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By W. J. Reagan

In a study of the life of ingot molds, it is essential to eliminate all of the variables. In the commercial manufacture of steel this is almost an impossibility. In this study many of the variables have been eliminated, and because of the unusually consistent furnace practice, with small variations in the type of steel manufactured, and a similar type of mold design for all ingot sizes, it is possible to determine with some degree of accuracy the cause of variations in ingot-mold life. All of the ingot molds in this study were used in the production of basic open-hearth killed steel with chemical analyses within the following range: C, 0.50-0.85 per cent; Mn, 0.60-0.80; Si, 0.20-0.30; S, 0.04 max.; P, 0.04 max. All ingot molds were of the closed-bottom type and used for bottom casting only. None of the molds in the study failed from cutting of the sides due to top casting; in fact, on only rare occasions are any molds used for top casting. The general type of this mold is shown in Fig. 1. All sizes have rather a heavy band of metal, about 6 in. wide, at the top to give mechanical strength at this point, and all have cast lugs. Cross sections of the various sizes from top and bottom sections are shown in Fig. 2. Ratios of wall thickness to ingot weight, ratio of ingot diameter to ingot length, and other figures of interest are shown in Table 1. In the majority of cases, the cause of failure in this type of mold is due to heavy fire cracking on the "flats" at a point from 3 to 6 in. from the bottom radius of the mold. Fig. 3 pictures this type of failure. The start of failure at these points usually begins with a very small section of the interior surface becoming involved. As a rule, a section of 1 or 2 sq. in. is the first noticeable indication that mold failure is taking place. Gradually the small section increases until a sizable cavity develops, causing a protuberance on the bottom of the ingot, which eventually becomes too large to be stripped. The mold is then removed from service. At the time of failure, this cavity often reaches a size of about 5 sq. in. and about 1/2in. deep. Sometimes cavities are found on only two or three sides and at other times all twelve sides appear to be invoIved.

Jan 1, 1937

GENERAL Broken Hill lies at latitude 31º58'S longitude 141º27'E on the semi-arid western plains of New South Wales. From discovery in 1883 until the end of 1969 the lead-silver-zinc orebody has yielded 107,570,000 tons of ore for an overall grade of 13.1% Pb, 6.9 oz Ag/ton and 9.4% Zn.* The orebody currently supports the activities of four mines which are, from north to south, North Broken Hill Limited, Broken Hill South Limited, The Zinc Corporation, Limited and New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited. It is estimated that in 1969 these mines produced about 8 ½ % of world lead production and about 6% of world zinc production. In 1905 The Zinc Corporation, Limited was founded to recover zinc from tailings dumps and moved into mining in 1911 on leases purchased from Broken Hill South Limited at the then southern extremity of the "line of lode". New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited was formed in 1936 to explore and mine for deep ore in the leases to the south of The Zinc Corporation which were purchased from Barrier South Limited. The Zinc Corporation, Limited and New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited mines are both managed by Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Limited, which wholly owns The Zinc Corporation, Limited and has a 32% interest in New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited. * Throughout this paper tons referred to are long tons of 2,240 lbs.

Jan 1, 1970

By Henry M. Howe

This paper is a discussion of the extremely valuable one of Mathewson and Phillips, The Recrystallization of Cold-Worked Alpha Brass on Annealing,1 which not only gives us a wealth of important data reached with great intelligence, but also shows both uncommon powers of imagination and a perfectly fair spirit. Let me try to analyze some of their results, and to enunciate some of the laws to which these results point. For brevity I refer to them as "The Authors." The page numbers in parentheses refer to their paper. 1. The Visible Aspects of Recrystallization.—Plastic deformation in a single direction, as in cold-rolling, draws the grains out in that direction, that is, inequiaxes them, without destroying their apparent individuality. Each grain seems to endure the drawing out without changing either its volume or its orientation materially, for the etching tint of each grain seems to be as uniform after as before the drawing out, save for the "etch bands,"2 shown in Figs. A to D of the Authors' Plate I. As the drawn-out metal is heated progressively, on reaching a certain "disintegration temperature" these old grains seem to break up, probably into submicroscopic fragments, and this apparent disintegration is followed by a coalescence of these fragments, so that their number decreases and their size increases, till they may become very much coarser than before the drawing out. Ruder3 coarsened the grains of silicon steel in this way till single grains reached an area of 50 cm. (7.75 sq. in.). The deformation itself probably breaks each grain up into many very small fragments, but the fact that each grain continues to have a uniform etching tint different from that of its neighbors indicates that these fragments retain the initial common orientation of the grain. The apparent disintegration which we observe, then, is rather an abandonment of community of orientation for individuality of orientation, by the fragments formed earlier during the deformation. Hence we

Jan 1, 1917

By Joseph P. Kittredge

At the time this matter first came up in 1912, the National Malleable and Steel Castings Co. had seven basic-bottom open-hearth furnaces in its plant at Sharon, Fa., using fuel oil, then costing about 2½¢ per gallon. The fuel was satisfactory but its cost fluctuated widely, therefore the use of pulverized coal, which had been successful in the cement industry and in some metallurgical furnaces, was suggested. After a thorough investigation, and an actual trial on one of the open-hearth furnaces, to be certain that the siliceous ash in the coal would not seriously affect the basic slags, the management of this company approved its adoption and a complete installation was started. The conclusion had been reached that the success of the operation depended on pulverizing the coal to greater fineness than had thus far been accomplished, and all equipment was chosen with this in mind. A coal drier was deemed essential, and one of ample capacity and efficiency was selected, which has done all that was expected of it, working without failure and with very small maintenance cost, and is still in operation. Pulverizers The company demanded a pulverization of at least 90 per cent through a 240-mesh screen, with consistent results, and a machine was chosen that was grinding other materials than coal to the fineness desired. The control of fineness was obtained through a vacuum separator, and was governed by the size of the separator and the number and construction of the valves necessary to expand and direct the air current. These valves can be set to obtain any degree of fineness desired, and the result is consistent. Two machines were installed, each capable of producing 2½ tons per hour, 95 per cent through 240 mesh. These machines have done everything expected of them, have run continuously, and are still in operation. An examination of some of our pulverized coal by elutriation and microscopic measurement disclosed that a 1-lb. lump of bituminous coal,

Jan 1, 1940

By Joseph P. Kittredge

At the time this matter first came up in 1912, the National Malleable and Steel Castings Co. had seven basic-bottom open-hearth furnaces in its plant at Sharon, Fa., using fuel oil, then costing about 2½¢ per gallon. The fuel was satisfactory but its cost fluctuated widely, therefore the use of pulverized coal, which had been successful in the cement industry and in some metallurgical furnaces, was suggested. After a thorough investigation, and an actual trial on one of the open-hearth furnaces, to be certain that the siliceous ash in the coal would not seriously affect the basic slags, the management of this company approved its adoption and a complete installation was started. The conclusion had been reached that the success of the operation depended on pulverizing the coal to greater fineness than had thus far been accomplished, and all equipment was chosen with this in mind. A coal drier was deemed essential, and one of ample capacity and efficiency was selected, which has done all that was expected of it, working without failure and with very small maintenance cost, and is still in operation. Pulverizers The company demanded a pulverization of at least 90 per cent through a 240-mesh screen, with consistent results, and a machine was chosen that was grinding other materials than coal to the fineness desired. The control of fineness was obtained through a vacuum separator, and was governed by the size of the separator and the number and construction of the valves necessary to expand and direct the air current. These valves can be set to obtain any degree of fineness desired, and the result is consistent. Two machines were installed, each capable of producing 2½ tons per hour, 95 per cent through 240 mesh. These machines have done everything expected of them, have run continuously, and are still in operation. An examination of some of our pulverized coal by elutriation and microscopic measurement disclosed that a 1-lb. lump of bituminous coal,

Jan 1, 1940

By John C. F. Randolph

This establishment being now in full working order, it has seemed of considerable professional interest to collect together, in a concise form, the various points as to its plan, method of dressing, and equipment. The data contained in this paper have been largely drawn from the able paper of E. Kutscher, constrnoting engineer of the works, contained in the Zeitschrift fur Berg-HÜtten-und Salinenwesen im Preussischen Staate, 1873, supplemented by some personal memoranda made while the works were under construction and by memoranda on the works appearing in various German technical papers from their completion up to date. This is probably the largest dressing works in the world devoted to the beneficiation of argentiferous lead ores, and it is doubtful if any establishment for the concentration of mineral of any description can compare with it in size. As showing the final practice adopted in an old and very conservative mining region, in which the concentration of ores has been a matter of constant practice and experiment for a very long period, these works are of peculiar interest. The fact that the Clausthal ores strongly resemble a very large and abundant class of ores found in the United States has always attracted the attention of American mining engineers and mine owners to the methods employed in dressing and smelting them. The study of their methods of concentration of ores has, however, always been full of difficulty,

Jan 1, 1879

Freeman, the English historian, said that he had learned from Macaulay "never to be afraid of using the same word or name over and over again if by that means anything could be added to clearness or force. Macaulay never goes. on, like some writers, talking about ' the former ' and 'the latter ', 'he ', 'she ', 'it), and 'they’, through clause after clause, while his reader has to look back to see which of several persons it is that is so darkly referred to". He might have learned also from Macaulay that a preposition makes a feeble ending for a serious statement. How often do you hear 'the former' and 'the latter' in conversation? Good conversation is a guide not to be disdained. When you must use 'the latter ', do not confuse it with 'the last '. Cheap labor, cheap fuel, and cheap transport are essential, the latter [last] being particularly important in base-metal mining. The apparatus may be used to determine such gases as hydrogen sulphide, chlorine, oxides of nitrogen and some others, as well as sulphur dioxide. In the case of the latter two, etc. The two last mentioned are "sulphur dioxide" and "some others". He should have stated which two, and he should have avoided that wretched phrase "in the case of ". Pinning may be partly prevented by use of chalk, oil, or turpentine. The latter [last] is beat. "Partly prevented" is a poor phrase. 'Prevented' is a word that does not lend itself readily to modification. He means ' checked ' or 'corrected '. These steps are necessary to produce the gas, crude oil, and ammonia, the latter [last] of which is in solution in the water obtained along with the oil.

Jan 1, 1931

By T. F. Kassner

The dissolution kinetics of type 304 stainless steel in the Bi-Sn eutectic alloy have been investigated under the well-defined hydrodynamic conditions produced by the rotating-disc sample geometry. In addition, the mutual solubilities of iron, chromium, nickel, and manganese from 304 stainless steel in the eutectic alloy were determined over the temperature range 450" to 985°C. The convective -diffusion model for mass transport from a rotating disc was used to interpret the experinlental dissolution data. The dissolution process was found to be liquid-diffusion-controlled under specific conditions of temperature and Reynolds number. Liquid penetration into the 304 stainless steel resulted in a reduction of the di,ffusion-controlled mass flux and thus precluded the calculation of the diffusion coeficients of the four components from 304 stainless steel in the Bi-Sn eutectic alloy. The convective-diffusion model for diffusional limitations of electrode reactions and mass transport at the tationssurface of a rotating disc set forth by Levich 1,2 has found wide applicability in the investigation of electrochemical and dissolution phenomena in aqueous systems. Riddiford 3 and Rosner have reviewed the model and also include numerous references on work of this nature. More recently the rotating-disc system has been applied to the investigation of hetereogeneous reactions in liquid-metal systems. Shurygin and Kryuk 5 have measured the dissolution rates of carbon discs in molten Fe-C, Fe-Si, Fe-P, and Fe-Ni alloys. Shurygin and shantarin6 also studied the dissolution kinetics of iron, molybdenum, chromium, and tungsten, and the carbides of chromium and tungsten in Fe-C solutions with a rotating-disc sample geometry. In these systems it was possible to distinguish between diffusion and reaction control mainly through experimental confirmation of the velocity dependence of the dissolution rate predicted by the model. However in the absence of dependable solubility data and the virtual lack of diffusion data in these systems, a quantitative check of the magnitude and the temperature dependence of the rate was not possible. In many instances, estimates of the activation energy for solute diffusion and the diffusion coefficient based upon the experimental dissolution data are not credible. A recent study by this author7 has resulted in a critical test of the model in a liquid-metal system. The solution rates of tantalum discs in liquid tin were measured over a wide range of temperature and velocity conditions. In addition, the solubility and diffusion coefficient of tantalum in liquid tin were determined as a function of temperature. The latter data were used with the model to predict both the magnitude and the temperature dependence of the dissolution flux. In that work it was also deemed necessary to reevaluate the solution to the convective diffusion equation to incorporate the effect of the lower range of Schmidt numbers encountered in liquid-metal systems. Good agreement between the model and the experimental dissolution data in the region of diffusion control was obtained in the Ta-Sn system. The Bi-Sn eutectic alloy is used as a seal between the reactor head and the reactor vessel in the Experimental Breeder Reactor-11. The alloy is fused periodically prior to fuel-handling operations. In that connection, it was necessary to investigate the compatibility of the liquid alloy with the type 304 stainless-steel containment material. The results of a rotating-disc study in this multicomponent system are presented. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The 5.08-cm-diam discs were machined from 0.317-cm-thick plate. Chemical analysis information for the type 304 SS material is given in Table I. The discs were ground flat on metallographic paper and given a final polish on Linde B abrasive. A thin support rod was threaded into the disc and the region around the threads was fused under an inert gas. The support rod was fitted with a quartz protection tube and then was attached to a supporting shaft which passed through a rotary push-pull vacuum seal. The disc and supporting shafts were dynamically balanced prior to insertion into the furnace tube. The apparatus is shown schematically in Fig. 1. The 58 pct Bi-42 pct Sn eutectic alloy melts were prepared from 99.995 pct pure Bi and Sn by fusing the components in a 7-cm-ID Pyrex crucible. The system in which the melts were made was evacuated to a pressure of 1 x 10-6 Torr and back-filled with purified argon several times before melting the charge. The ingot was reweighed and placed in a slightly larger-diameter Vycor crucible used in the dissolution runs. A run was started by lowering the disc into the liquid

Jan 1, 1968

By James Terry Duce

The symposium on production for the year 1941 contains few papers on the foreign situation. Rigid censorship prevails in various countries, as the question of the volume of petroleum supplies has become one of great strategic importance. This is even truer than in the last war, owing to greater mechanization of armies. It has always been the policy of officers in charge of the symposium to refrain from publishing information that might possibly injure national or private interests. At the close of the war we hope again to publish full and accurate records of production abroad. Excerpts from Circular to AutHORs In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the fol-lowing excerpts from the Circular to Authors. The field is the unit in this tabulation. In cases of fields extending across State boundaries, such as Rodessa, it is suggested that each State author treat the section of the field in his State as a unit, and by a footnote indicate that the field extends into an adjacent State. Each space in Table I may represent one of four possibilities; either it is not applicable to the particular field, or the proper entry is not determinable, or the proper entry may be determinable but is not determinable from data available to the author, or the proper entry is determinable. When spaces are not applicable, leave blank; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable but not de-terminable from data available to the author, please insert y; in spaces where the proper entries are determinable by the author, make such entries. y implies a hope that in some future year a definite figure will be available. The entry of a zero is a positive declaration, and an important declaration where it is in order. Inability to determine precisely the correct entry for a particular space should not lead the author to insert merely y. Contributions of great value may be made by the author in many cases where entries are not subject to precise determination. In such cases the author should use his good judgment and make the best entry possible under the circumstances. For many spaces the correct entries represent the opinion of the author (for example, "Area Proved") and in such cases the entry need not be hedged to such extent as when the quantities are definite yet can be ascertained only approximately by the author. In cases under definite headings but where figures are only approximate, the author may use x. It is thought that the nearest whole numbers are sufficiently accurate for our purposes except as to percentage of sulphur in oil. If an author desires to report any other figures to tenths, he may do so. The quantity of gas produced should include, where possible, gas sold or otherwise marketed, and gas blown into the air, burned as flares or otherwise wasted. Segregation of these figures would be interesting if the authors can make such segregation. In any event, the figures should represent as nearly as possible the total quantity of gas removed from the reservoir.. Under the columns on "Depth," the average depth to the top of the productive zones and to the bottom of the productive wells, when

Jan 1, 1942

By W. David Leyshon

This paper compares the general characteristics of Florida phosphate rock for the manufacture of fertilizers and phosphoric acid. The subjects covered are relative reactivity for superphosphate manufacture and various properties of the rock for use in phosphoric acid production, including gypsum filterability, sulfuric acid consumption, foaming, relative cor-rosiveness, chemical composition, and others. Comprison will include rocks of North Africa, the western U.S., and other locations. This paper reviews some of the important properties of phosphate rock, giving particular attention to a comparison of Florida phosphate with some of the major phosphates produced in the world. It also discusses some of the techniques available for evaluatine Phosphate. rock for phosphoric. acid and fertilizer use. The use of Florida rock outside the U.S. has been increasing steadily, evidence in itself of certain desirable properties of this rock. Table I is a list of the major producers and exporters of phosphate rock as of 1965. Florida, meaning in this case Central Florida, was the largest producer of phosphate rock and the largest exporter of rock. Of a total world production estimated at 60 million tons, about 50 million tons were produced during 1965 by the areas listed in Table I. One major producing area omitted from Table I and from subsequent evaluations in this paper comprises Nauru, Ocean, and Christmas Islands, whose output totaled about three million tons in 1965. This phosphate is marketed entirely by the British Phosphate Commissioners, primarily in Australia and New Zealand, and does not get into the world market elsewhere to a significant degree at the present time. South Africa, Egypt, Israel, and North Vietnam also produce lesser quantities of rock for the international market, and these materials are also excluded from this review. The phosphate industry is now seeing the introduction of several new areas that will be significant factors in the rock market in the future. The North Carolina and North Florida areas each have capacity at present or in the near future for producing about three million tons per year. The Djebel Onk mine in Algeria has a potential of about 800,000 tons per year. In addition, announcements have been made of significant development of deposits in Peru and in the Spanish Sahara, and sizable expansions are planned in several of the existing areas that are now of minor importance. Competition for the rock market appears to be increasing so that more attention will probably be paid to evaluating phosphates available from different areas. It is not possible here to go into all the properties of even a few of the materials listed in Table I. However, it is practical to discuss some comparative properties important for making phosphoric acid and fertilizers, and to touch on the techniques used for the evaluation of various phosphate rocks. Table II gives typical analyses of the major phosphate rocks available in the world as of 1965. There is, of course, an inherent danger in labeling any analysis as typical, but it appears that variations between two samples of rock within one given area are generally less than between two samples from different areas. The analyses listed were compiled from several years of data so they may not be representative of the present output of any particular area. The range of grades represented by these analyses goes from 66 BPL for Gafsa rock to 85 BPL for Kola

Jan 1, 1968

By A. B. Parsons

When the Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund was established in. 1929 the donors mentioned certain types of projects to which preference might be given in selecting those to he financed by the income from the Fund. One suggestion. was that the projects "be of particular benefit to young engineers." This modest little book meets this specification most aptly. It seeks to guide the engineer-particularly the young one-with the least loss of time and effort to the most convenient source of authentic information regarding any topic in which he may at the moment be interested. Knowing the best place to find the literature on a subject is almost as valuable-and far more practicable-than maintaining a library of one's own large enough to provide the information.

Jan 1, 1933

By Henry Fay

THE CHAIRMAN (ALBERT SAUVEUR, Cambridge, Mass.).-In forcing us to face and to discuss the important question of erosion of steel guns, Prof. Fay is performing a public service. His investigation has been fruitful and his results illuminating and suggestive. It is not in a spirit of adverse criticism, therefore, that I venture a few remarks suggested by his paper, but rather to add my mite to the discussion in the hope that it may not be entirely without value. Prof. Fay considers it conclusively demonstrated that the hard layers forming in the inside of guns of large calibers after they have been fired a number of times consist of martensite. Still, he admits that he never was able to detect in the hard layers the structural characteristics of martensite. This leads him to conceive the existence of amorphous martensite. We may well hesitate before accepting this theory on the strength of the evidence offered. Martensite, as we know it, is essentially a crystalline condition assumed by a close association of iron and carbon, possibly if not probably of the nature of a solid solution. Lacking this crystalline character we are hardly justified in calling it martensite on the ground, merely, of its being very hard.

Jan 4, 1917

By S. E. Haszko

Fused alumina or silica crucibles were used as the containing vessel. X-ray powder photographs were taken with CrKa radiation and the use of Straumanis type Norelco cameras of 114.6 mm diam. Crystallographic data for these compounds are shown in Table I. These results are in agreement with others of this series reported previousiy by Wernick and Geller.l The abnormally large atomic volume of Eu and Yb metal3 is manifested in EuA12 and YbAl2, when one compares them with the compounds reported in Ref. 1. However, the behavior of Yb in the Ni compound is the same as that observed in Ni5Yb having the Cu5Ca structure.4 Thus, it appears that Yb has a valence closer to 3 only in the Ni compounds; i.e.. the 2s and Id electrons are lost to the conduction band. 1,4 Europium in EuAl2, appears to have a valence closer to 2. In previous work.' X-ray patterns of ingots of NdCo2 indicated a multiphase material with faint indication of the presence of a phase having the MgCu2 structure. It was thought that NdCo2 formed peri-tectically from the melt, resulting in a multiphase system when cooled under nonequilibrium conditions. An X-ray pattern of a sample from a melt cooled more slowly than in past work showed that the major phase was NdCo2. The lattice constant, Table 1, is in excellent agreement with the value one can predict from the data of Ref 1. One of the other phases was identified as Co,Nd. The author wishes to thank J. H. Wernick for his guidance in this work, and D. Dorsi for the preparation of these compounds. 'J. H. Wernick and S. Geller: AIME Trans., in press. 'J. H. Wernick and S. E. Haszko: to be published. 'F. H. Spedding and A. II. Daane: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Series 5, Eds.: H. M. Finniston and J. P. Howe, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1956. 'S. E. Haszko: to be published. 'J. H. Wernick and S. Geller: unpublished work. 6J. 11. Wernick and S. Geller: Acla Cryst., 1959, vol. 12, p. '162. The Influence of Hydrogen on the Lattice Parameters of Ti-Sn Alloys A. Coucoulas and H. Margolin A reinvestigation of the lattice parameters of Ti-Sn alloys by the present authors has revealed consistently higher c and a values than those obtained by Worrier. The difference is most pronounced in the c-parameters which are, therefore, used as a basis of comparison. This discrepancy was not due to air contamination, since precautions were taken to exclude this possibility. Specimens for Debye-Scherrer photograms were prepared by arc-melting 15-g buttons of Bureau of Mines titanium and 99.99 pct Sn, with compositions of 6, 8, 10, and 12 at. pct Sn. These buttons were forged under an oxygen-acetylene torch to 1/8-in. sq rods to produce relatively fine grained material. Scale and some surface were ground off, and the rods, after wrapping in molybdenum and titanium sheet, were vacuum annealed 15 min at 800 °C to remove hydrogen. Heat treatment of one of the samples at 875°C to produce ß and reveal a at the surface showed no surface contamination. Following the vacuum treatment, the specimens were wrapped in molybdenum and annealed for 1week at 800°C under two atmospheres of argon. After water-quenching, the rods were ground so that the thickness tapered to 0.1 mm at the tips. The ground specimens were then recapsuled as previously and reannealed 1 hr at 800°C to remove cold work. The

Jan 1, 1961

By A. J. Lynch

There are two factors which are important in the development of automatic control systems for mineral preparation and concentrating processes. They are the availability of accurate and reliable on-line measuring instruments and an understanding of the effects of important variables on process behaviour. The state of automatic control for the different processes depends on the progress which has been made in these areas and this varies considerably. This is illustrated by discussion of four processes, wet ball milling and hydraulic classification, wet autogenous milling, sulphide flotation and dense medium separation in coal preparation plants. In each case the process characteristics, current control practice and future developments are discussed. Particular problems which have delayed progress are discussed.

Jan 1, 1984

By L. D. Frink

THOSE actively interested in mining are fully aware of the ever-increasing difficulty of making conditions such that efficient work can be clone in underground openings, especially as higher rock temperatures are encountered in depth. This is also true where an effort is being made to cut down the burden of overhead expense by working headings 24 hr. in a day if blasting is done as often as is possible in that time. That the conditions resulting from both these causes have driven the native-born Americans from the mines and that their places have been taken by less efficient foreigners is a fact that we must all admit. The great war now being fought in Europe and the educational qualification clause written into our immigration law by the last Congress will probably limit very materially the supply of labor, such as we are now using in our mines, and will force upon mine operators the necessity of making this work appeal again to Americans. Metal tubing, with blower or exhaust fans, has long been used in supplying air to dead ends where natural ventilation is impossible, or in driving the smoke from such places, or in doing both, as the need might be. Here in Butte we have now come to use canvas tubing very extensively and find that it has many advantages not possessed by the metal. The use of flexible tubing is not new, but it has not been generally used in mining operations. Recent improvements, however, in the canvas itself and in the jointing of sections and manner of suspension have so increased its usefulness that it promises to add much to the efficiency of mining. There is now on the market a product that is impervious to air, is fireproof, and has a system of jointing which, permits it to be put up or taken clown in a few seconds. In this article an effort will be made to explain the manner in which canvas tubing is being used in the North Butte company's operations at Butte, Mont. The accompanying photographs will, I hope, help make clear what may be done with this material.

Jan 1, 1918

By Charles A. Kumke

The ('slot" system of mining in use at the Golden Queen mine, Mojave, Calif., does not involve any new mining methods. It is, however, a new combination and adaptation of several stoping systems in common practice. The first plans for stoping operations at the Golden Queen mine called for ordinary shrinkage stopes. The hanging wall of the vein, where exposed, is a very hard felsite with a dip varying from 50° to 70°. The vein itself is quartz, shattered and fractured enough to make it easy to drill and blast to a clean hanging wall. There is no well defined footwall. The footwall limits had to be determined by assays as the metal content faded out into the felsite. Two shrinkage stopes, each approximately 200 ft. long, were laid out and started on the 200-ft. level. One of these stopes, varying in width from 8 to 18 ft., was carried on up to the top limits of the ore, approximately 120 ft., without a break in the operation. The shrinkage system proved entirely satisfactory and low costs resulted from this operation. In the final drawing of this stope, two timbermen followed down on the ore, scaling the hanging wall clean of small fragments and placing an occasional long stull from foot to hanging wall where it was deemed necessary. Few such stulls, however, were required. The hanging wall stood up very well until the stope was entirely emptied of ore. Waste fill was then put into the stope by the glory-hole method, through a waste raise that had previously been run to surface from the middle of the stope. The second shrinkage stope ran into difficulties about 35 ft. above the sill floor. Up to this point the maximum width of the ore had been about 15 ft. The ore suddenly widened into the footwall to a distance of 40 ft. in the north end of the stope. In extending the stoping operations over this, width, it was soon found that the vein material would not arch and support itself. Drilling in this end of the stope was then entirely too hazardous, and all operations were stopped. The ore was drawn through the chutes below as rapidly as possible and as soon as the stope was entirely

Jan 1, 1937

By C. D. Dolman

Since the outbreak of the war we have discovered in the united States minerals of which there was no general knowledge, and which compared very favorably with anything that could be found in any foreign country. One of these was magnesite, or the carbonate of magnesium as it occurs in nature. This mineral crystallizes in the rhombohedra1 form, has a specific gravity of 3.00, molecular weight of 84.4, molecular volume of 28.1, and a hardness of 3.5 to 4.5.1 Had it not been for the development of the California deposits of this mineral and the discovery of immense new deposits in Stevens County, Wash., the production of steel during the war would have been more seriously handicapped than it was. Now that the war is over, we face the possibility of competition with the cheap Austro-Hungarian magnesite; and while that may not be so cheap as it was before the war, adequate protection should be given the producers in this country to insure the full development of our own resources. The consumption of magnesite in the United States in 1913, the year preceding the war, was 172,591 tons of calcined and 22,872 tons of crude magnesite. Less than 3 per cent. of this amount was produced at home. At the present time, practically all of the magnesite used in the United States is produced at home. Expensive plants have been constructed, extensive exploration work done, and production pushed to the utmost to supply the necessary requirements of the war. Thus a considerable industry has been built up within our borders. Some magnesite has been imported from Canada and Mexico, but the Canadian ore was of an inferior grade and could not be used satisfactorily. During the year 1918, production decreased in both the United States and Canada; the production in the United States was 225,000 tons in 1918 as against 315,000 in 1917, and in Canada 39,365 tons in 1918 as against 58,090 in 1917. This decrease was mainly due to over-production during 1917, the domestic demand being only 300,000 tons. The material produced and sold in the United States must contain, in the crude form, not more than 3.5 per cent. silica and 2 per cent. lime;

Jan 1, 1920

By Woolsey Johnson

THE object of this paper is to, describe the several necessary characteristics of the zinc-retorting charge and to show how by certain improved methods; the large excess of coal, over that theoretically required, can be reduced, thereby effecting an increase in the smelting capacity of a retort plant as well as other economies. In the Southwestern zinc works a charge of roasted zinc ore with a side mixture of carbonates and silicates, analyzing on the average 50 per cent. Zn, is mixed with 55 or more per cent. of its weight of a mixture of coal and coke analyzing 60 to 70 per cent. fixed carbon. . The ore is of varying fineness and the coal and coke are usually crushed in a semi-moist condition through a 3/8 -in. screen. With ores of a slaggy nature, this coal proportion is increased, sometimes to as much as 100 per cent. of, the weight of the ore. With carbonate ores, or where anthracite screenings with higher carbon content are cheap enough, the percentage of reducing agent is cut to 45 per cent. or even somewhat lower. The average charge per retort for a monthly run of a plant on ore, as distinguished from retorts on blue-powder, ladle-skimmings and other between-products, runs from 60 to 66 lb., with a mean of 63 lb. for the Southwest with standard retorts of 8 ½ -in. inside diameter and 50 in. long inside, using roasted sulphide ores. Conditions will change these figures, but 40 lb. of ore per cubic foot of retort space is, I believe, an average in the better-operated plants. Since the rise in. the price of spelter, the tendency has been to overcharge. To remove the slag that is formed when retorts are overcharged, extra men are put on to "gum-chisel" the retorts to prevent "set" furnaces and "butchered, retorts." Taking the above conditions as premises, we find that from four to six times the amount of coal necessary for the reduction is used, as is evidenced by the fact that the residues analyze as high as 35 per cent, fixed carbon. There are good reasons why this excess of fixed carbon must be used and perhaps these can be best explained by a description of the metallurgical requisites of a zinc charge. We may enumerate these as follows: 1. High reducing power, especially at the end f the shift, to reduce any carbon dioxide to monoxide and bring about a good condensation

Jan 2, 1918

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The diffusion of carbon in gamma iron plays an essential role in many metallurgical processes. In carburizing, in graphitizing, in homogenizing, in the formation of pearlite from austenite, and in other processes, migration of carbon in gamma iron occurs.1'2 A full understanding of the rate at which these processes occur obviously requires a knowledge of the rate of diffusion of carbon. In carburizing, for example, the depth of carbon pentration is determined by the carbon concentration in solid solution at the surface, and by the rate of diffusion inward of the carbon. Until reliable data on the rates of diffusion of carbon are available it is unlikely that a full quantitative description of this process will be obtained. In the formation of pearlite from austenite, the segregation of carbon and alpha iron from the austenite obviously requires the diffusion of carbon; the rate at which pearlite nodules grow is evidently controlled at least in part by the rate of diffusion of carbon; it is unlikely that we shall understand the factors that determine the rate of growth unless data on rates of diffusion of carbon, and the variation of these with composition, grain size, and temperature are available. Accordingly it was decided: (1) to determine, more accurately than hitherto, the diffusion coefficients of carbon in austenite over a wide temperature and a wide concentration range, (2) to study the influence of grain size and impurities on this diffusion coefficient, and (3) to study the effect of manganese and nickel on the rate of diffusion of carbon in the austenite of manganese and nickel steels, respectively; the influence of carbon on the rate of diffusion of manganese and of nickel will be made the subject of later papers. The rate of diffusion of carbon in gamma iron has been studied by Runge3 by Tammann and Schonert4, by Bramley and co-authors,5-14 and

Jan 1, 1940

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The diffusion of carbon in gamma iron plays an essential role in many metallurgical processes. In carburizing, in graphitizing, in homogenizing, in the formation of pearlite from austenite, and in other processes, migration of carbon in gamma iron occurs.1'2 A full understanding of the rate at which these processes occur obviously requires a knowledge of the rate of diffusion of carbon. In carburizing, for example, the depth of carbon pentration is determined by the carbon concentration in solid solution at the surface, and by the rate of diffusion inward of the carbon. Until reliable data on the rates of diffusion of carbon are available it is unlikely that a full quantitative description of this process will be obtained. In the formation of pearlite from austenite, the segregation of carbon and alpha iron from the austenite obviously requires the diffusion of carbon; the rate at which pearlite nodules grow is evidently controlled at least in part by the rate of diffusion of carbon; it is unlikely that we shall understand the factors that determine the rate of growth unless data on rates of diffusion of carbon, and the variation of these with composition, grain size, and temperature are available. Accordingly it was decided: (1) to determine, more accurately than hitherto, the diffusion coefficients of carbon in austenite over a wide temperature and a wide concentration range, (2) to study the influence of grain size and impurities on this diffusion coefficient, and (3) to study the effect of manganese and nickel on the rate of diffusion of carbon in the austenite of manganese and nickel steels, respectively; the influence of carbon on the rate of diffusion of manganese and of nickel will be made the subject of later papers. The rate of diffusion of carbon in gamma iron has been studied by Runge3 by Tammann and Schonert4, by Bramley and co-authors,5-14 and

Jan 1, 1940