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By A. S. Richardson

PROGRESS in health and safety in the mining field has been greatly affected by war conditions. Some of the instruments commonly used in ventilation and dust prevention work have been practically unobtainable. Much equipment, such as fans, has been purchasable only when it was possible to make positive statements to the effect that it was absolutely necessary for the production of definite quantities of materials essential to the war. Even then, long delays were usually experienced in obtaining such equipment from the manufacturers. These circumstances have, of course, not been conducive to the development of new and better methods, though attention has been directed by governmental agencies towards the recognition of existing hazards to which little attention had previously been paid.

Jan 1, 1945

By Frederick N. Rhines, William A. Anderson

The investigations of Wymanl have demonstrated that copper deoxidized with several of the commonly used agents that confer immunily to ordinary hydrogen em-brittlement can still be embrittled if it is annealed alternately under oxidizing and reducing conditions. During the oxidizing cycle, oxygen diffuses into the copper and frequently deposits a subscale composed of the oxide of the residual deoxidizing agent. Upon subsequent reduction with hot hydrogen, the copper becomes ruptured along the grain boundaries to a depth sharply limited by the previous penetration of oxygen as delineated by the inner boundary of the subscale. Obviously the sensitivity to this kind of hydrogen embrittlement is engendered by the introduction of oxygen during the oxidizing anneal, but beyond this the mechanism of the process, and hence the controlling factors, remain obscure. There are several possibilities: (I) oxygen dissolved in the copper matrix of the subscale may, upon cooling prior to the hydrogen anneal, precipitate as cuprous oxide which is subsequently reduced by hydrogen as in the familiar case of hydrogen embrittlement; (2) oxygen in solid solution in copper may itself confer susceptibility to embrittlement by hydrogen; (3) the normally refractory oxides such as those of aluminum, silicon and titanium may themselves be reduced by hydrogen when in contact with copper; or (4) the precipitated oxides of the subscale may be complex compounds such, perhaps, as SiO2.Cu2O, which are partially reduced by hydrogen. These possibilities have been examined, and it has been concluded that the first three and possibly the fourth are operative collectively or individually under more or less predictable conditions. Effect OF Precipitated Cuprous Oxide and Dissolved Oxygen The literature provides no definite proof that oxygen in solid solution in copper can confer susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement; indeed, the research of Leiter2 seemed to indicate the opposite—that to produce the effect, cuprous oxide must be present in massive form and in a more or less continuous network along the grain boundaries. To test this point, pure copper has been annealed in hydrogen under conditions designed to ensure the presence in various samples of: (I) precipitated cuprous oxide, (2) dissolved oxygen only, and (3) no oxygen in any form. Very pure copper" said to contain no oxygen and no spectro-scopically detectable traces of any other element (that is, no individual detectable impurity in quantity greater than 0.0001 per cent) was used. Strips of this material cold.-rolled 75 per cent to 1/8 in. in thickness were subjected to the following treatments, the results of which are noted:

Jan 1, 1941

By W. Gundaker, F. C. Schwerer

Natural chromium-bearing spinels (chromites), which are used as refractory materials in basic steelmaking, are the only commercially important chromium ore and are also encountered as difficult-to-separate contaminants in ore deposits of potential economic value. Techniques for characterization and separation of ore materials frequently are dependent on the magnetic properties of the constituent minerals. An experimental program was initiated to explore the effects of temperature and of simple mechanical and thermal treatments on the static magnetic properties of several ore-grade natural chromites. Studies of the temperature dependence of the magnetic properties showed that the natural chromites, which are dilute in the magnetic ions Fe and Cr, order magnetically only at cryogenic temperatures. However, mechanical treatment in the form of crushing produces a magnetic component that is ordered at room temperature and that is of sufficient strength to alter magnetic-separation characteristics. The additional magnetic component apparently is associated with surface structures which develop during crushing and disappear after heating to above about 500°C. Preliminary studies indicate that this surface structure enhances the susceptibility of the chromite grain surfaces to gas reactions at moderate temperatures.

Jan 1, 1976

By Frederick N. Rhines, William A. Anderson

The investigations of Wymanl have demonstrated that copper deoxidized with several of the commonly used agents that confer immunily to ordinary hydrogen em-brittlement can still be embrittled if it is annealed alternately under oxidizing and reducing conditions. During the oxidizing cycle, oxygen diffuses into the copper and frequently deposits a subscale composed of the oxide of the residual deoxidizing agent. Upon subsequent reduction with hot hydrogen, the copper becomes ruptured along the grain boundaries to a depth sharply limited by the previous penetration of oxygen as delineated by the inner boundary of the subscale. Obviously the sensitivity to this kind of hydrogen embrittlement is engendered by the introduction of oxygen during the oxidizing anneal, but beyond this the mechanism of the process, and hence the controlling factors, remain obscure. There are several possibilities: (I) oxygen dissolved in the copper matrix of the subscale may, upon cooling prior to the hydrogen anneal, precipitate as cuprous oxide which is subsequently reduced by hydrogen as in the familiar case of hydrogen embrittlement; (2) oxygen in solid solution in copper may itself confer susceptibility to embrittlement by hydrogen; (3) the normally refractory oxides such as those of aluminum, silicon and titanium may themselves be reduced by hydrogen when in contact with copper; or (4) the precipitated oxides of the subscale may be complex compounds such, perhaps, as SiO2.Cu2O, which are partially reduced by hydrogen. These possibilities have been examined, and it has been concluded that the first three and possibly the fourth are operative collectively or individually under more or less predictable conditions. Effect OF Precipitated Cuprous Oxide and Dissolved Oxygen The literature provides no definite proof that oxygen in solid solution in copper can confer susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement; indeed, the research of Leiter2 seemed to indicate the opposite—that to produce the effect, cuprous oxide must be present in massive form and in a more or less continuous network along the grain boundaries. To test this point, pure copper has been annealed in hydrogen under conditions designed to ensure the presence in various samples of: (I) precipitated cuprous oxide, (2) dissolved oxygen only, and (3) no oxygen in any form. Very pure copper" said to contain no oxygen and no spectro-scopically detectable traces of any other element (that is, no individual detectable impurity in quantity greater than 0.0001 per cent) was used. Strips of this material cold.-rolled 75 per cent to 1/8 in. in thickness were subjected to the following treatments, the results of which are noted:

Jan 1, 1941

By Robert L. Slobod

In much of the work reported in the literature on long cores. true connate water value, probably have not been obtained because of insufficient flow of 011 to attain equilibrium. A -.satisfactory method for establishing connate water in long cores has been developed in which oil flow is maintained until no additiona1 water is displaced. INTRODUCTION Long cores have been used by sev-erals investigators in an effort to evaluate the efficiency of oil recovery for various producing schemes. The effects of many variables such as rate of displacement. pressure drop, volume of displacing medium, gas-oil ratio, inter-facial tension, and others have been investigated, and the merits of gas drive have been compared with water drive. In the older experiments no connate water was used. but in the more recent stndies the philosophy of the experiment calls for a core containing oil and connate water (irreducible water) as the starting point of the experiment. The method generally used to establish this condition in long cores involves dynamic' displacement wherein one or more phases are forced through the core. flow being maintained at a constant rate or at a constant pressure until a steady state is reached wherein there is no change of saturation with time. It is one purpose of this paper to point out that in much of the work reported in the literature true connate water values probably have not been obtained. The reason for this failure is pointed out. and a method for obtaining more reliable connate water values on long cores is presented. It is impossible at this time to completely evaluate the effect on the conclusions in the earlier papers resulting from the failure to obtain true connate water in the long cores, but some data are presented which indicate that serious errors may he present in many cases. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS Cores cut front outcrop sandstones (Strawn. Torpedo, and Elgin sandstones) with permeabilities of the order of 300 md were used. The major experiments were made with a core 18-in. long and 2-in. in diameter. Cores of the same diameter but only 12-in. long were used in a few tests? and in some work a core I-in. in diameter and 11-in. long was used. These materials were all somewhat bentonitic. 'To reduce the effect of such constituents, one of the cores (Torpedo No. 10) on which the most work was performed was acid extracted at the start of the experiment. Brine containing 50,000 ppm chloride and naphtha (Stoddard's Solvent) were used as the water and oil phases, respectively. The core was mounted in a rubber sleeve which forms the inner lining of a brass cylinder. In this arrangement2 the rubber sleeve is forced against the core by applying pressure to water in the annular space between the rubber sleeve and the brass cylinder wall. The core is therefore sealed in rubber so that all fluids introduced at the input end of the core flow through the core. With this equipment the core may be easily removed for inspection and analysis. Also, other cores may be introduced for study with no extra time for preparation such as is required when plastic mounting is used. When pressure or conductivity measurements are desired at intermediate points along tile length of the core, the brass cylinder comprising the outer jacket of the core holder is cut into section, of the desired length. Each section is then made up as an individual unit with its own rubber sleeve (see Fig. 1). The individual units are then butted up against a ring of plastic or other insulating material which carries an electrical contact for resistivity measurements and an opening which can be used for the measurements of fluid pressures. The individual units are forced tightly against the plastic ring separators and held in place with several tie rods. Inlet and outlet end butts of the same diameter as the core and several inches in length are provided to control the introduction and withdrawal of fluids and to complete the arrangement for sealing the core within the rubber sleeve. Fluid flow is maintained either by applying pressure to the liquid confined in a reservoir or by the use of a gear pump. The latter is preferable where continuous flow at a moderate rate over a long time interval is desired since a small volume of liquid can be readily recirculated using filters to prevent plugging of the core. EXPERIMENTAL The oven-dried core is weighed and is then completely saturated with brine

Jan 1, 1950

By Richard McCaffery

WHEN we began the study of blast furnace slags we limited our work at first to a study of those slags containing only lime, alumina and silica. On our paper1 on some of the results of this first work, the solubility of sulfur in slags containing no magnesia was reported and the question of sulfur solubility and slag viscosity discussed. There has been, for a long time, a very great difference of opinion among metallurgists as to he effect of magnesia in blast furnace slags, and the literature is full if expressions of the most contrary opinions on the subject. As a result, our next publication' developed the constitution of slags considered as a four-component system, silica-alumina-lime-magnesia, and advanced an explanation of slag structure which accorded with the facts and with scientific theory. The present paper continues our study of the general subject of slags. As blast furnace slags are included in the silica-alumina-lime-magnesia system, which is a particular case of four-component solutions, we have determined that there are 22 components Table 1), which may enter into the silica-alumina-lime-magnesia system and that 10 or 12 of these components may be present in blast furnace slags which are within the ordinary ranges of composition. To cave a very definite conception of the behavior of these components in a slag, we have developed the theory of the cooling of a four-component solution from the liquid state to the solid and the conclusions that we obtained have been made use of in this paper. On account of the importance of the four oxides and 18 compounds which enter into the silica-alumina-lime-magnesia system, some method of calculating the percentages of the various compounds that are present in the slag when the percentages of the oxides are given, seemed very desirable and we develop L method later herein for doing this, and finally we give illustrations of the composition of a wide series of blast furnace slags and show some applications of these composition data.

Jan 1, 1927

By O. E. KEOUGH

AT the Tooele custom lead-zinc ore concentrator,' two sections, each having a daily capacity of 500 to 600 tons, are operated on slightly different types of ores with but little difference in flow sheet and reagents. The ores comprising the two general classes are the coarsely crystalline type, with low pyrite and sphalerite low in iron content, from the Park City district, and the more finely disseminated higher pyrite ores from Bingham, which are more difficult to treat by flotation. Laboratory testing determines with which general class a new ore will work better. The ores are crushed to minus 1 1/4-in. size at either the Utah Ore Sampling Company's plant at Murray, Utah, the Tooele smelter sampling plant, or the crushing plant at the concentrator. The ores for each section are mixed to maintain as nearly as possible uniform lead and zinc contents.

Jan 1, 1930

By Alexandre Mitinsky

The theory of elasticity, the science of the strength of materials, and all our calculations regarding engineering structures are based on Hooke's law, that in loaded bodies the deformations are proportional to the load producing them. Without this law it would be impossible to design intelligently engineering structures such as bridges, frames, axles, etc. This being the case, the proportional limit,l that is, the point at which deformation ceases to be proportional to load, is the most important factor in engineering design. Further, the working fiber stress should be fixed in reference to the proportional limit instead of, as is usual, in reference to the ultimate strength. The incorrect use of the ultimate strength instead of the proportional limit in setting the working fiber stress is probably due to two reasons: (1) it is a more delicate operation to measure the proportional limit; (2) it is usually assumed, though incorrectly, that the proportional limit is determined by the ultimate strength. In Germany the poin't at which permanent set first appears is often taken instead of the proportional limit. The two points will coincide if Gerstner's law, that elastic deformations are proportional to the loads producing them both before and after permanent set, is true; and the limit of proportionality and the elastic limit or point of permanent set will both be represented on a stress-strain diagram, by the point at which the line ceases to be a straight line and becomes curved or changes its inclination. It is to be further noted that the difference in definition between proportional limit and elastic limit introduces a difference in methods of determination in the testing laboratory. The German method of determining the elastic limit by alternately loading and unloading the test specimen is a lengthy process and time has in itself a very considerable influence on the results of physical tests.

Jan 1, 1916

By Sylvan Cromer

THE need for a clear understanding of the physical nature of the flow of gas-liquid mixtures in vertical pipes is ever becoming more apparent. This type of flow is encountered when gas and oil are produced from a well; when water is removed from gas wells with siphon lines and when liquids are elevated by means of air or gas lift. Although a number of investi-gators1-7 have published data on the flow of gas-liquid mixtures, in only a few cases has the experimental setup been devised to permit visual study. In the fields of heat transmission, such as the boiling of liquids and the study of the critical phenomena of the hydrocarbons, researchers have been able to throw additional light on heretofore unexplainable happen-ings through actual observation in glass apparatus. This investigation was therefore undertaken in order to obtain qualitative as well as quanti-tative results for air-water flow. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE The flow column used in these tests was made of standard 2-in. pipe and was approximately 98 ft. in height. Pyrex observation sections 2 ft. long having the same internal diameter as the wrought-iron pipe were placed at 14-ft. intervals in the column. The bottom of the tube was cut off square and terminated in the mixing chamber. No perforated nipple or footpiece of any kind was used. To the top of the column was fastened a semicircular return bend having a 4-ft. radius. The flow column was supported by a standard cable-tool drilling derrick (Fig. 1) into which were built observation platforms at each Pyrex section.

Jan 1, 1939

By Henry M. Rowe

Professor Ruff's most illuminating paper' describing his extremely valuable investigation of the carbon-iron equilibrium diagram assigns definite temperatures to certain very important lines in the diagram, viz.: the eutectic temperature EB (Fig. 1) and the " near-eutectic " temperature E'B', but without indicating clearly enough the reasoning which warrants these assignments. These temperatures are of such primary importance that it is well to indicate the apparent gaps in the reasoning, in the hope that they may be filled in. In his diagram, Fig. 1, the point X and the liues B'D'lII represent the experimental results reached by Ruff and Goecke;a AB, AEB, and SE represent the liquidus, the solidus, and the solubility of the carbon in solid austenite in the absence of graphite according to Gutowsky,3 AB being also in accordance with Spiecker's data; S'E' the solubility of carbon in solid austenite in the presence of graphite according to Ruer and Iljin;5 GS the line A3 after Ooerens and Meyer; 6 and EBC the true eutectic line as inferred by Prof. Ruff from Gutowsky's data. B'D' is the carbon content found in cast-iron which had apparently saturated itself with carbon in the presence of the graphite of the enclosing graphite crucibles in which the determinations were made. From its straightiiess and its sharp inflection near 6.67 per cent. of carbon, the carbon content of

Jan 1, 1913

By Simon D. Strauss

The world appetite for minerals in the, third quarter of this century grew at a higher rate than had been anticipated. To illustrate, consider the experience of four, commodities. Excluding the Communist bloc, sometimes referred to as the centrally planned economies, demand for aluminum increased at a compound rate of 8.6% between 1950 and 1975,; copper rose by 4.4%; iron ore by 5.5%; and tin, the laggard in the group, by 2%. Except for tin, the figures are substantially greater than growth rates anticipated in 1950 in the Paley Commission report and other studies. The growth rate was not evenly distributed in geographical areas. Professor Wilfred Malenbaum of the University of Pennsylvania did an interesting study breaking these figures down as among three principal sources of demand -- the United States, other industrialized nations (which he referred to as the "rich lands"), and the developing world (which he referred to as the "poor lands").

Jan 1, 1982

By M. C. Udy, P. C. Rosenthal

THE use of minute boron additions to steel has been given considerable attention in recent years. Comparisons made between boron-free and boron-containing heats of otherwise identical analysis have indicated, beyond a doubt, the potent effect of boron for increasing hardenability. The actual hardenability increase has been expressed as a multiplying factor, or in terms of the percentage of other alloying elements boron might replace, The present study presents the results of a systematic survey of. the use of boron as an addition to two types of alloyed steels and as a replacement for various percentages of molybdenum in these steels, Both cast and wrought steels of the two basic compositions were prepared. Molybdenum, because of its scarcity at the time the investigation was started, was selected as the element to be replaced by boron. Attention was also given to the effects of boron on other properties of the steels, particularly their notched-bar toughness, to investigate other advantages or limitations of this element as an alloy addition. EXPERIMENTAL WORK Steels Investigated The two basic compositions used in this survey of boron as a replacement for molybdenum are given in Table I. The cast steels were higher than the wrought steels in silicon content to improve the casting quality. [ ] Each of these base steels, both cast and wrought, was made with molybdenum contents of o, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, or 0.40 per cent, the total comprising 20 steels. In addition, each of these 20 compositions . was prepared with boron additions in amounts of 0.0015, 0.003, and o,006 per cent as ferroboron; and in amounts of 0.002 and 0.005 per cent as two com¬mercial intensifier alloys, designated alloys A and B. The boron-treated steels totaled 100, and the entire series 120, Test Procedure Each steel was melted as an individual heat in a 50-lb., magnesia-lined induction furnace. Ingot iron scrap or mixtures of ingot iron and steel scrap were used for melting stock. Deoxidation was carried out in the furnace with o.10 per cent aluminum. The aluminum addition was

Jan 1, 1946

By W. E. D. Stokes

THE application of aviation to mining and petroleum operations, on the basis of economy and attainment, has become a demonstrated fact. According to Dominion Government records, 30 Canadian companies engaged in air transportation with northland mining camps, carried 13,000 tons of freight in 1935, and in 1936 carried 16,000 tons. In addition, many mining companies used planes to transport prospectors with canoes, outboard motors, gasoline drums and supplies to remote locations, and one company maintained a plane to take radium-bearing ore from its mine on Great Bear Lake nearly 1000 miles south to the rail- way at Waterways, Alberta. Heavy pieces of mining machinery weighing 2 tons are being carried by Ford trimotor planes over the Andes, at an altitude of not less than 15,000 feet. At Bulolo, New Guinea, 17,500 tons of disassembled gold-dredging equipment has been flown over inaccessible terrain, while supplies and building materials for a community of 1000 whites have been transported by airplane. A 3 1/2-ton shaft was carried on one notable trip, while at another time an automobile, 2 tons of rice and a large safe went over the mountains in one plane. Fig. 1 shows an electric generator that was carried by plane to Bulolo. Many large American oil companies operated fleets of planes during 1936, ranging from fast, luxurious air liners for executives to elaborate geological prospecting units, ambulance planes, freight carriers and pipe-line repair crews. According to the U. S. Geological Survey, commercial firms photographed 16,291 square miles during 1935, while the Government compiled from aerial photographs by the Geological Survey in the United States 85,544 square miles. It was found that information could be determined in a fraction of the time required by surface methods. However, sounding a word of caution, a Commonwealth of Australia government report on aerial survey operations had this to say: It is necessary to repeat ad nauseam that aerial photographic survey is in no sense a substitute for geological investigation, though it is a very valuable adjunct thereto, and greatly facilitates and accelerates geological mapping. There are many details

Jan 1, 1937

Aalde, Kaare, (S'40) Box 827, Socorro, N. M. Aase, Glenn D., (S'40) Engr. Experiment Sta., Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Abadesco, Enrique A., (S'39) Student. College of Engrg., Univ- of the Philippines, Manila, P. 1. Abbott, John L., (S'40) Met. Engr., Engr. Trainee. Wright Aeronantical Corp., Paterson, N. .J. Abbott, Robert H., (S'42). Agricultural & Mech. College of Texas, College Sta., Tex. Abreu, Ovidio M., (S'38) Dept. of Geol., Compauia Cousulidada de Petroleo, Caracas, Venezuela. Acomb, Allen, (S'41) 3921 Chestnut St., New Or¬ leans, La. Adam, Howard W., (S'41) Montana School of Mines, Butte, Mont. Adams, Charles E., (S'42) Uuiv. of California, Los Angeles, Calif. Adams, Charles W., (S'39) Student, Michigan Col¬ lege of Min. & Tech., Houghton, Mich. Adams, H. Travis, (S'39) 310 South 5th St., Bur¬ bank, Calif. Adams, John W., (S'42) Univ. of Texas, Austin, Tex. Adams, Rob L., (S'40) Lt., B. 0. C. No. 12, Fort Sill, Okla. Adamson, Charles R., (S'41) Uuiv. of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jan 1, 1942

By AIME AIME

IN accordance with the provisions of Art. XII, See. 3, of the By-laws of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, the Board of Directors hereby give notice of their intention to amend the By-laws as follows : Art. V, Sec. 2. Amend by substituting the word "senior" for ('first" before the words "Vice-president" in line two of the third paragraph of said section which relates to the calling of special meetings of the Board in the absence or disability of the President.

Jan 1, 1930

By B. W. Vallat

(San Francisco Meeting, October, 1911.) THE Newport mine, located at Ironwood, Gogebic county, Mich., on the Gogebic iron-range, is owned and operated by the Newport Mining Co., for the mining of iron-ore. I. GEOLOGY. The general geology of the Gogebic range has been determined and recorded at different times by well-known geologists,) and their work will be referred to briefly in connection with the local conditions in the mine. The strike of the formation across this property is about 15° north of east. The, general dip is 68° to the north. At the base of the formation on the south lies the granite. Looking north, at right angles to the strike of the formation, we have the foot-wall of quartz-slates and quartzite about 400 ft. wide; the iron-formation about 800 ft. wide, and the hanging-wall of black slates. The iron-formation is composed of banded jasper and quartzite together with iron oxide and concentrations of iron-ore. In character the ore is a soft red hematite, with occasional masses of hard blue "steel ore." The formation is crossed in many places by diorite dikes, which cut through at various angles, the larger or main dikes dipping into the foot-wall in a SE. direction at angles varying from 15° to 30°, while numerous small dikes occur which strike through the formation in a vertical plane and at approximately right angles to the main dikes. There are various theories concerning these dikes, especially as to the time of their origin with relation to the ore-deposition. The commonly-accepted theory is that the dikes were there first, but there are some who contend that they were formed

Nov 1, 1911

PROF RICHARD ÅKERMAN Stockholm, Sweden DR FRANK DAWSON ADAMS Montreal, Canada PROF RICHARD BECK Friberg, Germany ANDREW CARNEGIR New York, N.Y. DR. JAMES DOUGLAS New York, N.Y. PROF HATON DE LA GOUPILLIERE Paris, France SIR ROBERT A. HADFEILD London, England PROF HANS HOFFER Leoben, Austria HERBERT C. HOOVER Leoben, Austria JAMES FURMAN KEMP New York, N.Y. PROF HENRI LOUIS LE CHATELIER Paris France EZEQUIEL ORDONEZ Mexico City, Mexico DR ROSSITER W, RAYMOND New York, N.Y. PROF RICHARD H, RICHARDS Boston Mass. DR. ING H. C. EMIL SCHROEDTER Dusseldorf, Germany JOHN E. STEAD Middlesborugh, England PROF DIMITRY CONSTANTIN TSCHERNOFF St Petersburg, Russia PROF TSUNASHIRO WADA Tokyo, Japan CHARLES D WALCOT Washingtion D.C.

Jan 1, 1923

By F. L. Bosqui

The history of the development of gold metallurgy in South Africa is divisible into two periods: That preceding the introduction of the cyanide process on a commercial scale in 1890; and the 24 years intervening between that important event and the present time. The period between the discovery of the banket reefs of the Witwaters-rand and the year 1890 was one of phenomenally rapid progress in mining development, but of no special interest to the metallurgist, There were no strikingly original or distinctly local advances in the treatment of gold ores. Californian practice in stamp milling and amalgamation prevailed, in mills ranging in equipment between 5 and 50 stamps, operating within a wide range of efficiency, and under the trying conditions usually encountered in a new and isolated field. The somewhat incomplete records of gold output of that period show that in December, 1887, there were 20 producing companies in the Witwatersrand district, of which 10 had mills, the largest being of 20 stamps. The only official record of returns for May, 1887, was that of the Wemmer mine, whose modest achievement with a 5-stamp mill was 100 tons crushed, producing 887 oz. 3 dwt. of gold. This is interesting in view of the present-day output of this field, which in 1913 reached 8,430,998 oz. The rapid increase of production during this first period (May, 1887, to January 1891) is shown by the following summary for the year 1890:1 Total tone crushed.................................. 702,828 Number of stamps in operation....................... 1,046 Average number of tons crushed per stamp per day..... 2.36 Yield of gold, ounces................................ 494,817 Yield per ton, pennyweights.......................... 13.36 The stamp duty ranged between 11/2 and 4 tons per day, according to weight of stamp, fineness of screen, and operating skill available. The prevailing weight of stamp was about 900 lb., and the screen, 900 meshes to the square inch.

Jan 1, 1916

By Frederic E. Carter

THERE have been many attempts to prove that platinum was known to the ancients, but since no traces of the metal have been found in the relics of early times, it must be concluded that it was not known to them. As far as records go, it was actually first discovered in the 16th century in a Spanish mine on the Pinto River in South America; from which source it received its name of Platina del Pinto (little silver from the Pinto). It was more or less of a rarity and was a subject of interest to a few chemists only, until the year 1822 when the metal was first discovered in Russia. In 1819 there were noticed in the washings of the gold sands of the southern part of the Ural Mountains, grains of a heavy white substance, but it was not until three years later that this substance was found to contain platinum. While at first the amounts of platinum brought from the Urals were meager, prospecting soon disclosed rich deposits extending over a considerable area, and nuggets from 10 to 20 lb. were by no means rare. This discovery assured to chemists an ample supply of platinum for their crucibles, etc. The ore is now found in various parts of the world but the richest deposits are still found in the Ural Mountains. The platinum of commerce is obtained entirely from alluvial deposits at depths varying from 6 to 40 ft. The sand and gravel of former river beds are subjected to a series of screenings and washings to effect the separation of the ore. Actually, probably all gold-bearing gravel beds of the world contain platinum, and it is more than likely that large quantities of platinum ore have been thrown away with the black sand washings from gold placer deposits. This is especially true of the alluvial deposits of the Pacific Coast in California and Oregon. Platinum ore is usually found in the form of rounded or flattened grains of "sand," and occasionally in irregular lumps of the size of peas. Large nuggets are very rare. The ore has a metallic luster and is distinguished by its steel gray color, but shows light gray streak when rubbed on a hard white surface; it has a high specific gravity, 16 to 19; is infusible in the hottest blast furnaces, and insoluble in any single acid. Platinum ore is a complex body consisting of the metal in combination with varying proportions of the other members of the platinum group; iridium,

Jan 1, 1928

By J. B. Caine

THE investigation outlined in this paper was carried on at the plant of the Sawbrook Steel Castings Co., Lockland, Ohio. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE In the study of the effect of temperature, heats were made with the Sawbrook company's standard practice, using multiple slags, the only difference' being that the heats were tapped at two temperatures; one group between 2960° and 3040°F and the other group between 3200° and 3250°F. Slags were weighed throughout the heat at each slag change and after the heat was poured. Only the significant slag weights, those of the total slag and the finishing slag, have been reported.

Jan 1, 1947