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By Richard W. Lodge

The following work, performed by Mr. W. A. Tucker, of the class of 1893, in the mining department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, seems to me to be worthy of publication. I believe it has always been considered that the presence of arsenic especially interferes with the extraction of gold by the cyanide method. Mr. Tucker's work, although made on a laboratory scale, certainly seems to disprove this view, and to show that even with a very large percentage of arsenic present in the ore, a high extraction may be obtained without an excessive consumption of potassic cyanide. The ore from which the concentrates were obtained was a gray argillaceous schist. and slate, with stringers and veins of quartz running through it. It carried free gold and about 12 per cent. of sulphides. The ore was crushed with stamps; the free gold was collected in the ordinary way on silver-amalgamated copper plates; and the sulphides, which consisted chiefly of arsenopyrite and pyrite, with very small amounts of galena and chalcopyrite, were concentrated and collected by means of a Frue vanner. A carefully-taken sample gave: Gold,........6.17 ounces per ton. Arsenic,.......30.6 per cent. The latter figure would correspond to about 66.5 per cent,. of arsenopyrite in the concentrates. The work to be done was outlined as follows: 1. Sizing the concentrates; 2. Assaying the different sizings; 3. Treating these different sizings with ECy of different degrees of strength for different periods of time.

Jan 1, 1896

By Paul Beck

WHILE the recrystallization properties of most of the practically important metals are known in considerable detail, those of lead are still relatively little known in spite of some valuable contributions in recent years. This condition probably is due to the difficulties involved in applying the usual methods of investigation. The microscopic method of discriminating between the elongated deformed grains of the familiar lenticular shape and the equiaxed recrys-tallized grains is not successful with fully refined lead: lenticular grains cannot be seen under the microscope with any amount of deformation whatever. The probable cause of this phenomenon was recognized long ago. With large deformation the time of recrystallization at room tem-perature is shorter than the period of preparation of the specimen for microscopic examination; with small deformation the deformed grains are not noticeably elongated in the first place. However, with small deformation the migration of the grain boundaries can be observed. The only systematic investigations yet published on the recrystallization of lead, those by R. S. Russell,1-3 make use of the conditions just described. Russell considered recrystallization completed when no further migration of boundaries could be observed. A serious objection to this method arises from the fact that there is no evidence to support the view that grain-boundary migration results only from recrystallization. If such migration does result from other sources after recrystallization is com-pleted-after the deformed grains have been replaced by new unde-formed grains-the "time of recrystallization" as determined by Russell may be too long. Furthermore, the method is subject to the above-mentioned limitation because of the unavoidable period of preparation of the sample. According to Russell, even with the fastest technique 5 min. elapsed before the deformed samples were ready for examination, and consequently no recrystallization time shorter than 5 min. could be measured.

Jan 1, 1939

By R. D. MacDonald

The search for metalliferrous deposits in the Labrador-Ungava Trough of Canada dates from 1929 when non-ferrous minerals were the main quest of prospectors in this area. Many gossans, resulting from the oxidation of sulfides, were located and examined but none of these led to any orebodies of commercial value. However, such investigations did much to arouse interest in this area and fostered further mapping and prospecting. Since this early period in the history of prospecting in the Trough, the presence of iron ore deposits and potential iron producing sites has commanded the center of attention of exploration personnel. The iron-bearing rocks of southwestern Labrador have in recent years come into prominence as possible sources of iron ore of the beneficiation type. Exploration and development work has been carried on in concession areas granted by the Newfoundland Government to the Labrador Mining and Exploration Co. Ltd. and to the Newfoundland and Labrador Corp. In the course of evaluating its holdings in the Wabush Lake area (Fig. l), Labrador Mining and Exploration Co. has conducted geological, geophysical and diamond drilling programs.

Jan 10, 1960

By Tokio Yanagida

Major parameters relating to the operating of the conventional calcine-charged reverberatory f'ce process such as distribution coefficients of major elements among slag, matte, blister, and gases, temperatures and weights of intermediates, and heat losses of furnaces were measured and determined. A computer program to estimate heat and material balances at the process was prepared utilizing these data, showing a good agreement with actual results.

Jan 1, 1984

By J. S. Osoba, J. W. Graham, P. H. Monaghan

Of the many factors which affect the productivity of hydraudically fractured wells, the wettability of the propping sand has received little attention in the pas/. This paper shows that the wettability of the propping sand is an important factor which shorcltl not he overlooked. An analysis of relative permeability data shows that fractures packed with water-wet sand should be more permeable to oil than are fracturer packed with oil-wet sand. Laboratory results verify this conclusion. Cnlculations show that higher permeability to oil in the fracture should provide higher well productivity. A method is presented which ensures that the propping sand in an induced fracture is water-we1 even though oil is used as the fracturing fluid. The rnethod has been used in more than 150 field jobs: the field resrrlts are discussed briefly. The fluidized nature of water-wet sand in oil has giver1 unexpected benefits. This characteristic of water-wet sand and how it has been used advantageously in field operations are discussed. INTRODUCTION Hydraulic fracturing of subsurface strata to increase the productivity of oil and gas wells has been practiced for about 10 years. Today, fracturing is used more often than any other method of well stimulation. Basically, the process consists of breaking down (fracturing) a subsurface formation with pressure applied by means of a carrier fluid, usually oil or water, and propping the induced fractures apart by means of an agent, usually sand. suspended in the carrier fluid. Currently about 68 per cent of all fracturing is done with a simple mixture of refined oil or lease crude oil and sand'. The research of other investigators has suggested that dry sand is rendered oil-wet when it is contracted with certain types of crude or refined oils.' Hence, it may be expected that some fracturing operations employing an oil as the carrier for sand leave fractures packed with oil-wet sand. Conversely, those operations which employ water as the carrier for the sand probably leave the fractures packed with water-wet sand. Since the permeability of a sand-packed fracture to a mixture of oil and water is dependent upon the wettability of the fracturing (frac) sand, research was undertaken to determine to what extent the wettability condition (water-wet or oil-wet) controls fracture permeability which, in turn, affects well productivity. Additional research was directed toward the development of a method for obtaining the desired fracture wettability. In this report both theoretical and experimental evidence is presented to show the desirability of employing water-wet sand in fracturing operations. A method to obtain water-wet sand is discussed, and field results are reviewed briefly. DEPENDENCE OF WELL PRODUCTIVITY ON FRACTURE WETTABILITY To determine the dependence of well productivity on the wettability of the frac sand, it is necessary to know, first, the effect of fracture wettability on fracture permeability and, second, the effect of fracture permeability on well productivity. The relationship of these variables is considered separately in the order indicated. Effect of Wettability on Permeability Fig. 1 shows relative permeability relations for 20-30 mesh Ottawa sand. Inspection of these curves reveals that the relative permeability to oil when a small amount of water accompanies the flow is considerably higher when water rather than oil is the wetting phase. For

By A. Eilers

A MARKED peculiarity of most of the smelting-works of the Far West is the looseness with which accounts of the operations are kept. Indeed, probably over half of the works do not keep any detailed accounts at all, the yearly gross statement of profit or loss being considered sufficient for all purposes. The reasons for this must apparently be sought in the as yet unsettled state of all business relations, and in the deplorable fact that only in isolated cases educated metallurgists are in charge of the smelting-works. Continual and regular assays of the ores, by-products, and slags, are almost unknown, so that it is impracticable to ascertain, even approximately, the losses in the smelting processes. Of cases where regular accounts are kept of the quantities of ore smelted, of the composition of charges, and of the fuel consumed, I know only two or three. Under these circumstances it is extremely difficult to collect figures which cover the operations for a considerable length of time, and which are so valuable for the metallurgist, who wishes to get an insight into the economy of smelting operations, as shown by practice. Figures obtained by personal observation, which can of course cover only the brief space of the visit of the travelling metallurgist, must, therefore, be made to replace the more valuable data. The writer has had occasion, during the last and the preceding summer, to visit the larger number of the Western lead-smelting works, and offers, in the following pages, such data relating to the economy of lead-smelting in the blast furnace at various works, as he has been able to obtain. The only object in doing so is to place these figures on record, so that they may be from time to time supplemented with other data, which are now wanting. I. EUREKA CONSOLIDATED COMPANY'S SMELTING-WORKS. These works smelt the ores from the mines of the same company on Ruby Hill, Eureka, Nevada. The supply is almost unlimited,

By Glen R. Neighbors, Sylvan Cromer

HIGH subsurface temperatures and pressures are making cementing operations more difficult as deeper producing horizons are being sought. Recorded bottom-hole temperatures above 200°F. and pressures in excess of 12,000 Ib. per sq. in., obtained by combining hydrostatic and pump pressures, are not uncommon. Insufficient time is available for proper placement of standard Portland cement, because of the shortened setting time produced by these excessive temperatures and pressures, therefore special types of cements have been developed to overcome these difficulties. From the standpoint of placement, the ideal slurry would be one that would remain fluid long enough to be placed, then harden rapidly, so that there would be a limited amount of contamination and the well could be placed on production in a minimum of time. It is highly desirable, therefore, that some method be devised to measure accurately the time that any slurry will remain in a fluid state while being pumped into the well. To study the effect of elevated temperature and pressure on fluidity, the authors have developed the pressure-type consistometer (Figs. I and 2) described below, and are presenting data obtained with it, using slurries of both quick-setting and slow-setting cements. Studies were made over a temperature range from 110° to 270°F., and a pressure range from atmospheric to 3000 lb. per sq. inch. APPARATUS The fluidity of cement slurries at atmospheric pressure is usually determined with the Halliburton consistometer1 or the Thickening Time Tester.2 These instruments are similar, in many respects, to an ordinary ice-cream freezer. The slurry to be tested is placed in a container that is rotated at a constant speed with an electric motor. Constant temperature is maintained by surrounding the container with a thermostatically controlled bath. The torque on the paddles, which is proportional to the force needed to shear the slurry, is indicated on a scale. The Halliburton instrument is calibrated from 0 to 100 poises against fluids of known viscosity. To permit direct correlation of observed elevated pressure data with those published at atmospheric pressure, the authors' designs of the slurry container, paddle, and torque indicator closely resemble those used on the Halliburton instrument. Duplicate results may be obtained at atmospheric pressure in either instrument. Instead of the atmospheric constant-temperature bath, one was built from a high-pressure steel bull plug. A Uni-Bolt union equipped with a blanking plug serves as the top, permiting the instrument to be opened or closed in less than one minute. The slurry container is built from Shelby steel tubing. A wrench socket welded to the bottom of the container engages a hexagonal nut on the top of the steel shaft that rotates it. This acts as a universal

Jan 1, 1941

By R. H. Richards

In October, 1891,I read a paper before the Institute on a "A HandTelescope for Stadia-Work" (Bans., xx., 732), and promised to report at an early date some results showing the degree of accuracy attained with the instrument. I am now able to report on these results and also on certain improvements that I have made in the target since the first paper was read. I may say that I prefer the title, "Prismatic Stadia-Telescope," to that used in my earlier paper, for while the instrument can be used with perfect satisfaction for short sights up to, say, 300 to 600 feet when held in the hand, it is impossible to read milch longer distances without the use of a tripod, as a steady support for the instrument. Results are here given upon four combinations of prism and telescope. No. 1. A telescope made by Alvan Clark & Sons, 3-inch objective, 28 inches focal length, magnifying 60 diameters, the prism covering half the objective: Feet measured Reading of Distance reduced Reeding of rod pro by tape. the rod. to feet. portional to 100 ft. 127.66 1.1825 100 .92629 211.35 1.9585 100 .92666 326.59 3.0265 100 .92669 484.88 4.4925 100 ,92652 606.91 5.6225 100 .92641 Average,,92651 The value of this prism therefore is .92651 feet on the rod for 100 feet of distance, or 1 foot on the rod corresponds to 107.931 feet of distance. No. 2. A Bardou telescope having a 1-inch objective, magnifying 20 diameters, and a prism covering half the objective:

Jan 1, 1893

Report of the Secretary GENTLEMEN Herewith are transmitted reports from the Treasurer and of the principal standing committees of the Institute. To these special reports members are referred for details as to the year's work. Despite the unfavorable business conditions obtaining throughout the year, the Institute was able to carry on its various activities without curtailment and without drawing on the surplus accumulated through previous years. In fact, small additions were made to the Life Membership and various other funds. It is highly desirable that such additions should continue to be made, especially to the Life Membership fund, for reasons reported last year. At present, money must be used from current receipts in order to enable the Institute to fulfill its obligations to those who on joining the organization commuted their dues by a single payment. In addition, with the passage of years the number increases of those who have paid dues forty years or more and who, by reason of age or disability, are unable longer to practise their profession. These men have supported the Institute through their active professional life and it would be a pity to lose them as members through resignation or for failure to keep up their dues. In accordance with the By-laws the Board has authority to advance such members, on application, to the Honor Roll of Senior Members and to relieve them from further payment of dues. It has been the policy of the Board to do this liberally, but to keep up this, as well as to meet other obligations, it is necessary for money to be provided. It has been estimated by the Treasurer that nearly $50,000 additional should be placed in the Life Membership fund as soon as possible to meet these obligations without using current income and to that end it is necessary, not only to avoid running behind currently but to earn, if possible, some surplus each year. The small amount transferred to the Life Membership fund from surplus this year was, as a matter of fact, made possible by certain members paying personally bills that were properly chargeable to the Treasury. Such generosity is common among those active in Institute work and probably no year would have closed with a surplus except for it.

Jan 1, 1929

By Adrian C. Dorenfeld, John T. Oleksy

Fuel problems of two lesser developed countries (LDC 's) are presented. In particular, the paper reviews cement technology and the fuel-intensive cement industries of the Philippines and South Korea. Based on current financial and cost data, analyses are presented of the proposed substitution of high-sulfur and slow-sulfur American coal in place of fuel oil. The analyses show that economic substitution of coal for oil is not only based on relative prices for coal and oil, as expected, but also to be an inverse function of degree of intensity of energy use, and a direct function of financial incentives such as accelerated depreciation, taxes on the savings made by the use of coal, and cost of capital.

Jan 4, 1979

By Laurence Hicks

CONSIDERATION of the past work on the subject of the diffusion of chromium into iron suggested that additional information might be given by the use of X-ray spectroscopy in following the concentration changes through the diffusion zone. Grübe and Fleischbein1 packed rods of electrolytic iron in a mixture of alumina and chromium. These specimens were heated in an atmos-phere of purified hydrogen for varying lengths of time. After treatment the specimens were examined metallographically and showed the usual structure, consisting of a border of radially oriented columnar grains ending in a sharp boundary line. Reference is made to the fact that etching with certain reagents will attack only the material inside the border of columnar growth and also to the fact that polishing seems to develop a ridge at the position of the boundary between the etched and unetched areas. By chemical analysis of thin layers turned off on a precision lathe, the authors were able to obtain depth-concentration curves. These curves, reproduced in Fig. 1, show that 'in most cases a pronounced change of slope occurs, corresponding to the position of the boundary of the columnar grains. In a later paper Grübe extends his work to other systems which show the same characteristics.2 He concludes that the reason for the break in the curve is that a hindrance of diffusion occurs at the place where the regularly oriented grains of the diffusion zone meet the random grains of the interior portion, on the assumption that the diffusion velocity in one direction in a grain may be greater than in another direction, and that the grains in the diffusion zone orient themselves so as to give the maximum diffusion rate. Kelley3 points out that Grübe has failed to note that the boundary line does not consistently cross all grains and

Jan 1, 1933

By W. P. Blake

THIS furnace is designed especially for the oxidation of sulphur or arsenic in pyritic ores, but may be used for all oxidizing or desulphurizing operations, and for calcining, roasting and chloridizing ores, or for drying ores in large quantities preparatory to treatment by magnetic separators or otherwise. It is of the tabular, revolving type, with automatic feed and delivery, and is a modification of the Cornish calcining furnace, designed by Brunton, from which it differs, however, not only in construction, but in two or more radical features, for which novelty is claimed and patents have been applied for. The principal of these novelties are: 1. A series of concentric terraced floors, one above another. 2. The introduction of superheated air upon the charge without contact with the fuel. In the furnace which I have had in operation for more than a

Jan 1, 1893

By John D. Gill

THIS paper assumes the incontrovertible nature of the statement that the validity of competition in the nonnatural resource industries is established firmly on the rate and extent of the economic development of the United States. It then demonstrates the nonexistence of any condition within the petroleum industry that would invalidate the principle of competition as applied to it. It points to the benefits that competition has effected in the oil industry and the reasons why the practice of the competitive principle should continue to keep the industry virile and progressive in meeting the requirements of future generations for the kind of products natural to it. Finally, it pleads for a clearer view of the affairs of the oil industry by seeing them against a background of the whole economy. INTRODUCTION Even a few years ago there would have been only an academic reason for presenting before this Institute a paper on the validity of competition in the oil industry or any other natural resource industry; today there is no more practical subject for this body to consider. In social importance it transcends attempted solutions of perplexing technical problems; and even the numerous legal and economic problems that grow out of administration of state regulatory measures appear to be of secondary importance because they would cease to exist if competition were abolished. The aspiration of certain elements of the Federal Government to acquire control of the oil industry has long been suspected The vital need for petroleum in the national defense ... confirms my belief in the urgent need of Federal legislation to safeguard our petroleum supply through prevention of waste and by establishment and maintenance of sound economic conditions in the oil industry... . But also it may be dismissed with this mere mention of it because it predicates government control and the abandonment or broad reduction of competition on a war emergency. Clearly, the fight for a nation's life may justify a government's control over men and resources that would be abhorrent and economically enervating under conditions of national security. More pertinent to the present matter, because it appears expressive neither of a personal ambition nor of an emergency condition but rather of the long-range view of a certain school of conservationists, is the pronouncement of no less an authority than the Attorney General of the United States, who has been repeatedly quoted by the press as saying that the American Petroleum Industry constituted a case "where the principle of conservation of an exhaustible and irreplaceable resource should replace the principle of competitive exploitation." The significance of this statement in the light of the commonly accepted meanings of the " principle of conservation" and of the "principle of competitive ex-

Jan 1, 1941

By Walter R. Hibbard

THE term lineage was first introduced by Buerger1 to denote dendritic branches, grown from a crystal nucleus during solidification from the liquid, with imperfections in alignment of the order of 10-1 [ ] to 10-4 cm. These imperfections are associated with distortions of the dendrites caused by the subsequent solidification of the inter-dendritic filling and are illustrated in Fig 11. Buerger etched zinc single crystals made by the Bridgman2 method to develop this dendritic pattern and show lineage microscopically. Since maximum crystal growth in face-centered cubic metals occurs along the [100] directions,2 lineage would appear in copper as small deviations of dendritic branches from these directions. Elam4 and others5-8 reported etching effects resulting from coring along the cube face traces of various copper alloy crystals. These traces were used by Samans8 to orient single crystals. Williamson9 noted a "lined structure (in alpha brass single crystals) consisting of an ordered arrangement of etch pits" which were probably traces of {100} planes but somewhat uncertain because they were never straight (i.e., apparently lineage). Greninger10 described the distortion and multiplicity of Laue spots in back reflection X ray photograms of copper single crystals showing lineage. The present investigation includes metallographic, X ray and property studies of lineage in large grain and single crystal specimens of copper. PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS Specimens 10 in. long and ½ in. diam of oxygen-free copper (O.F.H.C.) (99.985 pct) were melted vertically in graphite crucibles under an atmosphere of commercial nitrogen purified through a gas train including sulfuric acid, potassium chloride, magnesium chlorate, hot copper chips and phosphorus pentoxide. After a temperature of 1200°C had been maintained for ½ hr, the furnace was turned off and the specimens cooled at a rate of about 150°C an hour. This method of direct solidification was used by Greninger10 to produce single crystals with marked lineage and in this investigation produced a fair yield of single crystal specimens in

Jan 1, 1947

By James Kitson, Abram S. Hewitt

I HAVE now the duty—the very pleasant duty—to perform, of presenting to the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt the Bessemer gold medal for distinguished services to the iron and steel trade. When this matter was brought under consideration in London it was well known that, as Mr. Hewitt would be the first to acknowledge, there is more than one man in America upon whom we would gladly have cm ferred this distinction, and to whom this merit might be justly at tributed ; but Mr. Hewitt has been long known to our distinguished members on the other side of the Atlantic as one of the most active minds in the investigation of new methods of manufacture, and one of the most enterprising metallurgists on this side of the Atlantic. Well, gentlemen, we proposed to Mr. Hewitt that he should receive this gold medal, but I think it is quite right, and is his due, that I should state that he at once declined to receive it; and he declined in a manner which rendered it impossible to any one but very per sistent friends and very obstinate Englishmen to refuse. When we heard that our American friends had conferred once more upon Mr. Hewitt the distinction of President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and particularly with reference to our contem plated visit, and when we heard that he had been elected unani mously to that position, we felt that we had received the stamp of approval from this side. Gentlemen, as I said before, Mr. Hewitt has long been known to many of us in England as an advocate of scientific education. A report which he made of the metallurgical products at the Paris Exposition in 1867 was one of the matters which drew very clearly and distinctly the attention of the English iron and steel trade to the necessity of further improvement in our technical education as to iron and steel; and it was one of those beginnings which led ultimately to the foundation of the Iron and Steel Institute. The development of the ideas which 'he there investigated undoubtedly led

Jan 1, 1891

By Stephen Birch

LATOUCHE, or the Beatson plant of the Kennecott Copper Corpn., is located in the Prince William Sound district of Alaska about 80 miles west of Cordova and 60 miles from Seward. Ore was discovered and claims located on Latouche Island in July, 1897. The mines were worked in a desultory manner until 1910, when the property was acquired by the Kennecott Copper interests. The first shipment of ore was made in 1904; only the higher grade ore was mined and no attempt was made to treat the ore until it was taken over by the Kennecott, company. Since that time the mine has been developed to produce 1500 tons a day and a mill has been erected for treating this tonnage, using flotation entirely. The orebody is more or less lenticular in shape with a maximum width of about 280 ft. and a length of about 800 ft. The southern end of the lens is split by a horse of waste for about 400 ft. The hanging-wall limit is a well-defined fault associated with a band of pyrrhotite, having an average dip of 60°. There is no defined foot wall, the value of the ore governing the limits of the mining; in one part of the mine, however, it is defined by a minor fault. The orebody is located in a shear zone of the country rock of graywacke and slate. The principal mineral is chalcopyrite associated with pyrite and quartz. The mine is located a few hundred feet from tidewater; the mill is located on the beach and the ore is hoisted direct from the mine through a vertical shaft into the mill bins. Until the past year practically all the mining had been conducted in open pits. During the past two years, the ore above the 200-ft. level has been developed and a system of stoping devised to recover this ore; however, this system has not been in use long enough to give any definite results as to costs or efficiency. It consists, principally, of dividing the orebody into stopes, across the full width of the orebody, 70 ft. wide with a pillar 30 ft. wide between the stopes. Raises are driven through the stopes at intervals of about 60 ft. and all the ore is broken by drilling from these raises; in other words, similar to a shrinkage stope, doing the drilling from the raises instead of setting up on the broken ore as is customary. The ground is very much broken up by clay slips and seams running in every direction. Shrinkage stoping had been

Jan 1, 1924

By William Kent

Mr. ASHBURNER's paper on the Classification and Composition of Pennsylvania Anthracites, read at this meeting, well shows the need of new and accurate determinations of the heating value of these coals. A similar need exists for the determination of the value of bituminous coals, since the variation in quality of the latter is greater than the variation in anthracites. The recent extensive use of liquid and gaseous fuels, " patent" fuels, tan-bark, and other refuse fuels, also makes a necessity fix some correct method of determining the relative values of each of these fuels. Mr. Ashburner has recommended that tests of coals should be undertaken by the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, and Professor Dewey, as stated in Mr. Ashbnrner's paper, has suggested a plan for tests of American coals, by the Smithsonian Institution, for which an appropriation by Congress will be asked. It is to be hoped that if any extensive series of tests of coals is carried on under either Government or State auspices, the erroneous methods of test which were followed by Professor Johnson in 1842, and by Quartermaster-General Meigs in 1882, will not be adopted.* The first requisite in determining the heating-power of a fuel is proper apparatus, such as has not been used in any of the tests of American coals yet reported. In the hope that more accurate means may be used in future tests, the writer desires to call attention to an apparatus which he has designed for the purpose. Not having had opportunity for making a trial of it, nor even of having it criticised by others, he does not offer it as the best possible apparatus; but if it contains any points of value, and leads to the design of still more suitable devices by others, the object of the presentation of this paper will be accomplished. The tests by Professor Johnson and General Meigs were made by evaporating water into steam in ordinary steam-boilers. A steamboiler of ordinary construction is not a good apparatus for determining the heating power of a fuel, for the following reasons:

Jan 1, 1886

PRIOR to the World War most of the barite used in the United States for manufacturing lithopone and barium chemicals was imported. Germany, by virtue of an abundance of high-grade ore and low labor costs, was in a position to dominate the world market. With the cessa-tion of imports and with the war demand for barium chemicals, the barium chemical industry and the mining of barite became well estab-lished in the United States. This industry has continued to expand because of the increasing use of lithopone. In 1914 the sales of domestic crude barite was 52,919 tons and in 1934 it was 209,850 tons. Barite deposits of economic importance occur in at least 20 states, but the principal producers in 1934 were Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, California and Arizona. The main mining centers are located near the crude barite markets of the three principal marketing districts-the Pacific Coast, the Midwestern area, and the Eastern area. The Pacific Coast is supplied entirely by California, Nevada, and Arizona. The Midwestern area uses most of the Missouri crude and a small amount from the southern states. The eastern market is the chief competitive area. Practically all of the imported crude is marketed there; also the bulk of the southern crude and ground barite. In addition, this area absorbs a small part of the Missouri crude and 80 per cent of the ground barite. Besides the advantage of low delivered costs and purity of product, the imported barite has commanded a price differential because it is soft rather than hard, like many of the domestic ores. The inherent physical properties of the southern ores remain, but the purity can be controlled to a great extent by beneficiation. Simple washing or gravity concentra-tion has sufficed in the past, but in many cases a more efficient process now becomes imperative to remove impurities not amenable to these methods. Certain deposits now being opened are of lower grade and require more precise milling conditions. In some ores, the kind of impurities has changed as the mining advanced.

Jan 1, 1936

By G. W. P. Rengstorff

In an effort to find an oxidation-resistant alloy of molybdenum, binary and ternary alloys containing aluminum, chromium, cobalt, iron, nickel, silicon, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium were screened. Fourteen other alloying additions were also tested. Many of the alloys were more oxidation-resistant than molybdenum, but none were entirely satisfactory. MOLYBDENUM oxidizes extremely rapidly above 1450°F in air. At 1800°F, a loss of metal at the rate of 0.1 in. in 4 hr is typical. The high speed of this oxidation may be judged by comparison with the oxidation rate of 0.1 in. per year (0.00005 in. in 4 hr), sometimes taken as the maximum permissible oxidation rate at 1800°F for a satisfactory Fe-Cr-Ni alloy. Great strides have been made in the development of coatings and cladding to protect molybdenum from oxidizing atmospheres. These developments in surface protection will undoubtedly make it possible to take advantage of the excellent hot strength of molybdellum and its alloys in many new applications. Still, even the best coating can protect molybdenum only as long as the surface layer is unbroken. Research was undertaken to determine whether an alloy of molybdenum could be found which would resist oxidation. Such an alloy would not deteriorate suddenly when the protective surface layer was destroyed in a small area. In seeking an alloy of molybdenum to resist oxidation, the physical properties of molybdenum could not be sacrificed entirely. The development of an alloy with the desired resistance to oxidation was not achieved. The information obtained on the effect of a large number of elements on the oxidation of molybdenum is, however, of value in the development of coatings. Indeed, many of the alloys tested for oxidation resistance were already known to have poor mechanical properties but were tested to aid in the development of coatings. Oxidation of Molybdenum The rapid oxidation of molybdenum is usually attributed to the volatility of Moo,,. Gulbransen and Wysong have shown that molybdenum oxidizes very slowly up to 850°F, the temperature at which the oxide film begins to evaporate. Melting as well as evaporation of molybdenum oxides promotes the oxidation of molybdenum. MoO melts at 1465°F. MOO, the oxide which is believed to form at the metal-oxide interface, combines with MoO, to form a eutectic having a melting point of 1432°F.' The liquid oxide, even if nonvolatile, could cause poor resistance to oxidation by allowing easy transport of molybdenum and oxygen ions through the oxide. Actually, a sudden increase in the rate of oxidation of molybdenum at 1460°F has been observed to coincide with the appearance of a liquid phase. The formation of a volatile oxide is not unique with molybdenum. The problem is also encountered with vanadium, tungsten, and some of the Pt-Pd group of metals. Vanadium not only forms the volatile V2O3 but, like molybdenum, forms a liquid oxide coating. Few attempts have been made, however, to prevent the rapid oxidation of these metals by alloying. Oxidation of Molybdenum Alloys At the beginning of this work, very little was known of the oxidation resistance of molybdenum alloys. It was known that molybdenum disilicide (with 37 pct Si) has extremely good oxidation resistance,' but this compound is so brittle that it has few uses. It is an effective protective coating for molybdenum when allowance can be made for its brittleness. Chromium was known to retard the oxidation of molybdenum,' but at least 50 pct Cr was necessary to have an appreciable effect. Other, unpublished, reports show that a few other alloys have been given preliminary tests, but the results have not been promising." Choice of Alloys to be Investigated An alloying element might be expected to protect molybdenum in either of two ways: Its oxide might combine with molybdenum oxide to form a stable, nonvolatile complex oxide (a molybdate); or the oxide of the alloying element might form in preference to molybdenum oxide, developing an impervious layer which would prevent the formation of a volatile molybdenum oxide. The knowledge available about the formation of molybdates was meager. Therefore, the initial study was made on alloys of molybdenum with elements having especially stable oxides. On this basis, binary and ternary alloys containing the following six elements were investigated: aluminum, chromium, titanium, zirconium, silicon, and vanadium. Nickel was also added as an alloying element. Although it does not form a more stable oxide than molybdenum, it does impart some oxidation resistance to copper and iron. Its inclusion in the study was fortunate because its alloys proved to be the most promising of those first tested. Apparently nickel formed a stable molybdate. Because nickel was effective in reducing the oxidation rate of molybdenum, the elements iron, cobalt, and tungsten were added to the list. The ten alloying elements mentioned form ten binary and 45 ternary alloying systems with molybdenum. A series of alloys was tested in each of these systems. In addition, at least one test was made on the effect of each of the following alloying elements:

Jan 1, 1957

POSITIONS VACANT (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons.) Superintendent for iron mine operated on the sub-level and caving system. Small output, moderate salary. Location, Southern State. No. 45. Chemist to sample and analyze iron ore. Experience in other branches not essential. Location, Southern State. No. 46. ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introducd by members.) Experienced mine superintendent desires position. Several years' experience in practical management of mining and development work. Has also practiced ass consulting engineer and is thoroughly experienced in the examination and development of mining properties. Mexican experience. Will go anywhere for reliable concern. Salary moderate. References. No. 254. Member, mechanical superintendent, wants position. Has had 12 years' experience as master mechanic of smelting plants in United States and Mexico. Also superintendent of shops doing marine, mining, and general contracting work. . Experienced in manufacture of mining tools and equipment. Up to the minute in copper, lead, and zinc smelting. Has learned a learned a great deal, can forget much, and has the inclination and ability to learn more. Best of references. No. 255.

Jan 10, 1915