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By I. Iwasaki, K. Adam

During wet grinding the electrochemical interactions between grinding media and pyrrhotite not only accelerate media wear but also adversely affect the suede mineral's flotation response. A possible remedy of the adverse effects on floatability by applying electric potentials to grinding media was examined. Flotation tests, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study pyrrhotite surface properties. Although anodic polarization of the steels increased metal loss by corrosion, pyrrhotite flotation recovery was increased. In the case of cathodic polarization, flotation recovery improved somewhat in a narrow range of overpotentials. At higher cathodic overpotentials, however, mineral floatability was progressively lowered although the corrosive wear of grinding media might be reduced.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. I. Smith

The technical and safety press have devoted much space in support of or in opposition to the use of booster and auxiliary fans in coal mines. The Mine Safety Board of the U. S. Bureau of Mines has given the matter consideration, and the Mine Ventilation Committee of the A. I. M. E. is now seeking a discussion of the merits and demerits of such fans to guide it in formulating recommendations. In this paper I will set up some principles on which I believe most engineers will agree and from which we may work toward a decision, though as to what that decision shall be there may be a difference in opinion. Before stating the points on which I believe there is accord, I will distinguish between booster and auxiliary fans. Definition of Booster and Auxiliary Fans In discussing underground fans G. S. Rice1 distinguishes between those used to increase the amount of air passing a given point and those used to augment the ventilation locally. He describes a booster fan as one which is installed to handle the entire air current passing a given

Jan 1, 1927

By John G. Cazort

In August 1957, a cutter suction dredge started the removal of overburden from a bauxite deposit near Paranam, Surinam (formerly Dutch Guiana), South America. This event marked the climax of a program of investigation, design and construction which lasted almost five years. Cutter-suction dredges are used predominantly for harbor and river work, and land reclamation. While they have been utilized to remove overburden from ore bodies, notably at Steep Rock, Ontario, and Black Lake, Quebec, the conditions under which one is being used for this purpose in Surinam are unusual. Paranam is a mining town built by Suriname Aluminum Company, a subsidiary of Aluminum Company of America. It is located on the Surinam River, about 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. The bauxite mining, drying and shiploading facilities have been in operation since 1941.

Jan 10, 1960

By Gerhard Derge

THE chemical and physical properties of slag systems are of special interest to metallurgists, for nearly all metals are in contact with molten slags during the primary reduction from their ores and then during the subsequent refining and alloying processes that determine their ultimate use, These processes are carried out at high temperatures and involve such complex chemical systems that fundamental scientific knowledge of the properties and behavior of these slags is inadequate. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain known slag characteristics. The commonest of these regard the molten slag as constituted of compounds that are dissociated in varying degrees into their constituent oxides, as illustrated by Schenck1 and the recent papers of Chipman and co-authors.2-5 Another proposal is that these compounds dissociate by completes or partial ionization, the evidence for which has been reviewed by Martin and Derge.7 Whatever hypothesis is favored, the exact formulation of these compounds is incomplete. It is based on three principal types of information: I, Studies of solidified slag samples by X-ray diffraction, petrography, and similar methods that can be used at room temperature, The correlation of this information with the high-temperature properties of the molten slag is uncertain, 2. Studies of slag-metal equilibria, which have the advantage of providing observations on the molten slag at high temperature, However, even these data present problems of interpretation because they require a complete knowledge of the metal phase, 3, Direct measurements of properties of molten slag at the temperature of greatest metallurgical interest. Viscosity, electrical conductivity, specific heats, and similar properties have been measured, but the data of this type are widely scattered and frequently difficult to interpret, Additional direct measurements of properties of molten slag that can be interpreted in terms of chemical behavior are required, and this paper shows that the standard physical-chemical measurement of reversible electrode potentials, which measure the activity of specific constituents, is a fruitful source of such information, The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to find an electrode combination that would yield reversible electromotive force measurements when dipped into the molten slag to be studied. Slags of the systems CaO-SiO2 and CaO-A1203-Si02 were chosen for study because graphite containers could be used and the data could be correlated with those for viscosity, conductivity, and other proper-

Jan 1, 1946

By Robert Goodrich

EXPERIMENTS ON A PORPHYRY COPPER ORE FROM BISBEE, ARIZ. THIS research was done partly in the non-ferrous laboratory of the Department of Metallurgy of Columbia University, under the direction of Dr. Edward F. Kern, and completed elsewhere. Acknowledgment is due to Prof. Arthur L. Walker, Dr. Edward F. Kern and Dr. William Campbell of the Department of Metallurgy, for their kind advice and for the inspiration derived from their instruction. This report is given under the following heads: Petrographic Description (Microscopic Study); Sampling and Preparing Ore for Treatment; Chemical Analysis; Treatment of Ore. PETROGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION Texture: Variable. Fine to medium mixed aggregate. Original structure: Obscure. Secondary structure: Fractured; healed.

Jan 8, 1915

By Franklin H. Sharp

The operation of the Magmont Concentrator located on the New Lead Belt of Southeast Missouri is described. Ore characteristics affecting lead-copper-zinc separation are enumerated, and the cur- rent methods of separation are detailed.

Jan 1, 1976

By N. O. Johnson, J. Boyer, D. H. Sargent, R. B. Frahme

Although the Western bentonite industry has grown rapidly, it is facing major challenges to sustained growth. The fundamental penalty of costly overland transportation to both domestic markets and to US seaports is of increasing importance; as both substitute materials and foreign bentonites present more formidable competition in the historic market areas of drilling muds, foundry sands, and iron ore pelletizing; and as foreign demand grows more rapidly than domestic demand. The Western bentonite industry is facing these challenges by altering its transportation patterns, by upgrading of products, and by emphasizing customer service and stringent quality control.

Jan 9, 1979

(There are 70 Student Chapters in the United States, 2 in Canada) University of Alabama-University, Alabama, Mining and Metallurgical Society, Win L Mason University of Alaska-College, Alaska, Mining Society of the University of Alaska, E H Beistline University of Arizona-Tucson, Arizona, Miners Society Birmingham-Southern College-Birmingham, Alabama, Pick and Hammer Club, Daniel D Arden University of British Columbia-Vancouver, British Columbia, G M Dawson Club, H C Gunning University of California-Berkeley, California, Mineral Technology Association, W H Somerton Carnegie Institute of Teehnology-Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Metals Club, Gerhard Derge Case Institute of -Technology-Cleveland, Ohio, Case Metallurgical Engineering Society, Robert F Hehemann

Jan 1, 1956

By H. I. Aaronson, H. A. Domian

The self-diffusivity of Ag10 has been measured as a function of temperature and composition in AgMg. a CsCl-type intermetallic compound with a substitutional defect structure on both sides of the stoichiometric (50 at. pct Mg) composition. These measurements show that In D increases linearly, and both In Do and Q decrease linearly with deviation from stoichiometry. The slopes of these lines are significantly steeper in magnesium-rich alloys. Equations for the variation of Q with composition have been derived by application of the theory of random walk processes on the assumption that diffusion in compounds of this type takes place by the six-jump cycle mechanism of Huntington, Elcock, and McCombie. The favorable agreement obtained with experiment furnishes fresh support for the correctness of this assumption. A principal result of this treatment is that. although the concentration of vacancies is considerably higher in the silver sublattice than in the magnesium sublattice, the acfivation energies for movement of the magnesium sublattice vacancies are so much lower that these vacancies are responsible for effectively all diffusion of silver in this compound. A tendency for vacancies of both types to be kinetically bound to wrong atoms is also noted. THIS study was undertaken to examine the influence of substitutional defects upon self-diffusion in an intermetallic compound, AgMg, with a CsCl-type crystal structure. The CsCl structure is exception- ally simple. At the equiatomic or stoichiometric composition in a binary alloy, it consists of two interpenetrating simple cubic sublattices, each of which is exclusively populated by the atoms of one species. When atomic size and other factors are favorable, deviations from stoichiometry can be entirely accommodated by the substitution of atoms of the species present in excess of 50 at. pct on the sublattice of the other species on a one-for-one basis. Under this condition, the only vacancies present are those formed by thermal activation. The excess atoms thus incorporated into the sublattice of the minority species may be considered as substitutional defects in this sublattice. Several X-ray studies have shown that the defect structure of AgMg is entirely of the substitutional type on both sides of the stoichiometric composition.1"3 The thermodynamic investigation of Kachi indicates that, aside from a low level of thermal disorder and these constitutional defects, order is maintained to the solidus temperature. This compound is therefore a particularly useful vehicle for a study of the influence of substitutional defects upon diffusion kinetics. Other advantages of AgMg for this purpose include: the broad composition region, as much as approximately 10 at. pct on either side of the stoichiometric (50 at. pct Mg), in which the compound is stable; the comparatively low temperature range of the solidus (820°C and below),5 making diffusion anneals near this range experimentally convenient; the reasonably good machinability of the compound, permitting utilization of the standard sectioning method of radiotracer analysis; and the availability of a good tracer, A for one of the constituent species. While this investigation was in progress, Hagel and westbrooks reported data on the self-diffusion

Jan 1, 1964

By Stephen G. Dardaganian

Pore volume compresibilitieu measured in the laborutory on core .samples are reported for typical reservoir .sarrrl.rtorres at reservoir pressure. These cornpressibilities ore different for each reseriloir sample and cannot be correlated to porosity. The compressihilities are a1so functions of presslire. In recent years several authors have pointed out the importance of including pore volume compressibility of the reservoir rock in certain reservoir engineering calculations. Hall' showed that in calculating the hydrocarbon volume of an undersaturated reservoir from the production per unit change in reservoir pressure, the neglect of rock compressibility could, in the extreme case of low porosity rock, lead to results in error by a factor of two. Hawkinsl' and Hobson and Mrosovsky showed that both rock and interstitial water compressibilities must be included to achieve satisfactory accuracy in this calculation. Although rock compressibility is an important reservoir property in these calculations, very few data are available. Hall' made compressibility measurements on a few samples in a small pressure range. No other direct pore volume compressibility measurements have been reported. Geertsma' discussed the elasticity of reservoir rock but did not present any new data. In this paper, rock compressibilities suitable for reservoir calculations are reported for a variety of sandstones typical of U. S. reservoirs. The measurements were made through a range of pressures which is also typical of reservoirs. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Plugs 1 in. in diameter and 2- to 3-in. long were diamond drilled, 14 from cores from seven oil-bearing or potentially oil-bearing sandstone, one from a quarried sandstone, and another from a shallow, oil-free, pure orthoquartzite. The plugs were extracted in toluene, vacuum dried, and then weighed. The plugs were then saturated with kerosene and reweighed. This gave pore volume. They were then again extracted in toluene. vacuum dried, and jacketed in 0.004-in. thick copper foil. A short length of -in high pressure tubing led from the jacket. The jacketed sample was then saturated with kerosene and placed in the hydraulic pressure cell as shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the mercury slug showed the change in pore volume of the sample under a given pressure change. Temperature was about 72" F for all measurements. Before taking any measurements, the external pressure on the sample was raised to 10,000 psig and kept there for several hours. This formed the thin copper jacket around the plug. 7-he pressure was then removed and the sample left at least overnight, during which time it recovered its original pore volume. An external pressure of 12,000 psig was then applied and held constant. The change in pore volume was noted as the internal pressure was raised in 1,000 psig increments to 10,000 psig. The internal pressure was then reduced to zero, again noting pore volume changes,

By R. E. Reed-Hill, W. H. Hartt

The "(3034) " twin lamellae in magnesium have been reexamined using electron microscope replicas. The double twinning sequence (1011)- (1012) for these lamellae has been reconfirmed. Evidence is presented showing that the irrational habit of these twins is probably the direct result of a need to accommodate the second-order twinning shear. This accommodation vesults in both an external shear in the matrix and an internal shear in the lamella. A model is presented which accounts for the experimental obseruations. HCP metals are generally characterized by strong textures in which the basal planes of the grains tend to be aligned parallel to the rolling direction in sheet or plate and to the axis of wires and rods. Since these directions are normally those in which finished products may be subjected to uniaxial tensile stress, these textures effectively place the crystals of magnesium objects in orientations unfavorable to both basal slip and {1012) twinning, the easily activated deformation systems of this metal. However, when magnesium crystals are deformed near room temperature by a tensile stress nearly parallel to the basal plane, another mode of deformation can occur.',2 This is _a double twin which forms first by twinning on {loll), followed by retwinning on (1012). The resulting twin lamellae are of considerable interest. First, they can be responsible for "brittle fracture''; when a tensile stress axis lies in the basal plane, because the reoriented crystal structure of a lamella is well-aligned for slip while the parent crystal is not. Extensive internal deformation may thus occur while the matrix is still almost undeformed. This deformation can produce a ductile rupture running the length of the twin.3 Complete failure of the specimen may then oc-cure by the spreading of cracks from one twin lamella to another, or by the movement of a crack into a grain boundary and then along grain boundaries. Since the the volume fraction of these doubly twinned elements is normally very small, the fracture may be classed as brittle, although the fracture mechanism is, of itself, essentially ductile. It is quite probable that the ductility transition, normally observed4 in magnesium at or slightly Obove room temperature, is closely associated with these second-order twins. The detailed relationship of these twins to fracture in single crystals will be the topic of another paper. The present paper is concerned with a second important aspect: the irrational habit of these double twins that falls close to {3034), or approximately 7 deg away from the primary (10il) twin habit. There is good reason to believe that this habit results directly

Jan 1, 1968

By T. D. Murphy, G. V. Henderson

The element silicon, with its usual partner, oxygen, plays the same role relative to inorganic materials as carbon and hydrogen play with respect to living organisms. The crystallographic structure of silicon dioxide (SiO2) consists of one atom of silicon well-nigh inseparably bonded to four contiguous atoms of oxygen, a gas of but slightly more than half its atomic weight, forming a three-dimensional network of SiO4 tetrahedra (Dietz, 1968). This wispy arrangement is the fabric of the mineral quartz which is one of the harder, more abrasive, and chemically stable raw materials to be found in Mother Nature's cupboard. Most of us are vaguely familiar with the observation that nearly 60% of the lithosphere to an approximate depth of 10 miles is composed of these two elements, which proportion actually rises to about 75% if the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are included (Parker, 1967). Elemental silicon is a brittle steel-gray metalloid with a density of 2.42 and does not occur in nature. In its limited commercial form, which is still brittle and metallic in appearance, its density drops to 2.33. It combines with oxygen to form the gaseous oxide SiO, or the solid dioxide Si02 (analogous to its congener carbon in CO and CO2); a tetrachloride SiCI4 (analogous to CC14); or, combining with oxygen and one or more metal ions, forms the largest rock-making family of all, the silicates. Further, next to the feldspars, quartz is the most abundant known mineral and, in some form or another, accounts for roughly 12% of surficial terrestrial rock. It is this so-called "free silica" to which your attention is chiefly directed in this chapter. In any such consideration of silica, its several crystalline phases with their attendant differing physical properties appear worthy of delineation. Alpha quartz is the only one of this interesting polymorphic family that is thermodynamically stable at normal pressures and temperatures up to about 573°C. The low phases of tridymite and cristobalite can exist in the so-called metastable state below 117° to 200ºC but seldom occur in nature in these two different crystal forms (Sosman, 1965). Opaline silica, now considered by most researchers to be a variety of cristobalite, occurs in abundance and is the only exception. The three remaining polymorphs, keatite, coesite, and stishovite, also are metastable under ambient conditions. Keatite, however, is not known to occur naturally and has only been synthesized in the laboratory. The other two have been identified in submicron sizes and in microscopic amounts, occurring naturally as a result of high order shock-wave pressures generating quite elevated temperatures --such as might accompany the impact of a large meteorite on a hard sandstone terrain (Chao et al., 1962). An intriguing characteristic of these silica minerals, and one which has very practical applications, is their extremely variable densities. The classic 2.65 specific gravity of alpha quartz drops to 2.20 in tridymite, cristobalite, and lechatelierite (natural silica glass), as well as in many man-made glasses of commerce which are merely noncrystalline or amorphous solids in the form of super-cooled liquids which can no longer change their shapes (Pauling, 1950). It rises again to 2.50 and 2.93 for keatite and coesite, respectively, and finally becomes a reported 4.35 for stishovite-nearly a 50% range in density for the known physical combinations that silica naturally assumes (Frondel, 1962; Konnert et al., 1973; Pecora, 1960). Pursuing its esthetic aspects, briefly, silica is well-represented among gem stones which, to qualify as such, must have the attributes of beauty, durability, and rarity (Jahns, 1983). As quartzose gems usually have but one or, at

Jan 1, 1983

By R. J. Lutton

Empirical data from 91 rock excavations have been used to construct a family of slope curves on a chart relating excavation height and inclination. The highest and steepest slopes from each excavation are plotted and connected by a line. The 31 1ines appear to establish one or two geometrical slope fields through which the curves are projected. The curves apparently represent a lumped eflect of many factors too complex to be considered individually. Important factors such as geological structure or ground-water conditions can dominate the picture, but where these factors do not overshadow others, the slope chart should be useful for estimating or checking optimum inclination. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAE) has been engaged since 1962 with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission in a joint research program to develop nuclear excavation technology. The Corps is responsible for collecting the requisite data on engineering and construction problems associated with nuclear excavation. The ultimate objective is to develop a capability to use nuclear explosives as a construction tool on public works projects such as harbors and canals. The present study on empirical inclination-height curves for conventionally excavated slopes is an outgrowth of an investigation' sponsored by the USAE Nuclear Cratering Group on applicability of data from existing excavations in establishing guides for engineering judgment in crater excavation. Data were generously contributed by over 50 mining companies among other organizations. Inasmuch as several companies preferred that their contribution be anonymous, all data are treated so here. Some Factors Affecting Stability Many factors affect or are suspected of affecting the stability of excavated slopes, e.g., adverse structural orientation, degree of structural ordering, ground water, climatic conditions, mechanics of excavation, and plan-profile configuration. Such factors are lumped together in developing a slope chart. Obviously geological structure and ground water can overshadow all other factors. Where such is the case, the simplification of slope charts may give an erroneous picture (not conservative enough). A further complication results from the fact that the concept of stability may vary according to the use of the excavations. For example, slope adjustments that would be regarded as failure in a powerhouse excavation, might be tolerable in a mining operation. Mine slopes are continually being modified by further excavation, and instability that would develop in a similar permanent excavation slope over a period of years might not have time to develop in a mine. Inclination vs. Height Charts Charts of inclination vs. height for particular formations or conditions have been used in the past as an aid for designing excavation slopes. Some of these have been based upon empirical analyses of collections of data and experience. MacDonald" and Lane have presented slope tables and charts for excavated and natural slopes in relatively weak sandstone and shale. Coates' has shown an inclination-height chart for slopes in incompetent rock. Most organizations have developed slope design criteria which relate bench widths, heights, and inclinations to use in various rocks. Slope data collected in present studies can be similarly used to develop inclination-height charts; however, a plot of all slopes on such a chart shows very little because of the wide spread of the data. Reasons for the dispersion of points are: (1) many slopes are not carried at optimum inclination, particularly in mines where maintaining roadways and following irregularities of ore bodies are more important than achieving steep inclinations; (2) many engineers and geologists with varied backgrounds and viewpoints have been involved in designing these slopes; and (3) each slope is characterized by a unique combination of factors affecting stability and in turn optimum inclination. Significant curves can sometimes be constructed where the points can be grouped into related clusters from the same excavation. The essence of this approach appears when only two slopes from each excavation are considered—the highest slope and the steepest slope, connected by a line segment (Fig. 1). This reduces considerably the usable data because in many cases only one of these two slopes is available. Nevertheless, the concession seems justified. Construction of Slope Curves Ninety-one pairs of points and connecting line segments were assembled in this study. The line segments were assumed to approximate a geometrical slope field (Fig. 2), and a family of curves has been visually projected through to represent the slope field. It should be

Jan 1, 1971

By R. R. Boucher, O. J. C. Runnalls

A pronounced thermal effect has been observed on heating or cooling a1wninum-rich Al-U and Al-Pu alloys. From microscopic and X-ray diffractionstudies, the effectl has been attributed to trnsfor)nations in the inlemetallic phases UAl, and PuAl , involuing rearrangement or cluslering of vacancies The transformation obsrved in Al-20 wi oct U alloys occurred near the a Al-UAl4 eutectic tem-perature of 646°C making it difjicult to detect from heating curves. When cooling, howeoer, thermal mad X-ray analyses indicnted that the high-temperati~re phase labeled p UAL, precipitated initially during euitectic solidification. As solidification continued and after an induction period o-f 5 lo 20 tnin the nu-cleatiorz and growth of the low- twmperature phase, a UAl4 produced an euolution of energy which raised the observed alloy temperature by 1° to 2°C. in Al-Pu alloys the transformation occurred at 645°C, 5 deg below the eutectic solidification temperccture. The eslimated latent heat of transformation was 25 +5 cnl per g PuAl,. The high-tetnpevcl-ture forms of UAl, and PuAl, were easily 9-etccined by chill casting Al-U and Al-Pu alloys and on reheating the alloys the trcltzsforrnation to the a phase was sluggish even above 600°C. Separated single cryslals o-f UAl4, joy example, showed no evidence Of transformalion after heating for 16 hr at 620°C. The transformation rates increased yapidly enough with increasing temperature, however, that a a spontaneous liberation of energy lens observed on occasion when bealing cast Al-20 wt pet U to neal- the RECENT phase studies on A1-Pu alloys have indicated that earlier reported equilibrium diagrams should be modified to take account of several poly- morphic transformations in the intermetallic compound PuAl,.' During the course of the latter work an unexpected heat evolution was observed while cooling a solid alloy consisting of a mixture of a aluminum and PuA1,. The evolution occurred at 645°C, y below the a A1-Pu A1, eutectic solidification temperature. Subsequent thermal-analysis experiments with A1-U alloys showed that heat was evolved there also at a temperature nearly coincident with the a A1-UA1, eutectic solidification temperature of 646°. A search of the literature revealed that similar thermal effects had been observed before for both A1-U and A1-Pu but had never been fully explained.2,3 The purpose of the present paper is to describe thermal-analysis and X-ray diffraction experiments which have led to the conclusion that the thermal effects are due to transformations which involve the rearrangement of vacancies in the intermetallic compounds UA1, and PuA1,. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The A1-U alloys were prepared by heating super-pure aluminum (99.99 pct +) obtained from the Aluminum Co. of Canada in a graphite crucible surrounded by an induction coil. At 1000°C high-purity uranium metal produced by the Eldorado Mining and Refining Co., Ltd. was dropped into the liquid aluminum and was dissolved completely within 15 min. The impurities in the uranium were A1—4 ppm, Ca-4, C-70, Cr-3, Cu-6, Fe-30, Mg-2, Mn-10, Ni-25, Si-25, and Zn-2. The A1-Pu alloys were prepared by reacting plutonium dioxide with liquid aluminum under cryolite (3 NaF . AlF,) for 10 min at 1100°C in graphite crucibles exposed to the air. The plutonium was 99.8 pct pure, containing trace impurities of Ca, Cu, Fe, Pb, Si, and Zn. The liquid alloys were usually poured into water-cooled molds to provide castings of uniform composition from which samples could be cut for heat treatment and thermal-analysis experiments.

Jan 1, 1965

By R. Schuhmann, G. W. Powell

The concept of local equilibrium is examined and, in particular, the applicability of the concept to two-phase binary diffusion couples is discussed. It is concluded that, if binary solid solutions are treated thermodynamically as ternary solutions, vacancies being the third component, then recent experimental observations of nonequilibrium interface compositions (i.e., compositions different from the phase diagram values) are consistent with a state of complete dynamic equilibrium at the interface. CLASSICAL approaches to diffusion and to other irreversible processes often utilize a postulate of "local equilibrium". That is, one assumes even in the presence of gradients, fluxes, and time changes of properties, a) that the Second Law can be formulated locally, and b) that thermodynamic equations of state among intensive properties are identical with those for equilibrium phases. A direct consequence of this assumption, for example, is that one would calculate the total entropy of a nonequilibrium phase simply by integrating the entropy density (eu per unit volume) over the volume of the phase, assuming that entropy density is the same function of energy and particle density as for equilibrium phases. In the study of diffusion and of diffusion-controlled phase transformations, metallurgists take this concept of local equilibrium for granted and utilize it automatically. In fact, experimental evidence of all kinds is overwhelming that "local equilibrium" is a valid limiting law, approached more and more closely as gradients and rates of change approach zero. On the other hand, we have neither experimental nor statistical thermodynamic proof that this principle of "local equilibrium" should remain rigorously valid at high gradients and for rapid processes. Theoretically, in fact, one would expect deviations because interactions between adjacent volume increments of material affect the evaluation of entropy. Also one observes experimentally structural and small energetic differences between equilibrium and nonequilibrium phases. The purpose of this paper is to present a thermodynamic framework for the study and correlation of deviations from strict local equilibrium in isothermal diffusion and related processes. This procedure, in effect, preserves the principle of local equilibrium by thermodynamically assigning the deviations from static equilibrium properties to a defect component. Although this theory is entirely phenomenological, the possibility does exist of correlating the theory with experimental observations of defects under favorable circumstances. The most immediate application appears to be to the equilibria at the interfaces in two-phase binary diffusion couples. A recent pertinent work by Eifert et al.1 has shown that the concentrations of aluminum in the a(fcc) and B(bcc) phases at the 0-8 interface in Cu:Cu-12.5 wt pct A1 diffusion couples are greater than those given by the phase diagram. It is postulated by these authors that the supersaturation of the o phase at the interface provides the driving force for the a-to-B lattice transformation; the excess free energy of the a phase, ?Gaxs, arising from the greater-than-equilibrium aluminum concentration is about 3 cal per g-atom. On the basis of the schematic free energy-composition diagram shown in Fig. 1, Eifert et al. concluded that the thermodynamic situation at the interface is one of the partial equilibrium; that is, = for the more mobile aluminum whereas will be reexamined in the latter part of this paper. THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF DEFECTS A rigorous analysis of the thermodynamics of defects requires an added degree of freedom in the Phase Rule sense, because the standard formulations of solution thermodynamics (partial molal properties of components, free energy minimization, equality of chemical potentials, and so forth) involve the implicit

Jan 1, 1970

By Abner Dixon

INTRODUCTION. IN India the production of mica, which in other countries is of very minor importance, is one of the staple, long established industries, and ranks high in the statistics of mineral products. Nearly two-thirds of the mica of commerce comes from India. The Indians have used mica for glazing and decorative purposes through many centuries. About 14,000 men are employed in and about the mines, and the indigenous and primitive mode of mining is still followed; but, by reason of the exhaustion of the surface supply hitherto won without intelligence or capital, it will not be many years before the present interesting and casual methods will be replaced by a less archaic and more profitable system. India on the whole has little mineral wealth, but the unique resources of its mica fields, cheap labor, and favorable natural conditions render it unlikely that any other country can ever more than temporarily contest her leadership in the production of this one minor but essential mineral. Mica plays a small but indispensable role in a variety of fields of dissimilar application. Its use and value depend upon characteristics which different kinds of mica have in varying degrees, each kind being adapted to 'its own special purpose. Its well-known characteristics of transparency, flexibility, elasticity, toughness, high dialectric, strength, perfect flatness; ease of splitting into thin films, ability to stand high heat and sudden changes in temperature, give it value in many industries. No other substance, natural or artificial, has this combination of qualities. The oldest use of mica is in glazing. By reason of the improvements in annealing glass, this is not now of great importance, but mica is still employed for the covers of ikon images in Russian churches, the windows of anthracite stoves, compass

Jan 5, 1913

By L. C. Graton

Although marked by numerous well-known attributes of its own, gold does not possess a kind and range of physical, chemical and geological characteristics wholly different and apart from those of other metals. Instead, it is merely one of the family of metals, with its individual and distinctive traits subordinate to the underlying family relationships and resemblances. The geologist concerned with pure science will pursue, therefore, the same general course and will examine the same broad kinds of facts and interrelations when studying the occurrence of gold as when studying that of copper or cadmium, or any other metal. But when we come to consider the use and economics of the metals, we discover that gold differs strikingly from all the others. Gold, in short, is unique, not by virtue of its inherent characteristics, but because of a peculiar and concerted psychological regard in which it is held. It will be evident, therefore, that the geologist who would deal with gold supply must give far greater weight to economic considerations than is required in his contacts with any other metal. If the geologist be called the scientist of occurrence, and the economist the scientist of use, the economic geologist stands as the necessary link between them. Perhaps it is in part because the economic geologist has made himself more familiar with the science of occurrence than with the science of use and has thus in some degree failed to bridge effectively the gap between the two fields, especially with regard to gold, that the usen1 of gold now appear to be in a state of general concern and even of alarm for the security and adequacy of future supplies. In the case of no other mineral commodity do the users, as a rule, trouble themselves greatly about the adequacy of supply except in so far as that may affect the price which they shall have to pay for the commodity. Oversupply, with resulting low price, they regard as a gift of good fortune. As to long-term undersupply, they are generally content to go ahead on faith, leaving the producer to discover as best he may the means for meeting their requirements or the inventor to find a substitute. But history has shown that for gold a different situation exists. While

Jan 1, 1931

By Oliver Bowles

WHILE vast quantities of limestone and dolomite are used in metallurgy, the estimated production in 1926 being 23,860,000 tons, there are many problems connected with their use which have not received adequate study. The literature of metallurgy is notably lacking in comprehensive discussions of fluxing or furnace stone. Approximately 900 lb. of limestone is used for every long ton of pig iron produced in the blast furnace, but this important constituent of the charge receives little attention compared with the intensive study that has been applied to ores and fuels, the other important constituents of the charge. In an effort to elucidate some of the doubtful points, the writer has made a wide review of metallurgical literature, and has had the disappointing experience of finding not more than a paragraph or two on metallurgical stone for each two or three thousand pages of literature reviewed. Furthermore, the limited information supplied is in some instances contradictory and even absurd. For example, a correspondent in a reputable metallurgical magazine classifies magnesia and silica together as impurities in flux "that must be melted and run off as slag." From the furnace operator's viewpoint it is desirable that as complete knowledge as possible be obtained concerning the effects of chemical composition and physical character of the stone on its action in the furnace and on the quality of the metal produced. A better knowledge of these features is advantageous also to the quarry operator in that it enables him to work more intelligently in producing stone that will best satisfy the metallurgists' requirements. The following pages comprise a brief compilation of data now available. Much of the information is well established and probably acceptable to most metallurgists. On some points there is room for debate, and the chief purpose in presenting a paper at this time is to arouse discussion which will throw more light on controversial points and thus assist the author in preparing a more comprehensive and accurate dis¬cussion of metallurgical limestone problems.

Jan 1, 1928

During the presentation of the papers, questions were deferred until after the last paper in the afternoon. At that time, the authors and co-chairmen formed a panel for discussion of any pertinent questions. The panel was as follows: Carl Gerity - Ozark Lead Company – Chairman Mike Young - Master Mechanic - Ozark Lead Company Largo Albert - Maintenance Specialist (hoisting) Mines Maintenance Dept. - International Nickel Company, with assistance from Co-author Alan Cameron - International Nickel Company Gary Beerkircher - Product Manager - Rexnord Inc., Nordberg Machinery Group Richard Schaal - Director of Maintenance - Superior Division, Magma Copper Company Rich Hodgson - Assistant Production Superintendent - FMC Corporation The remarks have been edited by the panelists for readability, the basic ideas were not changed. Additional thoughts by the panelists submitted at the time of their revision are indicated by ***.

Jan 1, 1975

By W. F. Holbrook, C. E. Wood, E. P. Barrett

The high-frequency laboratory induction furnace with a rotating liquid crucible enables research workers to conduct certain investigations heretofore very difficult or impossible to realize because vessels are not obtainable that are capable of resisting the physical conditions or the chemical actions to which they are subjected. Applications for patents covering commercial uses of centrifugal liquid crucibles were filed in the United States in 1919,' in France in 1925, in the United States and Germany in 1926,2 and in France in 1927.3 In 1928, Schuette and Maier,4 of the Bureau of Mines, reported the construction of a whirling table beneath a high-frequency induction furnace. Shape and Size of Centrifugal Liquid Crucibles When a vessel containing a liquid is rotated, the inner surface of the liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid under the simultaneous action of centrifugal force and gravity. The internal dimensions of the paraboloid rotating liquid crucible are governed by the diameter of the container and its speed of rotation. Melted Wood's metal was poured into cylinders 2 1/2 in. in diameter, which were rotated at 180, 300, and 468 r.p.m. When the metal was solid, a slurry of plaster of Paris was added, and rotation continued until the plaster had set. Fig. 1, a photograph of sections of the cylinders, shows the effect of speed of rotation of the containers upon the shape of the inner surface of the rotating liquid crucibles. Types of Furnaces Three types of high-frequency induction laboratory furnaces using liquid-metal crucibles were designed and constructed by the Blast

Jan 1, 1939