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By Herbert Dumont

Since 1947 Preussag AG Metal1 has used a process for fuming zinc- and lead-containing dump slags and residues from vertical retorts in a half-shaft furnace at their Hüttenwerk Harz at Oker. Contrary to the classic shaft furnace, only one side of the half-shaft furnace is fitted with tuyeres. The opposite side is a bricked slope. The upper shaft section is piped. There zinc vapor and combustion gases are burned by sucked-in air. Gases and fume enter a boiler located on the rear length of the furnace via a piped fire bridge. The gases are then cooled in an air preheater prior to dedusting in a bag filter. The furnace is charged with briquettes of metal-bearing materials, coal and pitch. The leaded zinc oxide fume is comparatively rich in both lead and zinc. The copper in the feed is recovered in low-copper matte. The slag can be discarded. The Oker plant comprises 13 furnaces of 2.9 to 4.9 m length in the tuyere area. Two other plants in Italy and Spain are processing zinc leach residues by this technique. Fuming of zinc-lead-oxide ores as well as partially roasted sulfide- zinc-lead-copper bulk concentrates will be possible.

Jan 1, 1970

By C. C. Nitchie, G. S. Brooks

With the gradual depletion of the natural-gas pools of the Kansas district, together with the uncertainty of further cheap fuel developments, some of the western zinc companies turned to the coal fields, attracted by their permanency and the success of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Co. and the lllinois Zinc Co. Being then confronted with the problem of using a relatively high-priced fuel, although the ultimate supply was very great, the fuel economies of the kilns and furnaces became of far more importance, and the more modern equipments, as a result, embodied distinct gaias in this phase of the business. In addition, there have been some pronounced advances in the actual making of gas from these coals. Increased efficiency in gas making has contributed its hare to lowering costs and those plants located in the higher priced fuel districts have probably been obliged to study these economies somewhat more closely. Naturally, many beneficial changes have resulted in both practice and apparatus in these sections. On certain western coals, for instance, the actual saving in fuel consumption has been 50 per cent. By this is meant that, where about 1.75 tons were burned to smelt 1 ton of oxidized ore, 0.7 to 0.9 ton is now required. While comparisons by T. R. Ingalls1 of fuel economies in smelting in this country and Germany before the war may, in general, be correct, they do not appear to do justice to the more progressive American practice. It is doubtful whether German plants were substantially bettering these fuel ratios. Data furnished by Bender and Frams do not afford records averaging less than 0.9 ton coal per ton ore on materials from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. zinc. Fuels As producer fuel, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas coah offer a wide range of material, although varying much in their amenability to gasscation. The proper fuel for each plant can only be determined after com-

Jan 1, 1920

By Alexander L. Holley

Jan 1, 1879

By Ezequiel Ordonez

The great activity with which the oil resources of the northern Cantons of the State of Veracruz have been developed has largely resulted from the great success obtained by the important explorations carried out since 1902 in the Ebano district in the North, and several years later near Tuxpam, in the South. It must not be thought that these successes were quickly obtained, since the preliminary studies by good experts, the acquisition of what were thought to be the most promising coast lands, the extensive clearing thereof, and finally the number of unsuccessful drillings at great depth, signified an original outlay of some tens of millions of dollars before finding commercial oil. The discovery of oil in industrial quantities at Cerro de la Pez, Ebano district, and the famous Dos Bocas gusher some years later, which was burned, once and for all made famous the Veracruz coast, where today is concentrated the Mexican output of mineral oil. In 1917, this production was nearly 61,000,000 bbl. It is well known that this output represents only a fraction of what the wells in actual production can furnish, because with adequate means of transportation and storage, the present extraction could be somewhat over 300,000,000 bbl. a year. These enormous potential oil resources of the Veracruz coast proceed from a relatively small number of wells, scattered over a few oil fields, separated from each other by large unexplored areas, wherein may be found other favorable fields which, in time, will undoubtedly become just as great centers of oil production. Experts who know our Gulf Coast believe that lands with commercial oil resources lie not only between the Pgnuco and Tuxpan Rivers, but that indications are that the oil zone of Mexico, with more or less interruption, takes in the coast zone from Northern Tamaulipas to the foot of the Sierra Madre of Chiapas, and the banks of the Usumacinta River. This generalization is not merely the outcome of optimism, but is the result of the persistency with which one finds, throughout this Gulf Coast, the most usual characteristics upon which we depend for recognizing oil-bearing lands.

Jan 1, 1920

By Robert Glass Cleland

[PARTIAL LIST OF DIRECTORS OF THE NICHOLS CHEMICAL COMPANY AND NICHOLS COPPER COMPANY: G. H. Nichols William H. Nichols, Sr. William H. Nichols, Jr. Charles W. Nichols E. Remington Nichols George Martin Luther John Brown Francis Herreshoff]

Jan 1, 1952

By F. F. Skiba, J. E. Warren

An idealized miscible displacement process in a three-dimensional, heterogeneous porous medium has been studied via experimental computation based on a "Monte Carlo"' model. The macroscopic dispersion which results solely from variations in the permeability of the porous system is related to the scale of the heterogeneity as well as the distribution function for the permeabilities. The interpretation of laboratory data is often subjective and may bt? misleading since ambiguities are not always recognized. Furthermore, an experiment performed on a conventional oil-field core does not yield a valid measure of Macroscopic dispersion for reservoir engineering purposes since the scale of heterogeneity that is significant in the laboratory is not significant in the reservoir. The analysis of field-performance data is discussed and it is shown that a unique characterization of the reservoir can not be obtained from this information alone. A possible method based on a minimum of data, for estimating the spatial distribution of permeabilities in a reservoir is postulated INTRODUCTION Many studies concerned with diffusion and dispersion in porous media have been undertaken because of the potential importance of miscible displacement processes for increasing the recovery of oil. The results from a large number of these studies have been published; in a recent paper Perkins and Johnstonl presented a comprehensive survey of the pertinent literature and excellent appraisal of the "state of the art". In this investigation, dispersion resulting from macroscopic variations in the properties of the porous medium is of primary interest. Dispersion, in this sense, is caused by fluctuations in the velocities of the individual fluid elements as they move through the porous system. This phenomenon is the result of inhomogeneities in the permeability and/or porosity, but it can be amplified by differences in the characteristics of the fluids involved. The objectives of this study are the following: (1) to determine the qualitative manner in which macroscopic rock properties affect the observed dispersion coefficient; (2) to evaluate the possible influence of macroscopic dispersion on laboratory experiments; and (3) to appraise the significance of macroscopic dispersion with regard to reservoir performance. Investigations of this type are essential since many miscible displacement processes, while seemingly understood from a mechanistic point of view, do not behave in a predictable manner under field conditions. Although a plausible explanation is that the process is dominated by the environment, little serious effort has been devoted either to describing the reservoir itself or to determining the probable effect of the reservoir properties on the process. This study is intended to be exploratory in nature; however, it is hoped that it will provide additional insight into the physical problem and that it will suggest areas suitable for further investigation. EXPERIMENTAL COMPUTATION MODEL To limit the observed dispersion to that which results solely from variations in the properties of the porous medium, an idealized process in which one incompressible fluid displaces another identical fluid is simulated. This simulation is achieved by means of a modified Monte Carlo method — by tracking a number of mathematical particles (tracer) through the system according to the steady-state, single-phase velocity distribution. Then the system is characterized by the distribution of the residence times of the particles. Since any number of particles can be injected simultaneously (a true delta-function distribution) and only pressure conditions are imposed on the boundaries, the model is completely determinate. Furthermore molecular diffusion, microscopic dispersion, adsorption and/or reaction are automatically precluded from the model. The heterogeneous medium is represented by a rectangular, three-dimensional array of uniform, homogeneous porous blocks which are randomly arranged; it is assumed that any two opposing faces of the system are held at fixed potentials

Jan 1, 1965

By D. A. Lyon

Discussion of the paper of DORSEY A. LYON and ROBERT M. KEENEY, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 104, August, 1915, pp. 1707 to 1730. LAWRENCE ADDICKS, Douglas, Ariz.-I think papers of this character, while general in, nature, are of particular value and interest, because when we figure on competing with the East in electrometallurgical industries, on account of the cheap power on the Pacific Coast, we have to take two or three things into account. In the first place, power very rarely amounts to more than 20 per cent. of the total cost of an operation, even .though it be electrometallurgical, and I think it is the common opinion among those who are not familiar with those particular industries, that it amounts to more than 50 or 60 per cent. Take copper refining; we may say that it is 15 per cent. of the total cost. In the second place, around New York City, with 100 per cent. load factor and a reasonably large load, say 10,000 kw., we can generate from a certain class of coal 1 kw.-hr. for about 0.3c. I might say, however, that 0.3c. does not include overhead charges, interest on the investment, etc. The third factor we have to consider out here is that any product to be salable, must command a retail market. It would be useless to produce wire bars here on the Pacific Coast because there is no place to roll them. If we were going to establish a copper refinery, that part of its output which goes into wire bars would have to be taken care of by building a rolling mill alongside of it to turn it into wire and finally make a product that is salable. I do not think, however, that Mr. Lyon need have excluded copper refining from his industries. There are perhaps 50,000,000 lb. of copper a month refined in this country on a custom basis. I think the smelting companies would be very glad to build refineries here if conditions warranted it. The recent extensions of the Great Falls refinery and of the Tacoma refinery in the last few months give evidence of that.

Jan 12, 1915

By E. Miller, J. M. Eldridge, K. L. Komarek

Aclivilies of magnesium in liquid Alg-Si alloys have been delermined between 5 and 60 at. pcl Si, close to the melling point of Mg2Si, by an improved isopieslic melhod. Silicon specinrens, held in alumina crucibles and graplrile conlainevs of special design, were healed in a letrlpevalure gvadient and equilibrated with mag-nesilcrrl rapor in a closed lilanium system. The ther-madynamic Junctions were calculated and compared with the thermodyuamic properties of the other three mg- Gvoup IVB systems. Lattice paramelers of three Mg2X compounds were measured. The bonding in the Mg2X compounds is largely covalent with small and uarying amounts of metallic and ionic conlvibutions. The Mg-Si phase diagram1 has one congruent melting compound, Mg2Si, of essentially stoichiometric composition, two eutectics, and very limited terminal solid solubilities. Little information is available on the thermodynamic properties of this system. The free energy of formation of Mg2Si has been determined by the Knudsen cell technique2 in the range 572" to 680oC, by the transportation method3 between 858" and 950oC, and by the electromotive-force method4 in the range 400o to 600°C. Kubaschewski and villa5 and caulfield6 have measured the heat of formation of Mg2Si. An electromotive-force study of magnesium-rich liquid alloys was recently published by Sryvalin el al.7 The present investigation was undertaken to complete a general survey of the thermodynamic properties of the homologous series of Mg-Group IVB systems, i.e., Mg-Pb,a9,Mg-Sn,10,11 mg-Ge,12and Mg-Si. An isopiestic technique, previously developed for similar measurements on liquid Mg-sn11 and Mg-Ge alloys,12 was modified for the Mg-Si system. Specimens of the nonvolatile component, silicon, were contained in dense alumina crucibles placed inside covered graphite crucibles which were heated in a temperature gradient in an evacuated and sealed titanium reaction tube and equilibrated with magnesium vapor of known vapor pressure. The alumina crucibles prevented contact between the highly corrosive liquid Mg-Si alloys and graphite. The graphite cruci- bles effectively preserved the high-temperature equilibrium composition of the liquid alloys containing highly volatile magnesium on termination of the experiments during the quench to room temperature. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Silicon of semiconductor-grade purity (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Brevard, N.C.) and 99.99+ pct Mg (Dominion Magnesium Ltd., Toronto, Canada) were used. Graphite crucibles with press-fitted lids were machined from high-density (1.92 g per cu cm) rods (Basic Carbon Corp., Sanborn, N.Y.) which had a maximum ash content of less than 0.04 pct. The alumina crucibles had a purity of 99.7+ pct (Triangle RR grade, Morganite, Inc., Long Island City, N.Y.). In preliminary runs the liquid alloys were contained in graphite crucibles following the exact procedure developed for the Mg-Ge system.'2 These runs failed due to appreciable reaction between the molten Mg-Si alloys and graphite, and the results have been discarded. The procedure was then modified and the Mg-Si alloys were subsequently held in alumina crucibles. For most of the runs alumina crucibles of known weight and approximately 6.3 mm ID, 12.5 mm height, 1.0 mm wall thickness were loaded with weighed amounts of silicon and encapsuled in tightly covered weighed graphite crucibles 5/16 in. ID, 2 in. helght, 3/32 in. wall thickness). The graphite crucibles were machined from rods which were 85 pct of the theoretical density. These crucibles were therefore sufficiently porous so as to permit magnesium vapor to effuse through the silicon under the experimental conditions of approximately 970O to 1220°C and 1 day equilibration time. However, negligible magnesium was lost from the crucible during the quench due to the slow effusion rate through the pores of the graphite. The inner alumina crucible prevented the liquid alloys from contacting the graphite, and the very tightly fitting graphite crucible lids served to retain any magnesium vaporizing from the alloys inside the crucibles during the quenching step.12 The loaded silicon-alumina-graphite cells were positioned, one above another, on a 16-in.-long titanium thermocouple well and tied securely to the titanium tube with thin molybdenum wires held in grooves around the circumference of the graphite crucibles. A thin (0.005-in.) molybdenum strip prevented contact between the graphite crucibles and the titanium. This assembly was lowered into a titanium reaction tube (la in. ID, 16 in. long, $ in. wall thickness) closed on one end which contained a 11/2-in.-long cylinder of magnesium at the bottom. The inner titanium thermocouple well was positioned eccentrically in the large tube because of the eccentric mounting of the cells on the well. Appropriate modifications of the titanium cap"'12 were made to join the inner and outer titanium

Jan 1, 1968

By D. R. Colton, W. V. Youdelis

The maximum segregation, as a function of alloy composition, is calculated for the aluminum-zinc system using the theory of inverse segregation based on the mechanism of volume contraction and interdendritic flow. The results show good agreement with experiments on aluminum-zinc ingots. The significance of the mass calculations of the segregation theory in discussing the metallography of the cast aluminum-zinc alloys is considered. THE occurrence of inverse segregation in rapidly cooled castings has been reported on previously by various authors, and several theories have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. It is now generally accepted that the mechanism of inverse segregation involves volume contraction on solidification followed by interdendritic flow of enriched residual liquid to the contraction volumes. This increases the concentration of the lower-melting-point constituents in regions of first solidification to above the mean concentration, which is con-

Jan 1, 1961

By H. F. Yancey, M. K. Geer

Investigations of the fundamental factors involved in the performance of various coal-cleaning processes have constituted a substantial portion of the research 011 coal cleaning conducted by the Bureau of Mines. These detailed studies of the mechanism of separating coal from impurity in various cleaning devices were undertaken to provide the coal industry with information that is helpful in selecting the type of cleaner most suitable for treating a particular coal. Previous reports describing these investigations have dealt with the wet table,1 the pneumatic table,' and the plunger,3 pulsator.4 and Baum types5 of jigs. The present report compares the performance of three commonly used units treating the same coal—a pneumatic jig, also known as the air-flow. cleaner, a pneumatic table, and a Baum-type jig. Object and Plan The fact that pneumatic coal-cleaning processes are less efficient than wet-washing methods because they are unable to make as sharp a separation between coal and impurity is well recogilized. The literature, however, contains little quantitative in- formation on the relative performances of the two types of cleaners. The object of the present report is to present a detailed comparison of the performances of two pneumatic units and one wet-washing process treating coal from the same bed. Although the information in this report demonstrates that the performance of the pneumatic cleaners is not as good as that of those employing water, it must not be construed as reflecting on the usefullless of such equipment. Performance is often secondary to other factors in the selection of coal-cleaning equipment, and the advantages inherent in pneumatic processes frequently outweigh the limitations imposed by their performance. Specific gravity and particle size are the principal factors that influence the separation of coal from impurity in either pneumatic or wet processes; consequently, the tools available for this investigation were the float-and-sink bath and the screen. Accordingly, the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse samples representing the operation of each type of cleaning unit were first separated into a series of density fractions by means of the float-and-sink bath, and then each density fraction was screened into a series of size fractions. By this procedure the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse were subdivided into components of restricted ranges in density and size. From these data it was possible to determine how the cleaning unit disposed of each component of the raw coal; that is. what proportion of each component is sent to clean coal or rejected as refuse.

Jan 1, 1947

By L. Adler

Any design of a mine roof in bedded deposits which ignores differential deflections at the supports can quickly lead to dangerous overstressing. As illustrated by the typical case presented on page 1029, if one support deflects only 0.1 in. more than its neighbor, stresses 50 pct higher than anticipated will result. Previous studies1-3 have assumed that the mine roof acts like a beam clamped at both ends, with no deflection or slope' at the supports (Fig. 1). Essentially this assumes:5* ?A = ?, = ?b and dA = dB = 0. However, a host of conditions can cause differential sag or deflection at one support, and even an apparently trivial deviation can have major consequences in the beam: variations in spacing, size, and material of supports; local settlement due to floor heaving or lower mine openings; non-uniformity in wedging or bolt tensioning.8 In one particular instance concrete pillars, poured in place, shrank away from the roof upon setting.' When understood and controlled, differential sag becomes a definite advantage, permitting the transfer of loads from one support to another. Where one support is a bolt or prop and the other a pillar or rib, the load on the former can be reduced while the load on the pillar or rib is increased. This means two things: 1) savings can be effected by using smaller artificial supports such as props and bolts and 2) loads can be increased in the rib to induce eventual failure for longwall caving. In this last respect, another factor underlying coal bumps becomes understandable. The design of a mine roof by beam theory assumes that when a bedded formation is homogeneous, iso-tropic, and elastic, it will act like a uniformly loaded beam, fixed or clamped at both ends,6 s in Fig. 1.'" These are important assumptions. The uniform load is the weight of the beam itself or its body load. For a beam of unit width, this load becomes per foot: w = yhb. w = uniform load y = specific weight, lb per ft3 h = depth or thickness of beam, ft b = width of beam, ft Since b = 1, w - yh [ 1 ] A beam fixed at both supports is statically indeterminate to the second degree, that is, two equations in addition to those for static equilibrium are required to determine the reactions at the supports. These equations result from the geometry. From statistics: ^F,= 0;RA + RB — wL = 0 [2] wU S,M0 = 0 ; MB H------------MA — RBL = 0 [3] it Using superposition in which the left support is kept intact and the right one resolved into an active force and moment, we obtain from Fig. 2:" ?b = ?m + ? b2 + ?B3 = 0 dB = dB1 + dB2 + dB3 / wU Ma RBL \ V d°=(-r+-2—r)-zr [5] Where: Subscripts refer to position on axis of beam R = force, lb M = moment, ft-lb w = uniformly distributed load, lb per ft L = span, ft 0 = slope, radians d = deflection, ft E = Young's Modulus, lb per ft" 1 = Moment of inertia about the neutral axis, ft4 Solving Eqs. 2 through 5 for the four unknown reactions, we obtain: 2 L3 Fig. 3 is obtained by plotting MA and M, vs d, and then plotting RA and R, vs d, and adjusting their scales to coincide with MA and M, vs d,. It should be noted in Eqs. 6 and 7 that as dB increases, MA increases the same amount that Mn decreases. Eqs. 8 and 9 show a similar relationship between RA and R,. Proof that MA is the maximum absolute moment occurring in the beam is as follows: where M, = moment at x wx-When where M,., = maximum positive moment Eqs. 6 and 8 into above: For small dn: MA> M,,,

Jan 1, 1960

By U. N. Bhrany, N. Arbiter

Over the last one hundred years the problem of assessing the efficiency of energy consumption in producing rock breakage has been studied by many investigators from a variety of viewpoints. Their contributions fall into three main categories: (1) those characterized by a priori assumptions of a relation between the energy required for fracture and the degree of fragmentation produced (e.g. Rittinged(l), Kick(2) Bond(3)); (2) those studying simple systems with controlled energy applications (Gross(4)?(5) ); (3) those treating operating data to develop practical relative measures of efficiency (Coghill(6), Taggart(7)). Closely involved in the efficiency problem is the characterization of size distributions produced by comminution. Unless an experimental size distribution can be approximated by a distribution function and its constants, it becomes difficult if not impossible to develop quantitative energy-particle size relationships. While many such functions have been proposed, none are both completely adequate and convenient. The simpler fonns usually describe only a part of the sizing data, while those which apply to a greater extent are cumbersome(8). The thesis underlying the study here reported can be stated as follows: Size reduction in a tumbling mill subjects ore particles to a relatively constant fracture-producing environment. The intensity of the forces is determined by such factors as the mass of the breaking bodies (rods, balls, rock), and the speed and dimensions of the shell. For a particular ore the extent of size reduction will depend both on the intensity and on the duration of exposure. The latter is the residence time in a batch mill, or is determined by the effective volume and the flow rate in a continuous mill. Size reduction can thus be regarded as a rate process in which the weight of material in size intervals varies as a function of grinding time. Although both the rates of disappearance of coarser sizes and

Jan 1, 1961

By J. B. Wagstaff, R. A. Buchanan, J. F. Elliott

High speed photography through blast-furnace tuyeres showed coke particles moving rapidly. Model studies showed a raceway was formed and gave quantitative results which were correlated with actual blast furnaces. Another study showed the similarity between hanging and the flooding of a packed column. This was explored by models. THE combustion zone before the tuyere in an iron blast furnace is a vital region because here are generated: 1—most of the gases on which the furnace depends to carry out its basic operation of reducing iron ore to the metallic state, and 2—the major fraction of the heat required in the nearby regions of the furnace for the various reduction reactions, the fusion of the slag, and the melting of the iron. Since the greater part of the coke is consumed in this region, the descent of the burden must be greatly affected by the characteristics of the tuyere zone. This region then would seem to be a profitable field for study. Fortunately, a view into this important zone is available to the operator through the tuyere peep sight. Here he sees relatively dark pieces of coke "dancing" in the blast. What he sees is of considerable help in interpreting the behavior of the furnace at a given time but the very rapidly moving particles and the intense radiation obscures what is happening very deep in the zone. This investigation was initiated in the hope that a better understanding of the combustion region could be obtained by using a high speed camera with a maximum speed of 3000 frames per sec. It seemed the best practical method of "slowing down" this characteristically violent action within the highly luminous field. Model studies and tuyere probing also have been used to aid in explaining the observed phenomena. Above the combustion zone, but below the fusion zone, there is probably a region in which the coke is comparatively stationary. Here are zones in which the gases must flow up through the granular bed counter to descending liquid slag and metal. There is no easy way to observe this zone in a blast furnace, but model studies have been of some help in explaining the nature of the zone and the laws governing the flow of the fluids involved. The whole problem is difficult and involved and any approach to a complete solution may require long investigation. This preliminary report has been written, therefore, because it is believed that appreciable progress has already been made that would be of interest to others. Tuyere Studies, Chemistry and Kinetics It is well known from the early work of Kinney and coworkers1,2 that combustion of carbon before the tuyeres appears to occur in two zones: Zone A: C + O, = CO2; AH77°F. = — 14,108 Btu per lb of carbon [I] Zone B: CO2 + C = 2CO; H77°F = + 6,183 Btu per lb of carbon [2] Zone A (Fig. 1) is close to the tip of the tuyere and zone B is somewhat farther back; there being a transition region in which both reactions occur. It is interesting to estimate the rate at which coke is burned before a tuyere with a wind rate of 90,000 cfm in a modern furnace having 18 tuyeres. Approximately 0.55 lb of carbon is consumed by eq 1 per tuyere per sec. A like amount disappears by eq 2 for a total consumption of 1.11 Ib per sec per tuyere. Assuming the coke is 85 pct C and has a bulk density of 30 lb per cu ft, this figure can be converted to a total of 1.30 lb of coke with a bulk volume of 0.043 cu ft disappearing per sec per tuyere. At the temperatures prevailing in the combustion zone (according to Kozlovich,³ he maximum is about 3400°F), the rate at which carbon is con-

Jan 1, 1953

By Will H. Coghill

FLOTATION has been so closely allied with the sulfide minerals and their early and associated oily reagents that the term "oil flotation" has erroneously been applied to the entire flotation process. Today, the term "chemical flotation" might be used to advantage. Flotation literature has dealt primarily with the removal of sulfides. from non-sulfide gangues, and the separation of one sulfide from another.. Now, the application of the process to the separation of nonsulfide minerals is coming to the fore; and from the standpoint of the number of commercial minerals involved, the flotation of nonsulfides offers the larger field. Here, soap or soap-forming substances, such as the fatty acids and their derivatives, are used; hence there may well be a subdivision of the chemical flotation process called "soap flotation." Early experimenters learned that it was easy to form a froth or foam that would carry a part or all of the ore charge over the lip of the flotation machine; but this could not be regarded as flotation because of the lack of selectivity. Doubtless soap was one of the first reagents tried, and doubtless it was rejected on account of its gangue-carrying properties. Now this same gangue-carrying ability makes soap an acceptable reagent, for we are dealing with that, which among sulfides, is considered "gangue." As in the flotation of sulfides, so in the flotation of nonsulfides, the selective flocculation of the mineral and the dispersion of the gangue are the first objectives. In fact, these two phenomena epitomize flotation. They depend upon the unlike surface properties of the respective minerals; and, as long as the components of an ore have unlike surface properties, a separation is possible, at least in theory. Often in nonsulfide flotation it makes little difference which mineral floats and which is depressed; generally only a separation is sought.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. J. Bonnecarrere, P. A. Jr. Bloomer, J. Hunter

Since 1941 not more than 15 per cent of aii wildcat wells drilled in Louisiana have been successful. This figure is not too discouraging, especially in view of the fact that during the same period approximately 80 per cent of all wells (average 701 wells per year) drilled in or adjoining producing areas were successfully completed. However, a somewhat discouraging aspect concerning Louisiana's wildcat completions is that in 1942 only 12 out of 20 fields found were oil fields; in 1943, only 13 out of 24; and in 1944, only 8 out of 21. This means that an operator has less than a 50:50 chance of finding an oil field. In other words, it is more likely that he will find a gas-condensate field. This fact has become increasingly evident as the data for each year are compiled and compared. Yet, strangely enough, operators are reluctant to accept this fact and plan accordingly. Certainly they cannot continue to search for oil fields and, for the most part, end with shut-in gas-condensate wells. The reason for shutting in is that there is no immediate and satisfactory market for all the gas being discovered. The solution, and it is a very satisfactory one, as experience in Louisiana has already demonstrated, is cycling. The advantages of this type of operation of gas-condensate fields, especially where the entire field is pooled and unitized, should be self-evident. These advantages will become increasingly more important, especially now that legislatures, regulatory bodies, royalty owners, and others are beginning to realize that "reasonable development" in a field is not indicated by the number of wells completed, but rather by the method of development. To complete a great many wells that can produce at only, partial capacity is waste. Producing hydrocarbons from these wells and not subjecting them to processing by surface operations, in order to recover all liquefiable hydrocarbons, is waste. Permitting bottom-hole pressures to drop or gas-oil ratios to increase because of excessive production is waste. Loss of leases and of wells because of inability to produce or to meet lease obligations is waste. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a reservoir entirely pooled and unitized with a minimum number of completions, but over which there is exerted careful control so as to provide maximum recovery and the processing of all hydrocarbons brought to the surface, is the only logical and reasonable method of developing a gas-condensate field. Oil Production Twenty-one new fields, including three rediscoveries, were found during 1944. Three of these new discoveries—Delhi in northeast Louisiana, Good Hope in southeast Louisiana, and West Tepetate in southwest Louisiana—should add considerably to Louisiana's oil reserves. The other discoveries were either gas condensate or of apparently little consequence. State-wide productioll for 1944 was 1366 million barrels of crude oil and condensate; amounting to about 8.1 per cent of the

Jan 1, 1945

Professional Divisions I-Institute of Metals Division* GEORGE K ELLIOTT, Chairman GEORGE C STONE, Vice-chairman WILLIAM M CORSE, Secretary-treasurer Executive Committee D K CRAMPTON SAMUEL L HOYT R I, SUHL W K FRANK ZAY JEFFRIES A E WHITE H W GILLETT H C JENNISON R F WOOD STANISLAUS SKOWRONSKI II-Petroleum Division F JULIUS FOHS, Chairman EDWARD L ESTABROOK, Vice-chairman C P WATSON, Secretary-treasurer

Jan 1, 1923

A small group of members of the Institute headed by W. H. Shockley, has insistently demanded that the Institute submit to the members for letter ballot the question of our using in our publications and corre-spondence certain so-called "simplified spellings." The principal argu-ment in favor of this proposal is written by Mr. Shockley and will be submitted in full to the membership for ballot. It rests chiefly on the desirability of saving the time of school children in the learning of the spelling of the English language. A sample of correspondence had with one of the gentlemen on this subject is given herewith in order that members may see what the correspondence and publications of the Institute would look like if we adopted the proposals. This sample was chosen at random: "Onse I condemd the report ov a president of the Institute. He did not pruve his case even on paper-"a hot air profet," I sed. Time has pruved he was." "I rote yu about the muvement to better the spelling in the Institute Bulletin, etc., neglecting to say some things that I mite hav said and things hav happened since which no member ov a democratically governed society shoud stand without protest."

Jan 12, 1919

There are no certain records available of coal shipments or production in Alabama before 1874, and the tonnages shown in Table 60 are estimated from dates of shipment, number of boats and similar data. They are not accurate but probably too low. There were no canals and all shipments were by river or rail, excepting the small tonnage hauled by wagons. [ ]

Jan 1, 1942

By H. Sigurdson, C. H. Moore

Extensive studies have been carried out on electric furnace and blast furnace slags obtained in the winning of iron from its ores. These slags normally consist of elements of the gangue minerals present in the ores, as well as the added flux materials. In consequence, melts of CaO, MgO, Al2O3 and SiO2 can be considered as representing typical slag compositions. When a slag of this composition cools, it usually crystallizes according to predictions possible from an equilibrium diagram of these constituents, providing the melt is not undercooled to form glass. The melt is either viscous or fluid, depending upon the ratio of binary cations to silica, and crystallizes easily or forms a glass for the same reasons. If the melt is not overheated so that carbides of the metal components of the slag are formed and if the composition of the slag is so adjusted that it has a high fluidity, liquid equilibrium is attained and the slag can be held in a liquid state for extended periods of time. Upon tapping, the slag crystallizes into minerals, the type and proportion of which are determined by the melt composition. Since equilibrium is attained, the holding period is not critical. In melts containing a large increment of titanium, however, the normal slag procedures are not applicable. Titanium, as one of the atomic transition elements, is, at elevated temperatures, capable of being reduced to form metalloid compounds much more readily than the refractory oxides present in normal slags. In consequence, an oxide melt containing titanium never reaches equilibrium in a reducing environment, but continues to shift its composition until cooled. If melts of this nature are cooled and samples submitted to metal-lographic and X ray analysis the course of reaction and crystallization in this type of slag can be determined. Preparation of Slag The slags investigated fell into the system CaO-MgO-TiO2-Al2O3-SiO2 and were produced from ilmenite ores reduced by carbon in an electric furnace. Since the equilibrium series1 and the laboratory smelting of ilmenite2 are described in two of the accompanying papers, detailed description of the smelting procedure is not required here. However, certain essentials must be mentioned. Two types of melts were used to produce slags studied in this investigation. The first series of smelts made to determine proper flux addition were produced in a 4 lb Ajax induction furnace. The charge, consisting of ore with the proper flux addition, was heated in a graphite crucible until fluid, held fluid for a sufficient time period to obtain 1-5 pct FeO content, and poured. Because of the small size of the charge only the final sample of these melts could be examined. In the melts made in the 50 lb arc furnace, however, grab samples taken at 10 min. intervals between time of initial melting and final pouring were available for examination. These samples allowed a much clearer picture of the course of reaction and crystallization. amounts of ferrous oxide and reduced titanium compounds is opaque to transmitted light. Therefore, all petro-graphic studies had to be made on polished slag sections. A representative sample of slag was cut or broken, mounted in a thermosetting plastic, ground flat using 400 grit silicon carbide, the coarse scratches removed with 600 grit silicon carbide and polished on billiard cloth using levigated alumina. Rouge was avoided because of the entrainment of the red particles in pores in the slag, causing a possible confusion with some of the mineral phases. In order to prevent sample projection above the plastic surface red bakelite was used to hold the sample, and backed up with clear lucite. In this manner sample labels could be permanently retained in the mounting. The polished samples were examined on a Bausch and Lomb metallograph at magnifications of 250 X, 500 X, 1000 X and 1800 X. The instrument was equipped for examination of specimens under bright field illumination and with crossed nicols. A magenta tint plate to aid in color tone differentiation was also used. Petrology of Slags In order to determine the composition and mineral relatinos of a previously unreported system petrologically, it is essential that the starting composition, reaction temperature and final composition be known. The chemical composition of the ilmenite ore used in these smelts is given in Table 1, and the complete analysis of a typical high titanium, low iron slag is given in Table 2. In the winning of TiO2 from ilmenite by a smelting process it is necessary to produce a slag which will melt at an economically feasible temperature, remain molten as the iron is removed by reduction, be fluid enough to be readily removed from the furnace, contain a high percentage of TiO2 and a low percentage of reduced titanium com-

Jan 1, 1950

By C. E. Sims, G. A. Lillieqvist

The following presentation is more a summation of observations made and conclusions drawn over a period of three to four years than a report of experiments made with a definite objective. Tests were made, of course, to verify hypotheses, but the large mass of data was collected incidental to other work. Lack of space forbids the presentation of more than a few of those data. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that some of the most illustrative examples are not available. The work is admittedly incomplete but is presented in the hope that it will stimulate further work along a similar line. The answers to many of the questions left unanswered by this paper will be found only after long and painstaking study, such as is scarcely possible in a commercial laboratory where problems of immediate importance consume most of the time. It is also hoped that this study will in some measure throw light on some of the dark spots of steelmaking, and help to clarify some of the annoyingly vague references to "good practice." Only cast steel was studied and the conclusions apply to cast steel, but it is the authors' opinion that the quality of rolled or forged steel is largely dependent on the quality of the ingot, which is a casting. Although this discussion deals almost entirely with inclusions, it is important that the reader understand that only those natural inclusions which owe their origin to the solubility of certain materials in steel and to the chemical reactions of steelmaking are considered. Accidental inclusions, such as entrapped particles of slag, nozzle, runner, or mold arc outside its province and are not considered. Such accidental inclusions are always dangerous and should be carefully avoided. Relation between Ductility and Nonmetallic Inclusions In September, 1928, an acid electric furnace was put into operation at the Indiana Harbor plant of the American Steel Foundries. Following the usual practice, aluminum additions were made in order to obtain sound castings. Immediately the problem of low ductility arose. Previous to that time, only open-hearth steel was produced, and, aluminum being used rarely in that steel, there had been practically no trouble with low ductility in the lower carbon range.

Jan 1, 1932