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By N. M. Levine, W. M. Fassell

In this laboratory study the problem of aerative conditioning to separate chalcopyrite and pyrite from cobaltite was simply effected with a sulfy-drate collector and pH by proper choice of mixing variables. It was shown that for a given impeller type and geometry, selectivity is governed by a relation between the Froude number and a modified power number multiplied by impeller tank-diameter ratio wherein the power factor is expressed as power intensity or horsepower per unit volume of contained pulp. In applying this approach to other systems, other criteria would be used in place of selectivity. The purpose of this paper is to show how solutions to problems of aerative conditioning of pulps may be enhanced by development of mixing parameters in a given system through application of a fundamental approach to agitation. The term aerative conditioning refers to a combination of processes which include mechanical gas dispersion, gas solution in the liquid phase, transport of dissolved gases and other reactants to the reaction zone, physico-chemico interaction within the liquid phase and/or at the solid surface, and, finally transport of products away from the reaction zone. Important elements of these processes are: 1) Air-Liquid Contact Area: This area limits the rate at which a given gas may dissolve in a given liquid. Thus, an aerative conditioning system should be designed for optimum gas dispersion. 2) Diffusional Factors: Such factors as concentration gradient, diffusion film thickness, and diffusivity may govern the rate at which dissolved constituents are transferred to the zone of interaction at a particle surface and the rate at which reaction products are transported therefrom. Thus, such systems would be designed for maximum turbulence to effect good mixing and to minimize diffusion film thickness. 3) Solids-Turbulent Liquid Contact Time: Sufficient time should be provided for interactions to take place at solid-liquid interfaces. The region of maximum turbulence for mechanical systems being in the impeller zone, it is important that the number of passes through this zone be optimized. This means that a proper balance should be struck be- tween flow and turbulent power to achieve optimum conditioning time. Too high a flow rate and insufficient turbulence may be improper if the reactions are diffusion limited. On the other hand, too much turbulent power and too little time in the reaction zone due to insufficient flow power may also be limiting. 4) Geometry and Impeller Design: The design of the conditioning vessel and the type of impeller employed are important factors in determining the relative distribution between flow and turbulent power and the degree of gas dispersion. Maximization of power input would be to no avail if the distribution between flow and turbulent power were improper or gas dispersion insufficient. 5. Physical Chemistry: The reactions between dissolved gases and solid surfaces may be limiting if gas solubility, activation energies and/or free energies are not favorable. J. H. Rushton, E. W. Costich, and H. J. Everett' have summarized the mechanical elements of the combination of processes listed in a fundamental mixing equation. This equation was derived by dimensional analysis and relates the physical variables for a single impeller, centered in a cylindrical, vertical axis, flat-bottomed tank. It is, where T is tank diameter in feet; H is liquid depth in feet; C is height of impeller off tank bottom in feet; S is pitch of impeller; L is length of impeller blades; W is width of impeller blades; R is number of baffles; D is impeller diameter in feet; Np is the power number, pg/dN3D5; P is power in foot-pounds per second; g is the gravitational constant, feet per second; J is width of baffles; B is number of im-

Jan 1, 1961

By M. I. Jacobson, A. S. Yue, A. E. Vidoz, F. W. Crossman

An equation governing the concept of constitutional supercooling under the combined effect of concentration and temperature gradients was used to produce platelike Al-CuAl2 eutectic composites for mechanical properties studies. Compression specimens were prepared from a single-colony Al-CuA12 eutectic composite ingot, 2 in. in diam and 12 in. long. The specirrzens were cut such that the platelets were oriented parallel, 45 deg, and perpendicular to the compression direction. Since the ingot was of eutectic composition, The aluminum-rich matrix could dissolve 5. 7 wt pct Cu in solid solution, and therefore could be strengthened by precipitation hardening. Specimens were tested at room temperature and elevated temperatures in the unidirectionally solidified, solution-treated, and solution-treated plus aged conditions. The results were compared with those for the conventionally cast and extruded specimens. For the controlled material, the highest strengths were obtained with platelets oriented parallel to the compression axis. In the unidirectionally solidified condition, 0.2 pct offset yield strength was 32,000 psi; however, this was increased to 59,000 psi by solution treatment, and further increased to 90,500 psi by solution treatment and aging. The attainment of high compressive strengths in the Al-CuAl2 eutectic composites was interpreted in terms of the buckling of elastic CuAl2 platelets in the plastically deformed a aluminum matrix. SINCE the discovery of high-strength whiskers,' scientists and engineers have made significant progress toward incorporating these whiskers into metallic matrices, forming composites for basic studies and structural application. The general procedure is to produce the whiskers first and then to bind them together with a ductile matrix. The production of whisker-reinforced composites requires tedious handling techniques,, particularly when it is desired to align the whiskers unidirectionally. Furthermore, the interfacial bond between the whisker and the matrix is frequently poor3 so that the resulting composite has strengths lower than expected. These disadvantages are generally true for any metallic composite produced by physically mixing the components. It is possible to eliminate these shortcomings by growing whiskers directly in the matrix material by eutectic solidification.4-8 In eutectic solidification, the matrix phase and a whisker phase are grown approximately simultaneously from a liquid of the same overall composition at the eutectic temperature. If the solidification process is controlled by varying the freezing rate, the temperature gradient, and the impurity content, platelike or filamentlike whiskers are produced parallel to the growth direction. The morphology of the grown-in reinforcement, i.e.. plates or rods, generally depends on the volume fraction9 of the dispersed phase present in the eutectic mixture. Since the unidirectional eutectic solidification is a one-step process, i.e., the liquid-solid transformation process, an excellent interfacial bond between the matrix and whisker is obtained. An additional advantage is that no special handling technique for whiskers is needed. In recent years, many investigators10-13 have studied the effects of growth variables on the micromorpholo-gies of binary eutectic alloys produced by controlled solidification. The study of their mechanical properties was initiated by Kraft and coworkers14-16 who found that the strength of cast A1-CuA12 eutectic alloy can be increased threefold by unidirectional solidification. In the A1-AL3Ni system, a strength of 50,000 lb per sq in, was reported for the unidirectionally solidified eutectic alloy, a value five times higher than for conventionally cast material. Thus, the unidirectionally solidified eutectics can be used as fiber-reinforced composite materials. In this paper, we shall first use an equation17 as a guide for the production of eutectic composites in general and the Al-33 wt pct Cu eutectic in particular. Experimental data supporting the theoretical prediction are given. Second, the compressive properties of the grown A1-33 wt pct Cu eutectic were thoroughly investigated in terms of platelet orientations, thermo-mechanical treatment, and temperature. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of a buckling model of fibers in elastic fiber-plastic matrix metallic composites. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Crystal Growth. The following experimental procedure was adopted for the production of controlled microstructures in the A1-33 wt pct Cu eutectic alloy. The controlled solidification was accomplished with a movable resistance-wound radiation furnace. Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of the solidification apparatus. A water-cooled chiller was placed into a degassed high-purity graphite crucible containing the charge. Rubber stoppers wrapped with aluminum foil were used to seal both ends of the quartz tube through which a dried argon atmosphere was passed under a slight positive pressure. At both ends of the quartz tube, radiation shields were used to minimize heat loss. The quartz tube was held in place by two steel clamps and the furnace was drawn vertically by means of a steel cable against the steel truss which permits the furnace to move without touching the tube. The drive mechanism consisted of two pulleys, a counter weight.

Jan 1, 1969

By Frank Firmstone

THE indicator cards shown herewith were taken by the writer in June, 1877, from the water-pressure blowing engine of the Longdale Iron Co., at Lucy Selina Furnace, Longdale, Virginia. A description of this engine with figures, and some indicator cards, was published by Washington Jones, Esq., Superintendent of the I. P. Morris Co.,* in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for May, 1877, to which those desiring a full account are referred, but for convenience the principal dimensions, etc., are given below. The machine consists of a pair of horizontal directacting blowing engines, connected at right angles to a common fly-wheel shaft. The blowing cylinders are 4 ft. diameter by 5 ft. stroke; the water cylinders were 18 in. diameter by 5 ft. stroke as built. Both water and blowing cylinders are double acting. The water valves are balanced piston valves, 18 in. diameter, moved directly by eccentrics on the fly-wheel- shaft. Great care was taken to have the areas of the ports and passages at least equal to the area of the working piston. The engine is set about 14 ft. above the tail-race, and the * The engine was built by the I. P. Morris Go., from drawings made by Messrs. Tuws and Hartman.

Jan 1, 1879

THE members arrived at Ticonderoga, N. Y., at noon, Tuesday, October 15th, and were received by Mr. Cyrus Butler, Chairman of the Local Committee of Arrangements. During the afternoon the works of the American Graphite Company and the Horicon Iron Company were visited under the guidance of Mr. Butler, President of both companies, and of Mr. William Hooper, Superintendent. An excursion was then made, in carriages, to old Fort Ticonderoga, on Lake Champlain, after which the party were driven to the Rogers Rock Hotel, on Lake George. The first session of the Institute was held in the parlor of time hotel on Tuesday evening. Mr. Eckley B. Coxe, President of the Institute, opened the proceedings with the following address: I shall ask your attention, this evening, to a few reflections upon the subject of mining engineering as a profession in the United States, its past, its present, and its future, and its duties and oppor¬tunities with reference to the proper development of our great min¬eral resources. Thirty years ago, there were scarcely any mining engineers in this country, and but few in England, and there were no institutions where young men could be educated for the profession in the Eng¬lish language. France and Germany have been able for about a century to boast of mining schools of a high character, that number among their graduates such men as Humboldt, Weisbach, Rittinger, Combes, and Gruner. Of the few we then had worthy of the name of "mining engi¬neer," some had studied in the continental academies, and others were graduates in the school of practical experience, and had learned their profession in mines and smelting-works. Their work con¬sisted principally in making surveys and maps of mines and mining properties, geological reports, and analyses of ores ; but the mining engineer whom we often meet with now, who has studied chemistry, physics, mineralogy, geology, mechanics, and drawing; who is more or less familiar with machinery and its construction, and with the practical management of mines or smelting-works, and who is an expert in some one branch of his profession, would have been very difficult if not impossible to find in the United States. The induce¬ments held out to ambitious and talented young men to enter the

Jan 1, 1879

By F. E. Bash

About three years ago, the writer presented a paper1 on the rate of heating and cooling of a 24-in. round ingot. The present paper deals with work done on larger ingots at the plant of the Allis Chalmers Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis., in August, 1919. Sufficient data on ingots of all sizes were desired to enable one to calculate in advance the rate at which any ingot could be raised to a forging temperature without injury to the steel, determining also the temperature gradient between different sections of the ingot and the length of time necessary to heat to the center. This has now been experimentally determined for 24-in. and 45-in. ignots by the writer and for a 18-in. cube by E. F. Law.2 J. F. Harper has also made tests on heat-treating temperatures on 30-in, ingots; which data are included in this paper. No attempt is made here to work out a formula for the heat penetration of steel, for too many factors are involved concerning which we have not sufficient information, as for instance, the specific heat of steel up to 2300' F. It is hoped that eventually a set of formulas will be developed so that one may calculate maximum allowable temperature differences within an ingot for any particular kind of steel and the rate of absorption of heat and temperature gradient within the ingot for a definite temperature head. EXPEEIMENTAL INGOT The ingot tested was 45 in. in diameter, having been forged into the shape shown in Fig. 1 from 54 in. diameter. Seven -in. holes were

Jan 1, 1923

By F. E. Bash

About three years ago, the writer presented a paper1 on the rate of heating and cooling of a 24-in. round ingot. The present paper deals with work done on larger ingots at the plant of the Allis Chalmers Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wis., in August, 1919. Sufficient data on ingots of all sizes were desired to enable one to calculate in advance the rate at which any ingot could be raised to a forging temperature without injury to the steel, determining also the temperature gradient between different sections of the ingot and the length of time necessary to heat to the center. This has now been experimentally determined for 24-in. and 45-in. ignots by the writer and for a 18-in. cube by E. F. Law.2 J. F. Harper has also made tests on heat-treating temperatures on 30-in, ingots; which data are included in this paper. No attempt is made here to work out a formula for the heat penetration of steel, for too many factors are involved concerning which we have not sufficient information, as for instance, the specific heat of steel up to 2300' F. It is hoped that eventually a set of formulas will be developed so that one may calculate maximum allowable temperature differences within an ingot for any particular kind of steel and the rate of absorption of heat and temperature gradient within the ingot for a definite temperature head. EXPEEIMENTAL INGOT The ingot tested was 45 in. in diameter, having been forged into the shape shown in Fig. 1 from 54 in. diameter. Seven -in. holes were

Jan 1, 1923

By LESTER H. WOOLSEY

IT IS doubtful whether anything new can be said upon this subject and, therefore, it is with considerable hesitation that l prepare this paper. On account of my recent connection with the Department of State as its law- officer, perhaps I will be pardoned if I discuss this subject briefly from the point of view of that branch of the Government. , I cannot, of course, speak for that department, since I have-no connection with it at-present, but it may be helpful if I set down certain* of the factors which in my opinion and from my experience have a bearing on this international problem. With oil-burning ships, motor vessels, motor vehicles, airplanes-all consuming, astonishing quantities of petroleum or petroleum products; with the United States having within its borders only 12 per cent. of the petroleum resources of the world, and consuming about 70 per cent. of the world's output; with the more enterprising nations wide awake to the necessity ; of obtaining and preserving as large a share as possible of the oil resources extant ; the 'problem is peculiarly and in a, very practical sense an international one.

Jan 1, 1921

By K. D. Jacob

IN the decreasing order of the tonnages involved, the uses of phosphates can be grouped conveniently into three general classes, namely, fertilizer; chemicals for military, industrial, and technical purposes; and mineral feed for livestock. The quantity of phosphate used as fertilizer, principally in the form of superphosphate, has always exceeded by far that used for all other purposes, though in recent years a marked increase has occurred in its consumption for the other two general classes of uses. Prior to the present century large quantities of superphosphate, as well as a considerable portion of the production of phosphorus chemicals, score made from bone materials which were plentiful and cheap in some areas and which could be more easily processed than phosphate rock for the manufacture of chemicals. Today, however phosphate rock has almost completely displaced bone as a raw material for the manufacture of chemically processed phosphates in nearly all countries of the world.

Jan 1, 1944

By K. D. Jacob

MONTANA Phosphate Produucts Co., a subsidiary of The Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada Ltd., operates three properties near Garrison, Mont., known as the Anderson, Graveley, and Luke mines. All three are underground operations, mining the same narrow bed at points several miles apart. The Anderson, the oldest and largest of the three, has produced about 700,000 long tons since 1929. The Graveley has produced slightly over 100,000 long tons since 1940, and the Luke, acquired in 1943, is still in an early stage of development. The great bulk of the output has been shipped to the Trail, B. C., plant of Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. for use in the manufacture of fertilizers. The phosphate seam is the basal member of the Permian Phosphoria formation. In all three mines it has a uniform thickness of 3 to 4 ft. of oulitic phosphate, with a few shaly partings. The overlying part of the formation comprises about 50 ft. of chert and the immediate footwall consists of a few feet of shale and sandstone. underlain by the Quadrant quartzite.

Jan 1, 1944

By M. F. COOLBAUGH

WHEN I was asked to speak on the subject of leaching, I did not realize that a complete summary of recent progress in leaching had been given by Stuart Croasdale. I shall try to give some other phases of the subject that were not touched by Mr. Croasdale. Not all metallurgists are in harmony as to their methods of treating metals. If they were it would probably mean lack of progress. They can be divided into two classes-the pyrometallurgists, using fire means, and the hydrometallurgists, or those using leaching methods. Conflict is always good for progress; we have it in politics, and in religion there are fundamentalists, and those who are not fundamentalists. As representing pyrometallurgy, may I hope not to be classed among the fundamentalists. The leaching of ores is not new. The leaching of ores for the recovery of metals, however, is quite new. The older leaching was simply to recover the salts. Agricola, back in 1555, I think it was, outlined a great many methods of leaching for the recovery of salts. They called them solid juices at that time. There was no real competition, however, between leaching meth-

Jan 1, 1926

A week-long educational program and two-day symposium on applying the fluidizing reactor to the minerals industry drew more than 100 engineers to the University of Arizona at Tucson several weeks ago. The educational program, intended for engineers who will work closely with the reactor, attracted registrants from all sections of the U. S. and Canada. Meeting at the College of Mines on February 23 for a full week of intensive classwork, the engineers ploughed in with enthusiasm. Eight hours daily of lectures and laboratory work were followed by a generous helping of homework supplied by Professor Sigmund L. Smith, who directed the course. The study program was completed on Friday and the following Monday marked the start of a symposium of technical papers covering a wide variety of operations and new ideas.

Jan 4, 1959

By Roland Blanchard

Recent discovery at Mount Isa of copper mineralization in commercial amount at a depth of 1000 ft., coinciding with downward termination of ore at about the same depth within the larger silver-lead-zinc lenses that have been the standby of Mount Isa's production to date, has been cited as an example in support of mineral zoning. A previous paper by the author and Graham Hall1 furnished a detailed description of the geology of the ore at Mount Isa as exposed up to that time, but necessarily dealt mainly with the silver-lead-zinc mineralization. Most of the geologic facts that constitute the first half of the present paper were set forth in the previous one in much greater detail, with full supporting evidence for the facts cited. The large amount of underground development (approximately 20 miles) and the extensive exploration carried out by diamond drilling (100,000 ft.) at Mount Isa, added to extensive microscope work conducted over a period of years, both by the company's staff and by others, had made possible the calculation within fairly close limits of mineralogical composition of the principal mineralized block of ground down to 1000-ft. depth, and had established closely the mineral succession, with reasons for deposition of the various minerals in the patterns now occupied by them. The geologic facts as outlined in the previous paper remain as stated; but because substantial development within the new copper ore body and further exploratory diamond drilling within the new silver-lead-zinc area (Racecourse) have taken place since that paper was written, statements and figures relating to those two areas in the present paper supersede those furnished in the previous one. The recent work likewise has established more clearly the paragenetic relationship between the chalco-pyrite and galena. Evidence confirming the relationship is furnished in the present paper. The facts of ore occurrence at Mount Isa show Accepted Zonal Succession Silver sulphantimonides Galena Sphalerite Tetrahedrite Arsenical sulphides Chalcopyrite Pyrrhotite Mount Isa Succession I In the main but prob- Silver sulphantimonides ably not wholly Tetrahedrite I contemporaneous Galena Pyrrhotite Sphalerite Arsenical sulphides They show further: (I) that instead of the silver-lead minerals yielding to increased zinc in depth, the zinc yields to increased silver-lead; (2) no dovetailing of the silver-lead-zinc sulphides into chalcopyrite takes place; (3) despite the large amount of pyrrhotite deposited in the district (estimated at upward of 100,000,000 tons), its deposition took place under moderately low temperature conditions; (4) no evidence has been found for increase in temperature of deposition, with depth, to deepest exploration in ore (1475 ft.). The anomalous condition at Mount Jsa, both as to the unorthodox mineral succession and the largely unorthodox patteru of mineral distribution, is explained in the present paper,

Jan 1, 1949

By Roland Blanchard

Recent discovery at Mount Isa of copper mineralization in commercial amount at a depth of 1000 ft., coinciding with downward termination of ore at about the same depth within the larger silver-lead-zinc lenses that have been the standby of Mount Isa's production to date, has been cited as an example in support of mineral zoning. A previous paper by the author and Graham Hall1 furnished a detailed description of the geology of the ore at Mount Isa as exposed up to that time, but necessarily dealt mainly with the silver-lead-zinc mineralization. Most of the geologic facts that constitute the first half of the present paper were set forth in the previous one in much greater detail, with full supporting evidence for the facts cited. The large amount of underground development (approximately 20 miles) and the extensive exploration carried out by diamond drilling (100,000 ft.) at Mount Isa, added to extensive microscope work conducted over a period of years, both by the company's staff and by others, had made possible the calculation within fairly close limits of mineralogical composition of the principal mineralized block of ground down to 1000-ft. depth, and had established closely the mineral succession, with reasons for deposition of the various minerals in the patterns now occupied by them. The geologic facts as outlined in the previous paper remain as stated; but because substantial development within the new copper ore body and further exploratory diamond drilling within the new silver-lead-zinc area (Racecourse) have taken place since that paper was written, statements and figures relating to those two areas in the present paper supersede those furnished in the previous one. The recent work likewise has established more clearly the paragenetic relationship between the chalco-pyrite and galena. Evidence confirming the relationship is furnished in the present paper. The facts of ore occurrence at Mount Isa show Accepted Zonal Succession Silver sulphantimonides Galena Sphalerite Tetrahedrite Arsenical sulphides Chalcopyrite Pyrrhotite Mount Isa Succession I In the main but prob- Silver sulphantimonides ably not wholly Tetrahedrite I contemporaneous Galena Pyrrhotite Sphalerite Arsenical sulphides They show further: (I) that instead of the silver-lead minerals yielding to increased zinc in depth, the zinc yields to increased silver-lead; (2) no dovetailing of the silver-lead-zinc sulphides into chalcopyrite takes place; (3) despite the large amount of pyrrhotite deposited in the district (estimated at upward of 100,000,000 tons), its deposition took place under moderately low temperature conditions; (4) no evidence has been found for increase in temperature of deposition, with depth, to deepest exploration in ore (1475 ft.). The anomalous condition at Mount Jsa, both as to the unorthodox mineral succession and the largely unorthodox patteru of mineral distribution, is explained in the present paper,

Jan 1, 1949

By A. B. Hersberger, R. S. Dean

Although it is obvious that in any flotation process we must have a froth, in recent years the development of collecting reagents has caused the possibilities of better frothing agents to be overlooked. Some investigators have even gone so far as to say that the number of satisfactory frothing agents was sufficient. A little consideration will show, however, that the reagents available in the past were far from ideal frothers. The properties of an ideal frother for flotation work may be set down as follows: 1. It must form in low concentrations a copious but not too persistent froth. 2. It must be insensitive to hydrogen-ion concentration of the pulp; that is, it must froth equally well in an acid or alkaline medium. 3. It must be insensitive to salts, even in high concentration. 4. It must be absolutely noncollecting to both sulfides and nonsulfides. 5. Its frothing properties must not be affected by collecting reagents, including soap, the most generally used nonsulfide collector. 6. It must readily emulsify and disperse any insoluble collecting agent that is likely to be used. Clearly the existing frothers do not qualify. Pine oil, for example, is an acceptable frother for many purposes but if used in soap flotation a delicate balance between pine oil and soap must be struck because, as pointed out by Coghill1, these two reagents are incompatible in certain concentrations. The objections to soap itself as a frother are obvious, and the cresols and their substitution products all have some collecting power and very little emulsifying power. The mechanism of frothing in flotation was early explained on the basis of the Harkins-Langmuir theory of oriented molecules.2 These investigators showed that if an organic compound having an unsym-metrical molecule (in which one end of the molecule contained water-

Jan 1, 1939

By R. S. Dean, A. B. Hersberger

Although it is obvious that in any flotation process we must have a froth, in recent years the development of collecting reagents has caused the possibilities of better frothing agents to be overlooked. Some investigators have even gone so far as to say that the number of satisfactory frothing agents was sufficient. A little consideration will show, however, that the reagents available in the past were far from ideal frothers. The properties of an ideal frother for flotation work may be set down as follows: 1. It must form in low concentrations a copious but not too persistent froth. 2. It must be insensitive to hydrogen-ion concentration of the pulp; that is, it must froth equally well in an acid or alkaline medium. 3. It must be insensitive to salts, even in high concentration. 4. It must be absolutely noncollecting to both sulfides and nonsulfides. 5. Its frothing properties must not be affected by collecting reagents, including soap, the most generally used nonsulfide collector. 6. It must readily emulsify and disperse any insoluble collecting agent that is likely to be used. Clearly the existing frothers do not qualify. Pine oil, for example, is an acceptable frother for many purposes but if used in soap flotation a delicate balance between pine oil and soap must be struck because, as pointed out by Coghill1, these two reagents are incompatible in certain concentrations. The objections to soap itself as a frother are obvious, and the cresols and their substitution products all have some collecting power and very little emulsifying power. The mechanism of frothing in flotation was early explained on the basis of the Harkins-Langmuir theory of oriented molecules.2 These investigators showed that if an organic compound having an unsym-metrical molecule (in which one end of the molecule contained water-

Jan 1, 1939

amounted to about 2000 metric tons. The total output is increasing from year to year. Marine salt is now produced in Haiti in quantity sufficient to supply nearly all the requirements of this Republic, so production tax is now collected. Central America Guatemala-The major production of salt in Guatemala is solar salt derived from sea water, but the Indian population prefers salt derived by boiling coastal marine earth. Salt is taxed by the Government. The industry has been beset by controversies in recent years, especially following the revolution of October 1944. The Government issued a decree in August 1940 designed to control production and price of salt. The creation of a salt consortium was provided for and marketing was to be governed by production quotas. It is understood that the Government pool was later dissolved and the industry is now under older laws whereby production and sales have no limits. South America Panama-Output of salt in Panama in a very recent year was 11,000 net tons of solar-evaporated sea salt. A Government bank is in charge of output and distribution of the product. Colombia-Rock-salt deposits are known in five places-Zipaquira, Nemocon, and Sesquile, in the Department of Cundinamarca, the Cumural y Upin near Restrepo, and San Miguel y Barital, near Medina in Meta Intendency. The latter deposit never has been worked on account of its inaccessibility. Saline springs are worked in four locations. The largest producer among marine salinas is Manare but it is now planned to make Bahia Honda the largest. Some evaporated salt is made in vacuum pans. The deposits at Zipaquira, Nemocon, and Sesquile are believed to occur in the domal type of deposit. All the salt resources are under Government control. Venezuela-The salt industry in Venezuela is under Government control and is taxed. Taxes in recent years, however, have been reduced for salt used in curing hides and salting meats, fish and fish products. Production has approximated 25,000 metric tons yearly but may now be considerably above that figure. The basin on the peninsula of Araya, State of Sucre, which at present is the only important source of salt, could produce at least 175,000 metric tons if more ground were provided-a larger supply than the entire country could consume. This unique landlocked basin of nearly 1000 acres lies 12 ft below sea level. Ecuador-Salt is a Government monopoly in Ecuador and is produced chiefly by solar evaporation close to the shore. The main producing center is on the Santa Elena peninsula, which supplies about 90 pct of the salt. Small fields are at Punta Arenas, Payana, and Chara-

Jan 1, 1949

By H. E. Cline

Calculations of the formation and growth of faults caused by a variation in lumellar widths were made for a two-dimensioml three-plate problem. The angle between the a-ß boundary and the growth direction was allowed to vary and the time evolution was studied using a quasisteady state approach. At spacings smaller than a critical spacing given by X V = AO variations in the larrlellar widths grow in time to produce faults that coarsen the structure, while at spac-ings larger than this critical spacing, variations in the lamellar widths decay in time. If small plates are introduced into the structure they may grow only at large spacings to refine the structure. The time evolution and shape of faults were calculated for the three plate-problem and then the three dimensional problem and rod-like eutectic were qualitatively discussed. UNDERSTANDING of the mechanism by which the spacing of directionally solidified eutectics is determined may allow one to control their structure better. Steady state solutions for the growth of lamellar structures have been found for a range of lamellar spacings A and growth velocities V. To obtain a unique solution for the isothermal growth of pearlite, Zener1 assumed that growth occurs at a maximum velocity, while Tiller2 assumed that a eutectic alloy, grown under an imposed velocity, will choose a spacing corresponding to minimum undercooling. These assumptions are equivalent and have been referred to as "extremum growth". The extremum condition predicts the observed relation between velocity and spacing as given by V = constant [I] but does not provide a mechanism for changing the lamellar spacing. Jackson and Hunt3 calculated the interface shape by using solutions to the diffusion equation for a planar interface and a relation of the interface composition to the local curvature. If the spacing is much larger than the extremum spacing, the interface breaks down catastrophically to form forked plates. However, the catastrophic breakdown cannot account for the small adjustments in spacing that must occur in practice..3 Direct observations during the growth of organic eutectics4 and the Pb-Sn eutectic5 show that spacing changes occur by the formation of faults. A fault in a plate-like eutectic is the edge of a plate. Once the faults form, they may move to make small adjustments in the spacing.6,3 The motion of faults intersecting the growing interface was shown by an approximate analysis to give Eq. [I].6 A perfectly regular lamellar structure should be able to persist over a range of lamellar spacings. However, during growth small perturbations in the structure may occur. If the amplitude of the perturbation increases in time the structure is unstable, while if all possible perturbations decrease in time the structure is stable. In a previous paper7 variations in the shape of the solid-liquid interface were considered, while this paper considers only variations in lamellar widths while maintaining a macroscopically planar solid-liquid interface. Previously, theories of lamellar growth1"3 have artificially contrained the growth to give a regular periodic structure. To allow for a variation in spacing, the three phase intersections and groove angles were allowed to change with time as determined by assuming local equilibrium. THREE-PLATE PROBLEM Since the spacing changes in eutectics by local formation of faults,4'5 it is suggested that local variations in spacing are responsible. The interaction between neighboring plates will be greatest because they have the smallest diffusion distance. For simplicity, as a nearest neighbor approximation, a three-plate problem will be considered, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The structure consists of a periodic array in which all the plates are allowed to vary in width. As in steady state growth it is assumed that the average composition in the solid remains constant. A variation in plate widths, that maintains the composition in the solid, was introduced by making the first a-phase plate thinner by an amount A, keeping the width of the second B-phase plate constant, and increasing the width of the third a-phase plate. If the structure were not perturbed, as in the regular two-plate problem previously described,' then the groove angles at the three-phase junctions are the equilibrium angles, 0, and ? B, and the solid-solid boundary is normal to the interface. In the three-plate problem with a variation in plate widths the phase boundaries are assumed to be related to the three-phase junction by equilibrium angles, but the a/B boundaries may be rotated by an angle 0 from the growth direction. The angle H be-tween the tangent to the a/B boundary and the growth direction may vary during growth and determine the —> — — —.A_ Q-0 / 0 x, X2 Fig. 1—Schematic of the three-plate problem showing a variation in the spacing and the effect on the angles at the three phase intersections.

Jan 1, 1970

By F. L. Bosqui

INTRODUCTION The history of the development of gold metallurgy in South Africa is divisible into two periods: That preceding the introduction of the cyanide process on a commercial scale in 1890; and the 24 years intervening between that important event and the present time. The period between the discovery of the banket reefs of the Witwatersrand and the year 1890 was one of phenomenally rapid progress in mining development, but of no special interest to the metallurgist. There were no strikingly original or distinctly local advances in the treatment of gold ores. Californian practice in stamp milling and amalgamation prevailed, in mills ranging in equipment between 5 and 50 stamps, operating within a wide range of efficiency, and under the trying conditions usually en¬countered in a new and isolated field. The somewhat incomplete records of gold output of that period show that in December, 1887, there were 20 producing companies in the Witwatersrand district, of which 10 had mills, the largest being of 20 stamps. The only official record of returns for May, 1887, was that of the Wemmer mine, whose modest achievement with a 5-stamp, mill was 100 tons crushed, producing 887 oz. 3 dwt. of gold. This is interesting in view of the .present-day output of this field, which in 1913 reached 8,430,998 oz. The rapid increase of production during this first period (May, 1887, to January, 1891) is shown by the following summary for the year 1890:1 Total tons crushed 702,828 Number of stamps in operation 1,046 Average number of tons crushed per stamp per day 2.36 Yield of gold, ounces 494,817 Yield per ton, pennyweights 13.36 The stamp duty ranged between 1 ½ and 4 tons per day, according to weight of stamp, fineness of screen, and operating skill available. The prevailing weight of stamp was about 900 lb., and the screen, 900 meshes to the square inch.

Jan 5, 1915

In the General Alphabetical and Analytical Index of A I M E Publications for the years 1926 through 1935, a complete list of the volumes covered is printed on page 5, but the dates of publication of the volumes are not given Therefore the following information regarding the volumes that were printed without numbers may be useful to users of the Index

Jan 1, 1937

By N. E. Norman, R. Stier

The mining industry is continually seeking out new and better underground mining techniques. One of the most recent-also, perhaps, the most significant-of the new concepts in underground mining is the use of mechanical rock-boring machines. And one of the problems that concerns us all in this matter is the cost of mechanical rock tunneling. To help answer the oft-quoted question "What will it cost me?" the following pages deal with the operating costs of so-called "medium to medium hard rock" boring machines-i.e., those designed to meet the drilling requirements in 8000 psi to 25,000 psi rock. A few machines are capable of drilling hard rock above 25,000 psi, but the economics of mechanical tunneling in rock that hard is limited at the present time. [ ] For mechanical rock tunneling, there are five main cost factors influencing the expense: Capital Investment, Cutters, Labor, Power Requirements, and Maintenance. These factors give us a good basic picture of the cost of excavation, although muck handling, erecting supports, and other costs directly related to conventional tunneling and mechanical boring enter into the final picture.

Jan 6, 1967