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By L. H. Morris, M. Mordecai

The emission of firedamp from the strata surrounding active workings of longwall coal faces normally follows a cyclic pattern associated with the mining operations being carried out on the face. Mining a coal seam disturbs the uniform distribution of overburden weight such that the working is enveloped by a region of high stress, both above and below the seam, advancing with the coal face. There is a decrease in stress as the strata is relaxed following the passage of the face (1). The paper describes experimental results obtained during the initial investigations of a study intended to examine the permeability of samples of coal measure strata under various triaxial stress conditions. Several investigators have studied the effect of stress on the permeability of rock, usually in the field of oil reservoir engineering. Two general lines of approach are evident. One used by among others Fatt and Davies (2), McLatchie et a1 (31, Brace et al (4) and Gunther (5) was to subject a rock sample to hydrostatic pressure. Gas or water would be passed through a sealed core mounted inside a high pressure hydraulic bomb. The second approach, favoured by Wilhelmi and Somerton (6) and also by Gray et a1 (7) was to employ a so-called 'triaxial' state of stress. Here radial confining pressure and axial stress are applied independently. The permeability is measured in the direction of the axial load. With the exception of Gunther who tested coals and Brace et a1 who tested a granite, the rocks used have been sandstones with permeabilities generally appreciably higher than British coal measure rocks.

Jan 1, 1971

By Henri S. Swolfs

INTRODUCTION In this paper we present preliminary results of a research program in site characterization methodology. We are interested in under- standing the response of discontinuous rock to mechanical, hydrologic, and thermal loadings. To carry out such a study we selected a field site with simple geology, uniform distribution of lithologies, and easily verifiable boundary conditions on temperature, fluid flow and stresses. The spatial distribution of fractures at the site was established and tests were conducted to determine the temperature field, hydrology, rock-mass properties, and in situ stresses. As part of the study selected borehole instruments were compared to assess their performance and reliability. SITE GEOLOGY The study area is in the eastern part of South Table Mountain, a mesa near Golden, Colo. The exposed cap rock is a single lava flow of uniform thickness (6-7 m) that rests on the clastic sediments of the Denver Formation (Van Horn, 1976). The surface of the cap rock (N. 75º E., 3º S.) is topographically featureless and slopes south- southeast; drainage is predominantly downdip and punctuated by occasional contact springs. The age of the lava flow is 64-65 m.y., or early Paleocene. Paleo- botanic evidence confirms the upper part of the Denver Formation as Paleocene (Van Horn, 1976). "Rapid-rock" analyses of core samples from the lava flow at three depths (0.2, 3.3, and 5.8 m) suggest a uniform chemical composition throughout with an increase in the Fe2O3/ FeO ratio (1.05 to 1.60) with increasing depth, reflecting the existence of a perched water table in the lava flow, To identify the rock

Jan 1, 1984

By C. H. North, L. E. Lynd, W. W. Anderson, H. Sicurdson

Since the composition and structure of the beach sand concentrates correspond so closely to what would be expected of ilmenites that have been altered by oxidation and leaching, there is no reason to postulate the existence of the hypothetical compound, arizonite, to account for the composition of titaniferous beach sand concentrates. The four concentrates studied are examples of the different products that can result from various degrees of alteration of primary ilmenite. CONSIDERABLE uncertainty is revealed in the literature regarding the nature of the titanium minerals which make up the bulk of the heavy, opaque fractions of numerous beach sand deposits of the world. An investigation was made, therefore, of beach sand concentrates of North Carolina, Florida, Brazil, and India. Magnetic concentration, X-ray, and microscope data were obtained which show that these concentrates consist essentially of ilmenite and its alteration products. The alteration, brought about by oxidation and leaching of iron values, has resulted in upgrading the ores to a range of 56 to 64 pct TiO², as compared with 52.7 pct in ilmenite of theoretical composition. Conclusions drawn regarding the nature of the dominant titanium-bearing mineral in beach sand deposits have been based mainly on chemical composition, specific gravity, and petrography. This material has usually been referred to as ilmenite or weathered ilrnenite.: It has also been referred to as arizonite because in chemical composition it resembles an Occurrence in in which was described by Palmer' in 1909. The chemical composition of Palmer's arizonite corresponded closely to the formula Fe²O³ . 3TiOs. From approximate measurements of crystal angles on a large imperfect crystal with rounded faces, the

Jan 1, 1955

SMALL things are customarily moulded in two ways (unless they have undercut parts which hold them in the moulds); that is in clay, or with natural or which artificial earthern powder made in halves in either wooden boxes or bronze frames. This also depends on whether the object is larger or smaller. Now if you wish to mould with moist clay, you must grease your relief with oil or pig fat; apply a dusting of charcoal, ashes, or cuttlebone on it; or gild or silver it dry with gold, silver, or tin foil. Then, first make with moist and somewhat firm clay a plate as, thick and large as can conveniently hold your relief, and carefully set the latter halfway into this and let it dry. Then, greasing or dusting it again, make the other half. When both are well dried, take out your relief and at the top make its gates and vents. If plastering is needed, do it. Finally, bake the halves, fit them together, and tie them well, as you wish, using the procedure that I taught you in the discussion of brass. But if one has to make a large quantity of works of one kind, he should for the sake of convenience use the method with powder [120] because it is short and requires less time and expense. Therefore if you wish to do this, you need to have several pairs of bronze frames or wooden boxes, higher than half the relief that you wish to mould, and of convenient length. On a flat board always keep half of one of these frames full of powder that has been slightly moistened for moulding, as I told you, so that by pressing with the ends of the fingers and with the hand it holds together as well as possible. Level it off with a cutting tool and when leveled put a flat board over it and turn it over. Turn it on to a dusting of ashes so that it will not stick, dust it on the other side, and remove the excess by blowing it off Then mould the thing that you wish to mould, pressing it halfway in once or twice, always taking it out and putting it back again. Then the other frame is fitted in its place and filled with earth by pressing and squeezing it carefully. Then it is leveled off on the outside with a sharp tool as you did with the other part, and then one of the parts of the frames is lifted up with the point of a knife or some other tool and,

Jan 1, 1942

By R. A. David, D. J. Vink, D. L. Katz

A phase diagram showing boundary curve and quantity of liquid in the two-phase region was determined for a mixture of natural gas and natural gasoline in the region of its critical conditions. The temperatures and pressures of phase measurements were in the range of 85 to 212 F. and 1300 to 2600 Ib. per sq. in., respectively, with the critical conditions at 169.5 F. and 2615 Ib. per sq. in. abs. Color phenomena were observed in the region of the boundary curve from 102' to 192 F. Approximate densities of the single-phase and two-phase regions and analysis of the system are included. Boundary curves between the single-phase and the two-phase regions have been determined for several binary mixtures containing hydrocarbons. 2,3,4.6,7,10,11,12,14 These investigators did not report the relative amounts of liquid and vapor within the two-phase region. The equilibrium values obtained from the dew-point and bubble-point data can be used to compute the lines showing percentage of liquid on the pressure-temperature phase diagram8 but the positions of the lines near the critical temperature and pressure are uncertain. Relative amounts of vapor and liquid were obtained for a gasoline and a naphtha1 within the two-phase area but not in the region of the critical temperature and pressure. The bubble-point and dew-point lines, as well as the percentage liquid lines within the two-phase region, were determined by visual observations in glass apparatus. Apparatus An arrangement of the apparatus is given in Fig. 1, showing the Jerguson gauge A with glass windows B. Pressure was supplied by the

Jan 1, 1940

By R. A. David, D. L. Katz, D. J. Vink

A phase diagram showing boundary curve and quantity of liquid in the two-phase region was determined for a mixture of natural gas and natural gasoline in the region of its critical conditions. The temperatures and pressures of phase measurements were in the range of 85 to 212 F. and 1300 to 2600 Ib. per sq. in., respectively, with the critical conditions at 169.5 F. and 2615 Ib. per sq. in. abs. Color phenomena were observed in the region of the boundary curve from 102' to 192 F. Approximate densities of the single-phase and two-phase regions and analysis of the system are included. Boundary curves between the single-phase and the two-phase regions have been determined for several binary mixtures containing hydrocarbons. 2,3,4.6,7,10,11,12,14 These investigators did not report the relative amounts of liquid and vapor within the two-phase region. The equilibrium values obtained from the dew-point and bubble-point data can be used to compute the lines showing percentage of liquid on the pressure-temperature phase diagram8 but the positions of the lines near the critical temperature and pressure are uncertain. Relative amounts of vapor and liquid were obtained for a gasoline and a naphtha1 within the two-phase area but not in the region of the critical temperature and pressure. The bubble-point and dew-point lines, as well as the percentage liquid lines within the two-phase region, were determined by visual observations in glass apparatus. Apparatus An arrangement of the apparatus is given in Fig. 1, showing the Jerguson gauge A with glass windows B. Pressure was supplied by the

Jan 1, 1940

By George Hunt

THE first practical treatment of wood to prevent decay was devised early in the 19th century. At that time the oaken navy of England, when the nation was fighting for its very existence, seemed doomed to annihilation by the swift ravages of decay. The acute situation inspired a desperate search for preventive measures and resulted in the development of the Burnett, Bethel and Kyan processes for impregnating wood with zinc chloride, coal-tar creosote and mercuric chloride, respectively. In the century that has elapsed, their use has spread throughout the world and the three original preservatives are used today in enormous quantities. Meanwhile, improved processes have been developed, new preservatives discovered, and the practice of impregnating wood to make it last longer has attained a position of major importance in the field of structural materials. USE OF PRESERVATIVES BY THE RAILROADS In the application of wood preservatives in the United States the railroads have been the leaders for the past 50 years or more. Having found that decay is the chief cause of the early destruction of wood and that preservative treatment is the remedy, they have treated their ties and timber in increasing amounts(1)?-in 1925 about 220;000,000 cubic feet. By preservative treatment the Santa Fe Railroad saves annually 1,500,000 ties in its 18,000 miles of track, and many other railroads effect similar savings. (2) In like manner the life of wooden bridges and trestles,(3) poles, marine piling, water tanks and other wooden railroad structures has been greatly increased, reducing the amount of timber required annually to maintain them.(5),(7)

Jan 1, 1927

By Carl F. Cline, Richard R. Vandervoort, Willis L. Barmore

THE objective of this investigation was to determine the high-temperature plastic deformation behavior of stoichiometric uranium mononitride as a function of stress and temperature. Interest in the properties of this material stems from its potential use in high-temperature nuclear reactor systems. The creep of other refractory compounds containing uranium (e.g., U02, UC) has been studied by various investigators.1"4 Fassler et al.4 have studied the creep of UN in vacuum from 1100° to 1350°C at stresses of 6000 and 8000 psi. In the present work, the creep of stoichiometric UN was investigated from 1500° to 1800°C at stresses from 2000 to 5000 psi in a partial pressure of 200 mm of nitrogen. The specimens were prepared by hot isostatic pressing of UN powder into cylinders of $ in. diam by about 1 in. high. After pressing, the specimens were heat-treated in nitrogen at 1900°C for 50 hr. The densities of individual specimens were determined by the water displacement method. All specimens were theoretically dense, based on a value of 14.32 g per cu cm.5 Principal metallic impurities in ppm by weight were: Ca, 50; Cu, 5; Fe, 30; Mg, 5; Ni, 10; and Si, 20. Oxygen content was 400 ± 50 pprn and carbon content was 100 i25 ppm. The nitrogen content was 5.56 ±0.05 wt pct. The average grain size for five specimens, as determined by the intercept method, was 0.14 i 0.01 mm. One specimen had a grain size of 2.0 mm. This large grain size is an anomaly, since all specimens had the same chemical and thermal histories. Specimens of 1/4 in. diam by 1/2 in. high were creep-tested in compression in a clam shell furnace heated by W-25 pct Re sheet elements. Temperature was measured to ilODC by an optical pyrometer which had been calibrated by a standard source. The distance between fiducial marks on the specimen was measured before placement into the furnace. The furnace chamber was evacuated to 10-5 Torr and back-filled to 200 mm N2. After heating rapidly to temperature, the load was applied and controlled to ±2 pct by an Instron testing machine. Upon initial loading, the specimen was deformed until a constant crosshead rate was obtained, then quenched to room temperature, remeasured, and replaced in the furnace. Upon subsequent reloading at temperature, the crosshead rate was constant for the selected condition indicating steady-state creep.

Jan 1, 1969

By Arthur F. Taggart, T. C. Fitt, A. W. Thomas

IT was noticed early by operators that high recoveries and flocculation of the sulphide minerals were closely correlated in agitation-froth flotation. Later, this readily visible flocculation was found almost invariably to be due to the binding together of the oiled sulphides by minute air bubbles, and is now known to be characteristic of pulps in which at least one of the mineral species is coated with an insoluble collecting oil. In 1930 it was reported1 that in differential flotation a correlation exists between Brownian movement of particles in the pulp and their nonfloatability, and that Brownian movement and dispersion are likewise correlated, whence it would appear to follow that dispersion of a mineral particle in a flotation pulp denotes a particle condition unfavorable to flotation. In 1934 it was postulated2 that Brownian movement, dispersion and nonfloatability all flow from the condition of the surface of the dispersed particles. It was also postulated at that time that the surfaces of dispersed particles are ionized, the ionized compound being a product of reaction between a component of the particle and a. component of the pulp, of a mass solubility of the general order of a fraction of a milligram to 15 to 20 mg. per liter. It was then further asserted, and has since been confirmed by Bankoff,3 that sulphides so conditioned with soluble collectors as to be floatable flocculate without the intervention of air bubbles as binding media. The present paper comprises an inquiry into the nature of the bound and counter ions in zinc sulphide dispersed by sodium arsenate. A part of its findings was mentioned in the 1934 paper above cited.2 The tests show that: I. When powdered granular zinc sulphide is immersed in aqueous solutions of sodium arsenate, arsenate ion is abstracted from solution and anchored to the solid surface, while sulphate and lower sulphoxy ions are concurrently displaced therefrom in substantially stoichiometric quantities. 2. The ion counterbalancing the anchored arsenate ion is zinc. 3. Dispersion and Brownian movement of zinc sulphide are concurrently maxima at an arsenate-ion concentration lying between 0.01 and 0.001-molar sodium arsenate. 4. Any condition or reaction that tends to remove the zinc arsenate coating from the zinc sulphide particles decreases dispersion and Brownian movement concurrently. EXPERIMENTAL Three samples of zinc sulphide were used. Lot I was C.P. zinc sulphide, washed well beyond absence of chloride, as shown by test with silver ion. Lot 2 was prepared by precipita-

Jan 1, 1943

By C. W. Greenhalgh

THE accuracy with which grade and tonnage of a mineral deposit may be calculated from diamond-drill assays is dependent upon: (I) the reliability of core and sludge samples and (2) the validity of methods used in grade and tonnage calculations. Limitations imposed by drilling and sampling preclude elaborate methods of computation. In adjusting core and sludge assays the importance assigned the core and sludge samples may be based on either the respective weights recovered or the respective volumes represented by each. Only when core and sludge recoveries are poor do discrepancies between adjusted assays calculated by these two methods develop, in which case the "weight" method gives emphasis to the core sample and the "volume" method gives emphasis to the sludge sample. When the sludge suffers classification within the drill hole, the weight method gives more accurate results; when the sludge sample suffers no classification, the volume method gives more accurate results. Any drilling campaign offers a compromise between desired accuracy on the one hand and expediency, limited time, money, or facilities on the other. Since the determination of grade and tonnage is an approximation at best, a proper basis for their computation requires a knowledge of the limitations imposed by all phases of work upon which the calculations depend. A rational basis for coordination of these phases of work requires determination of: (I) the degree of accuracy desired, as a function of the object of examination; (2) the degree of accuracy attainable, as a function of the limitations imposed in the drilling and sampling program; and (3) the validity of method to be used in calculating grade and tonnage from core and sludge assays. This paper presents results of a comparison made between two commonly used methods of adjusting core and sludge assays, the assumptions upon which these methods are based, and the interrelationship of the phases of work upon which these calculations are dependent. OBJECT OF EXAMINATION The purpose of prospecting any mineral deposit is to secure sufficient samples from which ore grade and tonnage may be calculated. Any mine examination, preliminary or formal, has a definite purpose, although its scope may be limited or broad. The type of examination to be conducted is dependent, therefore, upon the reason for instituting the investigation; its scope and thoroughness are directly related to economic considerations. It is highly desirable, therefore, that before starting a drilling campaign a complete understanding of the extent of examination and desired degree of accuracy be determined as a means of simplifying the drilling program and unifying the relative degree of

Jan 1, 1946

By R. J. Jackson, D. E. Williams, W. L. Larsen

The phase diagram of the Ta-Zr system is presented with a discussion of the methods used in its determination. The solidus contains a minimum at 1820°C near 25 wt pet Ta. A complete solid solution exists at elevated temperatures between tantalum and ß zirconium. This solid solution decomposes monotectoidally at 800°C and 12 wt pet Ta. The maximum solubility of tantalum in a zirconium is slightly less than 2 wt pet, and decreases with decreasing temperature. The solubility of zirconium in tantalum is 5 wt pet at the monotectoid temperature and about 2 wt pet at room temperature. THIS investigation was part of a program of research on refractory metal alloy systems having potential application in nuclear reactor technology. Preliminary prop-ess has been reported in the Ames Laboratory annual research reports.l Most of the previously reported work on the Ta-Zr alloy system consisted of partial phase diagram investigations and the determination of the mechanical properties of the zirconium-rich alloys. Anderson eta1.2 studied alloys containing up to 30 wt pet Ta as part of an investigation of several zirconium alloy systems. These investigators also determined some of the mechanical properties of the alloys at room temperature and 650°C. In a discussion of Anderson's work, Pfei13 suggested that the bright phase in the microstructures of the intermediate alloys is a tantalum-rich solid solution or an intermediate phase in a matrix of ß zirconium solid solution. Litton,4 Keeler,5 and Chubb6 determined the mechanical properties of zirconium-rich alloys at ambient and elevated temperatures. Van Thyne and McPherson7 reported the tensile properties

Jan 1, 1962

By William A. Vogely

Mining employment in the United States declined from 986,000 employees in 1948 to about 600,000 employees today. This has occurred even though the Index of Physical Volume of Mineral Production (1957-59=100) has increased from 88 to 111 and the value of mineral production measured in constant(1957-59) dollars has increased from $14.7 billion to approximately $19.3 billion. Average unit mine value has increased 24% as compared with a 34% increase in prices in general. Apparent consumption has increased more than domestic production, indicating an increased dependence on imports. The mineral economy presents a complex pattern of development factors in the post-war period. This article presents a technique by which the various forces that have been acting on the market for a mineral commodity may be sorted out and by which the extent of the impact of technological change in use as well as the technological change in production can be measured. If one is interested in delineating fully and completely the impact of technological change upon the mining industries, it is not sufficient to describe the increase in productivity reflected by the above employment and production figures. What is reflected there is only the effect of technological change in the production function of the commodities under concern. These effects are obviously very substantial and have major implications for labor, capital and supplying industries. However, they are not the only effects of technological change and, in fact, may be relatively minor when the impact which arises because of changing technology in the using or consuming industries is considered.

Jan 4, 1965

By T. J. Whalen and Michael

The grain shape of the carbide in nickel-bowled ad cobalt-bonded titanium carbides was studied by microgiaphic examination, and the influcence of sintering atmosphere, sintering substl-after, ami the amount of metal binder on the grain shape was determined. If was found that the Carbide grain cross sections in the nickel and cobalt cermets ranged from round to angular, depending on the sintering conditions. The spheroidization of the carbides in both cobalt-bonded and nickel-bonded titanium carbides may be attribicted to oxygen. In the course of studies on titanium-carbide base cermets, various investigators have reported on the shape of the carbide grains, and it was noticed that grain shapes were obtained which were either spheroids, or polygons with rounded or square edges. It was also noted that the shapes of the carbide grains changed with time or composition. skolnickl showed that the titanium-carbide grains. after infiltration in vacuum with nickel tended to spheroi- dize with time. The titanium-carbide skeleton was located on a beryllia plate during infiltration. Gur-land,' who studied the microstructure of titanium carbide-cobalt compacts, showed that the carbide grains are round after 1 hr at 1450oC in a hydrogen atmosphere and angular after 7 hr at the same temperature. Goetzel3 has found that the carbide grains in compacts with a high binder content. 40 to 60 pet. tend to be spheroidized. whereas Blumenthal and silverman4 pointed out that the higher binder contents could yield either round or rectangular grains with rounded edges. depending on the nature of the binder. It is the purpose of this paper to present experi-

Jan 1, 1961

By W. Kauenhowen

The production of petroleum in Germany during 1932 totaled about 1,608,558 bbl., a slight increase over the 1, 602,517 bbl. produced in 1931. A decline, as shown in Table 1, occurred chiefly in the Volkenroda (Thuringia) field. The total production of the other fields (salt domes), however. reached a new record, about 21 per cent above 1931. Table 1.—Oil Production of Germany by Fields and Oil Provinces, 1928-1932 (Barrels of 42 Gallons)" Salt Dome Province __________________________________________________|_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1928 274,323 322,742 679 46,319 644,021 644,315 1929 310,891 337,582 10,535 67,578 719,901 720,069 1930 586,404 427,539 100,716 72,485 1,186,969 29,806 1,220,296 1931 506,548 403,634 213,549 116,088 1,242,598 360,885 1,602,517 1932 769,405 366,982 230 979 130,711 1,498,077 110,481 1,608,558 " Official figures published in Germany are given in metric tons. For the above conversion into barrels a factor of 1 metric ton equaling 7 barrels has been used. Includes a very small production from Hcide, Holstein. c Includes a very small production from Tegernsee, Bavaria, and Bruchsal, Baden. Nienhagen-Hanigsen Field In 1932 the Nienhagen-Hanigsen yielded about 51 per cent of the production from the four German salt dome fields. During 1932 the productive area was again extended, chiefly towards the northwest in the so-called north district, to which the present drilling activity is confined almost entirely. Since the discovery of the north district in 1928, about 45 wells have been drilled in it, of which only two were

Jan 1, 1933

By Nobuhiro Takahashi

PROLOGUE The Yaguki mine, which is located near the southern end of the Tohoku region, Japan, near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, had had a long history as a copper mine, but had not been operated since 1925. About 30 years later it was reopened by Nittetsu Mining Company, and in 1958 a small flotation and magnetic separation plant, a so-called test plant, started production. The ball mill the author first met, a 8x4x4x7 ft tricone mill, called No.1 mill, had started running at that time. With his experience in initial, running of this mill he realized that the ball mill was not simply a preparatory process to flotation, but a determinant factor for flotation performance, an energy-consuming and costly process, and that its operation control was an important task in the plant (1). The working part of an operating ball mill is the ball load inside, whose properties govern the grinding performance. Its size distribution affects the efficiency greatly and the capacity is nearly proportional to its weight. When a ball mill operates for a long period of time with a constant and consistent addition of renewal balls, wear and renewal of balls are balanced, and an equilibrium ball load is formed. A stable equilibrium load is the primary requirement for a stable ball mill operation. However, renewal ball size would be the most influential factor affecting efficiency and capacity of operating ball mills. To improve efficiency, to increase capacity, or to get finer product, attempts to find out the optimum size assortment of renewal balls should be made. When re-

Jan 1, 1976

By M. A. Quader, D. Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf, R. A. Dodd

STACKING fault tetrahedra were first observed in quenched and aged pure gold by Silcox and Hirsch1 and identified as defects originating in the collapse of vacancy discs on {111} planes. It was supposed that sessile loops are the first product of the collapse, and that by a dislocation dissociation/glide sequence these are converted into tetrahedra. Although the tetrahedra can be mechanistically accounted for in this way, recent investigations indicate that their growth occurs by the absorption of individual vacancies on small nuclei involving perhaps as few as six vacancies.2-7 Besides stacking fault tetrahedra, triangular and crystallographic shaped Frank loops, although fewer in number, have always been observed in quenched and aged gold.19798 It is not known definitely whether these loops form from collapsed tetrahedra. The fact that the Frank loops are usually larger than the accompanying tetrahedra might indicate that the loops grow independently by absorbing vacancies, but this does not rule out the possibility of the collapse of tetrahedra into loops under all circumstances. Silcox and Hirsch1 have actually observed under the electron microscope tetrahedra collapsing into loops, probably due to stresses set up by the heating of the specimen by the electron beam. The energy residing in the stacking faults of a tetrahedron is proportional to the square of the edge length, while the energy of a triangular perfect dislocation loop depends on its edge length, L, as const L ln(L/ro). Therefore, beyond some critical size tetrahedra must become unstable with respect to collapse into triangular loops.1,3,8-11 However, it seems that in the absence of strong stresses tetrahedra usually decay by the

Jan 1, 1969

By George Hunt

THE first practical treatment of wood to prevent decay was devised early in the 19th century. At that time the oaken navy of England, when . the nation was fighting for its very existence, seemed doomed to annihilation by the swift ravages of decay. The acute situation inspired a desperate search for preventive measures and resulted in the development of the Burnett, Bethel and Kyan processes for impregnating wood with zinc chloride, coal-tar creosote and mercuric chloride, respectively. In the century that has elapsed, their use has spread throughout the world and the three original preservatives are used today in enormous quantities. Meanwhile, improved processes have been developed, new preservatives discovered, and the practice of impregnating wood to make it last longer has attained a position of major importance in the field of structural materials. USE OF PRESERVATIVES BY- THE RAILROADS In the application of wood preservatives in the United States the railroads have been the leaders for the past 50 years or more.. Having found, that decay is the chief cause of the early destruction of wood and that preservative treatment is the remedy, they have treated their ties and timber in increasing amounts(1) ?-in 1925 about 220,000,000 cubic feet. By preservative treatment the Santa Fe Railroad saves annually 1,500,000 ties in its 18,000 miles of track, and many other railroads effect similar savings. (2) In like manner the life of wooden bridges and trestles,(3) poles, marine piling, water tanks and other wooden railroad structures has been greatly increased, reducing the amount of timber required annually to maintain them.(5),(7)

Jan 2, 1927

The co-operation of the members of the Institute is earnestly sought by the Committee on Nominations, recently appointed by the Board of . Directors, in its work of formulating a ticket for officers and places falling vacant in the Board of Directors in February, 1916. The Committee must present the official ticket of nominations to the Board of Directors at its October meeting. Members are, therefore, urged to send promptly their nominations for officers and Directors in order that the Committee may have an opportunity to give them full consideration. The officers to be elected at the annual meeting in February, 1916, are: One officer, known as Director and President. Two officers, known as Director and Vice-President. Five officers, known as Director; The attention of members is called to Articles V and VII of the Constitution, and to By-Law XIII, which reads as follows: "The geographical districts to be considered by the Committee on Nominations shall he as follows, until otherwise ordered by the Board. District No. 1. New England, New York, and New Jersey, excepting New York City and district., which is provided for in the Constitution. (N. B.-New York City and district is designated District 0.) District No. 2. Pennsylvania. District No. 3. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. District No. 4. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. District No. 5. Montana, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. District No. 6. California and Nevada. District No. 7. Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. District No. 8. Louisiana and Texas. District No. 9. Other Southern States and District of Columbia. District No. 10. Mexico. District No. 11. Canada."

Jan 7, 1915

By Strathmore R. B. Cooke, Iwao Iwasaki

RECENTLY spectrophotometry has been reported to provide a convenient technique for the rapid and reproducible determination of xanthate concentration in pulp solutions,12 and for a kinetic study of xanthate decomposition in acid solutions." Since the application of this analytical technique is feasible for those compounds showing pronounced light absorption maxima in the near ultraviolet region, it was deemed advisable to investigate the absorption spectra of some of the organic compounds that are used in flotation. It is known empirically that certain groups of atoms in an organic compound cause characteristic light absorption in the ultraviolet and near ultraviolet range, and the wavelengths and intensities of the corresponding absorption maxima are relatively independent of the nature of the remainder of the compound. The characteristic values of such groups, which are known as chromophores, are given in the literature.4,5 According to this information, many of the sulphydryl compounds are expected to show absorption maxima in the near or long wavelength ultraviolet region, whereas the saturated fatty acids and the saturated alkylamines do not. This article reports the absorption spectra of the six following types of sulphydryl compounds; mono-, di-(xanthate), and trithiocarbonates, dithiocarba-mate, dithiophosphate (aerofloat), and mercaptan. A Beckman DU quartz spectrophotometer was used to investigate the spectra in the wavelength region of 215 to 350mp. Materials: All the mono-, di-, and trithiocarbonates used in this investigation were prepared in the usual manner" from appropriate compounds obtained from Eastman Distillation Product Industries. The dithiocarbonates included the normal alkyl compounds from methyl to octyl inclusive, as well as the isopropyl, isobutyl, and isoamyl xanthates. Iodo-metric titration gave 99.7 and 99.5 pct purity for

Jan 1, 1958

By Edgar Marburg, William R. Webster

The desirability of bringing about greater uniformity in specifications governing iron and steel is generally recognized, and has found expression within recent years, in the efforts of numerous technical societies in that direction. When the International Association for Testing Materials was organized at Zurich in 1895, a committee was appointed, charged as follows: " On the basis of existing specifications, to seek methods and means for the introduction of international specifications for testing and inspecting iron and steel of all kinds." The American representation on this international committee consisted originally of five, and now of eight members. In view of the magnitude and importance of the subject, the Executive Committee of the American Section of the International Association for Testing Materials, since incorporated as the American Society for Testing Materials, appointed a committee of 34 members, including the American members of the above-named international committee, to frame standard American specifications for iron and steel. This committee reported on specifications for (1) Structural Steel for ridges and Ships; (2) Structural Steel for Buildings; (3) Open-Hearth Boiler-Plate and Rivet-Steel; (4) Steel Rails; (5) Steel Splice-Bars; (6) Steel Axles; (7) Steel Tires; (8) Steel Forgings; (9) Steel Castings ; (10) Wrought-Iron. These specifications were designed to be fairly representa-tive of the best current American practice, and were adopted by letter-ballot of the Society in August, 1901. The leading engineering societies have participated at various times in the discussion of these specifications and have lent valuable assistance through the appointment of special committees on like, or closely related, subjects. The American Society of Civil Engineers discussed the spec-

Jan 1, 1905