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By Kefton Teague

The minerals discussed in this section have experienced a gradual, although not spectacular, growth in general. Obvious exceptions are the gradual decreasing use of talc and bentonite as filler materials, partly because of availability and relatively lower sales price of competitive materials. Mineral fillers and filter minerals are used principally in those countries that are heavily industrialized. Except for diatomaceous earth of filter grade, most industrialized countries are reasonably self-sufficient in the various filler and filter minerals. Prices of the various mineral commodities during the period 1950-1970 increased approximately as follows: barite, 43%; diatomaceous earth (filler), 49%; diatomaceous earth (filter), 55%; fuller's earth, 55%; talc. 77%; and bentonite, 94%. Actual usage of these mineral commodities as fillers and filters, during this period, showed changes approximately as follows: (1) Decrease-fuller's earth, 6%; talc, 15%; and bentonite, 29%. (2) Increase-barite, 113%; diatomaceous earth (filler), 150%; and diatomaceous earth (filter), -194%. A relationship between the amount of the various fillers and filters used and price increases is apparent. For example, barite increased only 43% in price, but its use as a filler has increased by 113%. On the other hand, talc, which increased 77% in price, decreased in filler use by 15%; and bentonite, which increased 94% in price, has decreased for filler and filter purposes by 29%. The actual decrease in the use of some of these commodities is not entirely caused by an increase in price. Competitive materials frequently have made substantial gains in the various filler and filter markets. For example, much of the bentonite used in the late 1940s and early 1950s for clarification of mineral and vegetable oils has been replaced by competitive materials. BARITE Occurrences and Sources In the United States, barite is produced from about 14 states, listed in approximate order of importance as follows: Missouri, Arkansas, Nevada, Georgia, Alaska, Tennessee, Kentucky, California, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, Idaho, South Carolina, Texas, and others. During the 20 years ending in 1970, almost equal amounts of barite were produced from Arkansas and Missouri. Within recent years, Nevada has replaced Georgia as the third leading barite--producing state. West Germany is second to the United States in barite production. Other important barite-producing countries include: Mexico, USSR, Italy, Greece, Canada, and Ireland. Ireland has become an important barite producer only recently. Barite is obtained from vein and cavity fill-

Jan 1, 1976

By Peter Joralemon

Peter Joralemon's contention that Nevada contains one of the world's major gold belts is the result of 30 years' active involvement with the state's regional geology. He first suggested the possibility of an arsenical gold belt-tenuously based on two replacement deposits 480 km (300 miles) apart-in his 1949 doctoral thesis of the Getchell mine. In the years that followed, some 18 or 20 arsenical gold ore bodies have been discovered along the lineament Joralemon postulated. In this article, he uses the evidence that he's collected over the last three decades to refine his 1949 thesis. Joralemon's conclusion: A mineral belt containing a billion dollars worth of gold extends the length of Nevada, and a number of ore bodies are yet to be discovered.

Jan 7, 1978

By John Dorn

THE phenomenon of diffusion, according to the most prevalent conceptions at the present time, undoubtedly played an important part in the formation and distribution of metals and minerals in the earth's crust. Apparently there is good evidence that in the geological rate of cooling diffusion caused numerous materials to separate into individual masses or into duplex structures. As is well known, the early steels were made by cementation; that is, by heating wrought ferrous metal in contact with carburizing materials so as to produce a relatively high carbon content on the surface. If the process was continued long enough, the carbon diffused throughout the piece. A more homogeneous product depended upon further heating and forging, so that the carbon diffused to a fairly uniform concentration throughout the metal. In the modern metallurgical industry, diffusion is the basis for many operations; for example, the production of hard surfaces oil steels by carburizing, nitriding, cementing with chromium, silicon, boron and beryllium. Castings or ingots as they solidify do not have homogeneous structures, but these structures are made largely homogeneous by suitable process of heat-treating and the resulting diffusion. It is in modern physical metallurgy, however, that we become greatly concerned about the mechanism of the phenomenon of diffusion. The rates of diffusion, effect of temperature and time on diffusion, and the relation of diffusion to the many properties of the parent metal and the diffusing metal have become important; also, we are concerned with the diffusion of a single metal into a complex alloy. For example, what is the mechanism whereby carbon and nitrogen travel into steel? What is the effect of alloying elements in the ferrous material on the rates of diffu-sions? What is the effect of simultaneous diffusion of carbon and nitro-gen? How does chromium, beryllium, boron, or the like, diffuse into the steel, and what are the effects of alloying elements in the steel previous to the cementation process? These inquiries are by no means limited

Jan 1, 1937

By H. E. Rowen

As high grade iron ore deposits dwindle and costs rise, sintering becomes more and more important. The steel industry is now faced with beneficiation problems once peculiar to nonferrous work. Succeeding articles describe recent advances in this field. Here is presented the first chapter of a history still being written. SINTERING, for the purpose of this discussion, is defined as the art of burning a solid fuel with 90 to 95 pct ash content. Considering problems of combustion involved in keeping a home furnace burning properly with 12 to 20 pct ash in the fuel, it is evident that combustion represented by the definition has to be right or nothing is going to happen. Our forefathers discovered that many ores containing metals essential to the steadily rising standards of living were associated with elements such as sulfur and arsenic, which had to be removed before refining. This they did by utilizing the solid fuels they had available-the sulfur or other readily combustible components-to create roasting heat. One of the early methods is demonstrated in an old woodcut of the roast heap, Fig. 2. Ore was broken into chunks, piled on an ignition layer of solid fuel-logs in this case-and then. ignited. The sulfide ores roasted as the sulfur burned out. As shown in the background, the countryside was rapidly denuded of all vegetation by the great quantities of SO2 and other liberated gases.

Jan 1, 1961

By H. B. Treweek, V. R. Degner

Current mineral industry trends toward handling the high tonnages of lower grade ore and tailings retreat lead to a continuing need for large volume flotation cells. The benefits which accompany the larger cell flotation circuit include reduced capital cost, less mill floor space, reduced operational complexity, and less maintenance, provided the metallurgical performance and solids suspension capability of the cell are not compromised. This study reviews development considerations pertinent to large mechanical air induction type flotation cells from the standpoint of cell internal hydrodynamic characteristics and metallurgical performance. While the importance of process related factors such as chemical usage, pH control, solids size and loading, and circuit arrangement cannot be denied, this study will emphasize the relationship of cell size (volume), mechanism geometry (impeller diameter), and mechanism operating conditions (rotor speed and submergence), to air transfer, liquid circulation, liquid "rise velocity" and mechanism power draw. Specific hydraulic performance maps for large capacity 300 and 500 cu ft flotation cells will be reviewed in terms of the relationship between the operational variables and the air and liquid flow conditions within the cell. Metallurgical results, obtained under plant operating conditions for 300 and 500 cu ft cells, are included to illustrate the metallurgical performance similarity of flotation cells which follow hydrodynamic scale-up criteria set forth in this investigation.

Jan 1, 1976

By W. P. Haynes

The 1938 production for all of Rumania amounted to 48.984.200 bbl., as compared with 53.239.500 bbl. in 1937. which represents a drop of 4.255.300 bbl., or 8 per cent. Of the various fields. there are only two major increases in production—Baicoi-Tintea with 3.092.400 bbl. And

Jan 1, 1939

By W. P. Haynes

The 1938 production for all of Rumania amounted to 48.984.200 bbl., as compared with 53.239.500 bbl. in 1937. which represents a drop of 4.255.300 bbl., or 8 per cent. Of the various fields. there are only two major increases in production—Baicoi-Tintea with 3.092.400 bbl. And

Jan 1, 1939

By Chris Mills

The role of gravity separation in the mineral industry is briefly considered in perspective. The mineralogical and laboratory approaches to gravity process design are examined with emphasis on process technology selection. The equipment available for small scale and pilot test-work is discussed, particularly in regard to scale-up and the acquisition of reliable, accurate data. Transposition of performance data from pilot scale to plant scale is explained. The available types of full scale gravity separation equipment are discussed with emphasis on large high-capacity units. Plant layout and selection of ancillary equipment are considered.

Jan 1, 1978

Jan 1, 1907

By L. E. Welch, C. W. MacGregor

THE past 20 years has seen a revolutionary change in the testing of materials at elevated temperatures. This has largely been brought about by the practical importance of the creep problem in the design of equipment for operation at high temperatures. The short-time tension test carried out at elevated temperatures has consequently assumed in many cases only a secondary role compared to the long-time creep test. In many problems, however, a knowledge of the short-time high-temperature properties of a metal is essential. To mention a few cases in which this is so, we might include all hot-forming operations such as rolling,' forging, etc., the welding problem if residual stresses are to be computed, the development of new alloys for high-temperature service where, in the initial stages, time does not permit of long duration creep tests, and others. Usually a knowledge of the short-time properties is desired, if only to serve as a background against which to compare creep behavior. In conducting short-time high-temperature tests, it has been almost the universal practice to determine stresses based on the original area and strains referred to the original gauge length which is usually chosen as 2 in. It has. been pointed out 1,2 that one of the reasons that the true significance of certain tensile properties is not understood, which perhaps curtails their usefulness, especially when the material is applied [ ] under conditions differing considerably from the test conditions, is that true physical stresses and strains are not determined. It is essential to have a knowledge of true stresses, and strains in order to correlate the values present in the tension test with those existing, for example, in hot metal-forming operations and in the general problem of the yielding and failure of metals under combined stress conditions. Stress and strain values based on the original dimensions of the test piece do not exist physically except in the early stages of the test. Since at the present time there is very little information in the literature on true stress-strain relations in the short-time high-temperature tension test it is proposed in the following pages to describe a

Jan 1, 1942

By H. R. Peiffer, R. Geckle

The silver phase of silver and finely divided alumina composites is shown to grow as single crystabs upon solidification from the melt. These crystals grow without the aid of an externally applied thermal gradient or a mold. The single-crystal growth is more readily disrupted as the alumina content varies from the optimum concentration of 20 wt pct. Pretreatment such as variation of fabrication pressure, and presintering of the specimens appear to play a lesser role in this phenomenon. In actual practice the growth of single crystals of metals from the melt is a tedious, painstaking process.' Care must be taken to insure the proper thermal gradients and rate of growth in a vibration-free environment. Excellent single crystals can be grown when these variables are controlled. When a second insoluble and finely divided phase is present in the melt the growth of single crystals is difficult, if not impossible, even under the most favorable conditions outlined above. During the past few years, a composite of silver and alumina has demonstrated an ability to resist flow even though the major phase, silver, is mo1ten. 2 A more surprising feature of this material is the ease with which single crystals of silver grow upon cooling the composite from temperatures above the melting point of silver to temperatures near room temperature. Observations have been made that demonstrate that single crystals of silver will grow even when conditions most unfavorable for growth of pure silver crystals exist. The crystals grown in this manner are imperfect in that a great deal of subgrain structure exists. It is the purpose of this manuscript to qualitatively describe this process and to attempt to isolate the influencing factors of this behavior. MATERIAL PREPARATION The composite material is prepared by powder-metallurgical techniques. Two items of great importance are the introduction of oxygen into the system and the obvious need for a thorough mixing of the metallic and refractory oxide phases. The oxygen is necessary in order that the silver wets the alumina. Without oxygen the phases separate and the material shows no unusual properties. In order to supply the needed oxygen the silver is added in the form of silver oxide which is readily decomposed to oxygen and silver upon heating. The silver oxide is readily obtained in a finely divided form that allows a uniform mixture of the alumina and silver oxide to be prepared. The correct ratio of alumina to silver oxide is mixed in the presence of alcohol in an ordinary food blender. The mixture has the consistency of a thin slurry and after mixing for approximately 20 min is dried and pressed into billets at various pressures. As is shown in Fig. 1, there is no limit to the shape of the specimens obtainable as single crystals. These billets are heated in air in a predeter-

Jan 1, 1964

By Robert Glass Cleland

WITH the acquisition of the Nichols Copper Company ' and the development of the large Copper Products manufacturing and selling organization, the Phelps Dodge Corporation had attained two of its important goals. But at that particular time both its immediate and long-range prospects were giving the company serious concern. The financial panic that began late in 1929 was growing worse instead of better. Neither raw materials nor finished products could find a market. In 1932 the price of copper fell to the almost unprecedented figure of four and eight tenths cents a pound. Domestic production of copper in the United States was further threatened by a large low-cost output from the mines of Africa and the Andes. Canadian copper mines, with their large yield of other valuable metals from the same ores, added to the difficulties of the American companies. After a hard-fought campaign, however, the producers of domestic copper finally induced Congress to levy a duty of four cents a pound on copper imported into the

Jan 1, 1952

By A. L. Ph. B. Holley

(Read at the Philadelphia Meeting, February, 1878.) THIS paper is an abstract and a discussion of results obtained by the United States Test Board in experiments upon 14 brands of wrought iron, most of which are well known and of high repute.* The iron was all intended for chain-cables; it was tested in the form of bars, usually of nine sizes, from 1 inch to 2 inches round, and also in the forms of single links and short chains. Not less-than 2000 tensile tests were made, each showing elastic limit, elongation, and reduction of area. This work was done with conspicuous intelligence and fidelity, at the Washington Navy Yard, by Commander L. A. Beardslee. Some important practical results and principles which he has developed, and others which he has confirmed, will be referred to. The chemical part of this work consists of 42 complete analyses (including slag), by Mr. Blair, chemist to the Board. EFFECTS OF COMPOSITION ON STRENGTH. Variations in the physical qualities of iron may he due to different composition, or to different treatment in manufacture, or to both these complex causes. In order to determine the specific causes of variation, one class of altering conditions should be made to vary largely, while the other classes should be kept uniform. Then another class should be varied, and so on, until the value of each is ascertained. As all the irons under consideration were intended to have that purity and refinement which was deemed indispensable in chain-cables, their chemical analyses are perhaps more important in proving that physical variations result chiefly from treatment, than in pointing out the specific effects of certain ingredients. While the subject of treatment-especially the increase of strength by greater reduction in rolling-may be the more important one, it can be best appreciated after we have familiarized ourselves with the gen¬eral chemical and physical characters of the irons. The typical facts are given in the following tables. * As the present object of the Board is not to compare the products of different makers, but to discover the physical effects of various composition and treatment, the irons are designated by letters rather than by their trade names.

Jan 1, 1878

The economic recovery of metals from dilute solutions has been the dream of mining engineers for many years. This subject is now receiving greater attention, particularly for copper, in view of the heightened demand for the metal and the tightening supply situation. A Copper Precipitation session, sponsored jointly by EMD Hydrometallurgy Committee and MBD, which took place during the Annual Meeting in March, heard papers on recent research and plant practice. Although the bulk of research in hydrometallurgy has been carried out in countries other than the United States1, producers in this country are making important contributions to the heap or dump leaching system. They realize that the processes are essentially simple to install and give high recovery rates at reasonable cost. Jacobi estimated in 1963 2 that the copper mining industry obtained a gross return from scavenging operations -on a worldwide basis-on the order of $20 million annually, subject to the usual deductions for refining and realization charges, overheads, taxes, etc.

Jan 6, 1966

By R. J. Weege, A. W. Schillinger

Conventional underground mapping methods and diamond drilling are being applied in a study to determine the nature of the copper ore occurrences near the footwall of the Osceola lava flow top, commonly referred to as the Osceola Amygdaloid. The work to date suggests that structures formed by relatively impermeable barriers, created by flowage and injection of still-molten lava from the interior of the flow into the solidified, brecciated crust, acted as the ore receptacles. Ascending hydrothermal fluids traveling near the footwall contact were trapped and confined in these barriers which retarded the direct upward movement of the ore fluids and caused deposition of copper. Oreshoots located near the footwall appear to have been formed spatially independently from the hanging-wall oreshoots by fluids traveling simultaneously, but along different channelways. The barrier concept, as advanced by earlier writers to explain the concentration of the ore-bearing fluids into broad shoots constituting entire ore bodies, is found to be equally as applicable for the localization of smaller oreshoots within the Osceola ore body. Recently, the Calumet Division of Calumet and Hecla, Inc. completed the unwatering of the old mine workings on the Osceola amygdaloid. Two shafts were subsequently reactivated and mining commenced on the Osceola lode after an idle period of over 20 years. Early in 1961, the Calumet and Hecla Geological Dept. was assigned the task of locating additional reserves. Accordingly, an intensive mapping and underground diamond drilling program was initiated. Except for a very few years following the first mining on the amygdaloid, the Osceola lode had never been a high grade producer. It was, therefore, recognized from the onset that a concentrated effort would have to be made by the mining, milling, and geological departments to insure success of the project. Company reports contained many references to ore that had been located near the footwall of the Osceola amygdaloid. Information concerning the grade of this ore was meager, but it was known that at least some was very rich. In contrast to ore that occurred near the hanging-wall, however, the footwall copper did not appear to have a systematic distribution and a large amount of poor rock had to be removed in developing this ore. This, of course, resulted in high development costs and discouraged any extensive mining of footwall ore. The possibility of more continuity than had previously been suspected was recognized by other workers, in particular Dr. T. M. Broderick, formerly Chief Geologist of Calumet and Hecla, who suggested attempts be made on a trial basis to follow the footwall contact with the main development drift. As most mining was done on the Osceola lode before a geological department had been established by the company, and almost all of these openings are now caved, very little information concerning the geology of footwall ore was available. It was, therefore, decided that the first step in the exploration program would be to become familiar with footwall ore occurrences by mapping the geology as the openings were driven. It was possible that a mapping program would reveal the features that controlled the localization of the ore. Furthermore, if it could be shown that footwall ore was more continuous, or if its distribution was more systematic than generally believed, it would be possible to produce a high grade ore that could be blended with the lower grade hanging-wall ore. In connection with the geological program, the Michigan College of Mining and Technology Geophysical Dept. under the direction of Professor Lloyal Bacon, is making a geophysical study of the problems of locating footwall ore by electrical methods. GENERAL GEOLOGY OF MICHIGAN NATIVE COPPER DEPOSITS The native copper deposits of Michigan are located in Keweenaw, Houghton, and Ontonagon Counties. The host rocks are Keweenawan in age and are comprised of interbedded sediments and lava flows which form a belt two to four miles wide and over one hundred miles long. These rocks form part of the south limb

Jan 1, 1962

J. L. McK. YARDLEY,* Pittsburgh, Pa. (written dlscussion ?) .-It is interesting to observe how closely Mr. Hansen agrees with other investigators to the effect that the art of electrolytic zinc has left the realm of mystery. In his introduction, lie has said practically what Thomas French said in his paper "The Future of Electrolytic Zinc. "1 The successful electrolysis of zinc from sulphate solutions has not been an easy matter, and it is only within recent years that the difficult problem of depositing high-grade zinc has been satisfactorily: accomplished on a commercial basis. The principal requisite is. that the electrolyte shall be quite free from certain impurities. The methods by which freedom from these impurities is assured are now very well understood, and with experienced superintendents there is little difficulty in obtaining a high efficiency in that part of the process. When certain underlying principles are recognized, the difficulty encountered in dealing with the filtration of the acid and slimy solutions also largely disappears, although it has been a very serious one to the uninitiated. In the dissolving of the zinc from the roasted ore, there is nothing which any competent chemical' engineer cannot undertake, and any other operations connected with the electrolytic process are either of little or no difficulty, or are common to the retort process. Mr. Hansen also agrees with R. G. Hall's statement in " Some Economic Factors in the Production of Electrolytic Zinc:"2

Jan 10, 1918

GEORGE F. COMSTOCK (author's reply to discussion*).-Mr. Thum's description of the effects of butt welding and spot welding on the micro-structure of steel are interesting and timely. The speed with which the changes noted by Mr. Thum must take place is indeed remarkable, but the writer has noted a similar very rapid diffusion of carbide in annealing a t a rather high temperature certain samples of soft sheet steel containing massive cementite segregated on a small scale. The massive cementite in such steel can be dissolved and distributed very quickly if the proper temperature is attained. Mr. Thum's explanation of the structure he found in the spot welds seems entirely reasonable, but the mystery of the decarburized material in the butt weld is one that might well be the subject of further research. The possibility of decarburization by air ,might perhaps be worthy of a little more consideration than he gives it, for the oxides formed would be gaseous on account of the presence of carbon, and hence not visible in the microscope, and the effect of the pressure might be to squeeze the carbon oxides, which would normally form blow-holes, out of the metal or possibly into such small volumes as not to be noticed The removal of carbon by liquation and squeezing into the fin would be an effect similar to the "bleeding" of a steel ingot that is rolled while the center is still liquid, giving a soft low-carbon interior in the finished section while the segregate was removed in cropping the pipe. This effect in Mr. Thum's butt welds could, however, only be obtained if the weld was heated to near the melting point of the steel, and if the carbon was considerably segregated in the bars at the start, for the first effect of the high temperature would be to promote diffusion rather than the contrary segregation and Equation. It is gratifying to learn from Dr. Ruder's remarks that his researches have resulted in no disagreement with the few points brought out by the writer's experiments. In addition to the three forms in which nitrogen may occur in iron that he mentions, it would seem that a fourth form is often found; This is apparently a eutectoid, like pearlite, and sometimes almost as coarse as the massive cementite seen in soft steel sheets that have been annealed for a long time. One of the things needed in the metallographic study of steel is an etching reagent that will distinguish definitely between nitride in this form and the more common pearlite or cementite.

Jan 6, 1919

"The Murray Plant of the American Smelting & Refining Company is situated seven miles south of Salt Lake City, and has a fine view of the Salt Lake Valley with its fertile farms and orchards.It is located on the Los Angeles & Salt Lake and Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroads, and has a fine electric car service, cars running every 15 minutes.The beautiful and majestic Wasatch Range lies about five miles to the east and the Oquirrh Range to the west, and from these mountains a large proportion of the ores treated are obtained.The location is very central, ores coming to the plant from all directions. Park City, where a large tonnage of high grade silver-lead ore is obtained, lies to the east and the camp of Alta is just across the mountains from Murray.To the west is the wonderful camp of Bingham, which produces a large tonnage of lead ores, in addition to its immense tonnages of copper ores, which are treated at Garfield.Tintic, to the south, sends in quantites of dry silicious ores, as well as silver-lead ores.Besides the above, ores are shipped to the plant from Stockton, Ophir, Milford and other camps in Utah, as well as from Nevada and Idaho, and also some ores from Cali¬fornia, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado.The American Smelting & Refining Company took possession in 1899 of its Utah properties which consisted of the following plants, all of which have been dismantled:"

Jan 1, 1925

By Alden Greninger

ALTHOUGH the crystallography of lattice transformations has been studied extensively during the past few years, these studies have been limited, with few exceptions1,2, to specimens in which the transformed lattice appears as a, segregate phase. A realization of the technical importance of the segregation mechanism, especially in the formation of martensitic structures and in age-hardening phenomena, has undoubtedly stimulated research in this direction. In the crystallographic studies of segregation, the general problem has been to relate the orientation of the parent crystal to that of the segregate crystals. The technique has been complicated by the fact that it has been necessary to deal with the presence of as many as 24 ideal segregate orientations within one parent lattice; furthermore, the segregate lattices are invariably scattered (seldom less than ±2°, often as much as 15° or 20°) about these ideal positions. It is probable that a more complete picture of phase transformations may result from a study in which complete lattice relationships between individual grains are evaluated, thereby providing an additional param-eter which, when it is necessary to work with multiple segregate-orienta-tions, cannot be evaluated. The present paper presents the results of such a study, ? wherein a peritectic reaction is made use of to produce the transformed lattices.

Jan 1, 1937

By William Braden

IT is obvious that the choice of the method to be employed in the handling of blast-furnace slags and mattes depends upon local facilities and conditions which may indicate as advisable some particular plan. As a result of the variety of such conditions hardly any two smelters use identically the same method, though they be located only a few hundred feet apart. For instance, of the several plants in Leadville, Colorado, each has a more or less distinctive system. The same is true of Salt Lake City and vicinity. In view of this it is evident that the existing diversity of practice cannot be accepted, prima facia, as evidence

Jan 1, 1897