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By Arthur T. Allen

THE Kingsport formation, a part of the Knox dolomite of Ordovician age, is composed of 538 ft of dolomitc and limestone. Numerous bands, layers and nodules of chert, arenaceous and shale zones are present. The characteristics displayed by these features have been useful in mapping, prospecting and mining. Perhaps a better understanding of the origin of these zones will increase their usefulness. Introduction The presence of numerous bands, nodules, and irregular bodies of chert within the Kingsport formation in the Mascot locality has long been recognized. Oder and Miller1 mention the general characteristics, but do not deal with the chert occurrences in detail. When the occurrence of chert is studied in fresh exposures underground, a variety of characteristics is noted which has been useful in correlation and in detailing the sub-surface stratigraphy. Although the writer has no desire to enter into a controversy over the origin of chert, many observations have been made of its local characterigtics. A detailed stratigraphic section is included which shows the position of the individual horizons discussed in the following paragraphs. The term "chertification" has been adopted from Fowler and Lyden2 for use here. It refers to the replacement of lime- stone by introduced silicic acid. The writer uses it to refer to the occurrencc of introduced or original chert in limestone and dolomite. In this writing "syngenetic chert" refers to chert which has been deposited contemporaneously with the enclosing limestone or dolomite. Also, it is considered to include interstitial silica shown by chemical analysis and insoluble residues. The term "epigenetic" is applied to all chert which has been introduced after consolidation of the rocks in which it occurs, regardless of the nature of the depositing solutions. Syngenetic Chert It is the belief of the author that a large percentage of the chert found in the Kingsport formation is syngenetic. The widespread occurrence of similar nodules and bands of chert in the same horizon far from one another and far from areas of deformation or alteration of the enclosing rocks is difficult to explain by infiltration of the silica after compaction of the enclosing rocks. When chert of this type does occur near zones of movement it is likely to be involved in faulting and brecciation which indicates that it was deposited prior to deformation. Older Epigenetic Chert There are several occurrences of nodules in the Kingsport which seem to be epigenetic as pointed out in the following examples: A cherty zone occurs 26 ft above the o bed (Fig =). This is not always present but is found in the greater part of mine work-

Jan 1, 1949

By Arthur T. Allen

THE Kingsport formation, a part of the Knox dolomite of Ordovician age, is composed of 538 ft of dolomitc and limestone. Numerous bands, layers and nodules of chert, arenaceous and shale zones are present. The characteristics displayed by these features have been useful in mapping, prospecting and mining. Perhaps a better understanding of the origin of these zones will increase their usefulness. Introduction The presence of numerous bands, nodules, and irregular bodies of chert within the Kingsport formation in the Mascot locality has long been recognized. Oder and Miller1 mention the general characteristics, but do not deal with the chert occurrences in detail. When the occurrence of chert is studied in fresh exposures underground, a variety of characteristics is noted which has been useful in correlation and in detailing the sub-surface stratigraphy. Although the writer has no desire to enter into a controversy over the origin of chert, many observations have been made of its local characterigtics. A detailed stratigraphic section is included which shows the position of the individual horizons discussed in the following paragraphs. The term "chertification" has been adopted from Fowler and Lyden2 for use here. It refers to the replacement of lime- stone by introduced silicic acid. The writer uses it to refer to the occurrencc of introduced or original chert in limestone and dolomite. In this writing "syngenetic chert" refers to chert which has been deposited contemporaneously with the enclosing limestone or dolomite. Also, it is considered to include interstitial silica shown by chemical analysis and insoluble residues. The term "epigenetic" is applied to all chert which has been introduced after consolidation of the rocks in which it occurs, regardless of the nature of the depositing solutions. Syngenetic Chert It is the belief of the author that a large percentage of the chert found in the Kingsport formation is syngenetic. The widespread occurrence of similar nodules and bands of chert in the same horizon far from one another and far from areas of deformation or alteration of the enclosing rocks is difficult to explain by infiltration of the silica after compaction of the enclosing rocks. When chert of this type does occur near zones of movement it is likely to be involved in faulting and brecciation which indicates that it was deposited prior to deformation. Older Epigenetic Chert There are several occurrences of nodules in the Kingsport which seem to be epigenetic as pointed out in the following examples: A cherty zone occurs 26 ft above the o bed (Fig =). This is not always present but is found in the greater part of mine work-

Jan 1, 1949

By Frank A. Howard

WHAT are the reasons for the present public interest in the synthetic fuel industry, an interest which has culminated in the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior that we start at once on a nine billion dollar program of construction? Three separate factors seem to have combined to create this pressure. First are recurrent seasonal and spot shortages of gasoline, fuel oil, and natural gas. Second is the international outlook, which forces us to face the possibility of war, with all that means in the way of increased call on our domestic resources and interference with our foreign commerce. The shortages we have experienced are superficially the result of lack of transportation, but basically they reflect a rapidly rising demand which has outstripped the expansion of productive facilities of all kinds. Not only oil and gas, but steel, coal, automobiles, and meat are temporarily in short supply for much the same reasons. The military problem has both long-range and short-range aspects, but the immediate necessity is to create reserve capacity in the United States to supply perhaps 2,000,000 barrels daily additional liquid fuel in time of war.

Jan 1, 1948

On the following pages are abstracts of papers published by the Institute during the year 1935 as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS and CONTRIBUTIONS, papers in bound volumes appearing for the first time, and papers in MINING AND METALLURGY. For abstracts of papers that appeared in bound volumes in 1935 but that were published as TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS in 1934, see the YEAR BOOS dated January, 1935.. Many of the TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS have been reprinted in bound volumes. Information regarding this disposition, and number of pages in each paper, may be found in the list beginning on page 64. Volume numbers are given as listed at the beginning of the index, page 71. The abstracts are grouped as follows: [Page Metal Mining 17 Uses of Metals 23 Milling and Concentration 23 Iron and Steel Division 26 Nonferrous Metallurgy (Reduction of Ores)...: 34 Institute of Metals Division (Founding and Metallography of Nonferrous Alloys) 36 Page Coal Division 43 Petroleum Division 50 Industrial Minerals Division (Nonmetallics) 57 Mining Geology 60 Mineral Industry Education Division 62 Geophysical Prospecting 62]

Jan 1, 1936

By J. Brian Eby

As is generally understood, the word geophysics means literally ?the physics of the Earth? and the science of geophysics is therefore that which treats of the study and measurements of the various physical properties of the Earth. The broad and general study of the elastic, the gravimetric. or the magnetic properties of the Earth as a whole belongs to the general science of geophysics. The detailed application of this science to rocks of shallow depth and in small areas for the purposes of ascertaining data on their character and structural attitude gave rise to the present well-known science of ?applied geophysics.? Since the discovery of enormous new quantities of oil, gas, and sulphur has been by far and wide the principal benefaction of geo-physics in the United States, this paper will refer only to geophysical methods employed in the search for these particular minerals. The application of methods and appliances originally used for geophysical research to the solution of the practical problems of finding new oil-fields, plus the counterflow or new and highly refined techniques and Instruments from the company and consulting geophysical research laboratories and into non-economic geophysical research, has provided another case of that gen-eral cycle of events which is familiar to all scientists. That this closed-circuit flow or scientific current has been tremendously important to the whole science of geophysics is probably well known to all members of this audience, but the gen-eral status of the exploratory geophysical arts as now used In the search for new oil-fields, the scales on which different methods are being used, the magnitude of the costs involved, and the far greater magnitude of the practical results achieved may not necessarily have come so directly to your attention. It is, I understand, for this reason that this paper has been sug-gested, and I shall seek to provide the information requested by using as case-illustrations those changes in the oil-reserve picture for the United States as a whole, and for the Gulf Coast, California, and Illinois Basin regions in particular, which have occurred in the period of the past 17 years, during which time oil-field discoveries have proceeded at a rate which served to build up known and readily-available (or proven) oil supplies to a reasonable figure, and have dispelled the fears of a serious oil shortage during any period for which valid fore-casts can be made. Not that geophysical-prospecting methods have alone been responsible for this transformation, but they have an indispensable and leading part in the picture of exploration and production-to which geophysics, geology, engineering, and general technical progress have jointly made contribution. So far as the United States as a whole is concerned, its total proven, probable, and possible oil reserves (discoverable and recoverable by then-known methods) were estimated at about nine billion barrels in 1920, whereas proven reserves alone are now com-puted at about 16 billion. In 1920 the driller in ?wild-cat? territory was faced with the knowledge that for every new oil-field opened by a successful well, from 20 to 100 unsuccessful wells would have to be drilled and, in some territories, that the chances for a discovery were really less than one in 100 for new drilling, in contrast to which may be cited the record for the past year in parts of Louisiana where the 67 wells drilled opened 16 new oil-fields, that is to say, where the score of hits to misses was increased to approximately one out of four.

Jan 1, 1940

By Edward W. Parker

THE agreement of September, 1922, between the anthracite operators and the United Mine Workers of America, which followed the 54.5 months strike during the summer of that year, contained the following provision : The parties unite in a recommendation to Congress that legislation be forthwith enacted creating a separate anthracite coal commission with authority to investigate and report promptly on every phase of the industry and the parties hereby ask the President to request the enactment by Congress of the recommended legislation. The continuance of production after Aug. 31, 1923, shall be upon such terms as the parties may agree-upon in the light of the report of the Commission.

Jan 1, 1924

By Earl R. Parker, Ralph Hultgren

DURING the past year publications in physical metallurgy have not been abundant when compared with the output of prewar years. Nevertheless, some noteworthy contributions have been made to the literature. Because of the necessity for war production, much of the metallurgical effort has been directed towards the solution of problems of production processes. The limited amount of time devoted to other problems is reflected in the small number of papers devoted to nonapplied research, though a few excellent contributions have been made to the fundamentals as will become evident in the following pages. Results of many of the government-sponsored research investigations have been released to the public and are being published in the technical journals. Many more of these papers may be expected to appear in the 1946 publications.. Public distribution of information obtained in the course of these investigations should be of great value to American industries in the postwar era. Continued activity in research of all kinds is apparently assured because of intense

Jan 1, 1946

By Thomas Fraser, David R. Mitchell

THE primary purpose of the loading plant is to transfer the finished product from the preparation machines to the railroad car, truck, or barge in which it is to go to market. Secondary purposes of the loading plant are: to prevent excessive degradation of sizes during loading, to reduce segregation as much as possible, and to prevent excessive quantities of very good or off-grade coal from entering any one car. Nonuniformity of consignments is one of the chief sources of com- plaints by consumers and coal merchants. A properly designed loading plant will do much to reduce complaints and ensure uniformity, not only from shipment to shipment but also in each individual consignment along the length of the car and in cross section. DEGRADATION IN STORAGE, LOADING AND SHIPMENT The object in loading is not only to handle the coal without breakage and segregation, but also to produce a well-trimmed load that will ride to its destination without spillage or breakage en route. The small sizes present in a car of prepared coal as received by the purchaser consist-of: missed small sizes not screened out in the preparation plant, breakage during loading, and breakage caused by handling en route. For domestic sizes of anthracite shipped from the Pennsylvania anthracite field to Atlantic coast cities, the dealers' lass because of breakage in loading and shipment amounts to from 2 to 5 per cent and for anthracite shipped to Middle West cities, the loss is 8 to 9 per cent. This difference is in part because dealers in the Middle West rescreen their coal more thoroughly than is usual in the East. One dealer handling Illinois No. 6 coal shipped from southern Illinois mines to Chicago reports an average size loss of 10 per cent when lump coal is unloaded with a fork. This runs as low as 5 per cent for carefully loaded coal and as high as 15 per cent for carelessly loaded coal.

Jan 1, 1943

By C. A. Heiland

IN the third year of war, geophysical oil exploration broke all records to keep pace with the demand for increased reserves. Geophysical prospecting for strategic and other minerals also grew in scope. The trend of geophysical oil exploration throughout the war is indicated in Fig. 1. This figure resembles the one presented in the last annual review issue of M&M (February 1944, p. 62), corrected for data on-operations in the last months of 1943 and extended into 1944. The average number of geophysical oil prospecting crews in the field in 1944 was 451, whereas the total in 1943 was 340. An upward trend in the use of all geophysical methods is clearly evident throughout the year. Seismic operations were 67 per cent, gravimeter surveys 28 per cent, and other methods 5 per cent of the total. Seismic reflection and refraction crews increased 181/2 per cent over the 1943 average, gravimeter operations increased 73 per cent, and other methods gained 92 per cent. The increase in seismic and gravimeter operations, particularly the latter, is probably due to an increased production of equipment and the organization of new service companies. Miscellaneous methods gained largely through a revival of magnetometer work, and an increase in the use of torsion balances and electrical equipment. In comparison with the prewar average of 1941, it is noteworthy that seismic operations increased 58 per cent, gravimeter operations 88 per cent, and miscellaneous other methods gained as much as 283 per cent. Unfortunately the expansion in the number of geophysical crews does not indicate a proportionate increase in efficiency or in areal coverage, as will be brought out later.

Jan 1, 1945

By E. A. Holbrook

IT may be taken for granted that a mine official knows his duties, as outlined by the bituminous mining laws of the State, he knows how coal should be mined and transported, and he has judgment on any possibly unsafe condition in his mine. Certainly, if he is weak on any of these points, there are definite ways in which he can acquire the needed knowledge. If with this knowledge the mine official has the necessary practical experience to bring self-confidence, he stands before the world as a man who knows his job. There is, however, another side to his work, one not found in hooks, a side even that may not be learned at the face even though one spends a lifetime there. The actual duties a mine official knows and performs are the tangible and definite things about his work. There are other things which may be termed intangible, because they are hard to pin down and see, and. which appear to be of equal importance in successfully handling a job and which in time determine the very success of the company itself.

Jan 1, 1930

By M. E. Shank, J. Wulff

In view of the current interest in magnetic materials having rectangular hysteresis loops, as for example those obtained with the grain oriented 50 nickel 50 iron alloys,t we wish to call attention again to the results obtainable with the perminvar (Co-Ni-Fe) alloys heat treated in a magnetic field. Data taken from direct current measurements made prior to and during World War II give the typical values shown below for two of the perrninvar alloys. Fig 1 and 2 show- the hysteresis loops for these samples. The first sample above consisted of small rings punched from 0.014 in. sheet stock. These rings were heat treated at 1000°C for one hour in a hydrogen atmosphere and then cooled with the furnace to 750°C at which point they were subjected to a magnetic field of 15 oersteds maintained during cooling to room telmperature. The molybdenum perminvar sample consisted of a spirally wound core of 0.001 in. tape. The heat treatment was the same except that box annealing methods were used and no hydrogen atmosphere was employed. Even better properties might be expected using hydrogen. The heat treating temperatures and cooling rates are not critical. Rectangular hysteresis loops produced in other perminvar alloys by heat treatment in a magnetic field were described earlier.',? Properties similar to those described above are realized in perminvars manufactured by conventional methods. Drastic cold working which in practice limits the final thickness and is gen- erally expensive may thus be avoided. This information may be of interest to those concerned with magnetic alloys and the development of contact rectifiers, magnetic amplifiers and so on.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. W. Cunningham, M. J. Stultzman

THE demand for improved materials for high-temperature service has increased during the last few years. Iron,- nickel,- and cobalt-base alloys have been investigated extensively and many alloys with outs'tanding high-temperature strength have been developed. Considerable research has been directed toward improved methods of processing these alloys. The vacuum furnace as a tool for the purification and improved control of high-temperature alloys has been studied extensively and production units are in operation. The research covered by this paper studied the effects of casting in air, vacuum, or argon upon the elevated-temperature properties of two nickel- and two cobalt-base alloys. The alloys investigated were Stellite 31, He 1049, Udimet 500, and Guy Alloy. MELTING AND CASTING PROCEDURES Two heats of each of the four alloys under investigation were melted and investment cast under the following conditions: 1) Stellite 31 was melted and investment cast in air and in vacuum, with an argon atmosphere for pouring. 2) He 1049 was melted and investment cast in air and in vacuum, with an argon atmosphere for pouring. 3) Udimet 500 was melted and investment cast in vacuum with and without additions of zirconium and boron. 4) Guy Alloy was melted and investment cast in vacuum and in argon. The heats were all melted in induction furnaces equipped with preformed magnesia crucibles of 50-lb capacity. The air-melting furnace was powered by a spark-gap converter of 40 kw capacity. The vacuum-melting furnace was powered by a motor-generator set of 100 kw capacity. The argon heat of Guy alloy was melted in the vacuum melting furnace under an argon atmosphere. Virgin materials were used for preparing all heats except the air heats of Stellite 31 and He 1049. The charge for the air heat of Stellite 31 was a commercial blend of shot. The charge for the air heat of He 1049 was Stellite 6 shot plus those virgin materials necessary to give the desired composition. All of the materials used were of the same grade used com-

Jan 1, 1960

By Laurence Delisle, Arron Finger

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By Arron Finger, Laurence Delisle

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By C. C. Nitchie, G. S. Brooks

With the gradual depletion of the natural-gas pools of the Kansas district, together with the uncertainty of further cheap fuel developments, some of the western zinc companies turned to the coal fields, attracted by their permanency and the success of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Co. and the lllinois Zinc Co. Being then confronted with the problem of using a relatively high-priced fuel, although the ultimate supply was very great, the fuel economies of the kilns and furnaces became of far more importance, and the more modern equipments, as a result, embodied distinct gaias in this phase of the business. In addition, there have been some pronounced advances in the actual making of gas from these coals. Increased efficiency in gas making has contributed its hare to lowering costs and those plants located in the higher priced fuel districts have probably been obliged to study these economies somewhat more closely. Naturally, many beneficial changes have resulted in both practice and apparatus in these sections. On certain western coals, for instance, the actual saving in fuel consumption has been 50 per cent. By this is meant that, where about 1.75 tons were burned to smelt 1 ton of oxidized ore, 0.7 to 0.9 ton is now required. While comparisons by T. R. Ingalls1 of fuel economies in smelting in this country and Germany before the war may, in general, be correct, they do not appear to do justice to the more progressive American practice. It is doubtful whether German plants were substantially bettering these fuel ratios. Data furnished by Bender and Frams do not afford records averaging less than 0.9 ton coal per ton ore on materials from 40 per cent. to 50 per cent. zinc. Fuels As producer fuel, Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas coah offer a wide range of material, although varying much in their amenability to gasscation. The proper fuel for each plant can only be determined after com-

Jan 1, 1920

By H. B. Hunter, F. G. Stone, F. J. Dunkerley

Introduction and Literature Survey This is the second in a series of papers coming from this laboratory on the correlation of the low temperature tensile properties of tin-binary alloys with microstructure. These engineering data and those of the previous paper1 were obtained as the initial part of a long-range program to determine the changes in the fundamental mechanical properties accompanying the beta to alpha phase change in tin and its binary alloys below 13.2°C. Since it appears now that the more fundamental studies will be delayed,* and since no summary of the low temperature properties of these tin-base white bearing alloys was found in the literature, it was decided to publish all the engineering data thus far obtained. Accordingly, the tensile properties of thirteen binary alloys containing from 0.1 to 60 pet cadmium and 0.1 to 10.43 pet antimony measured at six temperatures from —196 to +23°C are presented here and their variations rationalized in terms of microstructure. A literature search showed that these systems had not been investigated at low temperatures, although both the tin-cadmium and tin-antimony2,3,4,5 and the tin-rich corner of the ternary system67 have been studied at room temperature. Hanson and Pell-Wal-pole5 and Homer and Plummer4 determined the tensile properties of alloys containing from 0 to 10 pet cadmium. The same authors3 determined the tensile strength and elongation in the tin-antimony system from 2 to 18 pet antimony at room temperature while Pell-Walpole et al.6,7 studied the properties of high tin and tin-antimony-cadmium alloys. Since there were many variables besides composition in these tests, it was difficult to make a valid comparison with the room temperature data of the present study, but in general the tensile strength and ductility values are in reasonable agreement. Pell-Walpole2 also determined the effect of grain size on the tensile strength of pure tin and 1 pet alloys of both antimony and cadmium. The true maximum stress was found to decrease exponentially as the number of grains in the cross-section increased. This effect of grain size was strikingly revealed in the present work, as indicated in a later section. Hanson and Pell-Walpole8 placed the solid solubility limit of antimony in tin at 3.5 pet at 20°C, increasing to 4 pet at 190°C, and then sharply increasing to 10.3 pet at 246°C (the latter being a peritectic point). Their results are in disagreement with those of previous investigators,9 and the discrepancy seems to lie in the micro-graphic observation of the second phase

Jan 1, 1950

Discussion of the paper of L. C. Graton and Joseph Murdoch, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1913, and printed in Bulletin No. 77, May, 1913, pp. 741 to 797. THOMAS T. READ, New York, N. Y. (communication to the Secretary *) :-At the meetings of English technical societies it not infrequently happens that, during the discussion of a paper, someone will arise to say that although he highly appreciated the material presented, nevertheless he believed it would have been better if some other phase of the question had been more highly emphasized. Assuming that this form of discussion is permissible in the Institute, I should like to reiterate the point made by Prof. A. J. Moses that conclusive proof of the identity of the minerals in question is an essential feature of the study of ores in this way. This is also expressed by Paul Krusch in his recent valuable paper 1 on the sulphide ores (in which he arrives at conclusions diametrically opposed to those of Mr. Graton), as follows : ?The diagnostic properties of the various ore minerals are known to but a limited circle of investigators." Many earlier investigators began the study of ores beneath the microscope by reflected light, but discontinued their work, in most cases, because they were unwilling to undertake the great amount of preliminary work necessary to securely establish a basis for their inferences. It is evident that Messrs. Graton and Murdoch realize that the promised later paper on diagnostic characters will be the more important of the two, but the point should be emphasized to forestall a flood of literature from other investigators who may gain the impression that the brief survey of polished specimens is a wade mecum to incontrovertible conclusions as to any given ore deposit.

Jan 10, 1913

By L. R. van Wert

CAREFUL research into the nature of the metallic state has yet to discover, with any certainty, its essential quality. We do riot yet know, for sure, what it is that makes the metallic elements different from, if not actually unique among, all created things. We do know, of course, that metals have certain more or less characteristic properties-they are hard, strong, and tough, and good conductors of heat and electricity, and these so-called metallic properties provide a definition of a sort. How- ever, it is the structure rather than the behavior of the metals which gives the really fundamental information necessary to the understanding of metallicity. But this information is not easily obtained. Nature has a way of keeping secrets. But happily we do possess some knowledge of how a metal is built up, and it is this matter, rather than the presentation of a formal definition, that will be discussed here.

Jan 1, 1937

By W. E. Wrather

SERIOUS consideration was given by the Petroleum Division to a wide variety of subjects, during six busy sessions at the Annual Meeting. Beginning with a joint session on engineering research and production engineering, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by E. A. Stephenson and H. C. Fowler, problems of petroleum technology, domestic and foreign production, proved oil re- serves, economics, and stabilization were mooied almost without interruption until nearly everyone was "talked out,' and the meeting was adjourned at the end of the annual Petroleum Division dinner, late Thursday night.

Jan 1, 1933

By S. A. Levy, J. D. Wood, J. F. Libsch

A study of the preparation and characteristics of a sevies of Fe-C-N alloys has been conducted. X-ray, microhardness, and metallographic data from a series of single-phase alloys produced by controlled nitriding of carburized foils are reported. The existence of a, y', and E carbonitride has been confirmed and it has been found that y' is the hardest of these three phases. These results have been used to interpret the structures observed in nitrided steels. ThIS paper represents the second phase of a three-part study concerning combined nitriding and induction hardening. The first part' reports the engineering properties (depth hardness, fatigue, corrosion, and tempering resistance) obtained when seven different steels were subjected to the combined surface hardening treatment. The present paper concerns the nature of a series of single-phase alloys prepared by controlled nitriding of carburized foils. The objective was to simulate the various layers present in the as-nitrided steels. A third paper will report data concerning induction hardening of the foils and will attempt to set forth a mechanism for the high hardness obtained with the combined treatment. Studies of nitriding generally fall into three categories. The first were performed with bars using conventional nitriding procedures, thus yielding a nitrogen gradient and a series of phase layers near the surface.2-6 Such studies were complicated by the presence of the nitrogen gradient, for it was difficult to correlate microhardness and X-ray data with chemical composition. There were always complications due to penetration of the X-ray beam which yielded data influenced by underlying layers. Similar difficulty was experienced in taking hardness readings on a tapered specimen or in isolating various layers by machining. A second group of investigations was primarily concerned with establishment of regions in the Fe-N7,9,10 or the Fe-C-N phase diagram.8 These were performed with powder specimens which were nitrided in am-monia-hydrogen mixtures to produce a series of single-phase specimens. Unfortunately, the powder specimens were not amenable to either microstruc-ture or microhardness study. The third was essentially a compromise of the first two. Bose and Hawkes," using 0.005-in.-thick iron foils, were able to obtain microhardness, microstruc-ture, composition, and X-ray data on Fe-N alloys of eutectoid composition by equilibration in ammonia-hydrogen mixtures at 1290°F. To obtain a better understanding of the nitriding process and the characteristics of the phases in ni-trided plain carbon steels, the present investigation was undertaken. The investigation was patterned after that of Bose and Hawkes with the exception that nitriding was performed at 930°F (below the eutectoid temperature), as in the case of conventional nitriding. In addition to gaining some understanding of the source of high hardness of nitrided and induction-hardened steels, found in a previous study,' this investigation was concerned with the possibility of controlling the phases present in a nitrided case through the use of ammonia-hydrogen mixtures. Knowledge of the properties of each phase and the conditions necessary for its production could make it possible to avoid undesirable surface layers in nitriding. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Specimen Preparation. A specimen thickness of 0.005 in. was selected to insure that a uniform nitrogen concentration could be obtained in a reasonable length of time by equilibration in an ammonia-hydro-gen atmosphere. The starting material was a vacuum-cast ingot of pure iron, the major impurities of which were: C, 0.003 pct; 0, 0.014 pct; S, 0.004 pct; N, 0.003 pct.* 'Compositions are quoted as weight percent except as noted. The ingot was heated to 1500°F in a nitrogen atmosphere and forged to a slab 0.25 in. thick. The material was then reduced to 0.005 in. by alternately cold rolling and annealing in a nitrogen atmosphere at 1600°F. This material was divided into five groups of specimens which, after carburizing, yielded the following carbon contents: 0.003, 0.28, 0.36, 0.46, and 0.74 pct C. The carburizing was performed by the Leeds and Northrup Research Laboratories, using a controlled "carburizing potential" which yielded a uniform carbon concentration throughout the cross section.

Jan 1, 1970