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By William Greenawalt

The Greenawalt electrolytic copper extraction process is applicable to suitable oxide ores, sulfide ores and concentrates, and low-grade matte. The process is self-sustaining in acid on sulfide ores or concentrates, on mixed ores, on high-grade oxidized ores; and on low-grade oxidized ores the amount of acid to be purchased or manufactured is greatly reduced. The ferric iron is under easy control, and copper may be effectively deposited from solutions of any acid or iron content likely to be used in copper leaching. From 60 to 75 per cent. of the copper may be removed from the solution in passing through the electrolytic department, before returning the solution to the ore. The amount of copper requiring chemical precipitation, from the waste and foul solutions, is only about 5.0 per cent, of the total copper produced, and this 5.0 per cent. is converted into the electrolytic metal in the regular operation of the process. The entire process can be made practically automatic, and can be carried out mechanically. There is no uncertain departure of any kind in the application of the process; no unusual or unproved apparatus is used. EVER since electrolytic copper refining gave promise of success, about a half century ago, efforts have been made to apply the idea to the extraction of copper from its ores. The methods of attack have, usually, been to leach with a dilute acid and then to deposit electrolytically the copper from the resulting solution with the simultaneous regeneration of the solvent used in the process. Many efforts have been made, and many patents have been taken out, both in the United States and abroad, to give this idea practical application, but only within the past few years have the difficulties been surmounted. Leaching and electrolysis, as applied to copper ores, are among the most promising fields in modern metallurgy. New conditions are arising, which will bring the wet methods into prominence; while high freight rates and increasing cost of fuel will tend to limit smelting to highly favored localities. The possibilities offered by the installation of hydro-electric plants and the greatly enlarged range of power transmission will greatly widen the field of electrolytic methods.

Jan 1, 1924

By J. Steininger

The Hallimond tube flotation of sphalerite and pyrite with sulfhydryl collectors has been found to be inhibited near neutral pH in the presence of copper salts. Alkalimetric titration studies of the reactions between collector and activator indicate that this effect is apparently related to the formation of basic copper collector complexes. The conditions of formation of these compounds and their stability are in good agreement with the depression observed in flotation experiments. The general procedure employed in the flotation of zinc sulfide minerals requires activation of the mineral surface by heavy metal ions, usually copper, which react more easily than zinc with the common short-chain ionic sulfhydryl collectors.' Commercially, zinc flotation is carried out under alkaline conditions (pH 7 to 10.5), but small-scale experiments indicate that zinc sulfide minerals can also be activated and collected under acid conditions. Selectivity, however, becomes poor at low pH and undesirable materials such as pyrite, silicates and carbonates tend to report in the float. Several years ago, Wark and Sutherland~, measured the contact angles of air bubbles on copper-activated sphalerite immersed in various sulfhydryl collector solutions. When represented, as in Fig. 1, on pH-sodium cyanide diagrams, the results are characterized by 'islands' of non-contact near neutral pH and

Jan 1, 1969

By J. B. Clemmer, P. E. Churchward, C. Rampacek

A cyclic method for processing manganese ores using sodium sulphate as the basic reagent is described. Sodium sulphate is electrolyzed in a diaphragm cell to give an anolyte-containing agentisdescribed.Sodiumsulphuric acid and a catholyte-containing iselectrolyzedincaustic soda, a part of which is carbonated in a cyclic manner to form soda ash. The reduced ore is leached with the anolyte to dissolve the manganese and the impurities are precipitated by addition of catholyte. Manganese in the pregnant todissolvethemanganeseandtheimpuritiessolution is precipitated as synthetic rhodochrosite with a carbonated catholyte, and sodium sulphate is regenerated. Calcining the manganese carbonate gives a high grade product and the carbon dioxide is returned to the carbonation step. The results of laboratory tests using cells equipped with synthetic-fiber diaphragms and permselective membranes, which permit transfer of anions or cations during electrolysis, are described. A METHOD which has been considered for pro-cessing manganese ores under emergency conditions to recover a product suitable for smelting to ferromanganese involves reductive roasting of the ore for leaching with dilute sulphuric acid followed by precipitation of the manganese from the purified pregnant solution with sodium carbonate. Although the process is operable and involves no novel or untried steps, it is noncyclic in regard to reagents. Research seemed warranted to determine if a cyclic process could be developed by electrolyzing the sodium sulphate formed during precipitation of the manganese with soda ash to regenerate sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide. Reduced ore would be leached with acid anolyte to dissolve the manganese. The iron, alumina, and other dissolved impurities would be precipitated with the caustic catholyte, and the manganese in the purified pregnant solution would be precipitated as artificial rhodochrosite with carbonated catholyte to regenerate simultaneously sodium sulphate for electrolysis. Waste boiler gas and CO, from calcining the manganese precipitate would be recycled for carbonation of the caustic catholyte. There is a surprising lack of data in the technical literature on diaphragm electrolysis of sodium sulphate. One of the more comprehensive papers, by Atwell and Fuwa, describes the problem involved in electrolyzing byproduct sodium sulphate from the viscose process with particular regard to the design and operation of asbestos diaphragm cells. Frisk' also investigated electrolysis of sodium sulphate from viscose-spinning baths to recover caustic soda and sulphuric acid. The objective in these investigations was to produce, by electrolysis and evaporation, a concentrated caustic-soda solution and a sulphuric-acid solution low in sodium sulphate. Because of these requirements, the process was not too attractive despite a favorable yield of caustic and acid with a reasonable power consumption. Because strong acid and base are not required for processing manganese ores and nonelectrolyzed sodium sulphate is not objectionable in either reagent, the present problem was somewhat simpler than that of these investigators. The purpose of this report is to summarize briefly the results of laboratory electrolysis of commercial sodium sulphate in diaphragm cells of different types and the application of the acid and caustic for processing manganese ores in a cyclic manner. Electrolysis in Permeable Diaphragm Cells The principal problem in electrolyzing sodium sulphate in a permeable diaphragm cell is to prevent mixing of the acid and base formed in the anode and cathode compartments. It is not enough to separate the anolyte and catholyte by a single diaphragm. A three-compartment cell in which the sodium-sulphate solution is fed to the center compartment and flows through the permeable diaphragms to the anode and cathode compartments is more efficient electrically. Diaphragms should be porous enough to allow flow of solution to outer compartments but tight enough to prevent gross mixing of the anolyte and catholyte. In addition to being resistant to acid and alkali, the diaphragms should offer minimum resistance to the flow of current. It is also important that the electrolyte contain a high concentration of sodium sulphate to furnish an abundance of sodium and sulphate ions and thereby decrease the current carried by hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. A practical limitation of sodium-sulphate concentration is imposed by the decreased solubility of sodium sulphate with decreasing temperature. At 20°C, a concentration of 200 g per liter sodium sulphate can be maintained. Little is gained in conductivity by using a concentration greater than 200 g per liter. The small-scale continuous electrolysis tests were made in a 12x12 in. open-top bakelite cell equipped

Jan 1, 1956

By W. A. Bruce

Studies of reservoir behavior of 12 Smackover limestone oil and condensate pools are presented. Buckner, Midway, McKamie, Magnolia, Mt. Holly, Schuler (Reynolds) and Village are treated in considerable detail and subjected to analysis with an electrical device for analyzing reservoir behavior. Results and comparisons of these analyses are presented. In addition to these reservoir-behavior studies, an attempt is made to assemble trans-missibility and storage data on the Smackover limestone formation from cores and logs taken in dry holes and producers. This together with the behavior of individual reservoirs leads to a better understanding of the formation as a porous aquifer. The ultimate purpose of this type of study is to improve predictions concerning the future behavior of these pools in such a system. Predictions are presented for several pools. Introduction In 1937 the Phillips Petroleum Co. drilled its J. D. Reynolds No. I to the Smackover limestone formation at Snow Hill, Arkansas. This well found oil in the porous, permeable, upper part of the Smackover, thereafter referred to as the Reynolds lime. Since then, six oil pools and six condensate pools have been discovered in the Reynolds lime, and more than 75 dry holes have explored parts of this formation. By the first of 1943, 44 million barrels of oil and 83 billion cubic feet of gas had been withdrawn from the various reservoirs. The original reserves estimated by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission were 342 million barrels of oil and rzoo billion cubic feet of gas. So far all of the production has been from anticlinal structures, most of which are asymmetric and have their axes roughly perpendicular to the dip of the formation top. This is indicated in Fig. I, which shows the pools, dry holes drilled, and contours on top of the Smackover.' These pools are of particular interest for reservoir-behavior studies because the production and drilling has been controlled, and in most cases the records of reservoir data are complete. In addition to the excellent production and pressure information available, more than one half of the wells drilled were cored and all of them were electrically logged. All of the pools show evidence of water drive. While this paper is in a sense a collection of reservoir-behavior studies for several different pools, there has been an attempt to go one step further and to show the importance of the iormation as a porous continuum or a single aquifer in which the withdrawals of fluids from any pool has an important effect on the behavior of all of the pools. An effort will be made to show that the water drives of these pools are dependent upon a much larger area of the Smackover limestone than that occupied by the petroleum accumulations.

Jan 1, 1944

By John R. Low

A number of cases of low-temperature, intergranu2ar brittle fracture of metals containing small amounts of certain impurities, have now been identified. Some degree of understanding of this phenomenon exists for the simpler binary systems of a metal and a single impurity, but the profound effects of other impurities and alloying elements in modifying this type of behavior remain unexplained. Current research in this area is reviewed and some of the newer techniques of investigation which should make possible a more quantitative study of the structure and composition of grain boundaries in impure metals are described. To indicate the subject matter of this lecture, we may begin by reviewing the experimental observations concerning low-temperature intergranular brittleness in impure metals, particularly those examples in which the embrittlement appears to result from what has been called "equilibrium grain boundary segregation."' These are the systems in which it has been impossible, at least up to now, to detect the presence of any second phase film at the brittle interfaces. When second phase films are present they are usually readily detectable by fractographic methods, often appearing as epitaxial films in geometric or dendritic patterns. An example is shown in Fig. 1 for the case grain boundary carbides in a sensitized stainless steel which failed by intergranular brittle fracture at 78?k2 In contrast to this type of embrittlement there are numerous examples of low-temperature intergranular embrittlement in which the fractographs are essentially featureless, for example, that of an oxygen-embrittled iron shown in Fig. 2. The only second phase particles visible are the small, widely separated, round oxide particles typical of the bulk material. The fracture surface is extremely smooth and the fracture path appears to follow the intergranular interface without deviation. This type of fractograph also implies that crack propagation has occurred without plastic deformation at the crack tip, since localized slip or twinning ahead of the crack would be expected to distort the interface and be readily visible in the fractograph. Such indications are occasionally seen in these fractographs, but are not characteristic. A second example of this type of fractograph is shown in Fig. 3, which is from a temper-embrittled, carbon-free, Fe-Cr-Ni alloy containing Sb, broken at 1OO?C.3 The similarity to the oxygen embrittled iron case will be apparent. In the case of the temper embrittled Cr-Ni ferrite containing antimony, it is possible to remove the embrittlement by suitable thermal treatment. The grain boundaries may then be examined by thin film transmission in the electron microscope for the material in both the nonembrittled condition and in the embrittled condition. Two boundaries are shown in dark-field transmission in Fig. 4, one in the nonembrittled

Jan 1, 1970

By Robert T. Howard, Morris Cohen

THE purpose of this paper is to direct attention to the lower part of the austenite transformation diagram, or TTT curves, where considerable uncertainty still exists as to the blending of the bainite and martensite reactions. The dissimilarities between these two low temperature trans- formations have been summarized recently by Troiano and Greninger.1 Of particular importance to the present work is the fact that martensite formation, unlike bainite formation, is not suppressed by the fastest quenching rates attainable. However, most of the investigations in this direction have been concerned primarily with the start of the martensite transformation [(M,)] during cooling, rather than with the quantitative aspects of the subsequent reaction on either further cooling or isothermal holding. Several years ago, Cohen2 suggested a form of transformation diagram which reconciled, at least schematically, the isothermal characteristics of the bainite transformation with the insuppressible nature of the martensite transfoi mation. In essence, the diagram consisted of a family of horizontal lines (representing the progress of the austenite-martensite reaction during quenching) which were interrupted in point of time by the bainite family of C-curves extending down from higher temperatures. This picture received later support by metallographic3 and dilatmetric4,5 studies, but the techniques employed were not sufficiently critical to substantiate some of the details. Elmendorf6 and Grange and Steward7 have shown that the Greninger-Troiano metallographic techniques may be used not only for [M,] determinations, but for studying the course of further austenite decomposition. In fact, the latter investigators have observed the amount of martensite formed as a function of temperature below [M,] in fourteen commercial steels. In the present paper, the Greninger- Troiano technique has been combined with the lineal method of Howard and Cohen9 to provide a unique, quantitative treatment of the austenite-martensite reaction. Furthermore, isothermal transformations have been similarly measured on holding at temperatures above and below M,, thus permitting a fairly detailed presentation of the lower part of the conventional austenite transformation diagram. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS Materials The steels, listed in Table I, were selected for study because they exhibit a satisfactory range of M, temperatures and have not received as much attention as the lower carbon grades. They were prepared as 30 lb induction furnace heats in the laboratories of the Vanadium-Alloys

Jan 1, 1947

By J. W. Hickman

Most of the electron diffraction studies of oxide films which form on metals and alloys have been carried out by oxidizing the specimens in an auxiliary furnace, cooling down to room temperature and then inserting the sample in the camera and taking a diffraction photograph. Prior to the investigations at the Westinghouse Research Laboratories, no systematic study of the oxidation of any metal or alloy had been made over a wide temperature range with photographs taken at elevated temperatures except the investigation of iron by Jackson and Quarrell.' In order to interpret the electron diffraction patterns of the oxides which may form on alloys, it seemed advisable to make a comprehensive study of the oxidation of the purest metals available in the bulk form. Thus far studies have been completed on iron,2 cobalt,~ nickel,= chromium,= copper,z tungsten,s molybdenum,3 beryllium,' uranium,' thorium,' titanium6 and zirconium6 while investigations are in progress on tantalum and columbium. The next step in the study is concerned with the investigation of the oxides which form on binary alloys. Some of the alloys consist of a single phase while others contain more than one phase. The identification of the oxides on the surface of a binary alloy may be more difficult than on the metals since oxides containing both metals as well as those of each metal separately may form. Furthermore, it is possible that solid solutions of the various oxides may occur. In these cases the electron diffraction method may not be able to identify the oxidation products unequivocally. Examples of solid solutions which may present difficulties are MOO* and WOp, Fe304 and FeO.CrnOa since the diffraction patterns are so similar. Since electron diffraction can determine only the structure of the oxide, the chemical composition must be inferred from the diffraction data based upon X ray diffraction investigations of specimens of known composition. It is possible in some cases to decide whether a given solid phase reaction can occur on the surface of an alloy by a study of available thermodynamic data. Table I lists the equations for the formation of most of the oxides from the elements together with values of loglo Kg for the several temperatures. AF"B = -RT In KR AF°R and KR are the free energy and equilibrium constant of the reaction. Calculations may be made using the the given in I 1 to determine whether a given solid phase reaction is possible thermodynamically. For example, a solid phase reaction should occur between aluminum and chromium oxide to form

Jan 1, 1949

By H. O. Hofman

With the exception of the exhaustive paper on the Father de Smet mill, by its designer, Mr. A. J. Bowie, Jr. (Bans., x. 87), nothing, so far as the writer is aware, has as yet appeared on the stamp-mills of the Black Hills of Dakota, although they have been steady producers for the last ten years. Within the small area of about 6000 by 1600 feet, $2,271,341.14 was produced in 1887† from rock averaging $4 per ton in free gold. I. The Ores. Character of the Ores.—The gold of the district is found in quartz and pyrites finely distributed through vast bodies of mica- and amphibole-schists, argillites and phyllites, and also impregnating the schists themselves. The " Belt," embracing the section of Lead City, Terraville and Central City, is the only part worked at present. The principal associated mineral is iron pyrites, with some arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite, garnet and asbestos. The ores from open cuts and upper levels are more free-milling. than those from underground workings below water-line. Hence

Jan 1, 1889

By Frederick C. Hull, Robert F. Mehl, Robert A. Colton

IT is known that pearlite forms from austenite by a process of nucleation and growth, and that the rate of formation of pearlite may be described by a rate of nucleation and a rate of growth.1,2 The manner in which these two quantities operate to produce the observed isothermal reaction curve has been analyzed in a paper published in 1939.3 Two types of process were described: (1) that in which nucleation occurs at the grain boundaries of the parent phase, with the nodules growing toward the centers of the grains, initially as hemi¬spheres and then after impingement as roughly radial-columnar structures; and (2) that in which nucleation occurs generally, with the nodules growing to full spheres until impingement with other growing nodules restricts growth. Both cases are met in the formation of pearlite from austenite (Fig. 1);2.4 the former, occurring near the knee of the S-curve has been named "grain-boundary transformation," and the latter, occurring at temperatures near Ae1, has been named "group-nodule transformation." In developing our knowledge of the factors that determine the rate of formation of pearlite from austenite, it is important 1,2 to obtain data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite. Such data, when obtained near the knee of the S-curve, will furnish information of use in understanding the factors that affect hardenability; when obtained at higher temperatures, such data will be useful in understanding the behavior of steels that during heat-treatment react to pearlite.2 It is the purpose of this paper to present data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite in dependence upon composition, grain size, temperature, and the degree of homogeneity of the parent austenite. The studies are restricted chiefly to plain carbon commercial steels.* PREVIOUS DATA ON RATE OF NUCLEATION AND RATE OF GROWTH Data on the rate of nucleation and the rate of growth of pearlite have been published by Scheil and Lange-Weise,5 by Mirkin and Blanter,6,7 by Mehl,1 and by Dorn, De Garmo and Flanigan.2 It is difficult to interpret the data, for in most cases too little information is given on austenitizing temperatures and times, the state of homogeneity of the austenite (presence or absence of carbide, etc.), austenite grain size, and mode of formation of pearlite at the temperatures given.

Jan 1, 1942

By Richard H. Mote

The endlessly changing pattern of mineral supply and demand offers opportunity to the alert and can bring disaster to the unwary. The discovery of ore bodies, the invention of extractive processes, the provision of new transport facilities, the political stabilization of underdeveloped areas, and many other changes can increase supply dramatically. Such new outpourings of mineral wealth from ore bodies bring fortunes to their developers, and consumers frequently find their competitive positions decidedly improved by new and cheap sources of supply. On the other hand, operators of marginal properties can find competition from newly opened high-grade mines intolerable. Consumers that have depended on the products of nearby, high-cost mines may find new, remote, low-cost supplies advantageous only to their competitors. The invention of new prospecting methods can have spectacular effects. Shortly after World War I the discovery rate of petroleum pools began to decline. The leading prospecting technique of that day, the projection downward of surface reflections of geologic structure, was proving less rewarding. Prophets foretold an oil shortage in the near future. But at that very moment scientists were perfecting the application of seismic waves to reveal underground oil-bearing geologic structures. As these geophysical methods were put into commercial use the whole outlook changed-the problem of the 1930's became how to cope with the surplus from discovery, not how to meet the ever rising demand. Many lead mines were being abandoned as unprofitable about this same time because the penalties charged by smelters for the zinc in the ores and concentrates more than counterbalanced the payments for lead and silver. Then selective flotation (at the time called differential flotation) appeared,

Jan 1, 1964

By N. M. Langdon

Spokane Meeting, September, 1909.) THE following corrections to the paper of Mr. Langdon (Bulletin No. 34, October, 1909, pp. 919 to 940), received after the publication of the paper in the Bulletin, will be incorporated in the paper as finally published in the forthcoming Vol. XL. of the Transactions, but are here presented for the information of members:' Page. 921. Table I., furnace M2, item 11. For " 8801 " read "0.8801." 922. Table II., furnace C, item 2, under gas. For " 0.011 C " read " 0.011 0." Furnace G, item 13, under gas. For " 5.074 air " read " 3.074 air." Item 15, 114.269 " should be " 4.289." Furnace H, item 2, under iron. For " 0.04 " read ".0.01." 923. Table II., furnace J, item 1, under iron. For " 0.95 " read " 0.93." Furnace N2, item 6, under gas. For " 0.66 CO," read 0.066 C02." 924. Table III., furnace C, item 17. For " 379 " read " 397." 927. Table IV., furnace C, item 4. For " 0.0124 " read 0.0424." Furnace G, item 15.. For " 4,060 " read " 4,066." 928. Line 2. Items 19 and 20 of heat-supply, should be items 20 and 21. 930. Line 3. Expunge remainder of paragraph after the word " supplied," and substitute the following : "As compared with the fusion-zone, the loss by radiation n C was 25.5 per cent. of the total (2,278 units) supplied to that zone, while in D it was 22.5 per cent. of the total heat (1,824 units) supplied to that zone. Finally, as compared with the reduction-zone, C lost by radiation 36.8. per cent. of the 1,580 units supplied to that zone,

May 1, 1910

By C. B. Clark, W. H. Bruckner

Since the end of World War II interest has been increasing in the use of shaped charges in the mining industry and in other industries using explosives for blasting purposes. Shaped charges employ the principle known as the "Munroe effect," which was discovered by Charles E. Mun-roe more than 50 years ago (in 1888). Details of their design have been explained elsewhere.1,2,3 Fig I shows the essential features of design of two types of shaped charges (with conical and hemispherical cavities) and a schematic sketch of their action upon detonation. The following discussion deals with the behavior of the metal in the cavity liners when they are subjected to intense Pressures exerted when the explosive charge is detonated. Among the conclusions reached in research On shaped explosive charges, the following have been established concerning cavity liners:1'2 I. The optimum wall thickness of a conical cavity liner is dependent upon the apex angle of the 'One as well as On the base diameter of the charge. Acute apex angles require thinner walls for optimum perfmnance and more obtuse angles require thicker walls for the same base diameter' 2. Cones were more effective in forming a penetrating jet when the walls were tapered; that is, the thickness of the wall of the cone increased from the apex down. 3. The physical and mechanical properties of metals have a marked effect upon their performance as cavity-liner material. Boiling point, ductility, malleability, tensile strength, and hardness are among the properties that influence the effectiveness of a metal used as a cavity liner. Lead, for example, makes a wide, flat crater in steel plates. Aluminum makes a deeper crater than lead, and an aluminum alloy having a high tensile strength makes a deeper hole, but slightly smaller in diameter. Cast iron makes a deep, narrow hole. These findings, together with the following analysis under Metallographic Survey of slug, offer solutions to many of the problems involved in solving the mechanism of the formation of Munroe jets. It has been fairly well established that cavity liners collapse in a manner similar to that indicated in Fig 2, Conical liners are known to collapse upon themselves while hemispherical liners are believed to turn inside out in the process of jet formation. The first has been definitely proved by recovery of collapsed portions of cones, while liners from partly detonated charges show that hemispheres may turn inside out. Fig 3 shows a sketch of a recovered slug from a 6-in. shaped charge using a 45° cone made of cast iron. (This size of charge drilled holes up to 3 ft in depth in solid granodiorite.)

Jan 1, 1949

By Edwin B. Eckel

This paper, based on brief field examination and on data supplied by the operators, records the condition of the Italian mercury industry as of March 1945, not long after Italy's collapse. Except for the once-Italian but now Yugoslavian Idria mine near Trieste, virtually all the known mercury deposits are in the Monte Amiata district in Siena and Grosseto Provinces, 75 miles north of Rome. This district contains the Abbadia San Salvatore. the Siele. the Argus, and the Cerreto Piano mines besides numerous prospects and unproductive mines. Under pressure from Germany the principal mines were highly productive during the early part of the war, but production fell off long before its end. All of the mines were damaged in some way at the German withdrawal but by September 1944 the Abbadia had resumed production and several others were only lacking power by the early spring of 1945. The Monte Amiata district is characterized geologically by a thick series of sedimentary rocks that range from Triassic to Eocene in age . and are surmounted on Monte Amiata itself by a thick cap of extrusive trachyte. Bodies of travertine and of landslide detritus, younger than the trachyte, are rather widespread. The structure is complex and little known but most of the ore deposits seem to lie along or near a major, north-trending fault or on associated cross-fractures. Cinnabar is the only important ore mineral and clay minerals are by far the most abundant products of hydrothermal alteration. A southward increase in the amount of stibnite, relative to cinnabar, suggests horizontal zoning. The grade of ore ranges from 0.60 to 3.0 Pet and the reserves, as compared with those in American mines, are enormous. Even in the face of war-time scarcities, the mines are remarkably self-sufficient and labor is plentiful, but the costs of production are estimated to be not greatly below those of the better American mines. Notes on the principal mines, on the mining and metallurgical methods, and on the manufacture of synthetic cinnabar are included in the paper. Introduction With but few brief interludes, Spain and Italy, including the Idria mine near Trieste, which has passed from Austrian to Italian to Yugoslavian hands in the Past 3 decades, have led the world in the production of mercury, or quicksilver, for many centuries. Despite their enviable position with respect to the supplies of a metal so essential in both war and peace, there is a notable lack of up-to-date information in America on the mercury industry of either country. Duschak and Schuette' and Schuettez,3 give by far the best summaries in English known to the writer, but the latest firsthand report cited by them on the Italian mines was published in 1915.' Having been deeply interested in the geology and economics of mercury for several years, the writer naturally felt most fortunate in being the to obtain enough firsthand information on the Italian industry to fill at least a few of the gaps in our knowledge. The opportunity came during the war, soon after this industry, together with the rest of Italy, had capitulated to the Allies. Many of the facts presented here are thus definitely "dated," but others are of less transitory nature, and even the dated facts should be of interest in showing the strength and

Jan 1, 1949

By Edwin B. Eckel

This paper, based on brief field examination and on data supplied by the operators, records the condition of the Italian mercury industry as of March 1945, not long after Italy's collapse. Except for the once-Italian but now Yugoslavian Idria mine near Trieste, virtually all the known mercury deposits are in the Monte Amiata district in Siena and Grosseto Provinces, 75 miles north of Rome. This district contains the Abbadia San Salvatore. the Siele. the Argus, and the Cerreto Piano mines besides numerous prospects and unproductive mines. Under pressure from Germany the principal mines were highly productive during the early part of the war, but production fell off long before its end. All of the mines were damaged in some way at the German withdrawal but by September 1944 the Abbadia had resumed production and several others were only lacking power by the early spring of 1945. The Monte Amiata district is characterized geologically by a thick series of sedimentary rocks that range from Triassic to Eocene in age . and are surmounted on Monte Amiata itself by a thick cap of extrusive trachyte. Bodies of travertine and of landslide detritus, younger than the trachyte, are rather widespread. The structure is complex and little known but most of the ore deposits seem to lie along or near a major, north-trending fault or on associated cross-fractures. Cinnabar is the only important ore mineral and clay minerals are by far the most abundant products of hydrothermal alteration. A southward increase in the amount of stibnite, relative to cinnabar, suggests horizontal zoning. The grade of ore ranges from 0.60 to 3.0 Pet and the reserves, as compared with those in American mines, are enormous. Even in the face of war-time scarcities, the mines are remarkably self-sufficient and labor is plentiful, but the costs of production are estimated to be not greatly below those of the better American mines. Notes on the principal mines, on the mining and metallurgical methods, and on the manufacture of synthetic cinnabar are included in the paper. Introduction With but few brief interludes, Spain and Italy, including the Idria mine near Trieste, which has passed from Austrian to Italian to Yugoslavian hands in the Past 3 decades, have led the world in the production of mercury, or quicksilver, for many centuries. Despite their enviable position with respect to the supplies of a metal so essential in both war and peace, there is a notable lack of up-to-date information in America on the mercury industry of either country. Duschak and Schuette' and Schuettez,3 give by far the best summaries in English known to the writer, but the latest firsthand report cited by them on the Italian mines was published in 1915.' Having been deeply interested in the geology and economics of mercury for several years, the writer naturally felt most fortunate in being the to obtain enough firsthand information on the Italian industry to fill at least a few of the gaps in our knowledge. The opportunity came during the war, soon after this industry, together with the rest of Italy, had capitulated to the Allies. Many of the facts presented here are thus definitely "dated," but others are of less transitory nature, and even the dated facts should be of interest in showing the strength and

Jan 1, 1949

By J. D. Grace

Screening by centrifugal force is a unique subject, for all vibrating screens, with but one exception, depend on gravity alone to pass material through a sizing mesh or screen cloth. Centrifugal screening is one of the greatest advancements made in screening since the development of vibrating screens. It makes possible sizing in a range previously im-practical by mechanical methods. The centrifugal screen is specially designed for fine sizing from No. 4 separations to finer than No. 100 separations. Centrifugal force provides a positive control of factors that make fine particle separation practical and effective as opposed to gravity which is a fixed force acting only in a fixed direction, The centrifugal screen provides a control of the force of material against the screening surface, and also controls the distance of departure of the material from the surface and its rate of return. The centrifugal screen has a rotating drum that becomes a natural fan blowing air outward through the material being screened and carrying float dust and fines through the apertures with it. Screening by centrifugal force is an unique subject, for with the exception of only one vibrating screen presently on the market, all vibrating screens depend upon gravity to pass material through a sizing mesh or screen cloth. This one screen that sizes by centrifugal force and utilizes gravity only to convey material along the screen, is the Symons V-Screen. The requirements of the industrial minerals industry to meet ever-increasing stringent fine sizing specifications by a practical mechanical method accentuates the weakness of gravity, a fixed force acting in a fixed direction, as a prime force for fine sizing. It was apparent a force other than gravity was needed. This led to the development of a centrifugal screen to meet modern demands for practical fine sizing operations. Gyratory-type screens in use today were originally designed in a day when a 1/4-in. separation was normally considered fine sizing and 1/8-in. separations were extremely fine sizing. Although gyratory-type screens are sometimes used for separating below 1/8-in., they are not practical screens for this purpose. They were not designed to do this type of work. A growing demand for a practical means of making positive mechanical separations in a range of from 1/8 in. downward led to the development of the vibrating screen. These screens utilize higher speeds and lower amplitudes of vibration than

Jan 1, 1967

By M. R. Geer, H. F. Yancey, P. S. Jacobsen

Two growing problems confront the preparation engineer—still further restrictions on stream pollution and a greater proportion of fine coal as more and more continuous miners come into use. The de-watering screens, centrifuges, and settling ponds that sufficed a few years ago must often be supplemented by more effective equipment, and in some instances the finest solids are now being recovered by vacuum filtration, once considered too costly in many coal washeries. Unfortunately not all slurries can be readily filtered. Some are virtually unfilter-able, and others do not permit the high cake rates needed to hold costs within reason. Often, however, these difficult slurries can be rendered filterable by flocculation. Starch and lime have long increased settling rate in thickeners and can also aid filtration. More recently there have been other flocculants, primarily synthetic polymers or gums. Reports of their great effectiveness prompted the U. S. Bureau of Mines to test their use in filtration as part of its program on recovering and cleaning fine coal. The object of the present work was to compare some of the newer flocculants with starch and lime and to test the reaction of different types of slurries to flocculation. Three natural slurries, three synthetic coal-clay mixtures, and five flocculants were tested, all with a laboratory filter leaf. Slurries and Flocculants Tested: First of the slurries was the thickener feed from the washed coal section of the Michel colliery of Crow's Nest Pass Co. Ltd., Michel, B.C. As shown by the screen and ash analyses in Table I, practically all this slurry was finer than 28 mesh, and about half the solids were finer than 200. Substantially all material coarser than 200 mesh was clean coal, but the ash content of 20.7 pct in the finest size indicates a moderate amount of impurity. This coal is medium-volatile bituminous in rank. Slurry was also obtained from the Black Diamond washery of Palmer Coking Coal Co., King County, Wash. This underflow of a 1/2-mm vibrating slurry screen is a waste product discharged to a settling pond. As shown by the data in Table I it contained about 20 pct material finer than 200 mesh, which analyzed 77.5 pct ash, indicating a high proportion of clay. The coarser sizes were also high in ash content because of the presence of bone and shale. Black Diamond coal is on the dividing line between bituminous and subbituminous rank. The third slurry, from the washery of Roslyn-Cascade Coal Co. in Kittitas County, Wash., was the underflow of a battery of 8-in. cyclones that is wasted with the coarser refuse from the plant. In both size and ash content this slurry was similar to the Black Diamond, but since it was a cyclone-underflow product, the fraction finer than 200 mesh undoubtedly contained a much smaller proportion of finely divided clay than was present in the Black Diamond slurry. The Roslyn-Cascade coal is high-volatile A bituminous in rank. Initially the slurry samples were stored in the laboratory at a concentration of 40 pct solids. A progressive change in filtration and flocculation characteristics during storage was noted, however, presumably because of progressive disintegration of the clay. After careful testing demonstrated that the slurry solids could be dried and then repulped without changing the original filtration characteristics, this procedure was adopted. The flocculants used were Separan 2610, Kylo 27, Jaguar MD-A, Idaho potato starch, and lime. The lime was used as a slurry, the Separan 2610 as a 0.10 pct aqueous solution, and the other flocculants as 0.50 pct aqueous solutions. The starch was causti-cized with sodium hydroxide before use. As some of the flocculants are reported to deteriorate on storage, new batches of flocculants were prepared every two days. Test Procedure: Fig. 1 diagrams the filter leaf apparatus employed. This consists of a test leaf having an effective area of 0.10 sq ft., a 60°, 8 1/2-in. diam cone to hold the slurry sample, a variable-speed electric stirrer, vacuum gage, bleed line for controlling vacuum, filtrate flask, moisture trap, and vacuum pump. Two filter cloths were selected—Saran SA 603, a monofilament, coarse-weave cloth, and polyethylene PO-801 HF, a monofilament, fine-weave cloth. The Saran was selected to provide maximum cake rate without regard to clarity of filtrate and the polyethylene to provide the best quality of filtrate without regard to cake rate. The test charge for the filtering vessel consisted of 800 g of solids (previously soaked for 24 hr) and

Jan 1, 1960

By Arthur F. Taggart

Some years ago, A. M. Gaudin and one of the authors published a paper showing removal of tar acids from solution by sulfides preferentially as compared to gangues (specifically by galena as compared to quartz).' The underlying phenomenon was classed as adsorption, and the paper went on to develop the general thesis that so far as water-soluble frothing and collecting agents in flotation are concerned, the phenomenon of adsorption is one of controlling importance. Adsorption was defined in that paper as "a process of rearrangement of a system, which results in establishing a difference in concentration, as between the interfacial layers and the bulk of the phases, of a substance or substances initially uniformly dispersed in one or several of the phases." The paper went on to develop the relation between adsorption and surface cnergy according to Gibbs' equation (which may be thrown into the form U/c = KdT/dc, where U = excess concentration in surface layer, c = concentration, T = surface tension, and K is a constant), and pointed out that, according to this equation, degree of adsorption and change in surface tension vary directly. The present paper offers a somewhat different definition for the term adsorption; and sets up, in sweeping terms, the generalization that simple chemical reaction underlies the functioning of the flotation reagents which control mineral collection, when these reagents are soluble in and act from solution in the water of the pulp. Adsorption According to the modified definition, adsorption means concentration at an interface between different phases in a heterogeneous system (thus far the definition runs as before), by the action of some mechanism, of which nothing is properly implied in the word, and concerning which the user of the word is probably in entire ignorance. Thus defined,

Jan 1, 1930

By C. B. Clark, W. H. Bruckner

Since the end of World War II interest has been increasing in the use of shaped charges in the mining industry and in other industries using explosives for blasting purposes. Shaped charges employ the principle known as the "Munroe effect," which was discovered by Charles E. Mun-roe more than 50 years ago (in 1888). Details of their design have been explained elsewhere.1,2,3 Fig I shows the essential features of design of two types of shaped charges (with conical and hemispherical cavities) and a schematic sketch of their action upon detonation. The following discussion deals with the behavior of the metal in the cavity liners when they are subjected to intense Pressures exerted when the explosive charge is detonated. Among the conclusions reached in research On shaped explosive charges, the following have been established concerning cavity liners:1'2 I. The optimum wall thickness of a conical cavity liner is dependent upon the apex angle of the 'One as well as On the base diameter of the charge. Acute apex angles require thinner walls for optimum perfmnance and more obtuse angles require thicker walls for the same base diameter' 2. Cones were more effective in forming a penetrating jet when the walls were tapered; that is, the thickness of the wall of the cone increased from the apex down. 3. The physical and mechanical properties of metals have a marked effect upon their performance as cavity-liner material. Boiling point, ductility, malleability, tensile strength, and hardness are among the properties that influence the effectiveness of a metal used as a cavity liner. Lead, for example, makes a wide, flat crater in steel plates. Aluminum makes a deeper crater than lead, and an aluminum alloy having a high tensile strength makes a deeper hole, but slightly smaller in diameter. Cast iron makes a deep, narrow hole. These findings, together with the following analysis under Metallographic Survey of slug, offer solutions to many of the problems involved in solving the mechanism of the formation of Munroe jets. It has been fairly well established that cavity liners collapse in a manner similar to that indicated in Fig 2, Conical liners are known to collapse upon themselves while hemispherical liners are believed to turn inside out in the process of jet formation. The first has been definitely proved by recovery of collapsed portions of cones, while liners from partly detonated charges show that hemispheres may turn inside out. Fig 3 shows a sketch of a recovered slug from a 6-in. shaped charge using a 45° cone made of cast iron. (This size of charge drilled holes up to 3 ft in depth in solid granodiorite.)

Jan 1, 1949

By Donald D. Smythe

This paper describes briefly the topography and geology of the region where the mica-bearing pegmatites are found and discusses prospecting, the quality of the mica, its preparation, and evaluation of the deposits. Muscovite mica occurs in a number of widely separated localities in Brazil, but production has come largely from deposits in the southeastern and eastern part of the State of Minas Gerais (Fig. I). There the deposits form a discontinuous zone, which starts at a point go km. north of the city of Rio de Janeiro and extends north for some 500 km., roughly parallel to the coast. A maximum width of 180 km. is reached along the Rio Doce. To the west in Minas Gerais, and extending east into the states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, the mica zone proper is fringed by areas in which there are scattered occurrences of mica-bearing pegmatites. A few of these outlying deposits have produced commercial mica, but most of them are unimportant. To the southwest, in the State of Sao Paulo, there are a number of mines, which at one time produced a very considerable amount of sheet mica, largely as a byproduct of kaolin mining. These deposits, and a few others lying between them and the main productive areas to the northeast, appear to be the southwestern continuation of the strong Minas Gerais mica zone. In the vicinity of Conquista, just north of the Minas Gerais boundary in the State of Bahia, and still farther north, near Jacobina, there are several known mica deposits. Their location indicates that they may be the northern continuation of the main mica zone. The major part of Brazilian mica production has come from four areas within the mica zone proper; from north to south, Governador Valadares, Raul Soares, Espera Feliz, and Muriaé.. The first is go km. from north to south and reaches a maximum width of 180 km. The Raul Soares area extends 135 km. from northeast to southwest, and in places is 80 km. wide. The Espera Feliz area is 100 km. from north to south, and reaches a width of 35 km. The Muriai. area extends 150 km. from northeast to southwest and its width reaches 40 kilometers. Between the known productive areas, and in the areas directly to the southwest and to the north of them, little mica has been produced. These gaps, as well as certain irregularities in the outline of the mica zone itself, are to be ascribed either to lack of prospecting or to conditions preventing the discovery of mica, rather than to its nonexistence. Elsewhere in Brazil mica has been reported from eastern Goiaz, Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Sul, Matto Grosso, and Amazonas. Production from these sources is negligible at present. Because of the inferior quality of the mica from the more accessible of these localities, and the operational difficulties occasioned by the remoteness of others, it is improbable that they will become important producers for some time to come.

Jan 1, 1948

By G. W. Healy

Activities of oxides in the ternary FeO-MnO-SiO system are calculated from data on the binaries, using the Gibbs -Schuhmann method. These activity data are used, together with thermodynamic relations, to calculate the contents of oxygen, silicon, and manganese in liquid iron, and the composition of the corresponding oxide phases in equilibrium with it. Excellent agreement was found between calculated and experimental metal compositions, indicating that thermodynamic methods, such as those presented, can supply useful data on slag-metal equilibria, and are therefore capable of wider application. When molten steel containing oxygen is treated with a deoxidizer, the product of the reaction is composed of the oxides of the deoxidizing elements together with more or less iron oxide. This assemblage of oxides is presumably very close to equilibrium with the melt since it is formed directly from elements dissolved in it. Therefore, it is likely that metal analyses corresponding to a given oxide phase composition are calculable with considerable precision where sufficient information is available on activities in both phases. The present study was made to test this hypothesis in the case of deoxidation by silicon and manganese. Here experimental data on the relationship among oxygen, silicon, and manganese in the metal phase are available, as are activity data for the MnO-SiO2, FeO-SiO2, and FeO-MnO binary systems. A further objective was to demonstrate in a specific example how gaps in the data may be filled by judicious interpolation, and how the Gibbs-Schuhmann method is applied to obtain activities in ternary systems. The rigorous derivation of the latter, requiring considerable facility in handling partial differential equations, tends to mask the real simplicity of the method, and repel the very engineers and experimenters who would benefit the most from its use. I) GENERAL PROCEDURE Deoxidation of steel with silicon and manganese results in the formation of two phases, metal and oxide. The number of components is four—Fe, Mn, Si, and 0. The phase rule then gives the number of degrees of freedom: If temperature and pressure are fixed, 2 deg of freedom remain. Consequently, it suffices to fix the concentration of two of the components of the system for all the concentrations to be determined and, at least in principle, calculable. The practical problem is then to discover a straightforward method of calculation with a minimum of trial and error solutions. The type of reactions to be dealt with are like the following: Si (in steel) + 2 O(in steel) = SiO2(in oxide phase) The standard free energy of this reaction is readily obtained from the literature, so that the equilibrium constant can be calculated by the expression: Since the metallurgist is concerned with percentages rather than activities, a real solution requires information that will permit activities to be converted to concentrations. This information is fairly adequate for the elements dissolved in molten steel, but is not available for the FeO-MnO-SiO2 oxide system. Therefore, the first step in this study was to find the relation between activity and concentration for the three oxides making up the system. The next step was the calculation of slag and metal compositions that are in equilibrium with one another. As shown by the phase rule, it is sufficient to assume the values of two composition variables in order to calculate the rest. But which two are picked makes a vast difference in how difficult the calculation turns out to be, so that it is necessary to make preliminary trial of several routes to find the easiest one. A convenient method is to begin with the slag, and to pick FeO concentration and that of one of the other oxides. Starting with the relation between oxygen dissolved in the liquid steel and FeO in the slag permits a good first estimate to be made of the oxygen content of the steel in equilibrium with FeO, because the iron content being fairly close to 100 pct, Fe has an activity close to unity. Using this first estimate of oxygen activity, approximate values of the manganese and silicon contents of the melt are readily calculated from the appropriate equilibrium constants. A minor correction for the depar-

Jan 1, 1963