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By R. W. Smith, R. J. Charles

Fractions of glass particles in the size range 0.5 to 5.0 were prepared by an elutriator that operates in a centrifugal field. Although mean sizes of commercially graded abrasive powders were ten times greater than those of samples prepared by the elutriator, frequency size plots for elutriator samples compared favorably. Efficiency of separation was low and amounts of material recovered by the elutriator were small, but the method should find use in preparation of small amounts of sized materials for laboratory investigations. R. W. SMITH, Junior Member AIME, Research Assistant, Dept. of Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is presently with Portland Cement Ass'n., Chicago. R. J. CHARLES, Junior Member AIME, formerly Assistant Professor, Dept. of Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is Research Associate, Ceramic Studies Section, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. TP 4261B. Manuscript, Jan. 31, 1956. STUDY of light adsorption, reaction rates, electro-phoresis, particle packing, and corrosion is hindered by lack of a suitable method of preparing small amounts of closely sized materials in the micron and submicron range. Most fractionation methods depend on some form of particle movement through a viscous media in which velocity of a par-

Jan 1, 1957

By J. A. Cordier

USINOR has conducted four blast furnace tests with formcoke made from marginal coals in the pilot plant of HBNPC ("H. B. N." process) in four different blast furnaces of various sizes and with medium and high grade burdens. The tests in which up to 30% of the blast furnace fuel burden was replaced by HBN formcoke yielded good results on furnaces ranging in hearth diameters from 5.6 to 9.5 m. The tests demonstrated that: - the slight increase of pressure drop in the stack did not prevent smooth operation at record production rates with the same blowers - the total coke rate was not significantly affected, but there was a slight increase of the calorific value of the top gas - the hot properties of the formcoke are satisfactory as seen from the samples withdrawn at the tuyeres and tapholes. At the end of the two months test on BE nº 2 of Dunkerque, the hearth was as permeable and clean as with good standard coke. Our conclusion is that HBNPC formcoke made from lean coals is an adequate substitute for conventional coke in the range of 20 to 40% replacement, which is of interest to USINOR.

Jan 1, 1977

At a special inaugural ceremony in Blue Hill, Maine on August 3rd, Governor John H. Reed detonated the first blast to signify the beginning of development work on a new copper-zinc mining venture that seems destined to focus increased interest in the mineral potential of that State. The property which is the first new base metal mine to be discovered in the northern Appalachians in 30 years, is owned by Black Hawk Mining Co., a subsidiary of Denison Mines Ltd. of Toronto. When it goes on-stream in 1966, it will join Ducktown, Tenn., as the only active copper producing region, east of the Mississippi River. According to official reports submitted by the Company to Robert G. Doyle, Maine's State Geologist, Black Hawk has found ore reserves totalling 4.5 million tons. Assays show 2.8 million tons of 2.0'; copper and 0.4 oz. of silver per ton; 1.2 million tons of 16.75% zinc and 0.58% copper; and 0.5 million tons of 6.75% lead with 4.25 oz. of silver per toil and some zinc.

Jan 9, 1964

By Frank Firmstone

The indicator cards shown herewith were taken by the writer in June, 1877, from the water-pressure blowing engine of the Longdale Iron Co., at Lucy Selina Furnace, Longdale, Virginia. A description of' this engine with figures, and some indicator cards, was published by Washington Jones, Esq., Superintendent of the I. P. Morris Co.,* in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for May, 1877, to which those desiring a full account are referred, but for convenience the principal dimensions, etc., are given below. The machine consists of a pair of horizontal direct-acting blowing engines, connected at right angles to a common fly-wheel shaft. The blowing cylinders are 4 ft. diameter by 5 ft. stroke; the water cylinders were 18 in. diameter by 5 ft. stroke as built. Both water and blowing cylinders are double acting. The water valves are balanced piston valves, 18 in. diameter, moved directly by eccentrics on the fly-wheel- shaft. Great care was taken to have the areas of the ports and passages at least equal to the area of the working piston. The engine is set about 14 ft. above the tail-race, and the

Jan 1, 1879

By Northcutt Ely

International developments affecting foreign in- vestments in 1960-61 were many, varying from region to region and differing with respect to various categories of investments. Total value of U.S. private investment abroad in 1960 was approximately $32.7 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion over 1959. Production and distribution of mineral resources was, by a sizeable margin, the most important function of American capital working in foreign countries in 1960. Investment in mining or petroleum interests totaled approximately $14 billion, or 42% of all direct foreign investment. In- vestments by industry for 1960 were as follows: Petroleum-10.9 billions, Mining-3.0 billions, Manufacturing-11.2 billions, Utilities-2.5 billions, other-5.1 billions. American investors found Canada and Latin America to be most desirable in 1960 with the greatest percentage of American capital in all areas centered in the petroleum and mining industries. The areal breakdown of total American investments is as follows: Canada-$11.2 billions, Latin America-$8.4 billions, Western Europe-$6.6 billions, Middle East-$1.2 billions, Far East-$1.2 billions, Africa-$.9 billions, other areas-$3.2 billions.

Jan 3, 1962

By Eldon C. Pattee

Variations of a very reliable geochemical field test for beryllium developed by Patten and Ward, have been adapted by the U.S. Bureau of Mines to facilitate rapid testing of reconnaissance samples and to aid in rapid examination of known occurrences. Although several qualitative tests for detecting beryllium have been described in the literature,1,2,3, the Patten-Ward4 morin geochemical field method has the advantages of being rapid and being quantitative for minute amounts of beryllium. In addition to the morin field method, Patten, in cooperation with Griffitts, have developed a contact- print method for determining beryllium in hand specimens.5 The semiquantitative method can be used for rapid screening of samples in exploration or reconnaissance work. The use of beads for fusing samples provides a more rapid test, but gives less accurate results than the method developed by Patten and Ward. The semiquantitative method, however, requires less equipment and combines three stock solutions into one reagent for easy application. Estimates of samples in the range from 3 to 1000 ppm varied from about 0.25 to 5 times the actual beryllium content.

Jan 5, 1965

By AIME AIME

L. C. GRATON, professor of geology in Harvard University, addressed the New York Section on April 24 on-his impressions of the Rand. His beautifully clear and concise address was delivered without notes, so that what follows is merely a resume of the principal points made. The world is apparently coming to the end of ore discoveries easily made, yet we need metals at a steadily increasing rate. If surface discoveries are to decline, then we must find other ores or use less metals. The probable chances of finding ore are greater in the centers of big production than in new districts, as proved statistically. It is unsafe to say that a field is worked out. Therefore, deep mining holds possibilities and is an interesting study that will progressively gain in importance. The origin of the gold in the banket of the Rand has been a geologic football for a long time. Of the various theories, two have survived: 1. Infiltration into permeable conglomerate beds from deep-seated sources; 2. the placer hypothesis, which holds that gravel beds originally had the gold in them. At present, the second theory is accepted by the majority, as a result of the studies by the Union Geological Survey and by E: F. Mellor which were published about fifteen years ago.

Jan 1, 1929

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N M Requests for publications should be addressed to the Librarian of the University Papers of the Geological Series of the University are bound in volumes: Vol 1, vol 2, pt 1, and vol 2, pt. 2, and vol. 3 are out of print, but separates of the following papers may be had at a uniform cost of 25 cents each. Vol. 1? No. 1, Geology of the environs of Albuquerque (1898); 2, Occurrence of copper and lead in the San Andreas and Caballo Mountains (1898), 3, Geological reconnaissance in western Socorro and Valencia counties (1898); Geology of the San Pedro and Albuquerque districts (1898). , Vol 2: No. 1, Geology of the Albuquerque Sheet (1900); 2, Miscellaneous economic papers by Herrick (1900); 3, Geological reconnaissance in western Socorro and Valencia counties (1900); 4, Geology of the White Sands of New Mexico (1900); 5, Identifi¬cation of an Ohio coal measure's horizon in New Mexico (1900); 6, Cyanide process in New Mexico (1900). Vol. 3. No 3, The oil situation in New Mexico (1920), 4, Geology of Sandia Mountains (1922); 5, Oil and gas m New Mexico in 1923.

Jan 1, 1933

Meeting of Jan. 23, 1914.-The President reported the appointment of Arthur S. Dwight and E. Gybbon Spilsbury as tellers to canvass the votes for the Annual Election of Directors. The President reported the appointment of the Committee on Precious and Base Metals, reorganized in accordance with the list on page xlvi. . The Treasurer was authorized to invest the sum of approximately $1,000, accruing from the sale of Life Memberships during the past year, by the purchase of one gold bond of the Interborough Rapid Transit Co., due 1966, at 5 per cent. The By-Laws of the San Francisco Local Section were approved. The recommendation of the Lord Kelvin Memorial Fund Committee that the balance of the fund unexpended be applied to the establishment of a Kelvin Gold Medal was approved. Forty-two members who had paid up all arrears of clues were reinstated. The sum of $100 was appropriated to the Columbia Local Section. The price of each of the three Volumes of Transactions of the year 1913 was established as $5 in paper and $6 in half-morocco. Forty-three Members, One Associate and four Junior Members were elected to membership in their respective classes.

Jan 2, 1914

By Arthur F. Taggart

The following conclusions on the work of the Hardinge mill are based on data furnished to the writer by the Hardinge Conical Mill Co. in the form of the mesh cards hereto appended. Energy units (E. U.) and relative mechanical efficiencies (R. M. E.) are computed by the "volume method" of Stadler.' Screen apertures used are the average apertures of testing screeps of the meshes given. i . Card 122. June 28, 1912. Vipond Porcupine Mines Co., Ltd., Schumacher, Ont., Canada. Ore from mill bin. Gangue, quartz and basalt. 4.5 ft. by 13 in. ball mill, Capacity, 48 tons per 24 hr. Charge, 4,000 lb. balls. Speed, 33 rev. per minute. Horsepower, 15 to 17. Water, 100 per cent. by weight. (50 per cent. ?) Product deslimed and oversise reground in pebble mill, see Card 113. Feed to mill through 2-in. mesh. Mesh Feed, Per Cent. Discharge, Per Cent.. + 1in. 5.50 ....... + 3/4. 28.00 + in. 30.00 ...... + 1/4in. 19.72 ....... + 10 10.87 2.10 + 20 2.42 8.00 -20 3.51 .....,. + 40 ....... 22.68 + 60 ...___ 10.50 4-80 ....... 11.80 + 100 ....... 3.90 -100 ....... 40.15

Jan 1, 1916

By J. D. MacKenzie

THE world production of copper for the first eight months of 1927 shows an increase of 3 per cent over the same period in 1926. Since February of this year, however, production has been considerably curtailed. The United States reduction in the last four months has been offset by the increased South Ameri-can and Belgian Congo production. The United States is now producing 58 per cent of the world production, Chile and Peru 17.3 per cent, Belgian Congo 5 per cent. In 1926 the United States produced 54 per cent, Chile and Peru 16.3 per cent, Belgian Congo 6.3 per cent. Production, Tons 1917-largest war year 1,580,000 1925 1,581,000 1926-increase 3 per cent 1,628,000 1927-increase 3 per cent 1,670,000 Copper Producing Countries, 8 mo., 1927: Tons Per Cent United States 644,000 58.0 Chile and Peru 192,000 17.3 Europe 90,000 8.1 Belgian Congo 56,000 5.0 Japan 46,000 4.1 Mexico 30,000 2.7 Canada 23,000 2.1 Figures are not available for Spain and Portugal, which would probably precede Mexico.

Jan 12, 1927

By G. T. Hahn

On the basis of the recommendation of Lovell, Vogel, and Wernick,&apos; Fry&apos;s reagent*2 was recently c) if decoration of the dislocations by carbon or nitrogen atoms is a factor in the etch pitting. Experiments were performed with samples of a commercial 1020 steel, a vacuum-melted iron (C - 10 to 15 ppm, 0 - 20 to 50 ppm, N < 2 ppm), both annealed 4 hr at 1100°C, and a zone-refined iron (C - 3 to 5 ppm, 0 - 10 ppm, N < 1 ppm ) in the as-cast condition. Saomple surfaces were prepared by grinding to 600A grit and electropolishing. Initially, effects of etching the steel with modifications of the basic Fry composition were examined. It was found that increasing the alcohol or HC1 concentratior~ retarded dislocation pitting; reducing the acid content promoted secondary pitting. Cooling the reagent and the sample did not improve the quality of the etch pits. Best results were obtained with freshly prepared reagent modified by increasing the CuC12 content to 15 g. This composition was used in subsequent experiments. Annealed samples were etched 10 to 15 sec; cold-worked samples —2 to 5 sec.

Jan 1, 1962

By John B. Hastings

TEN miles from Hartsel, near Antelope springs, in Park county, Colorado, there is a large area of unconsolidated lake beds, which are interesting because at least a part of the lacustrine sands contains in the aggregate an immense amount of gold. During 1906, one of the arms of this dessicated lake was fairly well prospected with shafts and cuts by an Eastern company to test its value, as favorable amounts of gold had in some instances been found upon it. The claims of the company contain about 5,000 acres of the beds; but this is only a small portion of them, a south branch from a main body, which is at least 7 miles in diameter, with other and very wide lateral gulches, paralleling the one herein described on the east and west. A certain amount of digging and sampling was done in the outside areas; but the result was evidently unsatisfactory, since the work was discontinued. his section of Colorado has not been studied geologically, and the age of the ancient lake is unknown. It is probably Quaternary. I spent two weeks on the ground, in September and October, 1906, but was quite absorbed in the sampling. I looked, however, for terraces on the rim-rock and other evidences of movement and erosion, but did not find anything to denote an earlier age than the Quaternary. The granite rim-rock may be Archean; S. F. Emmons says that some of the granites in central Colorado are as old as that. The rim-rock as observed is a gray quartzose biotite-granite, except a small area in Sections 3 and 34, where it is a felsitic (?) breccia. The breccia is silicified by solfataric action at the corner near Shaft No. 7, in Section 34; but this action is older than the sands and does not extend to them. The shaft averaged 50c. per ton, more than twice as much as the rest.

Jan 5, 1908

By AIME AIME

IN A STATEMENT summarizing general conditions in the Federated American Engineering Societies, the executive secretary, L. W. Wallace, expresses the belief that the Federation has made substantial progress. At the annual meeting of the American Engineering Council, to be held in Washington Jan. 5 and 6, this progress will be shown by reports covering activities in many fields. "Unquestionably," says Mr. Wallace, "the Federa¬tion has made favorable and permanent contacts in Washington. Through the, activities of Congress and of the new Federal administration. we have had the opportunity to render some really constructive service. We feel, however, that the great body of engineers are not adequately informed of the organization of the Federation, of its aims and purposes and of its activities.

Jan 1, 1921

By H. R. Hanley

IN AS MUCH as the interesting changes in the economics of the zinc industry are covered nowhere else in this issue, and they are related to technological progress in the metallurgy of zinc, some reference to prices and production will first be made. The latter part of 1939 is outstanding in the large war demand for metals including zinc, whereas in the first eight months the demand for zinc was subnormal. The cause of the rapid in- crease in demand was the European war and hence the future is problematical. When the year began zinc was in the doldrums, with low prices, and continued thus until August when an advance in price started, reaching 6.5. per pound early in October. (Prime Western, St. Louis.) Rapid changes in the price of any metal are viewed adversely by the metal industry. The persistent low price for zinc of 4 to 49512 for about two years curtailed production and in one instance closed one large plant for a brief period.

Jan 1, 1940

By Noel Cunningham

MANY excellent descriptions of the mills of the, Porcupine district have been written, but no discussion exclusively devoted to the metallurgical technology has been given. These notes are intended to cover this feature briefly. They are based upon 2 ½ years&apos; mill operation in the district-i.e., practically since the beginning of metallurgical operations. Character of the Porcupine Ore.-There is no oxidized ore in the district, the surface having been deeply planed by glacial action in recent geologic time. The precious-metal content is about in the proportion of 85 of gold to 15? of silver by weight; hence, the silver is practically negligible. There are two classes of Porcupine ore, having very different characteristics; these will be referred to throughout this paper as Class A and Class B. Class A ore is a pure quartz with inclusions of schist. Generally it is heavily fractured .and breaks down readily to sharp, hard grains, about minus 10 plus 20 mesh, requiring further comminution to release the gold. It carries very little pyrite; the gold is entirely free and apt to be coarse, but often spongy, going into solution readily on that account. This gold is 60 per cent. to 85 per cent. free milling, depending on the grade of ore. Class B ore is an iron silicate schist, strongly laminated, carrying 4 to 5 per cent. pyrite; its specific gravity is 2.8 to 3.0, depending upon the amount of mineralization. In breaking the ore in the mine, generally over 25 per cent. of material through a ½ -in. ring is made; the ore readily breaks down in milling and makes a comparatively large amount of non-crystalline slime; owing to its high specific gravity, however, it is quick settling.&apos; In my opinion, the gold in this ore is free, but so finely divided that it will neither pan nor amalgamate; it appears to be disseminated through the rock and not chiefly associated with the pyrite. Veins of Class A ore occur with or without side walls of Class B, and veins of Class B occur unassociated with Class A; more often the veins are closely banded, Class A and Class B alternating, generally with Class B in excess. Both classes of ore are more-or less blocky at times, and with ref¬erence to Class B this is indicative or low gold content.

Jan 3, 1915

By FREDERICK W. BRADLEY

MINING is one of the world&apos;s oldest industries and has pioneered the civilization of all new lands. Today, mining is not only one of the essential and basic industries of the world, but it is constantly growing in magnitude and becoming more important. We think that the most of our mining is done in the western portion of this country, but in the old State of Pennsylvania mines and products derived from minerals account for about two-thirds of the entire productive wealth of the State. As our forests are denuded, mining furnishes substitutes for timber in the way of concrete, gypsum board, etc. ; and as civilization increases the wants of mankind, mining is producing metals and minerals of every kind in increasing quantities. For example: during the past ten years the per capita consumption of copper in the United States has increased 49 per cent, to 14.56 Ib.; that of lead has increased 35 per cent, to 12.24 lb.; and that of zinc has increased 70 per cent, to 9.57 Ib. The consumption in European countries is about one-half of this, and there are other countries with large populations where there is virtually no consumption; so when all other countries catch up in consumption with our country, you can see what an enormous demand there is going to be for the metals, even to the extent of having to find substitutes for copper, lead, and zinc.

Jan 1, 1929

By GUY C. RIDDELL

ZINC, manganese, and aluminum received attention at the two nonferrous metallurgy sessions at the Annual Meeting. L.P. Davidson, general superintendent of the rebuilt Monsanto zinc plant, described its operation, which reflects Polish practice and is really a combination of electrolytic, Waelz, and retort procedure. Briefly, it embraces leaching of roasted concentrate with sulphuric acid, electrolysis of sulphate solution using Tainton lead-silver anodes with ?goulac? added to the electrolyte, treatment of tailing in Waelz kilns, and retorting of the recovered zinc oxide, casting furnace dross and residues. Recovery is good, equipment and maintenance costs low. Ferrate zinc that might be lost in the electrolytic process appears to be recovered as oxide in the Waelz treatment.

Jan 1, 1942

By William Victor Vietti

A METHOD of determining the average density of the fluid column in a flowing oil well is presented. Actual field data from several wells are used to illustrate the application of the method in the Yates Field, Pecos County, Texas. The depth of the wells in the Yates Field varies from 900 to 1700 ft. depending on surface elevation and the location of the wells on structure. Production rates over 8000 bbl. hourly have been determined and many

Jan 1, 1930

By J. Kent Smith

VANADIUM is generally spoken of as a rare element; but, even in the light of our resources as known a couple of years ago, this description could be accepted in a qualified sense only. In fact, vanadium is very widely distributed, being a constituent of most clays, while even caustic soda has been shown to contain almost regularly a minute proportion of it, although the quantity in each case is so small as to render impracticable the extraction of the metal there from with profit. The opening-up of a large deposit of vanadium sulphide ore in South America has put a new phase on the commercial outlook of vanadium, the technical value of which for the improvement of steel has been proved by rigorous scientific investigation.

Sep 1, 1907