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By D. C. Hilty, W. Crafts

J. Chipman—It has been my privilege to discuss this work with the authors on several occasions and to observe at first hand the experimental methods employed. I wish, therefore, to emphasize certain points which they have mentioned only briefly with regard to the experimental techniques. The rotating induction furnace as here employed interposes liquid metal between slag and refractory thus preventing the two nonmetallic parts of the system from reaching equilibrium with one another. It is therefore impossible for the metallic phase to be completely in equilibrium with both the slag and the crucible. The metal also acts as a partially permeable membrane allowing certain components, including oxygen, to diffuse from slag to crucible. This transfer results in building up on the face of the crucible a layer of material whose composition is in part dependent on that of the bath. Reactions between the layer and the solid refractory are slow, as evidenced by the rather good life of the crucible. Hence it seems probable that the layer is more nearly in equilibrium with the metal than with the underlying crucible material and that, once it is established under a bath of a given composition, its further reactions with that bath are slow. Additions to slag or bath may be followed by changes in the layer; and time must be allowed for virtual completion of such changes, before it can be assumed that slag and metal are in equilibrium. We may judge from the results reported that, in general, this was the case and that the data represent at least quite close approximations to slag-metal equilibrium. Data on deoxidation and on oxygen solubility are no better than the analytical methods employed. The vacuum fusion method as used by the authors seems entirely adequate for the samples analyzed. I have had frequent occasion to compare results with their laboratory, always with very satisfactory agreement. The determination of aluminum at very low concentrations is perhaps an even more difficult procedure. Here also the colorimetric method used has been worked out with great care and is undoubtedly the most dependable method available. The discrepancy between observed and calculated deoxidation or solubility lines is not to be explained as the result of experimental errors, either in the sampling or analysis of the metal. Nor is it to be blamed upon inaccuracies in the several kinds of indirect data upon which the calculated results were based. It is true that both the observed and the calculated lines admit of some uncertainty as to their exact locations, but the uncertainties are small compared to the wide gap which separates the two lines. The authors have pointed out the real cause of the discrepancy. In all of their experiments the solid phase was not Al2O3 but a mixed oxide containing iron and aluminum. This suggests an extension of the calculated values to include equilibrium with the spinel FeO . A12O3. The free energies of FeO and A12O3 are known, that of the spinel is not. However, it cannot differ greatly from that of its component oxides for even in the more stable spinel, chromite, the free energy of formation from the oxides is less than 10,000 cal. For purposes of calculation we shall call this free energy X and solve for values of X lying between zero and 10,000 cal. The other data required are taken from the forthcoming revision of "Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking" and are given in the following equations in which underlined symbols indicate elements dissolved in liquid steel and the standard concentrations are 1 pct. ?F° at 1600°C, cal ?LA = 2 Al + 3 O; + 107,200 FeO = Fe + 0; + 5,460 FeO + A12O3 = Fe + 2A1 + 4 0; + 112,660 — X The corresponding equilibrium concentrations are shown in fig. 21. The line marked A12O3 corresponds to the first equation, those marked FeO . AL2O3 correspond to the last, with X = 0, 5000 and 10,000 cal, respectively. The two upper lines represent the data of Hilty and Crafts and of Wentrup and Hieber. The points are the observations of Hilty and Crafts in the presence of 0.50 pct Mn.

Jan 1, 1951

By R. Q. Shotts

This paper is a review of recoverable reserves of bituminous coal in the Southern Appalachian area, according to the latest published estimates. A few comparisons are made, some apparent trends are discussed, and some comments are made regarding the limitations of present estimates. The definition of Southern Appalachian area used in this report is somewhat arbitrary. It includes all the bituminous coal deposits of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. All of West Virginia has been excluded. The East Kentucky and Virginia counties included were selected in connection with a literature study the writer made in 1959 of possible coal supply areas for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The selected counties were considered to be the only ones from which TVA might expect to obtain coal. The availability of coal from some of these counties is doubtful, but no other East Kentucky counties were considered more than remote possibilities. With these limitations, the Appalachian area covered is that from which producers of electric power and steel and commercial coal users, located in the Southeastern U. S., may expect to obtain their supplies of coal. Of course, it is recognized that coal from the eastern interior fields is also available to many of these same organizations. RANK AND QUALITY OF THE COALS Practically all the coals in the Southern Appalachian region are of high volatile A bituminous rank. An occasional sample indicates a slightly lower rank, but such samples may be oxidized or otherwise not representative. Some thin beds in Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain in Alabama and Georgia, are low volatile bituminous coals, but they have not been mined extensively in modern times. There is a possibility that some of the deeper beds along the southeastern edge of the Warrior field of Alabama are near the Low-medium volatile bituminous dividing line. The Sewanee bed and some other minor ones of the Southern Tennessee field, some of the lower beds in Virginia, many beds in Sand and Lookout Mountains in Georgia and Alabama, one or more beds in the Coosa field, possibly some lower beds in the Cahaba field, and most of the beds along the southeastern edge of the Warrior field and the southern end of the Sequatchie anticline of Alabama, are of medium volatile bituminous rank. The quality of the Southern Appalachian coals is highly variable. Some of them, particularly such prevailingly thin ones as the Black Creek bed of Alabama and the Straight Creek bed of Kentucky, are unusually low in mineral matter— probably the lowest in the U. S. With the exception of certain beds and local areas, Alabama and East Kentucky coals probably have as low average ash and sulfur content as can be found in any sizeable coal area in the country. The sulfur content of Southern Appalachian coals is also variable, but few beds are consistently high in sulfur. In Alabama, sulfur generally increases from southeast to northwest across the Warrior field, but this trend is not quite as clear in the other states. A few beds in Northern Tennessee are prevailingly high in sulfur. All Southern Appalachian coals are potential coking coals if they can be prepared to meet chemical requirements. Only a comparatively small part of the medium volatile A bituminous coal, but most of the medium volatile bituminous coal mined is actually used for coking purposes. An estimate of reserves of coking coal under the requirements of present practice, could be compiled comparatively easily, but this probably has never been done. The reserve of coal that can be coked as an ingredient of a suitable blend is probably many times the size of the reserves of coal that will yield suitable blast furnace and foundary coke without blending. WHAT CONSTITUTES ECONOMICALLY RECOVERABLE COAL RESERVES? When one first realizes the vast extent of the coal-bearing rocks in the Southern Appalachian area, (see Fig. 1) the thought is likely to occur that the supply of coal is inexhaustible. This is particularly true on realizing that in some of the basins of thicker coal-

Jan 1, 1962

By N. E. Maccallum

Almost half a century has passed since the Siemens brothers, after tedious and costly experiments, finally began the manufacture of open-hearth steel. The furnace of that time was very small, having a hearth-capacity of from 3 to 4 tons, and we can appreciate the wonderful development that has taken place in those 50 years by the knowledge that to-day furnaces of 50 times the original capacity are in operation. As the new steel process assumed importance, and furnaces began to grow in number and in size, a question arose, to which no satisfactory answer has ever been given, and that was: aWhat is the safe and economical limit of the open-hearth furnace ?" Various stopping-places have been suggested, and 20, 30, 40, and 50 tons have each been advocated, but all such arbitrary restrictions have been passed, and 60 tons would probably represent the average furnace, although in a few instances from 70 to 80 tons are regularly tapped into one ladle. The furnaces which are the subject of the present paper have gone far beyond even these limits, and since, in my opinion, they mark another step in the progress of open-hearth steel, they will be considered fairly and frankly, in order that those to whom the matter may be of interest may be able to judge and form their own conclusions. Short accounts of the work of these furnaces have appeared from time to time in various technical journals, of which the following is a brief résumé. These furnaces are the property of the Phoenix Iron Go., of Phœnixville, Pa., and their distinctive and important feature is, that they charge to twice the capacitl of one ladle, and tap simultaneously into two ladles, with a device for controlling the flow into either. In this way the capacity of the furnace is not limited, as formerly, but heats of any size within the capacity of two ladles may be charged.

Jan 1, 1913

By Arthur Notman

DURING the past fifteen years there has been a great change in the methods of treating employ-ment and discharge throughout industry. Perhaps nowhere has this change come more abruptly than in the metal mining districts of the West. In 1909, when I went to work for the Phelps Dodge Corporation in Bisbee, their operations were roughly arranged accord-ing to shafts in seven divisions, each employing from 100 to 250 men underground, and the mechanical department employing some 250 men, mostly on the surface. The underground divisions were each in charge of a foreman who had under him a night foreman and from two to four shift bosses on' each of two shifts. These foremen reported to the underground superinten-dent and he in turn to the superintendent of the mine department. The mechanical department was in charge of the master mechanic who reported to the superintendent of the mine department. RUSTLING A JOB IN THE OLD DAYS It was customary for men seeking employment to "rustle" the division foreman at the shaft during the lunch hour or at the close of the day shift and the master mechanic at the shops. There was no real attempt at interviewing the applicants for underground work. They simply filed in and out of the foremen's office-50 to 150 strong-in ten or fifteen minutes. If the foreman needed men, and he generally did; to replace those that he and the shift bosses had removed during the morning, he picked out those he knew or strangers who took his' fancy. The former in many cases were chosen for negative reasons rather than positive. In selecting the latter, the foreman felt that if they failed to show ability promptly, he could replace them the next day, and often did so. Even if these foremen had been skilful and well trained in the art of selecting men, it would have been impossible under the pressure of other duties to exercise that skill and experience in so doing. The conditions in the mechani-cal department were little better. About all that can be said in favor of such a method was that with a sur-plus of labor it "got by." The labor shortage brought about by the war disclosed its fundamental weakness.

Jan 6, 1923

By H. O. Hofman

The substance of this paper was prepared for the Seventh International Congress of Applied Chemistry, held in London, May, 1909, under the title, Some Developments in Blast-Roasting. In the absence of the author, a short abstract of the paper was read, and the abstract only will appear in the proceedings of the congress. The present paper has been partly rewritten and considerably enlarged by information gained since the original was prepared; also some illustrations have been added. Blast-roasting* is a generic term for the process of forcing air through finely-divided metallic sulphide with the object of roasting and agglomerating in a single operation. At first the process was confined to a galena-concentrate; lime, limestone, or gypsum was added, to serve both as a diluent to keep separate the particles of galena that they might be thoroughly oxidized, and as a flux that the partly-roasted ore niight be agglomerated by the formation of some slag. Later it was extended to treat other metallic sulphides. The leading processes were the Huntington-Heberlein and the Savelsberg of Europe, and the Carmichael-Bradford of Australia. In the United States and Canada, the Huntington-Heberlein process has found application in some instances with galena-concentrates, for which it was originally intended; but this class of ore is not often treated alone, hence the process has had to be modified to suit conditions. The Savelsberg process has been transplanted to this country in about its original form. The Carmichael-Bradford is not used at present. The changes called for in the Huntington-Heberlein process to adapt it to the class of lead-bearing ores usually smelted have been the

Jan 1, 1911

By D. L. Rainey, E. R. Goter, W. R. Hudspeth

THE area in which spodumene-bearing pegmatites occur extends from Gaffney, S. C., in a northerly direction to Lincolnton, N. C., a distance of about 16 miles. The zone averages 2 miles in width. Interest in this area was first aroused by the discovery of small amounts of cassiterite in the pegmatites and in greissen which occurs on the walls of some of the pegmatites. Attempts were made from 1880 into the 1920's to mine and concentrate cassiterite, but there were no successful operations. In 1935 L. M. Williams became interested in the area and began prospecting by trenching and sinking several small shafts. He gradually gained control of a considerable acreage south of the city of Kings Mountain, N. C. Mr. Williams states that he produced some ore from a shaft which he shipped to the Maywood Chemical Co. in the late 1930's. In 1937 G. H. Chambers of the Foote Mineral Co. visited the area and examined several properties, but the lithium market was too small to support the necessary concentrating plant.

Jan 9, 1953

By G. A. Reinhardt, H. J. Cutler

ThE Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. has produced a large tonnage of 0.35 to 0.45 carbon forging steel, the acceptance of which was based on the physical properties of test specimens obtained by forging the original 5 3/4-in. (14.5 cm.) square bloom to a 3/4-in. (1.9 cm.) round. Annealed and tempered specimens were required. The test bars were annealed by heating from 900" to 950' C. and cooling slowly in mica. The test bars were tempered by heating to 825' to 875" C., quenching in water, and drawing to 515" to 535" C. Immediately after heat treatment, the test pieces were machined to a diameter of 0.534 in. (1.38 cm.) and tested. Very good physical properties were obtained and no difficulty was experienced in meeting the specifications called for. UlTimate Strength.. Elongation, Lb. pER Sq. In. PEE Cent.. in 4 In. Not LeEs Than Annealed specimens.............. 78,230 to 92,450. 18 Tempered...................... 120,000 to 149,350 9 After experience on this material, production of slightly higher carbon forging steel was started. The method of testing this material required that test blooms be either normalized or annealed. The normalizing consisted in heating to 850" to 900" C. and cooling in still air; the annealing, in heating to 850" to 900" C. and cooling in the furnace or in mica. From the treated bloom, the test pieces were taken either by core drilling or by sawing from points midway between the edges and the intersection of the diagonals. The cores or blocks were turned to a standard 2-in. test piece with a diameter of 0.564 in. and tested without further treatment. The physical requirements of the test pieces were: yield point, pounds per square inch minimum, 44,800; ultimate strength, pounds per square inch, 89,600 to 112,000; elongation, per cent. in 2 in. not less than 17. Difficulty was encountered as soon as work on this material was started. Many precautions and refinements were instituted but it was found very difficult to secure the required elongation.

Jan 1, 1920

By Frederick N. Rhines

BECAUSE of the nature of the environments in which metals are handled, it is natural that gases should be suspected of intruding into metallurgical operations, there to produce effects both beneficial and detrimental. The problem of tracing and controlling such effects is often made difficult by the complexity of the conditions surrounding 'their occurrence, even though the fundamental mechanisms involved may be simple and of familiar type. Many gas-metal reactions are known to be implemented by processes of diffusion. These form a homogeneous group of phenomena which become more readily understandable when viewed together, in that the knowledge gained from one serves to interpret the next. It is the purpose of the present paper to present, by means of examples drawn from practice, a brief survey, of the ways in which gas-metal diffusion serves and obstructs the purposes of the metal-fabricating industries. The selection of the cases described was made by consulting more than thirty-six practicing experts whose combined experience provided an extensive coverage of the field and who were in a position to supply examples of occurrences of present day interest. The response was generous and it is regrettable that space permits the description of only a limited number of typical examples with but brief mention of parallel cases. THE NATURE OF GAS-METAL DIFFUSION The term "gas-metal diffusion," although commonly used, is ambiguous in so far as it implies that a definite group of substances may be identified as gases and may be expected to behave in a manner distinct from other substances in association with metals. "Gases" such as oxygen and hydrogen when diffusing through a liquid or solid metal are properly components of the liquid or solid solution; they behave as alloying elements and are not to be distinguished in their diffusion characteristics from other elements, except that each has an individual rate of diffusion. On the other hand, a number of metals in certain temperature ranges are volatile to the extent that they may appear in the form of vapor in metallurgical operations. For the sake of greater definiteness, therefore, it will be convenient to- regard as "gas-metal diffusion" any process in which the result depends upon one or more of the diffusing elements appearing, at some stage, in the gaseous state, or as a compound gas. No element, gaseous or otherwise, can diffuse through a liquid or solid metal unless it is at least slightly soluble in that metal. The elements of low atomic number

Jan 1, 1944

By Dan E. Lewis, William E. Saegart

Similarities of certain geologic and mineralogic parameters are recognized among the various Philippine porphyry copper deposits. Lowell and Guilbert3 described a model of the typical porphyry copper deposit as the result of comparing numerous Western Hemisphere occurrences. Many of the characteristics of the Philippine porphyry copper deposits differ from the model developed by Lowell and Guilbert. A model of the typical porphyry copper deposit is presented and the characteristics of the Philippine model are compared with those of the Western Hemisphere model. Estimated Philippine copper production in 1975 was 242 446 mt. The total in 1948 was 2091 mt. This represents a 116-fold increase in copper production during the 28-yr period. The Philippines now rank seventh in total world production of copper.

Jan 1, 1978

By Ta M. Li

In Gila County, Ariz., the Jaquays Mining Co. still finds the mining of asbestos a worthwhile and economical venture. At a time when domestic productive capacity is being reduced because of rapidly rising costs and tough environmental dust standards, this firm has dramatically brought its mine and mill operation into full productive capacity and compliance with both Federal and State regulations. Jaquay's Mining Corp. owns four underground mines in the Tonto National Forest, located approximately 32 miles north of the Globe-Miami District in Arizona. Only one mine, the El Dorado, is presently active. It mines an estimated 45,000 tpy of ore and waste. From this figure about 3000 tpy of fiber (No. one crude to Grade 4T) and fiberized shorts (No, seven) are recovered at the firm's mill, located in Globe, Ariz. Based on current ore reserves, the El Dorado mine has an estimated life between 15 to 17 years, assuming current mining rates and stable market conditions.

Jan 3, 1975

By W. M. Tuddenham, R. J. P. Lyon

In many areas surrounding the orebodies in mining districts rocks have been bleached and altered by the ore-forming solutions and have been oxidized during later weathering processes. A number of the rock-forming silic-ates have been broken down to clay, sericitic micas and chlorites have been developed, and pyrite may be found hundreds of feet outside the economic limits of the orebody. These halos of altered ground are prime targets used by geologists in many districts to delineate promising sites for drilling. Both in the field and in the laboratory it is often difficult to map these mineralogical changes in the halos in detail without numerous petrologic examinations. The secondary minerals are generally fine-grained, and since conversion of one mineral to another is often progressive, many alteration processes have not proceeded to completion (feldspars to clay to sericite mica). Qualitative detection of these minerals is difficult; quantitative determination is frequently impossible.

Jan 1, 1960

By V. H. Wilhelm

Developments in California during 1942 were marked by many difficulties in operation, of which the lack of labor and material were the main factors in slowing down work. During the many years of curtailment, which has been effective since 1928, a number of estimates of the state's capacity to produce have been built up, but during the year 44 fields were 'eliminated from curtailment and valuable data were obtained as to the normal capacity of these fields to produce. Because of new discoveries and the normal decline of old fields, which is more than 15 per cent per year, it is estimated that the sustained capacity of the state for a 5-year period is not more than 500,000 bbl. per day. Decline in the rate of production was greatest in the fields in the Los Angeles Basin district. These fields have been produced nearly at capacity for many years and had no reserve of shut-in production. The San Joaquin Valley and Coastal districts have responded well to the increased allotments assigned to them by the Petroleum Administrator for War. All heavy oil fields in the state are on full production, except in the Coastal district, where transportation is the limiting factor. Although approximately 2500 more wells are on production in the state than there were in 1941, the supply of heavy crude has not yet reached the demand. A summary of statistics for 1941 and 1942 is given in the following table. Production in California for 1942 was 680,000 bbl. a day as against 631,000 bbl. a day for 1941, an increase of 7.8 per cent. The present maximum efficient rate has been estimated at 808,000 bbl. per day. This indicates that in the 15 restricted fields of the state there is only an additional 83,000 bbl. per day of light oil available. Drilling Activity Drilling activity during the year was equivalent to but 70 per cent of normal. Although shortages of equipment and labor were in part responsible for the reduced drilling activity, the main reasons were the lack of proved locations due to a cycle of very few new discoveries and the restrictions of Conservation Order M-68. For the first six months of the year, 300 new oil wells were completed, which were equally divided as to the number of light and heavy oil producers. But, for the last six months of the year, it is

Jan 1, 1943

By V. H. Wilhelm

Developments in California during 1942 were marked by many difficulties in operation, of which the lack of labor and material were the main factors in slowing down work. During the many years of curtailment, which has been effective since 1928, a number of estimates of the state's capacity to produce have been built up, but during the year 44 fields were 'eliminated from curtailment and valuable data were obtained as to the normal capacity of these fields to produce. Because of new discoveries and the normal decline of old fields, which is more than 15 per cent per year, it is estimated that the sustained capacity of the state for a 5-year period is not more than 500,000 bbl. per day. Decline in the rate of production was greatest in the fields in the Los Angeles Basin district. These fields have been produced nearly at capacity for many years and had no reserve of shut-in production. The San Joaquin Valley and Coastal districts have responded well to the increased allotments assigned to them by the Petroleum Administrator for War. All heavy oil fields in the state are on full production, except in the Coastal district, where transportation is the limiting factor. Although approximately 2500 more wells are on production in the state than there were in 1941, the supply of heavy crude has not yet reached the demand. A summary of statistics for 1941 and 1942 is given in the following table. Production in California for 1942 was 680,000 bbl. a day as against 631,000 bbl. a day for 1941, an increase of 7.8 per cent. The present maximum efficient rate has been estimated at 808,000 bbl. per day. This indicates that in the 15 restricted fields of the state there is only an additional 83,000 bbl. per day of light oil available. Drilling Activity Drilling activity during the year was equivalent to but 70 per cent of normal. Although shortages of equipment and labor were in part responsible for the reduced drilling activity, the main reasons were the lack of proved locations due to a cycle of very few new discoveries and the restrictions of Conservation Order M-68. For the first six months of the year, 300 new oil wells were completed, which were equally divided as to the number of light and heavy oil producers. But, for the last six months of the year, it is

Jan 1, 1943

By Donald W. Gentry

Many firms in the minerals industry are facing enormous capital-equipment requirements for existing operations, planned expansion programs, pollution control systems, etc. Yet, because of existing economic conditions, mining companies find it increasingly difficult to obtain reasonable financing for the acquisition of large, high-cost capital equipment. One way of obtaining the use of mining and other major pieces of high-cost capital equipment is through leasing. The popularity of this approach is evidenced by the growing number of leasing companies, equipment manufacturers, and financial institutions now offering this service to their customers. Indeed, leasing has become a billion-dollar industry, and many commercial banks have developed sizeable portfolios in this area. "Should we buy or lease?" This question eventually comes up whenever a mining company needs additional major capital assets. Unfortunately, many buy-or-lease decisions are made on an emotional basis-rather than on a proper financial evaluation that would yield the…

Jan 9, 1975

By William G. Fricke

MaCROSEGREGATION, as distinct from microseg-regation, is often inverse in nature. That is, the eu-tectic solute elements, which are expected to be con-

Jan 1, 1970

By Donald C. Barton

Success in the use of the Eötvös torsion balance method of mapping geologic structure depends largely on the accuracy in the interpretation of the observed results. Skill in that interpretation depends (1) on the knowledge of the types of the variation of gravity, the gradient of gravity horizontally, and of the differential curvature produced by bodies of different sizes, shapes, dimensions, and densities; (2) on the knowledge of the possible types of structural bodies which might produce the observed anomalies; (3) on the empirical knowledge gained by experience not only in the geological interpretation of torsion balance surveys, hut of interpretations of inadequate geological data; and (4) on a knowledge of the possible and probable types of geologic structures in the area of the survey. The knowledge of the anomaly which a known body will produce and conversely the knowledge of the body or bodies which will produce a known anomaly may be gained by empirical experience and by mathematical study. The knowledge gained by empirical experience is fragmentary and inexact. The geology of most structures actually is known very superficially. The surface geology may be known accurately. If the structure is petroliferous, the subsurface geology of the oil field will be known down to 3000, 4000, 5000 ft. or in a few oil fields down to 7500 ft., but the deeper geology will be unknown and the metamorphic, igneous, or massive limestone basement below the reach of the drill may contrast sharply in density with the overlying sediments. Away from the oil field, the subsurface geology is known only from scattered drill holes, which do not go to the basement. A fair but not necessarily accurate knowledge of the geology of the nonproductive area can be obtained by correlation of the wells but the degree of its accuracy in general is proportional to the density of the occurrence of the wells. The geology below the bottom of the wells however is unknown. An anomaly mapped by the torsion balance is the sum of the effects of the contrasts in mass of its whole geologic surroundings. If the dimensions of a body of abnormal density are large enough, depth or distance makes no difference in the effects on the gradient and differential curvature; and as a matter of fact, in many places, the basement and irregulari-

Jan 1, 1929

By Horace Winchell

IT IS OFTEN interesting to look backward and review the world's progress in any line of human endeavor. Our pride is flattered by our achieve-ments and our imagination stimulated by the compari-son between our present productivity and prosperity and those of the relatively unenlightened days of our recent ancestors. We love to reflect on the progress of the last quarter of a century in the art of metallurgy, in. the production and consumption of the various metals and minerals which constitute the basis of our industrial and commercial supremacy. We dwell complacently on the figures which prove that we are the world's leader in nearly all departments of mining and that our production of necessary minerals over-shadows that of other countries. We recall the days when it was considered the proper thing, if not indeed indispensable, to go abroad for the rounding out of a mining engineer's education. We had no mining schools equal to those of Germany. Our schools of technology were elementary and their equipment limited. RISE OF AMERICAN MINING SCHOOLS Now we point with true American pride to institutions which, are unsurpassed in all the world in their standard of efficiency. We know full well that the American engineer is in demand in many foreign parts and when we read recent scientific treatises published abroad we are amazed to find them unfamiliar with many of the more advanced ideas which have here already come to be an everyday part of our professional knowledge and equipment. Blessed with a country of unrivalled natural resources, dwelling in a latitude whose climate is most conducive to enterprise, peopled with races of inventive and organizing genius with equality of individual opportunity, our industries have grown and expanded until our output has reached staggering proportions and the draft upon our mineral reserves is appalling. Coupled with this development has arisen a demand for engineers which has brought into our schools of technical science larger and larger numbers of young men whose imagination has been stimulated by the success of their predecessors who happened to be contemporary elements in the recent industrial expansion and prosperity.

Jan 1, 1923

By Edward Wisser

The environment of an ore body is taken to mean not only its physical surroundings but every factor, passive or active, that conditioned the ore shoot, saving only the original composition of the solutions that formed the shoot. Collection of data related to the shape and characteristics of veins should be followed by correlation of the data and the formulation of generalizations regarding ore formation. The nature of the criteria used in arriving at these generalizations is discussed. Certain of the criteria, when used with an understanding of their underlying causes, become "ore-guides." In the course of his study the geologist must not confine himself to the immediate surroundings of the veins, but should attempt to work out the geologic history of events culminating in the crucial epoch for any mining district, the period of mineralization. The work may involve study of features far removed from the veins and related to them only indirectly. It commonly means thorough study of the geology of the entire region surrounding the ore deposits. THE following question has been suggested for discussion: ? "Are there any criteria by which one can determine when mining operations have reached the roots of an ore deposit?" The question deals less with the roots of a particular ore body than with the lower limit of the vertical range within which ore bodies may be expected. It concerns a critical line upon the longitudinal vertical projection of a vein. ? Below this line it is useless to look for ore shoots; above the line exploration below the bottoms of individual ore shoots may be justified. Can we learn to determine the position of such a line?

Jan 1, 1939

By R. D. Russell, R. M. Farquhar

SOTOPIC tracers have become an important aid in following the progress of chemical processes in the laboratory. It has recently been found possible to utilize a system of naturally existing iso-topic tracers to obtain information about the geological history of lead ores. Common lead, such as is found in lead deposits, is a mixture of four stable isotopes having atomic weights 204, 206, 207, and 208. Of these, the last three are identical with the lead isotopes produced as stable end products of the radioactive decays of uranium and thorium: the first, lead-204, is not known to be produced on the surface of the earth by any process. Since uranium and thorium Occur in the surface regions of the earth in amounts comparable with lead, and since the half-lives of uranium and thorium isotopes are of the same order as the age of the earth, they produce the radiogenic lead isotopes in amounts comparable to the amount of nonradiogenic lead present. Every significant exposure of a sample of lead to uranium and thorium will therefore lead to the permanent alteration of the lead isotope ratios in that sample. It is this unique property of lead that serves as a means of tracing the history of a lead sample in terms of its contacts with the radioactive elements. If lead from a lead mineral has been analyzed with a mass spectrometer, the measured isotope ratios are determined entirely by the isotope ratios of primeval lead, which are identical for all minerals, and by the particular history of the sample. It follows that for samples from any particular geological area, observed differences in the isotopic composition are enough to distinguish different geological histories. An illustration of the qualitative application of this statement is given in Table I by analyses of some galenas from the western Cordillera. Samples from deposits in Pre-Cambrian sediments have very different lead isotope ratios from those of the ores in the Paleozoic sediments. Although the two types are associated closely geographically, it is apparent that they have had quite different histories and have probably been emplaced at quite different times, as the ideas outlined in the following section suggest. Even when applied quantitatively, a lead isotope analysis can never indicate a unique history of any lead sample. However, it greatly restricts the choices available and combined with other geological and geochemical data can lead to a much better understanding of the genesis of lead ores. General Character of Lead Isotope Variations: Early isotopic analyses of common leads by Nierl showed that geologically younger leads were generally richer in isotopes of masses 206, 207, and 208, with respect to that of mass 204. This regularity of measured lead isotope ratios can be easily observed by plotting each of the ratios Pb207/Pbm and Pb205/ Pb204 against the ratio Pb206/Pb204. In both graphs the points lie scattered closely about a well defined mean curve. It was immediately supposed that this regularity resulted from the growth of all leads from a common primeval lead present at some time, To, early in the earth's history. Lead in the outer part of the earth would become continually enriched in the radiogenic isotopes as a result of the uranium and thorium intimately associated with it. The subsequent extraction of some of this lead and formation of a lead mineral free of the radioactive parents provide samples of lead existing in the earth at the time of mineralization, T. Younger leads in general will be richer in the radiogenic isotopes because they have been associated with uranium and thorium for a longer time. Then lead ratios would be given by the formulae: (Pb206/Pb204)YTPb^/Pb204) +f "(u201) kdt T (Pb207Pb204)r = (Pb208/Pb204)T0 + J (U295/Pb204) k' dt T (Pb208/Pb204) t = (Pb208Pb204 + J (Th204) A." dt [1] where A, A', and A" are the decay constants of U238, U285 and Th232. Summaries of measurements of radioactivity of surface rocks, such as given by Faul,2 are of limited

Jan 1, 1958

By J. J. Mulligan, F. F. Colcord, E. F. Kern

The electrolytic separation of silver and gold has been practiced by the refineries in the United States for a good many years, and probably because of frequent visiting between officials of plants and the consequent exchange of views, operations in the various silver and gold refineries are very similar. We find, for instance, they practically all use electrolytes of approximately the same composition, which, no doubt, is more the result of experience than of studies of electrolytes. At the new electrolytic parting plant of the U. S. S. Lead Refinery, Inc., East Chicago, Ind., considerable attention has been given to the composition of electrolytes, especially to their conductivity and their effect on the character of the silver deposit. We are not aware that anything has been recently published on this subject and are, therefore, presenting such data as we have with the idea that, although it will not be wholly new, it may stimulate interest in the subject. Effect of Copper Content on Conductivity The first work was to determine the specific conductivity of silver nitrate and copper nitrate solutions. Concentrated solutions of silver nitrate and copper nitrate were prepared by dissolving analyzed chemically-pure salts in distilled water, and determining the silver and copper in each. Definite amounts of the concentrated solutions were taken, mixed and diluted to a definite volume. The silver and the copper were determined in each of these solutions and the conductivity was then determined. The plotted results are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The effect of increasing quantities of silver and copper is readily seen. A comparison of the two sets of curves shows conclusively the benefit of holding the copper content of the electrolyte above 5C g. per liter, as its effect is to increase greatly the conductivity in an approximate propor-

Jan 1, 1926