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By Enid C. Plante, K. L. Sutherland

PRACTICAL metallurgists are unanimous in stating that oxidation of mined sulphide ore adversely affects separation of the constituent minerals under standard conditions in a mill. Frequently, the need for different operating conditions in different plants is attributed either to the extent of oxidation of the mineral surfaces or to soluble oxidation products. The investigations reported in this paper study the effect of oxidation on the primary condition necessary for flotation, namely that of adhesion of an air bubble to the mineral. OXIDATION PRODUCTS FROM SULPHIDE MINERALS Weinig and Carpenter1 state that the relative rates of oxidation of some sulphides are: FeAsS > FeS2 > CuFeS2 > ZnS >PbS > Cu2S tetrahedrite. They also show that oxidation is rapid at first, that sulphides of older geological formations are more stable than those of recent date and that mixtures oxidize more rapidly than any one mineral alone. The more rapid oxidation of mixtures is borne out by results of Gottschalk and Buehler2 who found that PbS, ZnS and CuS oxidized 8 to 20 times faster when pyrite was present. Only the end products of oxidation, sulphate and the metal ion, were identified in these tests. Gaudin3 states that pyrite is difficult to oxidize in the laboratory. Winchell,4 using pyrite containing 99.98 pct FeS2, allowed water to percolate through a bed of this ground material. At the end of three months only a trace of Fe +++and S04- were found. Even after 10 months the quantity of Fe+++ was only 7.8 mg and S04- 25.5 mg per liter of percolating solution. Carmichael5 confirmed Winchell's results on the slow oxidation of pyrite. Usually the oxidation of sulphide surfaces has been conducted in neutral or acid solutions, the acidity being caused by the oxidation products. Eliseev and Nagirnyak6 found that treatment of pure pyrite with lime gave only thiosulphate, but considered it possible that thiosulphate was obtained not by oxidation of the pyrite itself, but by oxidation of calcium disulphide. Mitrofanov7 suggested that thiosulphate was formed by the following process: oxidation of sulphide to give free sulphur (this frequently happens with marcasite), followed by oxidation of the sulphur to sulphur dioxide and reaction of the sulphur dioxide with sulphur to give thiosulphate. Ferric and ferrous hydroxides, or similar compounds, were shown to be present. The Research Staff of the United Verde Copper Co.8 treated ore from the United Verde mine with lime. Thiosulphate, sulphide and polysulphides were stated to be

Jan 1, 1947

By Robert A. Colten, Frederick C. Hull, Robert F. Mehl

It is known that pearlite forms from austenite by a process of nucleation and growth, and that the rate of formation of pearlite may be described by a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.l,2 The manner in which these two quantities operate to produce the observed isothermal reaction curve has been analyzed in a paper published in I939.3 Two types of process were described: (I) that in which nucleation occurs at the grain boundaries of the parent phase, with the nodules growing toward the centers of the grains, initially as hemispheres and then after impingement as roughly radial-columnar structures; and (2) that in which nucleation occurs generally, with the nodules growing to full spheres until impingement with other growing nodules restricts growth. Both cases are met in the formation of pearlite from austenite (Fig. I);2,4 the former, occurring near the knee of the S-curve, has been named "grain-boundary transformation," and the latter, occurring at temperatures near Ael, has been named "group-nodule transformation." In developing our knowledge of the factors that determine the rate of formation of pearlite from austenite, it is important1,2 to obtain data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite. Such data, when obtained near the knee of the S-curve, will furnish information of use in understanding the factors that affect hardenabil-ity; when obtained at higher temperatures, such data will be useful in understanding the behavior of steels that during heat-treatment react to pearlite.2 It is the purpose of this paper to present data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite in dependence upon composition, grain size, temperature, and the degree of homogeneity of the parent austenite. The studies are restricted chiefly to plain carbon commercial steels." Previous Data on Rate of nucleation and rate of Growth Data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite have been published by Scheil and Lange-Weise,5 by Mirkin and Blanter,6,7 by Meh1,l and by Dorn, De Garmo and Flanigan.2, It is difficult to interpret the data, for in most cases too little information is given on austenitizing temperatures and times, the state of homogeneity of the austenite (presence or absence of carbide, etc.), austenite grain size, and mode of formation of pearlite at the temperatures given. Except for the approximations of Mehl and the work of Dorn, austenite grain size was disregarded, though it is well known

Jan 1, 1942

By Robert A. Colten, Frederick C. Hull, Robert F. Mehl

It is known that pearlite forms from austenite by a process of nucleation and growth, and that the rate of formation of pearlite may be described by a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.l,2 The manner in which these two quantities operate to produce the observed isothermal reaction curve has been analyzed in a paper published in I939.3 Two types of process were described: (I) that in which nucleation occurs at the grain boundaries of the parent phase, with the nodules growing toward the centers of the grains, initially as hemispheres and then after impingement as roughly radial-columnar structures; and (2) that in which nucleation occurs generally, with the nodules growing to full spheres until impingement with other growing nodules restricts growth. Both cases are met in the formation of pearlite from austenite (Fig. I);2,4 the former, occurring near the knee of the S-curve, has been named "grain-boundary transformation," and the latter, occurring at temperatures near Ael, has been named "group-nodule transformation." In developing our knowledge of the factors that determine the rate of formation of pearlite from austenite, it is important1,2 to obtain data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite. Such data, when obtained near the knee of the S-curve, will furnish information of use in understanding the factors that affect hardenabil-ity; when obtained at higher temperatures, such data will be useful in understanding the behavior of steels that during heat-treatment react to pearlite.2 It is the purpose of this paper to present data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite in dependence upon composition, grain size, temperature, and the degree of homogeneity of the parent austenite. The studies are restricted chiefly to plain carbon commercial steels." Previous Data on Rate of nucleation and rate of Growth Data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite have been published by Scheil and Lange-Weise,5 by Mirkin and Blanter,6,7 by Meh1,l and by Dorn, De Garmo and Flanigan.2, It is difficult to interpret the data, for in most cases too little information is given on austenitizing temperatures and times, the state of homogeneity of the austenite (presence or absence of carbide, etc.), austenite grain size, and mode of formation of pearlite at the temperatures given. Except for the approximations of Mehl and the work of Dorn, austenite grain size was disregarded, though it is well known

Jan 1, 1942

By E. N. Silverman

Mixtures of' MnS, ZFeO-SiO,, ZMnO.SiO, FeO, and MnO were prepared synthetically and used to study the planes ZFeO. Si0,-ZMnO.SiO,-MnS, FeO-MnO-MnS, and Fe0-MnO.Si0,-MnS in the quaternary system. Because the oxides and silicates studied flux MnS, inclusions in this system are partly liquid during rolling. Also, oxygen can modify subsurface inclusions through the reaction MnS + FeO—FeS + MnO during the soaking of ingots and the reheating of blooms and billets. NONMETALLIC inclusions in steel have long been a subject of study and conjecture because the properties of many steels are known to be affected by the the kind and amount of inclusions present. In free-machining steels, the type of inclusion present has a direct bearing on their machinability; in other steels, cleanliness is important and metallurgists direct their efforts at reducing the amount of non-metallic inclusions. Thus, the accumulation of knowledge about the formation and behavior of inclusions during all stages of steelmaking and processing should aid in improving the quality of steels and decreasing the production costs resulting from rejections. Previous studies of inclusions have contributed greatly to our understanding. The investigators have generally examined inclusions in finished steel. Boulger, Moorehead, and Garvey1 found that in Bessemer steels, low silicon contents results in globular sulfide inclusions with attendant high machin- ability ratings. Van vlack2 also found that low silicon contents favor inclusion morphology that contributes to high machinability ratings. Boquist and Stoll* found that silicon content affected sulfide inclusions and machinability of blooms, billets and bars more than did the finishing temperature in the range between 1775° and 2075°F. Carney and Rudolphy3 studied the distribution of sulfur, manganese, silicon, and carbon in a commercial ingot of resulfur-ized steel and found that silicon was concentrated near the bottom. This helped to explain why bottom cuts had poorer machinability. Klinger and Koch4 developed techniques for extracting inclusions from steel, and the technique devised by Gurry, Chris-takos, and stricker5 for extracting carbides can also be adapted to the study of inclusions. A different approach to the study of inclusions in steel consists of synthesizing the constituents that form inclusions and determining the phase eauilibria in the system that contains the constituents. The resulting phase diagrams can then be used to determine the effect of the various constituents upon each other. In this way, it becomes possible to under-

Jan 1, 1962

By William J. Harris, Morris Cohen

INTRODUCTION THE recent application of lineal analysis1,2 to the austenite-martensite reaction has made possible a quantitative study of the kinetics of this transformation during rapid cooling. Martensite range curves can thus be constructed to portray the onset of the reaction at [M.] and its subsequent progress as a function of temperature down to and below the ambient. It now seems in order to investigate other aspects of the martensite transformation, using this quantitative method of approach. One of the least understood characteristics of the austenite-martensite reaction is that of stabilization which has been defined by Troiano and Greninger3 as "a lowering of [M.], resulting from aging, without change in chemical composition of the parent solid solution." In other words, if the hardening quench is arrested at a predetermined subcritical temperature (Th) for a sufficient period of time, more austenite may be retained at a given lower or reference temperature (Tr) than if the steel had been cooled directly and rapidly to Tr in the first place. For the purposes of the work at hand, the extent of stabilization produced by the isothermal treatment at Th, is measured explicitly in terms of the excess austenite [(S)] that exists in the steel at Tr, over and above the amount that is normally present after direct quenching to Tr. Tr is conveniently taken to be room temperature, but this choice is not essential and is sometimes undesirable. The holding temperature (Th) may be above or below [M], and still cause stabilization depending upon the chemistry of the austenite. Stabilization has been found to occur in the presence of bainite4 and of martensite5,6,7,8 as well as in the absence of either.9 The phenomenon of stabilization is not concerned with (and may even be obscured by) ferrite formation or any other type of phase change occurring at Th that alters the chemistry of the remaining austenite. Such a structural change would obviously influence the martensite transformation during subsequent cooling. Stabilization, however, is more subtle; it appears to manifest itself without detectable variation of the austenite composition, whether in the presence or absence of transformation products. There are relatively few direct references to stabilization in the literature. The stabilizing effect of room temperature aging and tempering on the subzero transformation of retained austenite has been clearly shown in plain carbon,6.8 low alloy 6.7.8 and high alloy tool steels.10,5 Starting with the as-hardened steel, the degree of stabilization increases with tempering time and temperature through

Jan 1, 1948

By Clarence Zener

IT has long been known that the density of a metal usually decreases with cold-work. Thus O'Neill1 observed as early as 1861 that cold hammering of commercial hot-rolled copper is accompanied by a decrease of density of 0.2 per cent, and that subsequent annealing restores the original density. The origin of this density change, however, has remained obscure. In particular, experiment has not yet decided whether it is due to the presence of small cavities and an increase in intergranular surface or to an actual expansion of the lattice itself. This uncertainty in the origin of the change in density is a reflection of our uncertainty as to the changes induced in a metal by cold-working. One school regards cold-working as a breaking up of the original grains into a large number of perfect crystallites somewhat randomly orientated with respect to one another.2 According to this viewpoint, the mere introduction of a large intercrystallite surface induces a net volume expansion. Another school regards cold-working primarily as a distortion of the grains. It is not obvious that this second viewpoint will lead to a net volume expansion. The purpose of the present paper is to show that this is indeed the case, and that this expansion is of the right order of magnitude to explain existing experimental data. The physical basis for the association of an expansion with distortion lies essentially in the variation of the elastic moduli with volume. This variation is considerable. Thus from Table I we see that a I per cent increase in volume for the case of copper will decrease the bulk modulus K by 10 per cent, the shearing modulus µ by 3.8 per cent. If we thus twist a rod through a given angle, we shall do less work upon it if it increases slightly in volume, thereby reducing the torsion modulus that involves as a factor the shearing modulus. A general principle' in physics states that the rod will so adjust itself as to have a minimum potential energy consistent with the end restraints. It will therefore expand. [ ] In order to obtain a quantitative comparison with experiment, we follow Maier4 in comparing the lattice expansion with the latent energy of cold-work. This latent energy has been measured directly by Taylor and Quinney5 on copper rods subjected to torsion, and may amount to as much as 15 per cent of the total work done upon the specimens. We shall assume that this

Jan 1, 1941

By M. D. Hassialis

[Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings (T.P. 2002, by A. M. GAUDIN and G. S. PRELLER, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS and the authors) . I Activation of Minerals and Adsorption of Collectors (T.P. 2082 by J. ROGERS and K. 1'. SUTHERLAND, Min. Tech., Nov. Discussion by A. F. TAGGART and the authors). . . . 3 Correlation between Mineral Behavior in Cataphoresis and in Flotation (T.P. 2005 by A. If. GAUDIN and S. C. SUN, Min. Tech., May. Discussion by M. D. HASSIALIS). . . . . . 8] Surface Areas of Concentrates and Collector Coatings M. D. HASSIALIS.*-In the current flotation theories there exists a common gap spanned by a common assumption pertaining to the arrangement and orientation of the collector ions at the solid surface. Also common is the belief that contact angle and flotation performance are dependent upon the arrangement and orientation of collector ions. This stimulating and informative paper sheds some light upon this general problem. One of the indices of arrangement is the area available per collector ion; in this connection, Gaudin and Preller have applied the B.E.T. method for surface determinations. In a surprising number of cases, their results show a greater specific surface for tailing than for concentrate. This cannot be accounted for by the differences in specific gravity and is attributed to the presence of clay minerals of "primary" sluices in the tailing. This is not a satisfactory explanation, for experience shows that when free slimed clay minerals are present in a flotation cell they will be carried mechanically into the concentrate. A part of the answer to the decreased specific surface of the concentrate would appear to be its usual flocculated condition, yet this should not entirely account for the large spreads reported. The possibility occurs that the nitrogen adsorption isotherms for clean mineral and collector-coated mineral are different. If that were true, and if the coated mineral surface exhibited decreased adsorptive powers, the discrepancy might vanish. In discussing the disposition of collector ions at mineral surfaces, the authors adopt the more consistent viewpoint that there exists some agreement between the ions of the substrate and those of the superstrate. In the case of xanthate ions on galena, a possible arrangement is shown in Fig. 2. This arrangement shows every xanthate ion being shared by two lead ions, whereas the chemical composition calls for two xanthate ions for each lead ion (p. g). This whole discussion is misleading. In the first place, it is known that xanthate ions are not abstracted by unoxidized galena, hence Fig. 2 should show as the substrate not Pbs but PbS„ Om. It would be equally erroneous to use the lattice arrangement of PGSO4, since the surface properties of xanthate-conditioned anglesite differ from those of xanthated galena. It is highly probable that the state of the galena surface exploited in its flotation is ephemeral, since weathered galena is only poorly, if at all, collected by xanthate. Just how a substrate of oxidized galena is to be pictured depends upon one's conception of the transformation from galena to anglesite. This writer is inclined to the following sequence of events. Surface sulphide ions undergo progressive oxidation. As more oxygen is taken up by the sulphide ions they become displaced from their equilibrium positions in the galena lattice, thus accommodating for the larger volume of the S„ Om ions. Concomittant with this change the forces acting on the lead ions

Jan 1, 1946

By M. Cohen, W. J. Harris

The recent application of lineal analysislt2 to the austenite-martensite reaction has made possible a quantitative study of the kinetics of this transformation during rapid cooling. Martensite range curves can thus be constructed to portray the onset of the reaction at Ma and its subsequent progress as a function of temperature down to and below the ambient. It now seems in order to investigate other aspects of the martensite transformation, using this quantitative method of approach. One of the least understood characteristics of the austenite-martensite reaction is that of stabilization which has been defined by Troiano and Greninger3 as 'la lowering of Ma, resulting from aging, without change in chemical composition of the parent solid solution." In other words, if the hardening quench is arrested at a predetermined subcritical temperature (TA) for a sufficient period of time, more austenite may be retained at a given lower Or reference temperature (Tr) than if the steel had been cooled directly and rapidly to Tr in the first place. For the purposes of the work at hand, the extent of stabilization produced by the isothermal treatment at Th is measured explicitly in terms of the excess austenite (6) that exists in the steel at T,, over and above the amount that is normally present after direct quenching to T,. T, is conveniently taken to be room temperature, but this choice is not essential and is sometimes undesirable. The holding temperature (TA) may be above or below M,, and still cause stabilization depending upon the themistry of the austenite. stabilization has been found to occur in the presence of bainite4 and of martensite6,6,7,8 as well as in the absence of either,g The phe-nomenon of stabilization is not concerned with (and may even be obscured by) ferrite formation or any other type of phase change occurring at T~ that alters the chemistry of the remaining austenite. Such a structural change would obviously influence the martensite transformation during subscquent cooling. Stabilization, however, is more subtle; it appears to manifest itself without detectable variation of the austenite composition, whether in the presence or absence of transformation products. There are relatively few direct references to stabilization in the literature. The stabilizing effect of room temperature aging and tempering on the subzero transformation of retained austenite has been clearly shown in plain carbon,6,8 low alloy6s7.8 and high alloy tool steels.10'5 ssa- with the as-hardened steel, the degree of stabilization increases with tempering time and temperature through

Jan 1, 1949

By Clarence Zener

THE internal friction of nonferrous metals vibrating at low stress amplitudes has so far always been successfully interpreted in terms of inhomogeneities of one sort or another. Examples are the fluctuation of stress across a specimen vibrating transversely,1,2,3 the stress inhomogeneities due to the elastic anisotropy and partial random orientation of the individual crystallites,4,5 localized weak regions introduced by cold-working,6,7 grain boundaries and possibly twinning planes.8.9 Perfect single crystals are, by definition, homogeneous. Actual single crystals usually, perhaps always, contains some imperfections. The present investigation was undertaken to determine whether the internal friction of single crystals may likewise be attributed to inhomogeneities. This study was made possible through the gift of a large single crystal of 70-30 alpha brass by H. L. Burghoff, of the Chase Brass and Copper Co. The specimen, 3-s in. in diameter and 10 in. long, was similar to samples previously described by Mr. Burghoff.10 EXPERIMENTAL METHOD The experimental method used has previously been described in Institute papers.5,6.9 The measure of internal friction adopted here, I/Q, is (p) X the logarithmic decrement, a measure used by some writers, and is also (I/2p) X the specific damping capacity, a measure used by other writers. In all measurements the stress level was kept so low that the measurements were independent of stress level. In all measurements in which the temperature was varied, observations were made as the specimen slowly cooled from its highest temperature. The specimen was vibrated transversely. Observations were made at the fundamental frequency and at the first overtone, of about 620 and 1710 cycles per second, respectively. No attempt was made to avoid acoustical losses. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS The specimen was annealed for several hours at 450°C. The temperature dependence of the internal friction was then determined from room temperature to 400°°C. As shown in Fig. i, the internal friction increased by only a factor of 2 from room temperature to 300°°C., then by a factor of 100 during the next :too' interval. These measurements are consistent with the view that the observed internal friction is the superposition of two distinct parts. One, dominant at room temperature, is nearly independent of temperature. This part may be accounted for by acoustical losses and by transverse thermal currents. It was not further investigated. The second part, when plotted in the manner of Fig. I, lies upon a straight line. Therefore it has a heat of activation H; i.e., it varies with temperature as Internal friction ~ e-HI/RT [I]

Jan 1, 1942

By D. H. Davis

HAND picking was the earliest form of coal preparation, first practiced to improve the outward appearance of the coal being loaded and to remove any pieces that might appear objection- able to the buyer. It is still extensively practiced on the plus 1-in. sizes, and particularly on the plus 4-in. and larger sizes. The percentage of ash reduction that can be obtained by hand picking depends entirely upon the amount of free impurity occurring in the coal. In a particularly dirty seam, where a considerable quantity of rock occurs with the coal as mined, hand picking produces sizable reductions in ash. If the coal is prepared clean at the working face hand picking is a final check; in some cases, on the smaller sizes, it is practiced only to show that an effort is being made to prepare a clean product. Because of the variety and different methods of handling coal, the early plants were not always adapted for efficient hand picking. At most mines an attempt is made to remove the visual impurities at one or more of the following places in the surface plant:2 (1) in the tipple during screening; (2) on picking band, belt, or shaking conveyors;. (3) during the loading of the coal as it goes into the railroad car. Whatever the physical arrangements of the plant may be, the usual practice is to run the coal over the screen, picking table or boom at such a rate that each-piece of impurity is exposed to the view of the picker. Coal should be uniformly sized and spread out on the table so as not to exceed one particle in depth. The flow should be even in tonnage and the speed of travel should be from 30 to 60 ft. per minute and not 'exceed 80 ft. per minute. The dirtier the coal, the slower the speed required for a fixed number of pickers. Actually, picking capacity depends on the number of particles per minute that can be picked out and-rejected. The percentage of impurity removed is determined by this and the average weight of piece rejected. Handling a mixture of sizes from nut to the largest lump over the same picking table or conveyor is not conducive to efficient separation by hand picking because the lump hides the smaller impurities. Picking tables should not exceed 5 ft, in width, so that a picker on either side will be able to remove impurities from the center of

Jan 1, 1943

By Burton H. Boyum

Greater depth of exploration drill holes and increasing cost of drilling have been principal factors in reviving interest on the Mar-quette Iron Range in controlled directional drill-hole deflection. This deflection is obtained by the application of the Hall-Row wedging technique. Modifications were made in the technique and equipment in the effort to simplify and strengthen the procedure. The practice is similar in many respects to the oil well type of deflection with a whipstock. Introduction The deflection of diamond drill holes by wedging was a widespread practice in Canada, South Africa and the Lake Superior District as early as 1907 to 1920. Several basic schemes were used, with local variations.' The deflecting wedge assembly was the idea of Mr. Welldon and Mr. Payne-Gallwey operating under the supervision of Mr. William Gallagher of Johannesburg, South Africa. All schemes employed some means of plugging the old hole. A footpiece of various styles was placed in the hole on the plug. In some methods, the orientation of this piece was determined before placing the deflecting wedge. Some techniques permitted continuing the hole the same size after wedging, while others necessitated a size reduction. Interest in wedging diamond drill holes in the Lake Superior District waned after 1920. The Hall-Row patented system for deflecting holes was developed in Canada about 1918.2 Interest centers on the wedging process for the following applications: 1. Maintaining a given course and inclination of the drill hole. 2. By passing an obstruction in a drill hole. 3. Resampling an ore body. 4. Exploring an area overlain by surface conditions not favorable to drilling. During the period of 1913 to 1920, The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. used the wedging technique under a variety of conditions. In general, the practice was not applicable again until 1946. Meanwhile the Hall-Row system of drill-hole deflection survived years of application as the best technique available. In the intervening years, our depth of exploration has increased as well as the overall cost of drilling. As exploration becomes deeper, there is the possible economy of cutting the ore body at a moderate distance from the parent hole without redrilling from surface. Thus a branch hole started near the mid-point of a deep hole can reach the ore horizon at a considerable offset from the parent hole. This permits a greater interval between surface drill holes as drilling becomes deeper. Our interest revived in the subject and a wedging program was initiated. General Description Results The maximum theoretical angular deflection possible, based on the deflecting

Jan 1, 1949

By Burton H. Boyum

Greater depth of exploration drill holes and increasing cost of drilling have been principal factors in reviving interest on the Mar-quette Iron Range in controlled directional drill-hole deflection. This deflection is obtained by the application of the Hall-Row wedging technique. Modifications were made in the technique and equipment in the effort to simplify and strengthen the procedure. The practice is similar in many respects to the oil well type of deflection with a whipstock. Introduction The deflection of diamond drill holes by wedging was a widespread practice in Canada, South Africa and the Lake Superior District as early as 1907 to 1920. Several basic schemes were used, with local variations.' The deflecting wedge assembly was the idea of Mr. Welldon and Mr. Payne-Gallwey operating under the supervision of Mr. William Gallagher of Johannesburg, South Africa. All schemes employed some means of plugging the old hole. A footpiece of various styles was placed in the hole on the plug. In some methods, the orientation of this piece was determined before placing the deflecting wedge. Some techniques permitted continuing the hole the same size after wedging, while others necessitated a size reduction. Interest in wedging diamond drill holes in the Lake Superior District waned after 1920. The Hall-Row patented system for deflecting holes was developed in Canada about 1918.2 Interest centers on the wedging process for the following applications: 1. Maintaining a given course and inclination of the drill hole. 2. By passing an obstruction in a drill hole. 3. Resampling an ore body. 4. Exploring an area overlain by surface conditions not favorable to drilling. During the period of 1913 to 1920, The Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. used the wedging technique under a variety of conditions. In general, the practice was not applicable again until 1946. Meanwhile the Hall-Row system of drill-hole deflection survived years of application as the best technique available. In the intervening years, our depth of exploration has increased as well as the overall cost of drilling. As exploration becomes deeper, there is the possible economy of cutting the ore body at a moderate distance from the parent hole without redrilling from surface. Thus a branch hole started near the mid-point of a deep hole can reach the ore horizon at a considerable offset from the parent hole. This permits a greater interval between surface drill holes as drilling becomes deeper. Our interest revived in the subject and a wedging program was initiated. General Description Results The maximum theoretical angular deflection possible, based on the deflecting

Jan 1, 1949

By F. L. Ruhlman, Max C. Eastman

The termination of the recent war marked a major changc in the oil-field operations at. Elk Hills. Production was greatly curtailed, various experimental production projects were started, and a long-range exploratory program was inaugurated. Production was reduced from the wartime peak of 65,000 bbl per day to the current rate of about 8ooo bbl per day in order to maintain an available source of crude that can be drawn upon during a national emergency. The existing production rate is deemed essential to carry on the experimental production projects. These projects are being conducted to determine the best methods and means of maintaining the Reserve, shut in, but in a state of readiness to produce the maximum quantity of oil in the most expeditious manner. Projects now being investigated include: (I) protection of surface equipmerit; (2) repair of wells that might damage the reservoir; (3) gas injection; (4) water eneroachment, (5) gravity drainage. An exploratory program is being carried on to determine the amount of recoverable oil in the unexplored portions of the Reserve. The Shallow-zone exploration is practically completed, but owing to the complexity of the Stevens structure and the magnitude of the oil discoveries in the Stevens, exploration will probably continue in that zone for another two years. Introduction Summary of Development History of Elk Hills Although a detailed history of Elk Hills oil field is presented in various publications,1,2 a summary of its unusual development and production history will be given in order that the present problems may be more readily understood. The first development that resulted in commercial production was in the central part of the Reserve. The first well, Hay No. I, in sec 36-R,* was completed in January I9I9, and was soon followed by 37 Others in the same general area. It is commonly referred to as the Hay-Carman area and was shut in in stages from 1925 to 1934 as a result of litigation regarding the title to the land. Not being highly producti,, only about 6½ million barrels of oil with a large volume of gas was produced from the area prior to the shutdown. Shortly after the start of the development of the Hay-Carman area, drilling was started 6 miles east in sec 36-S' Tupman NO. I came in for 5000 bbl per day early in I92o, It was followed by more than 200 others in the next few years, and the field became one of major importance. Produc-

Jan 1, 1949

By Frederick Laist

0. C. RALSTON, Salt Lake City, Utah.-I have merely glanced over this paper, consequently, I am hardly in a position to discuss it intelligently. There is one thing, however, that is of interest, that is, the claim that the oil mixture which they have chosen is the best adapted to the work at hand. I would like to ask Mr. Mathewson if they still feel that that is the case-if that really does give the best grade of concentration and the best extraction for the same money, compared to any particular oil mixture which they could get. E. P. MATHEWSON, Anaconda, Mont.-We are still using that mixture, and we consider it the most economical mixture used. DAVID COLE, El Paso, Texas.-I would like to ask Mr. Ralston if there are some other mixtures that would be better? E. P. MATHEWSON.-We are open to suggestions. 0. C. RALSTON.-My own paper on oils* calls attention to the fact that certain hardwood oils, especially the tars, are now being burned or wasted. A great deal of hardwood tar is available as low as 4 or 5 c. per gallon, that being its value as fuel under the boilers. As a matter of fact, a great deal of testing has been done with only the commercial products that are as a usual ride sold on the market. Very little hardwood tar is sold on the market. In asking a great many people who have tested flotation oils, I have not heard hardwood tar mentioned very often. I think I would add to that that the hardwood tars can probably be bought in quantity comparable with the sludge acid at Anaconda, and. should contain a greater proportion of the frothing constituent, and at a price fairly commensurate with what they pay for the sludge acid. E. P. MATHEWSON.-I would like to make a correction in one statement I made that there has been no change made in the mixture. This change has been made: We found that the amount of wood creosote in treating the sand from tables was extremely small, and we tried some experiments on a large scale, dropping it out and using simply the sludge acid and sulphuric acid. We found that this gave practically as good results as wood creosote. We use wood creosote in treating the slimes. We find it necessary in that operation. DAVID COLE.-I would like to ask, what is sludge acid?

Jan 10, 1916

By M. G. Cheney

THE production record of the Sinclair-Moren pool, in southeast Young County, Texas, demonstrates that under efficient operating methods a single well may obtain normal oil recovery from an area of 100 acres or more. This record is the more surprising in view of relatively adverse reservoir conditions such as lack of water drive, moderate initial reservoir pressures and a consolidated sandstone reservoir with original permeability greatly reduced by processes of lithification. This case history is considered worthy of special study in view of the ever present problem of proper spacing of wells. Cupidity, abetted by the unrestrained law of capture, has in too many instances guided development and production methods without regard for sound economic and engineering principles. Largely as a result of ill advised spacing of wells, many oil fields have brought financial losses instead of deserved profit to those using capital, time and energy in this important business of adequately meeting the petroleum requirements of what is known as our modern civilization. In March 1923, the Sinclair Oil and Gas Co. obtained initial daily production of about 12,000,000 cu. ft. of gas and 1100 bbl. of oil in its first well near the center of a 372-acre lease on the L. P. Moren land, James Rose survey, Abstract 245. This exploratory test was drilled as a geological prospect of average promise, on a plunging anticline with possibly 10 ft. of closure as mapped on the outcropping limestone of upper Canyon (Pennsylvanian) age. In subsurface, the top of the producing res-ervoir is 16 ft. lower in this well than in the highest wells but probably 25 ft. above lowest closing contour. Wells No. 2 and 3 were drilled about 1/4 mile west and southwest near a normal fault with some 30 ft. of downthrow to the southwest. The producing sand was reached at a depth of 2512 ft. and drilled to 2529 ft. in the first well. This sandstone reservoir is of Millsap Lake (middle Strawn, upper Cherokee) age. It was absent in the second and third wells, which were abandoned at the depths of 3725 or more. In April 1925, a fourth well was drilled 600 ft. east and 24 ft. lower for top of sand than No. I. Production of about 100 bbl. daily was reported from 2521 to 2562 after an 80-quart shot. This well was drilled to 4560 ft., plugged back to 2575 and shot again; but was abandoned soon thereafter because of small production.

Jan 1, 1940

By R. D. Reiswig

An increasing amount of high-temperature metall~?~gical research is carried out in resistively heated tube furnaces in which a bare specimen is suspended by a fine wire at the midpoint of the tube. It is shown that the assumption of near-blackbody conditions on the surface of the sample may give rise to errors in optical pyrometry of 50°C or more. A number of papers published in the metallurgical literature in recent years have described the use of high-temperature tube furnaces for heat treatments, melting-point determinations, and other work. Typically, the tube is of a refractory metal with open ends, is heated by the passage of an electric current, and has concentric cylindrical radiation shields outside it. In at least one of these,' the specimen is contained within a crucible having a small hole in its lid through which optical-pyrometer measurements are made under essentially blackbody conditions. In another design,* the specimen is inside a muffle which is concentric with the heater tube and which contains a number of washerlike longitudinal radi- ation shields to reduce axial temperature gradients and to give conditions near the specimen closer to those of a black cavity. Yet another design3 employs a wire specimen coaxial with the heater tube. Blackbody conditions are simulated by passing current from a separate supply through the wire until it "disappears" against the background (the inside of the heater tube) as seen through a radial spy hole in the tube. Good agreement with known melting points is achieved when an optical pyrometer is used under such disappearance conditions as the melting point is approached. That this latter method works so well is due, evidently, to considerations such as those mentioned by Dike4 and others.5-8 A more common method than the above, however, has been the suspension of an uncovered specimen by a fine wire in a resistively heated tube with open ends. A radial spy hole about midway between the ends of the tube permits optical-pyrometer observations on the specimen, the inside of the tube, or both. So observed, the specimen typically appears to differ but little in brightness temperature from the inside of the tube. According to De vos9 the radiation from such a spy hole in an empty tube of reasonable 1ength:diameter ratio (e.g., 10 or greater) should be essentially blackbody radiation. For these reasons, apparently, descriptions of work carried out in such furnaces usually include a statement to the effect that conditions surrounding

Jan 1, 1964

By W. A. Koehler, M. E. Hinkle

THE oxidation of pyrites and marcasite in coal-mine strata to produce discolored acid mine drainage has long been explained by chemical reactions occurring in three stages: 1. The iron sulphide minerals are oxidized by air in the presence of water to produce a nearly colorless solution of ferrous (iron) sulphate and some sulphuric acid. 2, The ferrous sulphate and part of the sulphuric acid combine with additional oxygen to form ferric (iron) sulphate. 3. The ferric sulphate hydrolyzes to form a reddish-brown precipitate and additional sulphuric acid. Nevertheless, chemical data alone are not sufficient to explain all observed facts. The first stage seems to proceed more slowly in the chemical laboratory than in nature. The second and third stages normally occur to a marked extent within a few days with raw mine water. However, the visible discoloration that characterizes these latter stages will not develop for months if the mine water is sterilized. By means of bacteriological techniques, two organisms have been isolated from acid coal-mine drainage. These are believed to have a part in promoting the chemical reactions summarized above. One organism is considered to be Thio-6aciZZus thiooxidans, which is known to be able to convert elementary sulphur or sodium thiosulphate to sulphuric acid. Its relation to the formation of acid mine drainage has not Yet been established. Apparently it does not Promote the oxidation of ferrous iron compounds in mine drainage to the ferric state. The second organism has not been identified by name but is described as " Gram negative, non-spore-forming rods approximately 0.4 micron wide by 0.8 to 1.0 micron long." A pure culture of this when added to sterile mine water will cause the latter to become amber and develop the typical rusty precipitate. However, it has not been found to convert sulphur compounds to sulphuric acid. Further research is planned to determine whether or not these microorganisms play a significant part in the first stage of oxidation whereby pyrites and marcasite minerals go into solution. Some of the conditions found in abandoned sections of coal mines, such as a reduced Percentage of Oxygen and increased percentage of carboll 'dioxide in the air, as well as the existing temperature and acidity ranges, will be tolerated by and may even be favorable to these organisms. Acid Coal Mine Drainage Acid coal mine drainage has been the concern of coal mine operators, industrialists, sportsmen and public officials for many years. The amount of acid flowing into our streams in the coal-producing areas varies considerably from mine to mine and from

Jan 1, 1949

By M. K. Geer, H. F. Yancey

Investigations of the fundamental factors involved in the performance of various coal-cleaning processes have constituted a substantial portion of the research 011 coal cleaning conducted by the Bureau of Mines. These detailed studies of the mechanism of separating coal from impurity in various cleaning devices were undertaken to provide the coal industry with information that is helpful in selecting the type of cleaner most suitable for treating a particular coal. Previous reports describing these investigations have dealt with the wet table,1 the pneumatic table,' and the plunger,3 pulsator.4 and Baum types5 of jigs. The present report compares the performance of three commonly used units treating the same coal—a pneumatic jig, also known as the air-flow. cleaner, a pneumatic table, and a Baum-type jig. Object and Plan The fact that pneumatic coal-cleaning processes are less efficient than wet-washing methods because they are unable to make as sharp a separation between coal and impurity is well recogilized. The literature, however, contains little quantitative in- formation on the relative performances of the two types of cleaners. The object of the present report is to present a detailed comparison of the performances of two pneumatic units and one wet-washing process treating coal from the same bed. Although the information in this report demonstrates that the performance of the pneumatic cleaners is not as good as that of those employing water, it must not be construed as reflecting on the usefullless of such equipment. Performance is often secondary to other factors in the selection of coal-cleaning equipment, and the advantages inherent in pneumatic processes frequently outweigh the limitations imposed by their performance. Specific gravity and particle size are the principal factors that influence the separation of coal from impurity in either pneumatic or wet processes; consequently, the tools available for this investigation were the float-and-sink bath and the screen. Accordingly, the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse samples representing the operation of each type of cleaning unit were first separated into a series of density fractions by means of the float-and-sink bath, and then each density fraction was screened into a series of size fractions. By this procedure the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse were subdivided into components of restricted ranges in density and size. From these data it was possible to determine how the cleaning unit disposed of each component of the raw coal; that is. what proportion of each component is sent to clean coal or rejected as refuse.

Jan 1, 1947

By H. F. Yancey, M. K. Geer

Investigations of the fundamental factors involved in the performance of various coal-cleaning processes have constituted a substantial portion of the research 011 coal cleaning conducted by the Bureau of Mines. These detailed studies of the mechanism of separating coal from impurity in various cleaning devices were undertaken to provide the coal industry with information that is helpful in selecting the type of cleaner most suitable for treating a particular coal. Previous reports describing these investigations have dealt with the wet table,1 the pneumatic table,' and the plunger,3 pulsator.4 and Baum types5 of jigs. The present report compares the performance of three commonly used units treating the same coal—a pneumatic jig, also known as the air-flow. cleaner, a pneumatic table, and a Baum-type jig. Object and Plan The fact that pneumatic coal-cleaning processes are less efficient than wet-washing methods because they are unable to make as sharp a separation between coal and impurity is well recogilized. The literature, however, contains little quantitative in- formation on the relative performances of the two types of cleaners. The object of the present report is to present a detailed comparison of the performances of two pneumatic units and one wet-washing process treating coal from the same bed. Although the information in this report demonstrates that the performance of the pneumatic cleaners is not as good as that of those employing water, it must not be construed as reflecting on the usefullless of such equipment. Performance is often secondary to other factors in the selection of coal-cleaning equipment, and the advantages inherent in pneumatic processes frequently outweigh the limitations imposed by their performance. Specific gravity and particle size are the principal factors that influence the separation of coal from impurity in either pneumatic or wet processes; consequently, the tools available for this investigation were the float-and-sink bath and the screen. Accordingly, the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse samples representing the operation of each type of cleaning unit were first separated into a series of density fractions by means of the float-and-sink bath, and then each density fraction was screened into a series of size fractions. By this procedure the raw coal, clean coal, and refuse were subdivided into components of restricted ranges in density and size. From these data it was possible to determine how the cleaning unit disposed of each component of the raw coal; that is. what proportion of each component is sent to clean coal or rejected as refuse.

Jan 1, 1947

By D. C. Hilty, W. Crafts

The solubility of oxygen in iron containing aluminum has been determined at 1550°, 1600°, and 1650°C and found to be much higher than predicted from theoretical considerations, possibly due to equilibria with an iron-aluminum spinel phase rather than pure AI,O.. The presence of manganese greatly increased the deoxidizing power of aluminum. DEOXIDATION and inclusion formation in steel have proved to be elusive phenomena that are difficult to control in spite of much effort to understand and evaluate the reactions. Study of the problem indicated that more accurate data on the solubility of oxygen in iron containing deoxidizers were essential to further progress, and an empirical determination of oxygen solubilities has been initiated at the Union Carbide and Carbon Research Laboratories, Inc. The investigation has included the effects of aluminum, silicon, manganese, and combinations of these elements at 1550°, 1600°, and 1650°C. The equipment and experimental procedure as well as the results of a study of the effects of aluminum are described below. In general, it was found that the solubility of oxygen in iron containing aluminum is much higher than predicted, possibly because of the formation of complex nonmetallic phases, and that manganese greatly increases the deoxidizing power of aluminum. The generally accepted deoxidation curves for 1600°C are summarized in fig. 1, from "Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking"'. These curves are assumed to represent the solubility of oxygen in the presence of deoxidizers and should indicate the limits of mis-cibility gaps in the phase diagrams of the systems that control the formation and character of non-metallic inclusions as described by Benedicks and Lofquist'. They were derived mainly by application of the methods of thermodynamics to the available experimental observations, and by calculations based on the thermal constants of the pure substances when experimental data were lacking. Among the more notable researches contributing to the development of knowledge of oxygen solubilities are those of Korber and Oelsen8, 4, C. H. Herty, Jr. and associates5,6, Krings and Schackmann7, Went-rup and Hieber8 Schenck and Briiggeman9, Vacher and Hamilton'" and Chipman and co-authors 1,11,12,13 Practically, the deoxidation curves are of limited value in predicting oxygen content and rationalizing deoxidation practices. The reasons for this inadequacy appear to be error from inaccurate data, oversimplifying assumptions, interacting effects of combined deoxidizers, and possibly unknown extra-equilibrium and side reactions. Although inclusion formation is a very complex reaction it must be re-

Jan 1, 1951