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Jan 1, 1924

By John A. Mathews

D R. CHARLES W. ELIOT, the great educator and philosopher-he of the five-foot book shelf-recently gave expression to a thought I had long been cherishing as a private opinion, when he said: "It is obvious that standardization has become a dangerous adversary of progress in both education and industry." This idea must have been more widespread than either of us knew, for some five years ago a writer of verse for one of the comic papers dealt with it at great length. I will quote only a few of his stanzas to illustrate his understanding of "A Standardized Existence" : A visitor at large, I stand Beneath a standard sky- Where everything is standardized To please the standard eye. Each tree is of a standard height, Each building is the same; Each man is uniform in height, And has a standard name. Above there is a standard star Beside a standard cloud, And a standard weather here prevails To please a standard crowd. With standard joy, and standard gain, The standard people live; And if there is one bit of pain T?is such as standards give.

Jan 1, 1926

By CHARLES M. SCHWAB

THE ENGINEERS have placed this great country of ours in a preeminent position with everything pertaining to manufacture, metallurgy, and the kindred arts. We are second to none in the world. We have a country which, another speaker has said, God has endowed with such riches in coal and natural resources as no other country in the world. But rich as these are, there is one thing greater; the sturdy character, energy, and integrity of its people, which will make these great resources an influence in the world's developments. Great as are these resources and the energy and integrity of our people, there is one problem of our .engineering, which I term human engineering, that is of far more importance than the creation of machines and methods, with which you have been so successful in the past. Of what value is the skillfully devised machinery, the complex process, unless manned and operated by people whose heart and soul are in sympathy with the work they are doing and who have before them the giving of a complete day's work for a day's pay?

Jan 1, 1920

By J. P. BONARDI, William F. Boericke

BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado, ranked during the war years and until the end of 1918 as one of the foremost tungsten-producing districts of the world. In 1919 production fell off drastically, due to heavy importations of foreign ores from China, Burma and South America. So large were the imports that even after the enactment of a protective tariff in 1922 of 45c. per lb. on tungsten metal, equivalent to $7.14 per unit (201b.) of tungstic acid? (WO,), the stocks of metal in this country were extensive enough to supply the demands of industry, and prevent general resumption of mining by domestic producers. Even today there are only two producers in the Boulder district though at one time as many as twenty separate companies were in operation. About the same ratio holds for other tungsten-producing districts in the country, including California and Nevada. Total consumption of tungsten concentrate in terms of 60 per cent WO2 in the United States amounted to approximately 3790 tons in 1928, according to Frank L. Hess.' Of this amount, domestic mines contributed 1290 tons, and the rest, 2500 tons, was imported. Yet in 1917, with tungsten concentrate selling at $20 per unit, the Boulder district alone produced 2707 tons, indicating the effect of enhanced ore price upon production. It is believed by American tungsten miners that, given a sufficiently high tariff, all the demands of industry can be met by domestic production without placing a prohibitive burden on consumers. For instance, in steel manufacturing the percentage of tungsten entering into the manufacture is so small that, ?regardless of cost, it can constitute but a small fraction of the cost of steel to the buyer.

Jan 1, 1929

By William M. Baldwin

Jan 1, 1946

By William M. Baldwin

Jan 1, 1946

By Joseph E. Pogue

FOR a number of years the petroleum department of The Chase National Bank has been making a continuing study of the financial aspects of thirty oil companies. (See Pogue and Coqueron, "Financial Analysis of Thirty Oil Companies," pamphlet, The Chase National Bank, November 1945, for data covering eleven years, 1934-1944, and the list of the companies making up the group. See also "Capital Employed in the Petroleum Industry," by the same authors, M&M, November 1944.1 This group represents a large sample of theAmerican petroleum industry, covering about two thirds of the business. Certain aspects of this study concern the capital employed in crude oil production, the main features of which arc presented in this paper.

Jan 1, 1946

By E. M. Wise

WHEN man became dissatisfied with the mere utilization of physical force and began to use weapons, he made a definite stride forward. At first he used sticks, animal bones and stones, often rudely shaped to some particularly lethal form. These devices, while crude, were moderately effective. How- ever, some of the brighter men of the tribe found that certain particularly heavy "stones" were somewhat ductile and could be hammered into more effective weapons than those previously known. Later, probably through the misuse of one of these weapons to stir the campfire, it was found that heating softened and perhaps actually melted the material. The process of annealing had been discovered! Smelting the more easily reducible metals was in all probability one of those fortuitous accidents which was followed up by thoughtful researchers who ultimately developed the technique of mixing various ores to produce bronze and even some of the nickel content alloys. The resulting products were at first lumps of more or less ductile material which could be hammered to shape, and were thus incidentally hardened by this process. The hardening of metals by alloying and cold working remained for many centuries the only known methods for improving their properties.

Jan 1, 1931

By R. P. Rothwell

The milling of silver ores has arrived at a great degree of perfection in the mining districts of our Western States and Territories, and I hare thought the record of the practical results obtained at the present time, in a few of the principal districts, would prove of value arid interest to many of our members, both at home and abroad. An American silver mill is composed, in descending order from where the ore is dumped, of: 1st. A rock-breaker, usually of the Blake or Alden pattern; 2d. The battery of stamps, the number of which varies from 5 to 120, generally in batteries of 5 or 10 heads, so arranged that a single battery may stand while the others are running; 3d. The tanks where the crushed ore settles (if it is a met stamping-mill), or of a drying-floor if the crushing is done dry; 4th. Amalgamating pans ; 5th. Settling pans ; 6th. Agitators or pans in which mercury escaping in the tailings is caught; 7th. Blanket sluices, over which the tailings run, and where mercury and unamalgamated sulplides are saved. A reference to the engravings (see plate), which show one of the latest forms of an 80stamp silver-mill run by a turbine water-wheel, will show clearly the arrangement of the several parts. THE ONTARIO, UTAH, SILVER MILL. One of the best examples of a silver-mill, and at the same time one of the most successful concerns in the West, is the mill of the Ontario Silver Mining Company, near Salt Lake, in Utah. This mill treats the ore from the Ontario mine, ore which at present is very base, being composed of zinc, lead, and silver sulphides and silver chloride in a quartz gangue. This ore has become baser as the mine attained greater depth, though the vein holds its own, or rather increases, both in thickness and richness. The mill is managed in a skilful and economical manner, though the necessity for

Jan 1, 1880

By ERIIL SCHROEDTER

THE death, on May 6, 1908, of Dr. Hermann Wedding, Privy Mining Councilor of the Kingdom of Prussia, and Professor of the Metallurgy of Iron and Steel at the Royal Mining Academy of Berlin, was a loss keenly felt by the whole metallurgical world. Not alone in his native land, but also in foreign countries did he enjoy an esteem of which the title of honorary membership in the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the United States Association of Charcoal Iron-Workers, and the (British) Iron and Steel Institute bears eloquent testimony. Hermann Wedding was born March 9, 1834, in Berlin. At the suggestion of Dr. C. J. B. Karsten, the veteran father of Prussian metallurgy and author of the first German text-book of the metallurgy of iron, lie turned his attention, after gradu¬ating from the gymnasium, to mining and metallurgy. In 1853, he began a practical course at the Malapane iron-works, in Upper Silesia. Subsequently, he studied at the Berlin Mining Academy, and received from the University in 1859 the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. A journey which be made to England, somewhat later, led to his undertaking a German translation, with revision and additions, of John Percy's classic treatise on the metallurgy of iron and steel, the publication of which, in successive installments, stretched through many years. In 1863, lie published, as a thesis in connection with his "Assessor's examination," an essay, entitled The Results of the Bessemer Process for the Production of Steel, and Its Prospects for the Rhenish and Westphalian Iron and Steel Industry, which revealed such ability and knowledge as to secure for him a call to the chair of metallurgy in the Berlin Mining Academy.

Jun 1, 1909

By James A. Barr

When phosphate mining operations first commenced in Tennessee the loss of both high- and low-grade material was large, because of the crude hand methods employed. Practically all rock smaller than 2 in. was thrown back into the pits and covered with the overburden of subsequent openings. With the advent of mechanical washers and other mining machinery, together with the abolishing of the contract system, the waste has been steadily diminished, until at present only the finest sand is being rejected; and even this is not lost, for in the majority of cases the water, slime, and sand from the washers are run into large settling ponds where practically all of the phosphate-bearing material is caught and stored for future use, or until it is profitable to ship lower grades. The latest equipment used to recover the fine and lower-grade phosphate sand includes Dorr thickeners, settling tanks, Dorr classifiers and settling ponds served by locomotive cranes with clam-shell buckets, making it possible to save material averaging as fine as 200 mesh. TO attempt saving finer material would necessitate a different type of drier, which might be patterned after the multiple-deck roasters. The present tailing runs from 15 to 25 per ccnt. of available phosphate, which, howrever, as mentioned before, does not represent a total loss to possible future operations. The demand of the consumer is the greatest factor in regulating the recovery at present. In the mining of blue rock, which does not require washing treatment, the main waste material is the capping of low-grade kidney formation, generally used for backfilling of the rooms. By reason of the introduction of improved methods in the early stages and the re-mining of territory skimmed over at the start, at the present time the net result of all operations is a comparatively small loss. One of the largest temporary losses in the industry occurs in the Florida pebble district where the recovery of phosphate runs about 25 per cent. The loss is classed as temporary because most of the tailing has been collected in ponds and piles, where it may be reclaimed in the future should developments or improved processes warrant. In cleaning the Florida pebble phosphate, aside from the elutriatisn

Jan 1, 1916

By J. A. Retty

IN the Labrador iron fields two concessions, totaling nearly 24,000 square miles, have been staked out and commercial-grade deposits delineated. The Newfoundland-Labrador concession, owned by the Labrador Mining and Exploration Co. Ltd., is a 20,000-square-mile tract in the upper basins of the Hamilton and N askaupi Rivers which drain into Lake Melville. The New Quebec licensed area is 3900 square miles, owned by the Hollinger North Shore Exploration Co. Ltd., lying to the northwest of the northwestern part of the Labrador concession. It includes the upper basin of the Swampy Bay River and part of the upper basin of the Whale River, both of which drain into Ungava Bay. Both of the above-named companies are controlled by Hollinger Consolidated Gold Mines Ltd. with The M. A. Hanna Co., of Cleveland, holding a minority interest. When exploration was first undertaken in 1936, the only published map of the area was that prepared by A. P. Low in 1895. It showed only the main watercourses and gave only a rough, general idea of the geology. The numerous lakes of this vast area had to be first sketched and then mapped. Since then, extensive geological and topographical surveys have been conducted by the Labrador company, work which is normally done by Government branches. The object of the work was to examine the area and gradually eliminate unfavorable or less favorable prospecting ground. With this object in view, geological

Jan 1, 1948

By AIME AIME

IN accordance with the provisions of Art. XII, See. 3, of the By-laws of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, the Board of Directors hereby give notice of their intention to amend the By-laws as follows : Art. V, Sec. 2. Amend by substituting the word "senior" for ('first" before the words "Vice-president" in line two of the third paragraph of said section which relates to the calling of special meetings of the Board in the absence or disability of the President.

Jan 1, 1930

By J. C. Fisher

Martensite transformations in steels and other alloys are characterized in part by the absence of composition changes during the growth of a new phase. Transformation occurs rapidly, and there is insufficient time for long range diffusion or partition of alloying elements to take place; martensite reactions in alloys thus are similar to phase transformations in single component systems. A fundamental understanding of martensite transformations in steels is impossible without knowledge of the free energy change upon transforming austenite (face centered cubic iron containing alloying elements) to ferrite (body centered cubic iron containing alloying elements) of the same chemical composition. The present paper assembles the best information available concerning the influence of temperature and composition on this free energy change. Most of the material has been taken from the work of Johansson,' Mehl and Wells,2 Zener3,4 and Smith;5 and indirectly, through these authors, from the work of Austin.6 In agreement with the generally accepted viewpoint, martensite is assumed to be an ordered solution of carbon in ferrite of the same composition as the parent austenite; only at high temperatures and low carbon concentrations is the carbon in ferrite distributed at random. The properties of the disordered solution are estimated by extrapolating the known properties of iron-carbon solid solutions into the range of supersaturation, and the free energy change associated with ordering is estimated from the theory developed by Zener. By incorporating Smith's recent thermodynamic measurements and Zener's theory of ordering, the present analysis modifies previous estimates of the free energy change associ- ated with martensite transformations. Consider a two component system consisting of a solvent A and a solute B. Let Na and Nb represent mol fractions of A and B respectively, let aa = raNa and ab = YbNb represent activities, and let superscripts 1 and 2 refer to phases 1 and 2. The partial molal free energies of A and B in phases 1 and 2 can be summarized as follows: free energy standard state Fa' - Fao1 = RT In an1 pure A' Fa2 - Fa2 = RT In aa2 pure A2 Fb1 - Fbo = RT In ab1 pure B Fs2 - FB2 = RT In aB2 pure B. The free energy of a gram atom of phase 1 is* AF1 = Na'Fa1 + Nb'Fb1 and that of phase 2 is AF2 = NA2FA2 + NB2Fb2. A martensite transformation from phase 1 to phase 2 requires Na1 = Na2 = Na and NB1 = NB2 = Nb, and the free energy change per gram atom accompanying transformation is AFi-2 = NA(Fa2 - Fa1) + Nb(Fb2 - Fb1) = NA[RT In (aA2/aA1) + AFa1?2] + Nb RT In (aB2/aB1) = Na[RT In (ra2/ra1) + AFa1?2] + Nb RT In (TaVTB1). [1] where yn2, yn1, yB2, yB1 are activity coefficients, and where Ma'+* is the free energy change upon transforming a gram atom of pure A from phase 1 to phase 2 at the temperature in question. For martensite transformations in plain carbon steels, A = iron (Fe), B = carbon (C), 1 = austenite (7). 2 = ferrite (a), and Eq 1 is AFr ?a= NFe[RT In (rf.a/rfer) + AFF.r?a] + TVc RT In (eca/rc1)- L2] Nothing is known concerning the values of yFea and yca for carbon concen- , trations in excess of 0.025 pct. However, the approximation rf.7 = 7f." = 1 cannot be appreciably in error for small carbon concentrations, and Eq 2 reduces to Afr-a = NfeFfer?a1 + NC RT In (rca/rcr)- [3] Johanssonl and Zenera have calculated MFfr?a from the specific heat measurements compiled by Austin.6* Their calculated values agree closely, and are summarized in Table 1. The activity coefficients relative to graphite for carbon dissolved in iron vary with temperature according to the relationships d In rcr/d(1/T) = AHcr-R dlnyca/d(l/T) = AHCa/R where AHc? and AHca are the heats of solution of graphite in y and a iron. Assuming the values of AH to be independent of carbon concentration and temperature, In rCr = AHcr/RT + I1 In rca = AHCa/RT + 12

Jan 1, 1950

By Richard F. Link, George S. Koch

Advantages and disadvantages of deflecting (wedging) diamond-drill holes to obtain sampling data are compared with the alternative of drilling additional holes. The discussion is based on a statistical analysis of a large set of deflection data from exploratory boreholes in South African gold mines. Representative cost comparisons show the conditions under which deflections are likely to be desirable.

Jan 1, 1969

By J. Moore Samuel

THE prospective change in ore receipts at the Copper Queen reduction works necessitated a careful study of conditions to determine the most economical method of smelting. The first step, calculating the known, probable, and possible results, showed the economy of a unimetallurgical flow sheet f which the three pyrometallurgical stages would be roasting, reverberatory smelting, and converting. The past and future ore receipts (not including converter flux) are as follows: AVERAGE MONTHLY FUTURE MONTHLY RECEIPTS, 1918 RECEIPTS TONS PER PER CENT. OF TONS PER PER CENT. OF MONTH TOTAL RECEIPTS MONTH TOTAL RECEIPTS Ore 84,553 82.3 43,000 44.0 Gravity concentrates 16,375 15.9 25,500 26.0 Flotation concentrates 1,883 1.8 29,400 30.0 Total 102,811 100.0 97,900 100.0 Of the 102,811 tons per month received in 1918, only 28,945, or 28 per cent., was treated in the roasters and an average f 14.1 roasters out of 20 were in operation; the remaining ore was treated in the blast furnaces. The change to "all reverb." practice, therefore, called for considerable additional roaster capacity, which could be obtained either by building additional units, or by remodelling the present units so as to give increased unit capacity. In view of the progress in roasting practice since the construction of the Copper Queen roaster plant and the heavy investment in that roaster plant, the second plan seemed to be the more desirable. The Copper Queen roaster plant consisted of twenty six-hearth, McDougall roasters, 18 ft. in diameter, equipped with cast-iron arms that originally were water cooled but now are air cooled. They have no top dry hearth and the feed is discharged through the top arch, near its periphery, by plunger feeders from two bins at opposite sides of the roaster.

Jan 7, 1921

By F. S. White, E. L. Kinsella

THE solids fluidization process brought out by the Standard Oil Development Co. in the early forties for catalytic cracking of petroleum enabled rapid transfer of large quantities of heat from gases to solids under closely controlled temperature conditions. As the technique developed, it was natural that applications for the process outside the petroleum industry would be sought. The calcination of limestone to ' quicklime requires the transfer of a large quantity of heat at high and closely controlled temperatures. For these reasons, this possible application was one of the first to be investigated. Laboratory work conducted by the Dorr Co. indicated that lime produced by solids fluidization would be of exceptional quality. Calculation of theoretical heat balances showed that savings in fuel could be expected. Accordingly, a pilot plant of 10 tons per day capacity was erected by the New England Lime Co. at Adams, Mass., to substantiate the process. Operation of the pilot plant, previously described,1 showed that excellent lime could be produced with a saving in fuel. The work also indicated the necessity of preparing feed to remove the finer fractions if dust losses were to be held to a tolerable level. A single-stage fluidized solids drier-stripper was developed to accomplish this sizing.2 Subsequently a commercial lime reactor was erected at Adams, beginning operation in June 1949, followed by air sizer facilities completed in November 1951. This paper will describe these two applications of solids fluidization. The raw material for preparation of lime by the fluidizing process is a high calcium crystalline lime stone having the approximate chemical composition shown in Table I. The stone is first prepared by crushing and grinding in conventional equipment to pass a 6-mesh sieve. After crushing, the material is sent to the FluoDry unit for drying and dedusting. Fluidized Drying and Sizing As shown in Fig. 1, the FluoDry unit consists of a 1/4-in. cylindrical steel shell, 9-ft ID by 22-ft 6-in. overall height. Attached horizontally at the bottom is a 6-ft diam combustion chamber, approximately 7 ft 6 in. long. A refractory constriction dome, consisting of first-quality fire brick shapes, partitions the inside into two sections. The lower section is called the windbox and the upper the bed compartment. The vertical wall of the shell is lined with 6-in. first-quality rotary kiln blocks. In the bottom of the windbox a hoppered section is formed with castable refractory to permit the windbox to be readily cleaned via a 6-in. screw conveyor. The combustion chamber is similarly lined with refractory shapes. On the 6-in. diam section, 4 1/2 in. of insulating brick, HW-26, are used. The inner combustion chamber is lined with 4 1/2-in. Korundal brick to withstand the high flame temperatures encountered. An 8-in. steel feed pipe, entering vertically through the top and fitted with an air-operated cone valve,

Jan 1, 1952

By B. H. Sage

IN recent years there has been an increase of interest in the flow of gases at relatively high pressures. Hydrodynamic calculation of the energy losses in the flow of gases in conduits, as well as through the porous solid materials constituting natural petroleum reservoirs, requires a knowledge of the viscosity of the fluid at the pressure and temperature involved. Although there are numerous publications concerning the absolute viscosity? of hydrocarbon gases at atmospheric pressure, there appears to be little information available relating to the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of these gases. Vogel28 determined the viscosity of methane at 32° F. and atmospheric pressure. His measurements at 32° F. were later substantiated by the measurements of Rankine and Smith17 at 63° and 212° F. Ishida12 also reported values for the viscosity of methane at atmospheric pressure. Trautz and Kurz26 measured the viscosity of propane at atmospheric pressure, from 83° to 530° F., by the use of a short capillary tube. Rap-penecker18 determined the viscosity of gaseous isopentane at elevated temperatures. Day' made an accurate investigation of the effect of pressure upon the viscosity of n-pentane and isopentane at pressures from 2 lb. per sq. in. ? to the vapor pressure at 77° F. (approximately 9.8 and 13.3 lb. per sq. in., respectively). Earhart5 reported data upon the viscosity of several natural gases measured by the long capillary-tube method. The viscosity of air, at atmospheric pressure and 73.4° F., was measured by Harrington7 by the rotating-cylinder method. Kellstrom13 has recently made an elaborate investigation of the viscosity of air at atmospheric pressure. The latter work is perhaps the most accurate investigation of the viscosity of a gas that has been made. .

Jan 1, 1937

By Donald B. Gillies

TO me a graduating class of engineers constitutes one ' of the finest inspirations I can imagine. You have finished your four- year scholastic career and are starting out in competition with thou- sands of other young men from other universities to make your mark. Be- cause of your training you men are such an essential part of our present- day civilization that a great weight of responsibility rests on your shoulders, especially at this time, for this is an engineering era. Today, it is the engineer who dreams the dreams and makes our civilization better. It's the engineer who carries those dreams into realization and fulfillment. No matter where we go in business and industry, we find- engineers in key positions, charged with great responsibilities.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. M. Sands

Describes important developments in, four counties, all of which brought in 40° oil. Indications are favorable for the future, although the daily production of the agate decreased 19,000 bbl. during the year 1923. THE state of Kansas had a daily average crude-oil production of about 87,000 bbl. at the beginning of the year. This showed a steady but consistent decline during the 12 months, so that the daily average production at the end of the year was slightly over 68,000 barrels. GREENWOOD COUNTY THE most active development in Kansas during the year was in Green-. wood County, in a line from near Sallyards in T 25-R 9 to east of Madison in T 22-R, 11. The main part of. this development has been in a succession of pools beginning at the south with the Polhamus pool in 34-24-9 and 3 and 4-25-9; Thrall pool in 28, 29, 32 and 33-23-10; Burkett pool in. 13, 23, 24 and 26-23-10; Seeley and Wick pool in 22, 27, 28, 32 and 33-22-11 and 5, 6, 7, and 8-23-11; Frohm pool in 11, 14 and 15-22-11; Madison pool in 31 and 32-21-12 and 6, 22, 12 and 1-22-11. Some of these pools, have two or more sands, locally called Bartlesville and Burgess Sands. They range in. depth from 1850 ft. near Madison to 2450 ft. near Sallyards, the general dip being to the west. The thickness of these sands runs from 20 to 100 ft., the initial production of the wells being 50 to 1000 bbl. of 40-gravity oil or better.

Jan 3, 1924