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By A. C. Stevenson

THE hoisting equipment selected for use at the Hecla mine in 1907 was one of the first Ilgner type Ward-Leonard controlled hoists put into ser- vice. Development of the Hecla below the 2000-ft. level, which is the ultimate depth of the old equipment, and the additional service required by the "Star," necessitated additional hoisting capacity. It will be our endeavor to give j70u a brief summary of the engineering which determined the selection of the new equipment. The engineer in making his decision as to size, speed, etc., must .make a duty study approximating as closely &s possible the actual opePating conditions which will eventually result. Primarily, it is necessary to know what work must be done. The amount of material which must be hoisted under the maximum condition, as well as its distribution from the various levels of the mine was carefully studied by the mining engineering department, as the ore reserves, their relative-position and the probable method of working them had to be considered. The final figures reached, taking into consideration four different operating conditions, were, in tons per day, as follows:

Jan 1, 1930

Joseph G. Butler, Jr., who represented this Institute on the American Industrial Commission to France, has presented a report to the Chairman of the Commission regarding the steel industry of France in war time. In this report Mr. Butler calls attention to the fact that only a few steel works were visited and that he thinks it probable that there are many plants in France more up-to-date than these. He noticed especially in the plants visited a dearth of labor-saving devices and not very great attention to the safety of the employees. He also noticed that the whole of the iron and steel interests in France are being used at the present time by the Government for war purposes, and he was told on good authority that the production has doubled since May, 1915. When the war is over, it is thought that France can send large quantities of iron ore from Algeria to the United States and take in return American coal to France, an interchange which would doubtless be of mutual advantage. In Mr. Butler's opinion the shortage of coal in France may be overcome to some extent by the use of water-power and by electrical processes for steel manufacture, and lie believes when the war ends France will be able to compete with other countries in exports of general iron and steel products, this trade being facilitated by the port improvements at Bordeaux and Marseilles. The French labor situation is much better than that in the United States from the standpoint of labor unions, but the wages are less and many women are now being employed to do men's work. This has a tendency to keep wages low, but is probably a war expedient only. The cooperation among manufacturers in France is at a high level and both local and national organizations exist for the discussion and voicing of trade problems. The national body which is a combination of the individual organizations is the Comite des Forges de France and it is an interesting fact that many of the members of this body are office holders under the Government, or heads of Government Committees which are organized to look after the very business in, which the individuals are engaged.

Jan 12, 1916

By Cleveland Dodge

THE present organization of Copper Queen employ-ees, known as the Employees' Conference Com-mittee, is really an outgrowth of the former Grievance Committee, which, in turn, had developed from the original Hospital Committee. The relatively small membership of these older organizations, the practical limitation of their activities to the presenting of grievances, and their lack of initiating powers, were the principal defects which the plan now in operation seeks to overcome. A somewhat parallel scheme was instituted in our Sacramento Hill division about four years ago; this gradually developed into the Ways and Means Committee, which, in addition to providing a forum for the discussion of operating problems, was instrumental in establishing an excellent and mutually satisfactory bonus system. Before recommending adoption of the plan now in force, we made extensive inquiries among those who have had any experience in such matters, and ended by proposing a modification of a scheme developed by John Leitch,1 which was characterized by its similarity to the constitution of the Federal Government. As finally remodeled, the. plan was submitted to vote of the entire working forces at the Copper Queen mines, and was adopted by them in May, 1920. Mining opera-tions since that date have been so interrupted that it is scarcely possible to state exactly what the results have been. The following quotations are from a printed pamphlet containing the constitution of the organization, as finally adopted. The first extract is from a letter addressed by the management to the employees: The plan submitted for your approval and adoption is modeled after the constitution of our own country, under which every individual is given an opportunity for advancement, according to his ability and determination, and every citizen is given a voice in the laws that shall govern him. So it is to encourage the individual employee in advancement, and to give him a voice in making the rules that shall govern his conduct, that we favor the adoption of the proposed constitution.

Jan 1, 1923

By Jasper L. Stuckey

GEOGRAPHICALLY, North Carolina consists of three divisions, the coastal plain on the east, the piedmont plateau in the center, and the Appalachian mountain region on the west. Geologically, the State may be divided into two main divisions, an eastern or coastal plain region, and a western or piedmont plateau and mountain region. The eastern region is underlain with unconsolidated sands, clays, marls, and shell limestones varying in age from Cretaceous to Recent. The western region is, in general, underlain with gneisses, schists, slates, sheared volcanics, and igneous intrusives of Pre-Cambrian age. In the mountain and upper piedmont portion of the western region are several areas of irregularly metamorphosed sediments of early Paleozoic age. Throughout the piedmont plateau and a part of the mountain portion of the western region, important areas are underlain with igneous intrusives of late Carboniferous age. Along the eastern edge of the piedmont plateau are two narrow belts, trending northeast-southwest, underlain with sediments of upper Triassic age. Although North Carolina contains a

Jan 1, 1947

By Lloyd B. Underwood

Dr. Gardener, in Chapter 2, has presented a comprehensive state-of-the- art review of site investigations For tunneling. Nearly all of the techniques he discussed will also be required for future site investigations. Therefore, this chapter will be devoted to a few rather new exploration techniques plus ideas for improving some of the present-day methods. In March 1962, the first symposium on "Remote Sensing of Environment" was held at the University of Michigan.l Since that time, four additional symposiums have been held at the same University. Also, the technical Literature has recently included a number of articles on remote sensing techniques. A recent one appeared in the February 1968 issue of Materials Research and Standards.Vt was entitled "Developments in Remote Sensing Applicable to Airborne Engineering Surveys of Soils and Rocks," and was written by Dana C. Parker. Mr. Parker predicts that aerial reconnaissance will someday supplant soil augers, rock drills, surface reconnaissance, and geophysical surveys as the engineer's primary means of obtaining information about soils and rocks. He states, "The engineer wishing to survey a route or a site or to locate rock and soils suitable for construction projects will be able to push some buttons in an airplane and record all the data required for determining the relevant conditions. In a short time after he returns to earth with his rolls of film and charts, he will be able to reduce and analyze the data by partially computerized techniques and to compile a concise and comprehensive engineering report that gives all the relevant information about rocks, soil, water, and vegetation in the area he surveyed. Most important he will feel as confident with his recommendations, derived primarily from image characteristics and spectral power distributions, as his predecessors did with recommendations based on more tangible evidence obtained from drill cores and surface reconnaissance." The airborne sensors for engineering surveys of soils and rocks are those that sample some electromagnetic property of the materials that com- prise the terrain and cover its surface. In addition to cameras, these include

Jan 1, 1970

By AIME AIME

ALTHOUGH the retiring Chairman of the Industrial Minerals Division, Charles Henry Behre, Jr., does not say "you all" he is a product of the deep South, since he was born at Atlanta, on March 16, 1896. At the Boy Scout age he moved to New Orleans, where his father owned an ice plant, which seems an intelligent business for that climate. Intelligence evidently runs in the family, for Charlie, as his friends call him, has one sister who is a professor of zoology and another who is a concert pianist. Charlie has no explanation of why, when he reached college age, he decided to go to the University of Wisconsin, other than something more than an ordinary boyish interest in science, and the reputation which Wisconsin then enjoyed. At Madison he fell under the influence of Eliot Blackwelder, chose paleontology as his objective, and transferred, at the end of his sophomore year, to the University of Chicago, where the paleontological panorama seemed more extensive. He took his B.S. there in 1918, and graduated into the U. S. Army, where he eventually became a Sergeant in the Medical Corps.

Jan 1, 1945

By J. D. Doherty

A. R. POWELL*—Mr. Doherty has outlined in a most thorough manner valid arguments for the development of an industry in this country making syn. thetic liquid fuels from coal. No thoughtful person will dispute the statement that it is essential to carry on fundamental and applied research and acquire engineering "know-how" by the erection and operation of two or three large plants in the near future. Considerations of national security indicate that this should be done, irrespective of any temporary present surplus of natural petroleum. It is the belief of the discusser and of many others interested in coal technology that our energy picture of the future will include an increasing utilization of coal directly, without any conversion to liquid fuel, as a source of energy. A fact that is sometimes forgotten is that petroleum fuels have often been cheaper than coal in many locations and over long periods of time, and this price factor has been of great importance in expanding the use of petroleum fuels at the expense of coal. Synthetic liquid fuel made from coal must necessarily be several times as costly as the coal from which it is made, and this fact alone will have a profound effect on the future energy pattern of our country. This complete change in the economic relationship between solid and liquid fuels will lead to the substitution of coal itself for many uses now supplied by the relatively cheap petroleum fuels. From the standpoint of conservation of our natural resources, the substitution of coal itself for liquid fuels wherever possible when the age of synthetic liquid fuel arrives is also logical. At least 50 pct of the energy of coal is lost during conversion to liquid fuel. Nor is this com-pensated for by a higher utilization effi-ciency of the liquid fuel in most cases. For example, modern steam-boiler plants can operate at equal fuel efficiencies with either coal or fuel oil.

Jan 1, 1950

By Herbert Hoover

This paper is in the nature of a rough preliminary report on the progress that has been made in the application of the mass spectrometer to various problems arising in the petroleum industry. A few years ago the authors considered a number of the problems that were arising in the qualitative and quantitative measurement of small amounts of hydrocarbons. The methods available of making analyses by chemical techniques appeared to leave much room for improvement. Without going into the reasons at this point, attention was turned to the possibility of employing physical instead of chemical methods of accomplish-ing the desired results. A preliminary investigation disclosed that the mass spectrometer presented a possibility of solving many problems which could not easily be accomplished by other methods. Work was begun in developing the necessary apparatus and technique. A great deal of encouragement and many valuable suggestions were received from Dr. Robert A. Millikan, Dr. W. R. Smythe, and Dr. W. N. Lacey, of the California Institute of Technology, and from Dr. E. 0. Lawrence, who recently received the Nobel Prize, of the University of California. The authors particularly wish to acknowl-edge the very great willingness of these out-standing scientists to be helpful in solving many of the problems that were involved. So far as the authors are aware, this was the first application of the mass spectrometer to commercial work. The results were considerably better than had at first been anticipated. Briefly, it is pos-sible to run a qualitative and quantitative analysis of an unknown mixture of hydro-carbon gases, with an accuracy of better than plus or minus 5 per cent of each of the various constituents. An exceedingly high degree of sensitivity has been obtained, and a relatively short time is required to com-plete an analysis. Furthermore, it is un-necessary to separate a mixture of gases into its various components in order to complete the analysis.

Jan 1, 1940

By E. P. Klier

THE work of Klier and Lyman1 on the bainite reaction has led to the full description of this reaction for medium-carbon low-alloy steels. Certain experimental data reported by Klier and Lyman appear, however, to be improbable of obtaining in very high-carbon steels. The study herein reported consists of an analysis of the transformation characteristics of a 3 per cent chromium, 1 per cent carbon steel by means of X-ray and metallographic methods. From the results obtained it is concluded that the bainite reaction in this steel is more complicated than that reported by Klier and Lyman for the low-carbon low-alloy steels. However, the mechanism of bainite formation in this steel appears to be essentially the same as proposed for the low-carbon low-alloy steels with the modification that the first volumes to transform are carbon-rich rather than carbon-poor. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The analysis of the steel studied was: Cr, 2.89; C, 1.02; Mn, 0.33; Si, 0.35; S, 0.012; P, 0.020. The stock was received from the Carpenter Steel Co. in rolled bars. Specimen Preparation Specimens were austenitized at 1200°C. (2192°F.) for 25 min. in purified nitrogen. The resultant A.S.T.M. austenite grain size was 0-1. Isothermal transformation was allowed by quenching the specimens into liquid metal baths controlled to ±5°C. at 540°C. (1004°°F.) and above, and to ±2°C. at 490°C. (914°°F.) and below. Following the desired degree of transformation all specimens were water quenched. Metallographic Examination Specimens 1/4 in. round by 1/4 in. were used for metallographic examination. Etchants used were Vilella's reagent (1 gram picric acid, 10 ml. hydrochloric acid to make l00 ml. ethyl alcohol solution) and alkaline sodium picrate (electrolytic). Vilella's reagent was effective in revealing all microconstituents, while the alkaline sodium picrate developed the carbon-rich structures or carbides only. X-ray Examination Two X-ray techniques were used-the Debye-Scherrer method and a back-reflection method. The small specimens necessary for the Debye-Scherrer method were austenitized and then allowed to transform, or were cut from the larger metallographic specimens. The metallographic specimens were used for the back-reflection X-ray analysis. When it was desirable to determine the structure of the carbide present, sliver specimens were electrolytically etched to develop a carbide coating, then were exposed in the cameras. This technique was frequently necessary to allow positive identification of the carbide.

Jan 1, 1945

By Hallet R. Robbins

Korea, the ancient" Hermit Kingdom," is a peninsula jutting out from the coast of eastern Asia. By the natives it is called " Chosen," nfhich, translated, means " Land of the Morning Calm." It lies between the Yellow sea and the Sea of Japan. On the north it is separated from Manchuria and the Russian province of Primorsk by the Yalu and Tiumen rivers; on the south the Korcan straits interpose a rough voyage of 120 nliles to the nearest point in Japan. The entire country is situated between the parallels of 34O and 42O N. latitude. The surface of the country is made up of successive ranges of ul~glaciated mountains, separated by narrow, fertile, and more or less densely populated, valleys. Through all the obscure centuries of its history, Korea has succeeded in maintaining a monastic seclusion, over which, from time immeniorial until the late Chino-Japanese war in 1894, China exercised a shadowy sovereignty. Although Korea had been forced into slight foreign contact previously, her first forcign treaty was signed with Japan in 1876. Under the restraining guardianship of China, the Japanese treaty bore but infiignificant innovations for Korea; but when, in 1883, a treaty was made with the United States, the first of the western nations, a decade after the American gunboats, under Commodore Rodgers and Lieutenant Schley, forced their may up the Salee river, Korea awoke from her sleep of 4,000 years. The Eorean peninsula suddenly became the arena where the enterprises and individuals of many foreign nations met in fiercest rivalry. Out of this struggle grew two singularly successful American enterprises, both of which have played an important part in developing the natural resources of the country. The first, and best known of these, is the Oriental Consolidated Mining Co., which was organized by Lcigh Hunt

Jan 1, 1909

By P. Payson

Intergranular corrosion in corrosion-resistant chromium-nickel steels has been widely discussed in the last few years. So far as the author knows, nothing has been published which definitely shows that this tendency can be eliminated, although suggestions have been made that a remedy is possible if certain specifications are satisfied. Strauss, Schottky and Hinnüberl suggested an increase in chromium content to an extent that would prevent the impoverishment of chromium on carbide precipitation sufficient to cause impaired corrosion resistance in the matrix. Pilling2 suggested an increase in nickel, so that the stability of the austenite matrix would be increased. Aborn and Bain3 say that "intergranular attack—may be eliminated by preventing carbide precipitation (e. g., by lowering the carbon content or somehow raising its solubility) or by precipitating it permanently under conditions which will not remove chromium from solid solution so drastically at any points." In a later paper Aborn and Bain4 state that many different metallic elements, tungsten, vanadium, copper, aluminum, molybdenum, titanium and zirconium, have been added in small percentages to increase the stability of these alloys, but that it has been reported that according to the copper sulfate test these added elements act only to retard the intergranular corrosion. and that increased nickel and chromium contents have similar effects. Newell5 showed that the lower the quenching temperature before reheating, the less severe was the intergranular attack.

Jan 1, 1932

By J. R. Long, T. R. Graham, C. W. Matthews, R. S. Dean

In a previous paper! the authors reported on the mechanical properties of a 65 per cent copper, 10 per cent manganese, 25 per cent zinc alloy as compared with, similarly processed cartridge brass. Additional investigations by these laboratories, on higher copper alloys, have demonstrated that at lower zinc concentrations even larger amounts of pure manganese may be added to copper-zinc alloys without exceeding the single-phase solid solution limits, and that similar increases in tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness may be obtained without excessive decreases in ductility. Several compositions in this range showed also a decided color change with increasing manganese. The normal "brassy" color was considerably lightcncd and reduced to a faint yellow cast at 15 per cent manganese. With higher manganese contents the alloys were essentially white and similar in appearance to the nickel-silver alloys. From this work it appeared that it would be desirable to determine more completely the properties of the wrought and annealed white alloys. Accordingly, a more detailed study was planned of an alloy having the composition 70 per cent copper, 20 per cent manganese, and 10 per cent zinc. This alloy remained single-phase throughout the working and annealing cycles of the preliminary tests and appeared to be' about the strongest of the white single-phase alloys. The project included also an investigation of additional alloys, deviating from this composition by 5 per cent of each of the three components to evaluate the effects of variation in composition and a study of the propertics of the central alloy made with silicothermic manganese. Material Preparation Electrolytic manganese, wirebar copper, and electrolytic zinc were used for the preparation of the alloys. Representative analysis of the electrolytic manganese seldom exceeds 0.01 per cent iron, 0.02 per cent sulphur and 0.02 per cent lead, with no silicon or aluminum. A typical sample of the silicothermic manganese metal contained 2 per cent iron, 0.81 per cent silicon, 0.16 per cent carbon, and 0.36 per cent aluminum. Melting and alloying were performed in a high-frequency furnace with magnesia crucibles. Melts were deoxidized with small aluminum additions and cast into 25-lb. slab ingots. Care was exercised in deoxidation to avoid excessive amounts of residual aluminum, which has been found to have significant effects on alloys in this system. All ingots were hot-rolled at 1200' to I300°F. and then cold-rolled with intermediate anneal-

Jan 1, 1945

By R. W. Bond

The gas-lift is a comparatively recent development in the Oklahoma and Kansas fields. It was used to some extent in the old Dilworth field several years ago, but the first extensive installations were made in the Tonkawa and Garber fields in Oklahoma early in the year 1926. Compressor Equipment During the early development of the system, the equipment used generally consisted of small tandem compressors of about 250 cu. ft. per min. displacement, driven by automotive-type gas engines, using a short belt drive. These compressors were first installed at the individual wells largely as an experiment. After the experimental installations had proved the method a success, it was considered economically advisable to centralize the compressor equipment in strategically located stations. However, as the information in regard to "gas-lift flowing life" was anything but definite, and the most optimistic estimates in regard to it did not exceed six months, portability of equipment was still the first consideration in the minds of many operators, who continued to install srnall semi-portable com-pressors in their centralized stations. As electric power became available in the fields, the electric motor came rapidly into use as the prime mover for the small compressors. The operating cost of this motor is greater than that of the automotive-type gas engine for the same power output, but the greater continuity of service tends to balance the extra cost. Aside from the semi-portable units, a number of strictly portable compressors were used. These consisted of automotive-type gas engines direct connected to vertical compressors. The unit was assembled on one base and could be mounted on wheels or skids as desired. The chief objection to these, in the writer's opinion, was their small capacity— approximately 150 cu, ft. per min.—which made it necessary to use two, three, and sometimes more units per well, thus making the installation rather costly. However, they have been found valuable for test purposes and emergencies, where installation time is an important factor.

Jan 1, 1928

By T. E. Kihlgren, N. B. Pilling, E. M. Wise

Systematic data are presented on the relation of composition of nickel silvers to color, tarnish resistance, hardness and liquidus temperatures, for alloys containing up to 30 per cent nickel and 50 per cent zinc, further modified at certain nickel and zinc contents by 0 to 8 per cent of tin and 0 to 10 per cent of lead. Attention has also been directed, using a still more limited range of alloys, toward a study of tensile properties and such casting properties and characteristics as fluidity, shrinkage and pressure tightness. In some of these, rather broad ranges of composition are dealt with; in others, it has been expedient to focus attention on the Federal Specification 20 per cent nickel silver casting alloy, WWP-541. Introduction The demand for an alloy essentially white in color, which could be cast and worked by simple methods and which possessed strength and corrosion-resisting properties superior to the usual brasses, led to the discovery and early use of cupronickel alloys containing zinc, and sometimes tin, lead and other metals. This type of alloy was generally known as 'German silver until the war, when the term "Nickel Silver" became generally accepted. The element principally responsible for the white color of the alloy and for its strength and corrosion resistance is nickel, which may constitute from 8 to 30 per cent of the alloy. The functions of the other elements will be described later. The manifold uses of nickel silver are largely due to its color, corrosion resistance, ease of casting, fabrication, joining and rather moderate cost. In many instances the alloy is finished by grinding and polishing while in others it may be finished with a silver or nickel plus chromium plate. Electroplates applied to a nickel silver base behave more satisfactorily than those applied to the softer and less resistant alloys, and owing to the white color of the underlying metal the article will retain a pleasing appearance despite local failures of the plating.

Jan 1, 1935

By E. M. Wise, T. E. Kihlgren, N. B. Pilling

Systematic data are presented on the relation of composition of nickel silvers to color, tarnish resistance, hardness and liquidus temperatures, for alloys containing up to 30 per cent nickel and 50 per cent zinc, further modified at certain nickel and zinc contents by 0 to 8 per cent of tin and 0 to 10 per cent of lead. Attention has also been directed, using a still more limited range of alloys, toward a study of tensile properties and such casting properties and characteristics as fluidity, shrinkage and pressure tightness. In some of these, rather broad ranges of composition are dealt with; in others, it has been expedient to focus attention on the Federal Specification 20 per cent nickel silver casting alloy, WWP-541. Introduction The demand for an alloy essentially white in color, which could be cast and worked by simple methods and which possessed strength and corrosion-resisting properties superior to the usual brasses, led to the discovery and early use of cupronickel alloys containing zinc, and sometimes tin, lead and other metals. This type of alloy was generally known as 'German silver until the war, when the term "Nickel Silver" became generally accepted. The element principally responsible for the white color of the alloy and for its strength and corrosion resistance is nickel, which may constitute from 8 to 30 per cent of the alloy. The functions of the other elements will be described later. The manifold uses of nickel silver are largely due to its color, corrosion resistance, ease of casting, fabrication, joining and rather moderate cost. In many instances the alloy is finished by grinding and polishing while in others it may be finished with a silver or nickel plus chromium plate. Electroplates applied to a nickel silver base behave more satisfactorily than those applied to the softer and less resistant alloys, and owing to the white color of the underlying metal the article will retain a pleasing appearance despite local failures of the plating.

Jan 1, 1935

By R. F. Mehl, C. S. Barrett, A. H. Geisler

THE complicated nature of the property changes that accompany age-hardening has made it necessary to reconsider and to elaborate the simple dispersion theory.1 It has been apparent for some time that more direct information is needed concerning the atomic mechanism of precipitation from solid solution if the theory of age-hardening is to be developed past a purely qualitative stage.‡ Fortunately, in recent years information has been developed which allows us to trace in detail the lattice changes accompanying the process of precipitation from solid solution. This information relates chiefly to the sequence of the several stages of lattice alteration by which the matrix lattice is transformed to the equilibrium precipitate lattice, and permits reasonable inferences to be drawn concerning the states of internal strain that accompany these stages. This information is most complete for the solid solution of copper in aluminum. The equilibrium precipitate is the ?' phase," CuA12." This forms in plates, parallel to the {100} matrix planes. The atom pattern and atom spacing on the plane in ?' lying parallel to this plane are roughly similar to those opposite it in the matrix.' The formation of ?', however, is preceded by the formation of a transition lattice ?', which again lies parallel to the matrix {100} plane, but in this case the matching of atom pattern and spacing across the matrix-precipitate interface is nearly perfect; thus there is lattice coherency across the interface and the interface is a plane of separation in only a very limited sense.4-8 Particles of ?' may be recognized microscopically and form a well-defined Widmanstätten figure.* The ?' lattice is recognized by the occurrence of diffraction lines on powder photograms or of spots on Laue photograms which may be analyzed in the usual ways to determine the lattice type and the lattice spacings. Very recent research 6.7,1 has shown, however, that streaks occur on the Laue photogram at an earlier point in time during the aging process. These streaks have been attributed to a preferential clustering of copper atoms into small platelike elements of only a few atoms in thickness and a few hundred atoms in diameter, probably of the composition of "CuA12," which may be designated as Guinier-Preston zones or aggregates.1 It is difficult if not impossible to determine the lattice type and lattice spacing in these aggregates. It is possible1 that these aggregates are in fact merely ?' in a high state of dispersion; the inclination to argue this is strong, as we shall see later. Never-

Jan 1, 1941

By Charles F. Brush

THE compression of gases to a very high degree, for purposes of scientific research, has long presented serious difficulties to the physicist. Great advances have been made of late years in the construction of ordinary air or exhaust pumps, while very little has been done towards the improvement of compression pumps. The principal difficulties encountered in the construction of such apparatus are the existence of the so-called "dead space" in the pump barrels, leakage of the piston packings under high pressure, and the trouble arising from the unequal expansion of parts caused by the development of the latent heat of the gas during compression. Of these obstacles to success, the "dead space" is far the most serious, as it fixes a limit to the performance of the pump beyond which it is impossible to carry the compression. The writer having occasion, some time since, to make a series of investigations on gases very highly compressed, and finding no apparatus, or description of apparatus, adequate to produce the required

Jan 1, 1876

By Charles F. Brush

The compression of gases to a very high degree, for purposes of scientific research, has long presented serious difficulties to the physicist. Great advances have been made of late years in the construction of ordinary air or exhaust pumps, while very little has been done towards the improvement of compression pumps. The principal difficulties encountered in the construction of such apparatus are the existence of the so-called "dead space" in the pump barrels, leakage of the piston packings under high pressure, and the trouble arising from the unequal expansion of parts caused by the development of the latent heat of the gas during compression. Of these obstacles to success, the "dead space" is far the most serious, as it fixes a limit to the performance of the pump beyond which it is impossible to carry the compression. The writer having occasion, some time since, to make a series of investigations on gases very highly compressed, and finding no apparatus, or description of apparatus, adequate to produce the required

By J. E. Tobey

BECAUSE of the wide-spread publicity given to Nylon yarn as being made from ?coal, air, and water,? the general public has become conscious of the nonfuel uses of bituminous coal. Some of these uses are as filler for fertilizer, carbon for the absorption of orders, for water supply, and for the bedding of cattle. Spectacular as are these accomplishments the fact is that only a small amount of coal is used for nonfuel purposes. It is on the utilization of coal as fuel that the industry depends. Practically all the coal mines for years to come will be used for making coke for the generation of heat. Recently much attention has been paid to the significance of ash in coal. Another study worthy the interest of metallurgists in the iron and steel industries if that of Dr, Lowry of the Carnegie Institute of Technology relative to the percentage of sulphur in coal and coke.

Jan 1, 1941

By Joseph L. Gillson

BRAZIL has had an industry based on ocean beach deposits of heavy minerals containing monazite, zircon, rutile, and ilmenite for well over 40 years, but except at the very earliest period, prior to 1906, and again during World War 11, has this industry been at all comparable in size with similar operations in other countries. Limiting factors have been neither a lack of reserves nor lack of markets (except for zircon). Although poor local transportation and shipping facilities have handicapped the development in Brazil, these conditions were perhaps equally bad (when mining operations started) in the Indian State of Travancore, and in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia, in which states the principal production of beach deposits of heavy minerals has occurred. The outstanding restraints on the Brazilian industry have been the lower quality of the Brazilian minerals, the relative small size of individual deposits that were known until recently, the lack of interest of Brazilian investors in mining ventures, and the unfavorable climate for investment of foreign capital under Brazilian mining law. The lower quality of the minerals is indicated by the fact that the Brazilian monazite carries only 5 to 6 pct ThO2,*, and the ilmenite 56 1/2 pct TiO2, whiteness of the Australian zircon. An inadequate market for the abundant zircon that will be avail- able in any operation in Brazil is certainly a heavy restraint, since otherwise it could be an important byproduct. The oxide of zirconia, baddeleyite, that has come from Brazil is from other sources. 1 Since the Brazilian beach sands carry only a little rutile, that mineral has not been available as a valuable byproduct to help finance the operations.

Jan 6, 1950