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By AIME AIME

FOR constructive research in copper and brass and other non-ferrous metals and their alloys, and his contributions to the establishment of the present accepted high standards of quality William H. Bassett, technical superintendent and metallurgist of the American Brass Co., has been awarded the James Douglas Gold Medal for 1925. Mr. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Mass., on March 7, 1868, and was graduated in chemistry at the - Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1891. In the same year he went to Pope's Island Manufacturing Co., at New Bedford, as chemist where he remained until 1895, where he became a teacher in chemistry at the Swain Free School, which position he retained until 1900. He then became chemist for the New Jersey Zinc Co., at Newark N. J., and in 1902 went to the Coe Brass branch at Torrington, Conn., as Chemist. In 1903 he became chief chemist and metallurgist and since 1912 has been technical superintendent and metallurgist of the American Brass Co., with head- quarters at Waterbury, Conn.

Jan 1, 1924

By Corale Brierley

The effect of hydrogen peroxide (H202) on growth and respiration of Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, organisms involved in acid leaching of copper sulfide minerals and uarnium oxides, was examined. Oxygen uptake and growth by T. thiooxidans were totally inhibited after contact with 0.82 mM H202. Complete inhibition of oxygen uptake by T. ferrooxidans occurred at 8.75 mM H202, and growth was inhibited after 6 hr exposure to 2.06 mM H202. Higher concentration of H202 can be used without detriment to thiobacilli if it is dissipated prior to reaching the oxidation pond or dump surface.

Jan 1, 1980

By Philip E. LaMoreaux

Fluoride, generally less than 0.5 ppm, is present in ground water from rocks of Paleozoic age and older, in northern and eastern Alabama. Some of the water-bearing formations in the Coastal Plain area of the State yield water with as much as 6.8 ppm fluoride.

Jan 1, 1950

By AIME AIME

LEROY SALSICH has had 37 consecutive years of operating and executive experience in the Lake Superior iron region during 35 of which he has been a member of the A.I.M.E. His recent election as an institute Director to represent the iron and copper country therefore brings to the Board a man long known throughout the area that he represents and well acquainted with the history of the Institute. Mr. Salsich is a native of the area in which his professional life has been spent, having been horn at Hartland. Wis., and graduating from the state university's college of engineering in 1901. A call had come to the college from the Lake Superior Consolidated Iron Mines, at Duluth.

Jan 1, 1938

By Georges Millot

USUALLY the search for clays is left to chance in unexplored areas. A local working by the inhabitants or an outcrop is often the only guide. If the conditions of genesis of clays were always known, a set of general rules could be drawn up that would apply to this search. For example, a certain type of clay might be found wherever the sediment indicated a favorable environment. This paper sums up the considerable amount of knowledge that has been accumulated about the genesis of sedimentary days and offers some rules to be observed in prospecting for new clays. ANALYTICAL STUDY OF SEDIMENTARY CLAYS Clays may be found in many formations, both recent and ancient. All the intermediums exist between the deep-sea deposit and the mud deposited by a stream. In order to find out whether the nature of clay deposits depends on the environments in which they were formed, the samples used in the investigation described herein were very carefully chosen from: (1) ancient sedimentary series (a few from recent ones), (2) zones where conditions of genesis are typical. Ancient Formations Ancient formations were chosen because they are less difficult to sample than the bottom sediments of present-day lakes and seas. Moreover, a geo- logical section makes it possible to define the conditions of genesis of a deposit based on its facies, fossils, stratigraphic relations, and paleography. A present-day deposit is defined only by its aspect at the moment. Its previous history may have caused mixtures, alterations, and changes of environment, which escape detection. Typical Conditions of Genesis Samples from ancient deposits were taken from zones where typical conditions of genesis prevailed. Only clays from marine, lagoonal, and lacustrine environs are concerned in this study because the nature of the original en- vironments could be affirmed. In this way an inventory of the nature of sedimentary clays has been made for rocks formed in typical and individual environments; therefore the extent of the results that may be drawn from such a study will need discussion.

Jan 1, 1952

By H. W. Clark

Electricity must be safeguarded everywhere that it is used. The conditions that exist underground make the use of safeguards more essential there than almost anywhere else. Electric Shock Electric shock is the greatest danger in connection with the use of electricity in mines, because conditions existing underground are so favorable to its occurrence. Men are often obliged to work in more or less uncertain light near bare wires that are carrying dangerous potentials. The fact that the men are standing on the earth practically connects them to one terminal of the electric generator. The moat dangerous piece of electrical equipment underground is the trolley wire. It is necessarily bare and extends for long distances throughout a mine, often less than a man's height from the track rail. Sometimes the making up of trips of cars must be done near low-hanging trolley wires. All 'bare wires offer the same danger that troIley wires do, although not to the same extent. Apparatus that has accidentally come in contact with the ungrounded side of an electric circuit is almost as dangerous as the trolley wire. A severe and even fatal shock may be obtained by coming in contact with the frame of a motor or a switch box that has become charged with electricity, or "alive," as it is usually termed. It is also possible to obtain . shocks from the frames of locomotives and cars if track sanding, poor bonding or a similar cause has put a high resistance to earth in the path of the current. Fires Caused by Electricity The danger from fires caused by electricity arises principally from defective installation and careless upkeep or from injuries to equipment resulting from falls of roof or similar causes. Fires may be started by unrelieved short cifiuits, or grounds, by the blowing of open fuses, and by the overheating of resistances. Incandescent lamps can produce heat enough to ignite combustible materials if the dissipation of the heat from

Jan 1, 1915

By Karl Cohen

The question of attainment of competitive nuclear electric power is of interest to uranium producers because the rate of attainment of this goal determines the date when there will be a solid, non-political, domestic uranium market. It is a burning question to those of us in the civilian nuclear power business, because our entire business future hinges on how well, and how soon, we can make electricity from nuclear reactions at prices comparable to electricity from coal. For an idea of the magnitudes involved, consider that the first fuel load of the Dresden (Illinois) nuclear power station, plus spares, will be about 90 tons of 1.5 pct UO2. This requires about two-and- a-half times as much natural uranium oxide feed to the diffusion plant, or 225 tons. This, in turn, represents about a month's production from the nearby Uranium Reduction Co. mill. Note also that the 180,000 kw electric output of the Dresden station will be about 0.1 pct of the national electric generating capacity in 1960.

Jan 12, 1958

By Glenn M. Boyce

This paper discusses the results of a laboratory testing pro- gram to determine the validity of hydraulic fracturing stress measurements in salt. Tests were performed on 15 cm diameter samples loaded under hydrostatic stress conditions to determine the influence of time, confining pressure, flow rate, borehole diameter, and packers on breakdown pressure. Tests were also performed in a polyaxial loading frame to determine whether or not hydraulic fracturing could be used to measure non-hydrostatic stresses. The test results indicate that the breakdown pressure is not affected by time delays of up to 64 hours between the application of load and fracturing the rock. Breakdown pressures were found to fall short of predicted elastic values at higher confining pressures for the hydrostatic tests. The ratio of the horizontal stresses in non-hydrostatic tests had no effect on breakdown pressures. Flow rate and borehole diameter variations were found to have a marked effect on breakdown pressures. Shut-in pressure values, which are generally used as an indication of the minimum stress value, exceeded the applied minimum stresses by 10 to 60% depending on the method of determination used. The lack of a relationship between breakdown pressure and horizontal stress ratio may preclude hydraulic fracturing from being used in salt as it is conventionally applied in brittle rocks.

Jan 1, 1984

By Walter Renton Ingalls

The ores of zinc which are important as sources of that metal are of two classes, viz., the sulphide and the oxidized. The latter includes six varieties: zincite (the red oxide) and franklinite (the oxide of zinc, iron, and manganese), which are found abundantly only in New Jersey; and the hydrous and anhydrous carbonates, the hydrous and anhydrous silicates, which are of widespread occurrence. The hydrous carbonate is known mineralogically as hydrozincite, zinconise, or zinc-bloom; the anhydrous silicate is recognized as willemite. With respect to the anhydrous carbonate and the hydrous silicate, however, there is a confusion of name which is of old standing. Attempts to clear it away were long ago made by the mineralogists with the result that there is now a more or less national uniformity of nomenclature; but there is still an international disagreement, sometimes very perplexing and always leading to inexactness in expression, which may be considered an adequate excuse for this return to a time-worn subject. The name calamine, together with Galmei of the Germans, is commonly supposed to be derived from xadµela, which was used by the Greeks to designate the peculiar kind of ore employed with copper in their brass-making, and also the accretions which formed in the brass-founder's furnaces. Agricola, however, says that it is from calamm, a reed, in allusion to the appearance of the material, cadmia fornacum, which collected 011 the furnace-walls. But whatever the derivation of the word, it was used until within one hundred years to include all the oxidized

Jan 1, 1896

A. M. Strong, Bishop, Cal. (communication to the Secretary*) :—The paper of Mr. Eeyes gives us the most complete account of the geology of the borax-deposits in the Death Valley region that has yet been published, and is a valuable addition to the geological literature of a very interesting though little-known territory. During the past ten years I have been over much of the northern part of the country described by Mr. Eeyes and the region immediately north of it.

Jan 1, 1910

By M. A. Quader, D. Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf, R. A. Dodd

STACKING fault tetrahedra were first observed in quenched and aged pure gold by Silcox and Hirsch1 and identified as defects originating in the collapse of vacancy discs on {111} planes. It was supposed that sessile loops are the first product of the collapse, and that by a dislocation dissociation/glide sequence these are converted into tetrahedra. Although the tetrahedra can be mechanistically accounted for in this way, recent investigations indicate that their growth occurs by the absorption of individual vacancies on small nuclei involving perhaps as few as six vacancies.2-7 Besides stacking fault tetrahedra, triangular and crystallographic shaped Frank loops, although fewer in number, have always been observed in quenched and aged gold.19798 It is not known definitely whether these loops form from collapsed tetrahedra. The fact that the Frank loops are usually larger than the accompanying tetrahedra might indicate that the loops grow independently by absorbing vacancies, but this does not rule out the possibility of the collapse of tetrahedra into loops under all circumstances. Silcox and Hirsch1 have actually observed under the electron microscope tetrahedra collapsing into loops, probably due to stresses set up by the heating of the specimen by the electron beam. The energy residing in the stacking faults of a tetrahedron is proportional to the square of the edge length, while the energy of a triangular perfect dislocation loop depends on its edge length, L, as const L ln(L/ro). Therefore, beyond some critical size tetrahedra must become unstable with respect to collapse into triangular loops.1,3,8-11 However, it seems that in the absence of strong stresses tetrahedra usually decay by the

Jan 1, 1969

By R. R. Sayers

TWO serious hazards from coal dust confront the bituminous-coal miner- -a physical or safety hazard and a physiological or health hazard. The first threatens the miner with loss of life from coal-dint explosions, and the second with loss of health and earning capacity from inhaling large quantities of the dust. Studies by the Bureau of Mines have shown that coal dust, except some grades of anthracite dust, is capable of initiating an explosion when no explosive gas is present and that its property of extending or propagating an explosion has been responsible for nearly all the widespread explosions that have occurred in bituminous mines in the United States in the present century. For years many mining people believed that low-volatile coal dust was not explosive but not only is it explosive but if the source of ignition is intense, it is as explosive as the dust of many high-volatile coals because the war is creating increased pressure for greater coal production and because of the trend toward greater mechanization in mines, explosion and health hazards from coal dust are likely !n increase considerably.

Jan 1, 1943

By Theron Wasson

Michigan reports another record year. Its production of 18,605,000 bbl. exceeds any previous year's total and is 2,000,000 bbl. over 1937, the previous record year. Production in 1938 brings the accumulated total for the state to a little over 100,000,000 bbl. It has taken 14 years to reach this accumulative figure, which would meet the needs of our country for about one month. Twelve new oil and gas fields were opened in 1938 and 978 tests for oil and gas were completed, of which 566 were oil wells, 25 gas wells and 387 dry holes. The new oil discovered is probably about equal to the oil produced during the year. Activities in 1938 The Temple field, Clare County, was the discovery of the year. Since July, 46 wells have been completed, and although not yet outlined it appears that more than 2000 acres have been proved for production from the Monroe of Devonian age, at a depth of 3900 ft. This discovery is the result of a wildcat test along a trend northwestward from the older fields of the central basin. The Edenville pool, Midland County, ranks second among the new fields. Thirty-five producing wells have been drilled to the Dundee at 3800 feet. The surprise development was in southwestern Alichigan, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, where six new Traverse lime pools were opened with a daily production of about 8000 bbl. at the end of the year. This is the first consistent Traverse production in the state and is about 100 miles southwest of the producing areas of the central basin. These fields have had a rapid development because of the shallow depths, which range from 900 to 1500 ft. Bloomingdale, Van Buren County, had a town-lot boom, and 72 wells have been drilled there since August 1938. Small operators from many states have been attracted to this shallow territory, and the coming year will see much drilling in these and surrounding counties. The Buckeye field, Gladwin County, led the state in amount of oil produced. Its total of over 7,000,000 bbl. was far ahead of that of any other pool.

Jan 1, 1939

By Theron Wasson

Michigan reports another record year. Its production of 18,605,000 bbl. exceeds any previous year's total and is 2,000,000 bbl. over 1937, the previous record year. Production in 1938 brings the accumulated total for the state to a little over 100,000,000 bbl. It has taken 14 years to reach this accumulative figure, which would meet the needs of our country for about one month. Twelve new oil and gas fields were opened in 1938 and 978 tests for oil and gas were completed, of which 566 were oil wells, 25 gas wells and 387 dry holes. The new oil discovered is probably about equal to the oil produced during the year. Activities in 1938 The Temple field, Clare County, was the discovery of the year. Since July, 46 wells have been completed, and although not yet outlined it appears that more than 2000 acres have been proved for production from the Monroe of Devonian age, at a depth of 3900 ft. This discovery is the result of a wildcat test along a trend northwestward from the older fields of the central basin. The Edenville pool, Midland County, ranks second among the new fields. Thirty-five producing wells have been drilled to the Dundee at 3800 feet. The surprise development was in southwestern Alichigan, Allegan and Van Buren Counties, where six new Traverse lime pools were opened with a daily production of about 8000 bbl. at the end of the year. This is the first consistent Traverse production in the state and is about 100 miles southwest of the producing areas of the central basin. These fields have had a rapid development because of the shallow depths, which range from 900 to 1500 ft. Bloomingdale, Van Buren County, had a town-lot boom, and 72 wells have been drilled there since August 1938. Small operators from many states have been attracted to this shallow territory, and the coming year will see much drilling in these and surrounding counties. The Buckeye field, Gladwin County, led the state in amount of oil produced. Its total of over 7,000,000 bbl. was far ahead of that of any other pool.

Jan 1, 1939

By Douglas Bunting

With the gradual exhaustion of the upper veins in the anthracite coal-fields, the problem of mining at greater depths acquires increasing importance and demands the consideration .of a number of important factors, one of which is the greater earth-pressure and the consequent necessity of stronger support for the roof. Under the pillar-and-chamber system, almost exclusively followed in the Northen anthracite-field, the highest economy in mining is generally secured by leaving, on first mining, pillars only sufficient to support safely the overlying strata. As to the necessary size of such pillars, the opinions of mining experts are widely divergent. In establishing the width of chambers and pillars, the thickness of vein and its depth below the surface have received little consideration. For instance, it has been quite usual to work both overlying and underlying veins with the same width of chambers and pillars, when the lower vein was two and one-half times as thick, and twice as far below the surface, as the upper. In view of the generally-accepted theory that the crushing-strength of coal-pillars of the same base-area becomes less with increased height, it is probable, in this instance at least, that the moat economical mining has not been secured. This question of adequate pillar-support is economically less important down to about 800 ft. than at greater depths; and it is with reference to mining at these greater depths that the study of the subject here presented has been prompted. The necessity of leaving larger pillars, involving greater mining-costs per ton and also smaller yields per acre, is one of the troubles of deep working. To mine without leaving adequate pillar-supports will result, sooner or later, in a squeeze. Limited areas, it is true, have been mined at certain widths of

Jan 1, 1912

By J. Parke Channing

THE growth of and profession depends on meeting and solving new problems. It is a continuous process. 'A period free from new, or hitherto unknown, questions will be a period of arrested development in the profession it affects. The present generation has witnessed a' mechanical development that has been truly marvelous: Almost every day marks the advent of a new, or the improvement of an old; process, method or machine. Wonders are now commonplace. The impossible is regularly accomplished. Yet, with all our progress in every realm of science and with our development in the engineering field, advances which have made possible the marvelous growth in industry, we have not made commensurate gains in methods affecting the human factor. Without the cooperation of the worker, we shall always fall short of our goal in a mechanical or statistical sense. If we do not make the individual members of the human family strong, healthy, happy, and ambitious for better things for themselves and their children, we will have failed utterly, for that is the real reason for our existence as men and the purpose of our organized effort as an engineering group. Thomas A. Edison

Jan 1, 1921

By T. B. Counselman

WHEN one thinks of Minnesota iron ore, one thinks of big open pits, where high- grade ore is simply scooped up with a power shovel, loaded into cars, and hauled away for shipment to the blast furnace. On the western end of the Mesabi range, however, are large tonnages of iron ore which contain too much silica to be used directly in the blast furnace, and these ores must first be concentrated to a purer form. The Mesabi range is about 100 miles long and a maximum of 3 miles wide. The iron formation, which in its unaltered form is called taconite: consists of a banded iron- bearing chert. Where the high-grade ore bodies occur, these have resulted from folding and cracking with sub- sequent leaching out of the silica, leaving the iron oxide behind. The big open pits and the underground mines are situated in these concentrations.

Jan 1, 1941

By P. D. Merica

MY remarks are addressed to the question whether a program of international mineral control can effectively serve as a means of maintaining world peace in the kind of world envisaged by the Atlantic Charter. They do not touch the quite different questions whether such control could be appropriately used for postwar punishment of Germany and Japan, or for other purposes. I assume also that the question relates, not to the transition period immediately following the war, but to the more normal years which we hope will succeed this. Finally, they deal primarily with metals and metallic minerals rather than with. oil or coal or other minerals, although they may be applicable also to these other nonmetallic materials.

Jan 1, 1944

By George W. Maynard

In the Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute for the year 1878, in the account of the proceedings of the annual meeting in March of that year, when Mr. Bell read his paper On the Separation of Phosphorus from Pig-Iron, occurs the following statement, as part of the reported discussion of that paper: " Mr. Sidney Thomas stated that he had succeeded in effecting the almost complete removal of phosphorus in the Bessemer process. Experiments had been carried on at Blaenavon, with the co-operation of Mr. Martin, on quantities varying between 6 lbs. and 10 cwt., and some hundred analyses made by Mr. Gilchrist (who had the conduct of the experiments from the first) showing the removal of from 20 per cent. to 99.9 per cent. of phosphorus in the converter. He believed the practical difficulties in the way had been overcome, and that Cleveland pig might be made into good steel without any intermediate process. He hoped on a future occasion to lay full details before the Institute." I was present at that meeting, and I doubt if any one in the hall knew, either by sight or name, the young man who had dared to rise in that august body and claim that he had accomplished that after which the great metallurgists of Europe had been unsuccessfully striving ever since Mr. Bessemer's great discovery. I remember distinctly the pitying smile of derision and the stony stare

Jan 1, 1885

Jan 1, 1936