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By O. W. Ellis

BEFORE entering upon a general discussion of the fascinating, but at present rather controversial, subject of gases in copper, the author feels that some attention should be directed to the work which has been carried out on the solubility of gases in metals. The outstanding contributions to our knowledge of this subject have been made by Sieverts and his collaborators(1) t and by Iwasé.(2) Both the German and the Japanese investigators employed apparatus of the same general design in their investigations. Full reference need only be made, therefore, to the German scheme, which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1. This, to use the words of Sieverts, which he employed in describing his Burette arrangement of apparatus at the 1928 meeting of der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Metallkunde(1g): shows a diagram of the usual mode of procedure. A quartz flask contains the metal (for high temperatures a highly refractory porcelain FIG. 1.-SIEVERTS' APPARATUS FOR INVESTIGATING SOLUBILITY OF tube is used) and is connected with the rest of GASES IN METALS. the apparatus by means of a stopcock. The other parts consist of a burette divided into 1/10 c.c., a leveling tube, and art adjus-table mercury reservoir. The burette is connected on one side with the gas inlet and on the other side with the absorption flask; the connection can be interrupted by means of suitable taps. Another tap permits the connection of the flask and the Töpler pump. In an experiment the quartz flask is first exhausted and then a meas-ured quantity of gas is let in from the burette. In the first place the volume of the flask when empty is found by calibration with an inert gas. The pressure is read off on the level tube of the burette, and the temperature measured by means of a thermo-couple whose welded junction lies close to the outside of the quartz flask, which is heated in an electric furnace. In several experiments the quantity of absorbed gas was transferred to a burette by means of a pump and measured.

Jan 1, 1932

By P. G. Salom

The manufacture of steel castings has become one of the important industries of the times. The late Mr. Alexander I,. Holley published in 1878, in the Metallurgical Review, an able paper, entitled "Solid Steel Castings," showing how all manner of castings could be made advantageously of steel. Mr. Holley had then but lately returned from the great iron and steel works of Terrenoire, France, which were engaged, I believe, almost exclusively on large castings, of a simple type, for the government,, and were repeating the same operation from day to day. These conditions are, as experience has shown, very different from those of ordinary practice in miscellaneons castings; and Mr. Holley might have been less confident if be had actually gone into the business. More than seven years have passed ; and as yet the magnificent possibilities held forth in his paper have not been realized. There are only six steelcasting establishments in the United States, and their total output of castings is certainly not as much as 20,000 tons per annum, and probably not more than 10,000 tons; whereas it should be over 200,000 tons to supply the needs of the country. A large number of so-called steel castings are made, however, which are nothing more than malleable iron. The best of these castings are made from a superior white pig, as low in silicon and

Jan 1, 1886

By Joseph M. Jacisin

Fatigue tests were conducted on 2017-T4 alumium in alloy in an u1lrcthig.h vacuum of 2 x 10-lo Torr and in air. The vatio of vacuum-to-air faligue life for this ~malerial varied Jrom 3.5:1 at a strain of 2.5 X 1O-3 ill. pegr in. to 8:l at a strum of 3.3 x X ill. per 171. Sotlze pvelivtlinary data were also obtained on the faligue life of the alumirnum alloy in a dvy-nitrogen atmosphere. A dark deposit observed on the fracture surfaces of the aiv-tested specimens was identified as oxides of tr~angarzese and magnesium This observalion, and the close correlalion betaveen results obtained in vaCuum and dry-nitrogen environtments, tend to confirm that air stvongly influences the fatigue mechanism by a covrosion process. THE fatigue life of certain metals is known to increase when the atmospheric pressure is reduced. Gough and Sopwith1-2 postulated that this is due to a joint chemical and mechanical process operating in air at the surface of the metal with oxygen and water vapor playing significant roles. Wadsworth and Hutchings3 observed that aluminum is mainly affected by the presence of water vapor. Very little information is available on the fatigue properties of structural aluminum alloys in a vacuum environment. This report describes work performed on 2017-T4 aluminum alloy in an ultrahigh vacuum (2 x 10-loTorr) and in air. Some preliminary data are also presented on the fatigue life of the alloy in a dry-nitrogen environment. 1) EXPERIMENT 1.1) Test Material. The material tested was commerciaT 2017-T4 aluminum alloy which, in addition to aluminum, has an approximate composition of 4 pct Cu, 1 pct Fe, 0.8 pct Si, 0.5 pct Mg, 0.5 pct Mn, plus smaller amounts of other elements.* Some typical naturally age to a substantially stable condition. Specimens were then machined from these rods and ground to a No. 8 microfinish. In order to minimize variation in material characteristics, specimens were made from rods procured from the same lot. 1.2) Apparatus. The apparatus and test specimen used in the fatigue tests are shown in Fig. 1. The device utilized a single-cantilever beam with rotating-bending loading. Bending stress was applied to the fatigue test specimen by placing a spacer beneath the bearing support, thereby providing a constant deflec-

Jan 1, 1968

By Floyd C. Kelley

THE literature of the last decade is rich with information relating to the cause and means of control of grain growth in pure metals, but is deficient concerning the role diffusion plays in grain growth, although during this period many new products that depend on diffusion for their properties and success have been developed. Among these are cementation products, produced by calorizing, chromizing, and carbonizing, or by mixing, pressing, and sintering powdered metals such as Syke's iron-molybdenum die material, Genelite, and Elcon Metal (copper, tungsten) etc. This is a fertile field for new developments, but before it can be utilized to the fullest extent there must be a thorough investigation of the processes by which diffusion and grain growth take place. Grain growth plays no small part in the process and certainly the physical properties of these products depend largely on the grain size and state of equilibrium produced. The field of investigation does not end here, but may be extended to the effect of diffusion on impurities, segregations and dendrites in the broad field of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. A number of years ago the author investigated several of these cases and noted, with striking regularity, the pronounced effect of diffusion in promoting recrystallization and grain growth. An example of this phenomenon is given in his paper on chromizing1 which contained photomicrographs of large radial or columnar crystals produced by diffusion of chromium in the solid state. Another manifestation of this effect was discussed by Austen,2 who showed the part hydrogen plays in the decarburization of steel and the effect of diffusion upon the grain structure. DIFFUSION OF METALS IN IRON It seems to be a general law, whenever two metals are brought into intimate contact at a temperature at which diffusion takes place, that a comparatively rapid, or abnormal, grain growth results. The grains

Jan 1, 1928

By P. G. Shewmon

Radioactive MgZA has been used to study the rate of self-diffusion in oriented single crystals of magnesium in the temperature range 468O to 635OC. The diffusion coefficients parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis are: Dl, = 1.0 exp (—32,200IRT) cm2 per sec and Dl = 1.5 exp (—32,500IR T) cm Qer sec. The ratio Dl/Dll was found to vary from 1.13 at 468 to 1.24 at 575 C. Assuming a vacancy mechanism, an explanation of this aniso-tropy of diffusion follows from a consideration of the difference in the saddle points for diffusion in and out of the basal plane. RECENT discovery of radioactive Mg2"'-' has made possible the study of self-diffusion in magnesium. The experimental procedure and the results of a study of diffusion in polycrystalline magnesium have been described in an earlier paper.V he present work is an application of the same techniques to the study of self-diffusion in oriented single crystals of magnesium. In the general diffusion problem the diffusion coefficient is a second order tensor relating the two vectors, the diffusion flux, and the concentration gradient. In a hexagonal lattice, such as magnesium, the complete determination of the diffusion coefficient D as a function of direction in the lattice requires a knowledge of D,, and D,, i.e., the diffusion coefficients parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis, respectively. It can be proven quite generally that in a hexagonal lattice D is independent of direction in the basal plane, and that out of the basal plane it varies with 0, the angle between the c-axis and the direction of diffusion, according to the equation D(B) = D,,cos2B + D,sin2B. [I] The proof of Eq. 1 depends only upon the symmetry elements of the hexagonal lattice and upon the transformation properties of a second order tensor." Therefore, Eq. 1 holds for any mechanism of diffusion and any c/a ratio. Experimental Procedure The experimental procedure used with polycrystalline specimens can be briefly outlined as follows. Radioactive Mg" was produced by bombarding a NaCl crystal with 350 mev protons and was chemically separated from the target as MgO. The Mg" was then vapor deposited on a specially cleaned magnesium specimen by heating the MgO on a tantalum ribbon in a vacuum. During the diffusion treatment, oxidation and vapor loss of the radioactive material were minimized by annealing the samples in pairs with the active faces in contact, each pair being inside a magnesium container, which was in turn surrounded by an argon atmosphere in a sealed Pyrex tube. The distance-activity profiles were obtained by measuring the activity of thin sections cut parallel to the original interface with a lathe. The only technique which was peculiar to this work was the preparation and orientation of the single crystal specimens. The single crystals used in this work were grown by E. C. Burke of the Dow Chemical Co., using a modified Bridgman method, in which the furnace and specimen were stationary while the temperature gradient moved.' In growing these crystals the starting material was distilled magnesium, the crucibles were machined from Acheson electrode graphite, and the furnace atmosphere was tank argon. The crystals were grown from sublimed magnesium with the following analysis: 0.0002 pct Al, 0.0017 pct Fe, 0.0009 pct Mn, 0.0001 pct Ni, 0.0006 pct Pb, and less than 0.01 pct Ca, 0.0001 pct Cu, 0.001 pct Si, 0.001 pct Sn, and 0.02 pct Zn. The two crystals used were roughly lh in. diam and eight in. long. The c-axis made angles of about 7" and 78", respectively, with the specimen axes. If the values of D obtained by the use of these two crystals are taken equal to D,, and D,, respectively, the error introduced by this assumption is less than 1 pct. This can be shown by combining Eq. 1, the identity sin% + cos'8 = 1, and the experimental fact that DJDn in magnesium was always less than 1.25.

Jan 1, 1957

By C. E. Nelson, T. E. Leontis

THE properties and casting characteristics of sand-cast Mg-Al-Zn alloys, used commercially in this country and abroad, have been discussed in a number of articles during the past few years.'-" In addition, broad surveys of many compositions in the magnesium corner of the Mg-Al-Zn diagram between 0 and 12 pct A1 and 0 and 6 pct Zn have been presented by Busk and Marande7 and by Fox." The purpose of this paper is to furnish a comprehensive survey of the changes in tensile properties, micro-structure, and dimensional stability of two magnesium alloys, AZ92A and AZ63A,+ as a function of aging time and temperature after solution heat treatment. Rates of precipitation in Mg-Al-Zn alloys are slow enough so that a substantially homogeneous, supersaturated solid solution can be maintained even when these alloys are air-cooled from the heat-treating temperature. Consequently, even though it has been demonstrated9 10 that significantly higher strengths can be developed in some alloys in the aged condition by quenching rather than air cooling from the heat-treating temperature, general practice is to air-cool magnesium alloys. All the work discussed in this paper is based, therefore, on aging studies performed on material air-cooled from the heat-treating temperature. This investigation was intended to be a study of commercially practical aging cycles; the tensile properties were determined, therefore, up to aging times of 25-hr duration. The alloys, used in this investigation were prepared in the laboratory by remelting commercial ingots of the appropriate composition according to the procedures described in a previous paper" as the "crucible method." All melts were given the standard superheating treatment in order to insure the maintenance of a uniform grain size of 0.003 to 0.004 in. Standard test bars, 61/2 in. long with a 2½ in. long reduced section having a diameter of Y2 in., were cast from these melts in green-sand molds using a four-bar pattern. The alloys were heat treated according to the following schedules: AZ92A alloy: 500" to 780°F in 2 hr + 780°F (24 hr) AZ63Aalloy: 500" to740°Fin2 hr + 740°F (16hr) In commercial practice," AZ92A alloy is heat treated at 770°F for 18 hr and AZ63A alloy is heat treated at 730°F for 10 hr. The slightly higher temperatures and longer periods of heat treatment were used in order to obtain as homogeneous a solid solution as possible and thus to minimize inconsistencies in the

Jan 1, 1952

By W. C. Hagel

Previous inuestigators have repovted unusually low H* and Do values for self-dzf@szon in certazn bcc metals, e.g., chromium nnd y -uvanium. It has been postulated that this is nn experimental crl -tetion for the existpnce of a four -atom ring meclzanzsm, mid there could be. zmpovtant theoretrcal Implicatlons. By utilizing a precise sectioning technique with Cr51 as the tracer, self-dzffi-lsion measurements in large grains of 99.99-pct Cr were extended from 1200° fo 1600"C. A least- squares analysis of the data yields that D 0.280 exp (-73,20U/RT) cm2 sec-'. These AH* and Do unlues are not anomalous; there is little reason to believe that n vacancy mechanism is not opevatiue. Apparent differences at lower temperatures may result from preferential diffusion along short-circuititing paths and/or sample contamination. WITH continued technological effort, chromium and chromium-base alloys should ultimately become useful high-temperature structural materials. Accurate measurements of self-diffusion coefficients in the pure metal are necessary for a quantitative understanding of sintering, grain growth, creep, and other related rate processes. However, two conflicting determinations have been reported.* Using an Since careful diffusion studies normally yield Do values ranging from 0.1 to 10 cm2 sec-l, the Paxton-Gondolf results require independent experimental corroboration before an undue amount of speculation arises to explain the apparent anomaly. As discussed by Nowick6 and clearly shown by Hoffman and Turn-bull7 for self-diffusion in silver, a low AH* and Do can arise from preferential diffusion along grain boundaries or other short-circuiting paths. The most reliable data come from high-temperature measurements where volume effects predominate. Following a precise sectioning technique developed for determining silver diffusion in the intermetallic compound AgMg8 and cation diffusion in the corundum oxide Cr2O3,9 the purpose of this study was to measure true volume diffusion in high-purity, large-grain samples at higher temperatures than considered previously. Another point of interest is the frequent proposal10-12 that chromium undergoes an allotropic transformation between 1375" and 1800°C where the diffusion data might then show a discontinuity. I EXPERIMENTAL 1) Sample Preparation. The highest purity (99.997 pet) Cr currently available is produced by reduction of chromium tri-iodide. Three pounds of the resulting crystal bar were shipped in a sealed container with a complete chemical analysis from the vendor.* In conformity with the procedure used for

Jan 1, 1962

By H. L. Luo, W. Klement

By rapidly quenching Ag-Pt alloys from the melt, a continuous series of solid solutions has been obtained. At equilibrium''2 these fcc elements form a peritectic system, Fig. 1. Weighed amounts of silver and platinum powder (325 mesh, purity greater than 99.9 pct) were mixed for 24 to 120 hr, pressed into compacts, sintered at 1000°C in a hydrogen atmosphere for at least 16 hr, and then furnace-cooled. Because of the difficulty in achieving homogeneity in alloys containing more than about 40 at. pct Pt, the sintered compacts were induction-melted under hydrogen in alumina crucibles and then cold-rolled into wires. Small amounts ("30 mg) of alloys cut from various sections of the sintered compacts or rolled wires were heated to at least 50' ~ above the liquidus in an alumina insert held within an induction-heated graphite crucible; then the molten alloy was ejected by a blast of helium onto a lightly polished copper strip held on the inner periphery of a rotating wheel. The flakes thus obtained were typically 1 sq mm in area or often slightly larger for the silver-rich alloys. X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained with nickel-filtered copper K radiation in a 114.6-mm-diam Debye-Scherrer camera with rotated specimens. Lattice parameters and associated uncertainties were estimated from extrapolations against the Nelson-Riley function. High-angle lines were always resolved and spacings were computed relative to r(CuKa!,) = 1.540508 The details of these techniques have been discussed previously.s'6 Lattice parameters of the solid solutions are plotted in Fig. 2, together with the data of Schneider and Esch,' Johansson and Linde,' and Novikova and pudnitskii. Each of the present lattice spacings represents two or more independent determinations. The alloys were homogeneous within 2 at. pct of nominal composition as estimated from the uncertainties in the lattice spacings. Many of the mechanisms involved in the achievement of metastable solid solutions by rapidly quenching from the melt have been previously discussed. There is some evidence" that such solid solubility cannot be obtained when the liquid alloys are cooled

Jan 1, 1963

By C. E. Schwab

A lead-zinc orebody, in fairly strong quartzite and with a dip of 35" to 60°, is block-caved by use of scrams in a stair-step pattern up the ore footwall. Scram linings to handle coarse muck and permit the use of folding scrapers are developed by the use of end-grain wooden blocks to reduce maintenance and keep operating cost to a minimum. THE Bunker Hill mine, since its discovery in 1885, has steadily produced a high grade of lead-silver-zinc ore. By the end of 1952 over 21,000,000 tons of this high-grade ore had been produced by square-set mining, and reserves in the mine continue to be very satisfactory both as to quantity and grade. For many years prior to 1941, mine production and mill capacity had been 1200 tons of feed per day. Closely adjacent to the mill, and stored behind dikes, coarse jig tailings had been impounded during the time preceding the advent of fine grinding and selective flotation. When manpower became short in 1941 and sink-and-float preconcentration was proved successful, mill capacity was increased to 1800 tons per day to treat these jig tailings economically. By 1946, because the supply of jig tailings was limited, underground exploration was started to discover and prove ore reserves of low-grade material which could be mined by an appropriate bulk mining method. During the years of square-set mining many possible areas of low-grade mineralization had been observed. One chosen for the first exploration work was sufficiently remote from active mining areas so that subsidence, if an ore-body were proved, would cause no problem. Also, old adits and workings were still open and in good enough condition so that exploration in the mineralized zone could be started with a minimum of preparatory work. In 1948 an orebody was proved of sufficient tonnage, of a grade about 2 pct Zn, 0.5 oz Ag, and 1.0 pct Pb. It was decided to use block-caving, the only appropriate mining method by which this grade of ore could be economically recovered. Exploration for additional reserves in other areas of the mine is continuing, but ultimate results are not known at this time. With more sink-and-float capacity, larger ball mills, and more flotation machines, mill capacity was increased to 3000 tons per day, permitting the mining of ore in the square-set area at a maximum rate not usually achieved, because of the scarcity of labor. Increased mill capacity also permits block caving and the mining of jig tailings at variable rates to keep mill feed up to 3000 tons per day. Fortunately the three types of feed are amenable to the same mill circuit and reagents for recovery of Pb and Zn. For example, during the first 10 months of 1952 square sets produced 827 tons per day, block-caving 1421 tons per day, and jig tailings 643 tons per day, an average daily production of 2891 tons for all three products. Exploration had proved the existence of an ore-body 1000 ft long and 165 ft wide in horizontal section, see Fig. 1. Company engineers were concerned only with the vertical extension, about 300 ft, from an old level to the surface. Much of this almost outcropped, Fig. 2. The ore lies in the hanging wall of a major fault of the Bunker Hill mine, standing at 65" in one end of the zone and separated from the fault by a wedge of waste, see Fig. 3. This wedge pinches out near the center of the zone, at which point the ore dips 45", lying nearly on the fault, Fig. 4. The remaining portion lies on the fault and conforms to the fault dip of 35", Fig. 5. Open-pit mining for the top of the ore was considered, but since the ore zone dipped into and under the mountains, adverse waste-to-ore ratios precluded use of this method. The ore occurs in massive quartzite of sufficient strength to support untimbered drifts, crosscuts, and raises. Zones of weakness in the quartzite are bedding, jointing, and small faults or slips. The mineralization, which occurs as small stringers of sphalerite and galena as well as pyrite, creates another line of weakness. The mineral veins or veinlets in themselves are high-grade. Their size and regularity and the amount of barren quartzite by which they are separated determined the limits of mineable ore, which are all assay limits except for the one determined by the major fault. Block 1 Without any background of caving in this type of quartzite, engineers selected the first block on the very steep end of the zone. Compelling reasons prompted this decision. The steep portion of the ore in Block 1 was of the lowest grade, so that if difficulties were encountered no very valuable ore would be lost, while the experience gained might be applied in mining the remaining blocks. A block 200x200 ft was laid out, with four scrams spaced 50 ft apart for drawing and placed at a right angle to the strike. Finger raises were placed in a 25-ft interval grid pattern, with flat undercutting done by crosscuts at the undercut level 25 ft above

Jan 1, 1954

By J. L. Gillson

In a brief summary of the many occurrences of fluorspar in our western states, it is not possible to go into detail in regard to the geology, mining and milling methods, and reserves about individual deposits. Rather a broad review is made of the occurrences and an analysis of how the western deposits may fit into our future domestic economy is presented. General Statement on Fluorspar Situation Fluorspar has been used for years as a flux in the manufacture of basic open-hearth steel, in foundry cupolas for melting pig iron, in the manufacture of opalescent glass and in the preparation of hydrofluoric acid. In 1880 the annual production of fluorspar in the United States was around 4000 tons per year. By 1900 it was up to 21,656 tons and between 1902 and 1908 it averaged about 40,000 tons annually. Prices were then so low, by present standards, that it seems impossible to believe now that mining could have been performed profitably at the price levels then prevailing. In 1890 fluorspar sold at the mines for $6.70 per ton, in 1901 for $5.81, in 1916 for 85.92. When the United States entered World War I, flyorspar production and price skyrocketed; the production reached 263,817 tons in 1918, with prices above $20.00 per ton, and prices were even higher in 1919 and 1920. After 1920, the domestic production fell from the 1918 level to about 125,000 tons annually and the average price dropped back to about $18.00 per ton. By 1935 the average price had fallen to $15.00, but in 1940 with a rising demand the average price of all grades had gone back up to $20.31. Today it is 75 per cent higher than in 1940 and presumably the price of acid grade at .least would be even higher if it were not for price ceilings. The first subsequent year that the domestic production exceeded that of 1918 was 1941, and the 1944 production is expected to exceed 400,000 tons, or over one and a half times that of 1918. In five-year periods, average production and imports were as are shown in Table I. Many people concerned with the consumption of fluorspar believe that the postwar period ahead will show a repetition of price trends of the last such period. They believe that imports will be again an important factor in the available supply and the price will fall back gradually toward the prewar level. The following basic factors are pertinent in analyzing this conclusion:

Jan 1, 1948

By J. L. Gillson

In a brief summary of the many occurrences of fluorspar in our western states, it is not possible to go into detail in regard to the geology, mining and milling methods, and reserves about individual deposits. Rather a broad review is made of the occurrences and an analysis of how the western deposits may fit into our future domestic economy is presented. General Statement on Fluorspar Situation Fluorspar has been used for years as a flux in the manufacture of basic open-hearth steel, in foundry cupolas for melting pig iron, in the manufacture of opalescent glass and in the preparation of hydrofluoric acid. In 1880 the annual production of fluorspar in the United States was around 4000 tons per year. By 1900 it was up to 21,656 tons and between 1902 and 1908 it averaged about 40,000 tons annually. Prices were then so low, by present standards, that it seems impossible to believe now that mining could have been performed profitably at the price levels then prevailing. In 1890 fluorspar sold at the mines for $6.70 per ton, in 1901 for $5.81, in 1916 for 85.92. When the United States entered World War I, flyorspar production and price skyrocketed; the production reached 263,817 tons in 1918, with prices above $20.00 per ton, and prices were even higher in 1919 and 1920. After 1920, the domestic production fell from the 1918 level to about 125,000 tons annually and the average price dropped back to about $18.00 per ton. By 1935 the average price had fallen to $15.00, but in 1940 with a rising demand the average price of all grades had gone back up to $20.31. Today it is 75 per cent higher than in 1940 and presumably the price of acid grade at .least would be even higher if it were not for price ceilings. The first subsequent year that the domestic production exceeded that of 1918 was 1941, and the 1944 production is expected to exceed 400,000 tons, or over one and a half times that of 1918. In five-year periods, average production and imports were as are shown in Table I. Many people concerned with the consumption of fluorspar believe that the postwar period ahead will show a repetition of price trends of the last such period. They believe that imports will be again an important factor in the available supply and the price will fall back gradually toward the prewar level. The following basic factors are pertinent in analyzing this conclusion:

Jan 1, 1948

By J. Hudy

An investigation has been made to determine the applicability of the Cendrex X-ray instrument for the measurement of the ash contents of washed bituminous coal products. The results obtained for selected products from five preparation plants in the northern Appalachian region are described. Emphasis of the study was placed on low-ash bituminous coals suit-able for utility or metallurgical markets. There was good agreement between the results obtained by conventional ash determination methods and by the Cendrex for all the products tested. A principal disadvantage of coal in competition with other fuels has been its inconsistent quality, especially with respect to ash content. Mine rnechanization and production from coalbeds of inferior quality have accentuated this failing. Present quality control methods in coal preparation plants are inadequate because (1) control samples taken over a production shift only serve to give the average quality of the product, (2) conventional sampling and analysis data are usually not available at the time a shipment is scheduled, and (3) the plant operator does not have the use of such data when the coal is being processed so that operating conditions may be adjusted for correcting variations in quality. Thus, the development and use of continuous-control monitoring instruments is of prime importance. The Federal Bureau of Mines arranged to investigate an instrument using x-rays for rapid continuous ash determinations. Developed by the Dutch State Mines and first described in 1958,' this instrument, which has found widespread acceptance in Europe, is designed to provide ash analysis of any desired coal feed or product stream with only a five-minute time lag between sample collection and analytical results. With limit controls, this unit could be used to feed back signals to preset the separating gravity of coal washers, control the ratio of various coals needed to produce an acceptable blend, and permit the sorting of a washed product into two qualities, one which is below and the other which is above a prescribed ash content. This unit can also be used discontinuously for rapid determination of coal samples taken in the usual manner. THEORY Di jkstra and Sieswerda of the Dutch State Mines studied the effect of chemical composition and ash content on the absorption coefficient of coal with the transmitted radiation method.' They found that with an X-ray wavelength of 1.79 A and values calculated for the absorption coefficients of ash and combustibles, the absorption coefficient of coal gave a linear relationship when plotted against the ash content. Thus, a method of measuring the absorption coefficient of coal could also be used to measure the ash content. However, practical attempts to measure the ash content of coal by comparing the intensities of the transmitted X-rays failed. The absorption coefficient of coal can also be obtained by irradiating a layer of coal with x-rays and measuring the intensity of the diffused reflection (backscatter method). The relationship between the diffused reflection and the ash content is actually hyperbolic but approximates a straight line over a narrow range. A measuring circuit that balanced the difference in intensity of the reflected radiation from a standard surface against that from a coal sample was used. By plotting this difference of reflected radiation against the ash content, a curve which approximated a straight line over a range of 8 percentage points of ash was obtained. DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT The apparatus performs two distinct functions: (1) the preparation of the sample to a suitable size consist and moisture content for delivery to the x-ray element, and (2) the measurement of the ash content by the x-ray element. In a continuous operation the coal sample is delivered to a conditioner where it is dried to a maximum of 1% surface moisture and pulverized in a high speed mill to -48-mesh. This material is fed, at a rate of 250-300 gpm onto a rotating disk, shown in Fig. 1, where it is mixed with material already present. The mixture is rotated on the disk and

Jan 1, 1969

By C. H. Pishny, Raymond M. Carr, E. J. Dickinson

Petroleum development in Oklahoma during the year 1932 was rather colorless. The crude price structure, while it was relatively stable, was too low to encourage wildcat drilling and proration restrictions were such that producing wildcats were usually faced with the drab prospect of being limited to 50 bbl. per day. Proration in flush and semiflush areas was for the most part successfully accomplished. Military enforcement of proration rulings was deemed necessary at Oklahoma City. The trend toward cost cutting and abandonment of unprofitable wells continued through the year. It is estimated that 1500 wells were abandoned and it is not unlikely that as many more were shut down which will never produce again. Oklahoma crude oil stocks were reduced by approximately 11 million barrels in 1932. It is generally conceded that inventories of material have been appreciably reduced. Leasing activity was limited principally to rental reductions and to close scrutiny of all lease holdings. There were numerous "leasing plays" based on geophysical information but with few exceptions they were small. It is estimated that over 15 per cent of the acreage under lease at the beginning of 1932 was surrendered during the year. There was a tendency through the year to prospect shallow pay sands formerly passed by in the search for deeper production. This is especially true of the Seminole area, where the Calvin sand received considerable attention, and where some good wells were completed. Prices There were two price changes during the year that affected the majority of crude sales. Using 36 gravity A.P.I. as a basis of comparison, the price was increased on April 11 from $0.77 to $0.92. On Dec. 16, the price dropped to $0.69. During the fall months there were several postings higher than this schedule but all postings were at the same level at the end of the year.

Jan 1, 1933

By H. A. Wheeler

. Page History.................................533 Location .........:.....................536 Geology...............................539 Description of the Eastern Field ... :..................543 Description of the Western Field .........,...........546 Quality of the Oil ................ ,........549 The Oil Sands .,.............................549 Drilling Features'........................., . 551 Well Density...........,.'...............:. 552 Plant Equipment.......................:.'., .554 Market Features..........................555 Production Prices.........,...................557 Royalties and Rentals.........................558 Cost of Oil Leases............................'.558 Operating Expenses..........................559 Operating 'Profits...........................559 Gas Developments ........................560 Gas-Gasoline production ... :....................561 Statistics.......562 History Illinois has SO recently attained the third place in the oil production of the United States that few realize its great importance, or are aware of its highly profitable character. Since 1907 Illinois has furnished about 15 per cent. of the United States output and about 10 per cent, of the world's production. The value of the output in 1913 is estimated at $307000,000, of which about $20,000,000 is profit. The present prosperity dates from 1905, but efforts have been made since 1865 to develop production and geologists have been very sanguine as to its future for over 25 years. Had the oil operators been as confident as the geologists, the field would have been opened at least 30 years earlier. For the rich Eastern Illinois oil field is located along the La Salle anticline, that was mapped 46 years ago by Professor Worthen in the

Jan 1, 1915

By Herbert Hoover

THE desire of the engineers over the last few years, growing out of their contact with public affairs, that this Institute should take a wider vision than the narrower field of technology and should apply its skill to the development of civic problems which must lay in their foundation on engineering, has led to this discussion today. Some of us in San Francisco, in discussing this question of the relation of the engineers to civic problems, raised the question as to whether or not in this national emergency it was not the duty of the Mining Engineers to bring, forward their combined skill and knowledge and experience to bear upon the problems of the coal industry. This industry, considered as a whole, is one of the worst functioning industries in the United States. It is equipped with capital, with machinery, plants and labor to a peak load at least 20 per cent. above the average necessity. This peak load, therefore, involves the use of probably 100,000 men diverted from other productive industries; it involves an intermittency of employment through its whole personnel that results not only in a long train of human woe, but results also in a higher cost of coal -to the general public. The problem of whether the industry can, by any device, be cured or even partially cured of its intermittency, is solely an engineering problem. It is therefore an apropos problem for this Institute. Your President and myself and others thought that we could best develop this discussion by calling upon men of large experience in the particular branches of the soft coal industry, to bring the facts in front of this general committee, with a view to an exhaustive discussion and perhaps subsequently the appointment of a committee to formulate those facts and such remedies as may be developed into a report that would be of constructive value.

Jan 3, 1920

By H. Rush Spedden, Arvid Thunaes

Pilot plant test work in 1942 and 1943 showed that by a combination of deslim-ing, fine-size classification, and Sullivan deck concentration it is possible to recover heavy minerals such as cassiterite at least as fine as 10 microns in size. This appreciable improvement in gravity concentration practice has been substantiated by several full-sized plants. IN the past, mills treating ores of tin and tungsten by gravity concentration have recovered very little mineral finer than 325 mesh, although some form of slime concentration has been generally attempted by the use of buddies or round tables. This paper describes a series of pilot plant tests made in 1942 and 1943 in which the use of the Sullivan deck was investigated for the recovery of an appreciable amount of the fine values formerly lost. The investigation was initiated by the U. S. Government in an effort to increase the wartime production of tin. Bolivian milling practice at that time included jigging of the coarse sizes, tabling of the intermediate sizes on conventional shaking tables, and the use of buddies or round tables on the finest sizes. Flotation of the pyrite was employed at different stages of the treatment, depending upon the quantity present and the preference of the operator. Usually good recoveries and the bulk of the production were made in the jigging and tabling operations provided that these sections were not overloaded. Buddies and round tables were used for a small additional recovery if it could be shown that they could pay for their high cost of operation. Extensive test work established that by a combination of desliming, classification, and Sullivan deck treatment, cassiterite as fine as 10 microns (1500 mesh) could be recovered when proper conditions were maintained. This test work has been verified by several full-scale installations. The method is generally applicable to the preconcentra-tion of large tonnages of low-grade ores or tailings for the recovery of a small amount of a valuable heavy mineral. The Sullivan deck (or now the Denver Buckman tilting concentrator), which is the essential part of the method, was devised originally for the recovery of tin from tailings of the Sullivan concentrator, Kimberly, B. C. Since the material treated contained only 0.05 pct Sn, it was impractical to attempt to recover cassiterite finer than 500 mesh.*

Jan 1, 1951

By H. Rush Spedden, Arvid Thunaes

Pilot plant test work in 1942 and 1943 showed that by a combination of deslim-ing, fine-size classification, and Sullivan deck concentration it is possible to recover heavy minerals such as cassiterite at least as fine as 10 microns in size. This appreciable improvement in gravity concentration practice has been substantiated by several full-sized plants. IN the past, mills treating ores of tin and tungsten by gravity concentration have recovered very little mineral finer than 325 mesh, although some form of slime concentration has been generally attempted by the use of buddies or round tables. This paper describes a series of pilot plant tests made in 1942 and 1943 in which the use of the Sullivan deck was investigated for the recovery of an appreciable amount of the fine values formerly lost. The investigation was initiated by the U. S. Government in an effort to increase the wartime production of tin. Bolivian milling practice at that time included jigging of the coarse sizes, tabling of the intermediate sizes on conventional shaking tables, and the use of buddies or round tables on the finest sizes. Flotation of the pyrite was employed at different stages of the treatment, depending upon the quantity present and the preference of the operator. Usually good recoveries and the bulk of the production were made in the jigging and tabling operations provided that these sections were not overloaded. Buddies and round tables were used for a small additional recovery if it could be shown that they could pay for their high cost of operation. Extensive test work established that by a combination of desliming, classification, and Sullivan deck treatment, cassiterite as fine as 10 microns (1500 mesh) could be recovered when proper conditions were maintained. This test work has been verified by several full-scale installations. The method is generally applicable to the preconcentra-tion of large tonnages of low-grade ores or tailings for the recovery of a small amount of a valuable heavy mineral. The Sullivan deck (or now the Denver Buckman tilting concentrator), which is the essential part of the method, was devised originally for the recovery of tin from tailings of the Sullivan concentrator, Kimberly, B. C. Since the material treated contained only 0.05 pct Sn, it was impractical to attempt to recover cassiterite finer than 500 mesh.*

Jan 1, 1951

By Jack L. Taylor

Single crystals of tungsten grown from powder -metallurgy swaged rod by high-temperative annealing were deformed in tetzsion at temperatures from 2500 to 5000 OF. Orientation of specittzen tensile axis, strained ratrix, and defortnation bands was determined optically by reflections from {110} etch pits. Slip traces meve analyzed and slip directiorz determined. Results indicate that {110}(111) , {112){111}. and {123}{111} type slip occur in tungsten over the terpe,atuve rutge investigated. Slip is orientation-dependent occuvring on tCuzt cowzbitzation oj slip plane and direction which has the highest critical resolved shear stvess. Overshooting appears to be a general occurrence between 2500' and 5000°F. Dejornatiotz bands show rotation in a directiorz opposite to the yotation of tire tensile axis. DEFORMATION in bcc metals has been reviewed by Maddin and Chen,' Keh and eissman,' and most recently by Nabarro, Basinski, and olt. From these reviews it is apparent that some disagreement exists concerning the crystallography of plastic deformation in bcc metals. There is evidence of noncrystallo-graphic slip, the crystal slipping on or near a noncrys-tallographic plane in the (111) zone for which the resolved shear stress is greatest. There is also evidence to indicate that crystallographic slip occurs in the planes of the same zone. On the other hand, there is agreement that the close-packed direction ( 111) is the slip direction in bcc metals. Further, in pure bcc metals4 and alloys the operative crystallographic slip systems are strongly dependent on temperature. Both crystallographic and noncrystallographic slip have been reportede8 in tungsten, a group VIA bcc metal. The number of slip families which operate in the case of crystallographic slip, however, has been in question. The earliest study by oucher' of single-crystal tungsten tested at temperatures of 1800 to 5000°F led to the conclusion that only {112)( 111) type slip operated. Raymond and eumann recently reached the same conclusion studying deformation by rolling of plasma-flame single crystals at 1800°F; however, only [loo] and [110] orientations were studied. Work at high temperatures by Leber and Pughs on tungsten and Chen and Maddin9 on molybdenum suggests that conjugate slip on nonparallel (110) planes may account for the slip on (112) and (123) planes found by others working with bcc metals. The present paper presents evidence of three families or modes of slip in tungsten in the temperature EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Material. Standard microtensile specimens, 0.160 in. diam by 0.640 in. gage length, were ground from commercial powder-metallurgy swaged tungsten rod, type MK. Specimens were heated for 10 min at 5150°F or 6 hr at 5400°F in vacuum of 1 x 105 Torr or less to produce single crystals. At the lower temperature an average of two out of seven specimens heated in a group developed single crystals throughout the specimen length as shown in Fig. 1, the rest remaining wholly poly crystalline. At the higher temperature, three or four out of seven specimens became single crystal. Other than to note that Laue X-ray photographs generally showed sharp, well-defined spots, no attempt was made to assess crystal perfection or measure dislocation density. Two tungsten single crystals grown from the melt by the plasma-arc process were also used for this study.

Jan 1, 1967

By H. A. Coy, James A. Noble

The Mascot mines of the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee are situated at Mascot, Tenn., 14 miles northeast of Knoxville, on the Southern Railway. The district is centrally located in the Great Valley, or Appalachian Valley Province. Prior to 1900, a small output of zinc was obtained from oxidized ore mined in open pits. In 1900, a shaft was sunk to sulfide ore, and in 1903, a second shaft was put down, neither being as deep as 200 ft. The American Zinc Co. of Tennessee began drilling in 1911, and outlined an ore-body to which its No. 1 shaft was sunk, to a depth of 365 ft. Since that time, the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee has been the only operator in the district. The Federal mining laws have never been in operation in Tennessee and mining lands are as irregular in boundary and area as farm lands. Ownerships are generally held in fee. In most cases the surface and mineral rights are transferred together. Electric power is supplied at 66,000 volts by the Tennessee Power Co., from a hydro-electric plant at Parksville, Polk County, Tenn., 100 miles from Mascot. No other power is used, but an emergency steam plant is held ready in case of interruption of service. Labor is all native and non-union. Negroes are employed for most of the shoveling, and for a few miscellaneous jobs, but for almost no other work. Exploration Exploration is carried ahead of mining largely by surface drilling. Both churn and diamond drills are used. Holes are not spotted according to geometric plan, but to block out ore outlines with the least number of holes. Churn-drill cuttings from each 5-ft. run are mounted for formation record, and in ore ground, all the bailings from each 3 ft. of advance are sampled and assayed. Diamond-drill cores are sampled and a specimen core filed for formation record. In ore ground, all the core

Jan 1, 1925

By Phillip B. Bucky, R. S. Taborelli

The term "longwall mining" is best known to coal men, although modifications of the method are continually being used in other fields. Longwall mining is of interest today because it makes for greater inechanization and better supervision at the working face, and therefore lower production costs and increased safety. It is an approach to the factory system of production, the high efficiency of which as compared to that in mines is well known. There is available an accumulation of experience regarding this work but coordination of experience is lacking and this series of experiments was undertaken to help serve this purpose. Model experiments were used for reasons of safety, cost and time, and because it has been previously shown1,2,3 that a scalar inodel built of the same material as the prototype will behave in a manner similar to that of the prototype, with time effects the same, if the effective weight of the model is increased in the same proportion as its linear dimenbions are decreased. This is accomplished by substituting a centrifugal for the gravitational field; i.e., placing the model in a centrifuge and controlling the strength of the centrifugal field by varying the rate of rotation. Many factors affect the behavior of the geologic material overlying a bed, therefore results and conclusions contained in this paper apply only to the conditions presented herein. Longwall Mining What Is Longwall Mining?—Agreement should be reached as to what constitutes longwall mining and therefore what constitutes a longwall face. Let longwall mining be defined as the mining procedure in which the roof and overlying bed breaks tend to parallel the working face. In the ordinary stope or room-and-pillar mining the roof breaks tend to

Jan 1, 1938