, were sensitive to variations in growth procedures as well as to subsequent thermal treatments. Although the dislocation density was the same in both types, there were more low-angle bound-aries in crystals grown by zone melting than in those prepared by strain anneal. Mechanisms to account for these observations are discussed in terms of dislocation movements. A planned study of the structure-sensitive properties of refractory metals required the use of single crystals of a high degree of structural perfection and, for ease of handling, of large cross section. It appeared that the strain-anneal technique could satisfy both of these requirements. First, crystals grown in the solid state have been reported to be more perfect than those obtained from the melt.' Second, the diameters of rods which may be produced by zone melting should have a theoretical limit determined by specific gravity, thermal conductivity, and surface tension, while the diameter of strain-annealed rods is limited only by practical considerations. Previously it was shown that niobium (columbium) single crystals of 1 in. diam2 may be grown by strain anneal, compared to the 0.5 in. maximum diameter achieved by zone melting, as reported for molybdenum by Belk.3 The current research was undertaken to investigate and optimize the effect of various process variables on the perfection of 1/4 and 1/2-in.-diam niobium single crystals grown by strain annealing and to compare their perfection to those grown by zone melting. Characterization of these crystals was more conveniently accomplished by means of X-ray than by metallo-graphic techniques. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Specimen Preparation. Zone-melted crystals of 1/4 in. diam were produced by the standard electron-beam zone-melting technique. The swaged and cleaned rods were outgassed, in the solid state at a temperature near its melting point, at a rate of 12 in. per hr, and single crystals were grown by making two molten passes at 2 in. per hr. By maintaining a zone length of 4 to % in., very uniform single crystals several inches long were obtained. For the strain-annealed crystals, an induction heater was used, in preference to other types of heating, to take advantage of the good penetration of large sections. A five-turn coil, 1 in. long, operating at 10 kc and powered by a motor generator, was contained in a vacuum chamber. The rod, suspended from the upper end, was raised through the coil for both recrystallization and crystal growth. In preliminary work single crystals of the same material were also grown with single and multiturn coils powered by a 450-kc generator. A vacuum of 2 X 10-6 Torr was maintained at temperatures up to 2400°C. Starting with electron-beam-melted ingots of 21/2 in. diam, the analysis for which is given in Table I, the material was cold-swaged to the desired cross section of 1/4 and 1/2 in. diam and then recrystallized. The rods were then strained in a tensile machine and converted to single crystals by passing through the induction coil. As with zone melting, control of orientation is possible by the use of special procedures. Other investigators, see for example Williamson and smallman,4 have reported that orientation control may be achieved by a bending technique. In the present work the strained rod is partially lowered through the coil to start the growth of the crystal. Then it is removed and bent at a point in the poly crystalline portion. Finally, it is returned to the chamber and growth is continued "around the corner". This procedure has certain limitations. If the bending operation exceeds the critical strain, recrystallization may take place. Also, the amount of bending which can be imparted to the rod is limited by coil geometry, and up to now has been 10 deg. However, by repeating the bending and growing operations it should be possible to attain any desired orientation. In preparation for X-ray examination, single crystals were sectioned and planed by means of the spark-erosion technique. To obtain the maximum reflected intensity, the (110) plane was exposed for examination. They were then etched 3 to 5 min in a mixture of con-

Jan 1, 1967

By Edgar G. Tuttle

The accompanying figures show the arrangement of a twocompartment excentric jig fitted with adjustable and automatic discharges for drawing oft' the lower product obtained in jigging minerals, ores, coal, etc., which is designed to remove or separate more effectively the materials treated, as they travel over the jig from the receiving- to the discharge-points.

Jan 1, 1897

By W. A. Ver Wiebe

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the State of Kansas contains one of the largest reserve areas for oil exploration in the United States. During the year 1936 no less than 54 new oil pools were discovered by drilling. In addition, seven gas pools were found, which may develop into oil pools when deeper horizons are tested. Several old pools increased their reserves when production was found in lower strata. The data presented in Table 2 indicate that nearly 2000 wells were drilled in the state during 1936. Of these more than 1214 found commercial quantities of oil and at least 61 found marketable quantities of gas. The data are conservative because complete results on drilling are not available for the eastern part of the state. Ellis, Rice and Russell Counties share honors with a total of 10 new pools in each. Barton County is prominent with six pools; while those counties claiming fewer new pools are Clark, Ellsworth, Harvey, McPherson, Ness, Pawnee, Rooks, Stafford and Trego. Important additions to our gas reserves were found in Finney and Haskell Counties, which are north of the extensive Hugoton gas area and may some day be part of it. At the close of the year there were 17,317 wells in the state rating as producers. By far the larger share (14,000) were classed as strippers and allowed to flow 100 per cent of their potential capacity, thus accounting for 33,500 bbl. a day. The remaining wells, capable of producing from 15 up to over 6000 bbl. per day, were limited in output according to these amounts. The largest wells having a potential of from 3000 to 7000 were allowed to flow from 2 to 3½ per cent of their official potential capacity. The percentage rises until wells of 15 to 20-bbl. capacity have a rating of slightly over 83. On the basis of these calculations the total potential capacity of all wells was 1,667,814 bbl., and the daily amount allowed was 175,851. Nine of the pools most recently opened were still unable to market their oil and were classified as "shut-in" pools. Total production for the state for 1936 was somewhat over 58 million barrels. Striking Geological Data Some interesting geological data were uncovered by deep drilling during the year. The most remarkable bit of information is the discovery

Jan 1, 1937

By Alden B. Greninger, Alexander R. Troiano

The crystallographic mechanism for the austenite-to-martensite trensformation has been deduced from the results of the following new experimental determinations: (I) the accurate evaluation of the lattice relationship between austenite and individual crystals of martensite—and thus the relationship between the martensite lattice and the martensite plate, and (2) the measurement and analysis of the change in positions that a volume of austenite unclergoes when it transforms into a crystal of martensite. For the latter study, a new tool was developed, the stereographic analysis of shear. Lattice relationship.—Thirty-five separate 50-gram melts of an alloy containing about 22 per cent nickel and 0.8 per cent carbon were prepared in a high-vacuum furnace. This alloy is all-austenite at room temperature; grain size was about I cm. Specimens of the alloy were cooled to about — 70°C. to form a few martensite crystals, and suitable specimens were ground and polished on a surface parallel to a single martensite plate, exposing the martensite crystal for an area of 1 mm. or more. Four martensite cystals from four diffierent ingots were prepared in this manner; the largest crystal of this group is illuslratecl in Fig. I. Back-reflection Laue patterns were obtained from martensite crystals (and the matrix austenite) both before and after tempering. The locations of the basal-plane pole of martensite was checked by means of oscillating crystal X-ray patterns. All four crystals studied yielded the same solution ( ± 0.5°), and these relationships are expressed in gnomonic projection in Fig. 3.* The narrow dark-etching bands often visible in martensite "needles" were found to be parallel to (112) and thus are undoubtedly twin bands in the martensite crystal.

Jan 1, 1941

By Alden B. Greninger, Alexander R. Troiano

The crystallographic mechanism for the austenite-to-martensite trensformation has been deduced from the results of the following new experimental determinations: (I) the accurate evaluation of the lattice relationship between austenite and individual crystals of martensite—and thus the relationship between the martensite lattice and the martensite plate, and (2) the measurement and analysis of the change in positions that a volume of austenite unclergoes when it transforms into a crystal of martensite. For the latter study, a new tool was developed, the stereographic analysis of shear. Lattice relationship.—Thirty-five separate 50-gram melts of an alloy containing about 22 per cent nickel and 0.8 per cent carbon were prepared in a high-vacuum furnace. This alloy is all-austenite at room temperature; grain size was about I cm. Specimens of the alloy were cooled to about — 70°C. to form a few martensite crystals, and suitable specimens were ground and polished on a surface parallel to a single martensite plate, exposing the martensite crystal for an area of 1 mm. or more. Four martensite cystals from four diffierent ingots were prepared in this manner; the largest crystal of this group is illuslratecl in Fig. I. Back-reflection Laue patterns were obtained from martensite crystals (and the matrix austenite) both before and after tempering. The locations of the basal-plane pole of martensite was checked by means of oscillating crystal X-ray patterns. All four crystals studied yielded the same solution ( ± 0.5°), and these relationships are expressed in gnomonic projection in Fig. 3.* The narrow dark-etching bands often visible in martensite "needles" were found to be parallel to (112) and thus are undoubtedly twin bands in the martensite crystal.

Jan 1, 1941

By A. H. Geisler, R. F. Mehl, S. Barrett

The studies of the mechanism of pre= cipitation and of the resulting property changes in aluminum-silver alloysl-3 have presented some new concepts of the aging reactioxl—concepts that may be fundamental in establishing a complete quantitative theory of age-hardening. With both aluminum-copper and aluminum-silver alloys, thin platelike aggregates form parallel to the Widmanstätten planes of precipitation.l,4 These platelets grow in lateral dimensions and in thickness with aging time until they arc thick enough to produce an X-ray diffraction line pattern. Their structure is that of a transition lattice which is coherent with the matrix, since the atomic spacings in the matrix and the precipitate are the same on each side of their common interface.2,4 The equilibrium precipitate forms later from and at the expense of the transition lattice. Since age-hardening occurs during the formation and growth of the transition lattice, the major contributor to the hardening no doubt is the stress condition in the matrix resulting from the matrix holding the precipitate in the coherent condition. The development of these stresses also appears to be responsible for an increase in the electrical resistance superimposed on the normal decrease resulting from a change in the concentration of the matrix during aging.3 The two consecutive reactions constituting the aging process are accompanied by characteristic microstructural alterations. The initial precipitation process results in the formation of a Widmanstatten figure, while the later transformation of the transition lattice to the equilibrium lattice is accompanied by a coalescence, in the case of aluminum-copper alloys,5 and by the appearance of light areas at the grain boundaries with aluminum-silver alloys showing a structural rearrangement of matrix and precipitate.3 This latter reaction is similar microscopically to the so-called "discontinuoils precipitation." Possibly discontinuous precipitation is a process that often if not always follows true precipitation of a coherent lattice and during which the transformation of the coherent transition lattice to the equilibrium lattice takes place accompanied by matrix recrystallization.3 Expermental Procedure The alloys were made using 99.97 per cent A1 or distilled magnesium, with

Jan 1, 1943

By R. F. Mehl, A. H. Geisler, S. Barrett

The studies of the mechanism of pre= cipitation and of the resulting property changes in aluminum-silver alloysl-3 have presented some new concepts of the aging reactioxl—concepts that may be fundamental in establishing a complete quantitative theory of age-hardening. With both aluminum-copper and aluminum-silver alloys, thin platelike aggregates form parallel to the Widmanstätten planes of precipitation.l,4 These platelets grow in lateral dimensions and in thickness with aging time until they arc thick enough to produce an X-ray diffraction line pattern. Their structure is that of a transition lattice which is coherent with the matrix, since the atomic spacings in the matrix and the precipitate are the same on each side of their common interface.2,4 The equilibrium precipitate forms later from and at the expense of the transition lattice. Since age-hardening occurs during the formation and growth of the transition lattice, the major contributor to the hardening no doubt is the stress condition in the matrix resulting from the matrix holding the precipitate in the coherent condition. The development of these stresses also appears to be responsible for an increase in the electrical resistance superimposed on the normal decrease resulting from a change in the concentration of the matrix during aging.3 The two consecutive reactions constituting the aging process are accompanied by characteristic microstructural alterations. The initial precipitation process results in the formation of a Widmanstatten figure, while the later transformation of the transition lattice to the equilibrium lattice is accompanied by a coalescence, in the case of aluminum-copper alloys,5 and by the appearance of light areas at the grain boundaries with aluminum-silver alloys showing a structural rearrangement of matrix and precipitate.3 This latter reaction is similar microscopically to the so-called "discontinuoils precipitation." Possibly discontinuous precipitation is a process that often if not always follows true precipitation of a coherent lattice and during which the transformation of the coherent transition lattice to the equilibrium lattice takes place accompanied by matrix recrystallization.3 Expermental Procedure The alloys were made using 99.97 per cent A1 or distilled magnesium, with

Jan 1, 1943

By James M. Schopf

Gilbert H. Cady (Senior Geologist, Head of Coal Division Emeritus, Illinois State Geological Survey, Ur-bans)— Those coal mining and preparation engineers and operators who read this article will probably be most concerned with those parts which deal with the applied aspects of coal petrology in the fields of mining and technology. Actually the two categories overlap to such a degree that they are essentially one. The article appears to suggest that there are two points of veiw in the field of applied coal petrology. From one viewpoint the interest is in the attributes of the various macerals (Fig. 4)—vitrinite, exinite, and inertinite—-in terms of utilization (when the coal is burned, coked, gasified, hydrogenated, etc.). From the other point of view, assuming that the macerals do possess individuality in behavior, interest attaches to the possibility that coal of a particular type (maceral composition) can be prepared by discriminating methods of preparation and blending. Most of the 29 items listed for mining and technology can be assigned to one or the other of these two categories. Somewhat the same simplicity that resides in the items of the proximate chemical analysis is desirable for the petrologic analysis. This simplicity appears to be fairly well achieved by the group maceral device provided mineral matter is also included. At present, without fully adequate experimental substantiation, the three types of material represented by the group macerals vitrinite, exinite, and inertinite are regarded as sufficiently different in composition and properties so that the preponderance of any one type gives the coal distinctive properties provided it is not too high in rank. This appears to be increasingly true with coals of decreasing rank from medium volatile bituminous coals downward. The article reflects the great emphasis placed on the technique of descriptive coal petrology in America. Such description has resulted in a good understanding of the nature of the fundamental variability in the physical composition of bituminous coals. Such understanding has been attained very largely by the thin section technique used in coal bed profile analysis introduced by R. Thiessen after the manner suggested by the data assembled in Table 11. In contrast, the group maceral concept of coal analysis in terms of the categories indicated on the left hand side of Fig. 4 is particularly useful for broken coal analysis and applied coal petrology, in which evaluation is largely based on quantitative concepts. It is inadequately emphasized in this article that although the Thiessen procedure is suitable for the purpose of petrologic description in which texture and orientation are of critical importance, it is less well adapted to the technological uses of applied coal petrology. No doubt those persons whose interest may have been aroused in the possibilities of more refined coal preparation by this and other recent contributions to the literature of coal petrology will understand that certain technical aspects of coal petrology, particularly in the field of descriptive petrology, are still a matter of some controversy among the coal petrologists, but they will also appreciate that Schopf has made an important contribution to the field of coal petrology in America by pointing out that such petrology requires consideration of disoriented or broken coal samples and that results are expressed less in descriptive terms than in quantitative values with respect to the four types of material composing coal—-vitrinite, exinite, inertinite, and mineral matter. Unfortunately because so much American coal petrology has been descriptive of the coal in the bed there is a dearth of literature on applied coal petrology. Research and experimental data in this field are greatly needed.

Jan 1, 1959

By Walter Mathesius

The use of high blast heats on furnaces melting Mesaba ores is still the exception, the average blast temperatures carried on Mesaba stacks seldom reaching 1,100" F. Some 15 years ago, when the use of fine Mesaba ores in larger proportions to the total burden first came into practice, it was found difficult to employ even those blast heats which it had been possible ' to carry with the Old Range ores. The furnaces refused to "take" high heats, and would persistently labor with irregular stock movement, which impaired the practice and increased the coke consumption. By lowering the blast temperature, the working of the furnace became smoother, and experience taught that with the softer and more easily reduced Mesaba ores, satisfactory practice could be obtained with comparatively low blast heats. Therefore a large number of Mesaba furnaces have ever since been operated on very low blast temperatures, ranging between 800" and 1,000" F. In the face of these difficulties, furnace men were slow to recognize that furnaces could be so designed as to permit a free movement of the charges in combination with the use of higher heats. Since higher blast temperatures did not seem to offer great advantages in the smelting of Mesaba ores, investments in hot-blast stoves were not as attractive to the furnace man as labor-saving devices and means of obtaining greater tonnages. The effect of this preference is keenly felt at the present time. It has brought about the peculiar situation, that the majority of our furnace plants (among them some of the most progressive) lack modern and efficient stove equipment. The result is that, even where the proper furnace lines have been adopted and conditions are now favorable to the successful employment of higher blast temperatures, the heats required for the greatest fuel economy are not available. In an endeavor to obtain results, even with inadequate equipment, we find that, at many plants, the stoves are worked far beyond their capacity. This leads, in many instances, to a situation in which the coke saving in the

Jan 1, 1915

By J. B. Austin

In considering so complex a process as the smelting of iron in the blast furnace, there is obviously no single method of calculating efficiency that gives a complete appraisal of the performance of the furnace in all its several functions; such a comprehensive view as is required to evaluate producing ability and manufacturing costs for a given furnace is obtained only by considering a group of efficiencies, each of which measures the performance of the furnace from a specific point of view. For instance, there is the rate of consumption of coke per ton of iron produced, which is probably the most frequently considered, and is certainly one of the most important of the group; there is the efficiency of recovery of iron charged; and there is the efficiency of utilization of energy, both chemical and thermal, in some respects related to the former two yet in other ways independent of either. In each of these cases, the calculation can be made on the basis of the actual input of material or energy, or it may be based upon a comparison with the minimum amount of material or energy that would be required by a "perfect" furnace; that is, an imaginary ideal furnace analogous to the perfect steam engine used in thermodynamic calculations, when this furnace is operating under optimum conditions. Moreover, the furnace itself can be considered either as an apparatus for smelting iron or, taking a somewhat less common point of view, as a gas producer yielding iron and slag as by-products. Some of these efficiencies are more useful than others, yet all are instructive; for a knowledge of them not only leads to good engineering practice from the standpoint of control but also discloses limits to possible improvement in performance and indicates the lines along which improvement is most likely to be profitable. Estimates of some of these efficiencies have appeared from time to time in the literature, but many of them are open to objection because they are based on data of uncertain accuracy or because they have been caleulated without due regard to the thermodynamic principles involved. Moreover, so far as the author is aware. no general survey of the blast furnace comparing its performance in all the aspects mentioned has been made.

Jan 1, 1938

By J. B. Austin

In considering so complex a process as the smelting of iron in the blast furnace, there is obviously no single method of calculating efficiency that gives a complete appraisal of the performance of the furnace in all its several functions; such a comprehensive view as is required to evaluate producing ability and manufacturing costs for a given furnace is obtained only by considering a group of efficiencies, each of which measures the performance of the furnace from a specific point of view. For instance, there is the rate of consumption of coke per ton of iron produced, which is probably the most frequently considered, and is certainly one of the most important of the group; there is the efficiency of recovery of iron charged; and there is the efficiency of utilization of energy, both chemical and thermal, in some respects related to the former two yet in other ways independent of either. In each of these cases, the calculation can be made on the basis of the actual input of material or energy, or it may be based upon a comparison with the minimum amount of material or energy that would be required by a "perfect" furnace; that is, an imaginary ideal furnace analogous to the perfect steam engine used in thermodynamic calculations, when this furnace is operating under optimum conditions. Moreover, the furnace itself can be considered either as an apparatus for smelting iron or, taking a somewhat less common point of view, as a gas producer yielding iron and slag as by-products. Some of these efficiencies are more useful than others, yet all are instructive; for a knowledge of them not only leads to good engineering practice from the standpoint of control but also discloses limits to possible improvement in performance and indicates the lines along which improvement is most likely to be profitable. Estimates of some of these efficiencies have appeared from time to time in the literature, but many of them are open to objection because they are based on data of uncertain accuracy or because they have been caleulated without due regard to the thermodynamic principles involved. Moreover, so far as the author is aware. no general survey of the blast furnace comparing its performance in all the aspects mentioned has been made.

Jan 1, 1938

By William P. Blake

In my short " Contribution to the Early History of the Industry of Phosphate of Lime in the United States,"* mention is made of the erection by Dr. Emmons and myself of a magnetic machine for the removal of iron-ore from the so-called "red sand," a granular form of apatite. At the time of writing, it was not possible to refer to my diary and notes, and the general statements were made from recollection. The subject seems to have special interest at this time, by reason of the many forms of machines now being introduced and patented for similar purposes; and, having received letters of in quiry for further details, I have availed myself of the opportunity, when recently at home for a few days, to refer to the original notes and records made by me in 1852, when living at Crown Point and Moriah, on Lake Champlain. The machine mentioned in my former communication mas pur chased of Ransom Cook, of Vermont. It arrived, and was un loaded from the boat and taken part way up to the nine, on October 18,1852. The weight was 1400 pounds and the cost $1200. It was constructed, not with permanent magnets but with electro-mag nets. It was set up and first turned by hand on October 28th, using twelve battery-cups or cells, the connections being made with wires in small cups of quicksilver. The magnets were not sufficiently strong, and the machine did not work well. More batteries were sent for, arid the machine was started with steam-power on Novem ber 6th. The ore was dried in kilns, then put through a coffee-mill crusher or grinder, and then fed upon the leather belt which carried it under the magnets. Many experimental runs were made, and some diffi culties were overcome, before December 21st, when the record states that the machine was working pretty well, using 24 cells and giving a product of from 3 to 5 tons a day of granular phosphate. The ori-

Jan 1, 1893

C. P. SANDBERG, LONDON, ENG : † I think we should all be grateful to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and to their chemist, Dr., Dudley, for spending so much time and money in order to solve an important question ; nor are we less indebted to the public spirit which leads them to impart the experience thus gained. In Europe nothing similar has hitherto been done, either by a company or by any private individual. In England the great railway companies employ their engineers in other ways, and do not keep a chemist or specialist to study rails; but even if they did they would probably not publish the results. The chief professional engineers are so occupied with their private practice of railroad construction generally, that they cannot be expected to devote their time and energies to so special a question. The German Railway Union has, in my opinion, missed the real object of its elaborate researches by falling into the error of specifying costly, impracticable tests for rails-tests at the same time which do not infallibly expose the impurities that may be in the rails under examination. There has, therefore, been nothing done on this side of the Atlantic in the way of exhaustive study to determine the best composition for steel rails. America should consequently have full credit for the enlightened example which she has set. I wish, however, to make a few remarks on Dr. Dudley's second paper, a paper which follows very much upon the same lines of argument as the first read three years ago, upon which I have previously touched in my paper on the same subject read at the meeting in August last. If Dr. Dudley had discovered a new metal he could hardly, I think, have taken more pains to prove that he was correct in his first formula for the best chemical composition of steel rails. But I have seen so much done in the way of proof by experiment that I am inclined to think that almost anything can be proved by experiments and by samples. If Dr. Dudley would only give up his formula, which would not suit any country-not even America- * For the convenience of members it has bees thought best to insert the continuation of this discussion at the Virginia meeting in tide place, rather than to delay its permanent publication until the issue of Volume X, Transactions, where it would properly belong. T. M. D., Sec'y, † Sent to the secretary in manuscript.

Jan 1, 1881

By B. W. Frazer

In the numbers of the Engineering and Mining Journal of June 27th and July llth, 1874, there appeared some very complete statistics of the working of some anthracite blast-furnaces belonging to a large establishment in this country, followed by calculations of the heat requirements of the furnaces, similar to those which have been made for European furnaces by Mr. I. Lowthian Bell, Prof. Gruner, Prof. Akerman and others. To the author of these valuable papers, Mr. John A. Church, of New York, the thanks of American iron metallurgists are due for this attempt (the first, to my knowledge at least), to attack systematically and scientifically the problem of economy of fuel in our anthracite blast-furnaces, by applying the formulas obtained from European practice and from the experiments of European metallurgists, to the determination of the amounts and the modes of distribution of the heat production and absorption in our furnaces. In order to facilitate a comparison of the results thus obtained for the anthracite furnaces in question with those obtained for the best types of European coke furnaces, I have reduced 60 the same standad of heat units (the product of the ton and the degree Centigrade), and placed side by side, the calculations of the heat requirements of one of the furnaces of the Clarence works, as given by Mr. Bell, of a furnace at Pouzin, on the banks of the Rhone, given by Prof. Gruner, and of the anthracite furnaces for 1869-73, as given by Mr. Church. Table I shows the different conditions of working of the three furnaces, of which Table II gives the respective heat requirements. I have made this latter table in such a manner as to give for each furnace its heat requirements, both according to the views of Mr. Bell and those of Prof. Gruner. Mr. Bell assumes that all the carbonic acid produced by the decomposition of the carbonate of lime of the charge, is reduced to carbonic oxide by contact with solid carbon ; also, that the carbon of t,he pig iron is a portion of that deposited in the ore in the upper part of the furnace, by the dissociation of carbonic oxide. Prof. Gruner, on the other hand, assumes that all the carbonic acid of the carbonates of the charge escapes unreduced, and that the carbon deposited in the upper part. of the furnace, by the dissociation of carbonic oxide, is again converted into carbonic oxide or