Search Documents

By Bryon W. Cheever

While working upon the processes which have been descaribed from time to time in the Transactions of the Institute for the estimation of these elements, I discovered that certain reactions take place under certain conditions which if overlooked, give erroneous results. Some of these reactions are new, to me at least. Estimation of Manganese. A weighed sample is dissolved in nitric acid and the manganese precipitated by potassium chlorate in the usual manner, care being taken to add some strong nitric acid at the last, and boil, to completely destroy the chlorate. Filter through purified asbestos, suck the filter dry with an aspirator; then wash with HNO3(1.40sp). gr.) until the acid comes through clear, and again suck dry with the aspirator. The nitric acid used for washing must be free from nitrous acid, for this acid reduces the peroxide of manganese; the lower oxide thus formed is dissolved by the strong nitric acid and is carried through the filter; some manganese also will nearly always be dissolved if the precipitate is washed with water. The nitric

Jan 1, 1886

By AIME AIME

A SYMPOSIUM on current. conditions in Mexico, particularly in the oil and mining industries, was a most successful feature of the May meeting of the New York Section of the A.I.M.E. Heath Steele, vice-president of The American Metal Co.. Ltd., with an intimate knowledge of Mexico gave the principal address, and asked that his analysis of the present situation he regarded neither as an endorsement of Mexico's policy nor as the criticism of a disgruntled operator. To explain the .attitude of the great mass of the Mexican people towards recent developments, he first described briefly the political, social, and religious beliefs and customs of tile Mexican Indian. In spite of their contact with foreigners these beliefs and customs have remained unchanged throughout many generations. The old communal spirit and the idea of common ownership of the land still persist especially in the rural districts and villages; the old custom of a council for local self-government is reflected in the present-day labor committee. Mr. Steele discussed in order land oil, and mines.

Jan 1, 1938

By Robert W. Bergmann

Twenty years ago, the standard voltage for stripping machines was 4160 v and few people even thought of using a higher voltage. It was adequate for the machines of the day, which seldom exceeded 2500 hp, and higher voltages were considered to be too expensive and even dangerous. Then, in 1956, a 4500-hp machine was placed in operation and it was determined, with some reluctance, that it should operate on 7200 v. The next step, to 14,400 v, was taken in 1964 and the latest, but perhaps not final, step was made in 1967, when voltage was increased to 25,000 v. Today, 4160 v is considered almost obsolete and 7200 v is generally considered standard. However, a few mines are using 14,400 v and some eight machines soon will be operating on 25 KV, indicating that the technical and safety problems have been solved and that there must be some merit to the higher voltages. Thus, it is logical to question, "How do I determine the best voltage for my operation?"

Jan 12, 1972

F. W. Gordon, Philadelphia, Pa.: There can be no objection to the use of cross-compound blowing-engines; and when they are condensing they are susceptible of great range of duty with slight loss in efficiency. By those who have use for the full heat of the waste gases, this type of engine is advantageous; but many furnaces are not so located. The pig-iron is their finished product, and the gases are to be employed only for furnace-use. In this case simple engines are preferable, being less expensive and having less parts to take care of. These reasons determined the introduction of the engines, a sketch of which is distributed at this session. There are three of these engines to furnish blast for two furnaces, for a make of abont 250 tons per day, using 75 per cent. anthracite and 85 per cent. magnetic ores; and they are expected to blow up to twenty pounds pressure per square inch. For blast-furnaces I prefer the single to the coupled engine, except

Jan 1, 1894

By William Hutton Blauvelt

An official of one of the prominent iron companies of the South recently made the following statement during a discussion of the present conditions of the Southern iron business: " The trouble with us in the South has been that we have been satisfied to buy iron and coal lands, build blast-furnaces, and make pig-iron. We stopped at pig-iron, and as a result we are all poor. The South needs diversified industries, and needs to work up its raw products into articles the Southern market can use. If we had realized this sooner, some of us might now be rich." The South is awakening to this view, and in the Birmingham district alone one basic steel-mill is already in operation, and in a year's time another and much larger one will be turning out rails and shapes, with rod- and wire-mills in prospect. It is to chronicle another metallurgical step forward in the same district that I have prepared the following description of the new by-product retort coke-oven plant recently put in opera-

Jan 1, 1899

By H. M. Chance M

The following tables have been compiled from the annual reports of the Inspectors of Mines, to determine the percentages of fatal and non-fatal casualties from roof-falls and explosions of fire-damp. As we cannot assume that every accident has teen recorded by the inspectors ; as many casualties terminating fatally after the lapse of a considerable period, are inevitably recorded as " non-fatal;" and as clerical errors may have crept into the compilation,* the figures of these tables cannot be considered absolutely correct, but the summary is sufficiently reliable to show the features I wish to differentiate. Under the heading " Miscellaneous" are included all accidents not directly attributable to explosions of fire-damp, roof-falls or fails of coal. Prominent among the numerous causes included under this head are premature or delayed explosion of blasts, accidental explosion of powder or cartridges, accidents from mine cam, falls in shafts, machine accidents, sliding of loose coal in pitching breasts, suffoca tion by choke-damp, etc., comprising in all 48 per cent. of the total number of casualties.

Jan 1, 1882

By H. S. Drinker

I. The Mines THE first discovery of zinc on the property now worked by this company was made by the celebrated mineralogist, Prof. William Theodore Röpper, in 1845. Different claimants kept the property in continual litigation till 1861, when everything was satisfactorily settled by the purchase of the land by the company, who have worked it ever since. The mines are situated in a valley, four miles south of Bethlehem, Pa., in Lehigh County. The valley is from two to three miles broad, and is bounded on the north and south by syenitic hills. Syenite underlies the valley, and upon this is deposited the Potsdam sandstone, then a layer of slate, and, finally, a dolomitic limestone, belonging to the Chazy or Black River formation, in which the zinc deposits are inclosed. The rocks occur in folds, and have evidently been subjected to tremendous pressure from below, the zinc deposit being found in an anticlinal axis, in nearly vertical veins. It is supposed that the zinc was originally disseminated through the

Jan 1, 1873

By R. T. Hukki

THE accepted basis of comparisons between mills of different diameter is the percentage critical speed. [ ] In the following analysis capacity, T, is expressed in short tons per hour, tph, and power consumption, P, in kilowatts, kw. Accordingly power consumption per unit of capacity, Po, will be expressed in kilowatt hours per short ton, or kw-hr per ton. In all equations D refers to the inside diameter of the mill in feet and v to the peripheral speed of the mill in feet per minute inside the liners. Comparison between separate mills must be based on equivalent grinding conditions, i.e., same feed, same size distribution of feed, same size distribution of product, and same percentage of solids. In addition, comparisons between separate rod mills must be based on the same rods, same type of liners, and same percentage rod load. Comparisons between separate ball mills presuppose the same balls, similar liners, and same relative ball load. The practical np-range through which the equations apply varies, being narrower for fine grinding in ball mills and wider for coarse crushing in rod mills.

Jan 7, 1954

Frank 11. Probert, Neudorf, Anhalt, Germany (communication to the Secretary): I have read with much pleasure Mr. Collier's valuable paper. But the system of timbering which he describes as used in the levels, stopes, etc., though it must be admitted to be very strong and safe, seems to me somewhat extravagant. The amount of timber required every month for such a system must be enormous; and only where suitable material could be cheaply obtained would such a plan be economically practicable. The first point which strikes me is the unusually great diameter of the timber employed. In the mines of Pfaffenberg and Meiseberg, which are under my supervision, the country-rock consists of argillaceous slates, traversed by innumerable small fissures or joints, dipping at all angles and striking to all points of the compass. Undoubtedly, this net-work has been caused by the upheaval of granite masses in the vicinity. Each fissure is accompanied by a more or less well-c1efinc.d gouge or fluccan, caused by the rubbing together of the slates at or after the original disturbance. In such

Jan 1, 1900

By 0. H. ESCHHOZ

HARMON F. FISHER,* New York, N. Y. Mr. Eschholz discusses the particular case of large precipitators installed in connection with large metallurgical operations, and receiving their high-potential energy through the conversion of alternating current to direct current by means of the mechanical rectifier. He classifies these mechanical rectifier installations, according to source of power, as follows: System A.-Applications utilizing individual alternating-current generators, either single-phase or polyphase, installed exclusively for furnishing energy to one or more transformer-rectifier-precipitator units. System. B.-Applications having no special alternating-current generators, but utilizing the existing alternating-current industrial or lighting mains to supply the energy to one or more transformer-rectifier-precipitator units. System C.-Applications receiving their energy from high-tension power circuits supplied directly to potential regulator-rectifier-precipitator units. I do not intend here to enter upon a detailed technical discussion of the foregoing classes, which would really interest only the manufacturers of electrical apparatus and the electrical engineers. A brief general discussion follows:

Jan 11, 1918

Earnings of engineers in the period 1956 to 1958 continued the upward trend observed in the previous survey interval, 1953 to 1956. The overall median (all graduates) was $6500 in 1953, $7750 in 1956 (a 19 pct upstep or about 6.5 pct annually), and $8750 in 1958 (up 13 pct from 1956 or 6.5 pct average yearly). The latter represents an increase from mid-1956 to mid-1958. For this same two-year span the Consumer Price Index rose 1.5 pct and the Average Gross Weekly Earnings for Production (Manufacturing) climbed close to 10 pct. Median earnings for the major classifications studied are presented in Table I. The increase in engineering earnings are not distributed equally among the various activity classifications or among the experience levels of the survey. Summary results of the changes of the median lines for the major divisions are presented in Table 11. Data in this table are approximations- dollars are rounded to the nearest $50 unit and percentages to the nearest full percentage.

Jan 1, 1959

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BeTa brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, hut at low temperature< an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 470°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shock1ey.l All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching&apos; With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1943

By Cyril Stanley Smith

BeTa brass (consisting of approximately equal atomic proportions of copper and zinc) exists as a random solid solution at high temperatures, hut at low temperature< an ordered structure is stable, with the copper and zinc atoms occupying alternate sites on the body-centered-cubic lattice. On cooling, ordering commences at a temperature of 450° to 470°C., depending on the composition. The degree of ordering progressively increases at lower temperatures until it becomes virtually complete at about 100°C. The electrical resistivity of the alloy illustrates the changes clearly (Fig. I). This type of reaction has been a favored subject for study by physicists. An excellent summary of the theory is to be found in a paper by F. C. Nix and W. Shock1ey.l All published data on electrical conductivity, specific heat and other properties agree in indicating that the ordering reaction in beta brass takes place so rapidly that it cannot be prevented or even retarded by quenching&apos; With most ordered alloys, cold-working induces disorder and

Jan 1, 1943

For the year ending February, 1923 PRESIDENT ARTHUR S. DWIGHT, District 0 NEW YORK, N. Y. PAST PRESIDENTS HERBERT HOOVER, District 4 WASHINGTON, D. C. EDWIN LUDLOW, District 0 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT J. V. W. REYNDERS NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER CHARLES F. RAND NEW YORK, N. Y. SECRETARY FREDERICK F. SHARPLESS,. . . . . NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSISTANT SECRETARY PERCY E. BARBOUR NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 7, 1922

By Robert Sisselman

Saving time and energy at Consolidation Coal Co.&apos;s Rowland mine is realized by exploiting its coal deposits via three mining methods. Surface, auger and underground techniques are uniquely combined with specialized transport vehicles to coax the coal from seams unduly protected by topography and lithology. These factors account for what is believed to be the swiftest and most economical means of working the Beckley, W. Va., property.

Jan 1, 1970

STANDING COMMITTEES Executive A, R. LEDOUX, Chairman HERBERT HOOVER EDWIN LUDLOW ARTHUR S. DWIGHT CHARLES F. RAND Membership J. V. W. REYNDERS, Chairman J. V. N. DOER W. H. ALDRIDGE EDGAR RICKARD R. M. RAYMOND Finance MARK L. REQUA CHARLES F. RAND, Chairman J. V. W. REYNDERS Library E. GYBBON SPILSBURY, Chairman ALEXANDER C. HUMPHREYS GEORGE C. STONE JOHN H. JANEWAY BRADLEY STOUGHTON Papers and Publications BRADLEY STOUGHTON, Chairman

Jan 1, 1923

By AIME AIME

SCANDINAVIAN countries seem somehow to furnish an amount of talent and leadership far be- yond their population and among them Sweden is possibly at the top. The United States has many eminent citizens born in the latter, country or who are of Swedish descent and the engineers may claim their full share. In fact, the number is so large that a flourishing Swedish-American Engineering Society has been formed, including a number of A. I. M. E. members. Dr. Waldemar Lindgren is more scientist than engineer, though his work in economic geology has contributed directly to the development of many mines, and he is the valued- adviser of a number of our larger companies. Probably he, himself, values most highly the contributions he has been able to make to scientific theories of the occurrence and genesis of ore deposits. His fellow scientists have placed upon these the high mark of approval by electing him to the National Academy of Sciences, and Princeton University in 1916 recognized his position by conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Science.

Jan 1, 1931

By T. O. Breitling

Two significant problems In mill design are environmental control and cost reduction. Environmental control is predicted to be 5-10% of total plant costs in some parts of the U.S. Operating and design companies will assign this new "unit operation" a place in the early flow sheets. More advanced environmental control will add to both capital and operating costs, so mill designers will strive to reduce other costs.

Jan 1, 1970

H. W. NICHOLS, Secretary-Treasurer, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Ill. , R. S. BONSIB, H. B. PULSIFER, . HORACE H. CLARK, H. T. WALSH. Seventy-four members of&apos; the two organizations attended a three-day joint field meeting of the Chicago Section and the Illinois Mining Institute at La Salle, Ill., on May 17, 18 and 19. The meeting began with a technical session in the rooms of the Illinois

Jan 7, 1917

By L. C. Brown, S. K. Behera

The diffusion rate in Ag-Sb couples is sensitive to con~pressive load with the width of Ag3Sb, the only phase present in the diffusion zone, increasing with stress up to 800 psi and remaining constant above this. Kirkendall marker experiments show silver to diffuse much faster than antimony in Ag3Sb and incipient porosity may therefore develop at the Ag/Ag3Sb interfnce restricting the transfer of atoms from the silver into the diflusion zone. Application of compressive stress reduces the tendency for porosity to develop and so increases the growth rate. In a recent paper Brown et al.1 observed a significant increase in the thickness of Cu2Te in Cu-Te diffusion couples on application of a compressive stress as low as 20 psi. Similar stress effects have also been observed in the Fe-A1,2 Al-u,3 arid cu-sb4,5 systems. It has been suggested that the increase in growth rates of intermetallic phases in these systems is due to a decrease in the amount of Kirkendall porosity with applied stress. In the present paper, results are presented of the effect of compressive stress on diffusion in Ag-Sb, together with a detailed examination of the Kirkendall effect. The Ag-Sb phase diagram6 shows that antimony has a moderate degree of solid solubility in silver, 5.7 at. pct at 350°C, but that there is essentially no solubility of silver in antimony. There are two intermediate phases— (hcp7) from 8.8 to 15.7 at. pct Sb and Ag3Sb (orthorhombic8) from 21.8 to 25.9 at. pct Sb. EXPERIMENTAL Diffusion couples were prepared from fine silver of 99.95 pct purity and from antimony of 99.7 pct purity. Both the silver and antimony were produced in the form of discs 1/2 in. in diam by approximately $ in. thick, with surfaces ground flat to 3/0 emery paper. Diffusion anneals were carried out in the apparatus previously described.1 A compressive load was applied to the diffusion couple through a lever arm system, with a reproducibility estimated to be ±10 psi. All runs were carried out in a protective hydrogen atmosphere. Following the diffusion anneal specimens were sectioned and polished and the width of the diffusion zone was measured metallographically. Composition profiles were measured using an electrostatically focused electron probe with a spot size of 10 , counting on Sb L radiation. Corrections for matrix absorptiori and fluorescent enhancement9 were not required. S. K. BEHERA, formerly Graducate Student, Department of Metallurgy, University of British Columbia, is now Postdoctoral Fellow, Whiteshell Nuclear Laboratories, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba. L. C. BROWN, Junior Member AIME, is Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Manuscript submitted June 14, 1968. IMD RESULTS Fig. 1 shows an electron probe traverse of a typical diffusion zone. In all couples examined only one intermediate phase was observed and the composition of this phase, 23 wt pct Sb, was in good agreement with the composition of Ag3Sb, 23 to 28 wt pct Sb. The presence of this phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction of filings taken from the diffusion zone. The probe traverses showed no detectable solid solubility in either the silver or the antimony although the phase diagram indicates that some antimony, up to 6.5 wt pct pct Sb, should be in solid solution in the silver. However the width of this portion of the diffusion zone would be expected to be very small in view of the low diffusion coefficient in the silver, 4 x 10-l6 sq cm per sec at 350°C, 10 compared with that in the Ag,Sb, estimated as 3 x 10-8 sq cm per sec in the present work, and this region would therefore not be expected to be seen in the probe traverse. Application of stress resulted in a significant increase in the width of the diffusion zone, Fig. 2. At 350°C, the thickness of Ag3Sb increased from 250 at 0 psi to 400 p at the limiting stress of 800 psi, indicating an apparent 150 pct increase in the diffusion coefficient. Similar behavior was also observed at 400°C, indicating that the stress effect is not characteristic of just one temperature. The growth of Ag3Sb at 350°C and at various stresses is shown in Fig. 3. In every case the growth rate was parabolic indicating diffusion control. The kinetic curves all passed through the origin showing that delayed nucleation of Ag3Sb was not responsible for the stress effect and that it was a real growth effect. A series of tests were carried out in which diffusion was allowed to take place at a lower stress following an initial high stress diffusion anneal. Speci-

Jan 1, 1969