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By George Bain

SOME problems concomitant with commercial exploitation of marble are presented as examples of interesting, useful and profitable fields for application of scientific knowledge. The marble industry is only one such field and is selected because its varying new aspects are familiar to the author. However, what is true for marble is equally so in principle for many industrial minerals. The problems of any stone industry are to maintain markets, create new outlets for stone already in demand, and develop varied uses for varieties that are not so popular. Here the geologist has a different role from most of his colleagues in metal mining. The producing branch may ask about the expectable variation in thickness or size of a deposit as development proceeds. The stock department may call for the available amount of a given type of stone before accepting a large order. The sales force requires data on the use for stone from certain parts of deposits in order to divert grades to the most suitable use. The service depart-ment wants defects rectified and the cause determined to avoid recurrence. The mills want data on durability and cutting quality of abrasives. The geologist occupies no special department; he is on general call, as may be illustrated by a few types of problems that may be classified as: (1) dominantly geological in character, (2) dominantly chemical in character, (3) dominantly physical in character.

Jan 1, 1940

By C. F. Nagel

THIS paper is written primarily for those who are familiar with the processes mentioned but who desire a further insight into some of the fundamental principles. It does not give a complete description of the various practices employed in the working of aluminum and its alloys, but presents a few illustrations of the essential respects in which aluminum differs from other common metals, and emphasizes the controlling factors of the processes under consideration. HEAT TREATING Certain aluminum alloys are capable of having their mechanical properties greatly altered by a heat-treatment process. The degree of this improvement may be illustrated by some typical properties of duralumin (Table 1). It is essential that the material be in the wrought condition in order to obtain maximum heat-treatment effects. [ ] In the case of duralumin, the process consists of heating the metal to a prescribed temperature and then quenching it. Immediately after quenching, the material is relatively soft though not as soft as in the annealed state. If allowed to stand at room temperature, the material changes, increasing in hardness and strength without loss of elongation, but at the expense of the plasticity. This action is very rapid at first, gradually diminishing in intensity and to all practical purposes being completed in about four days. This process of hardening is termed

Jan 1, 1928

By F. R. Hensel

PURE silver and silver-lead alloys have been studied as to their suitability for bearings.1-8 A review of the properties of thallium and the silver-thallium constitutional diagram was made by the author to analyze the possibilities of silver-thallium compositions for antifriction materials.† The silver-rich end of the diagram as reported in the literature9-11 was found to be sketchy and it was necessary to carry out considerable experimental work to arrive at definite conclusions. Some of the results of this work are reported in this paper. TEST MATERIALS In the beginning of the work, only fused alloys were investigated. Later, research [TABLE I. Composition of Fused Silver thallium Alloys Tested for Antifriction Properties PERCENTAGE ALLOY No.OF THALLIUM 15330.48 153406 231 HT2.04 2312.10 232 HT3.83Balance 2324.07Silver 233 HT5.86 2336.38 2349.84 234 HT10.07] was carried out on electroplating methods and diffusion processes. In preparing the fused alloys, care was taken to exhaust the toxic fumes caused by the thallium content. The compositions of the series of fused alloys are listed in Table I. The silver-thallium alloys were melted in clay-graphite crucibles and cast into preheated steel molds of 3/4-in. diameter. In the cast condition, they showed a cored structure, as indicated by the micrographs of Figs. I to 3. The etching reagent used was a mixture of 2 grams K2Cr2O7, 8 c.c. H2SO4, and 100 c.c. H2O. The cored structure is unsatisfactory for the type of corrosion resistance required for bearing applications, and homogenizing experiments were carried out at various temperatures, the results of which are shown in Figs. 4 through 8. The alloys with a lower thallium concentration, which were heated for 2 hr. at 525°C. show an almost completely homogenized solid solution type of structure. With higher thallium concentration, the homogenizing temperature was dropped to 475°C. to eliminate the formation of a liquid phase. It is evident that heating for 2 hr. at this temperature did not result in complete elimination of the cored structure. As would be expected, cold-working of the cast structure is an expedient in establishing equilibrium conditions. The fine homogeneous grain structure shown in Fig. 7 corresponds to the cold-worked area under the Rockwell ball penetration when the hardness was taken before heat-treatment. A detailed structural study was made on a cast silver-thallium alloy containing 3.67 per cent thallium. Three micrographs (Figs. 9, 10 and 11) show the transition

Jan 1, 1945

R. W. NEWCOMB, New York, N. Y. (written discussion *).-This paper is particularly interesting to me, because it gives data on a much mooted question, viz., the serviceability of Le Chatelier (platinum-platinum-rhodium) thermocouples under severe industrial conditions. It has always been supposed that platinum-platinum-rhodium thermo-couples, used at high temperatures under strong reducing conditions, would not give long service and were subject to rapid volatilization. The fact, however, that the carefully kept records indicate that a little more than 3 gm. out of more than 830 gm. was lost over this considerable period, shows what kind of service can -be obtained from platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples,, when properly installed, and well cared for. While the writer has no actual figures on the loss of weight, etc. of platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples under service, he was told, by the man in charge of pyrometers at a large industrial plant in which over 400 platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouples were installed in furnaces doing various kinds of heat-treating work, that the average maintenance cost, for materials alone, including platinum-platinum-rhodium wires and protecting tubes, was 27 c. per furnace, per month:

Jan 12, 1919

By Takao Kobayashi

Micro-crack formation zones developed near a crack tip in rocks and ceramics play a significant role in fracture behavior of these materials. In order to study micro- crack formation near a crack tip and its effects on crack behavior, a mica-epoxy composite material was developed. Multi-layer mica flakes were embedded in an epoxy matrix. Under high stress in the vicinity of a crack tip the mica delaminated, simulating the micro-cracking along grain boundaries or crystal planes in rocks and ceramics. A compact tension specimen was fabricated from mica-epoxy composite material. During the test the load and crack opening displacement were measured following the ASTM E561 (R-curve determination) procedure. Through the compliance calibration method the effective crack length and the KR were computed. The experiment clearly demonstrates the formation of micro-cracks and their effects on the overall behavior of the specimen. The paper discusses the significance of micro-crack formation on fracture toughness characterizations, and the advantages of the use of mica-epoxy composite for detailed studies of interaction between the micro-crack formation zone and the specimen geometry and size.

Jan 1, 1982

By J. K. Buehler

With the rapid acceleration of the cost of shovel dippers and major standard shovel clipper rebuild components, maintenance management at Kennecott Copper Corp.'s Bingham Canyon mine initiated a dipper maintenance and rebuild program. The program focused on extending the service life of the shovel dipper, reducing field labor in maintaining dippers, and lowering shovel dipper rebuild costs. While comprehensive evaluation of the program is still underway, preliminary benefits of the program indicate: •Reduced field ,gelding for shovel dipper field maintenance, •Fewer dipper rebuild units entering the shop, and •Reduced dipper rebuild costs per unit.

Jan 1, 1979

By Frederick N. Rhines, Robert F. Mehl

IT has been shown elsewhere1 that the data on the rates of diffusion in solid metals are fragmentary and in many cases unacceptable. As a result, relatively little is known concerning the factors determining rates of diffusion and the variations in these rates with temperature. The first form of Fick's law (equation 1 below), ‡ in which the diffusion coefficient D is assumed invariant with composition, has been recognized for many years as only an approximation. The differential equation representing the second form of Fick's law (equation 4 below) has only recently been integrated by Matano,2 and unfortunately only in cases where a full diffusion-penetration curve (concentration-distance curve) has been obtained can the Matano solution be applied. The proper analysis of diffusion data is thus confined to the data of Grube and Zedele and of Zedele.§ These data are essentially for one temperature alone and do not furnish any information on the variation of the activation heat of diffusion, Q, with concentration: no information exists on the variation of Q with concentration within a singles olid solution field. 11 Much of the argument concerning the properties of metals that determine D and Q has been drawn from data in which variations of the quantities with concentration are unknown, for these data have been taken from experiments that could not furnish this information. Speculation concerning the properties of metals that may be effective in determining D and Q on the basis of data in which the chosen D and Q values are averages over wide concentration ranges of values at particular concentrations, ranges often of 100 per cent, is likely not to be fruitful.

Jan 1, 1938

By J. H. Nead

The experiments herein described were undertaken with a view to investigating thoroughly the influence of carbon on the tensile and impact physical properties of carbon steel. The original comprehensive plan included investigation of a series of steels with varying carbon contents over a wide range of heat treatments. These were to be studied as to their static tensile qualities, and also their resistance to shock as measured by the Charpy impact bending test. A thorough metallographic examination was likewise included in the schedule. The Charpy tests and the metallographic examination have not been completed to date, and are accordingly withheld for another report. All heat treatments, however, have been made, and the static tensile tests have been completed. A description of the procedure of the experiment and the results thus far obtained are therefore reported herein. Conclusions No attempt is made to draw general conclusions from these experiments, but the curves and the data are submitted as being of general importance and wide applicability. Composition of Materials An attempt was made to secure steels increasing in carbon by increments of 0.1 per cent. from 0.1 per cent. up to 0.8 per cent., and from that composition to 1.6 per cent. by increments of 0.2 per cent. Actually, however, steels of the composition given in Table I were procured, and as the carbon contents were arranged sufficiently well so that satisfactory curves could be drawn showing the relation between carbon content and other properties, these steels were used in the experiments.

Jan 1, 1916

By Thomas Wilson

IN a single-crystal cube of iron the arrangement of the atoms is that characteristic of iron at room temperature: the body-centered cubic lattice. X-ray investigation has shown this structure to be characteristic of iron, as it has shown the atomic arrangement of other metals to be characteristic of those metals also. Rarely do substances have more than one characteristic atomic arrangement. Many physical properties of metals are directly connected with their atomic arrangements, so that changes of arrangements produce changes of properties. Only chemical change influences atomic arrangement. If a difference in the physical properties of a metal is caused by a process which involves no chemical change, the cause of the difference in properties must be sought elsewhere than in the atomic arrangement. Frequently this cause can be traced to alteration of crystal orientation. The orientation of a crystal may be defined as the relationship which the crystallographic axes bear to some quantity of reference. A cube of iron appears cubic whether it is regarded from a face, an edge, or a corner. Yet these three positions represent three different orientations of the cube with respect to the observer. It is evident that the orientation of this cube of iron, unlike the atomic arrangement, is not characteristic of iron but is entirely dependent on the previous history of the cube. Most of the processes of metal working, such as wire-drawing, rolling, and bending, change the orientation of the crystals present in the worked metals. These processes usually tend to produce rotation of the crystals into positions approaching a mean. Specimens of metals show-ing this characteristic are said to possess a preferred, orientation. Tensile strength, ductility, and many other properties are influenced by orientation changes; therefore two specimens of the same metal may show different values of these quantities. In metal specimens possessing a narrowly limited preferred orientation, these quantities will vary in magnitude in different directions throughout the specimens. The investigation of the influence of manufacturing operations upon crystal orientation, and hence upon physical properties of metals, is an important

Jan 1, 1929

By H. Ries

Introduction BODIES of pyritic ore in schistose rocks have long been known in different parts of the world. The several occurrences resemble each other in being usually of more or less lenticular shape, inclosed in walls of schist or gneiss, and carrying pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite in varying proportions, as the chief ore minerals. The deposits differ, however, in that sometimes one, sometimes another, of the three sulphides mentioned may predominate. The orebodies in general are more or less closely conformable with the schistosity of the wall rocks, although in cases this may not hold true. The boundaries may or may not be sharp, but in general are fairly distinct. The lenses vary in size, may occur singly, or in groups; in the latter case they may be in line, overlapping, or occasionally parallel. Pinching and swelling of individual lenses is not uncommon. The genesis of these pyritic bodies has provoked much discussion, and they have been variously classed as sedimentary, igneous intrusions, hydrothermal replacements or impregnations, etc. Indeed, in some cases different geologists have most positively assigned widely diverse origins to the same deposit, as in the case of Rio Tinto 1 and Rammelsberg.2 It is true that in the light of modern criteria, we have been able in a few cases to decipher clearly the process of origin and so there seems no doubt now regarding the genesis of the deposits at Rio Tinto, Spain;3 Rammelsberg, Germany ;4 Ducktown, Tenn.;5 southwestern Virginia;6

Jan 8, 1917

Continued Discussion of the papers of Van Hise, Emmons, Weed and Lindgren, Bans., xxx., 27, 177, 424, 578. See also the papers of Vogt, Kemp, Rickard, Blake and Lindgren, at pp. 125, 169, 198, 220, 226, and also the final contribution of Prof. Van Hise, p. 284 of the present volume. All the foregoing, together with the discussion here following, are included in the special volume, "The Genesis of Ore-Deposits," issued this year by the Institute. H. Foster Bain, Des Moines, Iowa (communication to the Secretary):* The zinc- and lead-deposits of the Mississippi valley, which it has been my fortune to study, give particularly good examples of many of the principles of ore-deposition formulated by Prof. Van Hise. Perhaps there is nowhere clearer evidence supporting his fundamental tenet., that ore-bodies are to be regarded as a result, and as merely one of the phases, of the work of underground waters. The facts regarding the mines of the upper Mississippi valley have been given in some detail for Wisconsin by Prof. Chamberlint and, more recently, for the mines west. of the Mississippi by the Iowa Geological Survey.‡ Fortunately, also, the processes of underground water-circulation have been studied in some detail in connection with the investigation of artesian waters throughout the region.$ In Missouri and Arkansas the mines and ore-bodies have been much studied ; but the general problems of the circulation of underground waters have been neglected. During the season just closed the writer has been engaged in a re-study for the United States Geological Survey of the zinc- and lead-deposits of the Ozark region, with special reference to those of the . Joplin area; and his full report is now in preparation. It has been interesting to note how fully the statement that the orebodies result from the general action of underground waters is

Jan 1, 1902

By Ian Wark

IT has been shown1 that in the absence of heavy metal salts, the nature of the alkali used to promote differential flotation-whether caustic soda, lime or sodium carbonate-is unimportant. The hydroxyl ion is the active depressant upon which differentiation depends, and the pH value determines whether a film of collector forms on any given mineral surface. Even when sodium cyanide is used in conjunction with alkalies, it is the pH value and not the nature of the alkali or its concentration that is important, for upon the pH value alone depends the fraction of the added sodium cyanide that is present as cyanide ion, which is the true depressant. When heavy metal salts become dissolved from partly oxidized ores, or are added intentionally as activators, conditions are different, and metallurgists have found that lime and sodium carbonate do not give identical results, even when added in amounts sufficient to produce the same pH value. In the few instances in which we had attempted to confirm this view, we had failed to do so, for, with nothing to guide us, we had inadvertently chosen solutions that gave contact curves of a "stand-ard type," which correspond to conditions of ready floatability. Now, however, we find that, in the presence of copper salts, and within a restricted range of reagent concentrations, the nature of the anions present is important, and that sodium carbonate does influence the results, apart from the usual effect due to its influence on pH value. With the recognition of this anion effect, and with the control of temperature already introduced,' it appears that the factors of major importance in connection with this set of reagents have been taken into consideration, and that the results obtained and the conclusions drawn from contact tests will be of more immediate value to the operator.

Jan 1, 1939

By James Johnston

Synopsis.—A description of the working of the mills of this company and the metallurgical practice in vogue, by which a remarkably complex silver ore, averaging 54 oz. of silver per ton (run-of-mine ore), is treated to give a 95.66 per cent. extraction. The main features of the processes are: The cyanide amalgamation of the high-grade ore. The cyanide treatment of the low-grade ore, after extremely fine grinding and close classification, in a caustic soda solution. The use of a wet desulphurizing process to break up refractory silver minerals. The substitution of aluminum dust for zinc dust as a precipitant. The recovery and shipment of over 13,000,000 oz. of silver in bullion at 997 to 999 fine since this metallurgy was inaugurated, about 2.5 years ago. On the completion and successful operation of the mill to treat their high-grade ore,' the Nipissing Mining Co., under the general management of R. B. Watson, started a series of investigations of the possible treatment of the low-grade ore by the cyanide process, so that they would be in a position to market only silver bullion. These tests were run in July, 1911, on a large scale, by G. H. Clevenger, on an average mixture of Nipissing ore. The results obtained by a partiai amalgamation followed by cyanide treatment gave an extraction varying from 90 to 93 per cent. and were sufficiently encouraging to warrant Charles Butters, the company's Consulting Metallurgist, in recommending that the new low-grade ore mill under contemplation should be a cyanide mill, instead of a concentrator. The cost of such a mill, capable of treating 200 tons per day, to obtain a 90 per cent. extraction at a working cost of $3 per ton of ore treated, was estimated at $250,000. In coming to a decision as to which type of mill should be erected, the concentrator, with the subsequent shipping of concentrates to a smeltery,

Jan 1, 1915

By Charles Austin

IN an earlier series of studies on 18-8 stainless steel at 600°, 700°, and 800°C.1 one pretreatment was used throughout; viz., 15 min. in hydrogen at 950°C., followed by an air quench. Several manufacturers of this alloy since have expressed doubt as to the suitability of the temperature employed, recommending instead the more customary Strauss treatment as promising superior results. In this subsequent investigation on the effects of the temperature of pretreatment several interesting points have arisen, which are described in this paper. Previous work on our equipment had shown a marked difference between alloys of "similar chemical composition" that had been manu-factured by different companies. Accordingly, one mill-bar length was selected from which to prepare all specimens. It could then be assumed that any marked differences in creep characteristics would be due to effects resulting from variations in the pretreatment of the alloy. The material was furnished by the Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Co. in the form of 5/16-in, dia. rod, finished by air cooling from a mill anneal at 1950°F. (1066°C.). It was analyzed only for the elements shown: carbon, 0,07 per cent; chromium, 18.73; nickel, 9.46; manganese, 0.40. Three pretreating temperatures were chosen, the specimens being held for 15 min. in hydrogen at either: (1) 1150°C., to conform to the recom-mended Strauss treatment; (2) 950°C., to compare with the results of previous tests; or (3) 750°C., to initiate precipitation of carbides in the material before testing. As the test cross sections were only 1/8 -in. dia., air cooling followed the annealing treatment. These treatments per-mitted two direct comparisons: (1) between the 1150° and 950°C. treat-ments to indicate the effect of grain size when all carbides were probably in solution at the start of the test; and (2) between the 950° and 750°C. treatments to indicate the effect of carbide "nucleation" for similar grain sizes.

Jan 1, 1940

By Yap Chu-Phay

IN 1923, when the writer began his studies in metallurgy, he came upon an article by Professor Honda on the, Equilibrium Diagram of the Iron-carbon System, 1 which made a profound impression on him. What interested him most was this sentence: "In the recent diagram of the iron-carbon system, the solidus is usually shown as a curve bending considerably downward. But it can be shown by thermodynamics that if the liquidus is straight or slightly curved, the same must also be true for the solidus. Hence, in my constitutional diagram, the lower portion of the solidus is slightly bent upward." Ever since then the writer has been interested in thermodynamics, especially chemical thermodynamics. The applications of thermo-dynamics to the metallic systems have been, in the writer's opinion, sadly neglected, although we continually use the phase rule in our study of equilibria in the liquid and solid states of metallic alloys. Many investigators, among whom may be mentioned Heycock and Neville, and s Honda and his coworkers, have applied the simple Raoult-van't Hoff law of depression of freezing point, mainly to determine the heat of fusion, but no attempt has been made to investigate the applicability of the thermo-dynamic laws of solution (as opposed to the laws of solution derived from other sources) to metallic systems" showing either limited or complete solid solutions. Perhaps the reason for this neglect is that until recently there have been so few reliable data on the solidus, which is much more difficult to determine than the liquidus. The writer has under way at the present time an investigation of a number of systems, the solidi of which have been more or less reliably determined. Recently, the writer has not only shown the valid applicability of the thermodynamic laws of solution as applied to the system antimony-bismuth but has also suggested a method of attacking problems involving complete and incomplete equilibria.2 In the present paper, the same method of approach is employed. For convenience, we shall divide this paper into two parts:

Jan 1, 1931

ARTHUR PHILLIPS, Chairman C. S. SMITH, Past-Chairman L. W. KEMPF. Vice-Chairman. E. E. SCHUMACHER, Vice-Chairman H. A. MALONEY, Treasurer FRANK T. SISCO, Secretary °9 West 39th Street, New York 1S, N. Y. Executive Committee 1945 1946 S. BARRETT H. L. BURGHOFF T. A. WRIGHT GERALD EDMUNDS L. L. W MAN A. A. SMITH, JR.

Jan 1, 1944

By M. W. Bartley, Hugh M. Roberts

SUBSTANTIAL deposits of Bessemer hematite have been found recently by drilling beneath Steep Rock Lake, Ontario, which is situated in the northern part of the Lake Superior Region. It will be practicable to divert the waters flowing into this lake and develop open pits on the upper part of two large ore bodies by damming off and pumping out the water in the part of the lake in which they occur. Ultimately, the bulk of the ore will be mined by underground methods. Owing to the generally massive nature of the rocks in the area, no underground flows of major consequence are anticipated after diversion of the lake. The Steep Rock deposits are attributed in origin to hydrothermal replacement. They were formed, for the most part, along an unconformable, brecciated contact between the Steep Rock limestone and an overlying younger volcanic series. The replacing solutions came in as igneous after-effects, following upon the intrusion of basic igneous rocks that invaded the hanging-wall volcanics. It is believed that this took place in a geological period roughly equivalent to late Middle Huronian, which was the period when the most extensive iron-bearing rocks of the Lake Superior Region were formed. Comparison is made with other deep-seated iron-ore bodies in the Lake Superior Region, the origins of which are ascribed in the discussion to hydrothermal replacement.

Jan 1, 1943

By Harry K. Ihrig

Jan 1, 1947

By Harry K. Ihrig

Jan 1, 1947

By W. D. Forgeng, D. Beregekoff

In the routine examinatlion of a wide variety of metal specimens it is sometimes necessary to have special methods of polishing in order to retain and reveal certain details in each specimen. Among such special cases is the retention of graphite in malleable and gray cast irons, the preservation of all types of non metallic inclusions in both hard and soft steels, obtaining a scratch-frec surface with soft metals, and avoiding the usual relief effects with very hard specimen. such as tool metals c3o1ltaining various carbide and nitride phases. It, is the purpose of this paper to give an account of some of these special polishing methods in use at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories. The polishing procedures outlined have been found to give uniform results. It is obvious that only general rules and the most important working details can be given here. Following these rules, the polisher can obtain satisfactory results if he possesses the necessary patience and has a sincere desire to give as nearly perfect a finish as possible to his work. Procedure The specimen is flattened with considerablecare on a file or sharp cutting sanding belt, since the initial production of a flat surfacc greatly facilitatcs subscqucnt polishing. The polishing motors have two speed., 600 and 1200 r.p.111. ,It higher speeds specimens arc likely to he over-Ileated, therefore the high speed is used only when a saving of time is important. The following abrasive papers are used consecutively: Yo. 2, So. 1, No. 0, No. 00 and No. 000. The final wet polishing is done oil a cloth-covercd metal disk. Woolen broadcloth of the best quality and capable of resisting severe pressure is most commonly used on the last lap. . polishing felt of the type used for polishing optical glass has been found equally satisfactory and is much stronger than broadcloth. For retaining inclusions and graphite, a hard cloth with very little residence, such as

Jan 1, 1939