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By W. R. Ingalls

In choosing the unusual title given to this paper, in which the term "cyclic " might be substituted for "intermittent," my idea has been simply in respect of precision. We might say old method vs. new method, but that antithesis implies something of substitution that has not occurred and perhaps is not in sight. We may say horizontal retorts vs. vertical, but none of the older retorts are truly horizontal, and there are three different types of vertical retorts. Other complexities might be suggested. There is, however, a broad distinction between distilling that is accomplished in a periodic cycle, generally daily; and distilling that is accomplished continuously, irrespective of whether it be done in the vertical retorts of the New Jersey process or in the retorts of the Trollhät-tan process. In offering a summary of the present state of the art with the intermittent process, I shall not have any idea of exemplifying it through descriptions of any single plants, but shall rather divide among the main steps of the process and outline what is best developed among them. In pursuing this thought, it will manifestly be impossible to make a composition that will exemplify the acme of good practice, for the latter will always be a function of the cost of labor, fuel, etc., which are widely variable. As of 1929, in respect of labor we might generalize the average plant wage in the Pittsburgh-Wheeling district of the United States at $5 per day; in Oklahoma at $3; in Great Britain at $3; in Germany at $1.75-$2; in Belgium and France at $1. With high labor costs the metallurgist will naturally use means of the nature of mechanization that with low labor would be uneconomical when capital charges are taken into account. Nor may we from records of performance safely make positive deductions in respect of the efficiency of different types of furnaces unless they have been tested comparatively under identical conditions in the same works. We shall find gas-fired regenerative furnaces showing coal consumption from 1.2 tons down to 0.7 per ton of roasted ore, which may be ascribable to difference in the thermal value of the coal that is used or to differences in proportions of the parts of the furnace, which is something quite distinct from the principle of the furnace. Thus, we have

Jan 1, 1937

By Frederick M. Becket

SHORTLY after the Armistice there appeared a few references to numerous attempts that had been made to produce steel without the aid of manganese, or at least with manganese in abnormally low percentage. Some years later, during two consecutive days of train travel, I had excellent opportunity to read Sir Robert Hadfield's book, entitled "Metallurgy-Its Influence on Modern Progress," and also his paper, "The Metal Manganese and Its Properties : Also the Production of Ferro-Manganese and Its History," presented at the spring meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute, 1927. Both the book and the paper are most interesting historically to makers of alloy steels and

Jan 1, 1931

By R. B. Roof, J. J. Lombardo

DURING the course of investigations on U-Cb alloys by X-ray diffraction techniques, an impurity or an additional phase was observed in severa1 alloys of various compositions. The X-ray dif-

Jan 1, 1959

Eckley B. Coxe, Drifton, Pa.: Anthracite coal differs from other fuels in its greater solidity. It does not burn like coke or wood, or like bituminous and coking coals, which become more or less spongy when heated, so that combustion can take place to some

Jan 1, 1892

By Robert R. French

Beneficiation of low-grade nonmetalliferous mineral deposits by electronic color sorting is currently undergoing a period of rapid development. For those deposits in which the specific gravity, strength, soundness, and electric and magnetic properties of the ore and gangue are similar, the possibility of separation by color, reflectivity, or fluorescence offers hope for the utilization of much poorer quality ore than previously thought possible. For those ores in which consistency of color is required or for which a dry process is preferred, the electronic color sorter is particularly adaptable. Tests performed late in 1966 and reported herein are the result of continued interest in the dry beneficiation of gypsum and the development of higher capacity color-sorting machines. These tests should be considered only as an indication of the efficiency of the process and only with respect to the low-grade, untreated ore tested. Although most of the ore mined in Martin County, Ind., is of acceptable quality, a few thin carbonate strata and irregular nodules of dolomite and limestone are present within the main evaporite bed (Fig. 1).

Jan 1, 1969

T.B.King (Depaytment of Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)— A valuable contribution of the authors is in the factual information which they have been able to gather; this type of information is quite difficult to obtain. In many respects, however, it would have been better if they had not subsequently embarked on a discussion of the chemistry of the converter process. It seems inconceivable that the authors do not refer to the papers of Schuhmann and his associates14 which have set the thermodynamic foundation for the whole copper smelting operation. In addition, a very useful review on the physical chemistry of copper smelting by Ruddle 5 appeared as long ago as 1953. An examination of this literature would have convinced the authors that there is no cause to be surprised at a correlation between the magnetic content and the silica content of converter slags, though they rightly point out that one should distinguish between the total magnetite content of the slag and the amount of magnetite which may be considered to be in solution. It is not true that the lowest melting converter slag is that corresponding to the eutectic between ferrous oxide and silica. The simplest slag system which can be considered is a three-component system, since both ferric and ferrous iron are present. As Schuhmann, Powell, and Michal have shown, there are lower melting compositions than this eutectic in the ternary system. The most unfortunate impression given by this paper is that the driving force for chemical reaction is determined by the heat of reaction: of course the entropy change must be taken into account. It would have been more correct to list, in Table VI, values for free energies of formation. Nor can it be said that the data in Table VI represent the "best available data." They do not corregtond with any of the recent, acknowledged sources. F. E. Lathe and L. Hodnett(author's reply)— We are pleased that Dr. King finds the factual information in our uawer of some interest. Dr. King suggests that it would have been better if our analysis and discussion of the data had been omitted, largely because our list of references is so. incomplete. If he will carefully read our introduction, he will see that the questionnaire was sent out in the hope of obtaining data which would throw light on certain questions relating to the use of converter refractories. We did not attempt (nor would the AIME have published!) a complete review of the literature on copper converting, as Dr. King has apparently assumed, nor indeed a complete analysis of the data submitted, but tried only to find a sound basis for the choice of refractories, taking into consideration common variations in converter practice. We hope our paper indicates that, by raising the silica content of the converter slag and operating at a higher temperature, the normal circulating load of magnetite can be greatly reduced, and the whole reverberatory-converter operation improved to a major degree, with resultant important savings. Under such operating conditions, chrome-magnesite brick may be expected to stand up better than those of straight magnesite. Regardless of the choice as between these brick types, however, we find the cost of converter refractories to be so low in comparison with other converter costs as to justify operation under the more severe conditions suggested. Valuable as are the papers by Schuhmann and associates and the book by Ruddle, we make no apology for omitting reference to them, nor for using heats of reaction without mention of entropy changes or free energies of formation. Our primary object was to interest the practicing copper metallurgist, with whose language we may claim to be fairly familiar; we think it would have been unwise to include the highly theoretical phases of the subject which Dr. King suggests. The interest shown in our preliminary paper presented at the New York meeting in 1956, and the trends in practice whtat we have observed since that time, suggest that we did not wholly miss the target. In conclusion, we sincerely hope that Professors King and Schuhmann will independently review the data obtained in our questionnaire and submit a paper giving their own recommendations as to the choice of refractories and the particular converter operating conditions which will result in the lowest overall cost of copper smelting and converting.

Jan 1, 1960

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 AIME AIME

I would like to ask Bob Merrill whether he considers that horizontal concave curvature of a slope has any stabilizing effect, such as Jenike 1 suggested several years ago. The stabilizing effect is due to the restraint offered to radial movement by the curvature. We found in laboratory tests that if we constrained the rock with the same stresses as those measured in the pit then it would sustain a maximum stress about two or four times greater than when the same rock type was unconstrained. We are therefore definitely of the opinion that a constrained situation in a slope is favorable towards stability.

Jan 1, 1967

By Spurr

CONTENTS. [ ]

Jan 1, 1913

By H. W. Fox, M. R. Achter

IN a previous study of the effect of atmosphere on creep-rupture properties,' it was shown that the relative strength of nickel in air and in vacuum may be reversed by a change in either stress or temperature, Fig. 1. At low stresses and high temperatures the metal is stronger in air but stronger in vacuum at high stresses and low temperatures. A mechanism to explain this reversal was proposed involving two competing processes; oxidation strengthens the metal while adsorption of gas lowers the surface energy, relative to that in vacuum, and reduces the work required to propagate a crack. The process which controls is determined by stress and temperature. In a number of private communications, however, the objection has been made that even in the vacuum of objection mm of Hg used in this study, the surface of a

Jan 1, 1960

By V. C. Rogers

ALTHOUGH surveying at mining properties is fundamentally the same regardless of the method of mining, at Climax, due to the nature of the ground, the policy of advance development work, and extremes in climatic conditions, surveying practice has had to be revised to meet the specialized conditions of this particular type of mining operation. The company's mine is one of the largest underground properties in the United States. It has proved ore reserves of 275,000,000 tons, 60,000,000 tons of which have been broken. To date, 109,000 ft. of development drifting have been driven, as well as 40,926 ft. of development raising, 10,000 ft. of ventilation drifting and raising, 16,000 ft. of exploration drifting, and 206,000 ft. of diamond drilling. Normal production varies between 1.2,000 and 15,000 tons daily. Development work proceeds at a rate of 11/2 tons developed for every ton milled and with a development of 18,000 to 20,000 tons per day, the following crew is required to take care of mine and surface engineering

Jan 1, 1946

By John D. Ridge, Robert C. Barwick

The quantities and destinations of the metallic ores and concentrates and partially or fully refined metals in international trade result from the interaction of many factors, of which geographic location is only one. How far the processes of concentration and refining are to be carried in the country in which the mining is done and what dictates the destinations to which the more or less completely processed raw materials will move are determined not only by present-day geologic, political, and economic conditions, but also by the patterns set up by these same conditions as they obtained in the past. The first generalization that can be made regarding trade in metal raw materials-one that affects the form in which the material is transported, rather than the patterns followed by that trade-is that concentration is carried out for all low grade ores, nonferrous or ferrous, in the country in which they originate. (Rule 1.) Economic considerations alone almost always require that this be done; only high grade iron, manganese, and chromite ores can be shipped as they are mined.

Jul 1, 1955

Jan 1, 1920

By J. E. Tobey

BECAUSE of the wide-spread publicity given to Nylon yarn as being made from ?coal, air, and water,? the general public has become conscious of the nonfuel uses of bituminous coal. Some of these uses are as filler for fertilizer, carbon for the absorption of orders, for water supply, and for the bedding of cattle. Spectacular as are these accomplishments the fact is that only a small amount of coal is used for nonfuel purposes. It is on the utilization of coal as fuel that the industry depends. Practically all the coal mines for years to come will be used for making coke for the generation of heat. Recently much attention has been paid to the significance of ash in coal. Another study worthy the interest of metallurgists in the iron and steel industries if that of Dr, Lowry of the Carnegie Institute of Technology relative to the percentage of sulphur in coal and coke.

Jan 1, 1941

By George S. Rice

DEFINITE data on the amplitude and effect of ground movement in specific mineral formations, caused by various methods used in the mining of ores, coal, and nonmetals, or in the extraction through wells of petroleum, sulphur, and soluble salts, are increasingly needed because of legal liabilities from damage to overlying or adjacent properties, and growing concern as to the conservation of national mineral resources. Not since the committee was established in 1923 has it been so difficult to get technical papers giving ground movement and subsidence data from specific mine operators. The reasons given, as above indicated, are pending or threatening lawsuits. There are three major objectives in ground movement and subsidence studies : (1) Maximum recovery of a mineral resource. (2) Minimizing damage to surface structures, highways, railroads, and agricultural lands caused by caving or subsidence, which may in some situations, as along the Gulf of Mexico shore, cause flooding by surface waters. (3) Lessening damage to overlying or adjacent mineral by back-filling of mine excavations as completely as possible.

Jan 1, 1940

By Arthur Taggart

FOREWORD THE tests herein described are part of an extended series of experiments, performed by the authors together with J. F. McClelland and L. W. Bahney, on the reclamation of metallics from foundry and manufacturing-plant scrap. The most obstinate problem encountered was the proper cleaning of the metal. INTRODUCTION In the manufacture of brass and brass products the weight of the finished product leaving the plant is much less than the total weight of copper and zinc entering. A small part of this discrepancy is due to the unavoidable oxidation of the metals in melting, but by far the largest part of the loss is in the form of metallic particles of copper, zinc, and brass. These losses occur principally at three points in the process: (a) in the casting-shop ashes; (b) in the slags from furnaces melting scrap brass; (c) in material spilled on the floor throughout the manufacturing process. The amount of these products in some plants is nearly 100 tons per 24 hours. Casting-shop ashes contain the metal spilled from the crucibles during melting and pouring, and the metal included in the slags formed in the melting process. The ashes also contain pieces of broken crucibles with adhering metal; 20 to 30 per cent. of unburned coal is also present. The metal in casting-shop ashes contains clean pieces of zinc or copper ingots weighing 1 to 2 lb., jagged pieces of metal of all shapes ranging in size from several inches down to the finest dust, and shot and botryoidal shapes ranging in size from 2 or 3 in. down to 0.01 mm. or less in diameter. Slags from furnaces melting scrap brass contain metal in the form of small shot.

Jan 2, 1916

[Indexes to Vols. 1-35, 36-55, 56-72, 73-117 (set of 4 Indexes). DIVISIONAL TRANSACTIONS AND SPECIAL EDITIONS Coal Division Volume, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946. Institute of Metals Division Volume, one each year 1927-1946. Iron and Steel Division Volume, one each year 1928-1946. Metal Mining, Nonmetallic Minerals and Mining Geology Volumes, 1934, 1935 (Out of print), 1937, 1940,* 1941, 1943.ø]

Jan 1, 1946

By AIME AIME

NEW YORKERS look forward to the third week of February as the time of the year when they can count on seeing their friends-from far and near gathered in the city for the four-day annual session of the Institute.., Indeed, the metropolitan district is so large that in engineer who lives in New, Jersey and has his office on the lower end of Manhattan island may easily pass a whole year without seeing an acquaintance who lives in Westchester and has an office near Forty-second Street. If the Institute served no other function than to provide a place where friendship may be renewed, ideas exchanged, and new acquaintances made it would still be worth while. But when about 30 technical sessions at which about 160 papers are read and discussed are compressed into four days the annual meeting is also entitled to high rank as an intensive course of post-graduate instruction in the newest development in mining and metallurgical technology. Last, but not least, it is the occasion of a good time for one and all, even if they do get more than a little behind on sleep before the end of the fourth day. Nine o'clock is the time set on Monday morning for the beginning of registration, but a half-hour before that a number have always 'put in an appearance, and this is fortunate, because by 10 o'clock four sessions had begun, those on mining methods, geophysics, a round table on the valuation of coal, and the session of the Local Section delegates. Three committees of the A. S. T. M. were also in simultaneous session, so the meeting may be fairly said to have started "in high."

Jan 1, 1931

By Charles H. Fulton

FOR some time it has been thought that there should be > closer relationship between the members' of the Institute engaged in education in the mining schools, the mining, metallurgical, ceramic, and geological departments of universities, and the members of the Institute actually engaged in the production of mineral products and the operation and direction of works. The American Society of Chemical Engineers and the American Ceramic Society have for some years past devoted especial attention to the educational matters of their respective fields. The Engineering Foundation, representing the great engineering societies of the country, is deeply interested in technical education and maintains a Committee on Educational Research.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. O. Williams

Measurements have been made of the internal energy of deformation in a Cu-A1 alloy and a Cu-Zn alloy as the deference between the work and the released heat. The method required the rapid compression of samples to reduce thermal interactions. The rate of energy storage is low initially but then becomes almost linear with strain. Both alloys stored about 60 cal per mole at a strain of 0.4 in the recrystallized condition. The fractional rate of storage increases at low strains reaching about 0.25 at a strain of 0.15 and then decreases slowly with increasing strains. As do pure metals, these alloys release appreciable energy immediately following deformation; in contrast with pure metals, however, the release continued for extended periods of time. This energy release is somewhat sensitive to the amount of deformation, the deformation temperature, and prior thermal & eatment. It is believed that this release is a composite of that observed in pure metals which has been attributed to dislocations and that due to the motion of vacancies which produces increased short-range order. IT is expected that changes brought about by deformation of a pure metal can be understood in terms of the three defects—dislocations, vacancies, and interstitials—along with the interactions possible between these defects. Frequently stacking faults are created and must also be considered. 1t is not immediately clear whether or not the stress fields which are created should be regarded as independent of dislocations. For alloys there is the important additional effect of atomic configuration, for example short-range order, which must also be considered and will, in general, interact with each of the above defects. While it is true that a complete understanding of pure metals is not yet possible, it would seem very valuable to establish the similarities and differences between pure metals and alloys. Such knowledge could contribute to the understanding of both. A study of the changes in internal energy resulting from deformation of two alloys is reported here. Although some information has been available for alloys almost as long as for pure metals, the volume of work has been substantially less. Sato' and Quinney and Taylor' were responsible for the earlier work, both using brass and annealing calorimetry. tizhnova' studied stored energy in Cu-Ni alloys by a method somewhat similar to the one reported here. Bever and his co-workers have made extensive studies of Au-Ag alloys4'5 and more recently CU-AU'U' using solution calorimetry. Clarebrough et a1.' have recently studied brass using annealing calorimetry. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The present results were obtained by the rapid, adiabatic compression of a sample about 1/4 in, diam by 1/2 in. long between two tungsten carbide hammers. A vacuum provided thermal isolation and oil provided effective lubrication between the sample and hammers. The increase in internal energy is the difference between the mechanical energy and the heat liberated within the sample. The mechanical energy was determined from the velocity of the hammers (calculated from the height through which the hammers traveled) and was essentially constant for each deformation cycle. The heat was determined from the temperature increase of the sample which was measured by an embedded thermocouple. Specific heat data were calculated from Neumann's rule using tabulated data for pure metals.9 Since the fraction of the energy which is stored is large compared to that for pure metals, specific heat data of high accuracy are not required. Successive increments of deformation were carried out by repeating the procedure, the limit being determined mostly by the decreasing accuracy caused by the increasing corrections and the decreasing storage of energy. About five cycles were used to give a true strain of about 0.5 while the time interval between cycles was 1 to 2hr.

Jan 1, 1963