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By J. E. Dutrizac, R. J. C. MacDonald, T. R. lngraham

When sintered disks of synthetic chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) were leached in acidified aqueous solutions of ferric sulfate, the following reaction stoichiometry was obtained: CuFeS2 + 2Fe2(SO4)3 = CuSO4 + 5FeSO4 + 2S Over the temperature range from 50º to 94ºC, the reaction displayed parabolic kinetics. The parabolic rate constant for the dissolution of copper is given by the equation: log.k(mg2/cm4-hr)= 11.850 - 3780/T The activation energy for the dissolution process is 17 ± 3 kcal per mole. The parabolic kinetics have been attributed to the progressive thickening of a sulfur film on the surface of the chalcopyrite. When the leaching solutions contain less than 0.01 molar Fe+3 , the Fe concentration influences the rate of leaching, probably through a mechanism involving the diffusion of ferric sulfate through the sulfur layer. At higher Fe+3 concentrations, the rate control in the leaching. reaction has been attributed to the diffusion of ferrous sulfate through the sulfur. The rate of reaction is insensitive to changes in acid concentration and in disk rotation speed. ThE reaction of acidic ferric sulfate solutions with various sulfide minerals is of practical interest for both bacterial and heap leaching. This leaching medium is generally used with low-grade ores that cannot be treated profitably by conventional means. In both bacterial leaching1-3 and heap leaching, the active agent for sulfide dissolution is ferric sulfate. Although the reactions of ferric sulfate with chalcocite, covellite, and bornite have been investigated,4*7 the kinetics of leaching chalcopyrite with ferric sulfate have not been thoroughly studied. This paper reports a study of that reaction. EXPERIMENTAL Reagent-grade sulfur was purified by the method of Bacon and FanelliB and then it was vacuum-distilled to remove any soluble magnesium salts that had been introduced during the purification procedure.9 From stoichiometric quantities of the purified sulfur and hydrogen-reduced electrolytic copper sheet (99.90 pct Cu), CuS was synthesized at 450°C in a vacuum-sealed, pyrex vessel. About 24 hr was required for the completion of the reaction. A similar procedure involving hydrogen-reduced iron wire (99.90 pct Fe) was used to synthesize FeS1.002. A 2-furnace arrangement was required. The iron was heated to 800°C while the sulfur was maintained at about 400°C. Although the reaction to consume the sulfur was rapid, the material required additional heating (1 week) in a sealed silica ampoule at 800°C before it was homogenized. X-ray powder diffraction analysis confirmed that the copper sulfide was covellite and that the iron sulfide was troilite. The composition of the iron mineral was confirmed by wet chemical analysis. The two sulfides were ground to minus 100 mesh, weighed in equimolar amounts, mixed thoroughly, and pressed into pellets at 80,000 psi. The pellets were vacuum-sealed in pyrex ampoules and then sintered for 3 days at 550°C after an initial heating at 450°C for a few hours. The pellets were then cooled, polished with 3/0 emery paper, rinsed in acetone, and stored. The material had the characteristic brassy color of chalcopyrite and was shown by X-ray diffraction to be CuFeS2. Microscopic examination of the polished surfaces revealed small inclusions of pyrite (approximately 0.5 vol pct) as the only impurity. The presence of small amounts of a second iron compound will not alter the amount of dissolved copper but might increase the amount of ferrous ion slightly. It was calculated that dissolution of all of the pyrite and 100 mg of Cu (a typical value) would change the expected ferrous concentration by only 4 pct. Microscopic examination of a pellet after leaching revealed that the pyrite was not preferentially solubilized; only those pyrite grains at the surface were attacked. Hence, the pyrite is unlikely to alter the rate of copper dissolution. The chalcopyrite disks were about 1.7 mm thick and 27 mm in diam. They were about 80 pct of theoretical density, and for this reason their true reaction area was somewhat larger than the 5.8 sq cm area presented by the polished face. The disks were cemented to lucite cylinders in such a way that only the polished face was exposed. The disks were then leached by methods previously described.6,7 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Stoichiometry and Kinetics. The initial experiments were directed to the problem of resolving the stoichiometry of the leaching reaction. Disks of CuFeS2 were leached at 80°C for various periods of time in acidified ferric sulfate solutions that were protected from oxidation by a cover of flowing nitrogen. When the disks had been partly leached, they were removed, their soluble salts were washed out, and then they were treated with CS2 in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. The ratio of elemental sulfur to dissolved copper thus obtained was approximately 2 to 1. After the extraction of elemental sulfur from the pellet, the residue consisted of unreacted chalcopyrite only. For runs in which an appreciable amount of copper was dissolved, the ratio of ferrous ion to cupric ion in the solution was

Jan 1, 1970

By W. M. Yim

Experimental results are presented which indicate that transverse striations in horizontal zone-leveled Bi-Sb alloy crystals are due to irregular growth rate resulting from thermal fluctuations in the melt (Iring gowth. Thc thermal fluctutations arose from two different sources. The first type was brought about by periodic fluctuations in the furnace temperature. The second type can be attributed to turbulent therrrol conlcclion in the trzelt near the solid-liquid inteyace. Tile arrzplitlcde ond fvequency of the tetiperaticre fluctlrations vesultity from llle lhevnal con1,ecrrell. The striation spacings in Lhe crystals covvelale well with the periodicity 0.f the tempevature flueluatiors. Altliough the strialiors represenl corrlpositiozul inhoiHogeneity oh a rzicroscule, less than f.z cil. be1 S6 in Best's as deterrirzed by electron-pro be chalq'sis, the slriations roerre fbund to ILUL' no rrleusuanble effect on electical vesistirity rwr on weak field macgnetoresistance of. the Bi-Sb a1lu.y in the ternpevutue ),unge 4.Polo 300°K. DURING the course of an investigation on the horizontal growth of semimetals,' it was found that crystals of Bi-Sb alloys contained many closely spaced parallel arrays of striations. These striations occurred perpendicular to the growth direction and parallel to the solid-liquid interface. We shall refer to them as transverse striations, or just striations'', to distinguish them from lineage substructures or longitudinal striations which form parallel to the growth direction and have been known to be associated with cellular structures.' Similar transverse striations have been reported previously to occur in other materials prepared by horizontal growth: metals,4 semiconductors,5 as well as their alls. - Various methods of crystal preparation have apparently little effect on the occurrence of the transverse striations. They form whether the crystals were grown by the vertical Czochralski technique, withe1' or without'3- rotation, or by the horizontal zoning methd.- Thus, the transverse striations are not limited to any one class of materials, nor to any particular method of preparation. It is likely, therefore, that all of the observed transverse striations may have some common cause. Previously, workers agreed that periodic changes in the growth rate bring about the striations. However, no agreement exists as to the origin of the growth-rate fluctuations. Some attributed the discontinuous growth to a purely external cause, such as fluctuations in the furnace temperature, jerky motions in the crystal pulling mechanism, or a nonsymmetrical temperature distribution in the melt (in the case of crystals grown by the Czochralski technique with rtation). Others looked for the cause in some fundamental property of the growth process itself. For instance, a certain degree of supercooling is required to initiate growth from the melt. But, with further growth, the degree of supercooling decreases because of the liberation of the heat of solidification at the solid-liquid interface. Thus, crystal growth would be brought to a halt until sufficient supercooling is resotred and the cycle begins again.3'11 According to this model, periodic fluctuations in the melt temperature should exist at the solid-liquid interface. Since the periodic fluctuations in growth rate would result in changes in the segregation coefficient of solute atoms, crystals containing the transverse striations may, in some cases, show a periodic impurity fluctuation along the length, resulting in a degradation of electrical properties. The resistivity striations in doped germanium'9-10 or lnsbB are well-known examples of this microsegregation. The present work was undertaken to explain the exact origin of the transverse striations, and to assess the extent of their effect on chemical homogeneity as well as on electrical properties of Bi-Sb alloy crystals. Results from our previous study of the crystal growth of Bi-Sb alloys1 indicated that the transverse striations may arise from the temperature fluctuations in the melt during growth. This paper will show that the melt temperature fluctuations are indeed responsible for the occurrence of the transverse striations. I) EXPERIMENTAL Although the transverse striations have been observed in all slow-grown Bi-Sb alloys across the entire compositional range, we selected a composition, Big3Sbs, for the present study in view of the extensive data available on the crystal growth of this alloy from a previous study.' High-purity bismuth and antimony, both a 6-nine grade by the manufacturer's emission spectrographic analysis, were used throughout. Independent mass-spectrographic analysis showed, however, that the starting materials were more nearly a 5-nine grade. each containing metallic impurities of approximately 10 ppm atomic. In zone-leveled Big5Sb5 alloys, the total metallic-impurity content was slightly lower, about 7 ppm atomic, indicating that some degree of purification was achieved during the growth. None of the electrically active impurities, such as tin and lead (acceptors) and tellurium and selenium (donors), were present in significant quantity in undoped Bi95Sb5. Typical analysis of the undoped Bi95Sb5 alloy is shown in Table I. Nonmetallic impurities, such as carbon and oxygen, were detected, sometimes as much as 100 ppm, in both the starting materials and the zone-leveled alloys: but the data were only qualitative. Temperature fluctuations in the melt were monitored over 1 or more days by means of a 5-mil chromel-

Jan 1, 1967

By L. D. Jaffe, H. C. Mann, E. L. Reed

The authors have recently published1 evidence that brittle transgranular fracture of polycrystalline metals does not originate at a point and propagate continuously across the material, but rather develops at numerous related points, leading to a series of micro-cracks which subsequently link up. Series of related microcracks were observed in steel specimens broken in fatigue—specifically, at the central portions which broke during the final sudden fracture. Microcracks of the type mentioned have also been reported by Baeyertz, Craig and Bumps'2 in steel broken under impact. % Some micrographs published by Irwin3 may possibly be interpreted as showing discontinuous brittle cracks. This paper presents additional observations of the authors on discontinuous crack propagation under various conditions. Impact Test Specimens The impact test specimens were cut longitudinally from a steel forging containing: The heat treatment consisted of oil quenching in a heavy section from 1600°F and tempering at 1260°F. The resulting yield strength was 78,000 psi, tensile strength 100,000 psi, elongation 20.0 pet in 2 in., and reduction of area 55.0 pet. Standard V-notch Charpy specimens were broken in a 217 ft-lb machine at a striking velocity of 16.8 fps. Energy absorption and fracture appearance of this material in the V-notch Charpy test are plotted as functions of temperature in Fig 1. After test, fractured halves of specimens appearing 0, 40, 80, and 100 pet fibrous (to the unaided eye) were electroplated with nickel, sectioned longitudinally (perpendicular to the notch at its midpoint), polished and etched with Cohen-Hurlich-Jacobson (C-H-J) reagent (picric acid plus Zephiran chloride in ethyl ether)4 or with Vilella reagent (1 pet picric plus 5 pct hydrochloric acid in ethyl alcohol).5 Fig 2 and 3 show cracks near the path of final fracture in the specimen rated 0 pct fibrous. Many of the cracks terminate at the boundaries of ferrite grains, some at boundaries of pre- existing austenite gzains. * A crack often starts near the end of another. Cracks within the same ferrite grains are parallel or approximately parallel in several cases. A large percentage of the cracks are branched. Fig 4 illustrated a group of cracks in the 40 pct fibrous specimen. Branching and parallelism are well marked. No more than three directions of crack have been observed on the polished surface in one ferrite grain. This is consistent with the evidence6 that brittle fracture of ferrite takes place on the cube face crystallographic planes: the {100} planes. The appearance of some cracks suggests that they have passed around a projecting corner of a second ferrite grain by going outside the plane of polish. In Fig 5 cracks in the 80 pet fibrous specimen may be observed. Some of

Jan 1, 1950

By W. V. Kotlensky, H. E. Martens

In an earlier communication, Ref. 1, the authors presented the tensile properties and the changes in crystal structure and microstructure for pyrolytic graphite tested at 2750°C. It was suggested that changes in the structure may have an effect on the tensile properties of this material. Accordingly, tensile tests were run on a series of specimens, from one block of pyrolytic graphite, some of which were hot-worked by being strained at 2750°C, others of which were tested in the as-deposited condition. According to the manufacturer, General Electric Co., the polycrystalline material was deposited at 2100°C on a substrate of synthetic graphite by decomposition of a dilute natural gas mixture. The as-deposited material had a density of approximately 2.19 g per cc, and as shown in Fig. 1 had a structure of medium size growth cones which were regenera-tively nucleated. All specimens had a gage section 0.75 in. long by 0.06 in. wide by 0.1 in. thick with the thickness direction perpendicular to the basal planes. The testing method and equipment used have been previously described, Ref. 2 and 3. For both the hot-working and the testing the load was applied parallel to the basal planes; a cross-head speed of 1.5 x l04 in, per sec was used. All heating was done in an atmosphere of bottled helium.

Jan 1, 1962

By A. U. Seybolt

DURING the course of experiments involving oxygen equilibrations with a high-purity Pd-5 at. pct Rh alloy, the appearance of a subscale was noted. Most of the heat treatments in a pure oxygen atmosphere were performed at 900°C. The presence of the subscale was noted when the oxygen partial pressure was in excess of approximately 95 mm, up to 1 atm, the highest pressure used. According to available thermodynamic information' on the free energy of formation of Rh2O3 (the only reliably reported solid oxide of rhodium), this oxide should not be stable under these conditions, nor, of course, any oxide of palladium. Extraction of the subscale from the matrix was affected by treatment with aqua regia, and the resulting X-ray diffraction powder pattern is shown in Table I. This pattern is not that of Rh2O3, nor that of any known rhodium or palladium oxide. It can be indexed on a hexagonal lattice with a. = 5.22Å and co = 6.0Å. In addition to this unknown material, there was a weak Rh2O3 pattern. An X-ray fluorescence analysis of the powder gave 3214 palladium counts per sec and 5381 rhodium counts per sec, thus indicating the likelihood of a double oxide of palladium and rhodium. In view of the fact that the above result was obtained on a single sample, it is perhaps best not to insist upon the above ratio of about 0.6, but possibly to tentatively assume 0.5 or 1/1. The small amount of Rh2O3 in the X-ray pattern might have occurred on cooling, and it seems possible that the double oxide, below some temperature level, is not as stable as Rh2O3. To examine this point, some of the extracted double oxide was heated on a sheet of pure palladium in air at 900°C, and allowed to furnace-cool over a period of several hours. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the powder showed approximately the same intensity of Rh2O3 and the "hexagonal" oxide as before, but, in addition, a rather faint pattern of another crystalline species made its appearance. This finding again suggests partial transformation of the major (double) oxide to other oxides on cooling from 900°C. Application of the phase rule shows that only one equilibrium oxide (subscale) could have been present at temperature. Vacuum-fusion, oxygen analysis of the extracted subscale showed 7.7 ± 0.7 pct O. Combining this information with that of the X-ray fluorescence analysis suggests the formula PdRhO. This compound should have an oxygen content of 7.07 pct, which is within the range of error of the oxygen analysis. However, until a more careful stoichiometric study is made, it is suggested that the formula be written

Jan 1, 1965

E. O?C. Acker Truman H. Aldrich John H. Allen W. Lawrence Austin W. S. Ayres David Baker Andrew A Blair Walter M. Brodie H.H. Burden Charles Butters

Jan 1, 1936

By Thomas E. Leontis

INTRODUCTION THE importance of magnesium alloys in the manufacture of aircraft engines has been realized for many years. A concentrated effort has been exerted in the laboratories of the Dow Chemical Co. to develop magnesium-base alloys with improved properties at elevated temperatures whereby greater advantage can be taken of the inherent lightness of these materials. In an earlier publication,1 attention was called to the superior tensile properties and resistance to creep of cerium-containing magnesium alloys at temperatures up to 700°F. More recently, additional data on magnesium-cerium alloys have been furnished by Murphy and Payne.2 The present paper deals with the mechanical properties of sand-cast magnesium alloys containing zinc, at temperatures up to 500°F. The study includes binary Mg-Zn† alloys containing up to 10 pct zinc and several ternary and some polynary alloys based on the Mg-1Zn,†Mg-3Zn, Mg-4.4Zn, Mg-6Zn, and Mg-10Zn binaries. The compositional variation in the tensile properties, hardness, and creep at room and elevated temperatures, and in the electrical conductivity at room temperature has been determined. The results of these tests show that many zinc-containing magnesium alloys exhibit resistance to creep at elevated temperatures significantly higher than that of present commercial magnesium alloys, but lower than that of alloys of the magnesium-cerium type. In addition, they have high tensile properties at room and elevated temperatures and high conductivity. This combination of mechanical properties and conductivity indicates that these alloys should be given serious consideration for commercial applications involving exposure to temperatures higher than those to which present commercial magnesium alloys can be taken safely. LITERATURE The properties of sand-cast magnesium alloys containing zinc as a principal alloying element have not been investigated very extensively, especially at elevated temperatures. The following remarks, which are confined to sand-cast alloys, will serve as a summary of the most important references on this phase of magnesium metallurgy. The first recorded determination of the tensile strength of binary Mg-Zn alloys as a function of zinc content was reported by Aitchison.3 Similar studies, including the measurement of elongation and hardness, have been performed by Gann and Winston,4 Dumas and Rockaert,5 Haughton and Prytherch,6 and by Spitaler, the last being reported by Beck.7 A slight superiority in the tensile strength of chillcast Mg + 8 Zn alloy over the sand-cast alloy was noted by Maybrey 8 That alloys of magnesium containing 5 to 12 pct zinc

Jan 1, 1948

By R. S. Wagner, R. G. Treuting, W. C. Ellis

Use of the Weisseizbevg goniometer for the study of the morphology of whisker crystals and transfer of the results to a stereograplzic projection are described. While in almost all instances a complete and rapid solution is obtained with a purely gaphical treatment, an absolute analytical treatment applicable to difficult cases is given. Examples are given for determination of growth direction and external features of a crystal, for detection of 'twintzittg, and for establislting the orientation relntionships in a kinked whisker crystal. We give here a method for the use of the Weissen-berg goniometerl" in the study of orientation relationships in "whisker" (micro) crystals3-8 and direct transference of the data to the stereographic projection. The operations are straightforward and require no involved calculations: in almost all cases solely graphical treatment is adequate. In a few complex instances, a more exact analytic method may be required. In the method, not only are equatorial reflections of an oscillation photograph used, but also those on higher layer lines, or those not occurring on a recognized layer line. Such reflections off the zero level are often essentialy to detect the presence of twinning. The method is particularly suitable for examination of whisker crystals since the axial or growth direction is almost always one of high symmetry, permitting a more restricted oscillation range to obtain the necessary reflections and an accordingly shorter exposure time. The method is also applicable when there is no lattice-related external symmetry, and is as well able to identify external crystal surfaces, when such exist, with the aid of an optical beam. Thus growth direction, identification of lateral faces, twinning, and orientation relationships in a kinked crystal can be established. A test for the Eshelby twist6-8 can readily be made. The method can be used for orientation, for structure analysis, and as an aid in the identification of an unknown crystal. Moving-film techniques have previously been employed variously for crystal-orientation studies.1,2,9-13 In particular, use of the Weissenberg method for orientation determination has been reported by Wooster and wooster.14 While their method derives the same data as here described, it differs in depending on the tracing of constant p streaks, a less than dependable phenomenon with small specimens, a few microns or less in cross section. The Laue method can and has been used for orientation studies of microcrystals,15 e.g., 2 p in cross section, but requires the extreme intensity and concentration from a microfocus tube to obtain reasonable exposure time. PRINCIPLES OF THE PRESENT METHOD Consider a crystal of random orientation with respect to the oscillation axis in a Weissenberg goniometer. Its diffraction pattern need not necessarily result in recognizable layer lines. In Fig. 1, a stereo-graphic projection of the reference sphere is given with the equatorial plane XZ normal to the oscillation axis Y, and the X-ray beam directed from X towards 2. The great circle ZZ is then normal to the beam, and the axes are right-handed. Thus the reflected X-ray beam lies at the intersection R of small circle ARB of radius 28 from 2, and of small circle RE of radius a from the rotation axis Y. a is the conventional semiapex angle of a cone of diffracted rays from the atoms aligned in the direction

Jan 1, 1967

By T. E. Watkins, M. D. Nelson

INTRODUCTION Deeper drilling for oil is becoming more and more the rule rather than the exception. With deeper drilling come additional problems, perhaps the greatest being those brought on by the higher temperatures encountered down the hole. particularly in the Gulf Coast region of Texas and Louisiana. Temperature gradients of the order of 1.8° to 2.0°F/100 ft are not unusual, and a gradient of 2.3"F.'100 ft is found in some areas of Texas. With a mean surface temperature of 74oF, the following temperatures could be expected for a geothermal gradient of 2.0°F; 100 ft: at 10,000 it. 271°F. 12,000 ft, 314°F: 14,000 ft, 354,oF; and 16.000 ft. 394°F. Severe gelation of lime-base drilling fluid in wells that have high bottom hole temperatures has become perhaps the most serious difficulty enconntered in drilling under such conditions. Lime-base drilling fluids have been very succesefully and widely used in the drilling of wells in the Gulf Coast region because of their inherent stability toward contaminants. their ability to suppress the swelling dispersion of bentonitic shales, and their ease of maintainance. The gradual recognition: during the past few years, that these muds were. in themselve. the cause of many difficulties experienced in drilling has led to wide-pread efforts by the drilling industry. to determine the reasons for the failure of these mud systems and to develop mud systems capable of performing satisfactorily under high-temperature conditios. MANIFESTATIONS OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE GELATION it is generally possible to recognize the symptons of high-temperature gelation early enough that advance predictions can be made of serious difficulties. in mud control, and the useful life of the drilling fluids can be extended by proper treatment. Following i.; a list of the manifestations of high-temperature gelation: (1) The drill string 'takes weight' while going in the hole after a trip. In early stages of high-temperature gelation it is possible to notice a slight reduction in drill string weight as the drill pipe is lowred near the bottom of the hole. (2) Excessive pump pressure is required to .tart the circulation of drilling fluid at or near the bottom of the hole when going hack to bottom after a trip. As the severity of the gelation increases it may be necessary to break circulation a number of times when going in the hole. (3) The drilling fluid from the bottom of the hole is thick and often granular or lumpy when pumped up after making a round trip. In a severely gelled drilling fluid system such a condition may be irreversible; that is, it cannot be stirred or chemically treated to produce a satisfactory drilling fluid. (4) Completion tool.. such as logging tools or perforating guns will not sink to the bottom of the hole. On some occasions completion tools will become stuck and require a fishing job to retrieve them if the wire line attached to them is broken. It is often difficult to determine whether the condition of the drilling fluid is responsible for sticking the tool or whether the wire line becomes key seated in a crooked hole and causes the allow difficulty. When there are 110 other symptoms of high-temperature gelation. then the difficulty may usually be attributed to the latter cause. (5) In extreme cases of high-temperature gelation it is necessary to "wash" and "ream" when going back to bottom after coming out of the hole. (6) In many -instance. it has been found to be extremely difficult and expensive to 1111 production packers 2nd tubing in moderately deep oil wells which had been drilled with a lime-base drilling fluid. In such instances-the original mud had apparently "set" to a consistency approaching that of a weak cement. CAUSES OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE GELATION Extensive test; have indicated that a lime-base mud does not develop a highly gelled condition at temperatures below 250°F. whereas above that temperature such condition often develops rapidly. (Fig. 1) concurrently. the following changes are evident ill the mud: (1) The alkalinity of the mud decreases to a very low value. with both caustic soda and lime being consumed. (2) The quartz content of the mud decreases sharply. (3) The bentonitic content of the mud decreases or di-appears, with concurrent decrease or loss of base exchange capacity of mud solids. (4) New compounds formed in the mud have been found to be cal-cium silicate, calcium aluminum silicate, and calcium sodium aluminum silicate. (5) The mud loses the ability to form a filter cake of low permeability. The above characteristics have been discussed, in part. by other authors

Jan 1, 1953

K. Baumgarten has returned from active service in France. He reports that he saw C. W. Campbell, formerly with the 2d Engineers on the Chateau Thierry front, and believes that the latter returned to the United States on August 1. He also saw J. J. Croston; G. J. Sielaff, recently transferred to the Gas Service; Thomas M. Smither, survivor of the Tuscania after a 10-mile swim to Ireland. While in Paris he en-deavored to see Prof. Sauveur, but was unsuccessful. F. K. Borrow was given a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1914, but had to relinquish it, on account of ill health, in August, 1915. His health has much improved and he hopes to resume active work toward the end of this year. Davis, A. W:, see British Columbia Engineers, below. Alfred Fox, Jr., enlisted in the Public Schools Brigade, Royal Fusiliers, in September, 1914; was gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in December, 1914, promoted to Captain in November, 1915, and Adjutant to 78th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, in January, 1916. He was appointed Staff Captain of the 12th Divisional Artillery in November, 1917. He has served continuously in France since July 1, 1915. He was awarded the Military Cross in January, 1917, and four times mentioned in despatches. E. Fraser-Campbell writes that he joined the London University 0. T. C. in January, 1918, for five weeks; enlisted with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in February, 1918, and attended a training course for officer cadets at Chatham for six weeks. He was commissioned 2d Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, in April, 1918. After two months on home training at Chatham, he landed in France on June 23, 1918, posted to 180th Tunnelling Co., R. E., and is now with his unit up on the line.

Jan 10, 1918

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York L. W, FRANCIS, Chairman, WILLARD S. MORSE, Vice-Chairman. THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y. P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer. LOUIS D. HUNTOON. Boston HENRY L. SMYTH, Chairman. ALFRED C. LANE, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE, HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W..RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K, ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY, S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 7, 1914

By W. A. Nagel, R. P. Alger, H. Sherman, J. Tittmann

A sidewall epithermal neutron tool has been developed to substantially reduce environmental effects that have previously complicated neutron log interpretation. Designed for operation in uncased wells, the device provides increased accuracy in both liquid-filled and empty holes. A brief discussion of neutron moderation, diffusion and capture shows that logs using epithermal neutron detection depend on a smaller number of formation-characterizing parameters than those using thermal neutron or capture gamma ray detection. Thus, they come closer to providing an unambiguorls determination of hydrogen content. In this new device a directionally sensitive epithertnal neutron detection system has been incorporated in a side-wall source-detector skid to minimize borehole effects. The effects of variations in borehole size and shape, mud type, temperature and salinity are greatly reduced. Small residual borehole effects are then computationally accounted for in the surface control panel to provide a borehole-corrected neutron log. The log presents a direct recording of neutron-derived porosity on a linear scale. With corrections for borehole effects already applied, this direct recording of porosity simplifies log interpretation. Furthermore, comparison with a linear porosity presentation of a formation density log permits sandstones, limestones and dolomites to be readily identified. Thus, in complex or variable lithology, porosity is determined with greater accuracy and reliability than heretofore. Laboratory data and field results demonstrate the improvements in neutron logging afforded by this new side-wall epithermal neutron logging device. INTRODUCTION The new Sidewall Neutron Porosity (SNP) logging system, designed for use in uncased wells, provides reliability and accuracy never before achieved with neutron logs. The effects of variations in borehole diameter and shape, fluid salinity, mud weight and temperature—parameters that have long complicated neutron log interpretation— are suppressed or corrected for by this sidewall epithermal neutron detection system. Furthermore, to simplify interpretation the SNP log presents a direct recording of computed porosity on a linear scale. The performance improvements achieved by this new system arise primarily from the combination of two im- portant design features. First. though not unique to this new tool, an epithermal neutron detection system is used,',' Epithermal neutron detection substantially reduces the perturbing influences of the thermal neutron absorption properties of rock matrices and water salinity. Second, the neutron detection system is mounted in a directionally sensitive sidewall skid to greatly minimize borehole effects. The purpose of this paper is to explain briefy the advantages offered by the detection of epithermal neutrons, to describe the SNP equipment and the log, to present calibration and correction data and to give examples of interpretation methods made especially convenient by this new system. ADVANTAGES OF EPITHERMAL NEUTRON DETECTION Epithermal neutron detection, of all the neutron methods in current commercial use, provides the simplest determination of formation hydrogen content. Advantages of epithermal neutron detectors, as compared with thermal neutron and gamma ray detectors, are probably best explained by a brief review of the life of a source-emitted neutron. A fast neutron from the source will eventually be cap-tured by the nucleus of an atom. However. before capture is likely to occur, the fast neutron (energy of 100,000 electron volts (ev) or more) will be slowed down until it is in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings. The neutron is then considered to be a "thermal" neutron (average energy of 0.025 ev at 25C). The overwhelming majority of the slowing down thus occurs in reaching epithermal energies (energies just above thermal—0.5 to several ev). After reaching thermal energy. the neutron will "diffuse" through the formation with, on the average, no further energy change until capture. Upon the capture of the thermal neutron, relatively high energy gamma rays arc usually emitted. Hydrogen plays a very important role in the process of slowing down fast neutrons. On the other hand, the absorption effects of water salinity and low concentrations of other strong thermal neutron absorbers—relatively unimportant in the moderation process-—are very important in thermal diffusion, capture and the production of gamma rays. Thus, by detecting only epithermal neutrons with the SNP, spurious effects due to these thermal neutron absorbers are greatly minimized as compared to the effects on tools using thermal neutron or gamma ray detectors. The epithermal neutron detection system affords another important advantage. Log response in various litho-

Jan 1, 1967

By E. S. Messer

A knowledge of the magnitude of the irreducible inter.;titial water in a porous medium is so important to petroleum engineering that its determination has become routine in core analyses. The method of determination, being a production problem, should encompass the basic requirements of simplicity in technique and calculations, with reproducible results obtainable in a short interval of time. The results of the evaluation tests outlined in this report indicate that the evaporation method for determining the irreducible water is a technique which meets the requirements. The procedure consists, as the name implies. of permitting the saturant in the pore spaces to evaporate until only an irreducible volume remains. The determination of this volume can be made either graphically or by a mathematical comparison of fluid flows; the time required for each determination being dependent on the fluid used. When fluids other than those having reservoir characteristics were used, a volume factor had to be calculated which was based on the relative volume of various liquids adsorbed on grain surfaces and retained in pores. This factor made possible the calculation of an irreducible water volume when more volatile fluids such as toluene and benzene were used as the saturants. Also presented is the theoretical discussion necessary for the calculation of the capillary pressure as determined from the evaporation curve. A comparison is made between the calculated values and those obtained by experimental means. INTRODUCTION In all geological formations there exists, in the pore spaces of the rock structure, water that is held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces. "Interstitial water" is the term given to this water and is defined as that water coexisting in the pore space with the oil prior to exploitation. The term ''connate water" has often been used synonymously with this term; however, this can be true only by a specific definition since, geologically, it means the water in place at the time the rock structure was formed. The quantity of the interstitial water is a variable factor in any formation, since it depends on the hydrostatic forces present in any multiple-phase system. These forces may become unbalanced by the introduction of an extraneous force such as the raising or lowering of the "water table" or the migration of oil into a water-filled formation. Any unbalanced force results in a change in the interstitial water. There exists, however, an irreducible interstitial water. for a particular sand, that is the fraction of the pore space occupied by water when the capillary pressure at the particular point in question is at an equilibrium with the hydrostatic head of the oil sand in the reservoir. For this discussion the term "irreducible water saturation" will be used in place of "irreducible interstitial water saturation" for the sake of brevity; however, they are understood to be identical. A great amount of work has been devoted to the theory and methods for studying the irreducible water saturation and its related capillary pressure. As a result of the publications of Leverett;' Hassler, Brunner and Deahl;2 Calhoun and Lewis;3 and others, the role of capillary pressure studies is being accepted by the industry as a tool for studying suhsurface phenomena. Many techniques have been developed and published for determining the capillary pressure and irreducible water. In general, these techniques may be grouped into three classifications. One of the first was the capillary pressure method described by Leverett1 and expanded by Bruce and Welge.4 The experimental results were compared with water saturation of cores obtained using oil-base mud. Thornton and Marshall compared the irreducible water saturation of core samples determined by the capillary pressure method and by salinity and reported good agreement between the two methods. The second classification for determining the irreducible water and capillary pressure may be referred to as the "centrifugal force method." The general technique is similar to the capillary pressure method except that the force driving the reservoir fluid from the sample is of a centrifugal nature. A complete description of this method was presented by J. J. . McCullough and F. W. Albaugh.6 A process, the reverse of the capillary pressure method, was presented by W. R. Purcell.7 Mercury under pressure is driven into the pores of the rock and the saturation of the core determined at each applied pressure. The resulting capillary pressure curve is used to evaluate the irreducible water saturation. The techniques mentioned are singular in their approach to the irreducible water saturation. In all cases. an external force was applied to the core. The forces employed in the evaporation method are the vapor pressure of the liquid causing evaporation, the kinetic diffusion forces. adsorptive forces and. to a lesser degree, the viscous forces resisting flow to the surface. The basic definition of irreducible water is that water held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces This water has been described by previous investigators as being held in the microcapillaries too small to support fluid flow. Actually, this fluid volume is made up of the water in the microcapillaries and as a film adhering to the surface of the crystals. All capillaries. therefore, possess some liquid as a film, the thickness of the film being dependent on the properties of the fluid and solid. A discussion of experiments with references pertaining to the measurement of this immobile layer next to the solid surface can be found in the text by J. J. Bikerman.8 Eversole and Lahr calculated the thickness of this layer to be in the order of 10 ' to 10' cm for aqueous solutions and glass. Between two quartz surfaces they found the thickness to be 2 x 10 cm. The work of Volkova, on the capillary movement of water and toluene in quartz grains, indicated the thickness of the Immobile layers to be near 10' cm. Since any measurement is an average value, it is easy to understand that an absolute value would depend on the roughness of the surfaces involved and the complexity of the system. A calculated effective pore radius of 2 x 10 cm is obtained at the, irreducible saturation of a porous media in a water-air system when a capillary pressure of 100 psi is applied. Since the separation of the sand grains is of the same approximate magnitude as the immobile layer.

Jan 1, 1951

By E. S. Messer

A knowledge of the magnitude of the irreducible inter.;titial water in a porous medium is so important to petroleum engineering that its determination has become routine in core analyses. The method of determination, being a production problem, should encompass the basic requirements of simplicity in technique and calculations, with reproducible results obtainable in a short interval of time. The results of the evaluation tests outlined in this report indicate that the evaporation method for determining the irreducible water is a technique which meets the requirements. The procedure consists, as the name implies. of permitting the saturant in the pore spaces to evaporate until only an irreducible volume remains. The determination of this volume can be made either graphically or by a mathematical comparison of fluid flows; the time required for each determination being dependent on the fluid used. When fluids other than those having reservoir characteristics were used, a volume factor had to be calculated which was based on the relative volume of various liquids adsorbed on grain surfaces and retained in pores. This factor made possible the calculation of an irreducible water volume when more volatile fluids such as toluene and benzene were used as the saturants. Also presented is the theoretical discussion necessary for the calculation of the capillary pressure as determined from the evaporation curve. A comparison is made between the calculated values and those obtained by experimental means. INTRODUCTION In all geological formations there exists, in the pore spaces of the rock structure, water that is held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces. "Interstitial water" is the term given to this water and is defined as that water coexisting in the pore space with the oil prior to exploitation. The term ''connate water" has often been used synonymously with this term; however, this can be true only by a specific definition since, geologically, it means the water in place at the time the rock structure was formed. The quantity of the interstitial water is a variable factor in any formation, since it depends on the hydrostatic forces present in any multiple-phase system. These forces may become unbalanced by the introduction of an extraneous force such as the raising or lowering of the "water table" or the migration of oil into a water-filled formation. Any unbalanced force results in a change in the interstitial water. There exists, however, an irreducible interstitial water. for a particular sand, that is the fraction of the pore space occupied by water when the capillary pressure at the particular point in question is at an equilibrium with the hydrostatic head of the oil sand in the reservoir. For this discussion the term "irreducible water saturation" will be used in place of "irreducible interstitial water saturation" for the sake of brevity; however, they are understood to be identical. A great amount of work has been devoted to the theory and methods for studying the irreducible water saturation and its related capillary pressure. As a result of the publications of Leverett;' Hassler, Brunner and Deahl;2 Calhoun and Lewis;3 and others, the role of capillary pressure studies is being accepted by the industry as a tool for studying suhsurface phenomena. Many techniques have been developed and published for determining the capillary pressure and irreducible water. In general, these techniques may be grouped into three classifications. One of the first was the capillary pressure method described by Leverett1 and expanded by Bruce and Welge.4 The experimental results were compared with water saturation of cores obtained using oil-base mud. Thornton and Marshall compared the irreducible water saturation of core samples determined by the capillary pressure method and by salinity and reported good agreement between the two methods. The second classification for determining the irreducible water and capillary pressure may be referred to as the "centrifugal force method." The general technique is similar to the capillary pressure method except that the force driving the reservoir fluid from the sample is of a centrifugal nature. A complete description of this method was presented by J. J. . McCullough and F. W. Albaugh.6 A process, the reverse of the capillary pressure method, was presented by W. R. Purcell.7 Mercury under pressure is driven into the pores of the rock and the saturation of the core determined at each applied pressure. The resulting capillary pressure curve is used to evaluate the irreducible water saturation. The techniques mentioned are singular in their approach to the irreducible water saturation. In all cases. an external force was applied to the core. The forces employed in the evaporation method are the vapor pressure of the liquid causing evaporation, the kinetic diffusion forces. adsorptive forces and. to a lesser degree, the viscous forces resisting flow to the surface. The basic definition of irreducible water is that water held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces This water has been described by previous investigators as being held in the microcapillaries too small to support fluid flow. Actually, this fluid volume is made up of the water in the microcapillaries and as a film adhering to the surface of the crystals. All capillaries. therefore, possess some liquid as a film, the thickness of the film being dependent on the properties of the fluid and solid. A discussion of experiments with references pertaining to the measurement of this immobile layer next to the solid surface can be found in the text by J. J. Bikerman.8 Eversole and Lahr calculated the thickness of this layer to be in the order of 10 ' to 10' cm for aqueous solutions and glass. Between two quartz surfaces they found the thickness to be 2 x 10 cm. The work of Volkova, on the capillary movement of water and toluene in quartz grains, indicated the thickness of the Immobile layers to be near 10' cm. Since any measurement is an average value, it is easy to understand that an absolute value would depend on the roughness of the surfaces involved and the complexity of the system. A calculated effective pore radius of 2 x 10 cm is obtained at the, irreducible saturation of a porous media in a water-air system when a capillary pressure of 100 psi is applied. Since the separation of the sand grains is of the same approximate magnitude as the immobile layer.

Jan 1, 1951

By C. E. Lawall

WHEN this study was started very little information was available, regarding the physical characteristics of West Virginia coals. This was particularly true of friability and of crushing strengths of the coals. Some work had been done on specific gravity studies but the available information applied to only a few coals. In practically all coal-classification systems thus far proposed, the predominating factors of classifications are largely based on the chemical characteristics of the coal. Recently some investigators have pointed out that a classification based on chemical and physical properties of coal might serve to place coals in their proper group better than classification systems based on chemical properties alone. One of the aims of this study was to obtain some data on the physical properties of coal which might help to properly classify West Virginia coals.

Jan 1, 1932

By P. E. Phillips

INTRODUCTION Rocky Mountain Energy is the mining subsidiary of the Union Pacific Corporation, and has been active m uranium exploration since 1966. Since 1970, RME's uranium activities have been funded 50% by Mono Power, the fuels supply division of Southern California Edision. RME and Mono recognized the need for development of new methods for recovering low grade uranium deposits, and contacted Halliburton Services in regard to in situ leaching, because of Halliburton oil industry experience. As a result, a joint venture between the three parties was formed in 1974. BEAR CREEK The first ISL test was at the Bear Creek deposit in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, about 60 miles north of Douglas. The mineralized sand is the tertiary Wasatch formation, which is an arkosic sandstone. The sand typically contains about 10% clay. The predominant clay being montmorillonite with some kaolin and illite. The roll front type trends occur along the flanks of old stream channels. This deposit was being considered for exploitation as an open pit mine. Routine amenability testing indicated it was quite amenable to a conventional acid leach, consuming about 50 lbs. of sulfuric acid per ton of ore in an agitation leach, while recovering more than 95% of the uranium. Hydrology testing indicated a permeability of about 1 darcy. The groundwater has a pH of about 8. 0 and TDS of about 1200. Test Facility The Bear Creek test was a summer-only operation, with no effort towards weather-proofing. Uranium was removed from the recovered leach solution by fixed bed ion-exchange columns. Loaded resin was eluted with strong sulfuric acid. The recovery plant was designed for simplicity of operation, with little concern for the grade or form of the yellowcake product. The plant was constructed of PVC piping and valves, fiberglass reinforced tanks, and stainless steel pumps. All waste streams were directed toward a lined evaporation pond. Wellfield The test pattern was a 30 foot radius 5 spot, with wells fully penetrating the 30 foot ore sand to a total depth of about 165 feet. The injection wells were three-inch PVC with slotted casing, while the producer was eight-inch I. D. , with a stainless steel screen. The eight-inch well was necessary in order to accommodate a six-inch stainless steel pump. Wells were cemented using cement baskets, at the top of the sand, to contain a latex acid resistant cement. Leach Conditions The lixiviant generally contained from five to seven gpl sulfuric acid, and about 0. 5 gpl hydrogen peroxide. The pH was generally 1.4 and EMF was usually -550 millivolts. Injection rates were rather variable from well to well, with a total injection rate between 12 and 25 GPM. Production rate was set at 25 GPM, since the production pump could not be throttled more than that. Approximately two pore volumes of solution were injected during the three-month test. Leach Results Injectivity was quite variable, but was generally rather poor, because of poor completion techniques. The problem stemmed from injecting before the injection wells had been completely cleaned of drilling mud. Pregnant solutions averaged about 50 ppm U308, with groundwater dilution varying from 10 to 50%, depending on the injection rate. Injectivity did decline with time, probably as a result of contamination of the well faces. A total of 1000 lbs U308 had been recovered when the test was shut down. This probably represented about 10% of the mineral under leach.

Jan 1, 1979

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York L. W. FRANCIS, Chairman, WILLARD S. MORSE, Vice-Chairman. THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York. N. Y. P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer. LOUIS D. HUNTOON. Boston HENRY L. SMYTH, Chairman. ALFRED C. LANE, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE, HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W. RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. 0. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY, S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 9, 1914

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York L. W. FRANCIS, Chairman. WILLARD S. MORSE, Vice-Chairman. . THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y. P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer. LOUIS D. HUNTOON, Boston HENRY L. SMYTH, Chairman. ALFRED C. LANE, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE, HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W. RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY, S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 6, 1914

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF LOCAL SECTIONS New York L. W. FRANCIS, Chairman, WILLARD S. MORSE,. Vice-Chairman. THOMAS T. READ, Secretary, Woolworth Bldg., New York, N. Y. P. A. MOSMAN, Treasurer. LOUIS D. HUNTOON. Boston HENRY L. SMYTH, Chairman. ALFRED C. LANE, Vice-Chairman. AUGUSTUS H. EUSTIS, Secretary-Treasurer, 131 State St., Boston, Mass. TIMOTHY W. SPRAGUE, HENRY A. WENTWORTH. Columbia F. A. THOMSON, Chairman. GEORGE W. RODDEWIG, Vice-Chairman. LYNDON K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary-Treasurer, P. O. Drawer 2154, Spokane, Wash. R. S. McCAFFERY, S. H. RICHARDSON.

Jan 8, 1914

By J. F. Myers, F. M. Lewis

DISCUSSION L. E. Djingheuzian (Canadian Dept. of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa)—In their Summary the authors say: "Reconciling the grinding efficiency with good metallurgy is still a problem." In the discussion of the first paper8 in his reply to W. I. Garms, Mr. Myers states: "Our grinding process with smooth I-in. balls has reduced by nearly one half the metallic losses in the fine micron sizes of the tailing. This is simply because less of the fine micron sizes are produced. Since the + 65 mesh size is the same as formerly, a higher percentage of the intermediate sizes are developed. These sizes have the highest floatability, require the least reagents, and use less floating time. "These factors contribute so heavily to the overall economies that dropping our power grinding gain from 28 pct back to 19 pct is a small detail. However, we feel that this is only a momentary situation and that eventually the best features of the grinding and flotation processes can be brought together, which is as it should be." Italics are mine. The above statements, to me, appear to be the answer to the opening statement in the Summary. Denoting the costs at different power grinding gains as: Power Grinding Power Grinding Gain, 28 Pct Gala, 19 Pct Cost of grinding G G1 Cost of flotation F F1 Value of metallic losses T T1 where G1 > G2 F3 < F, and T1 < T, we have: G1+Fl+T1<G +F+T. Since the authors accept the idea that "grinding in flotation plants becomes part of the &apos;conditioning&apos; of the feed to flotation",4 i.e., that in flotation the ball mill is primarily a conditioning machine, it can be postulated that Tennessee Copper grinding at cost G1 is more efficient than grinding at lower cost G. This can be directly inferred from the Conclusion of the paper. Mr. Myers also emphasizes this at the end of his reply to Mr. Garms: "that grinding is for the purpose of preparing flotation feed and not grinding per se." This, to me, in the final analysis means that when the efficiency of grinding is weighted against the conditioning factor, the former becomes a function of efficient conditioning, hence, within the system in which proper conditioning is the dominant factor, the best grinding efficiency is provided by grinding which will contribute towards the optimum conditioning. This brings us again to the statement: "that if every grinding unit were considered as a conditioner for each following step, efficient grinding plants would become much easier to design."&apos; In other words, grinding equipment should be balanced against the flotation equipment and against chemical reactions taking place in the system. F. C. Bond (Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co., Milwaukee)— The authors&apos; discussion of the probable ball motion in a slow speed high dilution mill is very interesting. When the 1-in. balls have worn down to about one fourth of their original weight they apparently first develop a flat surface; as wear progresses this flat face becomes concave, and other concave faces appear. It seems more probable that the first flat face may form at the softest part of the ball surface, and that each succeeding contact tends to force this flat face into sliding contact with a larger round ball; than that the flat faced ball tends to pair off with a particular round ball and to travel with it continuously. When the small worn ball has a flat face and is in sliding contact with a large round ball, the surrounding large balls will assume a more or less definite pattern, and slide against the worn ball, thus producing secondary concave faces. The primary concave face seems to be larger and better developed than the secondary faces. The ball charge can be divided into "concaves" which show at least one concave surface, "intermediates" which have developed flats or incipient concaves, and "rounds." Ball slippage is always present in a tumbling mill, and the mutual ball movement is necessarily a combination of rolling and sliding. The sliding motion is apparently concentrated upon the smaller worn balls which nest between the surrounding larger round balls. When each worn ball starts its upward path in the mill its primary flat or concave surface fits against a larger round ball, and the round ball slides upon it. The action may be something like that of the ball separator in a ball bearing, except that the worn sliding balls are always under considerable pressure. The material is ground under the combined influence of breakage 1—by impacts between falling balls and between falling and supported balls, 2—by being nipped between rolling balls, and 3—by being rubbed between the sliding balls. The rubbing action will be increased in the presence of worn balls with concave surfaces. The rubbing action probably produces a considerable portion of the finely ground slimes in the product. The worn balls commonly approach tetrahedrons in shape, and are very different from concavex, each of which has two equal opposed concave surfaces. Concavex were designed only to grind upon themselves, and not for use in combination with grinding balls. Their action in a grinding charge is very different from

Jan 1, 1952