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By John Burns

THE object of this chapter is to present data concerning the effect of the introduction of relatively slight amounts of carbon and nitrogen into supersaturated solution in iron. The study is confined to the alpha temperature range of both the Fe-C and Fe-N systems. The age-harden-ing characteristics of these two systems are considered. These data are compared to those of other age-hardening alloy systems and a "classifica-tion" is essayed. A.-RELATION OF LATTICE PARAMETER AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY TO CHANGES IN PHYSICAL PROPERTIES DUE TO AGING OF FE-C ALLOYS Since Whiteley1 in 1927 showed that some of the iron carbide that is normally present in slowly cooled low carbon-iron alloys disappears on rapid cooling from just below the A1 point, interest has been manifested in the possibilities of age-hardening in these alloys. Masing and Koch,2 and at the same time and independently, W. Koster,3 proved these alloys to be age-hardenable. A. A. Bates4 a little later also published an interesting paper on changes in physical properties due to the aging of low-carbon steels. Many other papers have appeared showing changes in physical properties in specific instances due to this same phenomenon.

Jan 1, 1934

By W. H. Emmons

INTRODUCTION MINERAL deposits that have formed by the various geologic processes, when exposed to air and water at or near the surface of the earth, break down and form new compounds that are stable under surface conditions. Mechanical disintegration of the ores proceeds along with chemical alteration which generally is attended by oxidation, carbonation and hydration. Essentially all minerals are affected-silicates, carbonates, native metals, sulphides, etc. Where iron sulphides are present, oxidation yields sulphuric acid, and in the presence of oxygen and iron, ferric sulphate, a powerful solvent, is formed. Above the water level, in the vadose or shallow zone, both air and water are present. Below the water level air is excluded and that which is carried down with water is removed from the solution by reactions with reducing materials. Above the water level, solution is the pre-dominating process; below the water level, precipitation generally is equally important. In some deposits, particularly above the hater level, valueless materials are removed from the ore, leaving certain metals in a more highly concentrated state. This type of alteration, which has been termed negative enrichment, is common in ores of iron, aluminum, manganese and certain other metals. Some gold deposits, particularly those in which the environment is unfavorable for solution of gold, have been enriched near the surface by removal of material other than gold. Certain metals are readily dissolved in an oxidizing acid environment. These include copper, silver and, under certain conditions, gold. In the presence of iron sulphides, deposits of these metals are likely to be leached above the water level. The metals are carried downward to depths where air is excluded, and where they may be redeposited, generally below the water level. Such enrichment by addition of metals has been termed positive enrichment.

Jan 1, 1933

By N. J. Olson, G. W. Toop

A series of equations previously derived for calculating ternary thermodynamic properties using binary data has been applied to the problem of predicting ternary phase diagrams and quaternary excess free energy. The methods are considered to be rigorous for regular ternary and quaternary systerns and empirical for nonregular systems. The equations have been used to predict ternary phase boundaries in the Pb-Sn-Zn system at 926°K and the Ag-Pd-Cu system at 1000ºK. Calculated quaternary excess free-energy values are presented for the Pb-Sn-Cd-Bi system at 773°K. A method for predicting the location of ternary phase boundaries would be a useful supplement to experimental measurements in ternary systems. This has been recognized with the considerable work that has been done to find models to predict or extend thermodynamic properties and phase diagrams in binary and ternary systems1-18 for which direct experimental measurements are limited. With the access to highspeed digital computers and mechanical plotting devices, it is currently rather easy to compare mathematical models with experimental data. The regular-solution model is consistent with systems which exhibit negative heats of mixing, positive heats of mixing, and miscibility gaps, and therefore it is applicable to simple phase diagrams. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of regular-solution equations to predict, empirically, phase equilibria in some types of nonregular ternary systems. Corresponding equations for regular quaternary systems are given and used to calculate empirical quaternary excess free-energy data. METHOD FOR PREDICTING THE LOCATION OF TERNARY PHASE BOUNDARIES USING BINARY DATA Meijerin1,6 has used the regular-solution model to calculate common tangent points to ternary free energy of mixing surfaces and hence to determine phase boundaries in ternary systems involving miscibility gaps. He used the following equation to calculate ternary excess free energy of mixing values: stants characteristic of the binary solutions, and Ni is the mole fraction of component i. An alternate expression which gives for regular solutions as a function of binary values of along composition paths with constant N1/N2, N2lN3, and N1/N3 may also be derived:15 ternary r xs 1 ?c-*n.Ti*.U*. This expression for is more useful for the empirical calculation of ternary excess free-energy values for nonregular systems because actual binary AFXS data may be used in the expression rather than attempting to find suitable constants for Eq. [I]. The results of this feature of Eq. [2] are illustrated in Table I where calculated excess free-energy values for the Ni-Mn-Fe system at 1232°K are compared with experimental data of Smith, Paxton, and McCabe.19 Although regular-solution equations have been shown to give calculated thermodynamic quantities which agree quite well with experiment for single-phase nonregular ternary systems,14,15 care should be exercised in the use of the equations to predict thermo-dynamic properties of multiphase ternary systems in which strong compound formation is suspected. This precaution is consistent with the simple regular-solution model which for negative values of ai_j will indicate a tendency toward compound formation but even for very large negative values of ai-jwill not give multiphase binary or ternary systems involving a distinct stable compound. Hence, calculated ternary free-energy data using Eq. [2] might be expected to vary between being rigorous and poor, in the following order, for ternary systems which are: a) regular solutions, b) nonregular single-phase liquids in which random mixing is nearly realized, c) nonregular single-phase solids, d) nonregular multiphase systems exhibiting miscibility gaps, e) nonregular multiphase systems with binary compounds but no ternary compounds, f) nonregular multiphase systems with highly stable binary and ternary compounds. The calculated data will be expected to be least accurate for the last two cases. The general method adopted in this paper involves two-dimensional plots of ternary activity curves. The principle used is that tie lines indicating two-phase equilibria join conjugate phases a and B for example, for which a1(a) = a1(B), a2(a) = a2(B), and a3(a) = a3(B). Tie lines may be determined by plotting the ternary activities of two components along an isoactivity line for the third component and the unique points where the above equalities hold may be found graphically.

Jan 1, 1970

By J. Charles Miller

NATURAL carbon dioxide has recently been exploited in the United States in consequence of oil and gas developments in the Western States and the growing demand by transcontinental and transoceanic shippers for solid carbon dioxide. The discovery by drilling of commercial deposits resulted in consideration of its geographic and geologic distribution and occurrence. Its wide distribution in nature is evidenced by its occurrence in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. The question of origin of carbon dioxide involves consideration of theories similar to those concerning natural hydrocarbons, although available evidence favors an inorganic rather than an organic source. Areas favorable to development of commercial production appear to be those in proximity to igneous rocks or in the vicinity of decadent volcanic activity, where, it has long been known, the gas is evolved either free or dissolved in the waters of fumaroles, geysers or mud pots. Structure contour maps are presented showing the Wagon Mound anticline in New Mexico and the Farnham anticline, Utah. A well drilled on the latter supplies gas to a 20-ton plant manufacturing solid carbon dioxide at Wellington, Utah, on the Denver and Rio Grande R.R., whence it is shipped to surrounding territory and to the West Coast. Before funds are invested in a plant for the manufacture of liquid or solid carbon dioxide, whether supplied by wells or springs, an effort to ascertain the volume of gas available is advisable. The use of present methods of estimation of gas reserves with modifications to account for the quantity absorbed by any water present in the producing formation is recommended, The Farnham anticline is used as an example and cornputationa are made of the probable volume of gas originally present in the structure. No attempt was made to compute reserves in the Niland area, California, for the reason that in such areas it is believed the volume is indeterminate. INTRODUCTION Carbon dioxide, in liquid and solid form, has found a wide variety of uses other than its primary application in carbonating beverages. It is now used in more than 40 different ways, ranging from cooling or freezing to use in gas or liquid form for mechanical purposes, chemical industry, explosive, fire extinction, and tire manufacturing. Undoubtedly the chief supply of carbon dioxide is obtained from industrial plants or artificial sources and until recently natural deposits of the gas have received little consideration. Few will question the utility and perhaps dependability of artificial sources, which possess the advantage over

Jan 1, 1937

By A. Becker, J. A. Slankis

Equipment has been developed to utilize natural 8 Hz electromagnetic fields to measure rock resistivities. Telluric and magnetotelluric surveys have detected resistivity variations associated with geological contacts and metallic sulfide deposits. The fundamenfa1 premises of these methods are illustrated by the results of surveys across a Pleistocene-Precambrian contact in the Ottawa Valley and a near-surface sulfide deposit in Northern Quebec. Such interfaces are characterized not only by variations in apparent resistivity, but also, unexpectedly by the spatial anisotropy of the electric fields and the presence of a strong vertical magnetic field component in their vicinity. Standard geophysical electrical and electromagnetic methods (Heiland, 1940) for the determination of the electrical properties of the ground and the search of good electrical conductors necessitate the use of a transmitter and receiver which are coupled galvanically or inductively through the ground. The electrical properties of the ground are deduced from either the transfer function, or the impulse response, of the transmitter — ground — receiver system. Where deep penetration is desired these methods require powerful transmitters whose weight and size increase the cost and reduce the speed of operation. It is possible however, to resort to another class of electrical prospecting methods which employ ambient, natural electromagnetic fields in place of a transmitter.'-' In the audio and subaudio frequency ranges, these fields are generated by thunderstorm activity. At some distance from the seat of the disturbance, the e.m. fields propagate as plane waves with a horizontal magnetic field component. The incident wave, of course, induces currents in the ground. Where the ground is homogeneous the relation between the horizontal magnetic and horizontal electric fields vectors is particularly simple:' /E/ = \[SpT/H/ (1) where: /E/ = magnitude of horizontal electric field in millivolts/kilometer (RMS) /H/ = magnitude of the orthogonal inducing magnetic field in milligammas (RMS) p = rock resistivity in ohm-meters i = frequency of measurement in c/s In practice, the ground is seldom an homogeneous half space, lateral conductivity variations exist, (in the case of base metal prospecting these are the features actually sought) and the two field vectors are no longer simply related. The ratio of E to H is still useful, however, for the determination of an "apparent" ground resistivity. From a theoretical view point, the general problem of a two dimensional fault or dyke anomaly can be separated into two distinct cases. In the first case, where the e.m. energy propagates in a direction normal to the strike, the horizontal magnetic field remains constant and is oriented along the strike of the formation.3 As shown by d'Erceville and Kunetz," all the information about the anomaly is contained in measurements of the electric field component. In fact, away from the interface, the electric fields are proportional to the square roots of the resistivities:

Jan 1, 1970

By Rudolf Gahl

THE history of flotation in America is very short, at least as far as the large-scale application of the process is concerned. It is remarkable how many important developments have taken place inn the last few years and are already being extensively utilized. What was new a year ago, seems almost commonplace now. For this reason it is with hesitation that I follow the suggestion: of Dr. Ricketts, President of the Institute, to describe the experiences of the Inspiration Consolidated Copper Co. with the flotation process. TESTS CONDUCTED IN SMALL TEST-MILL When the Inspiration company first decided to build a concentrating plant, nothing was known about flotation, and the process was to be gravity concentration pure and simple. Demonstration Tests Conducted by Minerals Separation Co. While plans were being prepared by H. Kenyon Burch (who had been intrusted with the design and construction of the concentrator) the Minerals Separation Co., a concern at that time little known in America, asked and obtained permission to demonstrate the value of its flotation process for Inspiration ore. As. a consequence, a small 50-ton flotation machine of standard design was added to the company's test plant and started to operate in the beginning of 1913. This marks the beginning of flotation at Inspiration. The results obtained with this machine, which was operated by members of the Minerals Separation staff, so far surpassed what this company anticipated that it was decided to continue flotation tests for this purpose, and two of the flotation experts of the Minerals Separation Co., I. L. Greninger and G. A. Chapman, were retained. L. R. Wallace, now superintendent of the Miami works of the International Smelting Co., was at that time metallurgist of the Inspiration company and in that capacity took an active part' in these tests. Great credit is due to him for his quick recognition of the possibilities of flotation.

Jan 9, 1916

By James Aston

THREE years ago the writer presented a paper on the trend of development in the wrought iron industry,1 wherein was described a process in the development of which he has been a factor, which at that time had passed through several years of progressive experimental development but which had not then been put upon a commercial scale of operation. The present paper deals with two years of observation and experience in the commercial operation of a plant by the A. A Byers Co. at Warren, Ohio. It will not enter into the controversial field of the relative merit of wrought iron and steel in various classes of service, nor will it elaborate upon the characteristic services or fields of utility to which wrought iron is particularly adapted. It is sufficient to state that the wrought iron industry is upon a substantial basis and that the material finds service in pipe, where its advantages are in superior corrosion, fatigue, welding and threading qualities; in bar iron for staybolts, engine bolts, and rivets, demanding maximum service against corrosion and fatigue; in plates for corrosion service; and in chains, because of welding and shock-resisting characteristics. In short, ability to withstand the stresses of shock and vibration, or the ravages of corrosion, to hold protective coatings, and to give maximum efficiency in welding, are its features of relative superiority. If these features were not well recognized, the wrought iron industry would have shrunk to insignificance in the face of high costs and acknowledged limitations in manufacture. To charge that this industry is built upon a structure of assumption, psychology, and improperly weighed evidence is an impeachment of the integrity or belittling of the powers of observation of users through many centuries of service experiences.

Jan 1, 1929

By R. A. Salathiel, A. D. Kaiser, P. H. Monaghan, B. E. Morgan

The productivities of many hydrocarbon-bearing for-rnntions appear to be reduced during drilling, completing and repairing operations. The reason for these othcarwise unexplainable low productivities may be a drastic reduction of formation permeability immediately surrounding the borehole. A possible cause of the reduced permeability is swelling and dispersion of clays present in porous media when contacted by fresh water or mud filtrates. Hence, the invasion of fresh water or mud filtrate into hydrocarbon-bearing formations that contain clays may cause low productivities as a result of formation damage. Present laboratory investigations have yielded results which supplement existing literature on formation damage. An expanded-type clay, montmorillonite, way found in hydrocarbon-bearing formations not previously analyzed. When sand columns and formation cores containing montmorillonite were contacted by fresh water, their oil permeabilities were reduced. This reduction in oil permeability way restored partially but not completely by a repair procedure, i.e., flooding with kerosene containing organic agents or flooding with water containing electrolytes. Hence, where montmorillonite is present in formations, prevention of formation danzage was indicated to be the only complete solution to the problem. To prevernt formation damage, results suggested use of an approximately 1 per cent solution of calcium chloride or stronger solutions of sodium or potassium chloride. In conventional rotary drilling operations the wall of the hole is exposed to drilling mud for days, weeks, and in some instances for as long as several months. During this time, drilling mud filtrate seeps slowly into formations surrounding the hole. The permeability and stability of many formations, especially those containing clayey materials, are impaired by the mud filtrate. Often interaction between the mud filtrate and the formation causes drilling and production difficulties. Serious reduction in productivity of oil and gas formations during drilling, completing and repairing wells has been noted often in recent years. Cases are known of development wells which produced only small volumes of fluid upon completion. However, after a period had elapsed, they began to produce oil or gas in commercial quantities. In other cases, results of drill-stem tests taken during the drilling of deep wells have indicated good production should be obtained from shallow formations. Later difficulty has been experienced in obtaining production from these shallow formations which had remained in contact with drilling muds for an extended time. In yet other cases wells have failed to attain the productivities expected from previous performance after the use of drilling mud as a circulating fluid during workover operations. It is evident from the field behavior cited that the productivities of certain oil- and gas-bearing formations have been damaged by exposure to drilling muds. This reduction in well productivity, called "formation damage", causes serious consequences. In development wells, expensive remedial operations are incurred. In wildcat wells, good formations may appear to be marginal or even non-productive. The importance of formation damage has been recognized by a number of investigators1-s who have considered the effects of fresh water, saline solutions and aqueous mud filtrates on the permeabilities of formations. A general conclusion from such studies is that interaction between water and formation clays reduces permeability of reservoir rock and that the permeability decreases as salinity of the water decreases. Data in these references, however, concern the permeability change with only a single fluid present. A more pertinent and direct consideration in the production of oil and gas from wells is the permeability change when two fluids, oil and water, are present. Recognizing this, Nowak and Kreuger2 and Bertness1" considered several ways in which mud filtrates and saline solutions caused reductions in the oil permeability of formation cores. Investigations discussed here were designed to supplement information in the literature on changes in oil

By J. E. Johnson

It is the purpose of the present paper, while not excluding chemical considerations, to deal more extensively with some of the physical and mechanical aspects of the blast-furnace process, and to point out its dependence, in these respects, on well-known laws. The quantity and cost of ore and flux required to make a ton of iron being determined by circumstances over which the furnace-man, under given conditions as to quality and quantity of product, has commonly little control, the principal item of cost, apart from the saving of labor, which he can aspire to reduce, is that of fuel. To determine the limits of possibility in this direction is clearly the first step in a practical inquiry; and this step is represented herewith in Fig. 1, a diagram showing the total useful effect obtained from a pound of fuel under various conditions, and thus permitting direct comparison, under any given conditions, between actual results and the maximum possible results. The following statements will explain the basis upon which this diagram has been constructed. One pound of fuel, containing 90 per cent. of fixed carbon (which represents average conditions), is taken as the unit. The degree of oxidation of the carbon is measured by the ratio of the two oxides of carbon contained in the top-gases. It is necessary to remember that a considerable quantity of carbon is brought in as carbon dioxide by the flux, and to take account of it and of its condition. It is here considered that the carbon dioxide liberated by the limestone does not affect the analysis of the top-gases, and that the ratio of CO to CO2 will remain unchanged by the addition of limestone; enough CO, being reduced by the solution

Jan 1, 1906

By L. R. Raymond, J. L. Hudson

This paper proposes a comparatively short-term (8 to 10 hours) well test for detecting and characterizing well-bore damage and for measuring mean formation permeability. The proposed test is made by injecting fluid at constant pressure, recording injection rate as a function of injection time. After one to four hours of injection, the well is shut in and fall-off of bottom-hole pressure is obtained as a function of shut-in time. Formation permeability is estimated by an iterative technique. First, a value of formation permeability is assumed. Then, a plot of the recorded injection rate as a function of dimensionless time is made, using the assumed pertneability value. From the slope of the injection-rate curve. a new value of formation permeability is calculated. If the new value agrees with the original assumed value, the assumption was the correct formation permeability. If the values do not agree, the process is repeated using the new permeability value in the calculation. Convergence is rapid, and a reliable permeability value results. Pressure fall-off data are used to check the result. Graphs of pressure and injection rate us functions of time given in the paper show that changes in permeability of the formation in the neighborhood of the wellbore are disclosed by this technique. Thus, the short-term test can he used to detect formation damage. Also, a rough measure of the radial extent of damage can be inferred, which is helpful in designing stimulation treatments. The mathematical model used for this work was a single-zone, horizontal reservoir with a damaged zone in which permeability decreased continuously as radial distance to the wellbore decreased. This model is more realistic than the usual two-zone, discontinuous permeability model used in published works; calculations indicate the realistic model is valid. Vertical variations in horizontal permeability were studied with this model, and results indicate that the permeability measured by the short-term test is the mean horizontal permeability for the vertical interval tested. The proposed short-term test thus should be useful in detecting and characterizing formation damage and in measuring formation permeability needed in calculating reservoir transmissibility. INTRODUCTION To plan the most efficient production or injection schedule for a well and to design or evaluate the optimal stimu- lation treatment, it is necessary to know the properties of the reservoir adjacent to the well, particularly the reservoir transmissibility and characteristics of a damaged zone, if one exists. Several techniques for determining reservoir transmissi-bility from well tests have been presented in the literature. 1,2,3,4 All these techniques rely on conducting constant-rate well tests that often are difficult to execute. A constant-pressure well test is generally easier to carry Out. and this paper contains the first available method for the analysis of constant-pressure well tests. Determination of wellbore damage from transient well tests has been the subject of several papers."" From these studies it is apparent that information necessary for determination of the characteristics of a damaged zone is available shortly after the transient well test is initiated. Consequently, it may not be necessary to carry out an extensive well test (for example, a pressure build-up test) if the primary purpose of the test is to detect the existence of wellbore damage. All previous studies of well testing to determine wellbore damage have been based on the two-zone perrneability model. In this model the damaged zone has a permeability k,, extending to a radius r,,, and the formation permeability k obtains from r, to the drainage radius r,.. Consequently, there is a discontinuity in permeability at r = r,,. This discontinuity can be eliminated by assuming a continuous variation in permeability through the damaged zone. The effect of this assumption on transient well tests is discussed in following sections of this paper. In addition, all formations have within them vertical permeability variations associated with lithology changes throughout the zone of interest. This paper also considers the effect of these variations on transient well tests. ANALYSIS OF CONSTANT-PRESSURE WELL TESTS The mathematical analysis associated with the injection of fluid at constant wellbore pressure into a single-zone, horizontal reservoir completely filled with a fluid of small and constant compressibility and constant viscosity is given in Appendix A. In this analysis it is assumed that the well is located at the center of an undamaged, circular drainage area. From this analysis, the formation permeability can be obtained as follows. 1, Estimate a value for the formation permeability k. 2. Prepare a plot of injection rate q vs

Jan 1, 1967

By Charles Morgan

An increased demand for brown iron ore in the Birmingham district during the past 18 months has caused renewed activity both in prospecting and mining these ores. In recent years the production in Alabama has ranged from 41,559 tons in 1932 to 639,351 tons in 1928. During the last 9 years about 83 per cent of the total brown ore produced in the United States has come from Alabama (Tables 1 and 2). Prospecting Two methods of prospecting are used in this district: (1) test pits, (2) churn-drilling. Usually there is certain quite definite information on an area to be prospected; some of the indications are float ore such as small gravel or small and large boulders known as "dornicks" scattered over the surface, and ore exposed by erosion in gulleys and ravines, which have cut or eroded through the overburden. Often these natural erosions furnish an indication of the thickness of the ore and to some extent of the area of the ore body. Deposits of brown ore are very irregular both in thickness and extent. Deposits are often lens-shaped or long narrow leads, some of which may be parallel and separated from one another by sand, clay or gravel. The bottom—the footwall—is also very irregular. This footwall is usually lime clay—disintegrated limestone, locally called "white horse," which usually is found at a depth of 6 in. to 20 ft. overlying the limestone. At some places sand and gravel is found under the ore instead of clay. No ore is found under the lime clay, although often the ore has sunk or slumped and is found in the upper portion of this clay, as at some of the Sloss workings at Russellville. The origin of these ores has been discussed by Major E. C. Eckel and Dr. E. F. Burchard in U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 400, and recently the latter has done further work on ores in the Russellville district, of which reports undoubtedly will be published.

Jan 1, 1940

By Charles Morgan

An increased demand for brown iron ore in the Birmingham district during the past 18 months has caused renewed activity both in prospecting and mining these ores. In recent years the production in Alabama has ranged from 41,559 tons in 1932 to 639,351 tons in 1928. During the last 9 years about 83 per cent of the total brown ore produced in the United States has come from Alabama (Tables 1 and 2). Prospecting Two methods of prospecting are used in this district: (1) test pits, (2) churn-drilling. Usually there is certain quite definite information on an area to be prospected; some of the indications are float ore such as small gravel or small and large boulders known as "dornicks" scattered over the surface, and ore exposed by erosion in gulleys and ravines, which have cut or eroded through the overburden. Often these natural erosions furnish an indication of the thickness of the ore and to some extent of the area of the ore body. Deposits of brown ore are very irregular both in thickness and extent. Deposits are often lens-shaped or long narrow leads, some of which may be parallel and separated from one another by sand, clay or gravel. The bottom—the footwall—is also very irregular. This footwall is usually lime clay—disintegrated limestone, locally called "white horse," which usually is found at a depth of 6 in. to 20 ft. overlying the limestone. At some places sand and gravel is found under the ore instead of clay. No ore is found under the lime clay, although often the ore has sunk or slumped and is found in the upper portion of this clay, as at some of the Sloss workings at Russellville. The origin of these ores has been discussed by Major E. C. Eckel and Dr. E. F. Burchard in U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 400, and recently the latter has done further work on ores in the Russellville district, of which reports undoubtedly will be published.

Jan 1, 1940

By D. V. BURR

THE ORIGINAL HUDSON RIVER TUNNEL. NOT quite forty years ago a man of uncommon character entered New York. He had several hundred thousand dollars earned by railroad building in the Nest. He was not an engineer, but he had ideas of engineering work which he was destined to prove correct.. He introduced new ways of tunneling, but his plans had only one distinguishing feature-they were simply interesting as showing how such work could be done; they added nothing to the science, have never been used since his clay, and never will be used again. Engineers of repute ridiculed his proposition ; he was an Ishmael in the profession. But if engineers looked askance at him, he certainly returned their contempt in the heartiest fashion, and had no hesitancy about expressing his views of them individually and collectively. This worked to. his disadvantage when he afterward tried to raise the means to go on with the work. He found that the opinion of engineers was respected by financiers, and that money would not flow contrary to their advice. While his conception of large constructions was distinguishingly original, much more marked was his method of demonstrating the feasibility of, his schemes. In the present clays of great undertakings it is the custom to make the other man pay for the experiments. But the man from the West had other notions of how the thing ought to be done. Having wonderful confidence in his own ability and in his perception of the task before him, he used up all his own money before seeking outside assistance. By building several hundred,, feet of tunnel he proved the correctness of his theory, and the tunnel then dug forms a part of the present tube. The result-he failed to finish the tunnel. He was blind in

Mar 1, 1908

By Leonard C. Grimshaw

Diffusion of carbon from gases into iron has been the object of much research, because of its long recognized importance in carburizing processes, but the direct diffusion of carbon from steel into iron has received relatively little attention. Because of the increasing use of clad metals in industry, direct diffusion from steel into iron is becoming of practical importance. Therefore, the object of this investigation was to study the diffusion of carbon from several different kinds of steel directly into relatively pure iron, realizing that elements in the steels other than carbon might influence the rate of carbon diffusion. The previous work on diffusion of carbon into iron has been considerable, and includes many reports in foreign languages. This work has recently been well reviewed by Mehll and Krynitsky12 and the reader is referred to their excellent bibliographies. Methods of Study There are two main methods by which the direct diffusion of carbon from steel into iron may be studied. In one method, steel is first decar-burized in part, and diffusion of carbon then allowed to take place from the steel into the decarburized steel. This method is open to two serious objections: (1) the decarburized steel is not iron, but contains elements such as manganese, silicon, chromium or tungsten, which may be an essential part of the steel under study, and which may seriously influence the diffusion of carbon into the decarburized area; (2) there is from the start of diffusion an unknown carbon-concentration gradient between the steel and the decarburized area. Another method, which possesses neither of these disadvantages, is to study diffusion from steel into a thick plating of electrolytic iron. Herc the chief difficulty is to secure an electrolytic deposit of iron upon steel without introducing an oxide film at the interface that will interfere with diffusion. The author is able to deposit iron upon any kind of steel without introducing an oxide film at the interface, so that diffusion of elements from the steel into the iron is free to proceed unhindered.

Jan 1, 1938

By Leonard C. Grimshaw

Diffusion of carbon from gases into iron has been the object of much research, because of its long recognized importance in carburizing processes, but the direct diffusion of carbon from steel into iron has received relatively little attention. Because of the increasing use of clad metals in industry, direct diffusion from steel into iron is becoming of practical importance. Therefore, the object of this investigation was to study the diffusion of carbon from several different kinds of steel directly into relatively pure iron, realizing that elements in the steels other than carbon might influence the rate of carbon diffusion. The previous work on diffusion of carbon into iron has been considerable, and includes many reports in foreign languages. This work has recently been well reviewed by Mehll and Krynitsky12 and the reader is referred to their excellent bibliographies. Methods of Study There are two main methods by which the direct diffusion of carbon from steel into iron may be studied. In one method, steel is first decar-burized in part, and diffusion of carbon then allowed to take place from the steel into the decarburized steel. This method is open to two serious objections: (1) the decarburized steel is not iron, but contains elements such as manganese, silicon, chromium or tungsten, which may be an essential part of the steel under study, and which may seriously influence the diffusion of carbon into the decarburized area; (2) there is from the start of diffusion an unknown carbon-concentration gradient between the steel and the decarburized area. Another method, which possesses neither of these disadvantages, is to study diffusion from steel into a thick plating of electrolytic iron. Herc the chief difficulty is to secure an electrolytic deposit of iron upon steel without introducing an oxide film at the interface that will interfere with diffusion. The author is able to deposit iron upon any kind of steel without introducing an oxide film at the interface, so that diffusion of elements from the steel into the iron is free to proceed unhindered.

Jan 1, 1938

MINING, to be precise, ends when the ore is delivered to a bin outside the mine. Usually the next step is concentrating; or, as it is more often called, milling. A few elementary definitions will help make clear the discussion that is to follow. A rock is an aggregate of minerals; copper ore is rock that contains copper-bearing minerals in quantity sufficient to make it profitable to mine and recover the copper in the form of marketable metal. Manifestly, under a literal interpretation, a mass of material might be copper ore one day and merely copper-bearing waste rock a week later, if the price of copper happened to drop in the interim. Emphasis already has been placed on the expansion that took place in the ore reserves of the Porphyry companies as a consequence of the great strides made in the technique of mining and ore treatment. So, even if one inserted a qualifying phrase, "at an average price for the metal," after the word "profitable," the definition would still be open to criticism. Place is another factor. It is evident that a body of excellent ore in Arizona might cease to be ore in the economic sense if it were moved intact to the interior of China. However, it is with ore in its technical and scientific aspect that this chapter is concerned. Speaking in general terms, the ton of Porphyry ore as it arrives at the surface contains 25 to 70 lb. of copper minerals in the form of disseminated particles or thin coats along fracture planes. When subjected to appropriate treatment this ton yields 12 to 40 lb. of metallic copper. These ranges take into account conditions of today and of 25 years ago. Two procedures are available: (1) concentration, followed by smelting of the concentrate, or (2) leaching and precipitation, usually by electrolytic deposition. Smelting and leaching are metallurgic processes in that they involve chemical change; concentration

Jan 1, 1933

By G. Ostberg

OXYGEN has frequently been considered responsible for phenomena in the metallurgy of cast iron which are not sufficiently explained by the presence of other elements. Oxygen and oxides have been regarded as critical factors, particularly for the solidification process, and specifically in the formation of graphite. However, the evidence for an influence of oxygen has mostly only been indirect or qualitative. Furthermore, quantitative data on the oxygen content of cast iron presented in the literature have often been less conclusive as being apparently determined with insufficient regard for the difficulties associated with the sampling and analysis. These problems, experimental and theoretical, have been studied in this investigation. An attempt is made to bring the views on the soluble amount of oxygen in cast iron on a level with the present understanding of the thermodynamics of these types of alloys. Although there are no experimental data on the complete multicomponent cast-iron alloys some conclusions have been drawn from investigations on simpler systems. The order of magnitude of the solubility of oxygen in cast iron is considered in the first part of the paper. The second part deals with the oxygen content actually present under practical conditions. First the possible sources of errors in sampling and analyzing methods are examined. Finally some observations on the oxygen and oxide content of malleable iron during the production process are made. THERMODYNAMICS OF OXYGEN SOLUBILITY When cast iron is saturated with oxygen the saturation phase is essentially carbon monoxide or silicon dioxide depending upon the composition of the iron, the temperature, and the rates of formation of the oxides.* The latter occurs accordiw to the O + C = CO, Kc0 - a COa J 20 + Si = SiO2, Activities are used here instead of weight pct concentrations, since activities are believed to show more sensitively the effects of the interaction of all the alloying elements. Calculations involving activities are, however, seriously hampered by lack of experimental data on the interactions between the components encountered in the multi component cast-iron system Fe-O-C-Si-Mn-P-S- and so on. In order to make an estimate of the oxygen solubility reason-

Jan 1, 1959

By G. H. Gilman

The campaign now being waged to improve the quality of the rock-drill bit is the natural outcome of the scientific development of the drilling machine during the past twenty years. In this development there has been a great increase of power output per unit of weight of machine. But the development of the rock drilling engine has been seriously hampered by the need of a drill bit that would withstand, without undue wear or breakage, the heavy rapid blows of the improved pneumatic hammer. This problem was difficult to solve because an increase in the weight or section of the drill-steel bar resulted in decreased cutting speed and higher operating costs of both the bit and its actuating engine. The solution, therefore, is to make the bit of steel that, for a given weight or section, will be more shock and wear resisting. In the attempt to meet these requirements, many of the drill-steel manufacturers alloyed the steel with vanadium, chromium, nickel, etc. on the assumption that such elements would improve the rock-drill bit but due to the sensitiveness of such steel to forging and heat treatment, higher cost, and lack of continuity of effort on the part of the steel manufacturer to perfect this product, but little progress has been made in the adoption of these steels and the so-called straight carbon steel is today recognized as the standard material for all rock-drill bits. The first step in improving drill-bit efficiency is the determination of the cause of breakage and wear. For this reason, in 1917, certain rock-drill manufacturers, in conjunction with some of the larger mining interests, conducted exhaustive tests in both the field and the laboratory. It was then found that, in the main, the cause of drill-steel troubles is not attributable to the duty imposed upon it by the normal operation of the drilling engine, but to improper forging and heat treating of the bit and to the subjecting of the bit to improper use. The fact that it is possible to minimize the troubles attributable to improper heat treatment of the drill steel has been demonstrated and it is recommended that such knowledge be made available by teaching those interested in the production, use, and up-keep of drill bits the principles on which success in this direction may be achieved. Unfortunately, but little attention has been given to the education of the drill smith. But a few years ago, the instructions given the man

Jan 1, 1922

By H. A. Stacy

THE ability of galvanized sheet steel to withstand severe bending is of very great importance as relates to all such sheet material which, in service, is not used in the flat condition in which it is purchased. A "bend-test" clause is found in, all specifications for material of this kind. In the attempt to draw up a specification for galvanized sheet steel the subcommittee of the Federal Specifications Board having this work in charge, soon found that there was a surprising lack of published data and apparently very little available from manufacturing sources upon which to sustain or reject the various requirements embodied in the tentative specification which, in turn, had been based largely upon other specifications submitted to the subcommittee for this class of material. Specifications from 25 sources were received; 10 Government specifications, 10 from private users of such material, and five from manufacturers. The main points raised were: (1) The minimum mandrel thickness, expressed in terms of the thickness of the sheet tested, over which sheets with different weights of coating can be bent 180°, without serious damage to the coating; (2) the minimum radius of curvature on the inside of the angle in 90°-bends in such material; (3) effect of double seaming on the coating; (4) uniformity in the thickness of coating over a sheet, particularly as relates to the results of bend tests. In view of the uncertainty existing, it was considered very desirable for the subcommittee to conduct a series of tests in order to secure reliable information.

Jan 10, 1926

By O. E. Kiessling

A GROWING uneasiness in the oil fields indicates that doubts are arising as to the efficiency of the present technical, economic and legal arrangements affecting production. Recent documents of the federal government, debates in state legislatures, editorials in the daily press and statements of oil company executives re-echo the notion that the present methods of producing oil satisfy neither the business man nor the public. Such intimations are of utmost importance, since oil is a vital clement in modern industry and dependence upon it increases as new uses develop. SECTION I-PRESENT SCHEME OF COMPETITIVE EXPLOITATION IS WASTEFUL The oil industry has convinced itself, for very good reasons, that the present scheme of competitive exploitation results in losses, both in terms of quantities of oil and in terms of profits. The story of these losses is familiar enough, and it is necessary only to distinguish and summarize briefly certain factors that are of importance to the following argument. Oil pools are exploited under a competitive economic system based on private ownership and contract; the hope of profits attracts capital and enterprise, and competition is supposed to serve as a regulative factor. Whether such a scheme of industrial organization works is partially dependent on the ability of the producer to withhold or produce is commodity as he sees fit, in accordance with the dictates of market demand.

Jan 1, 1927