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By Philip Bucky

THE general conception of a mine model is that of a three-dimensional object representing the mine workings, the orebody and the country rock of a particular property. Its chief uses have been to make it easier to understand the mine and to serve as a basis for the arguing of legal questions. Fayol endeavored to use mine models in a different way and to all students of subsidence "Fayol's dome theory" is of decided interest. We have more recently the suggestion of Young and Stoek of the University of Illinois, who1 suggest the use of models as a means of studying the problem. Prof. Henry Briggs, of the University of Edinburgh and Herriott Watt College, also makes use of models to determine the effects of bending at the edges of extensive workings.2 It is interesting to note that civil engineers are taking a decided interest in the application of models and the principles of dynamic similarity to the solution of their problems. The Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers for 1930 contain an elaborate article by Benjamin F. Groat,3 who says, in his opening remarks: "Every engineer should know and understand that a model constructed in accordance with Newton's theory of similarity is not only the means for reproducing the complexities of flow, or other mechanical action, on a small scale, but that models may be made the best means of designing works of great magnitude. In the present state of knowledge, a properly constructed and properly tested model will answer the difficult questions of hydrodynamics much more quickly and accurately than the most profound mathematical analyses." A study of P. W. Bridgman's book on Dimensional Analyses leads one to arrive at the same conclusion.

Jan 1, 1931

By R. Schuhmann, J. Th. Overbeek, P. L. De Bruyn

THE technique of concentrating valuable minerals from lean ores by flotation depends upon the creation of a finite contact angle at the three-phase contact, mineral-water-air. If the mineral is completely wetted by the water phase, contact angle zero, there is no tendency for air bubbles to attach themselves to the mineral. However, when the contact angle is finite, the surface free energy of the system, water-air bubble-mineral particle, can be diminished by contact between the bubble and the particle, and if not too heavy the mineral will be levitated in the froth. With a few exceptions, all clean minerals are completely wetted by pure water. Thus the art of flotation consists in adding substances to the water to make a finite contact angle with the mineral to be floated, but to leave the other minerals with a zero contact angle. The contact angle concept and experimental measurements of contact angles have played important roles in flotation research for several decades.'-" Nevertheless, there remain unanswered some basic questions as to the scientific significance of the contact angle and the nature of the processes by which flotation reagents affect contact angles. The contact angle is a complex quantity because the properties of three different phases, or rather of three different interfaces, control its magnitude. Considering the interfaces close to the region of ternary contact to be plane, the relation among the contact angle and the three binary interfacial tensions is easily derived. The condition for equilibrium among the three surface tensions, Fig. 1, or the requirement of minimum total surface free energy leads to Young's equation, Eq. I: ysa — ysl = yLA cos 0 [1] According to this equation, the contact angle has one well-defined value. Actually it is found in many experiments that the value of the contact angle depends on whether the air is replacing liquid over the solid (receding angle) or the liquid is replacing air (advancing angle). The receding angle is always the smaller of the two.4 Two explanations have been offered for this experimental fact. According to some investigators,5-8 roughness of the surface causes apparent contact angles that are different for the receding and the advancing cases although the actual local contact angle may be completely determined by Eq. 1. The other explanation involves the hypothesis that the solid-air interface after the liquid has just receded is different from the same interface when no liquid has previously covered it.1,4 Adsorption of constituents of the air or liquid might play a role here. In this discussion the difference between advancing and receding contact angle will be neglected and plane surfaces where Eq. 1 describes the situation will be considered. But there is still a fundamental obstacle to the application of Young's equation. The surface tension of the liquid (rla) can easily be determined, but the two surface tensions of the solid (rsa and ySL) cannot be measured directly. Eq. 1, however, is not without value. By contact angle measurements it is possible to establish how ysl — ysl varies with the addition of solutes to the liquid phase. Also, Eq. 1 affords a convenient starting point for calculating net forces and energy changes involved in the process of bubble-particle attachment.1,2 . If for the moment surface tension of the liquid (yLa) is considered a constant, an increase in ysa — ysL, will tend to decrease the contact angle. A decrease in ySA — ysl, corresponds to an increase of the contact angle. In cases where ySA — ySL > yLa the contact angle is zero; it will only reach finite values when ysa — ysa has been decreased below YLA. Thus on the basis of Young's equation and contact angle measurements alone, it can be learned how flotation reagents affect the difference Ysa — ysl, but no conclusions can be drawn as to the effects of reagents on the individual surface tensions ysa, and ysL, not even as to signs or directions of the surface tension changes resulting from reagent additions. A quantitative relationship between the surface tension or interfacial tension and the adsorption occurring at a surface or an interface is given by the Gibbs equation, which for constant temperature and pressure reads dy = — 2 T, du, [2] where dy is the infinitesimal change in surface tension accompanying a change in chemical potential

Jan 1, 1955

By E. Klar, A. B. Michael

Differences in the electrical conductivities of copper powder sintered under reducing, selectively oxidizing, and neutral atmospheres are related to impurities in solution or as precipitated oxides. The precipitation of impurities as oxides during sintering in nitrogen is proposed for maximizing the conductivity of sintered copper. Conductivity equations for two-phase systems are summarized. Selected equations are applied to porous sintered copper and composite structures. A recent review of the influence of impurities on the electrical conductivity of copper by Gregory et al.1 emphasized that an impurity in solid solution has a much more pronounced effect on reducing the electrical conductivity than when present partly or wholly as a second phase. When impurities in solid solution can be precipitated as oxides, the copper is purified with respect to these elements and the conductivity is increased. Cast and wrought copper, therefore, frequently contain an intentional residual oxygen concentration to oxidize and precipitate impurities less noble than copper. Copper powders generally also contain impurities which can contribute to a reduction in the electrical conductivity of the sintered material. The most deleterious impurities commonly found in commercial copper powders which markedly decrease the electrical conductivity when in solid solution but which can be precipitated as oxides include iron, tin, antimony, arsenic, cobalt, and nickel. In addition to impurities, porosity in sintered copper also contributes to a reduction in the electrical conductivity. The work reported herein discusses the influence of impurities, sintering atmospheres, and porosity on the electrical conductivity of sintered copper. These are important factors for controlling the electrical conductivity of materials such as sintered copper electrical contacts. Several publications on the electrical conductivity of sintered copper and composite materials with random pores or obstacles have incorrectly considered the conductivity to be proportional to the volume fraction of conducting material. However, analyses and equations have been proposed, the earliest of which is perhaps Lord Raleigh's of 1892,' which more accurately describe the conductivity of two-phase systems. These equations which in many cases allow one to closely estimate the electrical conductivity of porous sintered materials and two-phase composites will be reviewed and related to the measured electrical conductivity of sintered copper, copper-graphite. and Ag-W composites. INFLUENCE OF IMPURITIES AND OXIDIZING, REDUCING, AND NEUTRAL ATMOSPHERES Zone-Melted and Leveled Copper. The electrical conductivities of an electrolytic copper and a lower-purity compacting grade of copper powder after consecutive treatments in reducing or selectively oxidizing atmospheres are compared in Fig. 1. The powder and drillings from the electrolytic copper ingot were melted and solidified in a graphite crucible under hydrogen. The vertical zone leveling technique of multiple passes in opposite directions was used to obtain a uniform distribution of impurities. The electrical conductivity was measured on machined specimens 3 by 0.10 in. diam of the zone-leveled material and after the same specimens were consecutively treated as follows: 1) heating in hydrogen at 1600°F for 3 hr; 2) heating in air in a sealed tube so that 0.04 pct 0 was introduced; heating was started at 1000°F for 1 hr and continued at 1800°F for 8 hr; the stepwise diffusion treatment was used to avoid loss of copper due to evaporation of copper oxide at higher temperatures; and 3) final heating in hydrogen at 1600°F for 3 hr. A L&N Kelvin Bridge, type 4306, and a test fixture with knife edges 2 in. apart were used to measure the room-temperature conductivity with an estimated accuracy of ±0.5 pct. In all cases the conductivity of the electrolytic copper was approximately 100 pct of IACS. The conductivity of the impure copper was 80 pct of IACS both in the cast state and after heating in hydrogen. However, after the heating in air, the conductivity of the impure material was 100 pct IACS. After again heating in hydrogen, the electrical conductivity decreased to 60 pct of IACS. This decrease is attributed both to the dissolution of impurities and observed intergranular cracks due to the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittle-ment in copper. These data show that the electrical conductivity of commercial copper as represented by a compacting type powder can be increased significantly by the precipitation of impurities as oxides through heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere. Sintered Copper Powder. A commercial compacting type of copper powder pressed to various densities was sintered either in nitrogen, dissociated ammonia, or dissociated ammonia followed by a selectively oxidizing atmosphere of air in sealed Vycor tubes so that 0.06 pct O was added to the material. The electrical conductivity was measured perpendicular to the pressing direction on as-sintered specimens of approximately 3 by 0.25 by 0.15 in. The fully dense material was obtained by zone melting and leveling

Jan 1, 1969

By C. E. Lundin, M. Hansen, D. J. McPherson

PRIOR work on the Zr-Cu phase diagram by Alli-bone and Sykes,' Pogodin, Shumova, and KUGU cheva,' and Raub and EngeL3 as confined largely to copper-rich alloys. The investigations of Raub and Engel were the most recent and seemingly the most complete of these. Alloys from 0 to 68.3 pct Zr were studied principally by thermal analysis and microscopic examination. These authors reported an inter metallic compound ZrCu, (1116°C melting point) and two eutectics, one at 86.3 pct Cu (977°C mp) and the other at 49 pct Cu (877°C mp). The solubility of zirconium in copper was reported to be less than 0.1 pct at 940°C. The zirconium melting stock consisted of Westing-house "Grade 3" iodide crystal bar (nominally 99.8 pct pure). It was treated by sand blasting and pickling (HF-HNO, solution) to remove the surface film of corrosion product, resulting from grade designation tests. The crystal bar was cold rolled to strip, lightly pickled again, and cut into pieces approximately 1/32 in. thick and 1/4 in. square. These were cleaned in acetone, dried, and stored for charging. The high-purity copper (spectrographic grade) was supplied by the American Smelting and Refining Co. with a nominal purity of 99.99 pct. These copper rods were rolled to strip, cut into squares the same size as the zirconium platelets, cleaned in acetone, dried, and stored. Equipment and Procedures The equipment used for melting and annealing the zirconium binary alloys and for the determination of solidus curves has been described in connection with previous work on the Ti-Si system' and in recent papers in this series describing the studies on eight binary zirconium systems.5-' Techniques employed for preparing and processing the alloys were also similar to those used in the above references. Ingots of 20 g were melted under a protective atmosphere of helium on water-cooled copper blocks in a nonconsumable electrode (tungsten) arc furnace. The ingots were homogenized and cold-worked prior to isothermal annealing to aid in the attainment of equilibrium. The specimens were heat-treated in Vycor bulbs sealed in vacuo or under argon, depending on the temperature of the anneal. Quenching was accomplished by breaking the Vycor bulbs under cold water. Temperature control was within ±3OC of reported temperatures. Thermal analysis was primarily relied on to determine eutectic levels, peritectic levels, and compound melting points. The induction furnace incipient melting technique was also used but did not provide the accuracy obtained by thermal analysis in this system, which involves much lower solidus temperatures than the other zirconium systems. A special technique for the determination of characteristic temperatures was employed in the case of several intermediate phases and their eutectics which displayed very small differences in melting temperatures. Specimens were sealed in Vycor bulbs and annealed at a series of very accurately controlled temperatures. Metallographic examination was then employed to reveal incipient melting. Furnaces and techniques in general were described previously.' The echant used was 20 pct HF plus 20 pct HNO3 in glycerine unless otherwise stated. Results and Discussion The chemical analyses of the majority of alloys prepared for the determination of phase relationships in this system are given in Table I and a brief summary of the equilibrium anneals employed is given in Table 11. In a preliminary program, alloys containing 1, 4, and 7 pct Cu were annealed for three different times at each of the temperatures 700°, 800°, and 900°C. No change in the relative amounts of phases present was detected after 350, 150, and 75 hr at the above temperatures, respectively. The times listed in Table II were accordingly chosen as a result of these preliminary tests. Zirconium-rich alloys containing from 0.1 to 10 pct CU were reduced by cold pressing from 58 to 8 pct, depending upon thk alloy content, homogenized for 7 hr at 900°C, and then reduced 80 to 13 pct by cold rolling, again depending upon copper content. Other alloys were studied in the cast, or cast and annealed conditions. The contracted scope of investigation for this system included the range 0 to 50 atomic pct Cu. This approximate region is shown in Fig. 1. Due to evidence of phase relationships departing considerably from those proposed by Raub and Engel" in the 50 to 100 atomic pct range, the investigation was extended to cover this composition area rather thoroughly also. Fig. 2 is a drawing of the entire diagram. The labeling of some phase fields was omitted in Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. An expanded view of the zirconium-rich region, with the experimental points necessary for its construction, is given in Fig. 3. The generally accepted value of Vogel and Tonn8 or the allotropic transformation a + 862' ±5OC, was employed in the construction of these diagrams. A careful study revealed that the "Grade 3" crystal bar used in this investigation actually transforms over the approximate range 850" to 870°C, due to impurities. It must be expected that this two-phase field in unalloyed zirconium will cause some departures from binary ideality in the very dilute alloys. Zirconium-rich Alloys: The a + ß transformation temperature is decreased from 862" to about 822°C by increasing amounts of copper. Thus, a eutectoid reaction, fi ß a+ Zr,Cu, occurs at a composition of about 1.6 pct Cu. The eutectoid level was determined to lie between the alloy series annealed at 815" and 830°C. The placement of this eutectoid temperature

Jan 1, 1954

By I. B. Cadoff, J. C. Bilello, R. Rosenberg

Diffiusion of magnesium into the surface of LiF crystals to controlled depths and subsequent heat treatments provided a wide range of surface zone harahesses and structure, The bend strength of the LiF crystals was increased by as much as an or-dev of magnitude. Ductility was achieved when dislocation generation occurred in the diffusion zone or when dislocations penetrated to the surface from the intevior. A critical surface hardness of 130 to 140 kg per sq mm was found helozu which generation could take place in the diffusion zone and ahoue which the zone was impenetrable, This hardness was obtainable by several methods, among them the aging of quenched MgF2 -LiF solutions to produce MgF, precipitation. Maximum hardness was ohtained in quenched specimens with no visihle evidence of MgF,. Diffusion-zone formation followed a parabolic rate law and an activation energy of 20.9 kcal per mole was obtained for the process. RECENTLY, the properties of ionic crystals as related to surface condition have been receiving much attention, specifically the transitions between ductile and brittle behavior. Originally Joffe 1 showed that NaCl crystals could be made ductile by immersion in water and related this to the elimination of surface microcracks. Aerts and DeKeyser 2 and Gorur 3' have subsequently shown that ionic crystals are inherently ductile and are embrittled through contact with air. Machlin and Murray4 hypothesized that a layer of NaCIO3 produced by contact of ozone with NaCl induced embrittlement by acting as a barrier to outward dislocation flow. westwood,' Rosenberg and Cadoff,9 and Bilello and cadoff' have reported surface strengthening of LiF crystals by coating with a magnesium compound and then heat treating for adherence. The major effect of the coat was to inhibit dislocation-slip lines from reaching the specimen surface. westwoods showed microcrack formation and fracture to be caused by slip-band interactions at the surface. The material presented in this paper is an extension of the work reported earlier by Bilello, Rosenberg, and cadoff'6,7 and illustrates the wide range of surface properties and bulk behavior obtainable by use of heat-treated magnesium-diffused surface regions in LiF crystals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The LiF single crystals were obtained from the Harshaw Chemical Co. Some batch to batch variation was observed; therefore all specimens for a given test series were cleaved from the same crystal. The typical dimension used was 1 by 0.1 by 0.40 in. Surface damage resulting from cleavage was removed by chemically polishing in a 2 pct NH4OH solution. Each group of specimens was given a vacuum anneal at 700°C for 4 hr to provide a base standard for measuring comparative effects of various surface treatments. To produce the reacted surface zone, the annealed specimens were immersed in a boiling suspension of MgF, in doubly distilled HzO, agitated slbwly for 30 sec, removed, and dried at room temperature. Uniform coatings of MgF, were deposited with a thickness of approximately 5 mils. It should be noted that this technique can be modified for use with crystals which are soluble in water by using boiling absolute alcohol as the dissolving medium. This was found effective for the coating of NaCl with MgF2. The diffused surface zone was obtained by annealing the coated samples at elevated temperatures in a vacuum of lob4 mm Hg. Penetration depth was controlled by varying the annealing time from 1/2 to 28 hr. After heat treatment, the samples were tested for bend strength and hardness. Load was applied by four-point bending in a hard-beam testing jig. Four-point rather than three-point bending was used to provide a wide area of constant stress and to minimize the effect of localized inhomogenities in the specimen. The deflection rate was 8 x min-' and the distance between knife edges was 1/4 in. Load-time curves were obtained from a chart recorder coupled to the machine and converted to resolved shear stress on the shear plane vs deflection, as plotted in the figures. The unstressed portions of the sample outside of the two outer knife edges were used for the microhardness studies. Microhardness measurements were made with a Bergsman tester attached to a Reichert metallograph. All hardness impres-

Jan 1, 1964

By D. J. Carney, C. W. Boquist, E. C. Rudolphy

Effect of variations in sinter feed composition on sinter strength, bulk density, re-ducibility, chemical composition, and microstructure were determined by sintering experimental samples on a production sintering machine. Increasing amounts of roll scale, ore fines, return fines, and blast furnace slag were most beneficial to feed permeability, sinter bulk density, and strength. Burnt lime additions improved feed permeability but were not beneficial to sinter strength or bulk density. Sinter reducibility was adversely affected by all additives. DEVELOPMENT of methods for evaluating sinter quality, which would in some way predict the behavior of the sinter during charging and smelting in the blast furnace, has been given considerable attention in recent years. In a previous investigation at South Works of the United States Steel Corp., standard sinter sampling and testing procedures were developed.1,2 By modifying the sinter sampling device, a method of sintering experimental mix sinter samples upon a production Dwight-Lloyd sintering machine was also developed. This technique afforded a rapid and controlled method of investigating the effects of the various raw materials and additives on sinter quality and was used in this present investigation. Since the beginning of the present study in 1953, the results of numerous sinter investigations have been published, most of which were concerned with production tests of iron ore sinter, both here and abroad. Three groups of investigators reported results of experimental sinter studies that were related to this investigation. Voice et al.3 studied the effects of controlled variables on sinter quality by producing and testing experimental Northants iron ore sinter using an experimental sintering unit. Mor-rissey and Powers' determined the relationship between iron ore sinter quality and the moisture and coke content using a small laboratory sintering system. Burlingame et al.5 studied the effects of "additives" upon iron ore sinter using a laboratory sintering apparatus and laboratory grade raw materials. At South Works, it was considered desirable to study the effects of sinter mix composition and additives upon the quality of a flue dust-base sinter produced on a production sintering unit. Extrapolation of controlled laboratory test data to sintering plant operation lacking such precise control is not altogether satisfactory. Therefore, the present study was conducted in a manner which approximated production conditions as closely as possible. The raw materials used were those commonly encoun- tered in the production of flue dust and flue dust ore-type sinters and these were varied within extremes encountered in this type of sinter production. Experimental Procedure The experimental sinters were produced from 100 lb mixtures of sinter feed. The principal raw materials and additives used, their particle size, and approximate chemical composition are listed in Table I. The mixing of the raw materials was accomplished by means of a miniature single shaft pug mill shown in Fig, 1. The use of the pug mill as a mixer was decidea upon after encountering difficulty in reproducing the mixing and chopping effect of the sinter plant pug mill with other types of available small mixers. The miniature pug mill was constructed, consisting of 31/2x2x1/4 in, blades spaced 3 in. apart along a 3 ft shaft. Preliminary tests were run with this small mixer to establish the proper rotation speed and the required number of passes through the pug mill to thoroughly mix and distribute all the raw materials in a manner approximating the production Pug mill- Although the effects of varying the mosture content were determined in one particular series of tests, the amount of moisture added was changed as the composition of the experimental mix was varied. The aim in making water additions was to achieve a permeability as high as possible for each particular

Jan 1, 1956

By H. R. Banks

PONDERING the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote “Tho’ the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of, either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. PRINCIPLE OF BALL MILL The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely fine mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries, we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? METHODS OF GRINDING The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of fine grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1945

THE second award of the Saunders Gold Medal for "distinguished achievement in mining," of which the first was awarded last year to the late D. W. Brunton, has been made to Herbert Hoover. The main events of Mr. Hoover's life are so familiar to all through the numerous journal articles about him and his work, and the interesting biography written by Vernon Kellogg, that no attempt will be made here to touch on anything other than his achievements as a professional mining engineer, for which the award was made. He graduated in mining from Leland Stanford, Jr., University in 1895, but had served as an assistant to Dr. Branner on the Arkansas Geological Survey in 1893 and had also worked two sum-mers as an assistant to H. W. Turner and Waldemar Lind-gren on U. S. Geological Sur-vey work in the Sierra Nevada around Lake Tahoe, and on the American River. Immediately after graduation he got "a job" underground at Grass Valley, and soon rose to be night shift-boss. He then secured employment with the late Louis Janin and made such a good record as office and field assistant that he was soon placed in charge of a small mine at Carlisle, N. M. In 1897, Mr. Janin recom-mended him to Bewick, More-ing & Co., who were looking for an examining engineer for their staff in Australia. Two years were spent in hard work there which was done so creditably that his princi-pals held him and his judg-ment in the highest regard, and he came to the head of their local organization. Among the properties which he acquired for them was the Sons of Gwalia.

Jan 2, 1928

By N. G. Johnson

ALL of us are only too familiar with the fact that first the defense program, and finally the war, required vastly increased production from existing sources, and the discovery and development of new sources of minerals and metals. For this vast program, the explosives industry was well prepared. I use the term "well prepared" to cover all the phases of explosives service, which include formulation, design, manufacture, distribution, and application.

Jan 1, 1944

By R. J. Marcotte, C. T. Eddy, R. J. Smith

THE objectives of the investigation herein reported were to determine: (I) the S-curves for certain selected cast steels, (2) whether or not the published S-curves for wrought steels are satisfactory for use on cast steels of similar composition, and (3) to prepare hardenability curves of the selected cast steels. In order to make the final comparisons between cast and wrought steel more completely tangible, it was deemed advisable not only to determine S-curves for the steels submitted in the cast condition but also to roll some of the cast-steel test bars and determine comparison S-curves on such wrought material. This procedure eliminates the composition variable and makes it possible to reveal the differences resulting from plastic deformation of the cast structure in addition to providing the comparison with published data on wrought steels. CAST STEELS The cast steels selected for the preparation of S-curves, or time-temperature transformation curves, were similar to S.A.E. series 1030, 2330, 4130 and 4330. Of these the 1030 was supplied by The Crucible Steel Casting Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and the other three by The Sawbrook Steel Castings Co., Lockland, Ohio. The steels were furnished in the as-cast condition. The manufacturers supplied the chemical analyses and the properties that could be obtained in the heat-treated condition-all of which is summarized in Table I. [ ] PROCEDURE The metallographic and dilatometric procedures and equipment were in general standard. The specific technique employed was described in a report of the Steel

Jan 1, 1945

By T. M. Morris, F. M. Lewis, W. C. Lay, Gordon M. Bell

Part I of this chapter is concerned with the description of and metallurgical data pertaining to the flotation circuits used in the London mill of the Tennessee Copper Co., at Copperhill, Tenn. The ores treated at the London mill are massive complex sulfides, in which pyrrhotite and pyrite are the predominant minerals. Other sulfides are chalcopyrite and sphalerite; magnetite is also of economic value. The approximate mineralogical analysis of the ore is shown in Table 1. [ ] The chalcopyrite and sphalerite are closely associated with pyrrhotite as shown by the tracings of micrographs (Fig. I), which are representative of the mill feed. Fig. la illustrates the type of locking between pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite; Fig. lb illustrates the way in which sphalerite is attached. Thesephotographs indicate that it is not practical to break all of these attachments. Hence, in order to produce concentrates with satisfactory grades and recoveries, most of the locked chalcopyrite particles must be recovered into the copper concentrate, and the locked sphalerite-pyrrhotite particles must be separated from the iron concentrate. A copper concentrate, a zinc concentrate, and an iron concentrate are made. Typical metallurgical results are tabulated in Table 2. HISTORICAL In 1922 the London mill started as a copper concentrator, with a capacity of 300 tpd, and in 1926 an additional flotation circuit was added to recover the iron sulfide remaining in the copper tailing. In 1927 a zinc flotation circuit was installed between the copper and the iron flotation circuits. This procedure was not satisfactory because the iron recovery was low, due to the

Jan 1, 1962

By T. F. Witherbee

That the single charging-bell, properly proportioned, is a good all-around device for distributing material in a blast-furnace can scarcely be questioned; yet it is equally true that, in some cases, it has not given perfect satisfaction; as has been demonstrated by the substitution of double bells, at furnaces under the beat management—generally in cases where anthracite, either alone, or with a portion of coke, was used as fuel. The defect of the single bell seems to be that it does not permit, beyond very narrow limits, such changes in charging as may be required by the temporary conditioil of the furnace. Modern furnaces using Connellsville or other good coke and Lake Superior ores seem to be well served with a single bell. At least, up to a certain size, somewhere about 18 by 85 ft. to 19 by 90 feet, these furnaces make low-silicon pig-iron with about 1,800 lb. of fuel, or in some cases very much less. The following instances occur to me, in which other forms of charging-apparatus have been employed with advantage: 1. A charcoal-furnace, 61 ft. high, 11 ft. in diameter at bosh, and 8 ft. 2 in. at stock-line, with a rectangular crucible, 42 by

Jan 1, 1905

By James B. Duke, Ernest W. Greene

An idea of what is meant by "Ultrafine Minerals Or Slimes" as used in the title can be had by an examination of Fig. I. Particle size distributions are presented for a crude kaolin clay, a coarse fraction and a fine fraction. The crude kaolin as mined was blunged with water, degritted through a 325-mesh Tyler screen, and dispersed with sodium silicate. The dispersed crude was then centrifuged in the laboratory into the coarse and fine fractions shown in the figure. The distribution curves were obtained by the well known sedimentation technique of Casagrande' using a long arm centrifuge to obtain equivalent spherical diameters down to 0.2 microns on the finer fraction. Fig. 1 shows the coarse fraction kaolin to be 50% finer than 3 microns, while the crude kaolin is 50% finer than 1.4 microns, and the fine fraction 50% finer than 0.6 microns. For comparison 53 microns on the horizontal scale would represent Stokesian diameters which would just pass a 325- mesh Tyler screen, taking into consideration the Andreasen sieve correction factor of 1.22 X the screen opening.' Another helpful comparison is the surface areas, which in square meters per gram, are 0.044 for 53 micron particles, 0.77 for 3 microns, 1.65 for 1.4 microns, and 5.0 for 0.46 micron particles. Fig. 2 is an electron micrograph of a similar fine fraction kaolin showing the hexagonal plate- like particle shapes.

Jan 10, 1962

By J. E. Hilliard

A procedure is described for determining, from measurements on a section, the moments of any degree n (i.e., the mean value of Dn, where D is a linear dimension) of the size distribution of particles (or grains) in an opaque sarnple. The analysis is applicable to particles of alnzost any shape and to any mixture of shapes. However, if absolute values of the wloments are required, it is necessary to know what shapes are present and the relative frequency of their occurrence. In addition, certain shape-dependent parameters have to be evaluated before the formulas can be used. The measurement required is the distribution of intercept lengths. This can be determined either visually or with an automatic scanning instrument. Corrections me derived for the bias due to instrumental end effects. The proposed analysis has the following advantages over existing ones: 1) Confidence limits are easily estimated for the measured properties or, conversely, the number of counts required to achieve a given accuracy can be determined. 2) The analysis is not restricted to particles of a special shape. 3) The error resulting from any known degree of departure of the actual from the assumed particle shape can be estimated. 4) The computations are simple and, apart from a change in constants, are independent of particle shape. 5) The number of particles per unit volume can be determined by a simple counting procedure. MANY procedures have been described for determining the size distribution of particles from measurements on a section (or plane of polish). They differ from one another in the property measured on the section (radius, intercept length, profile area) and in the method used for the numerical solution of the integral equation relating the property to the particle size distribution. However, all existing analyses share at least two of the following disadvantages. 1) They are limited to a particular shape of particle (usually spherical). 2) It is very difficult to determine how the statistical sampling error is propagated into the computed size distribution. The investigator thus has no means of knowing the reliability of his result and, what is of equal concern, he is unable to estimate how many measurements are required to obtain a result of the required accuracy. 3) It is also difficult to assess the error resulting from any deviation between the actual and assumed particle shape. The foregoing limitations stem from the complex relationship between the particle size distribution and the distribution of the property measured on the section. As will be shown, they can be avoided by defining the size distribution in terms of discrete parameters

Jan 1, 1969

By John E. Sherborne, William M. Newton

THE relation between the properties of electric logs and the fluid used in drilling a well is briefly discussed in this paper, and the fact that the resistivity of the drilling mud and its filtrate can appreciably affect such logs is shown. Apparatus was designed and a procedure established to determine the effect of various factors on the resistivity of drilling mud. Five muds commonly employed in California were tested and the following observations were made: I. The effect of raising the temperature from 80°F. to 180°F. is to decrease the resistivity of the mud or filtrate approximately 50 per cent. 2. The resistivity of the mud in most cases closely approximates that of its filtrate. 3. The change in the resistivities of muds caused by the addition of chemical is not the same function of the amount of chemical added for each mud. 4. The effect produced by increased sodium chloride content is to reduce markedly the resistivity of the mud and its filtrate. 5. Weighting materials, such as Baroid and limestone, tend to increase the resistivity of drilling mud. 6. Cement and counteracting reagents reduce mud resistivity.

Jan 1, 1942

By Howard E. Parkinson, John N. Murphy

The past five years have seen communications techniques and hardware developed by the Bureau of Mines and its contractors increasingly brought into use in U.S. mines. The Bureau philosophy has been to help develop and introduce new hardware that goes as far as possible toward meeting the mining industry's needs. The Bureau programs are also designed to provide continuous fallout of new communications capabilities which are introduced to the mine operators as they occur. As more progress is made in meeting mine communications needs, it is hoped that the mining industry will readily adopt the equipment and techniques that it finds most useful in meeting its individual needs. This paper reports on recent advances achieved in the development of improved mine communications systems. In May 1975 the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) conducted a mine communications technology meeting to provide a brief overview of the USBM communications technology developments in the past 5 yr. This meeting lasted for 1 1/2 days. Therefore, I have elected to narrow this paper to a brief review of recent underground mine communication developments. The following will be discussed: 1) Ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio for fan hole drill operators;

Jan 1, 1978

By Arthur C. Simmons

In common with all other producing areas of the United States, Pennsylvania enjoyed increased activity and prosperity during 1937 (Table I). Prices of crude oil were better than for any year since 1930, and the Bradford average was $2.599, compared with an average price of $2.60 in 1930. Production and drilling activities were increased over 1936, although drilling for oil represented almost entirely a program of secondary development in both the water-flood areas and the air-gas repressuring areas. Bradford Oil Field The Bradford oil field continued to produce the major portion of Pennsylvania oil; however, no changes occurred in oil-production methods during 1937. Practically all of the production in the Bradford field is by water-flooding and the total number of oil and water wells completed within the area increased from 3205 in 1936 to 4112 in 1937; an increase of approximately one-third over 1936 completions. The percentage of water wells is approximately one-half of the total completions, although any specific five-spot development will have a proportion of 55 to 60 per cent water wells and 40 to 45 per cent oil wells. Offsetti~ig and boundary oil wells probably will result in a division or percentage of 50 per cent oil and 50 per cent water wells. The quoted figures for well completions include the entire Bradford field, approximately 12 per cent of which is in Cattaraugus County, New York. It is possible to make a segregation of production, but it is not possible to segregate well completions. Production in the Pennsylvania end of the Bradford field in 1937 totaled 15,076,000 bbl., or a daily average of 41,300 bbl. compared with a daily average of 37,000 hbl. in 1936.

Jan 1, 1938

Discussion of the paper of G. P. Hulst, presented at the Salt Lake meeting, August, 1914, and printed in Bulletin No. 92, August, 1914, pp. 1865 to 1871. L. S. AUSTIN, Salt Lake City, Utah.-One question that I would like to ask is in regard to the sampling kettle which stands beside the softening furnace. How is the sample taken or melted? G. P. HULST.-The sampling kettles in question are of 45 tons capacity and are fired with coal. The lead bullion comes in on a high line in car-load lots of 30 to 40 tons. The entire lot is trucked from car, weighed over scales and thrown into the sampling kettle, which has been previously cleaned. The kettle is fired and the bullion melted, then heated up until no frozen bullion' remains in the .bottom or adheres to the sides of the kettle. The kettle is scraped clean, sides and bottom, and the wet dross is skimmed Doff clean into molds. The kettle is stirred thoroughly during the period in which 24 to 30 samples of approximately ½ assay ton are taken. These samples are taken in a long-hand loci iron mold, providing for taking six to eight "gumdrops." The mold is inserted and heated to the same temperature as the molten metal, and gumdrops are clipped out and cooled in the mold by dipping 'the bottom of. the mold into Water. The samples should be free from fins. The gumdrops represent the contents of the kettle, and in assaying, they should not be clipped, but weighed up and the result computed. The dross bars are weighed and sawed according to old hammer and punch sample template. The sawdust represents a sample of the dross. In eases of high gold in the bullion there is a slight correction in the assay. This method of sampling was developed at the Omaha plant of the American Smelting & Refining Co., W. T.. Page, Manager, in 1903 or 1904, for adjusting differences in checking smelter sampling. L. S. AUSTIN.-The base bullion which you treat is very clean. It has been remelted, and skimmed before shipment. How rapidly can you get it through the softening furnace, and how does it compare with ordinary base bullion? G. P. HULST.-Twenty-four hours is the softening limit on these charges. In other words, it is charged into the furnace, heated up, and the first and second skimmings are taken off, and it goes into the kettle the next day; that is, 24 hr. elapse from the time the bullion is charged to the time it is in the kettle. L. S. AUSTIN.-It seems to be a long time to hold such a pure bullion. I suppose, though, it comes around conveniently so that you have a time for all the other operations of refining. Isn't that the case? MR. HULST.-Every refinery is based on those principles.

Jan 11, 1914

By H. R. Banks

Pondering the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote "Tho' the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. Principle of Ball Mill The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely he mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? Methods of Grinding The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of he grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1947

By H. R. Banks

Pondering the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote "Tho' the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. Principle of Ball Mill The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely he mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? Methods of Grinding The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of he grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1947