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By Dennis E. Stover

Grade control for in situ uranium leaching is maintaining, at desired levels, the uranium concentration in the pregnant lixiviant which feeds the extraction (ion exchange) circuit. This differs from grade control in conventional mining in that in situ grade control is imposed subsequent to rather than prior to leaching without the direct observation and control possible in conventional mining and milling. Grade control is a necessary engineering task through the entire project life, beginning with preliminary evaluation and design and ending only when the final wells are shut in. More specifically, this task is associated with designing the initial well field, maintaining productivity during well field operations, and planning well field expansions to compensate for the depletion of existing wells. Our aim during each of these phases is to maximize uranium productivity while ensuring that we are developing information necessary for future phases. Throughout this task, we remain cognizant of the fact that uranium productivity is a function of both the complex geologic and operational parameters of the project. A minimum list of significant geological factors must include the following: . Host formation mineralogy . Uranium mineralogy . Permeability . Ore quality (grade and thickness) Our concerns are not limited to average or general descriptions of these factors. The interactions among the factors as well as localized variations among them are far more important in obtaining high productivity from a deposit. For example, an ore body may display an average permeability of one darcy but have its high grade ore confined to regions with permeabilities less than 500 millidarcies. This relationship between ore grade and permeability must be understood early in the project life if the operation is to be successful. Similarly, the fundamental operating parameters for the well field include those items which enable us to distribute the lixiviant within the ore as well as the chemistry which will dissolve the uranium minerals. A minimum list of such factors will include: . Well design . Well efficiency . Well bore damage . Pattern size and shape . Oxidant type and concentration . Complexing agent concentration - pH The interactions between these variables and the complex geological variations create a situation which often defies quantitative analysis. Hence, we have adopted a statistical approach when correlating production history with these parameters and the quality of the correlations improves as the number of wells operated increases. However, the correlations are often specific to an ore body. We find that we must tailor the process to meet the unique geologic parameters of each ore body. PHASE 1: INITIAL WELL FIELD DESIGN Designing the initial well field is perhaps the most difficult phase because we have the smallest data base from which to predict performance. We will have conducted numerous laboratory tests and, perhaps, field pilot tests to select the lixiviant system and to characterize the geologic parameters. However, we will learn a great deal more about the deposit and its productivity during actual commercial scale operation. Fully acknowledging its limitations, we will, as a starting point, assume that uranium productivity will be directly proportional to the quality and quantity of recoverable reserves. Future deviations from this assumption will be plentiful and result from our limited understanding of the aforementioned interactions between and among the operational and geological factors. However, in planning the initial field, estimation of the quantity of leachable uranium present at levels above the economic grade and grade-thickness limitations is a priority task. (The concentration of uranium in the ore, the ore grade, is expressed in units of weight percent. The grade-thickness of the ore is the product of the average grade and ore thickness expressed in units of percent-feet.) These parameters provide a direct indication of the quality and quantity of ore. They are determined from gamma logging of closely spaced drill holes (50 to 100 foot centers being typical) accompanied by uranium core analysis or direct uranium assay logging. Gamma- logging measures gross gamma radiation which emanates from uranium decay products and indicates only the possible presence of uranium. Direct uranium assays are necessary to confirm this presence and the true location and quality of the reserve. From this information, an estimate of the in-place uranium reserve is formulated. Utilizing the above data, we begin to assess the quantity and quality of the leachable reserve. Analysis of self-potential and resistivity logs in conjunction with uranium logs will identify those zones which contain uranium and display apparent high permeabilities. Similarly, zones with extensive calcite cementation or dense clay sedimentation are located and uranium within such zones is excluded. (Interpretation of these logs should be confirmed

Jan 1, 1980

By H. B. Muller

Single stage autogenous grinding of run-of-mine ore was selected by Broken Hill South Ltd., parent Company of Cobar Mines Pty. Ltd. for the concentrator to treat 60,000 tons per four weekly period of copper and complex copper-lead-zinc sulphide ores from the C.S.A. Mine at Cobar, Australia. Ore is mined by mechanised horizontal cut-and-fill stoping and is prepared for grinding by crushing under- ground in a 60 in. x 48 in. jaw-crusher set at 5 in. closed side setting. The ore is reduced to 80% minus 76 microns in two parallel sections each of one 22 ft. dim. x 7 ft. long autogenous grinding mill, powered by a 1,250 H.P. motor, operating in closed circuit with a single stage 20 in. dim. cyclone. Broken Hill South's original concept of the concentrator required the maximum use of reliable instrumentation, centralised control, and the minimum of manning. To achieve this objective the control room, housing the process recorders, alarms, closed circuit television monitors and all the control equipment, overlooks the grinding and flotation sections, and the whole plant is serviced by a public address system. The grinding units and associated equipment are located in the open and are serviced with the aid of a mobile crane and a mobile hydraulically-operated liner lifting device.

Jan 1, 1970

By C. A. Hartnagel

The production of petroleum in New York state in 1942 amounted to 5,410,000 bbl. This represents an increase over each of the four preceding years, and, with the exception of 1937, is the largest production since the peak of over six million barrels in 1882, shortly after the discovery of oil in Allegany County. The oil industry in New York is virtually stabilized and there has been little or no exploration for new sources of supply in recent years. The boundaries of the present fields were established more than 30 years ago and since then no additional reserves have been found. Deep drilling for natural gas during the past 10 years both within and without the oil fields has failed to find oil in quantity below the present producing sands of Devonian age. Oil Since 1882, the New York fields have produced approximately 140 million barrels of oil. Of this amount, 65 million was produced up to the year 1919 by ordinary pumping methods; that is, without flooding by water or the use of other secondary-recovery methods. In the year 1919, when a law was passed making the use of water-flooding methods legal, the oil production, of the state amounted to only 851,000 bbl. In the 23 years since 1919, there have been produced in the state 75 million barrels, or 10 million more than in the previous 37 years, which included the period of flush production. Price.—On March 26, the price of crude oil was raised from $2.75 to $3.00 per barrel, hut this increase had little or no effect on the number of wells drilled. In the Allegany field, which accounts for three fourths of the state's oil production, 1259 wells were completed in 1942, 7 less than in 1941. The smaller number of wells drilled was not only due to the shortage of labor but also was caused by the fact that in water-flooding territory a definite program for drilling wells is followed, and the flush period of an oil well is not usually reached in time to profit by any given price increase. Daily Production.—All of the oil wells in New York state, some 21,000 in number, are small producers. The average daily oil production is 7/10 bbl. per well. Under good flooding conditions, a maximum production of 5 to 8 bbl, a day is reached about one year after the flood begins to act on the well. In 5 years the daily production usually is less than one barrel. Although most of the oil in New York is produced by flooding, an estimated 2500 old wells produce without flooding. Some of these produce as little as 1/20 bbl. a day and are pumped only at intervals. The small producing Wells are mostly on lands leased to the larger oil companies and later will be included in a flooding program. At present, they are pumped only because the owners of the land insist on the royalty. Government Aid Needed.—Because of its good lubricating qualities, New York oil is one of those for which there is an insistent and growing demand, but even at its present price of $3.00 per barrel, many of the operators are producing at a loss.

Jan 1, 1943

By C. A. Hartnagel

The production of petroleum in New York state in 1942 amounted to 5,410,000 bbl. This represents an increase over each of the four preceding years, and, with the exception of 1937, is the largest production since the peak of over six million barrels in 1882, shortly after the discovery of oil in Allegany County. The oil industry in New York is virtually stabilized and there has been little or no exploration for new sources of supply in recent years. The boundaries of the present fields were established more than 30 years ago and since then no additional reserves have been found. Deep drilling for natural gas during the past 10 years both within and without the oil fields has failed to find oil in quantity below the present producing sands of Devonian age. Oil Since 1882, the New York fields have produced approximately 140 million barrels of oil. Of this amount, 65 million was produced up to the year 1919 by ordinary pumping methods; that is, without flooding by water or the use of other secondary-recovery methods. In the year 1919, when a law was passed making the use of water-flooding methods legal, the oil production, of the state amounted to only 851,000 bbl. In the 23 years since 1919, there have been produced in the state 75 million barrels, or 10 million more than in the previous 37 years, which included the period of flush production. Price.—On March 26, the price of crude oil was raised from $2.75 to $3.00 per barrel, hut this increase had little or no effect on the number of wells drilled. In the Allegany field, which accounts for three fourths of the state's oil production, 1259 wells were completed in 1942, 7 less than in 1941. The smaller number of wells drilled was not only due to the shortage of labor but also was caused by the fact that in water-flooding territory a definite program for drilling wells is followed, and the flush period of an oil well is not usually reached in time to profit by any given price increase. Daily Production.—All of the oil wells in New York state, some 21,000 in number, are small producers. The average daily oil production is 7/10 bbl. per well. Under good flooding conditions, a maximum production of 5 to 8 bbl, a day is reached about one year after the flood begins to act on the well. In 5 years the daily production usually is less than one barrel. Although most of the oil in New York is produced by flooding, an estimated 2500 old wells produce without flooding. Some of these produce as little as 1/20 bbl. a day and are pumped only at intervals. The small producing Wells are mostly on lands leased to the larger oil companies and later will be included in a flooding program. At present, they are pumped only because the owners of the land insist on the royalty. Government Aid Needed.—Because of its good lubricating qualities, New York oil is one of those for which there is an insistent and growing demand, but even at its present price of $3.00 per barrel, many of the operators are producing at a loss.

Jan 1, 1943

By R. A. Oriani

The partial molal volume of hydrogen is one of the parameters that describe the elastic interaction between the solute and the stress fields about inclusions, dislocations, and cracks. As such the partial molal volume is probably of importance in the elucidation of phenomena such as hydrogen embrittlement and hydrogen yield point. A knowledge of this quantity would also be helpful in thinking about the state of dissolved hydrogen in iron. However, because of the very low lattice solubility of hydrogen in iron the usual ways of determining the lattice expansion are not practicable. It is therefore of interest to apply the thermodynamics of stressed bodies to two sets of measurements of the effect of elastic stress upon the permeability of hydrogen in order to deduce a value of the partial molal volume, VH, of hydrogen dissolved in a iron. Beck ..' and previously de Kazinczy, observed that a uniaxial tensile stress increases the permeability of hydrogen in iron and in various steels. Beck et 01. employed Armco iron and A.I.S.I. 4340 steel, whereas de Kazinczy used a steel the composition of which was 0.13 C, 0.23 Si, 0.46 Mn, 0.006 P, and 0.038 S. Upon releasing the stress the permeability increment disappeared if the stress was below the elastic limit. Both investigators employed cathodic charging to introduce the hydrogen. de Kazinczy measured the permeation through a thin-walled tube by collecting the gas, whereas Beck et al. measured the permeation through sheets of various thicknesses by a very sensitive electrochemical technique. Both investigators measured the steady-state permeation at constant rate of hydrogen ion discharge, and Beck measured in addition the hydrogen diffusivity by a time-lag technique which is independent of the boundary conditions. Beck et al. and de Kazinczy found a linear relationship between log (J,/Jo) and the stress, where Ju/Jo is the ratio of the flux of hydrogen when the metal is under uniaxial tensile stress, a, to the flux under zero stress, for the same temperature and charging current. Beck et al. found in addition that the diffusivity of hydrogen is not changed by stress. Both investigators concluded that the observed change in permeability is due to an increase in hydrogen concentration, and furthermore that the increase in concentration is due directly to the thermodynamic effect of stress upon concentration. Accepting this assessment of the situation for reasons given below, one may use the equation3j4 in order to evaluate I/H, the partial molal volume of hydrogen. This equation is valid for the domain of a/E «¦ 1 (where E is the Young's modulus) and under the assumption that hydrogen expands the lattice isotrop-ically. From the data of Beck el al, one calculates V7H - 2.0 cu cm per g-atom, and from those of de Kazinczy one obtains 1.8 cu cm per g-atom. That the increase of concentration with stress is indeed of thermodynamic origin is attested to by the facts that the experimental results conform to the thermodynamic relation, Eq. [I], and that the results are the same whether a pure iron1 or each of two different steels172 is used. Neither of these facts wou1.d necessarily be expected if the effect of stress were, rather, to increase the ratio kn/k, of the kinetic factors of the following competing reactions: H(ads) — H (dissolved) Such a change of kinetics at the surface could be an alternative explanation of the effect of stress on the permeability. Although this writer does not deem this explanation to be the correct one for the reasons given above, it must be admitted that unambiguous proof that the phenomenon has a thermodynamic origin does not yet exist. Two kinds of experiments may be suggested. One is to plate a variety of metals on the input surface of the steel and repeat the stress experiment at a variety of hydrogen charging currents. The other is to employ somewhat thicker specimens in order to be able to apply uniaxial compressive stress. Eq. [I] shows that ln(c,/c,) depends on the sign of the stress, but it is difficult to see a physical basis for which k2/kl would depend on the sign of a. The present value of V^ in a iron agrees with phragmen's5 estimate, which he based on comparisons with the lattice expansion by hydrogen of titanium, zir-

Jan 1, 1967

By H. L. Talbot, R. S. Young, A. Golledge

The differentiation of oxidized forms of lead from lead sulphide in complex products by chemical analysis is of considerable importance to certain mining and metallurgical companies. A method for the separation of "oxide" lead, (non-sulphide), from sulphide lead, based on the solubility of the former and virtual insolubility of the latter in concentrated ammonium acetate solution, has been employed for many years in the industry.1,2 Unfortunately this solvent, while satisfactory for lead sulphate and carbonate, is without action on lead phosphates or vanadates, with the result that at .Rhodesia Broken Hill Development Co. where these latter minerals are present, they have counted as sulphides when using this procedure. For the control of operations in the new concentrator it became necessary to have a closer check on sulphide lead than could be obtained by the only current method of differentiating this constituent from oxidized lead. For some time this problem has engaged our attention, and after a large number of solvents had been tried, the following procedure was evolved. Like all methods depending on selective solution in a com- plex material, it will not give 100 pct separation into oxide and sulphide portions. Because of the ease of oxidation of galena this is almost an impossibility. Our procedure will, however, give a recovery of 99-100 pct of the oxidized lead, contaminated with very small quantities of lead sulphide, and a corresponding recovery of 97-98 pct of the sulphide lead. The procedure is simple and reproducible, and gives results quite .satisfactory for routine control purposes. Experimental For this work standard samples of the following pure lead minerals were obtained from Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia. These were hand-picked specimens, and were carefully ground to —200 mesh. Since it was realized that a fair-sized sample would be necessary for this work to thoroughly test the large number of procedures we had in mind, a compromise had to be effected between a few grams of very pure minerals and a large sample of lower grade material. For this work the presence of gangue was not deleterious, so long as the oxide lead minerals did not contain lead sulphide, and vice versa. Table I shows the lead minerals used, and their total lead content, both theoretical and actual. Apart from the pyro-morphite the minerals are seen by analysis to be quite pure. Many solutions were tried in an effort to dissolve the oxidized lead minerals and

Jan 1, 1949

NEW YORK LOCAL SECTION Executive Committee L. W. FRANCIS, Chairman WILLARD S. MORSE, Vice-Chairman THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y J P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer Louis D. HUNTOON Since the annual meeting in February, the New York Section of the Institute has held three meetings. The meeting-on March 10 was held in conjunction with the American Society of Mechanical-Engineers and the American Electrochemical Society, at the Engineering Societies Building. The papers of the evening were devoted to records of progress in the Processes for the Photographic Reproduction of Natural Colors. The speakers of the evening were F. E. Ives, one of the earlier workers in color photography, Westley Allison, C. W. Robinson, George F. Clyfton, John B. Taylor, and Henry Hess. The April meeting was held on April 22 at the Institute headquarters, and the topic for discussion was Sanitation in Mining and Metallurgical Work. The principal paper was by J. W.. Luther, chief surgeon of the New Jersey Zinc Co. This was followed by a similar paper by Charles L. Close, secretary of the Welfare and Sanitation Committee of the United States Steel Corporation, and by an account of the sanitation work done in Cuba by the Spanish-American Iron Co., which was read by the Chairman, in the absence of Charles F. Rand. Following these papers general discussion was indulged in.

Jan 6, 1914

By AIME AIME

ARGUMENTS and discussions were not lacking either Wednesday or Thursday mornings, when the geophysicists got together. The first session, under the chairmanship of Paul Weaver, was devoted largely to theoretical papers, except for the first one by F. W. Lee, which was a progress report. This speaker mentioned some of the high lights of geophysical exploration during the last year, such as the recently announced extension of the Rand gold fields through magnetic exploration, and the continued activity in the oil fields of this country. Even this brought forth some disagreements, Paul Weaver feeling that credit was being given geophysics where it was not due for the discovery of certain oil fields. In this criticism Everette DeGolyer concurred, and both agreed that geophysicists must lean over backward when it comes to taking credit for discoveries. The troublesome question of interpreting resistivity curves is always being aired, and Lynn G. Howell's paper, presented briefly by the chairman, served to clear up a moot point raised last year by M. King Hubbert's work. By use of Maxwell's theory of images the author calculated that the effect of a thin, conductive sheet placed perpendicularly across the middle of a four electrode system should bring the resistivity curve up to a figure equivalent to the resistivity of the surrounding medium, but no higher. Variations from this he explained as being due to dirt on the surface of the sheet. The difficult question of interpreting three-layer curves was tackled bravely in Thomas Manhart's paper, presented in abstract by S. F. Kelly. The author seems to be attaining some success through dividing three-layer curves into two approximation curves of the two-layer type.

Jan 1, 1933

By D. W. Lillie

It has been demonstrated that considerable bend ductility exists in bulk specimens of polycrystalline high-purity silicon. The possibility of hot-forming at 1200°C is suggested. EXCELLENT corrosion resistance in many media and low cross section for absorption of thermal neutrons (0.13 barn) would make silicon of interest to nuclear engineers were it not for extreme brittle-ness and the difficulty of fabrication by any reasonable means. The use of silicon for structural purposes also has been considered in view of its light weight and oxidation resistance. Johnson and Han-sen' have investigated the properties of silicon-base alloys and concluded that there was no way of making pure silicon or silicon-rich alloys ductile at room temperature. In view of reports of appreciable ductility in germanium single crystals above 550°C'." and some plastic deformation in single-crystal silicon above 900oC,' the present investigation was undertaken to define more precisely the limits of high-temperature ductility in pure silicon. After this investigation was begun torsion ductility in both germanium and silicon was reported by Greiner." Through the courtesy of F. H. Horn, a small bar of cast extra high-purity silicon was obtained and small bend specimens were made from it by careful machining and grinding. All of the reported tests results were obtained from samples from this bar (bar No. 1) and one other of similar source (bar No. 2). No complete analysis was obtained but, based on analysis of similar semi-conductor grade material, metallic impurities were under 0.01 pct total. Vacuum-fusion analysis for oxygen showed a value of 0.0018 2 0.0003 pct for the first bar tested and metallographic analysis showed no evidence of a second phase. Bend tests were carried out on an Instron tensile machine using a bend fixture with a 1 -in. span loaded at the center. Supporting and loading bars were 0.250 in. round and the load was applied by downward motion of the pulling crosshead of the machine. Specimen thickness and width were approximately 0.10 in. and % in. respectively. Loading rate was controlled by holding crosshead motion constant at 0.02 ipm. In some cases a smaller specimen was used on a 5/8-in. span with a 0.129-in.-diam loading bar. The entire bend fixture was surrounded by a hinged furnace and all heating was done in air atmosphere. Temperature measurement was made with thermocouples fastened directly to the bend fixture within less than 1 in. from the specimen. Autographic stress-strain curves were recorded during each test, and breaking load, total deflection, and plastic strain could be obtained from these curves. Stress was calculated from the beam formula S = 3PL/2bh2, where P is the load in pounds, L the span in inches, b the specimen width in inches, and h the specimen thickness in inches. This formula is strictly correct only in the elastic range but has been used to calculate a nominal stress for convenience in the plastic range. The stress given is the maximum stress in the specimen. Results The results of the complete series of tests are shown in Table I. The first group of tests (specimens Nos. 1-6) showed the beginning of plastic flow at a test temperature of 900°C, so two additional tests (Nos. 8 and 9) were made at 950°C on small-size specimens from bar No. 2. Specimen No. 8 was tested in the as-machined condition, and No. 9 was heat-treated in hydrogen at 1300°C for 2 hr, cooled to 1200°C and held 1 hr, cooled to 1000°C and held 1 hr, cooled to 900°C and held 1 hr, and finally cooled to a low temperature before removal from the hydrogen. It is apparent that the heat-treatment had a significant effect on yield strength and ductility. In addition, the magnitude of the yield point was conslderably reduced in the heat-treated specimen as is shown m Fig. 1 by tracings of the stress-strain curves. After obtaining a furnace capable of reaching higher temperatures specimens Nos. 10 to 13 were tested at 1100 and 1200°C. Strain rate was increased by up to a factor of 10 to see whether the ductility observed was excessively strain sensitive. Specimen NO. 10, strained at 0.02 ipm and 1100oC, was still bending at a deflection of 0.322 in. when the load rate was increased to 0.2 ipm, resulting in immediate

Jan 1, 1959

By W. L. Phillips

Stress-strain data are reported for sodium chloride, lithium fluoride, and magnesium oxide tested in compression at diffevent strain rates in the telrlperature range from 70° to 873°K. Quantitative equations are given for the stvain-rate dependence of the critical resolved shear stress and the initial rate of work havdening. The properties so determined are compared with results previously reported for metals. ALTHOUGH the effects of strain rate and temperature on the stress-strain characteristics of metals have been extensively investigated1,2 these effects have not been studied in detail in ionic crystals. In the only previous investigations on the effect of strain rate on the deformation of ionic crystals. Gilman and gohnston3 and Hulse and pask4 have shown that the yield stress of lithium fluoride and magnesium oxide at room temperature is proportional to the ninth or tenth root of the strain rate. CRYSTAL PREPARATION Lithium fluoride, sodium chloride. and magnesium oxide single crystals were purchased from the Har-shaw Chemical Co. The compression fixture and sample preparation have been described in detail previously.5 The detectable impurities in MgO were eight parts in 105 of Fe and six parts in 105 of Si; in LiF, six parts in 105 of Mg; and in NaC1, two parts in 105 of Fe and four parts in 10&apos; of Mg. The cleaved samples measured - 0.1 in. by 0.1 in. by 0.3 in. Prior to testing all samples were annealed at -0.8 of their melting point and cooled to room tempera- ture at 50 C per hr.&apos; Samples were strained at rates (<) of 0.1, 0.01, 0.002, and 0.0002 in. per in. per min. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Fig. 1 is a plot of the critical resolved shear stress a,. (extrapolation of slope of easy glide region to zero strain) of sodium chloride, lithium fluoride, and magnesium oxide tested at different strain rates as a function of temperature. In all crystals at all strain rates a, decreases with increasing temperature according to an equation of the type397 where uo is a stress constant, K is a constant, and T is the absolute temperature. The points in Fig. 1 are the average of six tests. It is evident that there is a break in the log 0,- temperature plots at a characteristic temperature T,. The constant K of Eq. [I] is dependent on strain rate, Fig. 2. The relationship

Jan 1, 1962

By C. W. Hill

IN a previous article preliminary experiments were described, indicating the possibilities of a quantitative spectroscopic method for the determination of small amounts of lead in copper, which would be accurate and rapid, and could be carried out in the refining plant by one not skilled in chemical analysis. The present paper deals with the development of the method in the factory, giving the details of apparatus and its standardization, and presenting a comparison of the accuracy of the method with that of the standard electrolytic determination. (For variations and other applications of the method, the reader is referred to the first article.) FIG. 1.-STEPS IN THE ELIMINATION OF LEAD. (The lead line, at point 105.8 in the violet portion of the spectrum, is seen between the two copper Lines,-102.29 and -106.29, lying close to the latter. The crowded faint lines are due to the carbon are.) 1. OUTLINE OF METHOD A carefully weighed sample (0.4 gm.) of the copper to be tested is placed in a cavity in a graphite positive electrode. An arc capable of

Jan 10, 1918

By E. I. Larsen, E. F. Swazy, F. R. Hensel

Experience has indicated that hard bronzes are not suitable for bearing applications where high bearing loads and speeds are involved. It is the general practice to utilize softer materials for these purposes, such as copper, lead, silver, babbitt, lead-base alloys, and more recently aluminum-base alloys, preferably supported by a steel backing. It was the objective of the present investigation to study a new material produced by powder metallurgical methods susceptible to precipitation-hardening. Test MAteriaIs Preliminary tests were made with compacts containing copper, nickel and silicon in quantities sufficient to form 3 to 5 per cent nickel silicide. It mas found that this type of alloy was susceptible to the formation of a soft surface shell when sintered in tank hydrogen. The depth of the shell depended On the length of sintering time and sintering temperature, and varied in thickness from a few thousandths to as much as One eighth inch. This soft shell resulted from the preferential oxidation of silicon, thereby reducing the efficiency of age-hardening by the nickel silicide compound. The body of the sintered compacts below the soft shell could be precipitation-hardened to a hardness of 70 to 85 Rockwell B, by quenching from goo°C. and age-hardening at 450°C. A series of tests was made with various addition agents, in order to decrease the rate of preferential oxidation, and it was found that phosphorus was most beneficial in this respect. After considerable experimentation, the following nominal com-position was accepted as standard: 2.4 per cent nickel; 0.8 silicon; 0.3 phosphorus; balance copper. The physical propertties and certain bearing properties of this alloy are described in the present paper Preparation of Compacts Several methods of incorporating the hardening ingredient (nickel silicide) were studied. Compacts formed from copper, nickel and silicon powders were found to be inferior to those fabricated from prealloyed nickel silicide master alloys, because of the rapid oxidation of pure silicon during sintering. The use of a prealloyed nickel silicide hardener containing 25 per cent silicon and 75 per cent nickel could be further improved by preparing a master alloy, incorporating nickel, silicon, phosphorus and copper, having the following nominal composition~ 25 per cent nickel; 7 silicon; 3 phosphorus 64 copper. This alloy is brittle in the cast condition and can be readily powdered. Sintering Procedure The blended powders were pressed at &apos;5 to 40 tons per sq&apos; in., the pressure depending on the size and shape of the compacts. Sintering was carried out in hydrogen or cracked ammonia atmospheres at

Jan 1, 1946

By E. I. Larsen, E. F. Swazy, F. R. Hensel

Experience has indicated that hard bronzes are not suitable for bearing applications where high bearing loads and speeds are involved. It is the general practice to utilize softer materials for these purposes, such as copper, lead, silver, babbitt, lead-base alloys, and more recently aluminum-base alloys, preferably supported by a steel backing. It was the objective of the present investigation to study a new material produced by powder metallurgical methods susceptible to precipitation-hardening. Test MAteriaIs Preliminary tests were made with compacts containing copper, nickel and silicon in quantities sufficient to form 3 to 5 per cent nickel silicide. It mas found that this type of alloy was susceptible to the formation of a soft surface shell when sintered in tank hydrogen. The depth of the shell depended On the length of sintering time and sintering temperature, and varied in thickness from a few thousandths to as much as One eighth inch. This soft shell resulted from the preferential oxidation of silicon, thereby reducing the efficiency of age-hardening by the nickel silicide compound. The body of the sintered compacts below the soft shell could be precipitation-hardened to a hardness of 70 to 85 Rockwell B, by quenching from goo°C. and age-hardening at 450°C. A series of tests was made with various addition agents, in order to decrease the rate of preferential oxidation, and it was found that phosphorus was most beneficial in this respect. After considerable experimentation, the following nominal com-position was accepted as standard: 2.4 per cent nickel; 0.8 silicon; 0.3 phosphorus; balance copper. The physical propertties and certain bearing properties of this alloy are described in the present paper Preparation of Compacts Several methods of incorporating the hardening ingredient (nickel silicide) were studied. Compacts formed from copper, nickel and silicon powders were found to be inferior to those fabricated from prealloyed nickel silicide master alloys, because of the rapid oxidation of pure silicon during sintering. The use of a prealloyed nickel silicide hardener containing 25 per cent silicon and 75 per cent nickel could be further improved by preparing a master alloy, incorporating nickel, silicon, phosphorus and copper, having the following nominal composition~ 25 per cent nickel; 7 silicon; 3 phosphorus 64 copper. This alloy is brittle in the cast condition and can be readily powdered. Sintering Procedure The blended powders were pressed at &apos;5 to 40 tons per sq&apos; in., the pressure depending on the size and shape of the compacts. Sintering was carried out in hydrogen or cracked ammonia atmospheres at

Jan 1, 1946

By D. L. Feucht, R. L. Longini

The semiconductor heterojunction is considered in terms of simple models which may lead to an understanding of move complex heterojunctions. Metallurgical and electrical properties of hetero-junctions aye discussed including the interface structure, energy -band diagram, and carrier transbovt across the interface. It is found that in a heterojunction all mechanisms such as injection, tunneling, and junction recombination found in simple junctions play modified voles. INTERFACES between materials (grain boundaries, the electrical junction between two differently doped materials in a single crystal, the oxide-metal interface, or metal-metal junctions) are of considerable importance in many situations. These various interfaces all have one very fundamental thing in common. Quantum mechanically speaking, the wave functions of the electrons in one material may penetrate the other material but, in general, only to the extent of angstroms. From an electrical point of view the conduction mechanism changes as a current passes through such junctions. In some cases the change is tremendous, in others almost negligible. The interface, then, is the locus of a change of conduction mechanisms. Some of these, particularly in semiconductors, are well-understood. The ordinary p-n junction in a single crystal can be the locus of an injection mechanism or a tunneling process, depending on conditions. The mechanisms are probably best understood in semiconductors because of the possible simplified view of particlelike conduction. The bands are either nearly filled or nearly empty and band overlap is seldom involved. The same fundamentals are probably important in other situations too but they are very difficult to look at naively. Although the simple look at the semiconductor case only gives us a relatively rough picture which must then be refined, the other systems, which involve a more complex situation, immediately are in many ways too difficult. There are too many initial choices of complex systems and therefore it is not possible to be even reasonably certain of any one model. Because of the relative simplicity of semiconductors, their good and controllable structure, and because of the ability to make many measurements on them not normally available to either metals or insulators! they are probably the best understood materials. It is therefore desirable to use them as a tool to further the understanding of interfaces in general. Semiconductor-heterojunction concepts were first proposed by kroemer1 in 1957. This was followed several years later by reports on the fabrication and experimental characteristics of heterojunction structures by Anderson2 and Diedrich and jotten.3 I) THE HETEROJUNCTION STRUCTURE To get down to hardware, when we refer to a semiconductor heterojunction we imply that there exists an intimate contact between different semiconductor materials. We could put two pieces of material together, complete with oxide layers, we could remove the oxides, or we could even melt the interface and hopefully get wetting and a good "bond" on solidifying. In fact we could by some means grow a crystal of one material using the other as a seed. Essentially we are interested only in the last two because they are the simplest to look at analytically. The degree of perfection of fit varies greatly and is reflected somewhat in the arc welder&apos;s joint strength. The lattice match of the two materials, their orientation, and so forth. is obviously necessary for a good bond but so is the continuity of any polar bonds which are involved such as in the III-V semiconductors. The mechanical misfit between two similar lattices can be described in terms of edge dislocations. The edge-type dislocations must be very close together for the usual misfit and there must be dislocations for each of several different Burger&apos;s vectors in order to produce a lattice match. The .&apos;dangling bonds&apos;&apos; resulting will be involved in producing interface charge. Order of magnitude estimates of the charge density extrapolated from low densities of dislocations in homogeneous materials give 5 x 1013 cm-2 Ge-Si and 1 X 1012 cm-2 Ge-GaAs electronic charges. Edge dislocations also act as very active recombination centers between holes and electrons. One lattice "matching" difficulty usually exists even if two structures have essentially the same lattice constants as they will have different coefficients of therma1 expansion. Thus, on cooling from the usually high temperature of fabrication to room temperature, dislocations are produced, a good fit not existing at both temperatures. In brittle materials this shrinkage may even result in cracking. For the Ge-Si interface the mismatch is about 2 x 10 -6 per degree whereas it is less than 10"7 per degree between germanium and GaAs. The exact effect of the misfit is dependent on the thickness of the materials involved. For a very

Jan 1, 1965

By Wolfgang Hermann

The ancit-process of the Eschweiler Bergwerks-Verein, an affiliate Company of ARBED S.A., Luxembourg, was developed in its principles by the Dutch State Mines, Limburg, in the mid-50&apos;s with the aim of producing a smokeless domestic fuel on the basis of low volatile hard coal. In 1967, the EBV erected a 10 t/h large- size pilot plant along these principles in the Aachen mining district and further developed the acquired know-how. In hardly 10 years more than 650 000 t of ancit briquettes with unit weights between 17 and 100 grams were produced and in the meantime stream rates of over 85 % of the yearly utilization hours have been reached. In more than 10 blast furnace trial runs involving substitution rates up to 100 p. c. ancit have proved the suitability of ancit as a metallurgical fuel both for a burden with a high and a poor iron content. Construction work for a minor process-step to enable processing of coal with a higher content of volatile matters is finished and first results are expected by summer this year. A pilot plant with a 30 t/h capacity working on a low-volatile coal basis is being planned. Engineering and construction are supervised by MecanARBED. Luxembourg, as responsible contractors.

Jan 1, 1977

By Paul M. Tyler

HISTORICAL concepts of the economics of the glass-sand industry are changing rapidly. The greatly expanded demand for glass containers combined with higher freight rates on raw materials and manufactured products have induced a migration of glass factories toward densely populated centers and the creation of new standards of place value for sub- standard sand deposits. This migration has been facilitated by the construction of pipelines to bring cheaper natural gas and liquid fuel to large cities and may be further speeded by the adoption of modern mineral dressing methods to permit economical utilization of local raw materials. Our national resources of naturally high-grade 1 silica sand are abundant, but most of the best de- posits are situated so far from large centers of population that it now costs $3.00 to $5.00 a ton to carry the sand from the mine to the optimum site for a 1 factory making beverage bottles, scientific and electrical glassware, and miscellaneous blown and pressed ware for local markets. It follows that on the basis of freight savings alone it may be economical to use material from inferior deposits closer to the factory even though the f.o.b. cost of mining and treatment may be much high

Jan 1, 1950

By R. F. Stahl, W. A. Martin, R L. Huntington

A marked gravitational segregation of liquid has been observed to take place in a number of volumetric fields toward the later stages of their oil-producing periods. This phenomenon has been pronounced in thick, highly permeable sand formations such as those of the wilcox zone in Oklahoma City. This observation has prompted considerable research directed toward the semiquantitative determination of the equilibrium saturation distribution of oil vertically throughout a formation at final depletion. In this paper, data are also presented showing the transient distribution of liquid at different stages of the depletion period. Other experimental results show the effect of temperature on the drainage rates of water, Wilcox crude oil, and a close-cut heptane fraction. Intermittent drainage of liquid produced saturation gradients that might well be expected from the flow theories involved, Yields of the various liquids varied from 50 to 75 per cent of the original fluid content of the sand-packed (4 in. by 8 ft.) vertical tube. Introduction In certain volumetric Oil fields the performance of the reservoir during the latter part Of its producing life is governed to a large extent by the downward movement of liquid due to the force of gravity. This is especially true of formations having thick or tilting beds of uniformly high permeability, free of shale breaks. Laverett4 and Katz3 have presented original data and discussed the theory relating to the capillary and gravitational forces acting On liquids contained in a sand body. These investigators have pointed out the importance of such studies in the estimation of future reserves as well as the original fluid content of a reservoir. In this previous work, no data have been reported showing the history of saturation distributions during the drainage period. Since a knowledge Of these transients is helpful in obtaining crude Oil from such a reservoir, the authors have obtained these data during this investigation. Experimental Apparatus The drainage tests were carried out in two vertical tubes, 8 ft. high and consisting of 2-in. and 4-in. standard wrought-iron pipe, respectively. Each tube was equipped with a water jacket, which could be kept virtually isothermal ( ± 1.0ºF.). A diagrammatic sketch of the 4-in. tube and its auxiliaries is shown in Fig. 1. At 6 in. above the base of the tube, and at every foot above this point, core nipples were inserted through the water jacket. These nipples were closely fitted with steel-plug inserts during each drainage run. At the end of the run, these inserts were removed so that cores could be obtained from the sand-packed tube.

Jan 1, 1943

By A. J. Shaler, J. Prieto Isaza, J. Wulff

Tantalum metal has a number of unique properties which give it widespread application in modern technology and in research. In electronic apparatus involwing high temperatures in vacuo some of the refractory metals 6ecome brittle. Tantalum retains its ductility at elevated temperatures, and this property, together with its low vapor pressure and its ability to absorb gases, make it important in this field. Its chemical inertness in the presence of acids, halogens, and other corrosive media, makes it useful in chemical apparatus and in neuro and orthopedic surgical applications. As an addition to tungsten carbide in steel-cutting grades of cemented-carbide tools, the carbides of tantalum and of its sister element colum-bium have found considerable use. The present-day method1 of manufacturing tantalum is to sinter a powder compact of the metal in vacuo. Because tantalum-columbium alloys are difficult to work and since tantalum ores almost always contain columbium, the two metals must be separated chemically, the products of the separation being generally in the form of potassium tantalum fluoride and potassium columbium oxyfluoride. These salts are used in fused-salt electrolytic baths from which coarse metallic powder is deposited as a sponge at the cathode. Finer powder can be made from the coarse product or from tantalum scrap by first submitting it to an embrittling heat treatment in hydrogen and then crushing it. The fine hydrogen-containing powder may subsequently be degassed in vacuo at a high temperature. Prompted by the success of others2,3 in the magnesium reduction of titanium and zirconium halides; one of the authors undertook4 an investigation of the thermochemistry of the reaction between solid magnesium and gaseous tantalum penta-chloride, a subject which had not previously been studied. He found that the heat of formation of tantalum pentachloride is approximately 364,250 cal per mol at temperatures lower than the melting point of magnesium. A value of 83 units was found for the standard entropy at these temperatures. With these values, it was shown that magnesium and tantalum pentachloride are capable of reacting exo-thermically at temperatures less than the melting point of magnesium, and that no great violence is to be expected when these substances are heated together. The exothermic nature of the reaction indicated that the Drocess should be efficient and should not require much externally applied energy. Tantalum pentachloride is not commonly made commercially, and any process using it therefore involves the subsidiary problem of producing and handling this substance. A series of experiments was carried out in which dried chlorine saturated with carbon tetrachloride was passed over heated tanta-

Jan 1, 1949

By R. F. Stahl, W. A. Martin

A marked gravitational segregation of liquid has been observed to take place in a number of volumetric fields toward the later stages of their oil-producing periods. This phenomenon has been pronounced in thick, highly permeable sand formations such as those of the wilcox zone in Oklahoma City. This observation has prompted considerable research directed toward the semiquantitative determination of the equilibrium saturation distribution of oil vertically throughout a formation at final depletion. In this paper, data are also presented showing the transient distribution of liquid at different stages of the depletion period. Other experimental results show the effect of temperature on the drainage rates of water, Wilcox crude oil, and a close-cut heptane fraction. Intermittent drainage of liquid produced saturation gradients that might well be expected from the flow theories involved, Yields of the various liquids varied from 50 to 75 per cent of the original fluid content of the sand-packed (4 in. by 8 ft.) vertical tube. Introduction In certain volumetric Oil fields the performance of the reservoir during the latter part Of its producing life is governed to a large extent by the downward movement of liquid due to the force of gravity. This is especially true of formations having thick or tilting beds of uniformly high permeability, free of shale breaks. Laverett4 and Katz3 have presented original data and discussed the theory relating to the capillary and gravitational forces acting On liquids contained in a sand body. These investigators have pointed out the importance of such studies in the estimation of future reserves as well as the original fluid content of a reservoir. In this previous work, no data have been reported showing the history of saturation distributions during the drainage period. Since a knowledge Of these transients is helpful in obtaining crude Oil from such a reservoir, the authors have obtained these data during this investigation. Experimental Apparatus The drainage tests were carried out in two vertical tubes, 8 ft. high and consisting of 2-in. and 4-in. standard wrought-iron pipe, respectively. Each tube was equipped with a water jacket, which could be kept virtually isothermal ( ± 1.0ºF.). A diagrammatic sketch of the 4-in. tube and its auxiliaries is shown in Fig. 1. At 6 in. above the base of the tube, and at every foot above this point, core nipples were inserted through the water jacket. These nipples were closely fitted with steel-plug inserts during each drainage run. At the end of the run, these inserts were removed so that cores could be obtained from the sand-packed tube.

Jan 1, 1943

INTRODUCTION TO MINERAL INVENTORY The first explanations to be made must answer the questions: What is a mineral inventory, and how is a mineral inventory different from an ore reserve? The term mineral inventory is a relatively new designation-born of the computer age and grown to common usage with the development of computer techniques for extending drill-hole sample values to regularly gridded data blocks representing in situ mineral values. The term has been generally accepted by geologists and engineers because it has a precise meaning which avoids many of the ambiguities of ore reserve. A mineral inventory is an estimated inventory of mineral in place and is usually achieved by dividing the deposit into regularly spaced gridded blocks to which are assigned estimated values using various extension techniques. A mineral inventory makes no presumptions about the mineability of the blocks or their cutoff grade. Such parameters are implied with the use of the term ore reserve. Ore has a specific definition (see Chapter 1) and ore reserve must reflect that definition and thus has economic and mining constraints. An ore reserve will be different under different economic and mining conditions and is subject to reclassification by many factors. The term mineral inventory avoids all such ambiguities. A mineral inventory estimate may be good or poor according to how much is known about the deposit, how extensively it has been sampled, and what techniques have been employed to assign estimated grade to the blocks. Such an inventory, however, does not change with time, economic conditions, or mining technology, but only with new and better data and methods. Thus, the mineral inventory is an excellent designation for describing mineral value distribution within a deposit&apos;s geological setting. The techniques for assigning values and tonnage to mineral blocks or panels are the subjects of this chapter. Whether a summation of the blocks be called a mineral inventory or mineral reserve is not important. Many conventional methods for computing reserves of minerals refer to the methods in terms of ore reserve calculations. OBJECTIVES OF MINERAL INVENTORY OR RESERVES Mineral inventories are computed for the purpose of determining the quantity, the quality or value, and the spatial distribution of potentially economic minerals within the earth. Such computations are made at all stages in the life of a mineral extraction process, from the early exploration phase to the final year in the life of a mine. To quote Popoff (1966, p. 2), "They are the most responsible and irreplaceable tasks in the valuation of a mineral deposit. Efficiency in extraction and productiveness is impossible without accurate reserve computations." The accuracy of estimate required for each of the three parameters of quantity, value, and location is dependent upon the objective for which the reserve estimate is being made. Again quoting Popoff (1966, p. 2): Reserves are computed to determine the extent of exploration and development; distribution of values; annual output; probable and possible productive life of the mine; method of extraction and plan design; improvements in extraction, treatment, and processing; and requirements for capital, equipment, labor, power, and materials. Such computations are used to assist development

Jan 1, 1980