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Sailing westward from the Society Islands in the fall of 1774, England's noted explorer Captain James Cook discovered New Caledonia-that long, linear island that has played such an important and varied role in the history of nickel. Upon his return to England the following year, Cook's announcement of this uncharted island generated governmental interest, but its distance from the Island Empire, the troubles in the colonies, and the difficulties with France combined to keep English interest indirect and in the background of the then-current events.

Jan 10, 1968

By E. C. Potter

FUEL-OIL was first substituted for coal at these works in September, 1888. It was first applied in the converting-department to the battery of boilers, consisting of 14 tubular boilers, 16 feet in length by 5 feet in diameter. To operate these boilers with coal for 24 hours required 14 strikers, 3 ash-wheelers, 6 men unloading coal, and 2 water-tenders, making a total of 25 men. With fuel-oil the same boilers require for the same period 2 water-tenders and 4 men to attend to the burners, making a total of 6 men. This gives a saving of 19 men, which, at an average of $2 per day each, amounts to $38 per day. Comparing the consumption of oil with that of coal, we find that for the week ending January 5, 1889, with an ingot output of 6403 tons, 2731 barrels of fuel-oil were used as against a necessary consumption of coal for the same work of 848 tons, showing 3.22 barrels of fuel-oil to be equivalent to one ton of Indiana block-coal. Figuring oil at 60 cents per barrel, and coal at $2.15 per ton, we have as the cost of oil $1.93, as against $2.15 for its equivalent in coal. In December, 1888, the rail-mill battery of 26 boilers, of the same dimensions as those in the converting-department, was equipped for fuel-oil. For the week ending January 5, 1889, with a rail out-put of 5208 tons, 5987 barrels of oil were consumed, as against a necessary consumption of coal, to do the same work, of 1805 tons, showing 3.31 barrels of fuel-oil to be equivalent to one ton of Indiana block-coal, which at the costs named above would show $1.98 worth of fuel-oil to he equal to $2.15 worth of coal. The labor required to operate the rail-mill boilers for 24 hours, with coal as fuel,is: 26 stokers, 4 water-tenders, 6 ash-wheelers, 12 men unloading coal; total, 48 men. With oil as fuel, the same work requires 4 water-tenders and 6 men to attend to the burners; total, 10 men; a saving over coal of 38 men in 24 hours, which, at an average price of $2 per day, would be $76 per day. In the brief experience we have had with oil as fuel, we find that the efficiency of the boilers is somewhat increased and the repairs are

Jan 1, 1889

By T. A. Rickard

MILLING is one of the metallurgical arts whereby the extraction of the largest possible proportion of the value in an ore is effected at the least possible expense. Stamp-milling* is that particular process in which a heavy body of iron is caused to fall upon the ore so as to disintegrate it and thereby induce a separation between what is valuable and what is worthless. The latter is usually less in specific gravity, and is therefore, by the further aid of water, removed from the former, which is then collected by the use of mercury. Several similes have been employed to describe this process. The stamp has been likened to a hammer of which the stem is the handle and the die the anvil. The ore upon which the stamp falls has been compared to a nut awaiting the descent of the hammer whose blow is to separate the valueless shell, the quartz, from the valuable kernel, the gold. When we begin to pursue our inquiries, however, we find that the analogy is just sufficiently true to emphasize the departures from it. The hammer falls, the anvil is fixed; so with the stamps and the mortar. The anvil is made of softer metal than the hammer; so also the die is often, and should be always, of steel or iron less hard and more tough than that of the shoe. The movement of the hammer and the drop of the stamp are both intermittent. In regard to their intermittent action, as in many other respects, stamp-mills arrange themselves under two types, which, though apparently contradictory, have both been evolved from a common original, and are united by a great variety of intermediate modifications. The slow speed and the high drop of the mills of Gilpin county Colorado, appear to have very little in common with the fast speed and short drop of those of the main gold belt of California; yet the practice of the one was largely derived from that of the other,

Jan 1, 1894

By Wayne Loel

The application of aerial photographs to all phases of geologic mapping is set forth, indicating the advantages to be gained in different types of country and undcr varying climatic conditions. Methods of field and office procedure are given from a geological point of view, as well as suggestions regarding the best methods of aerial mapping for different uses and under varying field conditions, including the study of submarinc geology. Aerial photographs with accompanying geologic maps are shown to illustrate the appearance from the air of different geologic features under varying climatic and topographic conditions. Introduction The following paper is in no sense a contribution to knowledge; it is merely an attempt to indicate some of the benefits that may be expected from the use of aerial photographs in geologic mapping and to mention some inherent limitations. The writer has used aerial photographs in his own work for the past 13 years and has had ample opportunity to observe their use in the hands of others. From this experience certain conclusions have been drawn, which may be helpful to those using aerial photographs for the first time. It must he remembered that a photograph of the earth's surface can delineate only that which the eye can see; therefore the geologist should not expect more from an aerial photograph than he would be able to observe were he in the photographer's airplane looking at the area to be photographed. Theoretically, if the geologist had sufficient artistic ability, he could draw as good a geologic map from his position in the plane as he could from observation of the photograph. Practically this cannot be done because the airplane moves at a high rate of speed, which in itself prohibits detailed observation and, no matter how great the geologist's artistic ability, he could not reproduce the detail that can be recorded by a camera. An aerial photograph is a picture map of an area. The picture may be studied in the office until the geologist is thoroughly familiar with every minute detail of the surface of the ground he is about to geologize. If it is an area, underlain by sedimentary rocks, much may be learned

Jan 1, 1941

By Wayne Loel

The application of aerial photographs to all phases of geologic mapping is set forth, indicating the advantages to be gained in different types of country and undcr varying climatic conditions. Methods of field and office procedure are given from a geological point of view, as well as suggestions regarding the best methods of aerial mapping for different uses and under varying field conditions, including the study of submarinc geology. Aerial photographs with accompanying geologic maps are shown to illustrate the appearance from the air of different geologic features under varying climatic and topographic conditions. Introduction The following paper is in no sense a contribution to knowledge; it is merely an attempt to indicate some of the benefits that may be expected from the use of aerial photographs in geologic mapping and to mention some inherent limitations. The writer has used aerial photographs in his own work for the past 13 years and has had ample opportunity to observe their use in the hands of others. From this experience certain conclusions have been drawn, which may be helpful to those using aerial photographs for the first time. It must he remembered that a photograph of the earth's surface can delineate only that which the eye can see; therefore the geologist should not expect more from an aerial photograph than he would be able to observe were he in the photographer's airplane looking at the area to be photographed. Theoretically, if the geologist had sufficient artistic ability, he could draw as good a geologic map from his position in the plane as he could from observation of the photograph. Practically this cannot be done because the airplane moves at a high rate of speed, which in itself prohibits detailed observation and, no matter how great the geologist's artistic ability, he could not reproduce the detail that can be recorded by a camera. An aerial photograph is a picture map of an area. The picture may be studied in the office until the geologist is thoroughly familiar with every minute detail of the surface of the ground he is about to geologize. If it is an area, underlain by sedimentary rocks, much may be learned

Jan 1, 1941

By JOHN A. FULTON

THE Comstock Lode is in Storey County, Nevada, and extends in a north and south direction through the towns of Virginia City and Gold Hill, with a total length of 4.27 miles. Its mines have produced silver and gold to a known value exceeding $400,- 000,000 since 1859, when the work first began. More than $126.000,000 was paid in dividends by the mining companies, although much more than this was probably realized from the ore, because many milling companies were independent companies owned by the directors and superintendents of the mines. The milling companies' contracts called for an extraction of only 65 per cent and, as much of the ore was worth $100 a ton and up- ward, they must have recovered substantial amounts for their own accounts over and above this guarantee. Gold was discovered in the spring of 1850 by a party of Normons bound for California. The discovery was made at the mouth of Gold canyon near Dayton, on the Carson River, about 10 miles south of Virginia City.

Jan 1, 1929

By AIME AIME

AS a new departure the annual business meeting was held at 4 p. m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, instead of in the morning, as previously. The retiring President, Robert E. Tally, called the meeting to order and briefly spoke of the large measure of success that had been attained in balancing the budget of the Institute in 1931, so that, although receipts had declined over $26,000 compared to the previous year, expenditures had come within $3,000 of income. He referred in complimentary ,terms to the work of the committees on Membership, Admissions, Papers and Publications, and MINING AND METALLURGY, from which more would be heard late:. He also announced that a large and important committee on economics has been under consideration, and will be announced later. As an evidence of growth it was noted that a new Division, Mineral Industry Education, had been organized just an hour previously.

Jan 1, 1932

1. How Does One Determine Whether an Ore Body Will Block-cave? Page Mark A. Smith......... 122 Harry A. Leidich........ 122 McHenry Mosier ...,.. 22 R. W. Hughes ........ 122 Sherman R. Burdick ....... 123 R. T. Gallagher........I 23 Benjamin F. Tillson...... 123 Lucien Eaton...........123 C. F. Jackson..... . .. 123 Philip B. Bucky........... 126 2. How Does One Determine the Block Dimensions and the Development Work Necessary to Make an Ore Body Cave? Mark A. Smith... 125, 127, 129 Harry A. Leidich..........126 McHenry Mosier......126, 127, 132 R. W. Hughes...........126 Sherman R. Burdick.........127 R. T. Gallagher...........127 Benjamin F. Tillson......127,131 L. E. Young............127 Robert D. Hoffman.......128, 132 Gerald Sherman..........128 Philip B. Bucky......130, 131, 132 K. S. McClellan..........132 Tell Ertl.............132 3. How Do the Forces Act and What Are the Stresses Developed in a Block That Cause It to Block-cave? Mark A. Smith.........132, 135 Harry A. Leidich........133 McHenry Mosier . .. 133 R. W. Hughes ....... 133 Sherman R. Burdick..... . 133 R. T. Gallagher..........134 C. F. . Price, Jr. ........134 Benjamin F. Tillson.........134 C. F. Jackson......134, 135,137 R. Taborelli...........135 Frank A. Ayer ... .....136 Philip B. Bucky . .........136 Rollin Farmin . . .......136 . . . Weysser.....135, 136, 137 George S. Rice...........137 4. What Determines the Procedure in Removing Caved Ore? Harry A Leidich...........137 McHenry Mosier........137,141 R. W. Hughes...........137 Sherman R. Burdick........138 R. T. Gallagher...........138 Mark . Smith...........138 Philip B. Bucky......140,141,143 C. F. B. Price, Jr..........140 R. H. Bennett...........141 C. F. Jackson..........141, 143 Gerald Sherman..........141 Tell Ertl.............141 .. .. ..................143 C. H. Shoemaker..........143 5. What Are the Criteria for Determining the Efficiency of a Block-caving Operation? Harry A. Leidich.......... 143 McHenry Mosier......... 144 R. W. Hughes........... 144 Sherman R. Burdick.......144 R. T. Gallagher . ......... 144

Jan 1, 1946

By Noah Fields Drake

This paper is devoted chiefly to the coal-fields of the western part of the province of Chili and the eastern part of the province of Shansi; but the outline of this belt will give some idea of the extension of the coal-fields over northeastern China. This part of China is topographically divided into: (1) the mountainous peninsula of eastern Shantung; (2) the coastal plains, extending W. and SW. from the gulf of Pechili; and (3) the mountains and table-lands N. and W. of the coastal plains. The plains extend N. and W. from the gulf to within from 10 to 25 miles of the Great Wall, while their SW. extension covers western Shantung and reaches W. along the Yellow river almost to the southern boundary of Shansi. A line joining the mapped coal-fields, shown in Fig. 1, almost gives the western boundary of the plains; since these areas lie on the border of the plains—except the Tsê Chou field, which is on the table-land, 20 to 25 miles from that border. The coal-fields which have been mapped and investigated by the author are shown in Fig. 1. The one at and around Tongshan is known as the K'ai-p'ing coal-field; the one W. of Peking has been called the Wang-p'ing coal-basin; the one SW. of Pao-ting and N. of Chêng-ting may be called the Lingshan coal-field; and the one at and around Tsê Chou is known as the Tsê Chou coal-field. I. The K'ai-p'ing Coal-Field. As is shown in Fig. 2, most of this field lies in the coastal plains, and is therefore covered by alluvium and loess, which have buried the older rock-beds, and the more gentle and older topographic outlines, to such an extent that most of the re-

Jan 1, 1902

By George L. Heath

This paper is devoted chiefly to the coal-fields of the western part of the province of Chili and the eastern part of the province of Shansi; but the outline of this belt will give some idea of the extension of the coal-fields over northeastern China. This part of China is topographically divided into: (1) the mountainous peninsula of eastern Shantung; (2) the coastal plains, extending W. and SW. from the gulf of Pechili; and (3) the mountains and table-lands N. and W. of the coastal plains. The plains extend N. and W. from the gulf to within from 10 to 25 miles of the Great Wall, while their SW. extension covers western Shantung and reaches W. along the Yellow river almost to the southern boundary of Shansi. A line joining the mapped coal-fields, shown in Fig. 1, almost gives the western boundary of the plains; since these areas lie on the border of the plains—except the Tsê Chou field, which is on the table-land, 20 to 25 miles from that border. The coal-fields which have been mapped and investigated by the author are shown in Fig. 1. The one at and around Tongshan is known as the K'ai-p'ing coal-field; the one W. of Peking has been called the Wang-p'ing coal-basin; the one SW. of Pao-ting and N. of Chêng-ting may be called the Lingshan coal-field; and the one at and around Tsê Chou is known as the Tsê Chou coal-field. I. The K'ai-p'ing Coal-Field. As is shown in Fig. 2, most of this field lies in the coastal plains, and is therefore covered by alluvium and loess, which have buried the older rock-beds, and the more gentle and older topographic outlines, to such an extent that most of the re-

Jan 1, 1902

By Robert H. Richards

(Read at the Amenia Meeting, October, 1877.) DURING the winter of 1868-9, I was called upon by Professor F. H. Storer, to put up the Bunsen filter pump in the chemical laboratory of the Masschusetts Institute of Technology. As the laboratory is on the lower floor, it was found necessary to use a great deal of cumbrous pipe and apparatus to get the necessary column. It was then suggested that if an instrument could be devised which would make use of the hydrant pressure in the service-pipe, it would do away with the objectionable features of the Bunsen pump. After using the Bunsen pump for some years, the jet pump to be described in this paper was devised, and it has since been adopted by Prof. Wing in the quantitative laboratory of the school. I am much indebted to Prof. Wing for his aid in starting the manufacture in brass of these jet pumps, which are now to be had in Boston. The jet pump much resembles the Giffard injector in form. It differs from it in the fact that water is the impelling fluid, and air the impelled, while with the injector steam is used to impel water. The principle of condensation of steam, which is Water availed of in the injector, is entirely wanting in the jet pump. The jet pump consists in a water jet, w, (see figure), a constriction or waist, a, and a waste tube, o. The success of the jet pump depends on the following conditions 1. The relation between the sizes of sectional area of a and w. 2. The proximity of a and w. 3. The form and angle of the two hollow cones whose vertices make the constriction a. 4. The relative size of sectional area of w and o. 5. The zigzags, or an equivalent means of making foam. In the following discussion, let a, w, and o represent the diameters of these parts of the jet pump. A number of experiments were tried to ascertain

Jan 1, 1878

By Robert H. Richards

DuRing the winter of 1868-9,I was called upon by Professor F. H. Storer, to put up the Bunsen filter pump in the chemical laboratory of the Masschusetts Institute of Technology. As the laboratory is on the lower floor, it was found necessary to use a great deal of cumbrous pipe and apparatus to get the necessary column. It was then suggested that if an instrun~ent could be devised which would make use of the hydrant pressure in the service-pipe, it would do away with the objectionable features of the Bunsen pump. After using the Bunsen pump for some years, the jet pump to be described in this paper was devised, and it has since been adopted by Prof, Wing in the quantitative laboratory of the school. I am much indebted to Prof. Wing for his aid in starting the manufacture in brass of these jet pumps, whieh are now to be had in Boston. The jet pump much resembles the Giffard injector in form. It, differs from it in the fact that water is the impelling fluid, and air the impelled, while with the injector steam is used to impel water. The principle of condensation of steam, which is availed of in the injector, is entirely wanting in the jet pomp. The jet pump consists in a water jet, w, (see figure), a constriction or waist, a, and a waste tube, o. The success of the jet pump depends on the follow ing conditions: 1. The relation between the sizes of sectional area of a and w. ' 2. The proximity of n and w. 3. The form and angle of the two hollow cones whose vertices make the constriction a. 4. The relative size of sectional area of w and o. 5. The zigzags, or an equivalent means of making foam. In the following discussion, let a, w, and o repre sent the diameters of these parts of the jet pump. A number of experiments were' .tried to ascertain

Jan 1, 1879

By Paul W. Zimmer, Carl E. Dutton

Iron ore in the Menominee district is mined from two iron-formations of middle Precambrian age. The older formation is present in the northeastern part; is composed mainly of hematite, magnetite, quartz, and minor silicates; and contains about 34 per cent iron. The rock has been so coarsened by meta- morphism that concentration of magnetite and hematite is feasib!e, and pellets containing more than 60 per cent iron are being produced. The older formation is also present in the southeastern part where it has 1:een only slightly metamorphosed. Ore containing more than 50 per cent iron was formerly mined from local residual concentrations of iron oxides from which silica had been sufficiently leached, or replaced by iron oxide, or affected by combinations of these processes. The younger iron-formation occurs in the western part of the district and, if unaltered, is interlayered siderite and chert. The ore in this area also contains more than 50 per cent iron and formed as local residual concentrations but in two stages. The siderite was converted to iron oxides (hematite and "limonite"), and silica was contemporaneously or subsequently removed by leaching, or replacement, or combinations of these processes.

Jan 1, 1968

By G. B. Kasik, George Sachs, George Espey

IT has been reported frequently that the hardness and strength vary over the cross section of cold-worked, particularly cold-drawn, material. Brass rod and wire usually has been found to possess a maximum strength and hardness near the surface.1,2 According to Sachs,1 the center fiber has about the same strength as a wire stretched by the same amount in a tensile-test machine, the strength increasing toward the surface (Fig. I). These differences are particularly large for wire given a small reduction on drawing through a die with a wide opening. However, with increasing reduction and hardness, a tendency to form a thin soft surface skin becomes apparent. On the contrary, copper wire has usually been found to possess a soft surface skin" and it has been reported by Harris3 that during the cold-drawing of hot-rolled wire the surface layer becomes increasingly softer than the core, while the layer of maximum strength moves toward the core, it being found near the surface at first. The increase of strength and hardness from the core to the skin is readily explained by the observation that, in addition to the stretching, the layers of a rod or wire are sheared more the closer they are to the surface.1,6-8 However, the presence of a soft surface layer can be attributed only to an annealing effect. The source of such a softening might be the extremely high temperature that originates from the friction between [ ]

Jan 1, 1941

By C. E. Abbott

THE Birmingham district, Alabama, is distinctive in the proximity to one another of its deposits of iron ore, coal and flux. These three basic requisites for the making of iron and steel are found within a radius of 10 miles. Both dolomite and limestone are produced, the former for blast-furnace flux and the latter for basic open-hearth operations. The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co., a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation, operates a limestone mine at Muscoda, near Bessemer, 12 miles southwest of Birmingham, served by its own railroad transportation system. The mine has a capacity of 130 tons per hour. Average analyses of a recent month's production are as follows: Fe2O3 Si02 A12O3 CAC03 MGCO Lump, per cent 0.51 0.22 98.63 0.14 Crushed and washed, percent 0.70 0.26 98.36 0.18 Lump stone, 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 in., is used in open-hearth operations at Fairfield Steel Works. Fine crushed and washed stone, 1 ¼ to 0.063 in., is calcined at the, lime-burning plant and used for lime charges at the Ensley open hearths.

Jan 1, 1936

By K. G. Black, B. P. Faulkner

Laboratory batch flotation rests are used for comparison of the floatability of ores and for comparison of the effect of various treatments on ore floatability. Although it is difficult to predict exact recoveries for continuous flotation on the basis of batch tests, considerable quantitative information can be obtained through their use. A simple method is presented which provides a convenient means of quantitatively evaluating results from laboratory batch tests. The information obtained is in the form of a discrete flotation rate distribution, which, if desired, can be used directly in a simulation of continuous flotation. Equation of Batch Flotation The validity for batch flotation of the first-order kinetic equation is accepted: [ ] where k is flotation rate of a class of articles and W (t) is weight of particles of the class in cell at time t. Thus, at time t, the fraction of the original amount of the class of particles still remaining in the cell is [ ] where W (0) is weight of class of particles in cell at time zero. If there are several classes of particles in the cell, each with its own flotation rate, k4, the fraction of the particles remaining is [ ] where W (t) is now the total weight of n classes, a, being the original fraction of W (0) belonging to the ith class. Accordingly, [ ] [Fig. 1] shows the result of a typical batch test. Such result can be characterized by a set of particle classes, each set described by a flotation rate, [ki,] and a corresponding fractional magnitude, [ai.] [ ] Multiple Regression Equation Eqs. 3 and 4 may be combined to give

Jan 1, 1973

By Mario L. Villa

Argentina's oil production continues in its upward trend. The year 1940 closed with an important increase over 1939; that is, 1,996,371 bbl., or 10.72 per cent. The Government oil fields (Y.P.F.) are responsible for these results, as their total output was 12,474,655 bbl., which compared with the 10,222, 533 bbl. produced in 1939 represent an increase of 2,252,122 bbl., or 22.03 per cent. Fields operated by private companies yielded 8,134,882 bbl., against 8,390,633 bbl. in 1939, a decrease of 255,751 bbl. (3.04 per cent). To the total of 20,609,538 bbl. produced in 1940 in Argentina, the Comodoro Rivadavia field contributed 14,976,222 bbl.; Plaza Huincul, 1,275,814 bbl.; the Province of Salta, 1,845,1977 bbl. and the Province of Mendoza, 2,51I,475 bbl. Table 3 compares the output of companies working in Comodoro Rivadavia. The total increase of 186,819 bbl. (1.26 per cent) registered in the Comodoro Kivadavia area is due only to an intensification of development programs in the known

Jan 1, 1941

By Mario L. Villa

Argentina's oil production continues in its upward trend. The year 1940 closed with an important increase over 1939; that is, 1,996,371 bbl., or 10.72 per cent. The Government oil fields (Y.P.F.) are responsible for these results, as their total output was 12,474,655 bbl., which compared with the 10,222, 533 bbl. produced in 1939 represent an increase of 2,252,122 bbl., or 22.03 per cent. Fields operated by private companies yielded 8,134,882 bbl., against 8,390,633 bbl. in 1939, a decrease of 255,751 bbl. (3.04 per cent). To the total of 20,609,538 bbl. produced in 1940 in Argentina, the Comodoro Rivadavia field contributed 14,976,222 bbl.; Plaza Huincul, 1,275,814 bbl.; the Province of Salta, 1,845,1977 bbl. and the Province of Mendoza, 2,51I,475 bbl. Table 3 compares the output of companies working in Comodoro Rivadavia. The total increase of 186,819 bbl. (1.26 per cent) registered in the Comodoro Kivadavia area is due only to an intensification of development programs in the known

Jan 1, 1941

By H. E. Wheeler

The work described was carried out during 1917 and 1918 at the testing laboratory of Watertown Arsenal at the instigation of the Nitrate Division and later with the concurrence of the Cannon Section of the Ordnance Department, U. 8. A. The experiments follow three principal lines of work: First, the effect of nitrogen under pressure on steel containers of various compositions at a red heat; second, the effect of decomposing ammonia on various alloy steels, iron, and non-ferrous alloys; third, a new theory of the erosion of guns in respect to the effect of nitrogen in steel. Part I In the Haber process for the manufacture of ammonia from its elcnlents, it is necessary to have nitrogen and hydrogen of 1500 lb. per sq. in. (105.5 kg. per sq. cm.) at a temperature of 500 to 600' C. The steel containers for these gases gave trouble by failing without apparent cause. When the General Chemical Co. began to develop its method for the production of ammonia, it experienced the same difficulty and, knowing that the Haber process had solved the difficulty by the use of alloy steels, it made several small steel bottles of different compositions and kept them filled with these gases at this pressure and temperature until they failed. The time of service varied from a few days, for the plain steel casting, to two years for a chrome-vanadium forging. Four of these steel bottles were sent to this laboratory for investigation; they were a plain carbon-steel forging, a nickel-stee1 forging, a chrome-vanadium steel forging, and a chrome-steel forging. The time of service was as follows: plain carbon steel, 4 mo.; nickel steel, 6 mo.; chrome-vanadium steel, over 2 yr.; chrome steel, 4 mo. When these containers were cut open and the cross-section surface polished, they showed an inside zone with a different luster from the rest of the metal. Upon etching, this zone was almost unaffected while the rest of the steel etched normally.

Jan 1, 1922

By H. E. Wheeler

The work described was carried out during 1917 and 1918 at the testing laboratory of Watertown Arsenal at the instigation of the Nitrate Division and later with the concurrence of the Cannon Section of the Ordnance Department, U. 8. A. The experiments follow three principal lines of work: First, the effect of nitrogen under pressure on steel containers of various compositions at a red heat; second, the effect of decomposing ammonia on various alloy steels, iron, and non-ferrous alloys; third, a new theory of the erosion of guns in respect to the effect of nitrogen in steel. Part I In the Haber process for the manufacture of ammonia from its elcnlents, it is necessary to have nitrogen and hydrogen of 1500 lb. per sq. in. (105.5 kg. per sq. cm.) at a temperature of 500 to 600' C. The steel containers for these gases gave trouble by failing without apparent cause. When the General Chemical Co. began to develop its method for the production of ammonia, it experienced the same difficulty and, knowing that the Haber process had solved the difficulty by the use of alloy steels, it made several small steel bottles of different compositions and kept them filled with these gases at this pressure and temperature until they failed. The time of service varied from a few days, for the plain steel casting, to two years for a chrome-vanadium forging. Four of these steel bottles were sent to this laboratory for investigation; they were a plain carbon-steel forging, a nickel-stee1 forging, a chrome-vanadium steel forging, and a chrome-steel forging. The time of service was as follows: plain carbon steel, 4 mo.; nickel steel, 6 mo.; chrome-vanadium steel, over 2 yr.; chrome steel, 4 mo. When these containers were cut open and the cross-section surface polished, they showed an inside zone with a different luster from the rest of the metal. Upon etching, this zone was almost unaffected while the rest of the steel etched normally.

Jan 1, 1922