Search Documents

By Johnston, T. L.

BISMUTH is found as native metal associated with tin, copper, cobalt, silver, gold, or other metals and in a variety of ores. The more important ones are: bismuthinite (bismuth glance), Bi2S3; bismite (bismuth ochre), Bi2O3.3H2O; and bismutite (bismuth carbonate), Bi2O3CO3?H2O. Of lesser importance are the arsenate, telluride, and vanadate. The sulfide is the most common; the others are often oxidation products from this mineral. Bismuth minerals have been found in various places in the United States, principally in Colorado and Utah, but no ores are mined solely for bismuth. In the Granite mining district of Beaver County, Utah, a stratum of limestone about 6 ft. thick has been almost completely replaced by contact minerals in which bismuthinite associated with pyrite and molybdenite was found intergrown with silicate minerals. In the early days a few small lots of ore assaying 7 to 10 per cent bismuth were shipped from this district. Native bismuth has been found in the Clifton and Tintic districts of Utah. Bismuth is produced as a byproduct in the refining of lead, copper, gold and silver ores, it being recovered from the anode mud from the Betts process. Deposits of bismuth minerals exist in Argentina, Aus¬tralia, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, Peru, Bolivia, and Canada, but Bolivia is the principal, producer and could easily supply all of the present world's demand.

Jan 1, 1933

By T. S. Lundy, J. Askill

J. Askill and T. S. Lundy (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)—Moore has proposed a simple correlation between the activation energy for solute diffusion in fee metals and the atomic volume of the diffusing species using both tracer and chemical-diffusion data. The first point we wish to make is that it is wrong to attempt such correlations without separating the two types of data. Activation energies obtained using tracer techniques cannot, in general, be directly compared with those obtained from chemical-diffusion experiments. A knowledge of the variations of chemical potentials with composition is necessary and chemical-diffusion data must be corrected for such variations, even for dilute alloys, before a comparison is possible. Secondly, for nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, Moore neglected a number of recently published works, e.g., Al26 and Mn54 in aluminum,46 cr51 in nickel,47 and Fe55 in iron.48 These and others should have been used. If one considers only the tracer diffusion data, there is left no simple correlation of the type proposed by Moore. For example, in the case of solute diffusion in aluminum the only reliable tracer data listed by Moore are for zinc and aluminum. The nickel, cobalt, and iron data of Agarwala49 are representative of near-surface diffusion-not bulk diffusion. In conclusion we suggest that for tracer diffusion data in these fee metals there is no justification for proposing any simple correlation of activation energy with atomic volume using the limited data that are presently available. R. H. Moore (author's reply)—The writer has proposed a simple correlation which is useful in estimating the internal consistency of diffusion data. The accuracy of the correlation is, of course, a function of the number of data available. Lundy and Askill take issue with the writer's decision to include data for the systems: nickel, iron, aluminum, and lead, taking the view that the data are insufficient to establish the correlation. The writer agrees that the data are insufficient and has cau- tioned the reader that the correlation is tentative in these instances. Inclusion of these systems is justified by the interesting trends the correlation reveals. For example, the distinction between interstitial and substitutional diffusion may be clearly established, Figs. 4 and 6, and the behavior of transition elements and nontransition elements is indicated to parallel the behavior illustrated by the silver and copper systems. Lundy and Askill have singled out the aluminum system for special criticism. The writer chose to discuss the data for diffusion of iron, nickel, and cobalt in aluminum in the terms used by the original authors9 and has included the comments of Balluffi.l0 The writer did not intend the reader to conclude that data for these elements should correlate with data for the nontransition elements as Lundy and Askill have evidently assumed. Iron, nickel, and cobalt form intermetallic compounds with aluminum, so the activity coefficients of these elements may be expected to deviate markedly from unity. This may account for the low frequency factors observed by Hirano.9 The nontransition elements, on the other hand, yield relatively simple phase diagrams with no evidence for intermetallic compound formation as in the case of iron, nickel, and cobalt. In dilute solution, Henry's law should be closely obeyed, the activity coefficients should not deviate markedly from unity, and the effect on the activation energy should not be large. The accuracy of the correlation applied to these systems will improve as the data is extended. It does not seem unreasonable to conclude that its extension should be encouraged.

Jan 1, 1965

Jan 1, 1903

By Henry M. Howe

THIS meeting was held at the home of the Institute in the United Engineering Society Building, 29. West 39th St., New York, N. Y., Feb. 18 to 21, 1908. The first session, held in the large auditorium Tuesday evening, Feb. 18, was called to order at 8 p.m. by Prof. Henry M. Howe, Past-President of the Institute, who welcomed the members and guests in a few cordial and well-chosen remarks. The following papers, accompanied by lantern-illustrations, were presented in oral abstract by their authors Swedenborg and Humboldt, by R. W. Raymond, New York, N. Y. Electric Power in Steel Mills, by David B. Rushmore and Karl A. Pauly, Syracuse, N. Y. At the close of the session, an informal reception in the offices of the Institute was tendered to members and guests. The second session, held in Assembly Room No. 1 in the same building, Wednesday, Feb. 19, was called to order at 10 a.m. by Prof. Robert H. Richards, Past-President of the Institute. Before proceeding with the papers on iron and steel, which were scheduled for presentation at this session, Mr. F. E. Junge, a representative of the gas-engine and electric motor industry of Berlin, Germany, gave a short oral discussion of the paper by Mr. Rushmore and Mr. Pauly, Electric Power in Steel Mills. Printed copies of the paper, Uniform Nomenclature of Iron and Steel, were distributed among the members and guests present, and the request was made for a later discussion of this important subject by letter. This paper constitutes the Report of Committee No. 24, of the International Association for Testing Materials, which was presented at the Brussels Congress in 1906. The following paper was presented in oral abstract by the author

Mar 1, 1908

By C. WIFLARD HAYES

(New Haven Meeting, February, 1909.) I DESIRE to make it perfectly clear at the outset that I fully realize the hazardous nature of any attempt to estimate the quantity of iron-ore or any other mineral in the ground. I should not have had the temerity to venture upon an inventory of the iron-ore supplies of the United States except for the requirements of the Conservation Commission. During the preparation of this inventory I have been impressed by the wide diversity in estimates of those best qualified to. hold an opinion, and I am therefore prepared in advance for criticism of my figures. Inasmuch as this report was prepared in large part for unprofessional readers, I considered it necessary to classify and describe the commercial iron-ores in a somewhat elementary manner, in order to explain the reasons for the large element of uncertainty in the estimates. I have therefore given a chemical and a geological classification of iron-ores, which place the commercial deposits in six classes: (1) magmatic segregations in basic igneous rocks; (2) contact-deposits formed in connection with igneous intrusions; (3) concentration-deposits; (4) replacement-deposits; (5) bedded-deposits, and (6) gossan-deposits. The iron-ores are further distinguished under two classes available and not available. This classification is in large measure arbitrary, and it, is evident that it will vary front time to time. In the available class are placed those ores which can be worked at a profit under conditions essentially as they exist at present. Since it depends wholly on the question of costs, the various factors which affect cost will determine the classification of any particular deposit. Actual production, * Abstract of Report prepared for the Conservation Commission. t Chief Geologist, United States Geological Survey. .

Apr 1, 1909

George A. Packard, Boston, Mass. (communication to the Secretary†):—The very interesting results obtained by Prof. Hofman and his assistants came to my attention when I had temporarily assumed charge of the metallurgical department of the Missouri School of Mines, and had found it, pending the completion of a new building, lacking a furnace in which to roast ore preparatory to the customary lead blast-furnace run. An attempt at lime-roasting had been already determined upon, but the use of a charge which would make a slag of definite composition was a new idea. The results following were obtained by Messrs. Aubrey Fellows, J. C. Long, E. R. Wash, and Dr. T. C. Tseung, under my supervision. It is regretted that the data are not more complete; but the work was done simply incidentally to securing the desired ore for the blast-

Jan 1, 1908

By C. K. Leith

THE resolution presented at the Annual Meeting of the A.I.M.E., calling on Congress to provide now for postwar accumulation of mineral stock piles under Government control, expresses, I think, the nearly unanimous view of the mining industry. As a result of the trying experiences of the first World War, Mr. Baruch, in his report of Dec. 24, 1919, to the President, urged that steps be taken at once to ensure adequate supplies of raw materials for future emergency. In the twenty years that followed, the same program was vigorously urged on Congress by many individuals and agencies, public and private, including the Secretaries of War and Navy, many members of Congress, the Bureau of Mines, the Planning Committee for Mineral Policy appointed by President Roosevelt, the A.I.M.E., the Mining and Metallurgical Society, and others.

Jan 1, 1943

By KENNETH CITTISGHAM

During the year 1945, the total number of wells drilled in Ohio, including the. non¬productive wells, was 1034. For the 10-year period ending with 1945, the average completions per year were 1125, the least number being 910 in 1938, and the maximum 1561 in 1941. The proportion of dry holes in 1945 was 37 per cent?about the same as for the year 1944 but exceeding the 10-year average, which was 34 per cent. The number of oil wells completed exceeded the number drilled in 1944 by about 30 per cent, the average initial per well being the same in both years. Gas-well completions were approximately 10 per Cent less than in 1944, with the average initial per well about 5 per cent greater. The difference in number of oil and gas wells in the two years was in Berea and Clinton completions, as the number of oil wells increased about 30 per cent, owing to greater activity in the two sands named, while the number of gas wells decreased because of fewer completions therein.

Jan 1, 1946

By E. H. Griswold, C. E. Beecher

DURING 1931 the petroleum industry has faced the most hazardous periods of its existence, caused by large potentials, overproduction, and demoralized markets. Two state governors actually resorted to the use of the militia in an effort to restore a semi-stabilized condition within the industry, to prevent waste of the states' natural resources, and to restore prices to a level that would yield the states a reasonable tax revenue. These conditions have made it necessary to put into effect most. stringent economies and have produced a spirit of cooperation between companies to an extent that never before existed. The necessity for unified action on such matters as proration and the advantages to be gained by unit operation are being realized by the oil industry as a whole. Fewer wells have been drilled and wildcat operations almost eliminated: development and operation costs have been greatly reduced and more attention is being paid to efficient recovery methods. The net work of oil pipe- lines has grown rapidly especially in the area of East Texas. The construction and operation of natural gas and gasoline pipelines into areas far distant from the source of supply has been one of the outstanding accomplishments. Refining efficiency has continued to increase and the public is being supplied with a better grade of gasoline at a lower price. The unreasonable tax which state politicians have succeeded in placing on gasoline has encouraged tax evasion and unfair competition by un- scrupulous dealers and has misled the public as to the true price of gasoline.

Jan 1, 1932

By R. E. Salvoti

IN underground coal mining, the increasing trend towards mechanical methods is ever apparent. Figures for 1939 showed that 28 per cent of the total bituminous coal production was mined mechanically 1940 statistic will reveal an even higher figure. Factors causing this trend are varied, but the important are the following;

Jan 1, 1941

By David R. Maneval, H. B. Charmbury

At the turn of the century, iron and coal were the keys to industrial prosperity. At that time, Pennsylvania was the leading mineral producer in the Country, producing 200,000,000 tons of coal in a typical post-World War I year. Close to 90% of the Nation's energy was generated by coal. Today, coal accounts for but 22% of the energy generated, leading to a drastic reduction in Pennsylvania coal output. In contrast with the post-World War I days, 1964 figures showed a drop in production to 93,846,480 net tons. This huge decrease has created a serious economic problem in a state so much dependent on the coal industry. Along with the reduction in coal production, employment has dropped considerably through these years (the number of miners alone has gone from 280,011 to 43,149), thus causing a heavy burden of supporting the unemployed on the taxpayers. As far back as 1939, coal operators and economists saw the problems on the horizon and the need for improvement. Realizing that research was a way to improve and stabilize the industry they demanded legislative action. The Legislature reciprocated with a small grant to The Pennsylvania State University with the provision that each State research dollar be backed with one from the industry. This initial grant laid the foundation for the further growth in coal research.

Jan 3, 1966

By Robert T. DeGavre

INTRODUCTION The $645 million financing for Inco Ltd's Soroako nickel project in Indonesia not only represents a significant human achievement but also there are certain important lessons that can be derived from Inco's experience in financing the project. The paper will not present a technical assessment of the project since Inco Ltd. submitted a series of papers on this subject at the international Laterite Symposium as part of the 108th Annual Meeting of the AIME in February 1979. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SOROAKO PROJECT Table 1 summarizes the milestones achieved in the Soroako project and its financing. Exploration Phase A contract of Work was signed on July 27, 1968 by the Republic of Indonesia and F.T. International Nickel Indonesia (P.T. Inco) covering an extensive area of over 25,000 square miles on the two southeastern arms of the island of Sulawesi. The Contract provides that P.T. Inco has the sole responsibility for financing the project and determining the terms on which the financing should be obtained, that P.T. Inco has the right to receive and hold outside of Indonesia foreign exchange revenues and to freely dispose of such revenues, and that Indonesians have the right to purchase up to 20% of the equity of P.T. Inco over a period following start of production. P.T. Inco began field investigations in the Contract Area in August 1968. Preliminary reconnaissance sampling with portable drills broadly outlined areas of favorable laterite terrain which were then systematically sampled on surveyed grids. By early 1971 sufficient exploration work had been completed to indicate that the laterite deposits near Soroako could sustain a major nickel-producing plant (figure 1). Pilot plant studies in 1970 and 1971 at Inco's research station in Port Colborne, Ontario, using two bulk samples of Soroako ore material, also confirmed that the ore could be upgraded and treated for the recovery of its metal values. Feasibility Phase Encouraged by the results of its exploration program and pilot-plant work, Inco Ltd. commissioned Toyo Engineering Company of Japan in August 1971 to prepare a capital cost estimate for a relatively small nickel project called "Stage I". Stage I was to be a single-line pyrometallurqical process plant with an annual capacity of approximately 15,000 metric tons of nickel contained in 75% nickel sulphide matte (see Figure 2). Electric power was to be supplied by a thermal power station. It is important to recognize that Inco's strategy was to develop the Soroako ore deposits in several stages: first, construct a small project to gain experience and to reduce the initial capital outlay and then later expand in one or more steps to a much larger project to achieve maximum economies. The strategy reflected both Inco's financial position in 1971 as its sales and earning dropped sharply and the difficulties previously experienced by Inco in trying to launch in the late 1960's very large "greenfield" nickel projects in New Caledonia and Guatemala. Toyo's Project Development Study was completed. in January 1972. Based upon Toyo's cost estimate for physical facilities, Inco estimated the total capital cost of Stage I to be $115 million. For the next several months, Inco ran numerous in-house financial feasibility studies, using as inputs Toyo's cost estimate and the results of its exploration and pilot plant programs. In September 1972, Inco completed a project feasibility study which was based upon a capital cost estimate of $135 million. The feasibility study was immediately made available to potential partners and lenders. Partner Negotiations The Japanese nickel market had from the outset been central to Inco's planning for the Soroako project. That market had been growing dramatically at rates in excess of 20% per annum during the 1950's and 1960's. Japan had established, for rational security and other reasons, a domestic

Jan 1, 1985

By J. Ruben Velasco, Roland B. Mulchay

CANANEA has long been recognized as a remarkable field for geologic study. The copper deposits and rocks of the district have been described by many geologists and engineers, but only the most general correlations have been made between Can-anea sedimentary rocks and other known sedimentary sections in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The present paper describes the Cananea sediments in greater detail than has been done before and attempts to fit the Cananea sedimentary section more closely into the geologic time table. The lack of well-preserved fossils has made it difficult to date the sediments accurately in geologic time, but it is possible to make tentative correlations between the Cananea sediments and the southeastern Arizona sections, based largely upon lithology and general position in the geologic column. It appears that sedimentation at Cananea and Bisbee may have been closely similar during Paleozoic time. Even such generalized correlations, however, may be subject to considerable modification in the future. The present study has led to the recognition of other problems of age and mineralization relationships in the Cananea district. Cananea is located in the north-central part of the state of Sonora, Mexico, at an elevation of 5270 ft. It is about 135 miles northeast of Hermosillo, the state capital, and 25 miles south of the international boundary. By road Cananea is 40 miles from the twin towns of Naco, Ariz., and Naco, Sonora, and about 50 miles from Bisbee, Ariz. It is served by the Nogales-Naco branch of the railroad, F.C. Pacifico, and is connected with Chihuahua and Mexico City by the Aeronaves airline. The headwaters of three rivers flowing to the Gulf of California are located in the Cananea Mountains: the San Pedro River, flowing to the north; the Sonora River, flowing south and west; and the Mag-dalena River, flowing west. Elenita Mountain, the highest point in the district, has an elevation of 8140 ft. The Cananea Mountains extend in a series of north-south to northwest-southeast spurs and ridges and are surrounded by gently sloping gravel plains. The mineralized area, lying across the southern and central parts of the range, is about 6 miles long and at most 2 miles wide. Elevations at the mines vary from 5300 ft at Cananea-Duluth mine at the southeast end of the district to between 6000 and 7000 ft at the west end of the mineralized area at Puertecitos-Elenita mines. Principal production has been from the intensely mineralized and altered area of Capote Basin in the central part of the district and the immediately surrounding area to the southeast. The district has produced over 2 billion lb of copper, substantial molybdenum, and minor amounts of lead, zinc, silver, and gold. Total production through 1949 is estimated at more than $300 million. In 1900 large-scale development was started at Cananea by W. C. Greene. Until World War II only high-grade ores were exploited; low-grade ores were extracted after the installation of a large concentrator in the early 1940's, and subsequent operations have been based upon mining and processing ores containing less than 1.0 pct copper from open-pit and underground workings. Mining and concentration of such low-grade ores, however, are made possible only by continued high copper prices, and active exploration for high-grade orebodies has been continued throughout the important mineralized areas. General Geology Study of the involved rock pattern at Cananea has indicated a complex geologic history for the district. Widespread alteration and mineralization have masked many of the salient features and have led to widely varying geologic interpretations over the years. Further work will probably disclose new information which will modify current beliefs. At Cananea a conformable series of sediments of probable Paleozoic age was deposited on an unknown basement. Following Paleozoic time there was an extended period of erosion common to many districts in the southwestern U. S., and there is no present evidence of marine sedimentation at Cananea after the Paleozoic. The eroded surface was eventually covered with a great thickness of extrusive volcanic rocks. The entire series of sediments and volcanic rocks was later intruded by a variety of deep-seated igneous rocks. These included the Cananea granite, the Cuitaca granodiorite, the El Torre syenite, the Tinaja diorite, the Campana diabase and gabbro and the Colorada rhyolite quartz porphyry. Faulting of early age, probably prior to the deposition of the volcanic rocks, may have been responsible for the present position of some of the intrusive rock masses. In the Capote mine on the third and fourth levels the northwest-striking Rick-etts fault zone, with apparent offset of about 800 ft, has been sealed by a dike-like mass of Cananea granite which gradually increases in size with depth. In lower levels of the mine the granite forms a large southeast-plunging mass generally following the course of the Ricketts zone. The granite is not known southeast of the Capote-Oversight mine areas and the Ricketts fault does not appear in the vol-canic~ southeast of Capote Basin, but several plugs of Colorada quartz porphyry cut the volcanics along the assumed general southeast trend of the Ricketts zone. These porphyritic intrusives may be the up-

Jan 1, 1955

By Andrew Fletcher

AS good health is the most important asset in life, the development of healthful conditions should be the one common meeting ground of agreement between management and labor. Health should not be a subject to be pulled apart, shoved around, or bargained about. Differences of opinion may exist in the procedure and techniques employed in approaching the goal of maintaining the health of workmen, and in the method of increasing the ultimate profit of the employer by improved working and living conditions. Such matters are doubtless appropriate subjects for discussions between the interested parties, but techniques are only tools. If an employer fails to remedy a hazard or a menace which contributes to poor working condlions, this constitutes a legitimate grievance. It should not be necessary, however, nor is it desirable that fundamentals of health maintenance become matters of collective bargaining, any more than should the principles of management and engineering. I have been especially concerned during the last few months with the propaganda in collective bargaining negotiations throughout the country for including in union contracts a given number of days of sick leave with pay. We all

Jan 1, 1946

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOCAL .SECTION Executive Committee SEELEY W. MUDD, Chairman C. COLCOCK JONES, Vice-Chairman. FREDERICK J. H. MERRILL, Secretary-Treasurer, 631 Higgins Bldg., Los Angeles, Cal. RALPH ARNOLD A. B. CARPENTER The Southern California Section, held a dinner and meeting at. the Sierra; Madre Club, Los Angeles, on Friday evening, Sept. 28, 1915, at which 21 members and guests-were present. The Vice-Chairman, C. Colcock Jones; presided, in the absence of the Chairman. The amendment' to the By-Laws providing for the increase of the Executive Committee from five to seven members, having been formally presented at the annual meeting of June 18, 1915, and duly announced for consideration at this meeting, was voted on and unanimously adopted. Prof. Robert H. Richards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; made a short address on the subject of ore concentration. The paper on the Geology and Ore Deposits of Mojave, County, Arizona, prepared by F. C. Shrader, was presented to the meeting by the Secretary and was discussed by Allen Burris and Dr. L. D. Godshall. F. J. H. MERRILL, Secretary.

Jan 11, 1915

By N. S. Wagner

The production of lightweight aggregates in Oregon is a new industry, and, like all new enterprises, it is suffering from growing pains characterized by numerous, small operations some of which flourish for a short time and then cease altogether. Normally all industrial mineral products are produced in a highly competitive atmosphere. At the present time this condition does not exist to a very marked degree in the state because as yet producers have not saturated the constantly expanding market. This paper has been prepared with the intention of outlining very briefly the current status of the various products now being used as lightweight aggregates in Oregon. The present picture will surely change, perhaps quite radically within even a short space of time.

Jan 1, 1949

By Thomas A. Simpson, Tunstall R. Gray

The Birmingham district first produced steel from Alabama hematite ores in 1899. Since then, the district generally produced more than 6.0 million gross tons of ore a year to the late 1950's. Production has declined since then to an annual rate of about 1.5 million gross tons. Reserves calculated for the district are sufficient to last many years. Mining in the district is now confined to Woodward Iron Company's Vance and Pyne mines. The rocks exposed consist of about 15,000 feet of consolidated Paleozoic sediments with a thin veneer of unconsolidated Cretaceous sediments in the Vance area. The district is characterized by a distinctively parallel and subparallel, slightly arcuate series of faults and joint systems. In view of available information, it seems reasonable to conclude that the Birmingham red ores are of sedimentary origin, modified to a small extent by diagenetic replacement after original deposition.

Jan 1, 1968

By John A. Emery

The Pea Ridge iron ore deposit near Sullivan, Missouri, is a dike-like mass of magnetite enclosed in Precambrian porphyries. The ore body tops at the Precambrian surface at a depth of 1300 feet below the present surface and extends to an unknown depth. It dips nearly vertically, intersecting the dip and strike of the enclosing porphyries at an extremely sharp angle. Faulting, both pre- and post-ore, appears to be of minor consequence, and present knowledge indicates that no preferred structural conditions existed prior to emplacement. The ore body is composed of magnetite with specular hematite, quartz, apatite, and pyrite occurring as accessory primary minerals. Specular hematite in appreciable quantities occurs on parts of the cap and the footwall of the ore body. Fresh porphyry breccia is enclosed in the magnetite along the hanging wall and in the western portion of the ore body. Hanging-wall quartz-amphibole and footwall quartz-hematite occur as replacements of certain porphyries. Further alteration has caused sericitization of parts of these zones. The ore deposit is interpreted as having been formed essentially by a single injection of a magmatic differentiate with hydrothermal end phases forming the quartz-amphibole and quartz-hematite portions of the deposit.

Jan 1, 1968

W. H. SHOCKLEY, Chairman, FRANK H.-PROBERT, :Vice-Chairman, T. A. RICKARD, Sec.-Treas.; 420 Market St.,. San Francisco, Cal. C. C. BRAYTON, J. F. NEWSOM. A Meeting of the San Francisco Section was held on May 7, 1917. Chairman Shockley was in the Chair. The Section was honored by the presence of President Moore and Secretary Stoughton of the Institute. C. W. Merrill introduced President Moore, who then spoke to the Section on the Aims of the Institute. He discussed the possibility of improving the standards of membership by introducing a classification of membership. The present rigid investigation of applicants was pointed out by him. He spoke of the important influence that the local Sections can exert on the Institute and of the importance of sociability and informality at the meetings. Secretary Stoughton, who was introduced by the Chairman, emphasized somewhat the same points. He mentioned the need for making the Bulletin of the Institute more, interesting than it is at present, this to be accomplished by raising the necessary funds by increased advertising. He asked for an expression of opinion on this point. He. said that the employment department of the Institute is now used extensively. At the request of Mrs. Mark L. Requa, Mr. Stoughton. announced that a San Francisco branch of the Woman's Auxiliary of the, Institute was being formed and asked that the ladies of the members' families send in their names to Mrs. Requa or to the Secretary of the Institute.

Jan 10, 1917

By Davis Baker

The direct-metal cars or ladles of the Maryland Steel Company have a capacity of 18 tons when filled within 12 inches of the top. On account of this large capacity, the formation of skulls in these ladles is by no means as rapid as in smaller ladles; but a skull once formed is a very unwieldy piece of metal to handle, and especially to remove from the ladle. We have found it cheaper to clean ladles often rather than make very heavy skulls. We aim to keep the ring of chilled metal that forms on the surface of the iron chipped off, so that the skull shall form principally at the bottom until it becomes so thick as to render the ladle unfit for service. Sometimes it happens that a ladle may be held for several hours filled with molten metal. This invariably leaves a large amount of chilled metal in the ladle. Frequently the skull will weigh several tons, and will be of the full size of the ladle inside, with a top crust, having perhaps a hole 12 inches square, through which the molten metal was poured. In order to remove skulls that cannot be easily chipped out with a bar, we use what may be called a skull-extractor, consisting of a hydraulic cylinder mounted in the center of a heavy cast-iron plate, standing vertically on a suitable foundation. Figs. 1 and 2 show the construction and operation of this apparatus, Fig. 1 being a view of the extractor with pistons extended to full stroke, and Fig. 2 a view with ladle in position and pistons about to commence the stroke. in both figures, A is the hydraulic cylinder, B the vertical cast-iron plate, and C the foundation. The water-pressure, admitted through the pipe, P, is 750 pounds per square inch, and the inside diameter of A is 14 inches. There are two pistons: D, fitting the bore of the cylinder, and E, 84 inches in diameter, moving inside of D. Both pistons move together when

Jan 1, 1893