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By A. W. Fahrenwald

Flotation practice in Idaho is now about 13 years old. The advance has been steady during these 113 years. The operators have been alert to take advantage of the newest developments and they have themselves made a constant effort to improve their work. The metallurgical improvements are due to the development of (1) better equipment, (2) better reagents, and (3) better understanding and control of the process. During the eight years the writer has been in this district, there has been continuous experimentation by several companies to improve the ore dressing by flotation methods. Gravity concentration has fought hard to hold its place, and although it is true that gravity processes have been improved during this period, nevertheless, in several of the important mills of the district the few tables that managed to hang on have finally given way. On the straight-lead ores, tables and jigs are still used; and, due to better classification, their hold on this job has been strengthened. Ores of the District The ores of the district are of two general classes: (1) clean lead ores, such as those from the Bunker Hill and Hecla mines, and (2) complex lead-zinc ores. The general impression prevails that the clean lead ores, class 1, are simple and that it is easy to obtain high recoveries and good grade products. This, in a way, is a false impression; there is quite a high percentage of locked middling in these ores at 100 and' 150-mesh sizes. Improved classification preparatory to table treatment of this type of ore has made it possible to segregate effectively a high-grade middling which is further comminuted and floated. The complex lead-zinc ores of the district, of which the ore from the Morning mine of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co. is a typical example, always have presented a difficult problem. It always has been comparatively easy to make a clean lead concentrate, but it never has been possible to concentrate sphalerite with a specific gravity of 4.10 from siderite of gravity 3.88. Also, a large percentage of the galena and sphalerite of this class of ore refuses to separate out until the crushing has been carried

Jan 1, 1928

By A. W. Fahrenwald

FLOTATION practice in Idaho is now about 13 years old. The advance has been steady during these 13 years. The operators have been alert to take advantage of the newest developments and they have themselves made a constant effort to improve their work. The metallurgical improvements are due to the development of (1) better equipment, (2) better reagents, and (3) better understanding and control of the process. During the eight years the writer has been in this district, there has been continuous experimentation by several companies to improve the ore dressing by flotation methods. Gravity concentration has fought hard to hold its place, and although it is true that gravity processes have been improved during this period, nevertheless, in several of the important mills of the district the few tables that managed to hang on have finally given way. On the straight-lead ores, tables and jigs are still used; and, due to better classification, their hold on this job has been strengthened. ORES OF THE DISTRICT The ores of the district are of two general classes: (1) clean lead ores, such as those from the Bunker Hill and Hecla mines, and (2) complex lead-zinc ores. The general impression prevails that the clean lead ores, class 1, are simple and that it is easy to obtain high recoveries and good grade products. This, in a way, is a false impression; there is quite a high percentage of locked middling in these ores at 100 and 150-mesh sizes. Improved classification preparatory to table treatment of this type of ore has made it possible to segregate effectively a high-grade middling which is further comminuted and floated. The complex lead-zinc ores of the district, of which the ore from the Morning mine of the Federal Mining & Smelting Co. is a typical example, always have presented a difficult problem. It always has been comparatively easy to make a clean lead concentrate, but it never has been possible to concentrate sphalerite with a-specific gravity of 4.10 from siderite of gravity 3.88. Also, a large percentage of the galena and sphalerite of this class of ore refuses to separate out until the crushing has been carried

Jan 1, 1928

By R. J. Evans

THE Combined Metals Reduction Co.'s plant is at Bauer, Utah. It was built primarily to treat ore from the Combined Metals mine at Pioche, Nevada. Shortly after its completion, the company acquired the old Honerine mine, and ores from this mine, as well as custom ores from widely scattered districts, are now being treated at the Bauer plant. PIOCHE ORE The Pioche ore, which comprises about 50 per cent. of the mill feed, occurs as a replacement of an impure thin-bedded limestone. The lime beddings are separated by thin layers of micaceous shale containing appreciable quantities of sericite and graphite. The ore is an exceptionally fine-grained, dense mixture of minerals and gangue, assaying approximately 0.03 oz. gold, 7.2 oz. silver, 7 per cent. lead, 15 per cent. zinc, 16 per cent. iron, 29 per cent. insoluble and 1.5 per cent. lime. Of the total lead 7 per cent. is in the form of sulfate and carbonate. Approximately 10 per cent. of the ore consists of chert nodules impregnated with barren pyrite; the nodules average 0.8 mm. in size, and are extremely hard, compared with the other constituents of the ore. Microscopic examination of Pioche ore ground to 80 per cent. minus 150 mesh shows pyrite, sphalerite and galena still attached. EARLY ATTEMPTS AT ORE DRESSING Metallurgists, both professional and those working for private companies, have been more or less familiar with the Pioche ore since 1913; in fact, a total of 35 commercial and plant laboratories experimented with the ore between 1913 and 1921. The work during this period was decidedly negative, it being seemingly impossible to effect a satisfactory separation of the valuable minerals into marketable products. In 1913, it was recognized that fine grinding-that is, about minus 200 mesh-was required to liberate the minerals from one another, and from the gangue, but such fine grinding was not considered practicable at this time.

Jan 1, 1928

By R. J. Evans

The Combined Metals Reduction Co.'s plant is at Bauer, Utah. It was built primarily to treat ore from the Combined Metals mine at Pioche, Nevada. Shortly after its completion, the company acquired the old Honerine mine, and ores from this mine, as well as custom ores from widely scattered districts, are now being treated at the Bauer plant. Pioche Ore The Pioche ore, which comprises about 50 per cent. of the mill feed, occurs as a replacement of an impure thin-bedded limestone. The lime beddings are separated by thin layers of micaceous shale containing appreciable quantities of sericitc and graphite. The ore is an exeeptionally fine-grained, dense mixture of minerals and gangue, assaying approximately 0.03 oz. gold, 7.2 oz. silver, 7 per cent. lead, 15 per cent. zinc, 16 per cent. iron, 29 per cent. insoluble and 1.5 per cent,. lime. Of the total lead 7 per cent. is in the form of sulfate and carbonate. Approximately 10 per cent,. of the ore consists of chert nodules impregnated with barren pyrite; the nodules average 0.8 mm. in size, and ire extrcmely hard, compared with the other constituents of the ore. Microscopic examination of Pioche ore ground to 80 per cent . minus 150 nicsh shows pyrite, sphalerite and galena still attached. Early Attempts at Ore Dressing Metallurgists, both professional and those working for private companies, have been more or less familiar with the Pioche ore sinee. 1913; in fact, a total of 35 commercial and plant laboratories expenmented with the ore between 1913 and 1921. The work during this period was decidedly negative, it being seemingly impossible to effeet a satisfactory separation of the valuable minerals into marketable products. In 1913, it was recognized that fine grinding-—that is, about minus. : 200 mesh—-was required to liberate the minerals from one another, and from the gangue, but such fine grinding was not considertd practicable at this time.

Jan 1, 1928

HOW the Engineers' Memorial clock and carillon at Louvain has impressed the people of that city is indicated by the following letter sent by the Secretary of the University of Louvain to the Secretary of the United Engineering Society. We are still full of the memories of that splendid July 4, when we came into such .delightful contact with our American friends and more specially with the representation of the engineering societies of the United States. It was a great joy for all the members of the University to see those, American friends who have given to us such a splendid memorial in honor of- the brave men who fell in the Great War.

Jan 1, 1928

By K. B. Nowels

"INTRODUCTION For the last several years the oil industry has been turning more and more toward conservation arid the study of related production problems. It is generally conceded that ultimate recovery is increased by holding the natural gas in thy sand which is net needed in lifting the oil. The retained gas lowers the viscosity and surface tension of the oil and helps flow the oil from the sand. Lewis states that ""while the operator can not control the original conditions of energy and resistance in the sand, he can partly control the efficiency of expulsion. As it is the energy contained in the compressed and absorbed gas rather than the oil that is exhausted, it is but logical to judge the efficiency of a producing method largely by the relative quantities of gas produced with each barrel of oil. If by a change in method the producer lessons the proportion of gas with each barrel of oil, he should increase the total recovery- of oil correspondingly, even if the rate of production is temporarily reduced somewhat.""The effect of ""pinching in"" or controlling the flow of oil wells in an effort to lessen the proportion of has never been definitely known. The general belief has been that ""pinching"" a flowing well causes the oil and gas volumes to be reduced proportionately, maintaining the same gas-oil ratio as before the reduction in flow was made. Studies of gas-oil ratios in many fields have shown that much gas has been wasted, insofar as its effectiveness in oil production is concerned. Swigart and Bopp carried."

Oct 1, 1927

By Thomas Varley

"The literature on flotation of oxidized ores except for patents (especially for reagents) is very sparse. The Bureau of Mines in 1936, published a circular on the subject, by Ralston and Allen. The treatment of oxides by flotation was then in its infancy, but several of the most important mining companies in the Western United States and Mexico are now operating flotation plants for treating oxidized ores. The purpose of this present circular is to review the progress made and bring the subject up to date. One of the writers of the 1916 report (Mr. Allen) has been associated with some of the most important mining companies who have put into practical operation the process of flotation of oxidized ores; among these companies are the Shhttuck Arizona Copper Co., Bisbee, Arizona (now the Shattuck Denn Co.) and the San Francisco Mines of Mexico, Ltd., San Francisco Del Oro, Chihuahua, Mexico. His experience and other sources of information have been freely drawn on in pre-paring this paper. Mr. Ralston, assistant chief metallurgist of the Bureau of Mines, contributed many valuable suggestions and criticisms.Sulphidizing Reagents for Oxidize Ores.The various reagents and methods that might possibly be used for sulphidizing were summarized by Ralston and Allen as follows:""Sulphidizing (1) by the use of hydrogen sulphide on either the dry or the wet crushed ore, (2) by the use of solutions of the various sulphides and sulpho-compounds of sodium, (3) by the use of solutions of the various sulphides and sulpho-compounds of calcium, (4) by the use of sulphur vapor, (5) by the use of a sulphureted oil, (6) with colloidal sulphur."

Jun 1, 1927

By Alden H. Emery, J. J. Forbes

"IntroductionThe data contained in this paper were collected during the course of an investigation which covered 15 representative coal mines in 6 coal-mining States. The purpose of the investigation was to determine by atmospheric sampling how much dust was raised into the air during the various operations of coal mining, such as undercutting with machines, loading coal by hand, and transporting it from the working face to the surface. The data thus obtained were considered from two angles - namely, the possible physiological effect of inhalation and the explosion hazard of the dust. No attempt will be mode to discuss the former factor in this paper.CONDITIONS OF MININGThe mines in which this investigation was conducted were considered representative, and it is believed that the results obtained will suffice for the average dustiness encountered in most coal mines. .All of the coal mined was bituminous, from beds 30 to 120 inches thick. Only the ordinary room-and-pillar system of mining was employed. Daily production ranged from approximately 700 to 1500 tons and the men employed from 150 to 450. Coal was undercut by short-wall mining machines in all mines, with the exception of one in which pick mining was employed. Loading at the face was done by miners; none of the mines used mechanical loaders. Electric drills, both for brushing roof and for shooting coal, were commonly used although some roof work was done with jack-hammers and a. little of both with augers. Coal was hauled by motor, mule, or rope power in end-gate cars with capacities ranging from 1600 to 3600 pounds. With few exceptions, coal was won at the face by dry methods - that is to say, no water was employed fox wetting down the dust either during undercutting, loading, or transportation."

Feb 1, 1927

A FACT not generally understood about the Engineering Societies Library on Thirty-ninth Street in New York -in particular, not realized by many of the great indus-tries of the country-is that it is a free public institution. To utilize its valuable facilities one does not have to be a member of the national engineering societies (which shoul-der its financial deficit each year). Anyone, at any place in the world, can use the library. A man in California, or in South America, or in Persia, can write or cable to the Library staff and receive information on the same basis as any engineer living in New York. For example, a few months ago an American mining en-gineer in China needed additional geological information about a district which he was about to explore. He cabled his need to the Engineering Societies Library and the next steamer brought him the data he wanted. A phosphorus company in Alabama wished to obtain a translation from the Norwegian of an article on cement which they had heard about. They wrote to the Engineer-ing Societies Library; the article was located, and a trans-lation made and sent them.

Jan 12, 1927

By B. F. Tillson

HAVING been asked to talk about recent devel-opments in mining equipment, I chose the sub-ject of small units of storage-battery locomo-tives which recently have been developed with the idea of motorizing transportation in the mines as far as possible, replacing the manual labor of hand-tramming. Metal mines are probably less advanced in this field than coal mines, where transportation of large ton-nages on any one level is quite common. Of course, metal mines, where large tonnages are handled on any one level, are as advanced as coal mines, and storage-battery locomotives for main haulages are used quite commonly in such metal mines, but the mines having levels at many intervals in the depth of the orebody, or a number of intermediate levels in which a consider-able amount of hand-tramming has to be done, and small metal mines in which the size of the orebody does not seem to warrant the initial capital expenditure for the driving of main haulage levels and installation of rock and ore chutes and raises for the delivery of the broken ore and rock to the cars have been at consider-able disadvantage in replacing manual labor by some mechanical means of transportation. Several years ago the field was canvassed among the manufacturers of electric-locomotive equipment and the conclusion was reached that the art had not been devel-oped to the advantage of metal miners who desire to replace small units of labor by locomotive equipment. The need for such small locomotives is all the more em-phasized by the development in the past few years of mechanical mucking-machines (loading equipment for filling the cars from muck piles on the level). Any me-chanical loader is a liability instead of an asset unless means are also provided for keeping the material away from the loading-machines. Therefore the transporta-tion system must be equal to the capacity of a loading-machine, otherwise the latter is idle such a large per-centage of its time as to prove an unprofitable invest-ment. So there is a need for portable, small haulage units to handle small mine cars in many metal mines, and, naturally, units are desired which can be so readily shifted from level to level as to facilitate their free use. Of course, in mines in which each level comes to the shaft it is not such a difficult problem, but many mines have a great many intermediate levels which must be approached through raises, timber slides or other small openings required to transfer ore and to get timber and other supplies to those levels.

Jan 5, 1927

AN extremely successful meeting, under the joint auspices of the Ohio Section and the Iron and Steel Committee, was held at Cleveland on April 19 and 20, about one-half of those in attendance being from the Cleveland district and the other half from a distance. The morning session on April 19, C. K. Leith presiding, was opened by the presentation of the ad-dress of which an excerpt is printed on the opposite page. In the subsequent discussion R. A. Allen pointed out that the meeting had not been called "to blow the lid off the tariff" since that is only one of the many problems connected with the wisest utilization of man-ganese, and it was the purpose of this meeting to con-sider all those interdependent problems. The purpose of the tariff was to develop an adequate domestic sup-ply, and that result had not been accomplished. An-other important problem, linked with the tariff, is the need for assuring, while we are at peace, an adequate war supply of manganese, and at present this country has no such policy. D. F. Hewett said that his 3-months' trip in Europe last summer had impressed him with the fact that England had once been in the position United States now is in, of being the principal world's producer of all the more important minerals and with a declining reserve had gone on a free-trade basis. No one pointed out that, with the exception of tin, the present relative position of England is due more to an increase in pro-duction in other countries, rather than to a decrease of domestic production. J. Sharshall Grasty referred to recent development work-in Virginia where of 30 per cent easily concen-trated manganese ore about 300,000 tons has been blocked out and possible and probable ore amounting to 700,000 tons more is indicated.

Jan 5, 1927

By R. R. Brandenthaler

CONTROLLING -the pressure under which a well produces crude oil has advantages that are ap¬parently not entirely realized by many operators in the Mid-Continent district. The possibilities of utilizing well pressures are indicated by a series of ex-periments recently completed by the Bureau of Mines in which pressure control was successfully applied to 20 wells in, the Davenport field. The flowing period of all of .the wells was lengthened in some instances it was. more than doubled. The daily oil production from approximately one-half of the tested wells was in-creased. The amount of gas produced per barrel of oil was decreased, and this, in addition to a slower rate of decline in production, indicated that the ultimate re-covery had been increased. The successful application of pressure control to flow-ing oil wells must take into consideration the relation-ships existing between pressures in the different parts of the system which, though not equal, are nevertheless more or less interrelated. These relationships, which have such an important bearing on the results obtained by applying pressure control, are as follows: A change in rock pressure will affect the tubing pressure, casing pressure, and differential pressure, but it will not affect the trap pressure. A change in tubing pressure will affect the differential pressure and casing pressure; also, a change in casing pressure will affect the tubing pressure and differential pressure. Trap pressures are not affected by rock pressure, casing pressure, tubing pressure, or differential pressure, unless the traps are required to handle gas and oil beyond their capacity. Trap pressures will affect the differential pressure, tubing pressure, and casing pressure and any changes at the well-head, whether differential pressure, tubing pres-sure or casing pressure, will affect the pressures in the well. Any change in rock pressure results in a change in the tubing pressure, casing pressure, and differential pressure. When any sudden or unusual change in well-head pres-sures occurs (for example, an erratic tubing pressure), and when a sudden decrease in oil or gas takes place, it is al-ways advisable to note whether the trap pressure has changed. If the trap pressure has not changed, note whether the oil line from the trap to the flow-tank has become clogged, as would be evidenced by a rise in the oil level in, the trap. If the oil line is functioning properly, and if the trap pressure has not changed, the flow-line from the well to the trap should be inspected. If it is free from obstructions, then changes in the differential pressure, tubing pressure, and casing pressure must be due to changed well conditions.

Jan 4, 1927

By Andrew Allen

WHEN a mine is changed from hand, to me-chanical loading, the character of the coal dumped at the tipple is changed in many ways. Selective mining is not so easy with mechanical load-ers, and where much picking is done at the face it is apt to be wasteful anyway. Much recoverable coal is apt to be lost by too free gobbing and, in my opinion, picking at the face should be confined to removal of heavy rock, such as pieces of roof or bottom or sulfur balls. and to such clearly defined and persistent bands as can be readily recognized and segregated. With mechanical loaders of the shovel type, even this amount of gobbing is almost impossible. When coal is shoveled into a conveyor there should be no difficulty in doing as much picking as now by hand loading. The size of lumps may be greatly increased, on ac-count of the ease of handling them with a shovel, as the miners will not break them up in order to lift them into cars. Fines may be increased. This is, of course, not universally true, yet it is my opinion that a shovel breaks the coal more, as a rule, than hand loading. This might not be true with all types of shovels and is cer-tainly not true with a conveyor, either with or without the "duck-bill." The average car load will be greatly reduced in fields such as Illinois and Indiana, in which it is the practice to build up the coal above the sides. Where "level full" regulations prevail there should be no material change. When the coal comes to the tipple these differences usually result in the discovery, that many changes are necessary in the preparation plant. The increase in the percentage of fine sizes will probably not bother the screen, but may overload the conveying apparatus. The larger size lump may clog the chute, but as a rule the efficiency of the sizing screens is not greatly affected. In one completely mechanized mine the proportions of 6-in. lump and 2-in. screenings, when loading by hand, were 16.9 and 51.3 per cent respectively. When loading mechanically, these proportions changed to 15 per cent lump and 53.5 per cent screenings. The picking force on the tipple has been increased from 14 on hand loading to 33 men on mechanically-loaded coal. This is for an output of about 5000 tons.

Jan 4, 1927

By Karl Sundberg

DURING the past few years Swedish geo-electrical prospecting methods have been described in several papers; namely, by us in a paper en-titled "Electrical Prospecting in Sweden," published by the Geological Survey of Sweden, 1925, and in a paper, "Electrical and Electro-Magnetic Prospecting," read by Hans Lundberg at the 1926 annual meeting of the A.I.M.E. In a written discussion on the latter paper, Theodore Zuschlag has made some observations, pub-lished in the Trans. Vol. LXXIV, which has just ap-peared. In this discussion the theories of the Swedish geo-electrical methods are criticized. The statements of Mr. Zuschlag are the reason for, our submitting the following information.1 In developing an art, such as electrical prospecting, the first thing to do, of course, is to make clear the fun-damental principles of electrical prospecting and then apply them to practice. This application cannot, in this case, be made by theoretical calculations only, because Nature is far too complicated to permit of exact theo-retical calculations on the phenomena involved in prac-tical electrical prospecting. Therefore, it is necessary to start with simplified cases, then turn to more and more complicated ones, and, finally, to test the applica-tion of results found, first in the laboratory and then in the field under known conditions.. Only in this way can results of practical value be obtained. This pro-cedure comprises three important parts: theory, the work in the laboratory, and the work in the field. In the papers mentioned above, we have briefly out-lined the work done in developing the Swedish geo-electrical methods, mainly giving some practical results, because these are most important and most likely to interest mining people. Possibly, because the discus-sion of theoretical considerations in our papers has been brief and sketchy, Mr. Zuschlag feels justified in in-ferring that the theories used as the foundation in Swedish electrical prospecting methods are not free from fundamental objections. His fundamental ob-jections are:

Jan 3, 1927

By Lucien Eaton

IN anticipation of a shortage of labor for hand-tram-ming at the Cliffs shaft mine of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co. at Ishpeming, Mich., early in 1923 three 4-ton Goodman storage-battery locomotives, equipped with Edison batteries, were purchased. Storage-battery locomotives were chosen for this work because the expense and time required to put up trolley-wire and to bond the rails of the complicated system of tracks on the levels, where the locomotives were to be used, would not have been warranted by the amount of ,ore to be handled. The only changes in the tracks necessary for storage-battery locomotives were new switches and extra ties and braces on curves. The tracks were 24-in. gage, and were laid with 20-lb. rail. Edison batteries were chosen, because it was desired to charge the batteries from the trolley circuit already, in the mine, and this would have been impracticable with lead batteries. Each locomotive is equipped with 126 A-4 Edison cells, which are charged in series from the 240-volt trolley circuit while the trolley locomotives are running; and are discharged in parallel in two banks of 63 cells each. These locomotives were so successful that later 5 smaller locomotives, weighing 11/2 tons each, were pur-chased for use e with cars that are filled by hand and on levels where the amount of ore handled is small. These locomotives, built by the Geo. D. Whitcomb Co. of Rochelle, Ill., are equipped with batteries of 40 A-4 Edison cells each, the cells being the same as those, on the larger locomotives. They are charged from mer-curial-are rectifiers. These locomotives are operated by the trammers themselves, and have not special oper-ators like the larger machines. The trammers are all young men of American birth, and take quickly to the operation of machinery, and the simplicity of the con-trol on these locomotives has made special training unnecessary. A survey of the results was made by the A. C. Nielsen So., an excerpt from which follows: Eight Edison-equipped battery locomotives are now in use at an Ishpeming mine of the Cleveland-. Cliffs Iron Co. This equipment was installed to take the place of men who formerly pushed loaded cars by hand. Results have been very satisfactory and the de-pendable, trouble-free operation of the Edison batteries is considered to have been an important factor in the effectiveness of the new hauling method.

Jan 3, 1927

By Wm. W. Odell

For a number of years there has been a very appreciable annual,, increase in the production and recovery of natural gas and natural-gas gasoline2 in the United States the latter product being used largely for blending with gasoline from petroleum in the production of motor fuel. On account of the increased amount of oil cracking in the production of gasoline and the accompanying increased percentage of low-boiling constituents in the resulting product, the specifications for the natural gasoline suitable for blending have been altered, that is, the amounts of propane and butane which it can contain have been limited. The result has been that large quantities of the latter materials are wasted because there has been no ready market for thorn in large quantities. Because of this wasteage and because it is probable that large quantities of there and similar materials will be produced in the near future us a result of the more general use of oil cracking processes, a study was made by the Bureau of Mines, under a cooperative agreement with the assistance of the Phillips Petroleum Company, of the suitability of these materials alone or in mixtures for use as gas enricher in the carburetion of water gas for city distribution. This investigation included: (a) A study of the properties of the low boiling members of the paraffin series including pentane with particular reference to their utilization as gases.

Jan 1, 1927

By W. H. De Blois

Introduction In the contact process for ?the manufacture of sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide gas - produced by the burning of sulphur or of sulphur-bearing ores, or as a by-product in the treatment of sulphide ores - is made to combine with the oxygen of the air to form sulphur trioxide, which then only requires the addition of water to form sulphuric acid. The substance, as for example platinum, causing this combination is usually referred to as a catalyst, a convenient term, in the definition and explanation of which many pages have been written. Catalysis is now a comparatively common means of effecting chemical combination, but if the question were raised here tonight as to what actually goes on when this apparently innocent third party unites the parties of the first and second . part, without itself being altered in any way, I am afraid even our most learned members would have to confess their inability to entirely explain the phenomenon; for although the subject is under investigation, there is still much to learn. The contact process, however, is one of the outstanding achievements in chemical engineering. ? From the standpoint of the difficulties involved and the time absorbed in their solution, it probably stands alone in the field of technical chemistry. In fact, the manufacture of sulphuric acid has, from the earliest days, been surrounded with problems which have interested the ablest chemists. The Chamber System Although this paper has particularly to deal with the contact process, it may not be amiss to refer briefly to the chamber system, which was, and still is, a most important factor in the sulphuric acid industry.

Jan 1, 1927

By Davenport, Edmund S.

THE specific aim of this work has been to study certain forms of internal deterioration which occur in tungsten filaments when subjected to high temperatures under various conditions, and to determine the cause of such deterioration. This would naturally lead to a consideration of methods of control or means of prevention of the phenomena. The deterioration was first noticed as a peculiar condition in the grain boundaries of certain tungsten filaments which had been burned t for long periods in lamps. In these cases it was noted that the grain bound aries contained a number of minute black dots which were at first thought to be non-metallic inclusions. It was demonstrated later that these dots or pits, as they were designated, could be readily produced by burning filaments in an atmosphere of flowing hydrogen. This method was convenient and adequate for the purpose, and was adopted for most of the work discussed in this paper. The evidence accumulated to date indicates that these pits arc actually small voids between the grains. The purpose of this paper is to, present the information on this interesting subject gathered during a period of about 3 years. As applied to tungsten, the subject appears to be of considerable importance, experience having shown that this pitting is frequently associated with poor performance of filaments in lamps.

Jan 1, 1927

By H. C. Fowler

Hydrogen sulphide associated with the gasps and vapors from certain crude oils now produced in the United States has forced a serious health and safety problem upon the petroleum industry. Although the presence of hydrogen sulphide in or occurring with Mexican crudes has been known for some time, it was not until recently that crude oils which give off poisonous amounts of hydrogen sulphide have been produced to any extent in the United State. The injurious effects of this poisonous gas were first recognized by the refiners along; the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts upon receiving shipments of crude petroleum from Mexico. The problem of combating the hazards of the gases and vapors given off by this petroleum become more important as the use of Mexican crude increased. In 1925, the Bureau of Mines and Public Health Service under cooperative agreement with the American Petroleum Institute, studied the causes rend effects of hydrogen sulphide poisoning. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 2312 is report of this investigation, and although written with special reference to refineries, it nevertheless contains much information that is of value to the producer of petroleum.

Jan 1, 1927

By Frank S. Wartman

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Jan 1, 1927