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By C. H. Jr. Herty

THE elimination of metalloids in the open-hearth process depends on oxidation of the metal by diffusion of FeO from the slag (or absorption of FeO by the metal), with subsequent reaction between dissolved iron oxide and the metalloids carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and silicon. During an investigation on deoxidation with silicon, data on rate of oxidation of the metal were obtained, and these combined with certain other information, are presented here in an attempt to show the fundamental principles governing the diffusion of FeO from slag to metal. Inasmuch as the aim of the investigation was not a study of diffusion, certain data are lacking and it has been necessary to make assumptions on metal viscosity and effect of temperature on diffusion. These factors are known to exert a considerable effect on diffusional processes. Overoxidation, or supersaturation of the metal with iron oxide, is not taken up in this paper. Overoxidation has little effect on diffusion except under a few special conditions, and the discussion has therefore been limited to diffusional processes. Though the results given in this paper should be regarded as preliminary, certain of the conclusions drawn are definitely applicable to any steelmaking process.

Jan 1, 1929

By Hertha Freche

THE diffusion of magnesium and silicon from the core into the high-purity coating of Alclad sheet is important commercially, and led to the use of a duplex product for the study of diffusion by means of spectro-graphic analysis of successive layers. It has been found that in the duplex materials the diffusion of magne-sium from an undersaturated aluminum-magnesium alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating is approximately of the same order of magnitude as the diffusion of silicon from a saturated aluminum-silicon alloy into its high-purity aluminum coating. However, if magnesium and silicon are both present in the alloy in the ratio of Mg2Si they appear to diffuse in the approximate ratio of this compound. Finally, if the alloy contains silicon in excess of the amount required by magnesium silicide, the amount of diffused silicon in the high-purity aluminum coating will also be in excess. The interdiffusion of metals in the solid state is of both scientific and technical interest, because it is helpful in the study of the alloy structure and in the solution of problems pertaining to the strength and surface condition of the fabricated product. W. C. Roberts-Austen1 carried out the first quantitative determination of the coefficient of diffusion of gold into lead. This classical experiment was followed by a series of investigations on the diffusion of metals and nonmetals in iron and steel and in nonferrous metals and alloys. Recently the diffusion of copper in coated strong aluminum alloys was investigated by A. Burkhardt2. This appeared to be the first published investigation on the diffusion of metals into aluminum.

Jan 1, 1936

By William A. Johnson

THE mathematical analysis of diffusion curves in solid metals is Carried out ordinarily by analogy with the flow of heat in a continuous medium and no account is taken of the fact that the materials involved are composed of discrete particles that move discrete distances at irregular intervals. It is possible to treat the problem on the basis of simple assumed atomic mechanisms, in which case, because of the small scale of the elementary process compared to the gross effects observed experimentally, the two procedures lead to the same expression for the variation of concentration with distance. Thus, for engineering purposes, the usual methods are quite satisfactory. If, on the other hand, our purpose is to go beyond the mere collection of data, however desirable this may be, it is necessary to recognize and understand the factors that are of fundamental importance. One factor that has not hitherto been considered when dealing with solid metals is the difference in atomic weights of the isotopes of a single metal. While all the atoms of a given element are alike chemically, their weights may vary by a small but significant amount, and atoms of different weights may have different diffusion rates. With gases this variation in isotopic weight produces a change in the rate of diffusion by a factor inversely proportional to the square root of mass. While, except for the lightest gases, this is not a large effect, it is, for example, sufficient to permit a considerable concentration of one isotope at the expense of others. If metals exhibit a similar phenomenon, some modification of the analysis of the diffusion process will be required, since the different isotopes of a given metal will have different probabilities of moving and the heat-flow analogy will contain a fundamental error. This situation cannot be rectified by using a diffusion coefficient based on the average probability of moving, and it can be shown that even when the diffusion coefficient is independent of composition, the diffusion curve will not agree with the simple theory except in the rare cases where only one isotope exists; e.g., gold. If, however, the mass effect in the solid state were no larger than in the gaseous, the errors arising therefrom in the analysis of ordinary diffusion curves would be quite negligible. Nevertheless, our desire to obtain all possible information concerning the details of the diffusion process, and the possibility of diffusion in the solid state as a means for separating isotopes are cogent reasons for undertaking an experimental study to determine whether isotopes of different masses diffuse at different rates. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE If isotopes of different masses diffuse at different rates, the ratio of the concentration of one relative to another will vary with the distance from the diffusion inter-

Jan 1, 1946

By E. O. Kirkendall

THE investigation reported herein was undertaken to obtain data to supplement those presented in an earlier paper,' particularly for longer times at a higher temperature. This information may further develop our knowledge of the mechanism of diffusion in substitutional solid solutions. Diffusion of solute atoms interstitially dissolved is not difficult to visualize; it can take place without much disturbance of the solvent atoms. The mechanism of diffusion of solute atoms substitutionally dissolved is not so easily understood. Many theories have been advanced. Rosenhain,2.3 Frenkel,4 Smekal,5 Langmuir,3,6 Steigman, Shockley and Nix,7 and Johnson8 all proposed theories to explain diffusion. Langmuir's proposed mechanism consisted of a simple cyclic interchange of atoms involving an interchange in lattice positions of four or more atoms. This mechanism, accepted by the author at the time of his previous publication,' and apparently quite generally accepted, required a net exchange in positions of both solute and solvent atoms in equal numbers. In other words, the rate of diffusion of the solvent and solute atoms would be the same. That this cyclic interchange in lattice positions of solute and solvent atoms in equal numbers is the only true mechanism of diffusion is denied by the evidence presented in this paper. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE This modification of similar procedure1 will be outlined briefly. The method consisted of the following steps: I. A pure Muntz metal (60.6 per cent Cu, 0.1 per cent total impurities) that was almost all beta brass at 780°C. was chosen. 2. The brass was turned between centers in a lathe to a diameter of 0.5965 inches. 3. After the brass was cleaned, it was electroplated with pure copper to a diameter of about one inch. 4. The sample was heated slowly to 400°C. under reduced pressure and held at that temperature for 4 hr. to remove occluded gases. It was then cooled to room temperature. 5. The sample was heated to 780°C. ±3°C. and held at that temperature for different lengths of time; then quenched. Samples were cut off each time after quenching. Metallographic samples 34 in. thick were removed at I hr., 6 hr., 24 hr., 96 hr. and 701 hr. After 96 and 701 hr. samples of about I in. were removed for X-ray analysis. 6. The metallographic samples were polished on the cross section and photo-micrographs were taken. 7. The I-in. samples were polished and etched on both ends. With the aid of a microscope each was carefully mounted in a four-jaw chuck in a lathe, so that they could be accurately bored for an arbor. 8. Turnings were taken for each X-ray sample. After each set of turnings, the sample was heated in an oil bath for about 3a hr. at 300°C. It was then etched in 25

Jan 1, 1942

By Samuel Hoyt

THIS paper gives a brief description of an investigation made several years ago on the diffusion of zinc into copper. The material for that study was furnished in the form of thin copper strips coated with zinc. The result was required rather quickly and at not too great an expense, and especially information was desired as to the rate at which zinc would diffuse from the zinc coating into the copper and the temperature at which the operation should be carried out. A study of the requirements of this problem indicated that the solution might be secured by means of six determinations. This is the smallest number that will give the information desired and, at the same time, furnish checks on the accuracy of the determinations which justify an abbreviated experimental program. This does not count a preliminary test which was designed to give some idea of the correct temperature to use. The minimum number of temperatures that can be used is two. Knowing the rates of diffusion of zinc into copper at two properly chosen temperatures, it is possible to calculate the rate for any other temperature, and also to check the accuracy of the determination by means of the heat of diffusion, which is calculated from the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion. The minimum number of determinations at any one temperature is three. The amount of diffusion which occurs at a fixed temperature is definitely related to the time of diffusion, so that by determining the amount of diffusion for three different time intervals, this relationship may be established and possibly a check on the accuracy may be secured. This accounts for the six determinations or experiments, and suggests the logical plan of the work. The check used here is not generally applicable to diffusion phenomena, but it seems to hold closely enough for the limited amount of diffusion in this investigation to justify its use.

Jan 1, 1928

By L. S. Darken

IT has been known for sometime that in an ionic lattice, such as that of Ag2S or FeO, the migration velocity of the anion may differ markedly from that of the cation, the cation being usually the more mobile. It has been shown, for example, that during the formation of silver sulfide tarnish on silver, the tarnish layer grows principally by the motion of silver cations through an essentially stationary silver sulfide lattice. Similarly, the growth of wüstite scale on iron proceeds principally by motion of iron ions, this being accomplished with the aid of vacant iron lattice sites into which the iron may readily move. Likewise investigations of solid solutions of various salts show that there is usually considerable difference in the mobility of the different cations. Measurements of the mobility of various metals in liquid mercury indicate that the various metals move at different rates relative to the mercury. In view of the foregoing it seems reasonable to suppose that when any single phase solution is acted upon by a field, the atoms of different elements respond in different ways; in particular, that the force arising from a particular concentration gradient in a binary alloy would cause the atoms of one component to move with a drift velocity which is in general different from that of the atoms of the other component. The recent experiments of Smigelskas and Kirkendall1 support this viewpoint, since they found, in essence, that during diffusion in alpha brass zinc moves appreciably faster than copper. This was evidenced by the relative motion of inert molybdenum wires. Such a phenomenon is incompatible with the place interchange theory of diffusion proposed by several authors, most recently by Birchenall and Mehl.2 This theory has, however, also been questioned3.4 for other reasons, principally because of the high energy required for direct atomic interchange. The rather large difference between self-diffusivity, as determined by tracer technique, and mutual diffusivity, as determined with the aid of another element at low concentration, might also be interpreted as favoring the above idea; however, Birchenall and Mehl have pointed out that there is another possible interpretation of this difference; this is discussed later. A rather interesting and pertinent observation was made by Schwartz,5 who noticed that tungsten lamp filaments, heated by direct current, commonly fail by necking down in the region at the temperature gradient near the positive end, with a concomitant swelling at the corresponding position near the negative end. He introduces considerable auxiliary evidence to show that this phenomenon is occasioned by the motion of tungsten cations which migrate in the high temperature region from the positive end toward the negative end. The mechanism of this migration is not clearly understood. If, however, this experimental evidence be accepted, we are forced to conclude that alloying elements in the tungsten may migrate by the same or a similar mechanism, whatever it may be, at a greater or lesser rate, thus giving rise

Jan 1, 1948

By N. A. Ziegler

CONSIDERABLE work has been and is being done on the changes of physical properties that take place in alloys at elevated temperatures, and much information on this subject is published. Much less is known, as pointed out by Rickett and Wood,1 about reactions between the alloys and atmospheric gases and still less is known about changes within the alloy itself under the influence of heat and given atmosphere. Moreover, most of the work published has been done on the alloys of "heat-resist-ing" type, in which chromium is an essential ingredient, the behavior of all other alloys being quite unknown, except perhaps of decarburization produced at the surface by oxidizing atmospheres. It has been shown' that iron, with total amount of foreign ingredients not exceeding 0.01 per cent, if heated in an oxidizing atmosphere at above 900° C., may be saturated with oxygen to 0.1 per cent. It was suspected that something of a similar nature may take place in iron-silicon alloys (transformer material), the mechanism of such processes being either a direct diffusion of oxygen into the alloy, or oxygen combining with silicon to form Si02 or more complicated (silicate) inclusions. Another possi-bility to be considered was that during annealing in oxidizing atmos-pheres, when scale is being formed, silicon may oxidize preferentially at the surface, thus impoverishing the alloy in silicon. In collaboration with Dr. T. D. Yensen,3 the writer set out to investigate this problem about two years ago in order to settle these questions.

Jan 1, 1934

By E. P. Pfleider, W. G. Pariseau

Even as the rational selection of excavation equipment requires a matching of machine performance capabilities to rock response characteristics, the functional features of transportation systems must be matched to the characteristics of the materials handled in order to secure optimum, trouble-free operation. In particular, ore passes and chutes must be designed for flow in order to insure controlled draw whenever a chute is opened. The alternative to quantitative design is, of course, the well known ad hoc procedure of freeing plugged ore passes, cleaning up spillage from flooded chutes, etc., after installation of the system. Since the voluminous empirical work sporadically undertaken through the years evidently had not led to reliable design methodology, it seemed worthwhile to attempt a rational and complete description of the movement of material through ore passes. The concepts of de- formable body mechanics applicable to gravity-induced flows of granular media or "soils" were involved. Accordingly, the mathematical theory of soil plasticity was adopted as a working hypothesis, and a two-dimensional laboratory model of an ore pass constructed in order to investigate the appropriateness of the theory. The general experimental strategy consisted of formulating the movement of material in ore passes as a boundary value problem in soil plasticity, determining the required boundary values of stress and velocity experimentally, and then using these data for the initiation of a theoretical solution for stress and velocity throughout the moving mass of material. A comparison between the theoretical and experimental constituted the test of the original hypothesis.

Jan 6, 1968

By Howard L. Hartman, Burke O. Trafton

There is a fruitful area of computer competence which has gone virtually unnoticed by the mining industry. This is in the solution of its numerous fluid-flow distribution problems, involving the circulation of air, water and other fluids in conduits through mines. Typical of these is the mine ventilation system, which circulates air through mine openings to the working faces. The networks of interconnected airways in large mines-often resembling a tortuous maze or labyrinth defying representation by schematic, let alone solution-must somehow be resolved and analyzed, if effective and safe control of the ventilation is to be maintained. These are admirably suited to programming for solution by high-speed electronic computer. Not only can direction of flow be determined but quantity and head loss as well. EARLIER EFFORTS AT NETWORK SOLUTION The only prior attempt to solve mine ventilation networks by digital computer methods was made by a Japanese investigator1 in 1958 whose work went unpublished. Unfortunately, he employed a method of network analysis little used in the United States and one which could accommodate a maximum of only 30 airways. While his analysis seems unnecessarily cumbersome and involved, it did suggest that a digital computer approach was feasible.

Jan 9, 1963

By Hannu Penttila, Harrison R. Cooper, Olli Mattila

Two approaches to automated operation in metallurgical processes involve the conventional analog control or, more recently, digital control. The expanding use of digital controls applied to process automation is a comparatively new development. Several current technical reports describe digital control systems in concentrator grinding control, 1, 2, flotation, 3 and smelter operations. 4,5 The principle factors influencing trends to digital control are:

Jan 10, 1976

By Rana P. Singh

Electrolytic metal reduction operatios in both aqueous and molten salt electrolytes are being studied by digital signal analysis. The purpose is to determine the relationship between the physical processes occurring in the cell and the frequency spectrum of the cell's fluctuating electrical parameters. The fast Fourier transform of cell voltage (in galvanostatic operations) or cell current (in potentiostatic operations) is computed on-line in real time for the electrorefining of zinc in aqueous acid chloride solutions.

Jan 1, 1984

By Gary B. Williamson, Barton K. Cross

Digital simulation is a modern analysis tool which allows the mine operator to evaluate the result of making a decision without actually changing the organization or buying the equipment. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of digital simulation in evaluating a decision of whether or not to introduce dispatching in an open pit mine. The analysis shows that appreciable savings can be realized by dispatching. In certain cases, an operator can reduce the number of trucks required to move a specified tonnage. A second analysis evaluates the alternatives of using one large shovel or two smaller units. In this case, the operating cost of the haulage equipment necessary to support the shovels turns out to be the critical factor in this decision.

Jan 1, 1969

By C. C. Hatch, C. R. Larsen, A. L. Mular

INTRODUCTION As part of a general project to simulate a concentrator, the Brenda Mines Limited secondary crushing plant, located near Peachland, B. C., was sampled during the summer/winter of 1975 and during the summer of 1978 to develop a digital crushing plant simulator specific to the Brenda operation. The purpose of this simulator was to study the influence of manipulable process variables on important responses, to permit study of alternative circuit configurations if desired and to perform off-line optimization. This chapter describes the methodology employed to develop the simulator (1,2) along with typical applications thereof. SECONDARY CRUSHING PLANT FLOWSHEET Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the Brenda Mines Ltd. secondary crushing plant circuit. The 41,000 tonne coarse ore stockpile(a) is -17.8 cm oversize (3B belt) from two 2.4 m x 6.1 m double deck vibrating screens (not shown). The screens are fed by 2 conveyor belts operated in series with two 198 cm apron feeders that handle discharge from a 152 cm x 226 cm primary gyratory crusher(520 KW). The primary crusher (not shown) treats up to 2725 tonne/hr of run of mine ore. Minus 1.9 cm undersize from the primary screens (#19 belt), referred to as the primary fines, joins secondary screen undersize (#18 belt) for conveyance to fine ore bins (not shown). Feed from the coarse ore stockpile is transferred by means of vibrating feeders and two 120 cm conveyors (#6 and #7) to transfer belts #8 and #9 (Figure 1). The belts feed two secondary 2.1 m standard heavy duty cone crushers (bl and b2). Each crusher is equipped with a modified coarse mantle liner and a standard coarse bowl liner. Mantle throw is 9.2 cm; nominal close side set is 3.2 cm. Crusher .countershafts (443 rpm) are driven by single 260 KW synchronous motors (710 rpm). Discharge from the secondary cone crushers joins discharge from four 2.1 m tertiary heavy duty shorthead cone crushers (fl, f2, f3 and f4). With the exception of the cavity (modified medium mantle liner and standard coarse bowl liner; close side set is nominal .84 cm) and motor (224 KW), these machines are similar to the secondary crushers. The combined discharge is transferred from a 183 cm conveyor to #14 belt which empties into a 1452 tonne secondary screen surge bin (c). Vibrating feeders beneath the bins feed five 2.4 m x 6.1 m double deck vibrating screens (dl, d2, d3, d4 and d5) sloped at 200 from the horizontal. The upper decks are punched plates with 2.7 cm x 7.6 cm slots. Lower decks are woven wire (1.27 cm diameter) sections with

Jan 1, 1982

By J. A. Herbst, A. L. Mular

Digital simulation is defined and simulation techniques are re- viewed. Typical methodology involves the selection of models, the adjustment of raw data, the selection of a fitting strategy, the assessment of model accuracy in a statistical sense, and the development of an executive simulation structure. Simulations serve as aids for process engineers in evaluating the feasibility of a proposed flowsheet and the effect of a modification to an existing flowsheet. In addition, simulation plays an important role in off-line optimization and in the evaluation of alternative circuit control strategies. Several examples are presented to illustrate these uses for simulation including applications in crushing circuits, grinding circuits, and flotation circuits. It is the opinion of the authors that, within the next decade, mineral processing plants will be studied routinely via digital simulation during the preliminary design stage. Simulation will constitute an important component of the design decision making process.

Jan 1, 1978

By E. J. Freeh, W. E. Horst, R. C. Kellner

A technique useful in the important area of process-model building is described. The procedure is illustrated in the development of a mathematical model to describe the unsteady-state process of batch ball-mill grinding. The influence of certain assumptions relative to model structure are quantitatively evaluated and reviewed.

Jan 1, 1969

By Vsevolod Krivobok

IT is generally recognized that "low temperatures" have a definite effect on the properties of metals and alloys. Furthermore, it is also generally understood that the effect is decidedly adverse. The possibility that the same low-temperature treatment might be employed for the purpose of improving certain properties of the .alloys has received less attention until recently, and the experimental and theoretical knowledge consequently is meager. The effect of low temperatures may be studied in two ways: by studying such properties as tensile strength, hardness, impact resistance, etc., at low temperature, and by studying the properties of alloys at room temperature after these alloys have been subjected to a low-temperature treatment. Even in the latter case, certain properties will differ materially from the same properties obtained on identical material but without cold treatment. In other words, subjecting alloys to cold treatment results in an irreversible change in mechanical properties. Changes of this character are usually indications of the appearance of a new phase or phases, and would be likely to occur in alloys which, either by virtue of their composition or by heat treatment, are retained at room temperature in a metastable condition. Consequently, studies of the effect of low temperatures logically should be conducted from the physicochemical point of view, since the results of such studies not only would furnish metallurgists with interesting theoretical data but would clearly indicate the classes of alloys that would hold promise of improvement, and, possibly, of new applications. As the present investigation deals with chromium and chromium-nickel alloys of iron of the stainless variety, it has been thought desirable to present the data concerning low-temperature properties of these alloys, available from the most recent and most comprehensive work of H: S. Russell.' A summary, of these data is given in Table 1. The data are confined to a limited number of alloys of the type dealt with in the present

Jan 1, 1931

By J. A. Eisele, D. J. Bauer, L. E. Schultze

Approximately 100 million mt of magnetic reject tailings, which contain apatite and about 1% yttrium and rare-earth elements, exist in the eastern U.S. as a result of iron ore mining operations. At the present time, no economic process is available for recovering yttrium from this material. The U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) studied the problem to determine if an effective low-cost method could be found, thereby increasing our domestic yttrium reserves. [Fig. 1] is a line drawing of a photograph taken during microprobe analysis of a sample of the tailings, and shows the distribution of yttrium. Typical analysis of this material is 0.14% yttrium and 1.1% rare-earth elements (mainly lanthanum through neodymium). Over half of the yttrium is present as a hydrated Ca-Y silicate deposited along interfaces in the grain structure; whereas, the remainder of the rare-earth elements occur as Ca-Fe-RE silicates. The remaining yttrium and rare-earth elements are in solid solution with the

Jan 1, 1977

By W. Robert Power

Dimension stone is considered by many the premium material for beauty and durability in institutional and monumental construction. Nonetheless in the United States it commands an ever decreasing share of the total market. At the beginning of the century dimension stone accounted for more than half the stone produced in the United States, but by 1974 it accounted for little more than 0.2% and the number of producing quarries and finishing plants had greatly reduced. This decrease in use is accounted for in part by competition from cheaper materials, but another factor seems to be the demand by many designers for uniformity and exact repetition of modular units in construction. Even where stone is used in large buildings modem architects want blandness of pattern and uniformity of color in the stone. Because most natural stone contains variations in color and pattern great strain is put on the quarriers to overcome this and produce a uniform product. This results in increased costs, increased waste at the quarries, and consequently increased price in the market. In spite of this, stone is still looked on as the most prestigious of building materials and its aesthetic appeal is born out by the many simulated stone patterns found in synthetic materials. End Use and Specifications The principal uses of dimension stone are in building construction and monuments. Other uses include flagging, curbing, paving, mill-stock slate, roofing slate, laboratory furniture, and refractory brick. Because many of these uses overlap, an orderly classification of dimension stone uses is most difficult. Various classifications have been used by Cumer (1960), Barton (1968), the U.S. Bureau of Mines yearbooks, and the Building Stone Institute (Anon., 1972).

Jan 1, 1975

By Oliver Bowles

Dimension stone is a term applied to stone sold in blocks or slabs of specified shapes and usually of specified sizes, contrasted with crushed, broken and pulverized stone covered in another chapter. Dimension stone includes cut stone, rough building stone, ashlar,* rubble, monumental stone, paving blocks, curbing, flagging, and many types of ornaments and novelties carved from stone. Riprap-large, irregular blocks used for shore protection-is classed with crushed and broken stone. Composition, Varieties, and Properties Dimension stones are of many kinds. The principal varieties are granites, trap rock (diabase, basalt, and gabbro), sandstone, limestone, and marble. Slate is covered in a separate chapter. Granite is a visibly granular crystalline rock consisting essentially of feldspar, quartz, and mica or hornblende. The basaltic rocks are darker in color than the granites. They contain little or no quartz and consist largely of plagioclase feldspar, augite, pyroxene, and hornblende. They are classed commercially as black granites. Limestone consists essentially of calcium carbonate. Dolomites and magnesian limestones used as dimension stone are classed with the high-calcium limestones. Marble is a crystalline form of limestone, but in the trade, any carbonate rock which will take a polish is called a marble. Many limestones which are fossiliferous but which will take a polish are sold as a decorative stone for lobbies of hotels and office buildings. Sandstone consists essentially of silica in the form of sand grains cemented into a coherent mass. Although rock occurrences are numerous and widespread, the exacting requirements of use condemn all but a small fraction of them for commercial use as dimension stone. No deposit that has closely spaced joints or planes of weakness can be used because sound blocks of moderate to large size are demanded. Uniform texture and grain size, constant and attractive colors or color pattern, and freedom from impurities that may cause stains or deterioration usually are demanded. Hardness is a variable property. Granites and diabases are as hard as or harder than steel, while limestones and marbles may be scratched with a knife. The hardness of sandstone depends upon the degree of cohesion of the grains. Workability depends to a considerable extent on hardness, but the degree of hardness has little influence on use except where stones are subjected to abrasion as on steps or floors. "Texture" as applied to stone relates to the arrangement, uniformity, and size of the constituent grains. Stones are of many colors and thus can satisfy a variety of tastes. For monumental stone, a marked contrast between polished and tooled surfaces is preferred in order that inscriptions may be read easily. Strength requirements usually may be disregarded because any sound structural stone suitable in other respects is almost invariably many times as strong as would be required for any ordinary use. The pressure on the base course of the Washington Monument, Washington, D. C., is less than 700 psi, and highgrade granites, limestones, sandstones, and marbles will sustain a crushing load of 10,000 to 25,000 psi. A structure made of stone with a crushing strength of 15,000 psi would have to be nearly 21h miles high before crushing of the lower courses would occur. However, stone disintegrates more readily under severe

Jan 1, 1960

By Oliver Bowles

DIMENSION stone is a convenient term applied to stone sold in blocks or slabs of specified shapes and usually of specified sizes, as contrasted with crushed, broken and pulverized stone, discussed in another chapter. Dimension stone includes cut stone, rough building stone, ashlar, rubble, paving blocks, curbing and flagging. Riprap-large, irregular blocks used for shore protection-is classed more properly with crushed and broken stone. COMPOSITION, VARIETIES AND PROPERTIES Stones used as blocks or slabs are of many kinds. The principal varieties are granite, sandstone, limestone and marble. Slate is covered in another chapter. Granite is a visibly granular crystalline rock consisting essentially of feldspar, quartz, and mica or hornblende. Limestone consists essentially of calcium carbonate, with which may be associated certain impurities such as clay, sand, or iron oxide. Dolomites and magnesium limestones used as dimension stone are classed with the high- calcium limestones, as they are used in the same way. Marble is a crystalline form of limestone. Sandstone consists essentially of silica in the form of sand grains cemented together into a coherent mass. Although rock occurrences are numerous and widespread, the ex- acting requirements of use condemn all but a small fraction of them for commercial use as dimension stone. No deposit that has closely spaced cracks, lines of weakness, or joints can be so used because sound blocks of moderate to large size are demanded. Uniform texture and grain size, constant and attractive color, and freedom from impurities that may cause stains or deterioration usually are required also. Hardness is a variable property. Granites are as hard as or harder than steel while limestones and marbles may be scratched easily with a knife. The hardness of a sandstone depends upon the degree of cementation of the grains. Workability depends to a considerable extent on hardness, but the degree of hardness has little influence on use except when stones are subjected to severe abrasion, as on steps or floors. "Texture" as applied to stone relates to the arrangement, uniformity, and size of the constituent grains.

Jan 1, 1949