Search Documents

By John Vanderwilt

THE value of molybdenum as a ferroalloy has been known for many years. For a long time, however, the metal was used only on a small scale in the iron industries, because the known source of supply appeared inadequate and the cost to the consumer was not stabilized. The world's production of molybdenum prior to 1914 was only a few thousand pounds per year and even during the war period annual production was only about 800,000 lb. Production during 1929 and 1930, however, was over 4,000,000 lb. per year and that of 1931 promises to be of the same order of magnitude. This remarkable increase in production is due primarily to the development of a large molybdenite deposit at Climax, Lake County, Colo., which has accounted for 80 per cent of the world's production of molybdenum during the past two years. Based on conservative esti-mates, the deposit at Climax has the capacity to maintain its 1929 and 1930 rate of production for 100 years or more. The production of molybdenum ores has been established on a new basis-in recent years as compared with the period during and before the world war. During the earlier period, production came from small deposits and the cost to the consumer fluctuated. At present, production comes from a few large deposits and the price is not only lower but also fairly constant. In recent years the price of molybdenum has consistently dropped as consumption increased. The present price is $0.95 per pound of molybdenum in ferromolybdenum and $0.80 for molybdenum in calcium molybdate. Before and during most of the war, Australia, Norway, and a few other foreign countries were the chief producers, while at present the United States is producing over 90 per cent of the world's production. With molybdenum available at a moderate cost, the steel industry has been adopting more and more the use of molybdenum as an alloy addition. A relatively small demand for molybdenum exists in the chemical and electrical industries, but the recent large increase in con-sumption has in large part been by the iron and steel industries, which

Jan 1, 1932

By Arthur F. Taggart

In 1900, Elmore found that if an acidulated pulp was stirred up with an oil which was relatively insoluble in and lighter than water, and the mixture was allowed to stratify, much of the sulfide would be found hanging to the lower surface of the floating body of oil and could be skimmed off or overflowed with it. The action of the flotation agent here is twofold, first to select the sulfide from the gangue—what today is called collection—and second, to buoy the collected sulfide away from the gangue. The action in collecting is illustrated by Fig. 1: which contrasts the behavior of drops of oil brought, under water, to the surfaces of gangue and sulfide particles, respectively. The oil displaces water from the surface of the sulfide; the water displaces oil from the gangue surface. If, instead of considering the solid particles the fixed parts of the system of oil, water and solids. we consider the oil and water fixed and the solids presented to the surface of contact, the condition will be as shown in Fig. 2; the sulfide tends to be drawn into the interface and the gangue to be excluded. The sulfide particles are held in the oil-water surface by the tension of this surface. The buoyant effect is supplied by the oil droplets in bringing the sulfides to the water surface, but not in holding them there. Gas as Buoyant Medium of Flotation In 1906 Sulman. Picard and Ballot discovered a practical and substantially fool-proof method of doing what Everson, in 1886, and Fro-nlcnt. DeBavay Bessel and Elmore had been doing in the intervening years, viz.: using gas in place of oil as the buoyant medium for flotation, but retaining oil as the agent. To all of these inventors "oil," with no qualification as to its kind and no true understanding of its function, was the important thing. Hut they placed on the oil an additional burden viz.: froth-making, and it soon became apparent that not all oils were suitable for the dual purpose. As a matter of fact, it is probable that each of these inventors knew only one suitable oil at the time he wrote his patent, but used the generic term in the patent with the usual idea

Jan 1, 1928

By Gerald V. Jergensen

Does an idea have merit? What does it cost to implement? Can the concept be implemented successfully? The ultimate proof is to try, then see. However, when there are many millions of dollars at stake, blindly building and trying requires considerable courage. Owners and investors in retrospect might choose other less complimentary words. So we might ask, "How might we establish the feasibility of an idea or concept before committing large sums of money to the ultimate test?" From this basic and prudent question, has evolved the engineering concept of the feasibility study. A feasibility study is simply a systematic evaluation of an idea or concept to determine the prospects for success. In a literal sense, a feasibility study considers an idea in terms of its data base, "builds" the idea on paper, "operates" that idea, calculates the cost and benefits, then measures the probable success in terms of some economic, technical or financial standard. Feasibility studies can be quite modest in scope yet provide useful insights as to the viability of an idea. A study might be initiated only to examine the completeness or validity of the metallurgical data base. Another study could be a search for a workable idea or solution to an already-identified possibly troublesome problem. In this latter case, the question, "Will it work?" may be far more important than, "How much will it cost?" Feasibility studies are sometimes global in scope, involving several dozens of specialists and examining an entire "grass roots" mining complex. Other studies may be less ambitious but equally important in examining an expansion proposal or developing new operating techniques. Studies may be commissioned to remove plant bottle-necks, solve maintenance problems and so on. The terms study and feasibility study are used interchangeably in this chapter. They denote a systematic method to examine a proposed concept or idea. DATA BASE Typically, studies are initiated with a minimum amount of specific information and a maximum number of assumptions. As the work proceeds and the data base expands, assumptions are replaced

Jan 1, 1982

By Phillip O. Tyree, Joseph W. Mussey

Bio-epigenetic sulphur deposits occur in Pecos, Reeves and Culberson Counties of far West Texas. Sulfate reducing bacteria, utilizing hydrocarbons as energy, transformed gypsum into replacement limestone and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide, retained in the pores of the replacement limestone, was subsequently oxidized by highly oxygenated groundwaters, and native sulphur precipitated. West Texas sulphur was first recognized at surface exposures by William P. Blake, a geologist attached to the Captain Pope Military/ Scientific Expedition of 1854. Attempts were made in the early 1900's to mine these sulphur vent exposures by a retort method, but the ventures met with little success. In 1967, Duval discovered a large sulphur deposit near some of the old sulphur works in Culberson County. Duval also expanded reserves in a small sulphur deposit in Pecos County. The Frasch process, developed for producing sulphur from Gulf Coast salt domes, proved successful in West Texas type sulphur deposits also. However, modifications of the process were necessary to provide economical and efficient sulphur recovery from the varied ore occurrences. West Texas conditions and logistics require the ultimate in productivity to be competitive in the domestic and foreign sulphur markets. Several companies, in addition to Duval, are producing or have produced sulphur in West Texas. As of June 1, 1984, a total of 29.87 million mt (29.4 million long tons) of sulphur had been produced west of the Pecos River. Duval Corporation has produced more than 88 percent of that total.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. E. Lee, A. W. Edelen

The Teziutlan copper-zinc deposit is supposed to be of late Cambrian or early Paleozoic age. The country rocks are a series of schists or phyllites, flat lying and in the form of a plunging anticline. The ore deposit occupies a single horizon in the schist for a known horizontal extent of 1200 meters. Along its strike occur four large lenses or ore bodies. These ore bodies occupy positions along the flank and extend to the crest of the anticline. The primary mineralization is in the form of quartz, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena, with a few scattered silver anti-monides. Quartz and pyrite form the mineralization between the ore lenses. Ill the ore lenses the sulphides appear as a massive, very fine-grained intergrowth of minerals. The intergrowth suggests a contemporaneous deposition of the heavy sulphides. The grain size, usually under 0.09 mm., makes the separation difficult and fine grinding important. The ore bodies were formed at great depth by solutions probably originating in the same basic magma that gave rise to the dolerite sills that are so common in their vicinity. Introduction The Teziutlan copper-zinc deposit is distinctly different from other ore deposits of Mexico in age and type. Previously stated to be pre-Cambrian in age, it is now quite generally supposed to belong to the late Cambrian or to the early Paleozoic period. Also, in contrast to the usual shallow-vein zone type of mineralization in Mexico, there is here exemplified an intermediate vein zone deposit of copper and zinc. So far as is known, the Tezintlan vein is unique in the history of Mexican geology and in a class by itself, its closest counterpart probably being the copper veins of the pre-Cambrian of Canada. The Teziutlan district is in the extreme northwestern corner of the State of Puebla, Mexico. Teziutlan, the terminus of a branch line of the National Railways from Mexico City, is connected to the mine at Aire Libre by a 17-km. narrow-gauge railroad owned and operated by the Teziutlan Copper Co. Owing to excessive grades on this short linc, Shay-geared locomotives arc used for the transportation of concentrates and supplies.

Jan 1, 1941

By Wilbur Nelson

IN 1839,1 Gerard, Troost, the first, State Geologist of Tennessee, reported the occurrence of zinc ores in East Tennessee, in connection with the iron ores at Embreeville; in 1844,2 he refers to the zinc deposits of East Tennessee, especially the apparently rich deposits occurring, in Jefferson and Claiborne Counties, while his ninth annual report is a ,description of the zinc deposits of Jefferson County and a description of the most improved processes by which zinc is extracted from its ores. Although. Tennessee has long known of the occurrence of its zinc deposits and has recognized their value, only during the last few years have these ores been successfully worked. As far as can be learned, prior to the systematic development of the Mascot district in 1911, no large-scale or successful operation of any of the zinc deposits was carried on. But in that year, after several companies had made considerable progress in developing the Mascot area and had proved. a relatively extensive body of low-grade sulfide ore, the American Zinc Co. entered the field. It introduced modern methods of prospecting and mining the ore and from the first was successful. Too great credit cannot be given this company for its pioneer work in a previously unimportant field. Throughout the history of its operations, the American Zinc Co. has confined its efforts to underground mining of the sulfide ore, sphalerite. This company has found that successful results in zinc mining in East Tennessee can be achieved only by expending large sums in prospecting and blocking out bodies of pay ore in sufficient magnitude for large-scale operations. At Mascot are located the mines of the American Zinc Co. of Tennessee, the mines being situated along the Southern Railway in the Holston River Valley, Knox County, about 13 miles northeast of Knoxville. Considerable mining and prospecting had been done by several companies prior to the acquisition of this property by the, American Zinc Co. Previous to 1900 only open pits, which were worked for oxidized ores, were operated. and the production was small. In 1900 the

Jan 10, 1924

By Clarence Fenner

THE manufacture of optical glass is a process that demands careful regulation and control at all stages in order that satisfactory results may be obtained. The product, to serve its purpose, must meet stringent requirements, which can be assured only by careful procedure in manufacture. During the greater part of the time that a pot of glass is in the furnace, temperatures should be kept within certain rather narrow limits; a departure on either side is likely to be detrimental to the glass and may result in total loss. If the temperature during melting and fining be low, the melt is likely not to fine properly and the glass will contain quantities of bubbles, or "seed," or it may become milky and unfit for use; too high a temperature, on the other hand, is severe on the pot and may cause it to leak or cast stones, or the increased solution of pot material in the melt may acid to the color of the glass and decrease its transmission. Moreover, variations in the working temperature will mean variations in the amount of selective volatilization and, consequently, variations in optical properties from pot to pot. Furthermore, in the closing stages of furnace treatment, the melt is cooled until a certain degree of stiffness is attained, when the pot is withdrawn. The quality of the glass-its freedom from striae and bubbles-will depend in large measure on whether the temperature to which cooling has been carried is suitable. For each type of glass there is a narrowly restricted range of temperature to which each pot of the given type should be cooled before withdrawal. A quick and reliable method of measuring temperatures is, therefore, of the first importance. In the optical-glass work conducted by the staff of the Geophysical Laboratory during the period of the war, much attention was given to the clatter of determining what methods would meet the requirements. This article will deal with these investigations and with the application of the results to actual practice at various plants. At the. time that the work of the Geophysical Laboratory was begun at the Bausch & Lomb plant, each melting furnace was equipped with

Jan 7, 1919

By Paul D. Merica, W. A. Mudge

One of the most prominent features of our present-day industrial development is the ever-increasing demand put upon materials of construction. Engineering ingenuity, within the past 25 years, has been unusually active, and in some fields at least engineers frankly say that engineering design has progressed as far as the limitations imposed by the properties of the present materials of construction will permit. Consequently, they are today demanding improvement in their working materials and seeking new ones, through the aid of which the present limitations of design may be overcome. The activity of this search is evident in all fields, but it is particularly so in that of structural materials required to be resistant to corrosion. The corrosion resistance of metals and alloys is never absolute and all-inclusive; a particular alloy will withstand some corrosive conditions well and fail utterly under others. Furthermore, other properties, physical and mechanical, required in conjunction with corrosion resistance vary considerably for different commercial applications. One wants a soft, ductile sheet metal resistant to atmospheric corrosion; another, a high-strength alloy resistant to sulfuric acid. The last decade has witnessed active and definite progress in the development of high-strength, corrosion-resisting alloys. In June, 1924, a symposium by the American Society for Testing Materials, on Corrosion-resistant, Heat-resistant and Electrical-resistance Alloys, disclosed no less than 60 commercial alloys the properties of which were described as being suitable for industrial service where corrosion resistance was a feature. Today the number of these alloys has been doubled, at least. In addition, economy in design and construction through decreased weight has given considerable impetus to the improvement of alloys of which the mechanical propprties may be improved by heat-treatment.

Jan 1, 1935

By W. G. Fischer

Basic laboratory tests on trona and the surrounding shales initiated the Rock Mechanics program. The stress-strain curve, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, the uniaxial rock strength, Mohr's envelope, the biaxial stresses at failure, and creep were investigated. A series of underground problems were then approached using this information and various field measuring devices, most of which were developed by the Bureau of Mines. Initially, stress concentrations near mine openings were evaluated using the stress relief technique. This required an accurate determination of the pre-mining stress field. Later, stress concentrations associated with the cave line were studied. After about 30 stress reliefs over an appropriate time interval the effects of one type of mining could be compared against another. The microseismic technique was used to investi- gate a possible application of warning devices near the cave line. A study of mine reorientation was made. Problems related to the shape and size of pillars and barriers were studied. The effectiveness of roof bolting patterns was examined. Control of roof stresses was attempted. A new system of mining in heavy ground has been developed using the information secured in the Rock Mechanics program. Without this system, mining in more than one instance would have been next to impossible. Indeed, from this one discovery alone, the Rock Mechanics program has paid off in improved safety as well as in dollars. The Westvaco trona* mine is located near the town of Green River in the southwestern corner of Wyoming. It is owned and operated by FMC Corp. on land leased from the US Government, the State of Wyoming, and the Union Pacific Railroad. A conventional room and pillar system is being used, (Fig. 1) with complete removal of the pillars during final mining. Return air bleeders surround

Jan 1, 1964

The Report on the Manufacture of Coke for the year 1880 by J. D. Weeks1 includes an historical account of the early days of coke-making that is very complete and accurate, and but little can be added to it to fully cover the period prior to 1885. The few additional references that have been found follow. The earliest suggestion found about making coke in this country is in a letter from D. M. Randolph to Harry Heth, dated August 22, 1808. Heth was then operating the mines in the Richmond, Virginia coal field and had sent Randolph to England to investigate steam engines for hoisting and pumping and other conditions in the coal industry there. The letter was written in London and said: "I shall explain to you, how, by turning Deep Run fine coal in Coak, to make great profit from what has heretofore been useless. You will do well to ascertain the price and amount of demand for this article throughout the U. States among brewers and manufacturers. I know how also to make every bushel of such fine slaty coal, fetch as much as any of the best grate coal, by turning it into Coak: and that too, after paying all expenses of the process."2 His interest was to use the slack more for domestic purposes than otherwise, probably, although what the interest of brewers would be in coke as fuel does not appear. Nothing ever came of this suggestion, and so far as known, no coal from this field was coked excepting in gas-making. The Plumpsock Iron Works, mentioned by Weeks as having used coke, was advertised for sale in June 1818.3 It was stated that stone coal was the only fuel used at the works, the pit being within 100 yards of the forge. "Three men with a horse and cart are sufficient to raise coke, and haul to the forge all the coal necessary for keeping the works in full operation." The coke, of course, was made in ricks, or heaps, and not in ovens. The first real coke oven in this country was probably built in Connellsville, the coal coming from a mine nearby on Mounts Creek. L. L. Norton operated an iron foundry and was persuaded by his foreman, one Nichols, who came from Durham, England to build a coke oven. The oven was 12 feet square, and the first coke was produced in 1833. Later

Jan 1, 1942

By Harry W. Brown

This paper presents results of static capillary pressure measprements made both by the restored-state and by the mercury-injection methods, and of dynamic capillary pressure measurements made by the Hassler technique. The results indicate a variation from sample to sample of the factor used to convert capillary pressure obtained by mercury injection to those applicable to a water-gas system. Static capillary pressures measured by the restored-state method were found to be in close agreement with dynamic capillary pressures, indicating that data obtained from static measurements may be utilized with confidenre in the solution of dynamic problems of fluid flow. Experimental data are presented on the use of "J-curves" for the correlation of capillary pressure-saturation relations for a number of cores from a particular geologic formation. It is shown that the correlation was improved in some cases by reqtricting it to rertain lithologic classifications. INTRODUCTION The Meaning and Importance of Capillary Pressure The coexistence of two or more immiscible fluids within the voids of a porous medium, such as reservoir rock, gives rise to capillary forces. Because of the interfacial tension existing at the boundary between two immiscible fluids in a pore space, the interface is curved, and there is a pressure difference across the interface. This pressure difference is termed the capillary pressure. The magnitude of the capillary pressure between two immiscible fluids which together fill a porous medium depends upon several factors: the textural properties of the medium, the wettability of the medium, the interfacial tension between the fluids, the respective saturations of the fluids, and the manner in which these saturations are attained. For a given pair of immiscible fluids in a particular sample of reservoir rock, the capillary pressure is a unique function of the fluid saturation, provided that the saturation of the fluid which wets the rock has previously been decreased unidirectionally from an initially complete saturation. Similarly, for a given pair of fluids at a particular saturation which has been achieved by a

Jan 1, 1951

By Fred E. Wright

In a recent paper1 a detailed discussion is given of the possibilities of using polarized light in the examination of opaque substances. The factors underlying the problem are there treated from the viewpoint of the electromagnetic theory of light and the presentation is necessarily mathematical in form. The practical methods resulting from the discussion are, however, relatively simple and promise to be of value in the determination of certain ores and metals when studied in reflected light under the microscope. The results of the theoretical investigation referred to may be summarized by stating that in general the optical constants, such as refractive indices and absorption indices, cannot be satisfactorily ascertained on small, random, polished sections; that the use of polarized light enables the observer ordinarily to determine whether the crystal plate is iso-tropic or anisotropic, and also to ascertain the degree of anisotropism; that for this purpose methods based either on the contrast in intensity between the two reflected components of non-polarized light, or on the amount of rotation of the plane of polarization, on reflection, of vertically incident, plane-polarized light, may be employed; that methods based on the phase difference between the two reflected components are in general of little value because of the small differences in phase which ordinarily result for a relatively large change in birefringence or biabsorption. The measurement of the optical properties of transparent minerals, even in minute irregular grains, is a simple task with modern petrographic microscope methods and is accomplished by petrologists as part of their ordinary routine work. But the determination of the optical constants of opaque substances is difficult and is rarely attempted; all observations are necessarily made in reflected light and are restricted commonly to the determination of color, of hardness, of the character of crystallization, and of the behavior of the mineral or metal plate toward reagents and abrasives. With practice, the observer becomes expert in recognizing details of this kind and determines with a high degree of certainty the different

Jan 1, 1920

By Ralph Schilthuis

SEVERAL investigators1-8 have reported evidence of the existence of native or connate water in oil-and-gas-bearing strata. Both water and salt have been detected in cores of oil sands that yielded oil and gas exclusively when produced. Electrical logs often reveal unexpectedly low resistivity through oil and gas sands, indicating the presence of some material that is a considerably better conductor of current than oil and gas. Furthermore, calculations9 of the oil and gas content of reservoirs based upon production and reservoir-pressure decline data indicate appreciably lower values than are arrived at under the assumption that the pore space is occupied completely by oil and gas. ORIGIN AND OCCURRENCE OF CONNATE WATER IN OIL-AND-GAS-BEARING FORMATIONS The view has been expressed,10-15 and is generally agreed upon, that the expulsion of oil and gas material from source beds and the subsequent migration and accumulation occurred in the presence of salt water. As the strata that usually form reservoirs for oil and gas were laid down by, or in the presence of, ancient seas, the pore space within the strata must have been saturated with salt water before the entrance of the oil and/or gas. Thus, the accumulation of oil and/or gas in the upper regions of structures suitable for reservoirs must have required displacement of the connate water therefrom. In the absence of any forces other than gravitational, it would be expected that the displacement of the connate water out of the zones finally occupied by gas and oil would be complete, and that the vertical distribution of gas, oil, and water in a reservoir would be strictly in the order of their densities. Apparently, however, surface and interfacial forces that will not permit complete segregation of the fluids are active within the capillary spaces comprising a reservoir. The effects of these forces on both accumulation and production of oil and gas have been the subject of study by a number of investigators. 16-37

Jan 1, 1938

By G. L. Oldright

NEARLY all of the present schemes for treating complex (i. e. lead¬silver-zinc-copper) ores are based on the idea that lead holds, and will hold for some time, the strongest economic place from the viewpoint of supply and demand of all the non-ferrous metals. Copper, it is thought, will come back to its own when European affairs are stabilized, although at that time competition from Chile, Peru, and Katanga, in particular, will be more severe than in pre-war days. The future for silver and for zinc is uncertain. New uses are developing for zinc, and the market has remained better than many expected, but the stabilization of world markets will bring in foreign competition instead of relief. The cost of producing zinc from simple zinc ores, by the retort process, will, from the nature of the labor required and the increasing cost of fuel, increase steadily. As a result, the small producers of purely zinc ores around Joplin are shutting down their mines, even with a good market price for zinc; on the other hand, the producer of lead from complex ores, in the Rocky Mountain states, is confident of a profit from the sale of his lead, and is seeking means to make the zinc in his ore pay some part of the cost of treatment. However, the tonnage costs for mining and ore dressing are much higher in the Rocky Mountain states, as may be seen by comparing tax-return statements from the various states. Even before the recent drop in the price of silver, many mines were operating on a very slender margin of profit; labor and supplies cost more. Mining at greater depth has shown most orebodies to grow increasingly more complex, so that improvements in mining and ore-dressing practice have not been sufficient too compensate for the additional expense involved in beneficiating these ores. The smelters have had to meet the same general economic situation, so they can only give

Jan 3, 1924

By J. H. Frye, C. P. Sun

A PRIMARY substitutional solid solution is a solution that has the same crystalline structure as the solvent metal, and in which solute atoms have replaced solvent atoms at random on the host lattice. This replacement usually results in an increase in hardness as measured by conventional penetration tests. The factors controlling this hardness increase have been investigated in some detail for copper and silver aneys.1-5 It has been shown that at least, four factors are involved: (I) concentration of solute, (2) row of the periodic table from which the solute is taken, (3) increase in lattice parameter of the solvent produced by the solute, and (4) work-hardening produced by penetration of the hardness indenter.2,4 The last factor is of the utmost importance. An investigation of the available data2.4 leads to the conclusion that the solutes that produce large hardness increases in copper or silver do so principally because they increase the rate of work-hardening. Furthermore, it is doubtful whether any solute produces appreciable hardening in the absence of plastic deformation and hence work-hardening. Thus it is clear that an understanding of the effect of solutes on rate of work hardening is essential to an understanding of the hardness of solid solutions. This effect of solutes is also important in forming operations such as rolling or deep drawing. The presence of elements that confer rapid rates of work-hardening will increase power consumption and may well decrease the amount of deformation possible between anneals. This paper is the report of an investigation of the factors that control rates of work-hardening in copper and silver solid solutions. The silver and copper alloys considered are those in which all solutes are from the B subgroups or second short period of the periodic table. Experience with hardness, with structure of alloys, and with electrical conductivity has proved that results of a fundamental nature are most likely to be obtained if alloys are made up on the basis of the positions of the constituent elements in the periodic table. In previous work, Meyer analysis data on high-purity copper and silver solid solutions were obtained through careful measurements with fully calibrated equipment and these data were corrected to correspond to a standard grain size. From these corrected Meyer analysis data rates of work-hardening have now been calculated. CALCULATION OF RATES OF WORK- HARDENING The Meyer analyses, on which this study of rates of work-hardening is based, consisted in determining impression

Jan 1, 1944

By G. F. Huff, G. R. Bailey, J. H. Richards

An improved bomb-sampling technique for obtaining samples for oxygen analysis from liquid steel is described. Analyses of samples taken from open-hearth furnaces by the improved method show sufficient agreement with laboratory data to indicate the accuracy of the method is better than that of other existing sampling methods. THE bomb-sampling method of determining the oxygen content of a liquid-steel bath was studied by obtaining and analyzing more than 200 samples from normal open-hearth heats. Of these samples, about 60 were obtained with a bomb of conventional design;' the remainder were taken with a somewhat modified bomb designed to give greater protection against slag contamination. In the new device, the contacting faces of the cast-iron mold halves are machined so that they fit closely; the opening at the top of the bomb is covered with a thin steel cap; and the top of the bomb is further covered with a wood block held in place by heavy steel wire. After the bomb has passed through the slag layer and has entered the steel bath, the wire melts and the wood block floats to the surface. Thereafter, the steel melts through the thin cap and flows into the bomb cavity where it is deoxidized with aluminum wire. An assembled bomb, ready for sampling, is shown in Fig. 1. To standardize sampling procedure, the samples were usually taken through the center door and at the bottom of the furnace; that is, the bomb was on the bottom when the metal cap melted. After each addition to the furnace, at least 20 min elapsed before a sample was taken. The oxygen contents of all the samples were determined by using the vacuum-fusion method, two or more specimens from each sample being analyzed. The specimens were cubes of metal cut from a region in the interior of the bomb sample, as shown in Fig. 2. Drillings for carbon analysis were obtained immediately above the oxygen-analysis region. Reproducibility of Results In determining the reproducibility of the results obtained with the modified bomb, the following four factors were studied: 1—variation in the oxygen concentration of duplicate specimens taken from a single sample; 2—variation in the oxygen concentration of duplicate samples taken in quick succession: 3—effect of the amount of aluminum wire

Jan 1, 1953

By A. W. Edelen, H. V. Lee

THE Teziutlan copper-zinc deposit is supposed to be of late Cambrian or early Paleozoic age. The country rocks are a series of schists or phyllites, flat lying and in the form of a plunging anticline. The ore deposit occupies a single horizon in the schist for a known horizontal extent of 1200 meters. Along its strike occur four large lenses or ore bodies. These ore bodies occupy positions along the flank and extend to the crest of the anticline. The primary mineralization is in the form of quartz, pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena, with a few scattered silver anti-monides. Quartz and pyrite form the mineralization between the ore lenses. In the ore lenses the sulphides appear as a massive, very he-grained intergrowth of minerals. The intergrowth suggests a contemporaneous deposition of the heavy sulphides. The grain size, usually under 0.09 mm., makes the separation difficult and fine grinding important. The ore bodies were formed at great depth by solutions probably originating in the same basic magma that gave rise to the dolerite sills that are so common in their vicinity. INTRODUCTION The Teziutlan copper-zinc deposit is distinctly different from other ore deposits of Mexico in age and type. Previously stated to be pre- Cambrian in age, it is now quite generally supposed to belong to the late Cambrian or to the early Paleozoic period. Also, in contrast to the usual shallow-vein zone type of mineralization in Mexico, there is here exemplified an intermediate vein zone deposit of copper and zinc. So far as is known, the Teziutlan vein is unique in the history of Mexican geology and in a class by itself, its closest counterpart probably being the copper veins of the pre-Cambrian of Canada. The Teziutlan district is in the extreme northwestern corner of the State of Puebla, Mexico. Teziutlan, the terminus of a branch line of the National Railways from Mexico City, is connected to the mine at Aire Libre by a 17-km. narrow-gauge railroad owned and operated by the Teziutlan Copper Co. Owing to excessive grades on this short line, Shay-geared locomotives are used for the transportation of concentrates and supplies.

Jan 1, 1937

By G. E. Anderson

THE Asientos-Tepezala district is in the north of the State of Aguascalientes, about 30 miles north of the city of Aguascalientes, the capital. The district is reached by a standard-gage railway on the west side through the junction, Rincon de Romos, which is on the main line of the National Railways of Mexico from El Paso to Aguascalientes. The terminal is Tepezala. On the east side a narrow gage connects Asientos with the junction, San Gil, on the main line, Asientos to San Luis Potosi. Tepezala on the west side of the Asientos hills is about 2 miles from Asientos on the east side. The area between the two mining centers is separated by a low subued divide which forms the central part of the hills. The district is in a group of isolated hills surrounded by characteristic bolson plains. The hills rise above the surrounding plains about 6500 to 10,000 ft.; the highest peak is Alta Mira. The two mining districts lie somewhat upon the flanks of the hills at about the same elevation, 7200 ft. The district is an old one and has been known since early in the 17th Century when the mines were worked by the Franciscan Monks. Their mining operations which were limited to the oxidized ore above the water level, consisted chiefly in extracting silver from the Santa Francisca vein. To judge from the old workings and the remains of surface plant, the operations were on a large scale. By modern mining operations since about 1900, the various mines of the district have been one of the principal sources of ore for the smelter located at Aguascalientes.

Jan 2, 1926

By Francis A. Pocock

The writer is continually asked, if this electricity:is all you claim for it, why do not the mines put it in and use it? The best answer was given by Mr. John Fox Tallis, in his paper read before the South Wales Institute of Engineers in 1888, namely, that the reasons are similar to those which have prevented the more general employment of other systems of haulage. Managers, as a rule, are " not experienced mechanical engineers; neither are they all versed in electrical engineering." It may be said that there are a number of " able and practical electrical engineers who could do the work; but those electrical engineers are not conversant with the practical routine of colliery work and are, therefore, placed at a disadvantage by not knowing the actual requirements of mining engineers, and the many little difficulties to be met and contended with in underground workings; and, until mining engineers have acquired the necessary knowledge and a confidence in electricity, it is only natural that they will continue to follow the beaten path." In the above remarks, Mr. Tallis has hit the nail on the head. In the face of the partial failure, financially, of the haulage-plant which the Union Electric Company of Philadelphia had set to work at Lykens Valley, Pa., an electric haulage-plant was installed near Scranton, Pa. The question was not whether electricity could do the work, but whether any electrical company knew enough about the practical difficulties to attack and overcome them. That point being settled, the remainder was easy. The contract for the Erie Colliery haulage-plant was signed in January, 1889. This colliery is owned by the Hillside Coal and Iron Company, Mr. Samuel Hines, President, and Captain W. A. May, Superintendent. The company has been using arc-lamps in its breakers for three years. It is the only company in the Lackawanna Valley which has had enterprise enough to do so. Consequently, it was acquainted

Jan 1, 1890

By R. E. Ogilvie, H. C. Gatos, R. E. Hanneman

The ejj-ect of high pressures on chemical inter-diffusion in the Fe-V system was determined by analyses of concentration vs distance profiles of atmospheric and high-pressure diffusion couples. Diffusion data were obtained as a function of tern -perature and composition. Activation energies, activation volumes, and frequency factors were determined at 1 atm, 20 kbars, and 40 kbars as a function concentration in the a and y phases. The A great deal of research has been carried out in the measurement and understanding of binary chemical inter diffusion in solids. Studies of the effects of high pressure on interdiffusion in binary systems, however, have been virtually nonexistent until the present work. This paper gives a detailed account of the effect of high pressure on interdiffusion and the Kirkendall effect in the Fe-V system. The present data are compared to existing theo- Kirkendall effects were measured at 1 atm and 40 kbars. At 1 atm Dy > DFe at the marker concentration; however, Dv approaches DFe under pressure, and at 40 kbars the values are approximately equal. The high-pressure and atmospheric diffusion data are evaluated on the basis of theoretical models. Chemical analyses of the diffusion -couple profiles were made using an electron microbeam probe. retical treatments of pressure dependence of diffusion which are based upon self-diffusion studies. THEORY The rates of atomic migration in metals and alloys are regulated by the repulsive forces exerted on an atom during its motion from one equilibrium lattice site to another and by the availability of a jump site. Application of high pressure is expected to decrease diffusion rates because it decreases interatomic distances as well as defect concentrations. A number of theoretical treatments have been focused on the problem of calculating self-diffusion coefficients in solids under atmospheric pressure. In general, the vacancy mechanism of diffusion appears to be dominant at high temperatures in most metallic systems. The migration of an atom by this

Jan 1, 1965