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By R. K. Matheson

The Nivloc mine is 9 miles west of Silver Peak, Esmeralda County, Nevada. It has been operated by Desert Silver, Inc., since the summer of 1937. The cyanide mill treats 190 tons of silver-gold ore per day. In March of this year the main operations were about 2000 ft. west of the main shaft, which served as the downcast air passage for the mine. The mechanical blowers in use were sufficient to ventilate the west end at that time, but it was foreseen that as the mining area was extended ventilation would be an increasingly difficult problem, especially during the summer months. It was decided, therefore, to continue a raise from a point 100 ft. above the highest mining level (440-ft. level) to the surface; a distance of 443 ft. at approximately 65°. From this point 40 ft. of drifting would be necessary to connect with a shallow shaft on the surface. (Fig. I.) All the raise was serviced from the 440-ft. level; costs and progress obtained in the initial 100 ft. are included in the following pages. Choice of Raise A raise in this locality would have four objects: (I) to provide an ample supply of fresh air to the working places; (2) to explore the vein from the highest mining level to the surface; (3) to provide waste fill for stopes in the area, and possibly provide a transfer for waste from the surface; (4) to provide an emergency exit in the west end of the mine. Before the mining of an ore shoot in the eastern part of the mine, a similar raise had been driven for purposes of ventilation and exploration. This raise and subsequent mining showed the vein to be noncommercial for a distance of about 250 ft. below the surface. However, in the area under operation, old surface workings showed occasional values. Thus from a development standpoint the raise was an excellent prospect. The raise chosen was a three-compartment, stulled raise having two chutes and a manway. The manway inside timber measured 4 ft. 8 in. by 4 ft. 6 in.; it carried air and water pipes, a ladderway and a slide for a timber skip. The two chutes would be used for drawing off the muck and the cleaning of the bulkhead, as well as for ore and waste passes, which would be especially useful for lateral exploration from the raise. The fairly large cross section of the raise (6 by 15 ft.) would provide a large quantity of waste for backfilling, and more could be obtained from a glory hole on the surface. Time Schedule As speed in completing the raise was the main requisite, three shifts were considered, but two shifts were decided upon when it was found that three would necessitate considerably larger fans than those available for clearing the raise. The main diffi-

Jan 1, 1943

By Bruno KERL

THE list of deaths reported during the year 1905 comprises the following names (the figures in parentheses indicating the year in which the persons named were elected to membership:- Honorary Member.-Dr. Bruno Kerl. Members and Associates.-Charles Christy Adams (1903), John Wesley Anderson (1898), William Burton Barber (1901), Thomas A. Bennett (1900), Luke W. Bryan (1901), Edwin S. Daugherty (1905), William Scott de Camp (1875), George H. Eldridge (1889), B. W. Frazier (1871), John Broome Guinn, Jr. (1897), Dana C. Irish (1900), Harry Hugh Lee (1899), William Alfred Lindsay (1902), Roland C. Luther (1884), James MacNaughton (1890), Gordon McLean (1899), Herbert Holmes McNamara (1902), August R. Meyer (1886), William Orr (1897), William J. Parker, Jr. (1898), Joseph Phillips, Jr. (1895), Charles O. Ripley (1902), Emmerich J. Schmitz (1883), Ludwig Philip Seeger (1900), Jacob Johnston Sperry (1900), Gustavus H. Stoiber (1902), William L. Study (1905), Robert Macnair Wilson Swan (1900), Richard Henry Terhune (1886), Joseph Thiry (1892), John N. Tisdale (1903), Alfred Isham Totten (1897), Walter H. Virgoe (1902), Charles H. Wellman (1890), Harvey L. Williams (1903). Of these, Dr. Bruno Kerl and Prof. B. W. Frazier have been made the subjects of special Biographical Notices in the Bi-Monthly Bulletin 1 the former in No. 4, July, 1905, p. 743, and the latter in No. 5, September, 1905, p. 1097. Concerning the remainder of the list, the following paragraphs comprise such information as could be obtained by the Secretary. Charles Christy Adams, who had been a member of the Institute since 1903, died in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 31. 1905. He was born in New York City, July 13, 1849, and received his technical training at the Colorado State School of

May 1, 1906

By Felicia F. Peng

The computer graphic routines and digital simulation program of coal cleaning circuits have been developed in the Mineral Processing Engineering Department, West Virginia University. The functions of the program include computing, tabulation and graphing of 1) washability characteristics of raw coals, 2) blending, 3) Tromp distribution curves for two washer types-- water only and dense medium, 4) predicting the functional relationship of yield and qualities of clean coal product in individual and overall coal cleaning circuits in coal preparation plant, and 5) determining the optimal clean coal yield based on the market and environmental specifications. Amdahl 470 V/7A digital computer, Tektronic 4025 graphic terminal and Tektronix 4663 digital plotter with Fortran IV are used to achieve the goals. The simulation with the aid of graphic routine program of coal cleaning circuits is a useful tool for coal preparation engineers in evaluating the feasibility of proposed flowsheets, in investigating the effect of a modification in a unit operation of an existing plant, in analyzing the off-line optimization, and in comparing the alternative circuit control strategies. The coal cleaning process simulation with graphic routine can contribute greatly to the decision making processes of preparation plant design.

Jan 1, 1983

By L. W. Kempf

THE thermal expansion characteristics of aluminum alloys have been examined by several investigators, among whom may be mentioned Shakespear,1 Schulz,2 Hidnert,3 Hidnert and Sweeney4 and McCullough.5 Shakespear compared the expansion of a series of aluminum alloys containing 14 per cent copper, with separate additions of about 1 per cent each of manganese, tin and zinc with that of pure copper. Schulz examined the expansion of aluminum and zinc and some aluminum-zinc alloys. Hidnert determined with a high degree of precision the expansion characteristics of pure aluminum, some aluminum-copper, aluminum-zinc, aluminum-silicon and some commercial alloys. Hidnert and Sweeney examined the expansion characteristics of aluminum-beryllium alloys. McCullough, by an interferometer method, determined the expansivity of some aluminum-copper, aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-iron, aluminum-nickel, aluminum-silicon and aluminum-manganese alloys. Incidental to an investigation carried out during the past six years and leading to the development and exploitation of an aluminum piston alloy of relatively low thermal expansivity, the expansion characteristics of a wide variety of alloys were examined. Some of the data which might be of general interest are gathered in this paper.

Jan 1, 1933

George H. Abeel, Hurley, Wis. (communication to the Secretary) : Doubtless Mr. Boss did not mean to be understood as saying that the dikes of this range are everywhere overlaid with iron-ore. I know of places where the dark, massive dike is found near the surface, but no ore is found on it. And his statement (p. 557) that a wherever the slightest inclination is shown it is always to the east," should be modified to " usually." There are several instances of a westward pitch, e.g., at the Palms, Newport and Odanah properties, and also at the Montreal mine, where we encountered in the ore a small dike pitching west. Mr. Boss's statement (p. 559) that. the ore of the Pence mine lens " has all been removed from the Pence and Father Hennepin lands, and practically from the Montreal property, and is now being wrought by the Montreal Mining Company on the ' Sec. 33' property," does not convey the exact state of the latter company's operations. We are still mining ore on the Montreal property from the lens referred to, and expect to continue doing so for some little time to come. On the other hand, we are getting a shaft down to the ore on the " See. 33 " property, but ye have not yet encountered the dike. This can hardly be considered as working the ore. I do not understand upon what evidence Mr. Boss can consider the correctness of a previous hypothetical location of the dike to have been established " within 2 feet," when the dike has not yet been reached. Possibly he has been misled by hearsay reports.

Jan 1, 1898

By Robert Stefanko

Roof bolting in coal mines has progressed very rapidly in the last decade, and today this method of support is in general use. There are many theories concerning the functions of roof bolts, but the importance of beam building is indisputable. Proper tension in the bolts minimizes shearing along bedding planes and creates a thick, competent beam from individually weak layers. Bolting must be accomplished immediately upon exposure of the roof, and bolt tension must be maintained if roof failure is to be prevented. Seams are being mined today with roof bolt support where conventional timbering was not effective1. The widespread use of continuous mining equipment was made possible by roof bolts which permit long supported spans free of obstructions.2 Since adequate anchorage is the key to successful bolting, better methods for determining the efficiency of anchorage are continually being sought. Attempts have been made to measure bolt loads, thus assessing anchorage efficiency by employing sensing devices between the bolt head and roof. 3,4,5 None of the techniques appears to be very accurate, and all have at least one serious deficiency.

Jan 5, 1962

By Charles White Merrill

A forecast of mineral demand during the remaining years of the 20th century can serve as an excellent starting point for student mining and mineral engineers in planning their professional careers. This approach of appraising demand before seeking supply is not new. of course, but, it is quite the opposite of the traditional attack on mineral resources in which adventurous prospectors, followed by practical miners and engineers, have in the past sought out and developed mineral supply with a faith that markets existed for the products they were preparing to offer. Such faith, even to this day remains fully justified if the product is gold, which still enjoys an unlimited market at $35 a fine ounce, but other mineral products must compete in markets of varying stability and capacity for adsorbing new supply. The world is in a period of rapid expansion. Most basic is the worldwide increase in the number of people which has reached proportions popularly termed "the population explosion." Conservative demographers, noting an increase from 1 ?h billion people at the beginning of the 20th century to 3 billion today, are predicting 5 billion by the year 2000; some predictions are much higher.

Jan 2, 1964

By A. A. Beard

ABOUT three years ago, I. L. Dunn, of Marietta, Ohio, found that wells could be cleaned by blowing with compressed air; this method has been used with great success on many wells in the Marietta, Ohio, district, where compressed air is being used to increase production, by forcing oil through the depleted sands. About a year ago, the process was successfully used to clean out wells in the Lenapah pool in Oklahoma, where an air plant had been installed, under the supervision of I. L. Dunn. Wells from 900 to 1000 ft. deep, with 40 ft. of sand and cavings in them, were cleaned out in from two to three days. The use of this process had, so far, been limited to properties using the Smith-Dunn process, where compressed air, under suitable pressure and volume, was available. For other properties, a portable compressor seemed essential; this was built and successfully demonstrated by Mr. Dunn, for the Tidal Oil Co. in September, 1924. The process of cleaning out with air has been described.1 It consists of lowering the tubing into the well, with a shoe or nipple of heavy pipe substituted for the perforated anchor on the bottom. Into the tubing, compressed air is introduced through a rotary swivel hose at the top, or by means of swing connections. The tubing is lowered to the top of the cave to be cleaned out, several barrels of water are put into the hole, and the compressed air is turned on. This blows out the material between the casing and the tubing, the tubing being lowered as the material is removed.

Jan 9, 1925

By Evans B. Mayo

As a result of studies distributed over the earth- including ocean basins as well as continents- some tectonists recognize four dominant structural trends: 1) northwest; 2) northeast; 3) nearly east- west, or equatorial; and 4) nearly north-south, or meridional. Baker' proposed a theory to account for these trends and Sonder5 called their world-wide arrangement the regmatic shear pattern. Moody and Hill6 proposed a much more complicated shear network which, although fascinating and perhaps ultimately useful, will not be followed here. In a recent review of deformation within the Cordillera, Wisser7 mentioned the four fundamental directions. The fact that many geologists deny the existence of the regmatic shear pattern implies that the fundamental structures are far from obvious. It may mean, also, that some geologists are not accustomed to examine regional and world maps analytically. The maps require much study, and certain features, should be isolated on overlays. Even so, with the present limited knowledge, uncertainties remain. The following analysis is a qualitative experiment, subject to change as information accumulates, and should be supplemented by the western sheet of the Tectonic Map of the United States.8

Jan 11, 1958

By W. Vickers

Single-point rotating cantilever fatigue tests have been carried out at 550" to 650°C on beryllium produced by a variety of fabrication routes. All the specimens gave similar plots of stress against number of cycles to failure but failure occurred at a lower stress range in the hot-pressed material than in the extruded material. A discontinuity or "kink" appears to exist in the curves and this is considered. A true endurance limit was not evident up to 10 cycles. When Brush hot-pressed warm-extruded beryllium was tested at 600oC a relationship where Nf = number of cycles to failure, ?ep = plastic strain range, and c = constant, was shown to be applicable for values of ?ep > 6.3 x 10-4. Further for this moterial and temperature and for frequencies between 150 and 4500 cycles per min, the variation of number of cycles to failure with frequency obeyed the expression N = Af0.44 where N =number of cycles to failure, f = frequency, and A = constant. Examination of the fracture surfaces indicated that they were generally intergranular and in all cases the higher the stress the more irregular was the fracture. Microexamination has shown that grain boundary cavities and fine intergranular cracks were associated with the fractures. REVERSING or cyclic stresses set up in fuel elements can lead to failure by fatigue. Fatigue stresses may be developed by instability of the fuel element in the coolant flow leading to rattling against the channel wall or fin vibration. Thermal cycling also sets up reversing stresses due to differential expansion of fuel and can. Fatigue resistance is of some importance therefore in the evaluation of canning materials. At the time the work described in this paper was initiated, beryllium was being considered for the can and endcaps of an advanced gas-cooled reactor fuel element. With this in mind, beryllium obtained from different manufacturing routes was tested on single-point rotating cantilever fatigue machines at temperatures the same as those envisaged in the reactor to obtain appropriate fatigue data. The results obtained indicated a discontinuity in the S-N curves coinciding with the yield stress in the specimens. Although in some cases the data is insufficient to warrant a detailed quantitative analysis, a qualitative analysis of this effect was thought to be justified. 1) EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS The materials used are given in Table I together with the production route and available analyses. The specimen shape is shown in Fig. 1. The fatigue specimens were machined slightly oversize, after which they were given a stress-relieving anneal of 1 hr at '750° C in vacuum. This was followed by an etch in sulfuric-phosphoric-chromic acid mixture down to the finished dimensions given in Fig. 1. Etching served to remove the interference colored oxide film formed on the surface during annealing and very small recrystallized surface grains too. The specimen was mounted in the grips of a cantilever machine and rotated inside a furnace controlled at the testing temperature. The specimen was loaded in increments as the speed was increased until the required load was applied at 5000 cycles per min. A revolution counter was used to record the total number of cycles.

Jan 1, 1964

By Jr. D. C. Williams, D. V. Carter

The four new oil-field discoveries made in the East and East Central Texas districts during 1941 were the East Long Lake field, Anderson County; Pickering field, Shelby County; Pleasant Grove field, Rusk County, and Tri-Cities field, Henderson County. The discovery of oil production in the Pettit lime of the Lower Glen Rose was made in the Groesbeck (Barron) field in Limestone County and the Willow Springs field in Gregg County. Important extensions were made to the Pittsburg field, in Camp County, the Chapel Hill field, in Smith County, and the Hawkins field, in Wood County. The Hawkins field was extended sufficiently to more than double the number of proved surface acres. As usual the East Texas field led the district in the number of completions for the year. The second most active field during the year was the Hawkins field, with 250 new wells completed. The third most active was the Long Lake field, in which 50 wells were completed. Approximately 964 wells were completed in the district during 1941. Production and Probation The district is credited with having produced 163,566,695 bbl. of oil and distillate during the year. This represents a decrease of 4 per cent from the 170,424,685 bbl. of oil and distillate produced during the preceding year. The production of 130,378,620 bbl. of oil and distillate from the East Texas field represents 79.7 per cent of the total production of the district; that is, 6.3 per cent less than the production for the year 1940, The district had an estimated basic daily allowable of 614,982 bbl. of oil on Dec. 31. Approximately 33 per cent of the state's annual production was produced in the district, compared with 34.9 per cent for 1940. Since the majority of the fields in this district are subject to proration, any change in the annual production is attributable largely to changes in proration schedules and number of shutdown days. Fields subject to shutdown days were closed in for 113 days during the year, with the exception of the East Texas field, which was shut down 111 days. An order was promulgated by the Oil and Gas Division of the Texas Railroad Commission for encouraging the disposal of salt water and reservoir-pressure maintenance in the East Texas field. Discoveries Tex Harvey Oil Company'sNo. I S. E. J. Cartmel was completed as the discovery well for the East Long Lake field, Anderson County. Production was found in the Woodbine sand, the horizon from which the Long Lake field produces. The Pickering field, Shelby County, secures its production from the Nacatoch sand, found at an approximate depth of 1510 ft., in A. E. McKiernan's No. I, Pickering Lumbering Co. This field is in an area near the state line in which a number of relatively unimportant and

Jan 1, 1942

By Jr. D. C. Williams, D. V. Carter

The four new oil-field discoveries made in the East and East Central Texas districts during 1941 were the East Long Lake field, Anderson County; Pickering field, Shelby County; Pleasant Grove field, Rusk County, and Tri-Cities field, Henderson County. The discovery of oil production in the Pettit lime of the Lower Glen Rose was made in the Groesbeck (Barron) field in Limestone County and the Willow Springs field in Gregg County. Important extensions were made to the Pittsburg field, in Camp County, the Chapel Hill field, in Smith County, and the Hawkins field, in Wood County. The Hawkins field was extended sufficiently to more than double the number of proved surface acres. As usual the East Texas field led the district in the number of completions for the year. The second most active field during the year was the Hawkins field, with 250 new wells completed. The third most active was the Long Lake field, in which 50 wells were completed. Approximately 964 wells were completed in the district during 1941. Production and Probation The district is credited with having produced 163,566,695 bbl. of oil and distillate during the year. This represents a decrease of 4 per cent from the 170,424,685 bbl. of oil and distillate produced during the preceding year. The production of 130,378,620 bbl. of oil and distillate from the East Texas field represents 79.7 per cent of the total production of the district; that is, 6.3 per cent less than the production for the year 1940, The district had an estimated basic daily allowable of 614,982 bbl. of oil on Dec. 31. Approximately 33 per cent of the state's annual production was produced in the district, compared with 34.9 per cent for 1940. Since the majority of the fields in this district are subject to proration, any change in the annual production is attributable largely to changes in proration schedules and number of shutdown days. Fields subject to shutdown days were closed in for 113 days during the year, with the exception of the East Texas field, which was shut down 111 days. An order was promulgated by the Oil and Gas Division of the Texas Railroad Commission for encouraging the disposal of salt water and reservoir-pressure maintenance in the East Texas field. Discoveries Tex Harvey Oil Company'sNo. I S. E. J. Cartmel was completed as the discovery well for the East Long Lake field, Anderson County. Production was found in the Woodbine sand, the horizon from which the Long Lake field produces. The Pickering field, Shelby County, secures its production from the Nacatoch sand, found at an approximate depth of 1510 ft., in A. E. McKiernan's No. I, Pickering Lumbering Co. This field is in an area near the state line in which a number of relatively unimportant and

Jan 1, 1942

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The two earlier papers in this series1,2 presented data on the rate of diffusion of carbon and of manganese in gamma iron. Apart from their scientific interest, these data are needed chiefly in order to treat data on carburization, on rate of formation of pearlite, and on rate of austenit-izing in a quantitative way.1'2'9'10 In the present investigation rates of diffusion of nickel in ?-Fe over wide temperature and concentration ranges have been determined, and the effects of carbon, of im- purities, and of grain size on these rates have been studied. Claussen,3 using the data of Fry,4 has calculated the diffusion coefficient of nickel in y-Fe as 9.2 X 10-11 sq. cm. per sec. at 1200ºC., but had no data from which to calculate the variation of D with concentration, temperature, and percentage of carbon. Method and Materials Method.—Nickel was diffused along the axis of a cylindrical specimen across a concentration gradient, concentration-penetration curves were determined and D values calculated from Grube or Matano solutions.5 Details of the method are given

Jan 1, 1941

By Cyril Wells, Robert F. Mehl

The two earlier papers in this series1,2 presented data on the rate of diffusion of carbon and of manganese in gamma iron. Apart from their scientific interest, these data are needed chiefly in order to treat data on carburization, on rate of formation of pearlite, and on rate of austenit-izing in a quantitative way.1'2'9'10 In the present investigation rates of diffusion of nickel in ?-Fe over wide temperature and concentration ranges have been determined, and the effects of carbon, of im- purities, and of grain size on these rates have been studied. Claussen,3 using the data of Fry,4 has calculated the diffusion coefficient of nickel in y-Fe as 9.2 X 10-11 sq. cm. per sec. at 1200ºC., but had no data from which to calculate the variation of D with concentration, temperature, and percentage of carbon. Method and Materials Method.—Nickel was diffused along the axis of a cylindrical specimen across a concentration gradient, concentration-penetration curves were determined and D values calculated from Grube or Matano solutions.5 Details of the method are given

Jan 1, 1941

By H. Landsberg

THE curriculum presented here is an outgrowth of discussions by the Committee on Geophysics Courses of the A.I.M.E. in previous years. It had to be a compromise between the desires voiced by employers of geophysicists, professional geophysicists and the possibilities at an average college. There one has to face the questions of the available teaching staff, the inertia of administrators and teachers set in their ways, and the red tape involved in modernizing antiquated curricula. It is, of course, not ideal to have colleges and universities lag 10 years behind the times. Rather, instead of being prodded by industry, -they should be ahead of industrial needs. There should also be a certain amount of leeway for the student in any college curriculum. All these points had to be considered in drawing up a curriculum, which, instead of being narrowly termed "geology" or "geophysics" was rather called "earth science." It gives the student a chance to specialize in one of the various branches represented by teachers on the faculty of The Pennsylvania State College, giving as options Geology (with subdivisions of Mineralogy and Paleontology), Geophysics, Geography, and Meteorology. Table IA. represents the option of geophysics in the curriculum that envisages that a student may want to make his career in any of the fields encompassed by the American Geophysical Union or in geoexploration. This is, of course, only the start of an education that in most cases will have to be followed by graduate work for complete professional training. The outlined curriculum is definitely of an engineering type and is identical for all of the four options mentioned for the first two years. Specialization will start in the junior year but even thereafter the branches are kept as closely allied as feasible in order to permit a student to change from one to the other (e.g., because of a different aspect in the employment situation) with a minimum of additional work. Table IB shows the geophysics option according to subject matter, indicating the considerable amount of work in the fundamentals of mathematics, physics and chemistry with a liberal number of geology courses, and some engineering. The courses in the field of geophysics are limited-just two lecture courses as a general introduction and one field course, to permit the student a visualization of the correlation between mathematically analyzed physical data and the geological realities. Thesis work is considered essential to teach the student, while he is still in college, some things S. F. Kelly has mentioned as desirable: (I) following of instructions for somewhat independent work; (2) organizing of material, and (3) producing a readable report. This, together with the personal contact with the advising faculty member, will help in forming a student's personality. The seminar course attempts to get the student into the habit of reading current literature, so that he can keep abreast of the times.

Jan 1, 1941

By William P. Jones

THE consumption of sulphuric acid, one of the most important commodities in our modern industrial world, is often used as a barometer for industrial activity. The economics of acid manufacture are largely dependent upon the location of the place of consumption and the availability of raw materials in that locality. Sulphuric acid is made from SO,, oxygen from the air and water. Therefore the sulphur dioxide is the only raw material to be considered in an economic study. SO, can be obtained from almost any material containing inorganic sulphur, such as elemental sulphur, pyrites, coal, sour gas and oil, metallurgical gases, waste gases, or gypsum and anhydrite. Many tons of acid can also be reclaimed by the recovery and concentration of spent acids. The aim of this paper is to present a guide to the economic aspects to be considered when the installation of an acid plant is contemplated. It must be remembered that 1 ton of elemental sulphur produces 3 tons of sulphuric acid and that the shipping of sulphuric acid by tank car is very costly. The size of the plant must also be given careful consideration. For instance, operation of a plant producing 5 tons of acid per day might be warranted in Brazil or Pakistan, whereas economics usually favor buying quantities up to 50 tons per day for use within the United States. Elemental sulphur, when available at the low price of 1M4 per lb delivered at an acid plant, has always been the raw material most frequently used for sulphuric acid. All conditions favor its use at this price. The so-called sulphur shortage has been the subject of so many technical papers, magazine articles, and newspaper items during the past y6ar that it hardly seems necessary to mention it again, but a very brief review of the matter will serve as a foundation for the discussion that follows. There is no shortage of sulphur. Only a shortage of low-cost Frasch-mined brimstone exists today. Other more expensive sulphur-bearing materials are plentiful, both in the United States and abroad. The low cost of Frasch-mined brimstone has discouraged the development of higher cost sources. However, the approaching depletion of Gulf Coast dome deposits and the greatly increased demand for sulphur here and abroad have made it necessary for industry to prepare for conversion to utilize sulphur in other forms. For future planning this situation must be considered permanent and not temporary. This conclusion is based on the fact that although sulphur demand will continue to rise, the production of Frasch-mined sulphur probably will not increase greatly beyond its present level of about 5,000,000 long tons per year. The International Materials Conference in Washington estimates 1952 requirements of the free world at nearly 7 million long tons; and the Defense Production Administration has recently set a new goal for 8,400,000 long tons annual domestic production by 1955. The total sulphur equivalent produced in this country in 1950 was 6 million tons. What, then, are the alternatives for the manufacture of the vital chemical, sulphuric acid? Today about 85 pct of this country's sulphur, and nearly 50 pct of the world supply, comes from our Gulf Coast salt domes and is extracted from the earth by Frasch's hot water process. The Gulf Coast salt dome deposits have been the most important known natural deposits in the world, producing 90 million tons of sulphur during the past 50 years. However, at the present rate of extraction these deposits cannot be expected to last indefinitely. Pyrites Pyrites are, and have been for many years, the source of more than 50 pct of the world's sulphur requirements. The principal use, of course, is in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. The use of pyrites in the United States has diminished greatly because of the availability of low cost native sulphur, but pyrites have continued a major source of sulphur in many other countries. The most available pyrites for use in this country are in the form of lump pyritic ore and in mill tailings from flotation of other minerals such as lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver. An important factor, when the use of pyrites for acid manufacture is being considered, is the disposal of calcine. A ton of sulphuric acid requires approximately ton of high-grade pyrite and results in 1/2 ton of calcine. If the calcine is a fairly pure oxide, free of harmful impurities, it can be used, after sintering, in an iron blast furnace burden. Its value might be as high as 15d per unit of Fe at the blast furnace; or possibly $10.00 per ton of sinter, if it assays 65 pct Fe. This might result in a credit of $4.00 per ton of acid if the sintering plant and blast furnace are both located adjacent to the acid plant. On the other hand, several factors must be considered before this credit can be realized, i.e., freight to blast furnace, availability of sintering facilities, methods of eliminating impurities, and the removal of valuable metal values. In some locations it would be most economical to dump the calcines.

Jan 1, 1953

By William P. Jones

THE consumption of sulphuric acid, one of the most important commodities in our modern industrial world, is often used as a barometer for industrial activity. The economics of acid manufacture are largely dependent upon the location of the place of consumption and the availability of raw materials in that locality. Sulphuric acid is made from SO,, oxygen from the air and water. Therefore the sulphur dioxide is the only raw material to be considered in an economic study. SO, can be obtained from almost any material containing inorganic sulphur, such as elemental sulphur, pyrites, coal, sour gas and oil, metallurgical gases, waste gases, or gypsum and anhydrite. Many tons of acid can also be reclaimed by the recovery and concentration of spent acids. The aim of this paper is to present a guide to the economic aspects to be considered when the installation of an acid plant is contemplated. It must be remembered that 1 ton of elemental sulphur produces 3 tons of sulphuric acid and that the shipping of sulphuric acid by tank car is very costly. The size of the plant must also be given careful consideration. For instance, operation of a plant producing 5 tons of acid per day might be warranted in Brazil or Pakistan, whereas economics usually favor buying quantities up to 50 tons per day for use within the United States. Elemental sulphur, when available at the low price of 1M4 per lb delivered at an acid plant, has always been the raw material most frequently used for sulphuric acid. All conditions favor its use at this price. The so-called sulphur shortage has been the subject of so many technical papers, magazine articles, and newspaper items during the past y6ar that it hardly seems necessary to mention it again, but a very brief review of the matter will serve as a foundation for the discussion that follows. There is no shortage of sulphur. Only a shortage of low-cost Frasch-mined brimstone exists today. Other more expensive sulphur-bearing materials are plentiful, both in the United States and abroad. The low cost of Frasch-mined brimstone has discouraged the development of higher cost sources. However, the approaching depletion of Gulf Coast dome deposits and the greatly increased demand for sulphur here and abroad have made it necessary for industry to prepare for conversion to utilize sulphur in other forms. For future planning this situation must be considered permanent and not temporary. This conclusion is based on the fact that although sulphur demand will continue to rise, the production of Frasch-mined sulphur probably will not increase greatly beyond its present level of about 5,000,000 long tons per year. The International Materials Conference in Washington estimates 1952 requirements of the free world at nearly 7 million long tons; and the Defense Production Administration has recently set a new goal for 8,400,000 long tons annual domestic production by 1955. The total sulphur equivalent produced in this country in 1950 was 6 million tons. What, then, are the alternatives for the manufacture of the vital chemical, sulphuric acid? Today about 85 pct of this country's sulphur, and nearly 50 pct of the world supply, comes from our Gulf Coast salt domes and is extracted from the earth by Frasch's hot water process. The Gulf Coast salt dome deposits have been the most important known natural deposits in the world, producing 90 million tons of sulphur during the past 50 years. However, at the present rate of extraction these deposits cannot be expected to last indefinitely. Pyrites Pyrites are, and have been for many years, the source of more than 50 pct of the world's sulphur requirements. The principal use, of course, is in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. The use of pyrites in the United States has diminished greatly because of the availability of low cost native sulphur, but pyrites have continued a major source of sulphur in many other countries. The most available pyrites for use in this country are in the form of lump pyritic ore and in mill tailings from flotation of other minerals such as lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver. An important factor, when the use of pyrites for acid manufacture is being considered, is the disposal of calcine. A ton of sulphuric acid requires approximately ton of high-grade pyrite and results in 1/2 ton of calcine. If the calcine is a fairly pure oxide, free of harmful impurities, it can be used, after sintering, in an iron blast furnace burden. Its value might be as high as 15d per unit of Fe at the blast furnace; or possibly $10.00 per ton of sinter, if it assays 65 pct Fe. This might result in a credit of $4.00 per ton of acid if the sintering plant and blast furnace are both located adjacent to the acid plant. On the other hand, several factors must be considered before this credit can be realized, i.e., freight to blast furnace, availability of sintering facilities, methods of eliminating impurities, and the removal of valuable metal values. In some locations it would be most economical to dump the calcines.

Jan 1, 1953

By Edward Skewes

In view of the importance of the Cripple Creek district, the large amount of the publications concerning it, and the circumstance that many members of the Institute reside in it, or are familiar with it through repeated visits, it is surprising that our Transactions should have remained so long without any contributions on the subject. The same observations may be made with regard to the Witwatersrand, in South Africa, the other great productive gold-field of recent development. And I suppose the explanation is the same in both cases, namely, that the members of the Institute persoilally acquainted with the

Jan 1, 1897

By William P. Jones

THE consumption of sulphuric acid, one of the most important commodities in our modern industrial world, is often used as a barometer for industrial activity. The economics of acid manufacture are largely dependent upon the location of the place of consumption and the availability of raw materials in that locality. Sulphuric acid is made from SO2 oxygen from the air and water. Therefore the sulphur dioxide is the only raw material to be considered in an economic study. SO2 can be obtained from almost any material containing inorganic sulphur, such as elemental sulphur, pyrites, coal, sour gas and oil, metallurgical gases, waste gases, or gypsum and anhydrite. Many tons of acid can also be reclaimed by the recovery and concentration of spent acids. The aim of this paper is to present a guide to the economic aspects to be considered when the installation of an acid plant is contemplated. It must be remembered that 1 ton of elemental sulphur produces 3 tons of sulphuric acid and that the shipping of sulphuric acid by tank car is very costly. The size of the plant must also be given careful consideration. For instance, operation of a plant producing 5 tons of acid per day might be warranted in Brazil or Pakistan, whereas economics usually favor buying quantities up to 50 tons per day for use within the United States. Elemental sulphur, when available at the low price of 1 ½ ¢ per lb delivered at an acid plant, has always been the raw material most frequently used for sulphuric acid. All conditions favor its use at this price. The so-called sulphur shortage has been the subject of so many technical papers, magazine articles, and newspaper items during the past year that it hardly seems necessary to mention it again, but a very brief review of the matter will serve as a foundation for the discussion that follows. There is no shortage of sulphur. Only a shortage of low-cost Frasch-mined brimstone exists today. Other more expensive sulphur-bearing materials are plentiful, both in the United States and abroad. The low cost of Frasch-mined brimstone has discouraged the development of higher cost sources. However, the approaching depletion of Gulf Coast dome deposits and the greatly increased demand for sulphur here and abroad have made it necessary for industry to prepare for conversion to utilize sulphur in other forms. For future planning this situation must be considered permanent and not temporary. This conclusion is based on the fact that although sulphur demand will continue to rise, the production of Frasch-mined sulphur probably will not increase greatly beyond its present level of about 5,000,000 long tons per year. The International Materials Conference in Washington estimates 1952 requirements of the free world at nearly 7 ½ million long tons; and the Defense Production Administration has recently set a new goal for 8,400,000 long tons annual domestic production by 1955. The total sulphur equivalent produced in this country in 1950 was 6 million tons. What, then, are the alternatives for the manufacture of the vital chemical, sulphuric acid? Today about 85 pct of this country's sulphur, and nearly 50 pct of the world supply, comes from our Gulf Coast salt domes and is extracted from the earth by Frasch's hot water process. The Gulf Coast salt dome deposits have been the most important known natural deposits in the world, producing 90 million tons of sulphur during the past 50 years. However, at the present rate of extraction these deposits cannot be expected to last indefinitely. Pyrites Pyrites are, and have been for many years, the source of more than 50 pct of the world's sulphur requirements. The principal use, of course, is in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. The use of pyrites in the United States has diminished greatly because of the availability of low cost native sulphur, but pyrites have continued a major source of sulphur in many other countries. The most available pyrites for use in this country are in the form of lump pyritic ore and in mill tailings from flotation of other minerals such as lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver. An important factor, when the use of pyrites for acid manufacture is being considered, is the disposal of calcine. A ton of sulphuric acid requires approximately ¾ ton of high-grade pyrite and results in ½ ton of calcine. If the calcine is a fairly pure oxide, free of harmful impurities, it can be used, after sintering, in an iron blast furnace burden. Its value might be as high as 15¢ per unit of Fe at the blast furnace; or possibly $10.00 per ton of sinter, if it assays 65 pct Fe. This might result in a credit of $4.00 per ton of acid if the sintering plant and blast furnace are both located adjacent to the acid plant. On the other hand, several factors must be considered before this credit can be realized, i.e., freight to blast furnace, availability of sintering facilities, methods of eliminating impurities, and the removal of valuable metal values. In some locations it would be most economical to dump the calcines.

Jan 1, 1952

By H. L. Gilbert, H. A. Johansen, R. G. Nelson

High purity electrolytic chromium plate has been hydrogen-reduced and arc-melted under inert atmosphere to give sound ingots. These ingots may be hot forged to break the as-cast structure and then worked at 500°C to finished form. An intermediate and final high temperature anneal gives best ductility and grain refinement. HE increasing interest in refractory metals for I use in high temperature gas turbines, jets, and rockets has led to great efforts in exploiting the fifth and sixth groups of transition elements. Much of the interest has centered upon production of metals that can be worked and fabricated by normal means to produce various engine parts or components having the high temperature characteristics of oxidation resistance and high creep strength required for such uses. If these pure elements do not exhibit all of the desired characteristics, it may be possible to obtain a high purity alloy that will. Since, in all cases, development of these transition elements has depended to a large extent upon removal of oxygen and nitrogen as a means for producing ductile metal, the hypothesis has been accepted that oxygen is the normal embrittling material in a high grade electrolytic chromium metal. Various methods have been employed in an effort to remove this oxygen by direct or indirect attack.' Many workers have endeavored to produce pure chromium through reduction of the oxide by carbon or active metals, while others have recommended fusion electrolysis of chromium salts or reduction of these salts by active metals, such as sodium or calcium. Hydrogen reduction of the oxide or chloride and thermal dissociation of the iodide have been reported to give high purity metal. Experimental Work The U. S. Bureau of Mines, Northwest Electro-development Laboratory, has systematically re-examined the more promising methods and developed two which produce metal having ductility at temperatures lower than heretofore described. It has been found' that oxide-free chromium chlorides in a NaCl-KCl carrier salt may be mag- nesium-reduced and the byproduct salts distilled off in vacuo to give a high purity chromium sponge. Fusion analysis conducted under the supervision of W. W. Horton of Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory showed the oxygen and nitrogen both to be below 10 parts per million on a selected sample. A small amount of carbon is carried over in the final metal from the chlorination and reduction steps which are carried out in graphite crucibles. This trace of carbon is not detrimental to hot ductility. A more practical method for producing ductile metal is through hydrogen reduction of high purity electrolytic chromium. Normal electrolytic chromium will, if "developed" for a few minutes at 1100°C in high vacuum, be found by the method of Adcock:; to contain about 1 pct chromium sesquioxide (Cr2O3). This small amount of oxygen may be effectively reduced by hydrogen.2, 4 The method employed was to crush electrolytic chromium plate in a gyratory crusher to pass 60-mesh; finer crushing appears to offer no advantage. A nitric acid leach removed the iron picked up during crushing. The leached powder was rinsed until neutral with distilled water and vacuum-dried.

Jan 1, 1954