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By Harry M. Conger

It is a pleasure for me to keynote this first Western Regional Minerals and Coal Conference here in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is pleasing for two main reasons. First, Homestake Mining Company has been associated with the Black Hills since 1875 when gold was discovered following Custer's trek through the Hills during 1874. Second, the future mineral development of the Black Hills will depend, to a great extent, on minerals and metals covered in this conference. The metals and minerals that are featured in this conference have unique similarities--and important differences--and therefore, will be of great interest to all who are involved in our industry in this area of the country. Precious metals have always been, and likely will always be, subject to political influence; they are only partially affected by the demands of our industrial economy. Energy minerals, while more directly affected by industrial stimulus, are also politically sensitive. In this regard, the need for a minerals policy affecting the energy sphere has been made very clear to us in the last five years. More importantly, the lack of a national policy and purpose relating to our total future energy needs has severely affected the overall economy and security of this country. Very briefly today, I would like to outline for you my thoughts on the future of these most important minerals. I will start by a discussion of precious metals, primarily my favorite precious metal, gold. A brief history of gold will be helpful in setting a perspective for forecasting its future although it is difficult to give a brief description of a metal that has been prized by man for over 6,000 years. Until recently, as you know, gold was held by the Federal government as a metal to be owned by the government only and

Jan 1, 1983

By C. F. Willis

The time is no longer when a man can act as an independent unit; the appreciation of the interdependence of one man upon another has emphasized the importance of the social unit. Epidemics have made us recognize that even a man's health is not distinctly his own to control as he pleases. The physical examination of workmen previous to employment started with an effort to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, for tuberculosis may be detected in its early stages and cured. But it was soon found that many other diseases were detected and the saving of lives made possible. The physical examination does not mean the elimination of the unfit—on that basis it would utterly fail—but rather the measuring of a man's physical fitness and placing the man where he can do the best for himself, his fellow worker, and the company. Industry as a whole cannot expect to live up to the standard of physical examination set for the army, nor should it expect to do so, for in all branches of industry there are types of work that do not require the same amount of endurance as does army work, and the lacing of men with physical limitations in the work for which they are capable permits a higher average of physical fitness for the work requiring physical excellence. Objects of Physical Examination The objects of physical examination are: The early detection of illness, particularly at a time when a full restoration of health is possible; the protection of employees from infection caused by working in contact with contagious diseases; the discovery of a man's physical limitations, in so far as his possibility for rendering good service is concerned; assistance to the safety movement by eliminating association in hazardous occupations with men whose physical condition renders them likely to accident to themselves and others; and the lessening of time lost by sickness. Statistics issued by the United States Department of Labor show that 22.54 per cent. of idleness is caused by sickness, with an average number of 7.71 weeks idle; whereas only 1.66 per cent. is caused by acci-

Jan 1, 1920

By A. Simkovich, R. W. Lindsay

The possibility of using sodium sulfide slags to remove copper from ferrous alloys has been investigated by Jordan1 and by Langenberg.2, 3 In these studies, such slags were determined to be capable of removing copper and sulfur from the melt. The present work represents additional effort to clarify the effects of temperature on copper removal. The experiments were performed in a 17-lb induction furnace. Graphite crucibles contained the melts and kept the baths saturated with carbon. Temperatures were measured with a calibrated optical pyrometer and were controlled by manipulation of power input to the furnace. Estimated accuracy of temperatures in this investigation is ± 10°C (18°F) for measurements prior to slag additions, and + 20°C (36°F) after slag formation. The procedure consisted of melting 800 g of electrolytic iron. During this step, powdered graphite covered the exposed iron surface. After a predetermined temperature was reached, copper shot was added. A sample of the molten alloy for chemical analysis was then aspirated into a silica sheath. Next, a slag-forming mixture of sodium sulfite and graphite was added instantaneously to the melt. The sodium sulfite amounted to one-tenth the charge weight of iron; sufficient graphite was added to combine with oxygen in the sodium sulfite, assuming formation of carbon monoxide and reduction of the sulfite to sulfide. Subsequent to the slag addition, the molten alloy was sampled periodically, with the exception of heat A in which no intervening samples were taken between the slag addition and the end of the run. The iron was poured into a graphite mold, and the ingots sectioned and drilled for samples. Results of selected heats are presented in Table I. Analyses of samples drawn from the iron prior to slag addition are listed under zero time. Two samples from heat D were reported with copper contents greater than the initial concentration in the bath. Owing to the gradual but complete disappearance of slag during this heat, it is believed copper momentarily became more concentrated in the upper portion of the bath while reverting from the slag. This is the region from which samples were drawn. It should be noted that analysis of the ingot was equal to the copper content at the time of slag addition. The terminal temperatures of heats D and E, and the initial sulfur content of heat A are also to be noted. Because of the large temperature drop which occurred when slag was formed in heat D, power input to the furnace was increased in heat E after the slag addition, causing a higher terminal temperature. In heat A, the initial sulfur concentration was relatively high as compared to heats B through E owing to contamination by some slag remaining in the crucible from a previous heat. It is evident from Table I that copper was removed at the onset of slag formation. Roughly 30 pct of the copper was taken into the slag, with the exception of heat D, which had approximately 50 pct removed. For a comparatively short time of slag-metal contact, it appears that no gain is to be made in copper removal through use of high or low temperatures. If the slag initially formed remains in contact with the iron for an extended period, temperature has a marked effect upon copper removal, as can be seen by studying results for the two extremes in temperature. At about 1425°C, the copper level remained relatively constant after the initial removal by the slag. However, in the region of 1670°C, a definite reversion of copper occurred. Reversion was incomplete in heat D, and complete in heat E. The final temperatures of heats D and E differed by about 75°C. This temperature difference is thought to be the reason for only partial copper reversion in heat D. It is believed the effects of temperature noted above are related to the evolution of a white fume, which appeared in every run except heat A. (In the case of heat A, the fume was practically indiscernible.) After each slag addition, a yellow flame formed for about 5 sec. When the flame subsided, a white fume appeared. Upon contact with surrounding cooler surfaces, this fume deposited as a white solid. In the experiments made at 1425°C, evolution of fume continued unchanged to the end of the runs. However, heats D and E exhibited a different behavior. A very noticeable decrease in fume evolution from heat D was observed. Furthermore, this heat had much less slag remaining than did runs A through C when the experiments were terminated. No slag remained at the end of heat E; evolution of fume from this heat ceased prior to pouring. Spec-trographic analysis of the white deposit indicated sodium to be the major metallic element, with the maximum concentration of iron and copper as 0.1 and 0.01 pct, respectively. It is supposed the white fume observed in these experiments is principally sodium oxide (Na2O), formed by oxidation of sodium in the slag and subsequent sublimation. (Sodium oxide is a white to gray substance in the solid state; at 1275oC, it sublimes.4) According to this mechanism, elevated temperatures would accelerate removal of sodium from the slag, sulfur pickup by the

Jan 1, 1961

By D. C. DERINGER

METALLURGISTS and mill operators appreciate, in a general way, .the economic or commercial relationship between recovery and grade of product but few have correlated in detail fluctuating metal prices with the metallurgy. They know that many factors such as metal price, dedusiions for returning charge, transportation, percentage of metal in head ore, etc.; all affect the commercial relationship between recovery and grade of product. In practically every mill some one at some ' time has calculated the amount of recovery that can be sacrificed for each percentage increase in grade of concentrate and from this calculated ratio the commercial or ., economic tail has been established. Such a ratio finally becomes a well-entrenched rule by which the progress of the metallurgy is judged.. When once established, these-, ratios are but seldom corrected to changes of metal prices for each possible grade of concentrate that may be produced. The calculation is tedious when often repeated. Other methods have been suggested and used to correlate the commercial with the metallurgical phase. A factor .derived ,by multiplying the grade of concentrate by recovery is often used, but is of little importance because it does not possess a single commercial quantity. The percentage monetary recovery calculated by dividing the gross value of the ore into the net smelter return gives a good economic index and, is to be commended, but it is difficult to correlate exactly and quickly the work of each day on a commercial basis.

Jan 1, 1931

By HOWARD I. YOUNG

F. W. SPERR, Houghton, Mich.-Why does 10 to 20 per cent. of the ore formation have to he lost? It is not clear to me why it should not all be taken out, from the conditions as I saw them underground this afternoon. H. I. YOUNG.-The grade of our ore is so low that we cannot stand the expense of timbering to support the roof, which, in a sheet-ground mine, would be from 25 to 50 per cent. of our total mining cost at present. After the orebody is mined out, we can often recover 10 to 20 per cent. of the material that is left. F. W. SPERR.-I think it should be a very simple mining engineering problem to mine all of that mineral without the use of a stick of timber. Similar work has been done in the mines of Grand Rapids Plaster Co. The usual operation in deposits of this kind is to open up and excavate as far as the roof will stand; when it caves, start in and dig somewhere else. But in the case I referred to they learned that by working the ground more systematically and leaving in a sufficient amount of pillar, they could later draw those pillars and get them all, and avoid uncon¬trolled breakages which would be likely to occur if they tried to hold up the overburden permanently. From the point of view of safety and also from the financial point of view, I contend that it is better to keep the caving under control and make it do what you want it to do, rather than to take out what you can conveniently for the time being and after a while be compelled to let the overburden do what it pleases.

Jan 1, 1918

By A. B. Kinzel

ALTHOUGH calcium carbide and other compounds of calcium, as well as a number of calcium alloys, are well known and are the basis of important industries in the of United States, calcium metal has been thought of as something of a rarity and has received comparatively little attention from industrial metallurgists. The metal may he made in a number of ways, but the electrolytic deposition of calcium from a molten calcium chloride bath was the first process to be used for its commercial production and is still the standard procedure. Calcium metal has elicited little interest among nonferrous metal producers, as the demand has been relatively small and its production restricted to only a few plants, exclusively in France and Germany.

Jan 1, 1941

CONTENTS PAGE UREN, LESTER C.-Increasing Production of Petroleum by Increasing Diameter of Wells. Discussed by A. Beeby Thompson 1 LAHEE, FREDERIC H.-Comparative Study of Well Logs on the Mexia Type of Structure. Discussed by W. A. I. M. van Waterschoot van -der Gracht.... 4 Increasing Production of Petroleum by Increasing Diameter of Wells Discussion of the paper of LESTER C. UREN, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1925, and issued, as Paper No. 1364-G, with MINING AND METAL-LURGY, October, 1924. A. BEEBY THOMPSON, London, Eng. (written discussion).-The subject discussed in this paper has long been debated by operators in European fields, where very strong views are held regarding the advisability of controlling gas pressures by shutting in wells. While unwilling to theorize on the subject of restricted flow, the writer has always been disposed to associate himself with those who hesitate to impose any obstruction to a natural transitory state that breaks up the oil-containing strata and establishes a feeder system which no subsequent events, natural or artificial, can approach in intensity. In both Russia and Roumania, where the oil is concentrated in discontinuous, disturbed, and irregular lenticles of sand varying, within short distances, in coarseness of grain, extent of impregnation and degree of cementation, it has been the practice to let the wells run wild in order to provoke disruption of strata. By encouraging violent eruptions, an extended feeder system is created and the ejection of enormous quantities of sand, rock, and clay creates a sump and seepage area that it would be difficult to imitate by any artificial means, not excluding actual mining. Before discussing the somewhat novel method suggested for enlarging the infiltration area, the writer would like to confirm the fact that many valuable data applicable to oil are forthcoming from a study of water phenomena. Long association with water-supply problems in many parts of the world has shown how closely the phenomena of underground movements of water and oil are related, so that it is pleasing to note the author's use of water formulas. But there is one great distinction;

Jan 7, 1925

By W. Smith, F. G. Rinker, D. Beggs

Early in 1965 the Surface Combustion Division of the Midland-Ross Corporation was awarded the contract to engineer and construct a taconite pelletizing plant for the National Steel pellet plant, administered by the Hanna Mining Co., near Keewatin, Minn. This plant, which will have an annual capacity of 2,400,000 long tons, will produce pellets from magnetite concentrate using a new process developed through a joint research program by Midland-Ross, Hanna Mining, and the National Steel Corp. The work that culminated in the decision to construct this plant is the result of a research program for the development of the Midland-Ross heat fast process for the production of prereduced or metallized pellets. PELLETIZING PROCESS There are many acceptable methods for producing oxide pellets from ground iron ores and concentrates, and all of these give an acceptable product for blast furnace utilization. The vertical shaft furnace, the traveling grate, and the grate-kiln have been installed in many pelletizing plants in the northern hemisphere; therefore, the acceptance of these methods and the problems associated with them are well understood. However, this research project investigated a method for improving upon these processes to produce a high quality oxide pellet at a low operating cost.

Jan 9, 1966

By R. A. RAGATZ

THE preparation of specimens for microscopic examination from metal articles of relatively large cross-section offers no particular difficulty. It often happens, however, that articles submitted for examination are so thin that specimens satisfactory for microscopic examination can not be successfully pre- pared by the methods commonly employed when working with larger articles. Ordinarily, the preparation of metallographic specimens involves the following operations : (1) cutting the small specimens to be examined out of the larger mass of metal, (2) cleaning and electroplating, (3) mounting to furnish support during the grinding and polishing operations, (4) grinding and polishing to produce a scratch-free surface, (5) etching and drying. All of these operations must be carried out in such a manner that when the specimen is finally examined under the microscope, the structure seen is a true and well-defined representation of the structure that the larger mass of metal possesses at the place where the small specimen was removed. It is important that the deformation involved in cutting out the specimen be as slight as possible, in order that the subsequent grinding and polishing operations will completely eliminate the cold- working effects in the vicinity of the cuts. It is also important that the specimen never be allowed to attain a temperature high enough to alter its structure; the maximum permissible depends on the metal being handled. With some metals, zinc for example, consider- able care must be taken to avoid heating; with other metals, annealed steel -for example, no particular pre- cautions need be observed because there is no tendency for structural change to occur at relatively low temperatures.

Jan 1, 1929

By M. J. Marcinkowski, D. B. Crittenden, A. S. Sastri

A study co.mbining stress-strain .measurements in conjunction with transmission electron microscoPy has been made with near equiatomic Fe-Cr alloys which were aged for various times at 500°C. Associated with this aging is a marked increase in deformation twinning. The outstanding feature of these twins is that they generate stress fields sufficiently great so as to give rise to spontaneous dislocation loop nucleation nearly normal to the propagating twin. This observation is in agreement with the theoretically predicted elongation of the stress field of a dislocation Perpendicular to its direction of motion as it moves near the speed of sound. Dislocation loop nucleation is more difficult in the longer aged alloys so that this energy absorption mechanism is not effective in hindering twin propagation. Since crack nucleation can readily occur near the tip of a twin, the aged alloys become extremely brittle when deformed in tension. Iron-chromium alloys in the vicinity of the equiatomic compositions become severely embrittled when aged at about 500°C. Fisher et 01.' have shown that this embrittlement is related to the decomposition of the original random Fe-Cr solid solution into a chromium-rich and an iron-rich phase. In addition, Mar-cinkowski et a1.' have shown that twinning becomes an increasingly more important mode of deformation as the aging time is increased. These results have been recently corroborated by the transmission electron microscopy study of Mima and amauchi . The Fe-Cr alloy thus seems ideal for verifying the predictions made in Parts I4 and 115 of this investigation where the behavior of large static or blocked twins and those of large dynamic or propagating twins, respectively, were investigated numerically. It was thus decided to measure the stress-strain curves generated by embrittled alloys that were aged for various times and to examine sections by transmission electron microscopy. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Electrolytic iron and electrolytic chromium were vacuum-melted and poured into ingot form. The composition of the resulting alloy was found to contain 46.0 wt pct Cr (47.8 at. pct), the remainder being iron. The resulting ingot was swaged above 850°C into 0.250-and 0.400-in.-diam rounds. Compression samples of 0.250 in. diam and 0.400 in. long were cut from the smaller-diameter rounds. These samples were then sealed in evacuated quartz tubes and annealed for 30 min at 1150°C to produce a uniform and equiaxed grain size of mean diameter equal to 1.73 mm. They in turn were rapidly quenched from 850°C so as to preserve the condition of random solid-solution characteristic of the elevated temperature. The samples were then aged for various times up to 300 hr at 500°C in a massive Pb-Bi alloy bath. The samples were next polished and tested in compression at room temperature as described in Ref. 6 using an Instron tensile testing machine. The strain rate used was 0.05 in. per in. per min. The remaining larger round was converted into compression specimens of 0.325 in. diam and 0.500 in. long. This larger diameter enabled wafers of sufficient size to be prepared for examination by trans-mission electron microscopy techniques after subjecting them to a suitable strain. Foil preparation is described in some detail in Ref. 6. All foils were examined in a type HU-11A Hitachi electron microscope operating at 100 kv. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fig. 1 shows the effect of aging at 500°C on the room-temperature stress-strain curves of the FeCr alloys. For greater clarity the origin of each curve has been displaced upward. The same origin has been used for both the 0 and the 0.1 curves. It is apparent that with increased aging times a sharp drop in load is observed at the yield stress which becomes more pronounced as aging proceeds. A loud sonic burst accompanies this drop and subsequent metallographic examination shows the sample to contain numerous twins. For intermediate aging times, a number of smaller twin bursts follow the initial large one. The total plastic strain associated with the twinning mode of deformation can be obtained by adding up the contributions AE~ from all i twin bursts, i.e., £,¦££,-, in the manner illustrated schematically in Fig. 2. The contraction of the specimen, as measured from the strip chart of the Instron, after suitably correcting for the elasticity of the machine, was converted into true strain using the assumption that there was no volume change and that the sample remained cylindrical. The dashed lines are all drawn parallel to the

Jan 1, 1970

By Leonard Logan

The petroleum industry is not peculiar in that it has a problem of stabilization. Economic conditions, not only in the United States but throughout the entire world, are unstable. However, the petroleum industry together with coal mining and agriculture has experienced a longer period of depression than most of the others. It is significant to note that industries engaged in the production of basic raw materials, the primary industries, have not enjoyed as much prosperity since the war as the secondary industries, or those engaged in the fabricating of raw materials and their distribution. The problems of the primary industries are not all the same. Overproduction has existed for several years in agriculture but its causes are not the same as those that have brought about overproduction in the petroleum industry. Unlike agriculture, the institution of property rights and the migratory nature of oil are responsible for the oil man's troubles. Our laws permit the owner of the oil and gas rights, with certain exceptions, to drill when and where he pleases. Since oil is migratory, the adjacent property owner must go and do likewise—drill. This condition spread over a wide area soon brings to the surface more petroleum than can be readily absorbed by the market, creating a condition of overproduction. It is significant to note at this place that when overproduction occurs the complete units in the industry suffer least. A complete unit is taken here to mean a corporation engaged in all the phases of the industry through production, transportation, refining and marketing. In the present depression the complete units in the industry are not in as bad financial condition as those engaged in single phases of the industry. The same thing can be said of the zinc industry, the lumber industry, and the other industries where there are organizations engaged in all the steps through the production of raw materials to the marketing of the finished product. The reason for this is that the complete units are in better position to coordinate all the factors that would work for a stabilized condition than are the units that are engaged in a single branch of the industry.

Jan 1, 1931

By S. R. Goodman, Hsun Hu

A detailed study of texture developmenf in poly crystalline copper atzd 70-30 brass has been completed. Textural changes as a function of deformation are shoum by pole jigmres and by intensity measurements oF- various rejlectiotzs from the rolling plane and the rolling direction. These examinations were accompanied by measurements of stacking fault frequency, hardness changes, and microstructure. Some of the results were briefly presented earlier. Additional results reported here are consistent with the idea that deformation faulting or slip by partial dislocations is of primary importance in the formation of deformation textures in fcc metals. lo examine the idea that deformation faulting is of primary importance in determining whether the texture is the copper type or the brass type an extensive study of the development of polycrystalline textures in copper and 70-30 brass was initiated. Besides the determination of complete pole figures, the intensities of the various reflections from both the rolling plane and the plane perpendicular to the rolling direction, the peak shifts due to deformation stacking faults, and the hardness of the rolled specimens were examined at various reductions from 10 to 99 or 99.5 pct. Mi-crostructures were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Some of the results were briefly presented in an earlier publication.' Since then, additional information has been obtained. This is given in the present paper. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material and Specimen Preparation. The material used was a commercial electrolytic copper bar 1i in. wide and 2 in. thick and a 70-30 brass bar la in. wide and 1i in. thick. Chemical analysis indicated a purity of 99.97 pct for the copper, with 0.025 pct 0 as the major impurity. The 70-30 brass was of higher purity with 0.0016 pct 0 as the major impurity. Extreme care was taken in the preparation of the starting material to insure uniformly fine grains with a nearly random initial texture. The two bars were first cold-forged and then annealed to eliminate any original texture. The grains were then refined by several cold rolling (approx 30 pct reduction) and annealing treatments. The + -hr anneals were carried out in a salt bath at 390" to 440°C for copper and at 490°C for brass. The resulting penultimate grain size was 0.06 mm for copper and 0.03 mm for brass, and both showed very little preferred orientation. The number of prior cold rolling and annealing cycles was such that the final thickness after various final reductions of 10 to 95 (for brass) or 99 (for copper) pct was the same (0.020 in.). These annealed strips were rolled in two directions by reversing end for end between passes according to the following schedule: 0.006 in. per pass to 0.100 in., 0.003 in. per pass to 0.050 in., 0.002 in. per pass to 0.025 in., 0.001 in. per pass to 0.020 in. Texture Determination. The development of rolling textures was studied by examining complete pole figures determined from the (111) reflection. Specimens thinned from one face of the strip to half thickness (0.010 in.) were used to obtain the central portion of the pole figures, while specimens thinned from both faces to 0.003 in. were used to obtain the peripheral portion. The reflection and transmission techniques have been described previously. In addition to X-rav pole figures, texture development was also studied b; examining the intensity variation of the (Ill), (200), (2201, (311), (331), (420), and (442) reflections from the rolling plane and from the plane normal to the rolling direction, as a function of deformation. The same specimens used for the central portion of the pole figures were used for the intensity measurements of the various reflections from the rolling plane. For intensity measurements from the plane normal to the rolling direction, composite specimens were prepared by mounting sections cut parallel to the transverse direction of the strip. An epoxy resin was used to bond these sections together, and the entire composite was then mounted in a cold-setting resin to facilitate subsequent polishing and etching to remove distorted metal at the cut. The intensities were expressed in units of the integrated intensities measured from an annealed copper specimen having almost no preferred orientation. Stacking Fault Frequency Determination. Following the analysis of Warren: the stacking fault frequency, a, was determined from the change in the peak separation (A%) of two neighboring reflections of a deformed specimen, as compared with the normal peak separations of a fully annealed specimen. To obtain sufficient intensities for the second-order reflections, (222) and (400), composite specimens were prepared from parallel sections cut from the strip at 30 deg to the rolling direction for copper and 25 deg for the brass.* From texture data, these sections are known to contain a large population of both (111) and (200) planes. Since residual stresses can also cause X-ray line shifts (the direction of line shifts depends upon the sign of the stress), the use of composite specimens consisting of sectioned planes should help compensate for these effects as the residual stresses change sign from the surface to the central section of a rolled strip. Since the amount of peak shift is almost un-measurable in brass rolled 15 pct and in copper rolled

Jan 1, 1969

By R. W. Kewish

The preparation of massive uranium metal containing very low concentrations of a number of light elements by bomb reduction of UF4, with calcium is described. Details of procedures are given for preparing high-purity ingredients for the bomb reduction. The as-reduced uranium metal contained, on the average, less than the following amounts of light element impurities, in ppm: Li, 0.1; Be, 0.1; B, 0.1; C, 25; 0, 70; Na, 1; Mg, 3; Al, 2; and Si, 7. Other impurities for which the metal was examined averaged, in ppm: Ca, < 10; V, < 10; Cr, 2; Mn, 6; Fe, 50; Co, < 5; Ni, 8; and Cu, 1. THE preparation of very high-purity uranium metal in massive form for research purposes is of great importance. Recently the kilogram-scale preparation of uranium metal containing less than 70 ppm of detected impurities was accomplished by Blumen-thal and coworkers by vacuum remelting of high-purity crystals of uranium obtained by fused salt electrolysis.1"3 Albert and coworkers4 have reported successful experiments in lowering the concentrations of certain impurity elements in uranium, notably iron, to a few ppm by the zone-melting method. The present paper describes the preparation of high-purity massive uranium metal by the bomb reduction of UF4, with calcium. Early in 1951 a program was undertaken at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to prepare uranium metal of very high purity with respect to a number of the light elements. The methods considered for this purpose were 1) bomb reduction of a uranium halide with calcium, 2) electrolysis of fused salts, and 3) hot wire decomposition of UI4, The first of these processes had been used extensively at Los Alamos since 1943 (and still is used) for the production of uranium metal.5 In considering the three processes it was evident that either of the last two would require an extensive development program with no certainty of success. On the other hand, a study of available data showed that uranium metal of very high purity with respect to some light elements had occasionally been made in routine processing by the first method. It was therefore decided that an intensive study of the bomb-reduction process would be made to see if it could be improved to yield uranium metal with very low concentrations of light elements. DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES The bomb-reduction process used at Los Alamos consists of reducing UF4 with calcium, using iodine as a booster. The reaction is carried out in a magnesium-oxide crucible enclosed in a steel bomb. Argon is used in the bomb to avoid objectionable side reactions which would occur in the presence of air. All ingredients for this bomb-reduction process were examined as possible sources of light elements. It was known that high-purity UF4 was required. The calcium used in the reductions was a source of carbon and magnesium. The magnesium-oxide crucibles were sources of boron, silicon, and magnesium. The iodine did not appear to be a source of any impurities. Pure UF4- The UF4 for bomb reduction is prepared from U3O3 , by successive reduction to UO2, with hydrogen and hydrofluorination of the UO2, with anhydrous HF. Since it was known that no impurities were normally introduced during the gas-solid reactions, effort was directed toward the preparation of high-purity U3O3. Of the many possible procedures for the purification of uranium solutions the following were investigated: 1) Precipitation of uranium peroxide. (Two procedures were tried. The first consisted of simultaneously adding hydrogen-peroxide and ammonium-hydroxide solutions to a uranyl-nitrate solution, containing citric and malonic acids, at such relative rates that precipitation was carried out at a constant pH of 1.5 The second consisted of simultaneously adding uranyl-nitrate, ammonium-hydroxide, and hydrogen-peroxide solutions to an aqueous solution

Jan 1, 1960

By James Terry Duce

In order to facilitate interpretation of the data in this chapter, we print the following 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 1 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 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 an 0 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 subtracted, should give the approximate thickness of the productive zone. For fields where this is not true

Jan 1, 1940

By Vincent P. Gi. ccnella

GOLD was discovered in Gold Canyon on May 15, 1849. Following this discovery placer miners worked the gravels in the canyon for-ten years, finally discovering the outcrop of the Comstock lode at Gold Hill in May, 1859, and in Ophir ravine on June 12 of the same year. Before long large quantities of gold and silver, were taken from the lode and one of the West&apos;s most spectacular mining booms drew thousands of fortune seekers to Nevada. After a long period of production activity waned and in late years little mining was done. The recent reopening of the old mines and the discovery of ore in other parts of the vein, and in other veins of the district, has led to a revival of interest in the Comstock. Virginia City, Gold Hill, and Silver City, situated along the great vein system, are enjoying a period of prosperity and a large influx of people.

Jan 1, 1934

By J. L. W. Birkinbine

INTRODUCTION. This paper is a discussion of a part of the mineral wealth of the States of Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico. It does not refer to the precious metals, some miles of which, in these States, are said to have been worked before the advent of the Spanish conquistadores in the sixteenth century, as my purpose is to invite attention to the exploration of deposits of coal and iron-ores in the Mixteca region. The prominence given to coal is warranted by the great effect of the scarcity of fuel upon the industrial development of Mexico. Under the progressive administration of President Porfirio Diaz, the Republic has made wonderful advances in the past three decades; and this progress would have been greater but for the limitations imposed by expensive fuel. In the spring of 1906 I was detailed by the Birkinbine Engineering Offices, of Philadelphia, to accompany A. B. Adams, of New York, in a reconnoissance of reported deposits of iron-ores in the State of Oaxaca. The result of this expedition was the formation, in 1907, of the Oaxaca Iron & Coal Co., of which Mr. Adams became, and has remained, President and General Manager, and I have spent the past three years as Chief Engineer of this company in Mexico, principally in western Oaxaca, where field-headquarters were established. GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION. Although the geographical anti topographical, features of the Republic of Mexico are well known, few realize that the majority. of its population is domiciled in the States which immediately surround the capital city of Mexico, including the Federal District, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Morelos, Puebla,

Sep 1, 1910

By Willard Ide Pierce

CONSIDERING the extent of the gold-fields of Nova Scotia, which occupy an area of 6000 to 7000 square miles, a few words as to the cost of extracting and reducing the ores may prove of interest. The veins are for the most part narrow, 4 to 12 inches being the usual width, while a 2-foot vein is considered a large one; but they offer many advantages, inasmuch as the ore is easily treated, wages are low, and machinery and supplies can be transported by water to within from 1 to 15 miles of the different mining districts. The Salmon River vein is a notable exception to the above rule as to width. It ranges from 4 to 20 feet in width. The Hall-Anderson of Fifteen-Mile Stream (where there are several veins) is another, which has proved to be from 3 to 4 feet in width. The ownership of all mining claims is retained by the Crown, but persons wishing to work them can lease as many unoccupied areas as they please for twenty-one years, with option of renewal, on the payment of two dollars for each area, and a royalty of 2 per cent. on all gold extracted. Each area consists of 150 Get along the lode and 250 feet across, upon which a certain amount of work must be done, which by recent law is reduced from one hundred to forty days&apos; work for each area every year. Any person erecting in a district the first mill, having at least 8 stamps, and being at least 10 miles from any other mill, is entitled to a lease of 10 areas, free from advance-payment and from royalty, for twenty-one years. A record must be kept, and filed every quarter at the office of the Commissioner of Mines, of the total number of days&apos; work done on the areas, and a monthly statement of the number of tons crushed, and the actual yield of gold. Gold-mining in Nova Scotia may be said to have commenced with the finding of a nugget of gold in a brook at Tangier in 1858. The following table, taken from the official report," gives the total yield

Jan 1, 1885

By J. Laskowski

J. Laskowski (Associate Professor, Dept, of Mineral Processing and Coal Preparation, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland) -Referring to the papers by J. A. L. Campbell and S. C. Sun, I must say that I am very pleased to see that type of work, because it is the only way to progress towards an understanding of flotation mechanisms. All those interested in the science of the surface chemistry of coals would find these papers a valuable contribution to the literature. In their extensive research, the authors attempt to synthesize their findings into a theory of coal flotation. To do this, the zeta potential of bituminous coals and their lithotypes, as well as that of an anthracite coal, was measured and H+ and OH- ions were found to be potential determining ions. The measured ZPC of bituminous coals was at a pH range from 3.5 to 4.6 and for the anthracites between 2.0 and 4.5. The authors have pointed out that since the hydrophobicity is pH-controlled, the flotation mechanism should also be. The Campbell and Sun papers confirm a good many of the conclusions on surface properties of coals reported in recent years. It is noteworthy to point out that the ZPC found in the paper on bituminous coals was approximately pH 4, similar to the ZPC for the anthracite coal. In fact, we have been investigating different coals from low to high ranks. Thus, the plot of the pH for ZPC against rank could be derived and this curve-an electrocapillary one-indicates a pH near which the hydrophobicity of the coal surface should be at maximum. This can be proved by so-called salt flotation, which, in a sense, can be treated as method of surface charge measurement. It is obvious that the salt flotation experiment is possible when the native hydrophobicity of the mineral surface is high, e.g., when the solid surface does not have an orienting influence on an adjacent water layer and the hydration layers are controlled by the electrical double-layer potential. The addition of electrolyte or a change of pH which decreases the thickness of the stabilizing double-layer "opens up" the hydrophobic surface micro-area mosaic. Thereby the surface becomes hydrophobic and particles become floatable. The orienting influence of surface on hydration layer increases even after very slight oxidation and flotation is affected by it. It seems that such an explanation agrees reasonably well with those of Campbell and Sun.

Jan 1, 1972

By C. EDWARD STAFFORD

A Discussion of the paper by Mr. James P. Roe which was read at the Washington meeting, May, 1905. MR. C. EDWARD STAFFORD, Chester, Pa.:-During all my business life, I have been engaged in the manufacture of Bessemer and open-hearth steels, but, during my long connection with the Shoenberger Steel Co. of Pittsburg, I had some experience in the manufacture of high-grade puddled iron for horse-shoes and in the making by Dr. Otto Wuth&apos;s process extremely pure low phosphorus puddled blooms (analyzing from 0.005 to 0.01 per cent. of phosphorus and sulphur), which were melted with low-phosphorus pig-iron in acid open-hearth furnaces to make extra locomotive fire-box steel. I have also seen the Dank&apos;s puddlers in operation at different times and places, notably where they were most successful, at the Otis Steel Works, Cleveland, Ohio; then under the management of our friend, Mr. S. T. Wellman. These Dank&apos;s blooms were made solely for open-hearth melting-stock to which they were well adapted ; the unavoidable presence of bits of ore-fix imbedded in the mass of the, metal always prevents the profitable manufacture of merchant iron from Dank&apos;s blooms. With the experience just described, I was to some degree in position to value fairly the means, methods and results of Mr. Roe&apos;s mechanical puddling from the metallurgical or technical and economic points of view, when given an opportunity by Mr. Roe to see his puddling furnace or machine in operation in Pottstown, Pa. Briefly, the furnace, with water-cooled bottom, is rectangular in plan, about 20 by 8 ft. in the clear, suspended by trunnions at the middle of the long sides, at a. height of 17 or 18 ft. above the general level; the oscillation (65° each way from the vertical) is accomplished by geared segments (attached to the downward-projecting side or trunnion-plates) with which engage pinions driven by a reversing engine. The whole section

Sep 1, 1905

By William Phillips

THE possible sources of potash salts in the United States have been considered from many points of view during the last several years, but it is only within the last two or three months that the situation has become acute. We import from Germany, the only source of large supply, more than $10,000,000 worth of potash salts annually, and this business has been badly crippled by the European war. If there was ever a time in our industrial existence when the necessity of providing for our own needs was more acute than it is now, we are not aware of it. One has only to study the price, lists of chemicals sent out by the large supply houses to see the change wrought within a very short time. Whether or no these prices are to maintain for a considerable time, no one can say; but it appears to be probable that we shall not see prices materially lower for a period of uncomfortable length, to say the least. It is not my purpose at this time to discuss the various sources of supply of potash salts that have been suggested or recommended. Some of them might afford a pleasing relief but all of them combined would not affect the situation seriously. If we are to have our own sources of potash salts, they will have to compare, in some efficient manner, with the sources upon which we have drawn during the last 20 or 30 years; i.e., they must exist-in minable quantities. It seems to me to be quite idle to speculate upon our domestic sources of potash if those sources are not of a character similar to those upon which we have so long depended. A few thousand or, perhaps,, a few hundred thousand dollars&apos; worth of chemically derived &apos;potash may be produced under the stress of present conditions, but when we consider that each year demands more than $10,000,000 worth, we must look to underground sources; we must look to mines similar to the famous Stassfurt and Halle deposits. If we cannot mine potash salts, we shall have to do without them for a while.

Jan 2, 1915