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By Henry Souther

It is generally admitted that a god, practical and commercial set of specifications for the use of the many purchasers of cast-iron does not exist. A few good sets are in the hands of large buyers, but even these are very different, contradictory, and not intended to cover a wide range of product. Furthermore, most of them have been prepared to cover but one branch of the industry. It is strange that purchasers of cast-iron have not looked into this question long ago and demanded good, uniform cast-irou. Probably cast-iron has been discarded from many uses because of its failure in a few instances, even though the failure was due to ignorance of the quality of the iron, or perhaps to abnormally bad iron. Some foundrymen seem to consider all gray iron from a given foundry as uniform, especially if they know that it has been made from certain well-known brands of pig. It is likely that with standard specifications and the increase of knowledge necessary for their intelligent employ-

Jan 1, 1905

By John A. Riddle

Some of the pitfalls and problems in selecting and applying corrosion-resistant materials in uranium plants are discussed, together with some suggested solutions. Includes some cost data.

Jan 1, 1982

In the death of Professor Hofman, the world has lost a great metallurgist and a great author of metallurgical literature. Measured in time, his life was not quite seventy-two years, but measured in work accomplished it was much longer than this. He was born Aug. 13, 1852 and died Apr. 28, 1924. It is not surprising that Doctor Hofman became a great scholar, for his father, Karl Hofman, was on the faculty of Heidelberg University, and his early days were spent in those surroundings. He studied in the university under such men as Kirchhoff and Bunsen and often spoke of his

Jan 1, 1924

By Charles Rich, Robert Munson, Leonard Obert

Improved methods of predicting the caving characteristics of ore bodies is discussed. Experiments were conducted at Climax mine, Climax, Colo., on varied rock compositions. The cavability of adjacent areas, as well as seismic energy absorption proved to be good factors in determining cavability. Seismic velocity, core recovery, and rock quality designation (RQD) were found to be not as reliable.

Jan 1, 1977

C. M. GARLAND,§ Chicago, Ill. (written discussion 11).-7--In the development of Mr. Traer's method for the low-temperature coking of Illinois coals, after the principles laid clown by Prof. Parr, it was soon demon-strated that, in order to yield a product of uniform volatile content, the coal must be coked in thin layers, and consequently must be handled in comparatively small volumes. This means, in the first place, that great care must he observed in the design of the coking chambers to prevent the loss of the products of distillation, and, in the-second place, that labor-saving devices must be utilized to the greatest possible extent in order to reduce the cost of handling.

Jan 12, 1918

By C. W. Purington

Jan 1, 1900

By John J. Elango

Strain gage load cells, the most widely used type of nonmechanical weight sensor, are capable of taking measurements between 0.45-4.5 million kg (1-1 million lb) with an accuracy of 0.05%. They are available in a wide range of standard capacities, configurations, and accuracies, and special load cells may be custom-manufactured to meet unusual requirements. Typical applications include automated batch processing, process monitoring and control, mixing of powders and liquids, weighing coal or other materials in silos, and in large platform systems that weigh trucks and railcars. Because the strain gage load cell produces an electrical signal proportional to the applied load, it readily interfaces with readouts, keyboards, computer terminals, and alarm systems.

Jan 6, 1979

By W. M. Rust, W. D. Mounce

THE almost universal acceptance of electrical logging by the petroleum industry calls for a critical examination of the physical bases of the common methods. This is particularly needed for the natural potential log. The conventional explanations are based on the phenomena of electrofiltration and electro-osmosis. However, experimental data show that they fail to give a basis that is quantitatively sound. Moreover, they lead to interpretations of details of electrical logs that are erroneous. It was found experimentally that when a plug of shale is placed in a chain of dissimilar electrolytes, a current flow results. Experiments on oil-well cores and fluids similar to those existing in wells show that potentials are set up which are in reasonable agreement with those encountered in electrical logging. Doubt- less other sources of potential are important but this explanation not only accounts for much of the potential but also clarifies some fairly familiar examples of misinterpretations.

Jan 1, 1944

In the seven years that have elapsed since the AIME World Symposium on Mining and Metallurgy of Lead and Zinc, there have been a number of significant milling innovations and trends implemented in lead-zinc flowsheets to either improve grade and recovery or to control escalating mill costs. First, mill controls and instrumentation, which only had a foot in the door in 1970, have become increasingly common. In Australia, research into automatic crushing control has been implemented by Mount Isa Mines, and in virtually any large lead-zinc mill worldwide, an assortment of on-stream x-ray analyzers, grinding circuit controls, level detection devices, and reagent metering methods can be found. The increased circuit control offered to mill operators by this new technology points to more efficient flowsheets, as well as to a greater dependence upon computer-controlled operation.

Jan 11, 1977

Jan 1, 1932

By Jerry L. Straalsund, D. Bruce Masson

A dew-point technique was used to determine the thermodynamic activity of zinc at 430°C in a series of e phase Ag-Zn alloys. The composition of the alloys ranged from 72 to 88 at. pct Zn. This range included the composition at which Massalski and King3 found a reversal in the composition variation of the crystallo-graphic c/a ratio, which they attributed to an overlap of the Fermi surface across the (002) faces of the Brillouin zone. The data is presented in a graph in which RT In yz,, where yz, is the activity coefficient of zinc, is shown as a function of atomic percent zinc. This curve has an unmistakable change in slope at the same composition that Massalski and King observed the beginning of the reversal in the c/a ratio. This change in slope of the thermodynamic data is also attributed to a Brillouin zone overlap. Equations are presented to demonstrate that the thermodynamic activity can be related to the density of states of the conduction electrons, and that the observed phenomena are consistent with this model. It is also demonstrated that the contribution of the density of states can be related to the excess stability, a phenomenological parameter recently shown by Darkeen" to be significant in the interpretation of thermodynamic data of metallic phases. The data seem to indicate that zone overlap has caused a spinodal point, and the resulting misci-bility gap, in the phase diagram. THE problem of developing an adequate thermodynamic model of solid solutions has proven to be difficult, and is still only partially solved. The main approach has been to develop a statistical model, such as that of an ideal solution, regular solution, and so forth, to which can be attached corrections for electronic, vibrational, magnetic, ordering, or other contributions. Such corrective terms are usually derived on an ad hoc basis, and it is difficult to predict in advance what their relative importance will be. This problem has been discussed in general terms by Oriani and Alcock,' who have reviewed several thermodynamic models and a few empirical correlations. The measurements described in the present paper were made to demonstrate in a special case the importance of one such corrective term, the contribu- tion of the energy of the conduction electrons of an alloy. It was our premise that the contribution of the energy of the conduction electrons to the thermodynamic activity of the alloy components could be detected; further, that such an effect would be observed at alloy compositions where other phenomena, also ascribed to the energy and density of states of the conduction electrons, are observed. The idea of the importance of the conduction electrons is hardly new. Hume-Rothery and his adherents have developed the well-known theory of alloy phases in which the sequence of phase fields in binary equilibrium diagrams, especially those involving the noble metals with the IIB, IIIB, and IVB subgroups, can be correlated by replacing the composition variable with the ratio of conduction electrons to atoms, e/a. Jones and others have developed a physical explanation for this correlation, in which they consider the solubility limits of phase fields to be restricted by an intersection between the Fermi surface and a Brillouin zone. The general features of the model are also quite well-known—presumably zone intersection causes the density of states to decrease at critical alloy compositions. The attendant increase in energy of conduction electrons in the original crystal structure allows an alternate structure to become more stable as the concentration of polyvalent solute is increased. In spite of the wide acceptance of these ideas on phase stability, there is only indirect* evidence, such as the variations in lattice parameter recorded extensively by Massalskizy3 and others, that Brillouin zone interactions occur. There are few experimental measurements, other than the correlations of the phase sequence, that substantiate the premise that the energy of conduction electrons affects the solubility limits of alloy phases. Much thermodynamic data of alloys has been found to be consistent with the theory; yet there is a lack of detailed data at compositions where zone intersection and overlap are thought to occur. One would expect that the energy of the conduction electrons would make a measurable contribution to the thermodynamic properties of alloys at compositions near zone intersection and overlap if the theory of Hume-Rothery and Jones is correct. This conclusion cannot be avoided, because the phase boundaries are determined by the requirement that the chemical potential of the components be equal in both phases at equilibrium. An electronic effect large enough to alter the stability of a phase should also affect the thermodynamic activity by a measurable amount.

Jan 1, 1969

By S. K. Ruggieri, R. A. Jankowski

Airborne respirable dust levels on longwalls can be reduced if operators approach the dust control problem in a logical and fundamental manner. This can be accomplished through the proper application and continued use of effective dust control techniques. The Bureau of Mines is currently assessing the effectiveness of longwall dust control techniques in use today to provide mine operators with guidelines for selecting the most appropriate control technology. This paper presents a fundamental approach to the problem of shearer dust control. Three dust control techniques to be discussed are: deep cutting/increased pick penetration for reducing the amount of respirable dust generated; drum water sprays/improved water supply system to suppress the amount of airborne respirable dust; and improved external water spray system, the “shearer-clearer, "to push the dust close to the face. The techniques have been evaluated infield trials and have been shown to be both practical and effective in applications to control shearer generated dust.

Jan 1, 1985

By Brahm Prakash, R. Schuhmann

Maurice Rey—It may be interesting to note that depressing effects can also be obtained from cyclic compounds other than dyes. One such compound which is a dispersing agent for carbon, pigments and other compounds is known in France by the trade name "dispergine" and in the United States by the name of Lomar P W (Jacques Wolf & Co.) Dr. Rey admits that the compound is not very selective and is similar in its action to starch and dextrin.

Jan 1, 1951

By Brahm Prakash, R. Schuhmann

Maurice Rey—It may be interesting to note that depressing effects can also be obtained from cyclic compounds other than dyes. One such compound which is a dispersing agent for carbon, pigments and other compounds is known in France by the trade name "dispergine" and in the United States by the name of Lomar P W (Jacques Wolf & Co.) Dr. Rey admits that the compound is not very selective and is similar in its action to starch and dextrin.

Jan 1, 1951

By Carl Lee

WITH the modern trend toward motor drive in coal mines, more careful forethought should be given to future layouts than has usually been done in the past. Both top and bottom equipment of future new mines is likely to differ radically from those of a decade ago. No one is able to predict very far ahead, but provisions can be made to allow for uncertainty. One thing stands out: the mine of the future will be laid out for long life compared to that of the small mine of the past, where an inexpensive top plant, simple equipment, a small timbered shaft, small cars, light rail, hand loading and mule haulage all contributed to a short economical life.

Jan 1, 1933

By C. M. Signer, W. P. Hewitt

THIS is a story of a mine discovered in the days of the Conquistadores but that remained unimportant until the second decade of this century. Without the usual legendary history of romance and fabulous riches it has become famous for the development of unexpected metals and unusual problems. These developments and experiences, exciting and interesting as any legend, are the substance of the San Antonio mine of the Santa Eulalia district in northern Mexico. Originally opened for its silver-lead content, it developed a tin deposit of singular economic importance and unique geologic interest, a vanadium orebody that for a few years placed it among the leading vanadium producers of the world, and now lead and zinc sulphide ores. It has been the seem of a disastrous flood that brought deep-sea divers into Mexico's desert mountains and raised important problems regarding ground water, demanding unusual measures. Geology and operating questions relating to the above matters will be discussed and much of it is recent history which has become a part of Mexican mining lore. History Dates Back to 1325 Santa Eulalia is the oldest of American cities, founded in 1325 by the Aztecs under the name of Tenochtitlan and devastated in 1521 by Cortes and his rapacious band of iron-willed adventurers. Their lust for gold burned through the Aztec empire and onward into most of North America. Santa Eulalia was in the path of conquest. In 1591 the district's first ore discovery was made near what is now the San Antonio mine. The ores carried no gold and the silver-lead content was unattractive to the early pioneers. Not until 1700 was real mining activity undertaken.

Jan 1, 1952

By A. W. Hahn

ALTHOUGH enormous tonnages of sulfide lead and lead-silver ores are treated by flotation, the products of flotation mills treating oxidized ores of lead and silver are almost negligible. However, each year there is a slight tonnage increase, and it is possible, should a sizeable oxidized lead ore tonnage be developed, the field will become an important one. In 1918, the Shattuck-Arizona Copper Co. erected a plant at Warren, Ariz., for the treatment of oxidized gold-silver-lead ores. Glenn L. Allen worked out the metallurgy for this plant, employing tabling, followed by flotation concentration. The Shattuck-Denn Mining Co., successors to the Shattuck-Arizona Co., now employs straight flotation in the same mill, treating about 200 tons daily. In 1922, the San Diego mill of the American Smelting & Refining Co., in the Parral district, Chihuahua, Mexico, started operating a 600-ton mill on a mixed sulfide-oxide gold-silver-lead ore. Tables and flotation are used here, and about 200 tons of oxidized slime treated by flotation. In 1923, the Eureka Holly Mining Co. started operating a 90-ton mill at Eureka, Nev., using tables and flotation, on an oxidized lead-silver ore. In 1924, the American Smelting & Refining Co. started a 250-ton mill in northern Peru, to treat a high grade oxidized gold-silver ore with very low lead values. In 1924, the Grand Central Mining Co. started a 200-ton flotation mill on old oxidized gold-silver-lead tailings at Fairbank, Ariz. In 1926, the Compania International Minera, a subsidiary of the Union Corporation of London, started a 250-ton flotation mill on oxidized lead-silver ores, and during April of this year, the Phelps-Dodge Corp. will probably start a 250-ton mill at Warren, Ariz., on oxidized lead-silver ores, similar to those being treated in the Shattuck-Denn mill.

Jan 1, 1927

By C. Schlumberger, M. Schlumberger

The object of this paper is to clarify the idea, so important when exploring by potential methods, of the depth of investigation attainable by electrical measurements. After defining, with some precision, .the term "depth of investigation'' in geophysics, the authors show how it is possible to regulate this depth in potential methods and to obtain an 'electrical drilling" from surface observations. They consider also the difficulties encountered in deep measurements and indicate how it is possible to reach greater depths than those having an industrial interest. Depth of Investigation The term, depth of investigation, in its general sense, is easily understood. For instance, a driller who can pull cores from a depth of 2000 m. is capable of working, with accuracy, to that depth. By means of a properly placed drill, he may locate an orebody at a depth of 1999 m., however small this orebody may be. On the contrary, the term as used in geophysics requires precise elaboration. As a matter of fact, no geophysical method, irrespective of the physical property studied (density, magnetic permeability, conductivity), can discover a very small body at a great depth because, in practice, the physical parameter upon which such a geophysical method is based is never regular enough, throughout the ground, to distinguish the feeble anomaly caused by the small, deep-lying body from the numerous anomalies due to irregularities of the encasing terrains. Aside from this question of the ratio between the size of the body being hunted for and its depth of burial, a second factor plays its role in the possible depth of investigation; that is the difference, for the parameter under consideration, between the body and its surrounding material. The greater this difference, and the more homogeneous the encasing terrains, the greater is the possible depth of investigation. This being generally established for all geophysical methods, it is possible to distinguish two main classes of these methods, from this same point of view

Jan 1, 1932

By Ernest Darby

WHEN bronze is melted in open-flame furnaces a considerable amount of slag is formed during the melting operation. This slag may be incidental to the melting practice or it may be formed intentionally by slag-forming constituents added to the furnace charge to provide a covering for the melted metal. When this slag is removed from the furnace, it contains, in addition to the free metal carried with it by the skimming operation, a considerable amount of metal as oxide either combined or mechanically mixed with it. By the usual crushing and washing methods this metallic oxide generally goes to the tailings pile, so diluted by other foundry waste that its recovery is economically impossible. If this furnace slag is not mixed with other foundry waste, practically all of the metal oxide as well as the free metal may be recovered by some form of smelting operation. The first side of the problem to be considered is the amount of slag produced. It may not be true that the majority of foundries have no record of the amount of slag made, but it is certainly true that a very great many either have no record or pay little attention to it. Usually the collection of furnace slag for one normal week's run will be sufficient to determine the advisability of its being handled in a different manner from the crushing and concentrating generally employed. If a large representative sample of the accumulation is crushed and concentrated and the recovery compared with the results of a careful assay, it will be found that a large percentage of the total metal content was lost in the washing process. The percentage of loss will be greater than the metallic oxide content, as some free metal in extremely fine particles always is carried away in grains of slag: From such a comparison, it may be determined whether or not the slag should be melted, sold or treated as before. An example of an actual test of this kind is given below.

Jan 1, 1928