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By Alexander L. Field

This paper contains an account of experimental results obtained in an extensive investigation of steels containing zirconium. There recently appeared' an announcement by F. M. Becket, at whose suggestion and under whose general direction this investigation was made, a statement of the outstanding features of the work and a brief explanation of the factors that led to its inception. It is not possible, in a paper of this character, to record all of the operating and test data collected, which includes the production of more than 350 heats of steel. The difficulty of a complete presentation is increased by the fact that several lines of experimentation are too incomplete to warrant publication of the results at the present time. In addition to the methods of manufacture and test employed in the work, there is described experimental evidence on which are based certain definite conclusions regarding the remarkable effects brought about by the presence in steel of relatively small percentages of zirconium. When added to a molten steel bath, zirconium combines chemically with dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, in the order named, and is capable of neutralizing the embrittling effect of phosphorus in whole or in part; although in the case of phosphorus there is no evidence so far of actual chemical combination. These effects arc not in the nature of suppositions supported by theory, nor is their existence deduced merely on the basis of analytical evidence. In each phase of its relation to or reaction with the four impurities mentioned, zirconium affects beneficiauy the mechanical properties of the steel to which it is added, in a manner which it is one of the purposes of this paper to explain in terms of a tentative working theory.

Jan 1, 1923

By Alexander L. Field

This paper contains an account of experimental results obtained in an extensive investigation of steels containing zirconium. There recently appeared' an announcement by F. M. Becket, at whose suggestion and under whose general direction this investigation was made, a statement of the outstanding features of the work and a brief explanation of the factors that led to its inception. It is not possible, in a paper of this character, to record all of the operating and test data collected, which includes the production of more than 350 heats of steel. The difficulty of a complete presentation is increased by the fact that several lines of experimentation are too incomplete to warrant publication of the results at the present time. In addition to the methods of manufacture and test employed in the work, there is described experimental evidence on which are based certain definite conclusions regarding the remarkable effects brought about by the presence in steel of relatively small percentages of zirconium. When added to a molten steel bath, zirconium combines chemically with dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, in the order named, and is capable of neutralizing the embrittling effect of phosphorus in whole or in part; although in the case of phosphorus there is no evidence so far of actual chemical combination. These effects arc not in the nature of suppositions supported by theory, nor is their existence deduced merely on the basis of analytical evidence. In each phase of its relation to or reaction with the four impurities mentioned, zirconium affects beneficiauy the mechanical properties of the steel to which it is added, in a manner which it is one of the purposes of this paper to explain in terms of a tentative working theory.

Jan 1, 1923

By George S. Rice

Those who for the first time see, at a mine, a great hole caused by subsidence; or, going underground, see an extensive fall of roof or hanging wall are apt to regard such an occurrence as an accident and not a normal condition of exhaustive mining. Moreover, the public is inclined to believe that a cave or subsidence of the surface is the result of carelcssness in mining or the rapacity of the mine operators in "robbing pillars," a tern too loosely used in descriptions of coal mining. This belief is fostered by the common-law requirement that an owner of the surface or of surface improvements is entitled to full support of the surface. Court decisions have upheld this law even when that owner has sold or leased the underlying mineral, unless a clause in the sale or lease contract exempts the mining company from paying the owner of the surface for damages that may result from mining. Another reason for this belief is the earlier practice (which is still extensively followed in this country) of leaving all coal pillars unmined, except as they have been thinned by so-called robbing; by not extracting the pillars, the surface may be supported by them for years, perhaps for generations. Inasmuch as the practice of leaving permanently in the mines from one-third to one-half of the mineral is wrong, with respect to conservation of a national resource, it behooves the mining engineers to assemble data and disseminate information on the subject, pointing out that subsidence must follow complete extraction, unless expensive methods of back-filling are employed, such as are used in Germany and France. These methods inevitably increase the cost of mining and the price of the mineral produced. It is popular to speak of "waste in mining" without a realization that much so-called wasting is unavoidable unless subsidence is accepted and provision made therefor where the surface is valuable, or else the only present known alternative of hydraulically placing sand or crushed stone filling in the excavations, at an increased cost of the mineral product to the consumer.

Jan 1, 1923

By George S. Rice

Those who for the first time see, at a mine, a great hole caused by subsidence; or, going underground, see an extensive fall of roof or hanging wall are apt to regard such an occurrence as an accident and not a normal condition of exhaustive mining. Moreover, the public is inclined to believe that a cave or subsidence of the surface is the result of carelcssness in mining or the rapacity of the mine operators in "robbing pillars," a tern too loosely used in descriptions of coal mining. This belief is fostered by the common-law requirement that an owner of the surface or of surface improvements is entitled to full support of the surface. Court decisions have upheld this law even when that owner has sold or leased the underlying mineral, unless a clause in the sale or lease contract exempts the mining company from paying the owner of the surface for damages that may result from mining. Another reason for this belief is the earlier practice (which is still extensively followed in this country) of leaving all coal pillars unmined, except as they have been thinned by so-called robbing; by not extracting the pillars, the surface may be supported by them for years, perhaps for generations. Inasmuch as the practice of leaving permanently in the mines from one-third to one-half of the mineral is wrong, with respect to conservation of a national resource, it behooves the mining engineers to assemble data and disseminate information on the subject, pointing out that subsidence must follow complete extraction, unless expensive methods of back-filling are employed, such as are used in Germany and France. These methods inevitably increase the cost of mining and the price of the mineral produced. It is popular to speak of "waste in mining" without a realization that much so-called wasting is unavoidable unless subsidence is accepted and provision made therefor where the surface is valuable, or else the only present known alternative of hydraulically placing sand or crushed stone filling in the excavations, at an increased cost of the mineral product to the consumer.

Jan 1, 1923

By J. Mackintosh Bell

In the numerous districts subsidiary to Cobalt, and carrying mineral deposits similar in character to that world-famous mining camp, the most interesting recent developments have occurred in South Lorrain. The district, the center of which lies about 16 miles southeast of Cobalt, was the scene of a rush in 1907 but, in spite of the success of the Wett-lauffer mine, the locality soon lost its popularity, largely on account of the unsavory early history of the Keeley mine. In recent years, following the successful development of this property by the London operators, who acquired it from the liquidator of the original company, and the later conspicuous progress made on the properties of the Mining Corporation contiguous to the Keeley on the north, the district has again come into prominence and, at present, is doing much toward maintaining the gradually declining production of Cobalt itself. Apart from the Mining Corporation of Canada and the Keeley Silver Mines Limited, the principal concerns now operating in South Lorrain are the Lorrain Consolidated, the Trout Lake Mines (operated by English interests associated with the Mining Corporation) and the Canadian Lorrain Silver Mines (operated by the Huronian Belt Co., of London). A number of minor prospects are also active. The Wettlaufer and Currie, on both of which considerable work was done some years ago, are now closed. TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL GEOLOGY The topography of the South Lorrain area is rather more rugged than that of the vicinity of Cobalt, but the local relief, relatively speaking, is not great. Numerous lakes and streams lend a certain picturesqueness to a landscape, which is not entirely marred by the absence, from the valleys and hillsides, of the splendid bush that formerly clothed them but which has been swept away by forest fires. The geology of the locality is simple, in a lithological sense, but rather complicated structurally. The oldest rocks are Keewatin greenstones

Jan 1, 1924

By J. D. Audley Smith

Heine's " blue test" for copper, as described by the authorities generally, calls for a set of standard colors; and there has been some discussion concerning the relative superiority, for this purpose, of sulphate and nitrate solutions. The whole matter evidently hinges on the preservation of the standard colors in well-stoppered bottles. The apparatus described by Q. L. Heath* cannot be much improved, when very accurate readings are required. The following method was devised for the purpose of doing away with preserved sets of standard colors, by making a fresh standard for each batch of assays. The solutions are prepared in the usual way, each ammoniacal solution being filtered into its separate bottle, and then filled up to the containing-mark and thoroughly mixed. A similar color-bottle, with an " S " etched upon it, to distinguish it from the other bottles, which are numbered to correspond with the samples, is kept to run the standard. About 150 C.C. of water is put into it, and then the amount of acid (sulphuric or nitric) present in each determination, followed by 30 C.C. of ammonia (s. g. 0.90), which should make the mixture strongly ammoniacal. The liquid is now made up almost to the containing-mark (200 c.c.), say within 1 C.C. The lowest assay is selected first and placed alongside the standard, which, at the beginning, contains no copper. A copper-solution is then dropped into the standard from a burette ; and after each addition the bottle is well shaken and compared with the assay-sample. This operation is repeated until the two shades match exactly, when the burette is read and the assay-result is calculated. The assay next in order of depth of color is now taken and treated in the same way, and so on, until the batch is completed. It

Jan 1, 1901

By S. B. Christy

The practice of the cyanide-process of gold-extraction has brought to light many important contradictions of familiar chemical analogies, which still obscure both the theory and the practice of the art with distinctions subtler and more difficult to make or follow than those which delighted the heart of the old-time metaphysician. Yet Nature herself has drawn these distinctions; and if we hope to succeed in this modern search for the Golden Fleece, we must be able to follow her through the winding labyrinth. There are so many phases of this question that I shall attempt to touch on only one of them at this time, but it is one that lies at the root of many others. In reviewing my paper on " The Solution and Precipitation of Cyanide of Gold,"* Mr. E. B. Wilson contends† that" in the solution of gold by means of alkaline cyanides the various reactions are determined, as to their order and intensity, by the relative position of the elements concerned in the electro-chemical series, or series of voltaic tension." In a modified form this statement is probably true. That is to say, the difference of electrical potential in any closed electrical circuit determines the nature of the reactions which ensue. But the matter is not so simple as Mr. Wilson assumes. Recent investigations show that the order of the metals in the electro-chemical series depends not only on the nature of the elements themselves, but also on the chemical composition of the solution in which they are placed; its degree of concentration; its temperature; and, in the case of gases, on the pressure. Unless all these conditions are taken into account, inferences drawn from the electro-chemical series are likely to prove more

Jan 1, 1901

Alfred C. Young† (communication to the Secretary): Before the appearance of Mr. Scott's paper in these Transactions we were not specially interested in the investigation which he has started; but at his request we have endeavored to collect from musty records and the recollection of our old friends a brief chronicle of the progress made by this house. As 3000 instruments were manufactured by us before any descriptive record was kept, and 2000 more before the record contained more than a statement whether the instrument was a transit or a level, and sometimes its size, we approach the task with timidity, trusting that the reader will bear the difficulties in mind, particularly as the writer's predecessors, from whom, no doubt, the information desired could have been obtained, have passed away. Instruments for surveying were manufactured by David Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia, as early as 1760; but it was not until late in the first quarter of this century that there was any American market for an instrument outside of the ordinary surveyor's compass. With the advent of canals and railroads, and the more extensive development of the Pennsylvania coalfields, arose a demand for surveying-instruments to meet problems in engineering beyond the limited field of the compass. On May 1, 1820, in which year the practical mining of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania began, William J. Young, who had served his apprenticeship with one Thomas Whitney,

Jan 1, 1901

By W. N. Page

The Red-Ash colliery was the scene, March 6, 1900, of an explosion by which some fifty men were killed or wounded, and much property was injured or destroyed. On March 19th, the earliest date at which entrance was practicable, I examined the mine with the view of determining the extent, cause and point of origin of the explosion, and with the permission of Mr. F. Howald, the manager, and the owners of the property, for whom the examination was made, I present in this paper some results of that examination, comprising the essential portions of my report to them. Location and Plan of the Mine. The Red-Ash colliery, situated on the south side of New river, next below the Rush Run mine, with which the underground workings are connected, is a drift-mine, the entrance to which is on a slope, about 500 ft. above the river. (Fig. 1 is a plan of the workings, in which the points where human bodies were found are designated by numbers.)

Jan 1, 1901

By Theo B. Comstock

Since 1892 the writer has published several articles in the Engineering and Mining Journal concerning the relations of the

Jan 1, 1901

By T. A. Rickard

In " The Genesis of Certain Auriferous Lodes "* Dr. Don makes a reference to a curious vein-formation known as the "Indicator," which characterizes a portion of the Ballarat mining district,, in Victoria, Australia. During 1890 and again in 1898 I had an opportunity of making a few notes, which, although somewhat belated,t may be worth adding to the observations recorded in the Transactions of the Institute. The country of the Ballarat gold-field consists of the Lower Silurian slates and sandstones, which also enclose the reefs of Bendigo; but it is noteworthy that the successive anticlinal folds, and accompanying saddles of quartz, which distinguish Bendigo are not characteristic of Ballarat, the geological structure of which presents greater complexity. That part of the district known as Ballarat East became famous early in its history on account of the large nuggets which were found in the alluvium, and subsequently it became further known because of a peculiar persistent black seam, traversing the bed-rock underlying the alluvial deposits, which was found to be associated with rich bunches of gold-ore, not only in the gravel that capped it at the surface but also in the quartz-veins which crossed it underground. The name of " Indicator " was early given. In 1871 Mr. Morgan Llewellyn directed attention to it as influencing the distribution of the gold. In the government quarterly report for December, 1888,

Jan 1, 1901

By Henry M. Howe

in Cast-Iron. It has been generally accepted that the presence of silicon in cast-iron leads to the formation of graphite; and this has been explained by saying that the silicon lowers the solvent power of iron for carbon at and somewhat below the freezing-point, so that, in the presence of silicon, the iron is unable to retain in solution or combination the whole of the carbon with which it has united while molten, and therefore expels the excess of carbon in the form of graphite, during and immediately after solidification. Probably the best way to study this question would be to examine pure cast-irons, i.e., those containing nothing but iron, carbon and silicon, which at the same time should have been saturated with carbon when molten. But the data for such a study are not at hand; so we must turn to commercial pig-irons as they are made in the blast-furnace, and before their composition has been changed by remelting. Much evidence has been offered of late, tending to oppose the theory of the action of silicon above set forth. Some of this evidence will be examined here. 1. Mr. Bachman's Results. In particular, Mr. F. E. Bachman† has published a collection of analyses of cast-iron, in which the proportion of graphite at first appears to be nearly independent of the proportion of silicon present. Thus, in his Table LI., we find that with pro-

Jan 1, 1901

By H. M. Chance

The iron-ore deposits of the Hartville district are located near the new town of Guernsey, about 100 miles north of Cheyenne. The writer has been familiar with them since 1887, having visited the district several times for different clients— his last examination having been made in November and December, 1897. The deposits extend in a general N.E.-S.W. direction from a point in Section 33, Range 65 W., Township 28 N., on the west side of Whalen cañon, through Sections 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Township 27 N. in the same Range, and over into Sections 1 and 12 of Township 27 N., Range 66 W. General Characteristics. The ore is a remarkably pure red hematite, extremely low in phosphorus, and carrying a small percentage of silica, as shown by analyses given below, and similar in many respects

Jan 1, 1901

By W. P. Heineken, A. T. Child

This paper presents the results of a series of experiments made in the metallurgical laboratory of Columbia University, New Pork City. The object of the investigation was to determine, as far as possible, the changes in micro-structure and physical properties caused by short periods of heat-treatment and the longer malleable cast-iron process. It was proposed to do this by means of micro-photographs, heating- and cooling-curves, and tensile tests after the various heat-treatments. I. Micro-Constituents of Iron and Steel. The list of the micro-constituents of iron and steel has grown till now it includes seven different substances, called ferrite, cementite, pearlite,* martensite, austenite, sorbite and troosite. Only the first five of these are mentioned in this paper, to facilitate the understanding of which, the following brief definitions are given: 1. Ferrite (named by Prof. Howe) is, chemically, iron free from carbon. It is the softest of the constituents, and is not colored by etching, except when long-continued. Under the microscope it is easily determined by its regular polygonal etructure; or, if structureless, as in malleable cast-iron, by the ease with which it is scratched. Ferrite appears in mild steel in small amount, in grey cast-iron, and in malleable cast-iron. 2. Cementite (also named by Prof. Howe) is now generally conceded to have the formula Fe3C. It is the hardest of the micro-constituents, having the hardness indicated by 7 of the mineralogical scale; and hence it is always left in relief after

Jan 1, 1901

By John C. Branner

Shales rich in oil are found at several places along the coast of Brazil. The material has been prospected at several places, and samples have been examined and reported upon by competent authorities. So far as I am acquainted with them, these oil-bearing beds are of Tertiary age. A glimpse at the distribution and character of the Tertiary rocks of the region should give us some idea of the possible distribution of these oil-bearing shales. Tertiary rocks skirt the northeast coast of Brazil from the northern part of the State of Espirito Santo almost or quite to the Amazon valley. Here and there this narrow strip is cut in two by the encroachment of the sea, and the underlying gneisses, granites or other crystalline rocks are exposed upon the beach. In other places, the Tertiary belt widens out until it is 80 kilometers or more in width. Fig. 1 is a sketch-map of a part of the coast-area referred to. Along the coast from Prado, in the State of Bahia, northward to Natal, there is a line of bluffs from 15 to 90 meters high, interrupted here and there by stream-valleys. As seen from the sea, these bluffs are rather conspicuous and highly colored yellow, brown, red, white, black, and purple. These colors are often so mingled as to give the beds a mottled or parti-colored appearance. Fig. 2 shows a characteristic bit of the coast in the State of Parahyba do Norte. In some places, especially in the southern part of the State of Sergipe, and in the northern part of Rio Grande do Norte, the immediate coast is covered with sand-dunes. Here and there these sanddunes have been carried inland over the top of the Tertiary beds, and the subsequent encroachment of the sea has exposed the Tertiary rocks again, where they form the bases of the bluffs. This is well shown in Fig. 3, from a photograph taken at Bahia Formosa, on the coast of Rio Grande do Norte.

Jan 1, 1901

By Erwin S. Sperry

The oxidation of metals melted in contact with air takes place with dissimilar results. Tin, lead or zinc are examples of a class, the oxides of which float on the surface of the melted metal. First a film is produced, which covers the surface; then, if agitation from any cause exposes new metal to the action of the air, additional oxidation takes place, and the film is increased in volume. This change goes on until a considerable quantity of oxide (or " dross," as it is technically called) is formed; depending, of course, upon the duration of the exposure of the metal to the atmosphere. When such metals are poured, the dross may be skimmed off; and clean metal will be left underneath. The removal of such oxides is, therefore, merely a mechanical process. In the case of copper, however, the result is quite different. The sub-oxide of copper (Cu2O) is readily soluble in molten copper; and therefore, instead of the formation of a film of oxide, to be finally removed as dross, the surface of the metal remains bright and clear, because the oxide has been dissolved as soon as it was produced. It is customary in the process of copper-refining to leave a small quantity of oxide in the metal, in order to oxidize any traces of bismuth, arsenic or antimony which have not been entirely removed. As a result, these metals exist in the commercial product as oxides, and not as metals, which would form an

Jan 1, 1901

By S. S. Hartranft

FuRnace-men of the present day agree very nearly as to the best cooling-devices for the protection of blast-furnace hearths and boshes, and the best location of the cooling-system in the brick-work for the maintenance of favorable furnacelines throughout the blast. The replaceable bronze and copper plates are practically faultless; and there seems to be no reason why a furnace-hearth and bosh should not be held in good condition, by intelligent management and the use of replaceable plates, for a period several times the length of the average blast of to-day. While furnace-men have taken these .precautions to protect the hearth and bosh beyond the life of the lining, the portion of the lining above the mantle has been partly protected by some and wholly neglected by others. Some would not construct a furnace without mantle-plates, and others would not construct a furnace with them. In most cases, furnace-men have either trusted to Providence or to the bosh-plates for the continuance of favorable working-conditions above the mantle, and the prolongation of the life of the lining; consequently furnaces are constantly blown out for repairs to the lining, or for relining, when the hearth and bosh are in good enough condition to last through another blast. The following extract from one of Mr. James Gayley's con-

Jan 1, 1901

By T. A. Rickard

The lodes of Cripple Creek, Colo., partake of the composition of the geological formation which they traverse. The prevailing rocks are andesitic breccia, lying upon granite, and also bodies of phonolite, trachytic phonolite, nepheline-basalt, etc., penetrating both the granite and the breccia. At Kalgoorlie, in West Australia, the prevailing rock is schistose, and has not been certainly identified, though microscopic sections indicate the probability that it was originally an acid eruptive. The lodes are essentially bands, more highly schistose than the encasing rock, and impregnated to a notable degree with disseminated pyrites and secondary calcite. During 1899 Cripple Creek produced 425,590 tons of ore, having a gross value of $15,658,254; during the same period the output of Kalgoorlie was 467,048 tons, valued at $17,724,587. In chemical composition, the ores at Cripple Creek and Kalgoorlie, respectively, present differences equally interesting to the petrographer and the metallurgist. In both cases we have to deal with altered eruptives as the matrix of the ore; but the much older rock of Kalgoorlie has undergone more decompo-

Jan 1, 1901

By Frank H. Probert

The mining laws relating to winding-ropes in some of the German provinces are very strict, and severe tests have to be periodically made to see that the ropes in use come up to the prescribed standard. A few notes on the method of testing the ropes and the results obtained may be of interest to the members of the Institute. Permission must be given by the Inspector of Mines to put up a winding-plant; and previous to installation a full report made by the manager, clearly setting forth all details of the shaft, the pit-head, engines and appliances appertaining thereto has to be sent to the mining officials. Accompanying each subsequent report, further details, such as the name of the firm supplying the rope, construction, quality of steel, date of installment, weight per meter, length, particulars of the safetycatches, cages, etc., must be given. At least one spare rope must be kept at ever? shaft ready for use in case of emergency. The rope must hang in the shaft, with cage attached, not less than twenty-four hours before it is used for winding; and it must have undergone a severe test in the manner hereafter described. The laws prescribe that when a rope is continually in use it must be tested every three months; but if the rope is only used every few days it must be tested at least every six months, in the presence of the superior officer; and notification of the date of testing has to be sent to the Bergrath two days before the test is made, in order that he can personally superintend the operation if he chooses. Should winding have been stopped for a long time, it is not necessary to test every six months; but before the rope can be used again it must be tested.

Jan 1, 1901

By Ancel St. John

Defects in the interior of metal objects are troublesome to both manufacturer and user. For the former, they frequently increase manufacturing cost through the rejection of material when defects appear after considerable work has been done. For the latter, they often cause damage to equipment, personal injury, or loss of life when a part, which has passed all inspections and has been put in service, gives way because of a hidden flaw. Methods of testing that locate such flaws without subjecting the specimen to possible, if not actual, destl-uction are few; x-ray examination, whether fluoroscopic or radiographic, is one. Hitherto, however, x-ray examination has been restricted to objects of nearly uniform thickness and regular outline; the inspection of such articles as those shown in Fig. 1 has been inconvenient and unsatisfactory. This figure represents a group of 5/16-in. hexagonal-head machine bolts,

Jan 1, 1923