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By H. H. Uhlig

IN our study of the mechanism of and the prevention of corrosion in stainless steels, it was considered of fundamental importance to obtain knowledge of the surface structure of such alloys. If corrosion resistance is due to a self-healing oxide layer, which like a paint film protects the underlying metal, it would be obviously relevant were the effort made to make the film less permeable and more adherent; for example, the surface might be expected to respond to an anodizing process, which is found successful in increasing the film thickness and corrosion resistance of aluminum. However, if passivity and corrosion resistance of stainless steels are due to another cause, the attack of the problem would follow another path. One of the most effective techniques for studying passivity and corrosion tendency is the measurement of the electrochemical potential. Not only can one determine by potential measurements whether a metal is active or passive, but also one can determine the degree of passivity and rate of transformation of passivity with time. Chemical media that build up or destroy passivity when in contact with the steel can also be classified by potential measurements. Something can be learned, too, of the effect of alloy additions such as molybdenum to 18-8, known to decrease corrosion of the alloy in chloride solutions. A study of alloys in previous investigations has sometimes included data on the electrochemical potentials. Tammann and Sotter1 measured the electrochemical potentials of alloys of iron-molybdenum and iron-chromium and reported the critical concentration of molybdenum or chromium at which passivity initiates. Strauss2 made similar measure-ments for the iron-chromium system. The electrochemical potential' has also been used to indicate carbide precipitated 18-8. In 18-8, heat-treated to precipitate carbide, active metal exists at the region of the grain boundaries, contrasted with passive metal within the grains, the active metal accounting for a resultant active potential. Several

Jan 1, 1939

By Howard M. Wells

The investment worth of a mineral deposit can only be realistically evaluated in relation to specified engineering design criteria which fully detail the proposed method of exploitation. The operational design of a mine falls essentially within the technical discipline of the mining engineer, under the constraint that the technical design should be aimed at optimizing the financial attractiveness of the project. In the case of a marginally viable proposition it becomes vitally necessary to identify the best set of design parameters which together will add up to an optimum investment proposal. This paper examines some fundamental logic of optimization for a "wasting asset" type of investment such as a mine, with special reference to the rate of annual production and the strategy of selective mining.

Jan 12, 1978

By Lewis H. Reiland

IN 1920, for the first time, the U. S. Geological Survey employed aerial photography in constructing planimetric maps. Contours were added by aerial photography and cultural details corrected. From 1925 to 1929 photogrammetric plotting machines and instruments of foreign design appeared in America for use in constructing complete topographic maps. During this period the only American technique developed was the Brock process, carried out with great success by Aero Service Corp. of Philadelphia, a pioneer in the field of photogrammetry. Between the first and second world wars the Multiplex projector, the Aerocartigraph, and the Stereoplanigraph appeared. The Multiplex projector, most popular of the three, determines three-dimensional values with very high accuracy. Many refinements have been added year by year, and it is now possible to photograph vast areas in a very short time and produce planimetric, topographic, and geologic maps of great value at very low cost per acre as compared with all methods previously known and in use. Both on the ground and in the air, however, accurate results can be produced only with highly skilled personnel and costly scientific instruments and machines. As early as 1928 the writer collected from the U. S. Army Engineers all available formulas and data on photogrammetry and personally contracted a local project of 2800 acres to be surveyed from the air. From the 10,000-ft altitude required for scale the cameras, each equipped with 4-K filters, pierced a ground haze of about 5000 ft, achieving clear, de- finable photography. The result was so gratifying, and the continuing progress in this method of surveying and mapping so great, that in the matter of economy it can hardly be surpassed. Pocahontas Land Corp., for example, constantly refers to its complete file of aero prints, covering its entire ownership in West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky. Photostats are enlarged or reduced from these prints to match the scale of company maps, to which various features are then added.

Jan 7, 1957

By STEPHEN L. GOODALE

THE question indicated in this title was put by letter to a number of my friends working in various industries, who have charge of young metallurgical graduates. The replies were almost unanimous in stating that the college training should cover in the most .thorough manner possible those sciences which are the fundamentals - of engineering. Mathematics, physics, mechanics, electricity, chemistry, physical chemistry, and their applications to actual problems of life were mentioned in most of the letters I received. Some writers added also business law, economics,. and finance. One reply expressed it: "These subjects, well founded, mixed with good judgment, well applied, should enable the .young man to carry on the art of life successfully." One answer stated frankly what is really wanted: "As much as possible.' ' This writer mentioned .the sciences as being very important, but he wishes men ' to be trained in metallurgy also, and he concedes the omission of some advanced chemistry and physic's to secure the metallurgy. He emphasized particularly. the a we. desirability of work in college to development' He concludes his letter with a repetition of his slogan that what is wanted is as much as is possible.

Jan 1, 1930

By Fred W. Gordon

The North Chicago Rolling-Mill Co., of Chicago, have four furnaces at South Chicago, built during 1881. Each furnace is 20 feet diameter of bosh, and 75 feet total height, the hearth being 11 feet diameter, and the top 15 feet 4 inches. They are blown through seven 7-inch tuyeres placed 5 feet 6 inches above the hearth level. Cubical contents, 15,000 cubic feet. Each furnace is supplied with 2 blowing engines, 84-inch blowing cylinder, and 36-inch steam cylinder, and 54-inch stroke. These two have one jet-condenser worked by an auxiliary pump. The blast for each furnace is heated by the aid of three Whitwell fire-brick stoves, each 21 feet diameter and 60 feet high. In the batteries of boilers furnishing steam for four furnaces there are 36 double-length boilers, 76 feet long, 48 inches diameter and 16,000 square feet heating-surface. The plant was designed to produce 3600 tons per week, or 900 tons for each furnace, and was fitted as above with such engines, boilers, and hot-blast stoves as were thought requisite for that production ; hence, calculated from the present make—not the least remarkable feature is the economy of construction—there are less engines, less boilers, and less hot-blast power for the iron made than at ally plant within my knowledge, or it could to-day be duplicated for less money per ton of iron made per week than could any plant now in existence, whether using fire-brick or cast-iron stoves for heating the blast. This is a practical demonstration of my assertion in a paper on fire-brick stoves, read before the Institute," that the application of fire-brick stoves in construction really lessens the first cost. In view of the statements just made, I must be most emphatic in assuring the members that nothing is strained or overburdened.

Jan 1, 1886

By D. J. Jr. McAdam

This paper presents stress-cycle graphs for five samples of monel metal and three high-strength aluminum alloys. These graphs are evidently curves with horizontal asymptote. The position of the horizontal asymptote can be determined with sufficient accuracy by extending the experiments to not more than 50,000,000 cycles. For some of the graphs, there is a slight downward slope between 50,000,000 and 100,000,000 cycles. The slope is so slight, however, that, extrapolation from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 cycles gives the endurance limit with sufficient accuracy. Monel metal and duralumin are not exceptional among non-ferrous metals in endurance properties. IN Part I of this paper' a comparison was given of the results obtained in investigation of the endurance properties of non-ferrous metals in .three laboratories: the Engineering Experiment Station of the University of Illinois, the U. S. Air Service at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, and the U. S. Naval Engineering Experiment Station, Annapolis, Md. Part I was devoted to a discussion of the forms of the stress-cycle graphs obtained at the three laboratories. For comparison, typical graphs obtained at the three laboratories were plotted on the same semi-logarithmic scale. The typical rotating-cantilever graph for ferrous and non-ferrous metals obtained at the Naval Experiment Station was described as a curve descending with gradually decreasing slope to a horizontal line. In the reply to the discussion of Part I, however, this graph was described as a curve with horizontal asymptote. It. was also said that the ordinate of the asymptote (the endurance limit) could be determined by endurance tests of not more than 50,000,000 cycles. This description was intended to apply only within the range of ordinates used in plotting an ordinary endurance graph. It was recognized that if .extended upward beyond the usual field, the curvature of the graph would decrease until -the graph would either approach a straight a line or possibly reverse its curvature.

Jan 2, 1926

By N. A. MacLeod

Ball wear in wet grinding mills has been the subject of considerable discussion in the last few years. Its importance to millmen is obvious in view of the fact that ball wear may cost from 2 to 4 per ton of ore for the more fortunate operators and many times this cost when a refractory ore must be reduced to a fine state of comminution. Consequently, any factual information that may be obtained on the nature of ball wear may be applied to introduce changes leading to lower ball consumption and therefore also to lower costs. In 1940, while employed with the Britannia Mining and Smelting Co., Britannia Beach, B.C., I had occasion to investigate factors that might affect ball consumption. We performed a number of tests, which will be briefly described. These tests originated as a result of changing from a 3½-in. ball to a 2-in. ball of different type of manufacture and were motivated by the desire to obtain the best possible type of 2-in. ball. Our testing was helped by the fact that the company operated a one-ton electric furnace, so that it was quite easy to make steel changes. It should be emphasized at the beginning that these tests produced results that in their general application to milling should be interpreted qualitatively rather than quantitatively. As will be evident in the description of the method used in testing, the balls were subjected to an intermittent batch grinding treatment, which may have produced results in rate of steel wear that may not have an accurate correlation with steel consumption in full scale mill operation. However, with this bed and rather arbitrary method of testing, results were obtained that may be of some interest and may stimulate further work on this subject. Unfortunately, owing to pressure of war work, our tests, which we had intended to repeat on a continuous grinding operation, had to be discontinued. Method of Testing Tests Were made in a Small cylindrical mill, rotating at 72 r.P.m. Internal dimensions of the mill were 10½-in. dia. by 9 in. The cylindrical inner surface was lined with rubber and the two ends were formed by steel plates. A charge of 2000 grams dry feed and 2000 C.C. of water was added evev 2 hr., the mill being drained of pulp before the addition of each charge, by tilting and sluicing with water. The mill was run On afternoon and night shift for daily periods of about 15 hr. total grinding time, and each test lasted from 60 to 150 hr. This batch method of testing involved a higher average pulp temperature in the mill, which undoubtedly affected comparative results in Some of the tests. Hardness oF Ball vs. Wear In these tests, special "eutectoid" steel balls were used, some of which were chill-Cut and quenched, some sand-cast and quenched, and some sand-cast and annealed to a dead soft condition. The results obtained, using as mill feed an ore containing considerable free quartz and

Jan 1, 1947

By N. A. MacLeod

Ball wear in wet grinding mills has been the subject of considerable discussion in the last few years. Its importance to millmen is obvious in view of the fact that ball wear may cost from 2 to 4 per ton of ore for the more fortunate operators and many times this cost when a refractory ore must be reduced to a fine state of comminution. Consequently, any factual information that may be obtained on the nature of ball wear may be applied to introduce changes leading to lower ball consumption and therefore also to lower costs. In 1940, while employed with the Britannia Mining and Smelting Co., Britannia Beach, B.C., I had occasion to investigate factors that might affect ball consumption. We performed a number of tests, which will be briefly described. These tests originated as a result of changing from a 3½-in. ball to a 2-in. ball of different type of manufacture and were motivated by the desire to obtain the best possible type of 2-in. ball. Our testing was helped by the fact that the company operated a one-ton electric furnace, so that it was quite easy to make steel changes. It should be emphasized at the beginning that these tests produced results that in their general application to milling should be interpreted qualitatively rather than quantitatively. As will be evident in the description of the method used in testing, the balls were subjected to an intermittent batch grinding treatment, which may have produced results in rate of steel wear that may not have an accurate correlation with steel consumption in full scale mill operation. However, with this bed and rather arbitrary method of testing, results were obtained that may be of some interest and may stimulate further work on this subject. Unfortunately, owing to pressure of war work, our tests, which we had intended to repeat on a continuous grinding operation, had to be discontinued. Method of Testing Tests Were made in a Small cylindrical mill, rotating at 72 r.P.m. Internal dimensions of the mill were 10½-in. dia. by 9 in. The cylindrical inner surface was lined with rubber and the two ends were formed by steel plates. A charge of 2000 grams dry feed and 2000 C.C. of water was added evev 2 hr., the mill being drained of pulp before the addition of each charge, by tilting and sluicing with water. The mill was run On afternoon and night shift for daily periods of about 15 hr. total grinding time, and each test lasted from 60 to 150 hr. This batch method of testing involved a higher average pulp temperature in the mill, which undoubtedly affected comparative results in Some of the tests. Hardness oF Ball vs. Wear In these tests, special "eutectoid" steel balls were used, some of which were chill-Cut and quenched, some sand-cast and quenched, and some sand-cast and annealed to a dead soft condition. The results obtained, using as mill feed an ore containing considerable free quartz and

Jan 1, 1947

By Oliver C. Ralston, James E. Norman

SEPARATION of minerals by froth flotation is rightly called an art. It can truthfully be said that no two ores separate in the same way. The difference in results obtained when natural and synthetic mixtures of minerals are separated is so great that such tests frequently have been worthless in attempting to select conditions in which a natural mixture will separate. With a few rare exceptions, the natural mixture is much more difficult to treat than a synthetic mixture, and a much poorer separation is obtained. Perhaps several experimenters have wondered why 10 or 20 per cent of a mineral being floated from an ore does not float and is different from the 90 or 80 per cent that is recovered. In experimental tests on pure sphalerite, observers1 have noted that varying amounts of sphaIerite may be froth-floated with pine oil alone, the amount recovered in the froth depending apparently upon the source of the sulphide. The only explanation of results such as these, barring insufficiency of frother or time of flotation, is that the surface of the mineral floated is different from that of the mineral depressed. This difference often has been found to be caused by natural contamination of mineral surfaces, apparently brought about by weathering and exposure to natural solutions. There is virtually no rock that is absolutely unweathered. One of the writers had an exceedingly instructive experience in 1931 while working with United Verde copper-zinc iron sulphide ore in Arizona. Nonselective flotation of chalcopyrite and sphalerite away from some of the pyrite was all that could be accomplished. All known depressants produced only slight effect. Sodium cyanide showed some effect, but so much had to be used that only a small amount of chalcopyrite could be

Jan 1, 1939

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY On April 25, the Mining and Geological Society of Lehigh University held a meeting and elected. the following officers for the college year 1918-1919: C. S. SCHUBERT, President, C. G. GILMAN, Vice-president, H. TSAI, Secretary, E. D. HOLLINSHEAD, Treasurer, C. N. TOMLINSON, A. A. KORVES, Curators. After a short business meeting the Society was favored by three interesting and instructive talks. Mr. C. A. Bonine spoke on the "U. S. Geological Survey" and showed a number of beautiful lantern slides; Mr. R. Rosenbaum read a paper on "Geodes;" and Prof. B. L. Miller presented a brief discussion on "War Minerals." H. TSAI, Secretary.

Jan 7, 1918

By Joseph B. Umpleby

WHEN the Cushing field flooded the oil market in 1914 and 1915 with a daily output equal to nearly one-third of the world's production, the situation was soon corrected by increased consumption, and the price of crude oil rose from 45 c. per barrel in, February 1915 to $1.10 in December of the same year-the highest price paid in the Mid-Continent field up to that time. The intensive search for oil during the following seven years failed to disclose a single new ,field equal to Cushing, and many observers concluded that the rapidly increasing number of wells contributing to the world's output, each declining roughly 20 per cent. a year, combined with the rapidly increasing con¬sumption of petroleum, made it highly improbable that any field would; be found again sufficiently large to seri¬ously affect the oil market. That seven exceptional fields should then be discovered simultaneously is a remarkable coincidence. Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, and Powell, each exceeded Cushing in daily output and reached the apex of their production during a year when Burbank, Tonkawa, - Smackover and Huntington Beach each contributed several times the daily output of the average new pool. This unexpected and tremendous flood of flush production could only have the effect of depressing price and greatly adding to stocks throughout the country. It was particularly depressing in the Mid-Continent as the new oil from California proved of attractive refining grade and because of cheap transportation by water easily undersold Oklahoma crude in the eastern markets.

Jan 1, 1924

By David Yob

INTRODUCTION This paper is intended to fulfill three major purposes. The first of these purposes is to narrate the improvements to the ventilation of Northeast Churchrock Mine and the subsequent reduction of the radiation levels. The second major objective is to pass on to persons unfamiliar with the ventilation of radon and radon daughter producing mines some of the most important characteristics of airborne radiation and the control thereof. The third objective is to describe the use of a computerized digital mine ventilation simulation. This description is not only of the usage, but also some of the important methods and techniques involved in the usage. This paper is not intended for the persons with extensive experience in these areas. However, to those persons who are just becoming involved with either ventilation of mines with airborne radiation problems or persons interested in computer simulation, this paper should be of some interest. It is the author's experience that most of the information on either computer simulation or airborne radiation control either assumes an extensive knowledge on the part of the reader, or does not address the direct application of the information contained in these articles. It is for that reason that this paper intends to concentrate on the actual application of the topics covered. INITIAL STATUS In the first quarter of 1980, the author and others became involved with the ventilation effort of the Northeast Churchrock Mine. At this time, this team began an investigation of the mine ventilation with the intent of reperforming a mine pressure survey. During the course of this investigation, it was determined that the ventilation system was inadequate. During this first quarter, the responsibility for ventilation of the mine was transferred to the author and his team. It was determined that the system that was in use was that of the single entry or haulage return type. In this type of system, there is very little direct control of the airflow, and it is not an effective type of ventilation for mines that experience problems due to airborne radiation. In a single entry, or haulage return, system there is no separate return system provided. In the system, as we found it, the only source of intake air to the ore level working areas was from the track level. This intake air was forced into the ore level, or stope level, via bulkhead fans installed on raises from the track. This air, after being used in the working areas, was then allowed to find its own way back to the exhausting vent holes. There was essentially no control of this air from the bulkhead fan discharge to the vent hole. The only control used was by the sizing of the fans on the raises. The main portion of this air used the haulage and access drifting for return. Due to the large horsepower used in these bulkhead fans and the large resistance both between the areas to the vent holes and inadequate intake ducting, the stope level pressure was higher than the track level. This pressure differential caused a severe recirculation between the stope level to the track level. This recirculation also caused a severe pre-contamination problem to the supposedly fresh intake air, making his air nearly unusable for working area ventilation. [ ] It was found at the time our ventilation effort began, that the radiation levels were high enough to make compliance with the four working-level month per year standard impossible. For this reason, we had to spend several months driving costly development drifts to implement a completely different type of ventilation system. Before describing the system that was implemented to solve the problems that were discovered during our initial investigation, some discussion of the characteristics of airborne radiation due to radon and radon daughters is needed. RADON CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES One of the most notable characteristics of radiation contamination caused by radon and radon daughter decay is that once the contamination has entered the airstream, the radiation levels as measured in working levels will continue to rise without any further contamination. This radiation rise will eventually stop

Jan 1, 1982

By O&apos, R. G. Meara, B. W. Gandrud

In 1034 the Southern Experiment Station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the University of Alabama began an investigation of the availability of kyanite ores as a source of raw material for the manufacture of refractories. Under this program, gravity concentration and flotation tests have been made on two varieties of Georgia kyariite ore, mica schist and massive. Most of the attention has been directed to the mica schist ores, as they are more widely distributed and seem to offer greater economic possibilities than the massive ores. It is evident that the preparation of kyanite for use as a refractory material involves other considerations than the mere elimination of impurities. A concentration process that eliminates impurities satisfactorily may have to be followed by some additional treatment, since the final product must be of a coarseness and size ratio that will make it suitable for refractories manufacture. So far in the investigation at the Southern Experiment Station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines only the concentration problem has been considered, and this paper is intended as an interim report. Ores The schist ores contain 1 to 9 per cent of kyanite crystals embedded in mica and quartz, with smaller amounts of graphite, garnet and iron oxide and minor amounts of other heavy minerals. The garnet content varies from a trace to a few per cent. The minerals are easily released by moderate grinding. The size of the kyanite ranges from fine needles to crystals 1 1/2 in. long, 1/2 in. wide and 1/4 in. thick. The garnet, quartz and iron oxide grains have a smaller mean mesh than most of the kyanite. The maximum size of the garnet crystals corresponds to about 14 mesh and that of the sand grains is considerably less. Most of the iron oxide is still finer, for the minus 100-mesh size is greatly enriched in Fe²O3. The massive ore consists of radiating masses of kyanite interlocked with quartz, mica, corundum and small amounts of other heavy minerals.

Jan 1, 1938

By B. W. Gandrud, R. G. Meara, O&apos

In 1034 the Southern Experiment Station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the University of Alabama began an investigation of the availability of kyanite ores as a source of raw material for the manufacture of refractories. Under this program, gravity concentration and flotation tests have been made on two varieties of Georgia kyariite ore, mica schist and massive. Most of the attention has been directed to the mica schist ores, as they are more widely distributed and seem to offer greater economic possibilities than the massive ores. It is evident that the preparation of kyanite for use as a refractory material involves other considerations than the mere elimination of impurities. A concentration process that eliminates impurities satisfactorily may have to be followed by some additional treatment, since the final product must be of a coarseness and size ratio that will make it suitable for refractories manufacture. So far in the investigation at the Southern Experiment Station of the U.S. Bureau of Mines only the concentration problem has been considered, and this paper is intended as an interim report. Ores The schist ores contain 1 to 9 per cent of kyanite crystals embedded in mica and quartz, with smaller amounts of graphite, garnet and iron oxide and minor amounts of other heavy minerals. The garnet content varies from a trace to a few per cent. The minerals are easily released by moderate grinding. The size of the kyanite ranges from fine needles to crystals 1 1/2 in. long, 1/2 in. wide and 1/4 in. thick. The garnet, quartz and iron oxide grains have a smaller mean mesh than most of the kyanite. The maximum size of the garnet crystals corresponds to about 14 mesh and that of the sand grains is considerably less. Most of the iron oxide is still finer, for the minus 100-mesh size is greatly enriched in Fe²O3. The massive ore consists of radiating masses of kyanite interlocked with quartz, mica, corundum and small amounts of other heavy minerals.

Jan 1, 1938

By C. E. McCarthy, A. George Stern, Stanley J. Green

The national interest prompts consideration of any new source of mineral wealth even though the immediate need may be of minor importance. A critical shortage of potash in the United States during the World War of 1914-18 stimulated broad development, which established an American potash industry on a basis so sound that this commodity is not even listed as urgent in the present war program. However, this should not minimize its importance, and the need remains, not only for adequate supplies of the usual potash salts (the chloride and the sulphate) but of all potash chemicals. Potassium carbonate (known commercially as pearl ash) has been a high-cost commodity; in consequence, the quantity used by industry has been relatively small. By a combination of fortuitous geographical circumstances, there is opportunity to produce a low-cost potassium carbonate with the possibility that this might become an important source of chemical potash. The following paper considers a recently developed process1 taking advantage of these conditions. Wyomingite Deposit For many years it has been known that a deposit of potash-bearing igneous rock known as wyomingite occurs in the south- western part of Wyoming at Zirkel Mesa, which is 44 miles northeast of the town of Green River (Fig. I). The western escarpment of this deposit is about 3 miles east of the Superior Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. This mesa alone covers approximately 3300 acres, and the average thickness of the wyomingite flow is 75 ft. It has been estimated2 that about one billion tons of wyomingite occur in this one deposit, all of which can be mined by open quarrying without overburden. In addition, there are several smaller deposits within 10 miles, so that the aggregate wyomingite in the area approaches two billion tons. This is one of the world's largest sources of leucite, and the only known deposit of its kind in the United States. The wyomingite (which is in the form of a lava flow and numerous small craters), with the mineral leucite as its most important component, has a mineral composition3 of: leucite, 50 per cent; phlogopite, 15; diopside, 12; kataphorite, 15; glass and apatite, 8. The phlogopite is present in visible phenocrysts 1/8 to 1/2 in. in diameter, but the leucite usually is almost microcrystalline and not capable of liberation by grinding. Chemically, the Wyomingite has a potash Content averaging slightly higher than eleven per cent K2O. The potash is mainly in the leucite, but part of it is in the phlogopite and a small amount is in the feldspars that are occasionally seen as undigested occlusions of the granite country rock, through which the leucite-bearing lava intruded, and as sanidine feldspar both in the crystalline and glassy phases of the rock. A typical analysis of the wyomingite from Zirkel Mesa is as follows:

Jan 1, 1948

By A. George Stern, Stanley J. Green, C. E. McCarthy

The national interest prompts consideration of any new source of mineral wealth even though the immediate need may be of minor importance. A critical shortage of potash in the United States during the World War of 1914-18 stimulated broad development, which established an American potash industry on a basis so sound that this commodity is not even listed as urgent in the present war program. However, this should not minimize its importance, and the need remains, not only for adequate supplies of the usual potash salts (the chloride and the sulphate) but of all potash chemicals. Potassium carbonate (known commercially as pearl ash) has been a high-cost commodity; in consequence, the quantity used by industry has been relatively small. By a combination of fortuitous geographical circumstances, there is opportunity to produce a low-cost potassium carbonate with the possibility that this might become an important source of chemical potash. The following paper considers a recently developed process1 taking advantage of these conditions. Wyomingite Deposit For many years it has been known that a deposit of potash-bearing igneous rock known as wyomingite occurs in the south- western part of Wyoming at Zirkel Mesa, which is 44 miles northeast of the town of Green River (Fig. I). The western escarpment of this deposit is about 3 miles east of the Superior Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad. This mesa alone covers approximately 3300 acres, and the average thickness of the wyomingite flow is 75 ft. It has been estimated2 that about one billion tons of wyomingite occur in this one deposit, all of which can be mined by open quarrying without overburden. In addition, there are several smaller deposits within 10 miles, so that the aggregate wyomingite in the area approaches two billion tons. This is one of the world's largest sources of leucite, and the only known deposit of its kind in the United States. The wyomingite (which is in the form of a lava flow and numerous small craters), with the mineral leucite as its most important component, has a mineral composition3 of: leucite, 50 per cent; phlogopite, 15; diopside, 12; kataphorite, 15; glass and apatite, 8. The phlogopite is present in visible phenocrysts 1/8 to 1/2 in. in diameter, but the leucite usually is almost microcrystalline and not capable of liberation by grinding. Chemically, the Wyomingite has a potash Content averaging slightly higher than eleven per cent K2O. The potash is mainly in the leucite, but part of it is in the phlogopite and a small amount is in the feldspars that are occasionally seen as undigested occlusions of the granite country rock, through which the leucite-bearing lava intruded, and as sanidine feldspar both in the crystalline and glassy phases of the rock. A typical analysis of the wyomingite from Zirkel Mesa is as follows:

Jan 1, 1948

By M. Gensamer

IN applied mechanics and in metallurgy the transition from elastic to inelastic action is a matter of considerable interest and importance. Often the first inelastic deformation is apparently quite homogeneous; that is, uniformly distributed throughout the specimen. Sometimes this deformation is heterogeneous; that is, localized; inelastic deformation proceeds to some definite amount in restricted regions before adjacent regions of the specimen are inclastically deformed. In such cases the deformation does not become homogeneous until the whole specimen has been deformed the amount corresponding to that for each localized deformation. If the test is stopped before uniform extension sets in, the heterogeneous character of the deformation is apparent on the surface of the specimen through characteristic markings, which have been called "Lüders"' lines, "Hartmann's" lines, the "Piobert effect," or simply "flow figures." These markings are the source of considerable trouble in fabricating operations, particularly in the deep drawing of steel sheet. In many cases where the transition is of this nature, the stress developed at the upper limit of the elastic range is greater than the stress during the period of heterogeneous deformation, giving rise to the familiar "drop of the beam" effect in testing. The amount of the yield-point elongation, as well as the value of the stress at the lower yield point (the value to which the stress drops when yielding begins), are functions of the tempera-ture and the testing speed. Lower temperatures and faster rates of testing increase both the yield-point elongation and the yield-point stress. These matters have been ably discussed in a recent paper by Winlock and Leiter1 though, as brought out by the discussion of that paper, the phenomena are but little understood. The purpose of the present paper is to clarify the problem through the application of a simple principle, and to show that, through the application of this principle, a number of phenomena in the plastic deformation of metals become more read-ily understood.

Jan 1, 1938

By Douglas A. Anderson

We have instrumented well-controlled free-face blasts with six- component borehole strain gages, in order to determine the complete strain tensor as a function of time due to explosive loading. The strain tensors have been diagonalized to determine the principal strain time-histories, and further processed to determine the octahedral shear strains as a function of time. Principal strain time-histories, when compared with a computer model, indicate the arrival of various direct and reflected phases. Strong shear strains coincide with the expected arrival time of shear waves. These shear waves are probably instrumental in the fragmentation of confined rock due to explosive loading, and should be incorporated in models of the fragmentation process.

Jan 1, 1984

By Albert C. Harding

For several years barite (BaSO4) production has topped such better known minerals as feldspar and fluorspar in annual tonnage and is now well established among our foremost nonmetallic industries. Description Of widespread occurrence in the United States, barite is relatively soft (hardness, 2.5 to 3.5), inert, heavy (specific gravity, 4.5), and is also called "barytes" (sometimes pronounced "bear-i-tease"), "heavy spar" and "tiff." It occurs with granular and earthy structure but usually has coarse, orthorhombic crystallization. It is commonly white, and although occurring in various shades of red, yellow, and gray, barite always gives a white streak and can be scratched by the ordinary prospecting pick. Its softness and weight are usually sufficient to establish field identification. Another aid is the "rotten egg" odor of H2S which sometimes emanates from freshly fractured surfaces. Barite can be readily distinguished from two other minerals which have somewhat similar occurrences and characteristics. The relatively rare celestite, strontium sulphate, has a specific gravity slightly less than 4.00 and gives a distinctively crimson color in a flame test. The very rare wither-ite, barium carbonate, has a specific gravity of 4.3 but readily effervesces with dilute hydrochloric acid. Occurrence All known commercially important barite deposits in the United States occur as re- placements or cavity fillings in schists, shales, limestones, dolomites, and quart-zites, or as residual deposits from such formations. In Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Missouri, high-grade barite is recovered as fragments from residual clays covering quartzites and dolomites. In Arkansas, Nevada, and California, barite, usually of lower grade, is mined from replacement deposits. These seven states contributed the entire production reported by the U. S. Bureau of Mines for 1945 as given in Table I. Table i—Crude Berile Sold or used by Producers in 1945 State Short Tons Arkansas................... 260.660 Missouri.................... 225.467 Georgia..................... 110,393 Tennessee................... 32,812 Nevada..................... 28,919 Other States............... 37,811 Total..................... 696,062 ('other states,, included only california and North Carolina. Such a large part of this undistributed production came from California that that state probably outranked both Nevada and Tennessee. For the second consecutive year Arkansas was the leading producing state, particularly worthy of note because there was no commercial production of barite there prior to 1941 and because the entire production of Arkansas has come from one large deposit which is being operated by two companies. Consumption The 1945 consumption as reported by the Bureau of Mines was: 482,442 tons as ground barite 139,288 tons in making lithopone 99,173 tons in producing barium ------- chemicals Total 720,903 tons

Jan 1, 1949

By Ernest A. Kaarsberg

This paper presents the results of studies of the elasticity of some isotropic and anisotropic rock samples based on longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements. Experimental evidence from velocity measurements on isotropic steel samples is also presented to show, within error limits, that any two of the elastic constants required to completely describe the elasticity of an isotropic solid can be obtained from any two of the following four velocity measurements: longitudinal "rod,' "plate," extended medium (infinite medium equivalent), or shear wave. Measurements of three of these velocities in an approximately isotropic basaltic rock sample are used to illustrate this application to this type of rock. For the anisotropic study, a suite of Colorado oil shale samples is used. These rocks exhibited transverse isotropy. The five elastic constants required to completely specify this type of anisotropy are obtained from longitudinal- and shear-wave pulse velocity measurements made in directions parallel, perpen-dicular, and at 45° to the bedding plane. Density, velocity, and elastic modulus relationships among these shales are also given. Duvall 1 has described a method for determining the elastic constants of isotropic and, in two cases, anisotropic rock samples. This method is based on ultrasonic pulse techniques and on resonance-frequency measurements of rock samples in the shape of rods (diamond drill cores). Rock samples, however, are not always available in rod form. When this is the case, other methods can be used to study their

Jan 1, 1969