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By John G. Hall

The pumping operations at the Chief mine have been unique in the respect that for many years the entire flow of water into the mine has been disposed of by pumping into natural underground "caverns" or "sinks." Volumes up to 4000 gpm have been pumped into these caverns with no apparent tendency for the caverns to fill with water, and it has never been proven that any of the water returns to the mine workings. Major pumping operations have been carried on during two periods, the first from 1918 to 1927, and the second from 1942 to the present time. Early Pumping Operations CHIEF MINE The Chief Consolidated Mining Co. was organized in 1909, and for the following nine years ore was developed and mined from the 600 level down to the 1800 level, all above the permanent water table, the 1820 level. The ore occurs as extremely-irregular pipes of replacement ore in limestone, and to date a total of approximately 2 1/2 million tons of ore has been produced. The ore was highly oxidized down to the permanent water level, and some highly-oxidized ore runs occur beneath the permanent water table. In 1916, with extensive mining being done on the 1800 level, 20 ft above the water table, there were indications that a zone of secondary enrichment might exist below the water, and in order to follow the ore runs to greater depth, it was realized that arrangements would have to be Made to pump water to the surface. The original pumping installation was designed to pump 350 gpm in five stages against a 1900-ft head to the surface. By January 1919, the water had been lowered to the 1900 level and an excellent grade of silver-lead ore was being produced from the zone of secondary enrichment. At this point. the flow of water equalled the capacity of the pumps, and pumps of an additional 1000 gpln were installed to supplement the original system. By January 1920, the water had been lowered approximately 100 ft, and the total flow of water was 1000 gpm. The water was being pumped from many different places in the mine where ore was being followed downward, with 27 different pumps operating below the 1800 level, mainly Cameron air-driven sinker pumps. These first sinking pumps were cumbersome and inefficient, and each of the larger pumps weighed approximately three tons and required tremeridous volumes of compressed air. During this period, an exploration drift being extended north and west from the Chief shaft on the 1600 level encountered a large natural cavern some 2000 ft from the shaft. This cavern in places measured 60 ft in diameter. Sometime later the disposing of water into this cavern was suggested, and as an experiment to determine the results of such an operation, an attempt was Made to fill the cavern by pumping in a small volume of water, but the water disappeared as fast as it was discharged into the cavern. It was decided then to try the cavern as a drainage outlet for the entire volume of water being pumped to the surface, and the water apparently did not return to the mine workings. Subsequently water up to 3000 gpm was pumped into this cavern. An attempt was made to determine whether any water was being returned from the cavern to the lower workings, and 100 lb of sodium fluorescein salt was added to the water discharged into the cavern, but no trace of it was found in the drainage water in the mine. Results of another such test will be described later.

Jan 1, 1950

By Shozo Saito, P. A. Beck

Mettrllographic and X-ray diffraction study of Cb-Co alloys in the Composition range of 7 to 33 nt. pct Cb, after annealing at 1175 °', showed that near 25 al. pct Cb on MgNi,-lype hexagonal Laves Phaseexists in a narrow composition range, and that an MgCl- type cubic Laves Phase occurs between approximately 27 and 32.6 ut. pd Cb. Lattice parameter and density measures indicated that, in both phases. the deviations from proper Loves sloichimetry result from the substitution of cobalt atoms for some 0f the columbium atoms. Tlle same phases occurant 1000'C, together with an additional phase of unknown structure, which appears between the hexagonal Laves phase and the cobalt-bose terminal solid solutions KOSTER and Schmid' identified a phase corresponding to the composition VCo,, and more recently the crystal structure of this phase has been determined.' In the Ta-Co system Korchynsky and Fountain recently found two intermediate phases at the composition Taco,, one of them metastable. In contrast to the V-Co and the Ta-Co systems, in the Cb-Co system no intermediate phase has been found4 at the composition CbCo,. The present investigation was undertaken in order to reexamine the question of the existence of such a phase. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Twelve alloys were prepared by arc-melting in a water-cooled copper crucible under helium atmosphere. Electrolytic cobalt and 99.9 pct pure colum-bium powder have been used as starting materials. It was found that melting losses can be reduced by compressing the colunlbium powder in the form of thin pellets before melting. For the alloys used the melting losses were not higher than 1 pct. The intended compositions of all alloys and the chemical analyses of three of them are given in Table I. Specimens from all alloys were annealed in evac- uated fused silica tubes at 1175°C for 3 days and quenched in cold water. A second set of specimens of most alloys was annealed at 1000°C for 7 days and then quenched in cold water. The annealed and quenched specimens were examined metallographically, using the following etchant: 60 pct glycerine +20 pct H,NO, + 10 pct HF + 10 pct water. Powder specimens for X-ray diffraction were prepared by crushing annealed solid specimens in a mortar. Alloys containing 27.3, 28, 29.7, and 32.6 at. pct Cb annealed at either 1175" or 1000°C were very brittle and it was found unnecessary to reanneal the powders. However, alloys containing 24.8 at. pct Cb, or less, especially those annealed at 1000°C, were much less brittle and re-annealing was required to remove the strains present in the crushed powders. In each case reannealing was done at the same temperature at which the corresponding solid specimens were annealed and it, too, was followed by quenching in cold water. In many instances X-ray diffraction patterns were also taken of the polished and etched solid specimens and compared with the corresponding X-ray diffraction patterns obtained with powders. The X-ray diffraction patterns were taken with an asymmetrical focusing camera, using CrK radiation. For precision lattice parameter measurements some X-ray diffraction patterns were taken with a symmetrical focusing camera, again using CrK radiation. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS A microscopic examination of the alloys annealed at 1175°C revealed that the alloy containing 25.5 at. pct Cb was composed of a single phase, but that the 24.8 at. pct Cb alloy did contain a small amount of a second phase, identified by means of X-ray diffraction as having a fcc structure, undoubtedly the terminal solid solution based on cobalt. Apart from the few very weak lines corresponding to this minor phase, the X-ray diffraction patterns of these alloys could be well interpreted in terms of a MgNi,-type hexagonal Laves phase structure. The indexing of the X-ray diffraction pattern, Table 11, yas based on the lattice parameter values a, = 4.740A and c,

Jan 1, 1961

By H. A. Hoffman

Competition from an all-flotation plant, with demonstrated economies and efficiencies, plus a change in smelting contract and introduction of improved cyclones lead to conversion from gravity-flotation. Detailed descriptions are given of equipment installed and procedures used at St. Joseph Lead's Federal mill. Future plans include further quality control by instrumentation in all aspects of the mill operation. Also planned are improvements in materials handling systems. Competitive conditions will continue to dictate improvements and changes in the mill flowsheet. The advent of all-flotation mills in the Lead Belt was introduced by the Indian Creek mill in late 1953. This modern and efficient plant then became a pattern for the other mills in this area to re-evaluate their circuits in an effort to develop flowsheets that would improve operating conditions and metallurgy. The Indian Creek mill demonstrated that all-flotation would require considerably less operating and maintenance labor than the combination of tabling and flotation that was common in the Lead Belt at that time. Two significant changes occurred in recent years to allow all-flotation to be seriously considered in other Lead Belt mills. One was a change in the smelting contract which did not require gravity concentrate. Another was the development of cyclones which provided classification of the flotation feed in a very small space. Since the Federal mill was the largest concentrating plant in the Lead Belt it was felt that the greatest savings could be made by investigating the all-flotation possibilities at this mill. Interest was stimulated by the milling and ore dressing Depts. to determine if this mill would be converted without undue cost, provided the metallurgy could be improved. Accordingly, laboratory tests were initiated to learn what metallurgical benefit could be derived. Numerous tests were run which indicated that grinding to all-flotation would improve the tailing by as much as 0.02 pct Pb. This was quite significant when multiplied by the tonnage of ore treated. Projecting the added cost of power for extra grinding and flotation, and the additional flotation reagents required, plus additional new equipment that would have to be purchased, it would still add up to a considerable saving. The all-flotation mill would reduce man power by some 30 pct, and make a metallurgical improvement. Operating costs could be reduced bv 2$ per ton. The metallurgical improvement would amount to 4$ per ton, for a total of 6$ per ton of ore milled. An estimate of the cost of the conversion was set at $250,000. With the savings as estimated this could be paid off in about two years. On paper it therefore seemed attractive enough to justify a mill test. MILL TESTING One section of the Federal mill was made available for use as a separate test circuit. Cyclones and density controllers were borrowed from the Viburnum and Indian Creek mills. Denver flotation cells were obtained from the Desloge mill that was then shut down. Two 10-cell groups of Fagergren flotation machines, consisting of eight roughers and two cleaners in each bank, were segregated from the remainder of the plant. The 9x12-ft rod mill was continued as a primary grinding mill. The two 6%x12-ft mills on this section were converted from rods to balls, and the speed increased to 22.0 rpm. Cyclones were installed to close the circuit of these ball mills. The ground pulp from each of the ball mills was fed separately to its own bank of flotation cells so that two completely separated test circuits could be run in parallel. This test circuit operated on a three-shift basis from Dec. 22, 1959 to Mar. 21, 1960. The first few weeks were occupied in developing conditions for proper metallurgy and trouble-free operations. Results were rather erratic but as the ore dressing laboratory and the mill operators became more familiar with conditions they were able to obtain expected results, which could be duplicated day after day. The last five weeks of testing indicated the best results and are tabulated in Table I. During the first two weeks a Denver unit cell was used on No. 1 flotation circuit. Even though it recovered almost one half of

Jan 1, 1962

IN addition to the gold and silver that b drawn, a certain kind is also prepared that is called spun; not that it is spun as the word says, but because a linen thread is covered with it so that it seems a spun thing, and it is called spun silver or gold. To make this, a desired quantity of fine cupeled silver is taken-the batch used is customarily [I4I] fifteen pounds. A square bar is made with this, a braccio or more long. Then the quantity of gold that you wish to put on is taken, that is, a ducat for every pound, and of this another bar is made, sufficiently thin, long, and wide exactly to cover on one side the

Jan 1, 1942

LEAD and tin mixed together make an alloy through an attachment of natural affinity which they have with each other, so that when they are mixed it is difficult to recognize by the sight which one it is, if the essences of their qualities are not surpassed by more than half. If, indeed, one can be recognized, it is the tin which gives off a certain sharp odor to the sense of smell, besides having a greater hardness and whiteness. The best of these is the one that is the purest in its kind. In the alloy of tin it is the one that is the whitest and hardest, or, when it is bent or some thin end of it is held tightly by the teeth, is heard to crackle as frozen water does. Because this happens more with this than with other metals, I do not wish now to inquire into it. It is enough that it be a sign for recognizing when tin is pure or mixed. Pewterers say that it should be joined in alloy with lead and that it is better for working when it contains four or six pounds to the hundred because it makes it softer to the hammer and more fluid in casting. But I do not like to hear this, even if all they say is true, for I see that the tin that comes from England, when worked as well as in cakes that show it to be pure, is much more beautiful and better in all works than is that made in Venice. And I believe that it is not better for any work when mixed than when pure, except for the advantage of the master who, if he does nothing else, sells lead that is worth little for tin that is worth much. I find that when mixed it serves in only two things. One is when it is wished to make a solder for copper, for use when it is not worth while to solder the bottoms and large pieces of vessels with low-grade silver as should be done. The other is when master potters calcine it in order to make glazes and to apply white to their vases. I consider lead to be useless in all other works of any kind of metal, since it unites with none of the other metals of good company except tin.

Jan 1, 1942

By K. S. Milliken

NORMAN W. Lord&apos; has shown that the resultant impurity distribution after n zone passes is given by in the ingot section OSa<N—n, where a is the displacement in zone lengths, N is the ingot length in zone lengths, C,, is the initial uniform impurity concentration, k is the segregation constant = Ceoll C,,,,,,,, at equilibrium, and The foregoing expression is formidable in respect to computational labor. However, the triple sum can be reduced as follows is better if computing for only a single value of n. For k<l, it can be shown that this last equation is equivalent to The infinite series is useful only when k is small enough to force rapid convergence. In such cases, the absence of subtraction from unity has the definite advantage of preserving accuracy. Acknowledgments It is a pleasure to acknowledge stimulating correspondence with Dr. Howard Reiss of Bell Telephone Laboratories Inc. This note is published by permis-sion of the Deputy Minister, Dept. of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa, Ont., Canada.

Jan 1, 1956

By C. D. Demond

IN reverberatory smelting, fuel is the chief item of expense, as it commonly is in processes using large percentages of it. Hence the most suitable supply is eagerly sought; that is, the supply which, in the end, yields the greatest net profit. The better grades are not infrequently bought, even at an advanced price, because they are apt to be decidedly more economical. High price, of itself, however, is no merit, for freight is generally the largest part of the cost of fuel, and the nearby supply may yield as high efficiency as that from a greater distance. If a poorer grade is reasonably good, and if its cost is low enough to more than offset the decreased technical efficiency, it is of course the more suitable. Any smelting, operation depends for both efficiency and economy on raising the furnace atmosphere considerably above the "critical" temperature; that is, above the temperature at which smelting is completed. If this temperature is not exceeded, smelting stops, no matter how much coal is burned; and the real value of a fuel depends on the number of degrees that the temperature is continuously kept above this point. For example, if one fuel maintains 2,500° F. and another only 2,100° F., while the "critical" temperature is 2,000° F., the first is worth at least five times as much as the second, although the increase above atmospheric temperature is only one-fifth more in one case than in the other. This "margin of temperature" above the smelting point is much more significant than the total number of heat units developed from the fuel. The case is parallel to that of water flowing from a pipe. The reservoir may contain a billion gallons of water; but, even though the fluid has come to the nozzle, not a drop will run out, where it can be of practical use, unless the level in the reservoir is higher than the nozzle; and the speed and volume of flow depend on how much higher the level is in the reservoir than at this point. If the temperature inn a furnace is not above the critical level there will be no slag to flow over the skimming plate, even though there are enough heat units to bring an unlimited quantity of charge up to the point of slag formation; and just as the value of a water supply for the purpose of putting out a fire depends largely on the effective head, so the difficulties of furnace management

Jan 8, 1914

THIS method of melting with a little wind furnace is called by many melting with air. It is a method that is done with little labor. First a furnace is made with crucibles and charcoal. It is small or large as you wish, without blast from bellows, but not without a draft of air which proceeds from the place where it is made and from the arrangement of the furnace.* This, after a certain period of time, has the effect of melt- [ ] gin the thing in the quantity that you wish, provided, however, that you proportion it properly to the space, to the fire, and to the air which makes the wind. In order to make this, the aforesaid furnace is first made of bricks, or it is dug out of an elevation of stone or [106V] in a wall of clay. It can also be made portable with iron bars and loam as I shall tell you. However you may make it, you must place it in a spot that is windy, for instance, in some large room or opposite doors or windows. It is made round or square as is most pleasing to him who is to make it. But here we will now say that it is to be made square for greater convenience of building with bricks. Having chosen the place, make it a half

Jan 1, 1942

EVERY mould, of whatever kind it may be, must have an entrance appropriate to the material if it is wished to fill its inner space with bronze or other metal. It is likewise necessary that it have vents, that is, air holes, for there is nothing that is not full of air even though it be called empty. Now, molten bronze is a material that has an immediate effect because of its heaviness, and because it is as hot as fire or even hotter,

Jan 1, 1942

By C. E. Sims

THE carbon-oxygen reaction without doubt is the basic reaction in steelmaking. It is important on several counts: In the first place, carbon is the element that distinguishes steel from iron. It is the principal element controlling properties, and its control is of prime concern. Although the principal objective of the carbon-oxygen reaction is to oxidize excess carbon, the accompanying boil should not be underrated. The mechanical agitation, stirring, and mixing resulting from the boil are so useful in the distribution of heat and in promoting uniformity of composition in the bath that, were it not a natural accompaniment of the carbon-oxygen reaction, it is probable that something would have to be invented to replace it. The open-hearth operation, for example,, with the bath heated from above by radiation, would be impracticable without the carbon boil. The electric-arc furnace is somewhat less dependent on it, but every melter knows how much easier it is to gain temperature with minimum damage to refractories during the boil than with a dead bath. The motor action of the induced current of the induction furnace makes the carbon boil unnecessary but even there a severe oxidation has been found useful in giving greater freedom from porosity in certain steels. The quantitative aspects of the carbon-oxygen reaction have been given considerable attention by a large number of investigators, and the principles of physical chemistry have played an important part in these studies. Physical chemistry is the science of the mechanics and mathematics of chemical reactions. It is possible to study the mechanisms of reactions in a qualitative manner without reference to mathematics and thus obtain valuable concepts as to the manner in which the wheels go around. When it is desired to express quantitative relations in these reactions, however, resort to mathematics is not only convenient but necessary. Mathematics may also be regarded as the shorthand language of physical chemistry. A basic relation whose description requires numerous words may be expressed very simply by a mathematical formula or equation. A good example of this is the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction. Expressed verbally, it is: When a chemical reaction has reached a condition of equilibrium, the product of the concentration of the reacting substances on one side of the equation, divided by the product of the concentration of the reacting substances on the other side, gives a quotient that is a constant at constant temperature. For the carbon-oxygen reaction C + 0 [=] CO this is expressed simply as [ ] where K (from the German Konstant) is the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Although mathematics is such a necessary and useful tool, it is also a potential pitfall. Mathematics in itself is an abstract science, which is not inhibited by consideration of mechanisms or materials.

Jan 1, 1947

VITRIOL is likewise a mineral substance from whose exhalation, according to the opinion of some, are generated and produced the elemental materials or substances which produce metals, particularly gold. It is not a fumosity from metal nor is it a thing from which metal is extracted in any manner, although it shows in certain ways that it is not entirely without metal since it produces a certain trace of it. It is a thing that has a great resemblance to alum; it has a biting substance, is sharp to the taste and pungent to the tongue, and has an astringent nature. It dissolves in water and every damp place in a short time. They say that the reason for this lies, as with every other mineral, in its poorly joined watery substances. Nor does this mean that it does not contain much earthiness; on the contrary it seems to me that there are in it five. [2.9v] different participating qualities, that is, the property of sulphur, the action of alum, the corrosion of niter or of salt, and from the metals, the properties of copper and of iron. Its ore is mined in the valleys of mountains in wild but not too rugged places. It is more a gray earth or soft dead rock than a hard stone. It always has in it some yellow and green spots or near it is some sulphur mineral, either large or small.. When it is beneath the earth it exhales a sharp and very strong foul odor of scorching similar to that of sulphur. And the waters that rise where it is are all foul, earthy, and thick, some boiling with great fumes and others without great fumes, so that they surely appear to be infernal products in many places where there is a large quantity of it. After you have excavated and sorted well the quantity you wish, the ore must be put in a heap in open airy places before the vitriol can be extracted from this soil or ore, however you wish to call it. And it is left thus exposed to the weathering of the rains, the cold, and the sun for five or six months. It must be turned several times in order to bring to the surface that which was underneath; and always when this is done it is broken small with the eye of a mattock so that it is better heated and baked throughout. When it has been brought to this point it is covered over by a shed built above it or it is carried under a hut that has already been made. Here it is left to stand for another six or eight months before it is worked.

Jan 1, 1942

By Amos L. Beaty

The oil industry can prosper only if crude production is not excessive. This is true for several reasons. In the first place, the marketing branch of the business is so highly competitive that there is little room for profits in it. There are too many service stations, too many middle men or jobbers, too many refiners eager to press their products upon the market. And the battle is between the strong. If any money is being made in oil today it is by small marketers who buy products from the refining companies and sell on guaranteed margins. In the second place, refineries are overbuilt. There is a large surplus refining capacity. If refined stocks were drawn down they could and would be replenished in short time on short notice. This excessive refining capacity is not serious, however, if the supply of crude is limited to trade requirements. True, it may reflect upon the intelligence of the industry, but if there were a shortage of crude for a few years refining capacities would be readjusted. In the meantime no great harm could result from some idle capacity. It requires no computation to see that refiners could not produce surplus stocks of products from a short supply of crude. I have in mind, of course, the increased yields from cracking. Allowance must be made for that. Still, the picture is the same; less crude is required. I think we can have prosperity in the oil business if too much crude is not produced. A proper limit at this point would be felt all the way down the line. It would slow the refiner and slow the marketer inevitably. Once this constant pressure to make more and sell more is off, operations will be normal and there will be some return on investments. Peices in Relation to Production Potential production at this time is very large, and this condition has existed for many months. As a result the price of crude is low. It is below the average cost of production. Nevertheless, if restraints were withdrawn actual production would immediately increase and the situation would become even worse than it is now. Eventually, of course, the

Jan 1, 1932

By F. R. Hewitt

The methods of mining talc are simple, and in western North Carolina are almost entirely by open cut and quarry. The larger part of the talc of this section lies in various-sized "veins&apos;&apos;. inclosed in quartzitic walls, the majority of which have by folding been thrown into a perpendicular position, or nearly so, and the exposed edges of which have been covered by debris from erosion of the mountain above. This covering of loose rocks and earth is from 5 to 25 ft. thick, and in most cases has to be removed because it is difficult to support. Sometimes the covering is heavy enough to "catch" and timber successfully, and in this case the talc can be worked out by the usual method of following the "vein," using stulls for holding up the walk until the vein is worked out, and then allowing the cut or drift to fall in. In some cases it proves more convenient to sink shafts and run drifts, following the talc "veins" until exhausted. The talc deposits of this section are badly broken and faulted both laterally and perpendicularly, and in some cases are found many feet below the level of drainage, necessitating pumping at considerable expense. My own experience in mining talc has been that the chief point is to get a reliable "vein," and that then the mining is not as difficult, or any more so at least, than that of any common ore. If the "veins" are pure talc it is simple; if the talc is admixed with foreign matter, such as tre-molite in excess, or stains of iron or manganese, as is often the case, one had better abandon the deposit. Methods of Manufacture Talc, being a soft mineral, is not difficult to reduce to the condition desired by the trade. Powdered talc is admitted under low duty from France, Italy and Austria, and some is being imported from Asiatic points. Talc is usually ground and bolted in any simple reduction mill. That mined in this section is hand-sorted and the quality that will make good powdered talc is ground for use in the manufacture of talcum powder, cosmetics, etc., while all that is hard enough and has sufficient strength is used for crayons and blanks for gas burners and electrical work, being sawed into the shapes desired. The rest that is clean and pure is ground

Jan 1, 1917

By C. M. Young

Wherever salt is extracted from the ground as an artificial brine produced by pumping down fresh water to dissolve the salt, subsidence of the overburden is a possibility, though apparently few cases of such subsidence have been noted and detailed records are wanting. This description is intended as a record of subsidence that may permit the forcasting of similar occurrences in other cases; the data were supplied largely by R. B. Lee, city engineer of Hutchinson, Kans. About eleven years ago, ground movement occurred at a neighboring salt plant, when the surface assumed the form of a shallow funnel. Movement was probably due to a flow of sand into a well through a poor seal or a broken casing. The salt deposit increases in thickness from the east until at Hutchinson, where the subsidence occurred, it is about 310 ft. thick. The interbedded layers of shale vary in thickness from mere traces to about 7 ft. While knowledge of the shale content of the beds is not exact, the log of a shaft 3 miles east of Hutchinson indicates that shale forms about 25 per cent. of the total thickness. This shaft does not reach the bottom of the salt by about 60 ft., but there is no reason to think that the lower part of the bed is different from the upper. Logs of wells sunk to the bottom are not sufficiently detailed to be of much value. Above the salt is the shale of the well-known Red Beds. The thickness of this is variable, principally because of its eroded surface, but at the mine it is 340 ft. This shale is variable in character and strength, but contains no strong members of limestone or sandstone. If the support is removed, very probably it will subside. The Arkansas River flows across the salt district and Hutchinson is situated on the flood plain. Between the top soil, which is about 8 ft. thick, and the shale is 60 to 100 ft. of water-bearing sand and gravel. The process of removing salt, at least in the case of the earlier wells with which we are concerned, is as follows: An 8-in. hole is put down through the sand and gravel by means of a drive pipe, which is bedded in the shale. Prom the top of the shale, a 6411. hole is drilled through the shale, to, or nearly to, the bottom of the salt. Casing is put in to a depth of about 140 ft. to shut off a water-bearing layer in the shale.

Jan 1, 1927

By James R. Dunn

The purpose of this chapter is to review the uses of sand and gravel by the construction industry. The specific intention is to give tech¬nical people the general perspective and frame¬work which they need to help in making tech¬nical and business decisions. In the sand and gravel industry such decisions are based on an understanding of sociologic, economic, and technologic factors. In order to discuss the sand and gravel industry intelligently, it is necessary to define sand and gravel. "Sand" as most often used by industry is not sand in an engineering or geo¬logic sense but should be called "natural fine aggregate." The expression "fine aggregate" is preferable to "sand" because fine aggregate in¬cludes grain sizes which, according to engineer¬ing or geologic classifications, are defined as pebble or grit size. Natural fine aggregate is distinguished from manufactured fine aggregate in that the manufactured material is crushed and screened to produce the required sizes and natural fine aggregate is only screened. Coarse aggregate is generally defined as aggregate which will not pass a No. 4 or %o-in. sieve. Coarse aggregate may be natural (gravel) or manufactured (crushed stone, crushed gravel, slag, or coarse lightweight aggregate). Gravel is usually considered sufficiently crushed to qualify as manufactured coarse aggregate when two or more sides are broken. Sand and gravel (crushed or uncrushed) is used in asphaltic and portland cement concretes, is subbase for pavements, as fill where good drainage is needed (such as around structures), and for many other uses. About 96% of all he sand and gravel produced is used in construction.

Jan 1, 1975

AS I told you in the chapter on salts, saltpeter is a mixture composed of many substances extracted with fire- and water from arid and manurial soils, from that growth which exudes from new walls or from that loosened soil that is found in tombs or uninhabited caves where the rain cannot enter. It is my belief that it is engendered in these soils from an airy moisture that is drunk in and absorbed by the earthy dryness. Considering its effects, I do not know how to decide and say exactly what the nature of saltpeter is. The learned and very wise physicians find it salty and with a subtle sharpness both in taste and in their medical experiments. Considering its strong biting qualities, they decide to say that it is of a hot and dry nature; on the other hand when they see that it is engendered from the air and that when touched by fire it becomes inflammable and vaporous, and rises with a fearful impetus when mixed in powder for military guns, it manifestly shows itself to be of a hot and moist airy nature. And then when they see that it is shining and transparent with whiteness and is fusible in every fire in a manner corresponding to a thing of a watery nature, and since it. is heavy, it seems that it can be said to be watery in nature. To this is added the experience of touch and of the great cooling action which it has on water in summertime when wine is to be cooled, and since it crushes and breaks with but little pressure, it might be thought to be earthy in nature; especially when it is seen to change into a hard, white stone when burned with an equal amount of sulphur. Thus it seems that every one of the elemental qualities is predominant in it. Now the ancients called this, or a similar thing, nitrum. [150] Pliny, in Book XXXI of his Natural History, has said that it was a thing not much different from salt, that doctors do not seem to have yet known its nature, that it is found in various places, and that the best is found in Macedonia. But among the moderns and especially in our regions, it is not known today what it is that Pliny and other writers refer -to, since according to the aforesaid Pliny and other ancient writers it is a natural mineral. Some say that in place of, the natural kind the artificial will serve for the same medicinal purposes, since it has the same nature and is perhaps more powerful.

Jan 1, 1942

By John A. M. E. Church

AT the last meeting of the Institute, a discussion arose upon the question, " Is them pressure in coke ovens ?" and many of the members seemed to think that the superiority of the Belgian furnace might be due to the fact that it is a completely closed chamber, in which the gases given off by the coal are, or may be, at more than the atmospheric pressure. It seems to me that this position is untenable, and that an examination of one of these ovens in operation will show, not only that there is no excess of pressure in the coke chamber, but that the contrary is true, and a partial vacuum exists. The Belgian or François oven consists of a rectangular chamber closed at the ends by sliding doors, and furnished with flues in the side walls and floor. The new charge is introduced at a time when the furnace is so hot as to cause immediate and copious discharge of the volatile constituents of the coal. The gases pass downwards through the side flues giving out their heat to the walls and thus to the coal. Underneath the floor air is introduced and the gases burn, producing intense heat. Heat is also reflected from the arched roof upon the coal which is therefore heated from all sides. The especial advantage which this construction was designed to secure is that no air is admitted to the coke-chamber. All the heat is produced by the combustion of the uncokeable gases, and the yield ought to be a maximum. It is so in fact, allowing for the imperfections inseparable from furnace construction and management. Sometimes the yield is in excess of the percentage indicated by assay, showing that

Jan 1, 1873

By John A. Church

AT the last meeting of the Institute, a discussion arose upon the question, Is there pressure in coke ovens?" and many of the members seemed to think that the superiority of the Belgian furnace might be due to the fact that it is a completely closed chamber, in which the gases given off by the coal are, or may be, at more than the atmospheric reassure. It seems to me that this position is untenable, &apos;and that an examination of one of these ovens in operation will show, not only that there is no excess of pressure in the coke chamber, but that the contrary is true, and a partial vacuum exists. The Belgian or Francoise oven consists of a rectangular chamber closed at the ends by sliding doors, and furnished with flues in the side walls and floor. The new charge is introduced at a time when the furnace is so hot as to cause immediate and copious discharge of the volatile constituents of the coal. The gases pass downwards through the side flues giving out their heat to the walls and thus to the coal. Underneath the floor air is introduced and the gases burn, producing intense heat. Heat is also reflected from the arched roof upon the coal which is therefore heated from all sides. The especial advantage which this construction was designed to secure is that no air is admitted to the coke-chamber. All the heat is produced by the combustion of the unsociable gases, and the yield ought to be a maximum. I t is so in fact, allowing for the imperfections inseparable from furnace construction and management. Sometimes the yield is in excess of the percentage indicated by assay, showing that

By J. Parke Channing

THE caving system of mining is that method of removing the ore from an underground body in which the top is first attacked and mined out and the capping, or roof, as the case may be, is allowed to fall in or "cave" and fill the space formerly occupied by the mined ore. It is applicable, generally, to large orebodies where the ore is relatively soft. We may say, within moderate limits, that when ore is removed the surrounding ground either caves in or remains open. For example, in mines like the Lake Superior amygda-loid copper mines, when the lode is removed there is left a void which remains open for many years; on the con-trary, mining a Lake Superior soft hematite ore, however carefully it may be done, always produces a caving of the surrounding rocks. We may say, with propriety, therefore, that the caving system is applicable to that type of ore deposit in which the surrounding rock readily caves. Another factor which governs the use of the caving system is the value of the ore itself. Admittedly, any form of caving will not extract 100 per cent. of the ore, and in the case of a very rich orebody it is often desirable to get out every pound of the ore with as little dilution as possible. Under these conditions, some other method of mining, such as that by square sets and filling, is indicated and should be followed. We may say, however, that, looking at it broadly, in the United States the caving system of mining is generally used for the removal of soft hematite and for the so-called "porphyry" coppers. In both cases this method is used where open-pit mining is not possible.

Jan 1, 1922

By Ralph Arnold

WHILE much geological work and drilling have been done in Venezuela, the incompleteness of geological evidence obtainable and the restricted areas in which drilling has been done make any estimates of oil resources extremely speculative. Nevertheless, it is felt that the data given are justified, in the belief that the ideas of a geologist familiar with the region are better than those of a promoter. The oldest beds of interest to oil men are those of the Cretaceous, which are well developed in eastern Venezuela and about parts of Lake Maracaibo. In both cases, a hard massive limestone is overlain by a great thickness, most of which is shale. In the west, in places this shale is more than 2000 ft. (610 m.) thick, while in the east it may attain 3500 ft., (1067 m.). The limestone and parts of the shale are oil producing. In the east, the Tertiary where present is almost entirely covered by the Quarternary, but in the west it is well developed. In probable unconformity over the Cretaceous shales is found a series of sandstones and shales, which may beg called the lower coal series. It is well developed southwest of the lake, where it is the oil container, and is probably the lowest series exposed east of the lake. Above this is the Pauji shale, which is probably the point of origin of all the oil east of Lake Maracaibo and in the State of Falcon. It has a thickness of about 3000 ft. (914 m.) in the Mene Grande region. The upper coal series is developed as a great thickness of sands, shales, and clays, with some partly consolidated limestone. Its thickness may be as great as 10,000 ft. It is the oil container of the Falcon-El Mene region and a probable location for oil in some of the area about the lake. It may or may not include the so-called Maracaibo series in which the oil is found at Mene Grande. Over much of Venenzuela, the Quarternary is present in unknown thickness, which probably is not great. It obscures oil structure in all cases and presents the greatest hazard of oil exploration for the fields which probably exist below.

Jan 7, 1922