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By L. Douglass Anderson

For some years past the annual reviews of the metallurgy of lead have almost uniformly stated that there have been no great changes, such as there were being more particularly noticeable in the refinement of details. While this is quite true, nevertheless these changes in details are gradually bringing about a condition that, taken as a whole, constitutes a considerable advance in the art. Local circumstances have often compelled metallurgists to adopt certain peculiarities of practice which upon trial have been found advantageously applicable to more than the restricted district of origin. This paper will deal with some of the more novel features developed in recent years at the United States smelter, Midvale, Utah, particularly with reference to the influence of the bag house. The plant is equipped with six blast furnaces, 48 by 160 in., mechanically fed; four Wedge furnaces for roasting matte and sulphide ores; four Dwight-Lloyd sintering machines; 20 converter boxes for blast roasting; storage bins for ore, fuel, and fluxes; "oxide" and "sulphide" sampling mills; bag house taking all the gases of the plant; arsenic plant for treating the dust gathered there; laboratory, shops, etc. The most marked feature of the plant is its complete bag-house system. Of the many schemes thus far tried for preventing damage to surrounding agricultural interests the writer is aware of none as yet quite as efficient as the bag house. A common remark of visitors upon approaching the plant and viewing the clear stacks is that it appears to be shut down, whereas once inside all the evidences of industry are found. Bag-housing blast-furnace gases presents no peculiar difficulties. The gases from properly run furnaces are comparatively cool, contain scarcely a trace of acid and do not burn the filtering medium. All that is required is a proper mechanical design of the bag house and its accessories, the provision of ample filtering area, and of convenient means for handling and treating the product. While cotton or duck bags have been used, on the whole woolen bags woven of the raw wool appear to give sufficiently longer life to warrant their heavier expense. As for the filtering

Jan 1, 1915

By R. K. Young

This paper describes a computer-based Data Acquisition System which provides efficient data logging and retrieval, control of on-line gas chromatographs, and instantaneous calculation of material and energy balances.

Jan 1, 1977

Human progress has a visible material phase, easily discernible, that is expressed in the standard of living. This material phase, however, is only the outward expression of a spiritual or mental phase that acts as a driving force in making humanity improve both its outlook and its mode of living. The instrument of progress is the human brain. Under the urge of spiritual drive, the brain acts as a focal point to utilize the forces of nature and put them to work for the benefit of mankind. Besides intelligence, which is an innate quality, the tools of the human brain are knowledge, experience, training, initiative, and skill. Given sufficient intelligence, the human brain can make an amazing amount of progress, provided it is supplied with an adequate spiritual and moral urge and a good technical background. It is the role of education to sup- ply such a background. The material phase of human progress proceeds on a series of parallel fronts, all of them interdependent to some extent (Fig. 7). The rise of the standard of living, dependent as it is upon the manufacture and mass distribution of goods, is based essentially upon the development and utilization of the material resources of a country or land area. This development involves the extraction of mineral and organic products from Mother Earth, their transportation to manufacturing centers, their transformation into finished goods and their dis-

Jan 1, 1950

By Gerald Schroeder

The flow of gases, particularly radon and methane, into the mine atmosphere is a problem traditionally controlled by ventilation-dilution techniques. More recently, a preventative approach has been to seal underground surfaces with a polymeric coating to act as a barrier against the influx of dangerous gases. H However, a study by the Israel Government Research Station indicates that unless the rock surface is perfectly sealed, much of the labor to reduce interstitial gas flow is lost to the effects of barometric "breathing" from the rock pores. Previous research has reported the increased frequency of coal mine explosions during periods of barometric pressure minima,1 and the phenomena has been explained through correlation of the observed increase in mine gas concentrations during periods of low barometric pressure with the connective flow of interstitial gases from rock pores into the arsine atmosphere when pressure was actually falling.234 While changes ill barometric pressure arc rapidly transmitted to the mine atmosphere, response in the rock interstices is sluggish, momentarily creating a pressure differential between the mine atmosphere and the interstitial gases. Responding to the pressure gradient, this interstitial gas flows until pressures are equalized.

Jan 6, 1977

By William F. Blake

The discovery of tin-ore in the Black Hills of Dakota dates from June, 1883, and short preliminary notices were published in September of that year.* The discovery-point is known as the Etta Mine, in the central portion of the Hills, about six miles east of

Jan 1, 1885

By Edward Keller

Although the subject matter contained in this paper is presented under a new title, its writing was induced by the work of S. Skowronski and K. W. McComas.' A discussion of the latter is here combined with the presentation of new and independent data. The' physical constants quoted by the authors of that paper, such as melting and boiling points, as also the chemical reactions of the substances involved, are so well established that the numerous confirmatory experiments and their application to metallurgical conditions leave little or no room for criticisms. On the contrary, they will greatly aid to dispel any lingering skepticism as to possible considerable losses of copper accruing when the metal is melted in the presence of its own and, probably, other chlorides and when no provision is made for the recovery of volatile products. Exception may be taken, to some degree, to that part of the work under the caption Melting Drillings of Copper Mixed with Sodium Chloride. These experiments should have been extended in order to make the implied reactions clear and the results convincing. The latter are stated to be, "that when sodium chloride is present above certain minimum quantity relative to copper some of it is found to volatilize in the melt while another part reacts with the metallic copper to produce the volatile cuprous chloride, and that when smaller quantities of sodium chloride are present the reaction is complete and all chlorine is found to have volatilized as cuprous chloride." Metallic copper and sodium chloride are mentioned as the sole reagents in this chemical process, acting, according to the authors, in a neutral atmosphere of carbon dioxide. The chemist, quite naturally, wi11 inquire into the formula according to which that reaction takes place and will find that it presents itself as follows: 2Cu + 2NaCl = 2Na + Cu2Cl2 It would appear that the truth of this formula will be challenged and a more rational explanation of the reaction sought. Apparently, carbon dioxide is neutral relative to metallic copper in its molten state; whether it remains neutral in the presence of sodium chloride is quite another

Jan 1, 1921

By V. F. Marsters

SEEPAGES Of oil in Ecuador have been known for many years. The locality first to receive attention, and still worked in a modest way, lies on the north shore of the Santa Elena peninsula, between La Puntilla and Salinas. Operations were first conducted largely by local capital. Later, foreign companies acquired large blocks of land, where they have done considerable drilling. For details concerning present drilling activities in Ecuador, we are indebted to Leon Price, an American resident engineer of Ecuador. The information solicited, came to the author through the office of the American Consulate,' with permission to use it. The coastal plain bordering the Province of Tumbes, Peru, continues to the northeast, but narrows on passing the Zarumilla River. From this, point northward it widens toward Santa Rosa. In fact, the pampas, as shown on the official Wolf map, correspond fairly well to the areal extent of the coastal plain as far as Guayaquil. This is shown in a general way on the accompanying map. The author understands that the Guayaquil embayment is bordered on all sides by the coastal plain, as recognized at Tumbes and farther southwest, and that it can be followed without a break as far north as Palmar. This view is supported by the mapped area regarded by Mr. Price as favorable or possible oil territory. Moreover the islands in the Gulf of Guayaquil are the same geologically as the coastal edge, being composed of Tertiary sediments. The author understands also that Tertiary formations occur north of Palmar. According to a report by Mr. Cardon, of Guayaquil, Tertiary sediments are exposed in the region of San Francisco and extend to and beyond Pta. Calera. There is also reason to believe that at least the lower part of the valley of the Santiago River is occupied by Tertiary sediments, which probably border the coast line and extend into the River Mira basin, and into Colombia.

Jan 7, 1922

By J. K. Jeyapalan, A. P. S. Selvadurai

Plate loading tests which use surficial loading of a rock mass are employed quite extensively for the determination of in situ deformability characteristics of rock masses. The cable jacking method is essentially a surficial plate load test in which the test load is provided by reaction against a cable anchored at some depth below the rock surface. The results of the test are usually evaluated within the framework of the classical theory of elasticity to generate estimates for the bulk deformability properties of the rock mass. In the conventional evaluation of this test it is assumed that the test plate is rigid and that the embedded anchor load has no influence on the test plate settlement. The purpose of this paper is to examine the possible influences of the plate flexibility and the anchor load location on the effective settlement of the test plate. The variational estimates presented in the paper are valid for moderately flexible test plates which are characterized by a relative rigidity parameter Numerical results are developed in the form of correction factors that should be applied to the cable jacking results to arrive at the deformability characteristics of the tested rock mass.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. H. Miller

TEMPERATURE considerations are of prime importance in the manufacture of steel products-front the time the metal is produced in the melting furnace, where the chemical reactions have a direct dependence on the temperatures of the bath, to the final machining of work on which the expansion due to the rise in temperature of the forgings during machining must be allowed for. Methods employed and difficulties encountered in some of the more important steps are here outlined. These methods are the result of years of experience, with many methods of temperature determination, and have been successful in routine works practice in the manufacture of high-quality steels. In the operations of melting, forging, and heat treatment, if the product is to be of the best quality each operation must be carefully followed through. A high-quality product cannot be obtained even with the best heat treatment if the steel is poorly melted, and, conversely, the best steel ever made may he spoiled by inefficient heat treatment. To perform the best work in any of these operations, temperatures must be accurately regulated.

Jan 8, 1919

By B. K. Parekh, W. M. Goldberger

Silicon carbide (Sic), produced by heating rice hulls to elevated temperatures, contains a mixture of beta crystalline silicon carbide whiskers, particles, and unreacted carbon. The silicon carbide whiskers are 0.5 micron in diameter and 50 to 100 microns in length and have been found useful for reinforcing metal and other composite materials. The carbon can be removed by combustion, but this makes separation of the silicon carbide whiskers from particles difficult and a high grade whisker product cannot be made. However, a clean, high grade SiC whisker product can be obtained from the pre-burned converted rice hulls using physical separation processes that are based on differential wetting. Recovery of Sic whiskers from the pre-burned material was found to exceed 90%. A modification of the froth flotation process developed during this study is now being used commercially to separate silicon carbide whiskers and particles and to recover a high grade whisker product.

Jan 1, 1986

By T. Cantwell, N. C. Rasmussen, H. E. Hawkes

Beryl is a mineral that may be difficult to distinguish from quartz by casual field inspection. The easily recognized green color and hexagonal crystal form of coarse-grained beryl are by no means universal, even in beryl from pegmatitic deposits. If it occurred as a fine-grained accessory mineral in an igneous rock, it would almost certainly escape detection unless samples were submitted for petrographic or chemical analysis. There may be substantial deposits of some beryllium mineral, other than beryl, that has been overlooked because that mineral also closely resembles the common rock-forming minerals. A reliable and simple method of identifying beryllium minerals and determining the beryllium content of a rock would be helpful in exploration. This article describes preliminary experiments in applying nuclear reaction to the qualitative identification of beryl and to the semiquantitative determination of the beryllium content of rock samples.

Jan 9, 1959

By R. W. Woodward, G. K. Burgess

minum bronze. Nearly all copper-base alloys are improved by rolling processes, but the copper-aluminum alloys seem to possess equally good properties when cast or rolled; this is a remarkable metallurgical fact. Another important property of these copper-aluminum alloys is their resistance to alternating stress. Many tests indicate that their resistance is greater in this respect than that of some steels, and I have seen instances when cast aluminum-bronze bolts have outlived five steel bolts in foundation work subject to severe shocks. I mention these various instances to indicate that work originally started as research for substitution of one material for another frequently develops 212 article which has properties not possessed by the original metal or alloy. I have dwelt particularly on the aluminum bronzes because recently I have done more special work on them than on other alloys, but I believe that the use of aluminum itself, in many combinations of metals, is a very important subject for investigation. Undoubtedly, after the war, the cost of aluminum will be reduced from its present price, and considering its low specific gravity it offers a very interesting and important field for research in the non-ferrous business. Naturally, if combinations containing aluminum can be developed in view of a probably increasing supply of metal, the cost will be reduced. This will benefit the industry generally and will immediately conserve tin. Bronzes, Bearing Metals, and Solders G. K. Burgess* and R. W. Woodward,† Washington, D. C.— From a metallurgical standpoint, there are several ways in which a reduction of the tin consumed in commercial non-ferrous and white-metal alloys can be effected. First, a reduction of the tin content of the alloy; second, substitution of part or all of the tin content by some other metal; third, a substitution of a different type of alloy, which in some cases also involves a change in mechanical design. The Bureau of Standards has been studying these methods of conservation for tin alloys, particularly in regard to babbitts and bearing metals, bronzes, and solders. Much of the information sewed by the Bureau was obtained from answers to questionnaires sent to manufacturers and users of these materials, so that, in general, any of the following suggestions or recommendations can be considered as being practical and as having already been thoroughly tried. Bearing Metals There is no question that the tin content of nearly all bearing metals can be reduced to some extent, and in some cases actually eliminated

Jan 1, 1919

By Peter J. Lean

The introduction oE computer control in the grinding circuit of the New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited concentrator in the early 1970's gave smoother operation at optimum performance. The ore feedrate and water additions to the grinding circuit were controlled to operate each of the ball mill/ rake classifier grinding units at the upper limit of the circulating load while classifier overflow density was maintained to give a product size and pulp density suitable for flotation. An incremental expansion of the concentrator in 1981-82 included the installation of hydrocyclones in closed circuit with three of the four ball mills. Without the rake classifiers in circuit the previous control strategy could not be used and the complex interaction of hydrocyclone performance characteristics when classifying coarse grained sulphide ore resulted in the over-grinding of the lead mineral galena. Testwork aimed at optimising grinding circuit performance recognised the enhanced tendency of higher specific gravity minerals to report to the cyclone underflow. The data has been evaluated on an individual mineral basis and then used to develop a model For grinding circuit control. The development of the model which uses inputs of ore feedrate, metal content of the Feed and slurry density of the cyclone overflow to predict the size of the minerals in the grinding circuit product is described and model predictions are compared with plant performance.

Jan 1, 1984

By W. H. Fitch

HAVING been asked to make some remarks after the reading of Mr. Dyrssen's paper, I regret that a test started some months ago has not yet been completed, but some of the things which I can tell you at this time seem interesting and shed a little different light on the idea of a recuperator. The device referred to is becoming more than. a recuperator, largely taking the place of a regenerator. I assume there is familiarity with the sketches that I presented in October, 1926, before the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, describing our re-cuperator combination with checker chambers, and I have additional ones to show at this time. The follow-ing remarks will deal with modifications that have been made. At that time I suggested the gases leaving the regenerators at, say, 1400°, be reduced to 500° F. The opinion of the operating men consulted since that time is that, under the best operating conditions, the tem-perature may be 750° to 800° F. after the recuperator and on entering the stack. While the lowest final temperature of the gases en-tering the stack is important from the economic stand-point of fuel burning, and operating in general, it is not the whole story. The method of getting the heat out of the checkers is important. It is believed by many with whom we have talked that a better way is by a combination of checkers and a carborundum re- cuperator of the type described as it will stand all tem-peratures met in practice and might be called a super-refractory.

Jan 1, 1928

By R. L. Templin

THE modulus of elasticity is defined as the ratio of stress within the proportional limit to corresponding strain. This property, as thus defined, is a constant for each kind of material; and in tension or compression is usually designated by the symbol E. The modulus of elasticity serves as an index of the stiffness of a material or a measure of its ability to resist change of shape under stresses not higher than the proportional limit. In view of the frequency with which the modulus of elasticity is used in engineering calculations, it is surprising to note the uncertainty that exists as to authentic values, and the marked lack of published information relating to the variation of the constant E within individual alloy systems. A value of 10,000,000 lb. per sq. in. has been quoted as representative of aluminum and its alloys. This value has been found to be approximately correct for pure aluminum and aluminum alloys in which the total percentage of the alloying elements is low, but seriously in error in the case of alloys that contain relatively large amounts of the alloying elements.

Jan 1, 1930

By M. M. Fine

THE results of a research and development lab- oratory and pilot-plant mineral-dressing investigation by the Bureau of Mines of the complex copper-lead-cobalt-nickel ores of southeast Missouri are reported in this paper. This investigation, in cooperation with the National Lead Co., showed that separate concentrates of lead, copper, and cobalt-nickel could be made by fine grinding and flotation. An industrial plant built subsequently by the St. Louis Smelting and Refining Div. near Fredericktown, Madison County, Mo., produced such concentrates during the war years. Present commercial production at the mill is limited to lead and copper concentrates, but research to permit economic utilization of the cobalt and nickel values is continuing.

Jan 7, 1951

Curious petroleum, mining and metallurgical engineers together with oceanographers, geologists, geophysicists and those in related disciplines, some 11,500 of them, poured into the Albert Thomas Convention Center in Houston, Tex. to see, and learn. This year's successful Conference, held April 22-24 featured a technical offering of 145 papers presented at 28 sessions. In addition, a total of 500 exhibits were provided by 260 companies.

Jan 1, 1970

By L. L. McMurray

Ilmenite is the most important raw material for manufacture of titanium dioxide.' Industrially, several other products are made from ilmenite, the most important of which are: ferro titanium, ferro carbon-titanium, copper-titanium, titanium carbide and titanium nitride. The production of titanium metal is still in the laboratory stage because of the difficulty of extraction and as yet no important application for the metal has been found. Ilmenite has received considerable attention as an industrial raw material. Imports of ilmenite concentrates for the first nine months of 1941 were 156,737 short tons, the chief source being Travancore, India.2 Domestic produttion of ilmenite has heretofore been confined to Amherst and Nelson Counties, Virginia, where a complex rutile, ilmenite, and apatite ore is mined and treated to utilize all three of these minerals. A recent report3 has described development of the large titaniferous magnetite ore body at Tahawas, New York, where it is expected that 800 tons of ilmenite concentrates, containing 48 per cent TiO2 will be produced daily. Additional domestic production is expected from a large ilmenite deposit recently opened in caldwell county, North carolina. Flotation tests indicate that a high-grade concentrate containing 53 per cent TiO2 can be made from the North Carolina ore. Prospecting of domestic ores in other areas has been reported.' It appears that increased domestic production of ilmenite may well save considerable shipping space so vitally needed in these times. The composition and chemical structure of pure ilmenite is given by Dana as: FeO, TiO2; Ti, 31.6 per cent, Fe, 36.8 per cent, O2, 31.6 per cent. This composition is variable in that some iron or titanium may be replaced, giving a variable iron-titanium ratio. As an example, the iron-titanium weight ratio of ilmenite in Caldwell County, North Carolina, has been determined to be 0.94 (using 97.1 per cent ilmenite concentrate obtained by heavy liquids on minus Iso-mesh ore) compared with theoretical 1.16. No rutile was noted in this ore to account for the low value. This North Carolina ore is free of magnetite, which is a common associate of ilmenite ores. In view of a large potential production from North Carolina, the Tennessee Valley Authority conducted a study of methods of concentration of that ore, of which the results are reported herein. The Ore Five samples of Ore were taken from the deposit at various exposed locations and were mixed for the study and testing. An attempt was made to proportion the amount of weathered and unweathered portions in making the composite sample, so as to approximate actual operating conditions. An examination of representative specimens of the sample showed the following general facts: 1. The black mineral comprising nearly 70 per cent of the ore is ilmenite.

Jan 1, 1948

By L. L. McMurray

Ilmenite is the most important raw material for manufacture of titanium dioxide.' Industrially, several other products are made from ilmenite, the most important of which are: ferro titanium, ferro carbon-titanium, copper-titanium, titanium carbide and titanium nitride. The production of titanium metal is still in the laboratory stage because of the difficulty of extraction and as yet no important application for the metal has been found. Ilmenite has received considerable attention as an industrial raw material. Imports of ilmenite concentrates for the first nine months of 1941 were 156,737 short tons, the chief source being Travancore, India.2 Domestic produttion of ilmenite has heretofore been confined to Amherst and Nelson Counties, Virginia, where a complex rutile, ilmenite, and apatite ore is mined and treated to utilize all three of these minerals. A recent report3 has described development of the large titaniferous magnetite ore body at Tahawas, New York, where it is expected that 800 tons of ilmenite concentrates, containing 48 per cent TiO2 will be produced daily. Additional domestic production is expected from a large ilmenite deposit recently opened in caldwell county, North carolina. Flotation tests indicate that a high-grade concentrate containing 53 per cent TiO2 can be made from the North Carolina ore. Prospecting of domestic ores in other areas has been reported.' It appears that increased domestic production of ilmenite may well save considerable shipping space so vitally needed in these times. The composition and chemical structure of pure ilmenite is given by Dana as: FeO, TiO2; Ti, 31.6 per cent, Fe, 36.8 per cent, O2, 31.6 per cent. This composition is variable in that some iron or titanium may be replaced, giving a variable iron-titanium ratio. As an example, the iron-titanium weight ratio of ilmenite in Caldwell County, North Carolina, has been determined to be 0.94 (using 97.1 per cent ilmenite concentrate obtained by heavy liquids on minus Iso-mesh ore) compared with theoretical 1.16. No rutile was noted in this ore to account for the low value. This North Carolina ore is free of magnetite, which is a common associate of ilmenite ores. In view of a large potential production from North Carolina, the Tennessee Valley Authority conducted a study of methods of concentration of that ore, of which the results are reported herein. The Ore Five samples of Ore were taken from the deposit at various exposed locations and were mixed for the study and testing. An attempt was made to proportion the amount of weathered and unweathered portions in making the composite sample, so as to approximate actual operating conditions. An examination of representative specimens of the sample showed the following general facts: 1. The black mineral comprising nearly 70 per cent of the ore is ilmenite.

Jan 1, 1948

T. T. READ, Secretary of the Committee on Industrial Organization, presents the following very interesting monthly ad interim report: Reports from London are to the effect that 750 housing schemes for workers, involving the erection of 128,000 new dwellings, have been submitted to the Local Government Board. Birmingham alone needs 14,000 new houses, and the Housing and Town Planning Committee of the City Council considers that 5000 new houses must be built each year for the next 20 years. Nine hundred acres of land has been acquired, on which to build 10 to 12 houses per acre for the next two years. The town of Dudley, which built 300 modern dwellings in 1915-1916, submitted schemes for another 500 houses. There is a shortage of building materials required, specially brick. Financial assistance has been received for reopening brick yards that were closed during the war. W. E. Dickson, vice president of the Midvale Steel & Ordnance Co., is reported in the daily press as stating that his corporation is planning to spend $8,000,000 in improving its plant and assisting its employees in building their own homes. The company will advance 90 per cent. of the cost of the house and extend payments over a period of 12 years. Methods of work employed in building 256 houses at Quincy, Mass., for the workers of the Fore River shipyards are described, by Joseph Meltzer, in the Engineering News Record for May 29, 1919. The approximate cost was about $3500 per house, not including water supply, sewers, streets, and sidewalks. "Comparative Costs of Tenantry and Home-Owning;" "A Plain Talk on Helping Home-builders;" and "More Plain Talk on Home Building" are the titles of three publications of the Information and Education Service of the Department of Labor. These publications should be' of a good deal of service in convincing employees that it is to their interest to own their homes rather than to live in rented houses. The same Service has issued pamphlets discussing the cost of materials.

Jan 7, 1919