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WILLIAM H. KOBBÉ (communication to the Secretary*).-I have read with much interest the discussion of my paper by Arthur Knapp and I. N. Knapp published in the March Bulletin. These discussions apparently assume that my paper advances a. number of ideas that are not intended: 1. That the total sandbody or pay is to be removed. 2. That upon bringing this sand and oil to the surface 100 per cent., or perfect separation, can take place. 3. That this tremendous quantity of sand is then hauled away in wagons and distributed as road material. The paper raider discussion is not a theoretical treatment of the subject but is the result of actual experience in oil production under the conditions mentioned.. That wells that produce sand produce in ore oil, and the best operating methods to bring this about are fully treated. It is, of course, impossible to remove all the oil sand underlying a property, but the greater the amount removed the greater becomes the production of oil. As stated in my paper, the surface disposal of this large volume of sand is a problem and the only use to which it can be put is road surfacing; but I did not intend to convey the idea that all this sand was thus used. Only a very small quantity was required on the company's roads, and two wagons only were employed for this purpose. The remaining sand accumulated in the numerous "washes" and sumps. Although this sand contained sufficient oil to stain the hands, it was, surprisingly dry and could be easily shoveled. As stated in the paper, "the piles of sand are gradually freed of their oil content and a crust forms on their surface which will bear the weight of a man." I consider this a high degree of separation. A small amount of oil necessarily remains in the sand and is held there by capillarity. Otherwise it would be useless as a road binder, and, furthermore, to recover such oil special processes of treating are required. Arthur Knapp says, "of the total volume produced by pumping, not more than 4 or 5 per cent. can possibly be sand." I cannot agree with this statement as I have managed many properties where the wells were so operated that the amount of sand produced was five times this figure.

Jan 6, 1917

APPROXIMATELY 26 percent of the total ore production to date from the largest single deposit of copper-bearing material in the world was mined during the war years, 1942 to 1945, at Chile Exporation Company's great open-pit mine at Chuquicamata, Chile. About 18 percent of the total waste removed during the life of the mine was handled in the same period. The total of ore and waste represents approximately 24 percent of the total material that has been excavated from the pit. This is more than was removed in the first fourteen years of operation from 1914 through 1927. The pit at Chuquicamata is 17/8 miles long, 1/2 mile wide, and has a present vertical extent of 817 ft between the top of the highest bench and the lowest bench being worked. However, when

Jan 1, 1948

By W. J. Sharwood

In the cyanide process, gold and silver are dissolved from crushed ore as double alkali-metal cyanides, from which they may be precipitated by such positive metals as sodium (amalgam), aluminum, or zinc, or by electrolysis. Two extreme conditions may be noted. Some works, especially slime plants practising decantation, use a relatively large volume of solution—possibly 4 or 5 tons per ton of ore—nearly all of which may require precipitation, so that the solutions handled are of much lower value per ton than the ore. On the other hand, in some leaching plants it is possible to extract with very little solution, and to percolate some of this more than once through the charge before precipitation, so that the solution to be precipitated may be much less than half the weight of ore, and proportionally richer. Solution intended for further use need not have all its precious metal removed, but any that has to be thrown away should be impoverished as far as is economically possible. In spite of certain advantages possessed by other precipitants, zinc in some form has been almost universally used.. In some of the first attempts to utilize cyanides as gold solvents, a "piece or plate of zinc" was suggested as a precipitant, but extension of surface was early recognized as a desideratum. . Macarthur and the Forrests adopted a "metallurgical filter" of zinc shaving, turned from disks or rolled sheets. They had previously experimented on other forms of zinc, ax! Mscarthur records having tried zinc dust, which had of course been long known as a general reducing agent. It had also been known and used as a precipitant of precious metal from plating and photographic solutions, and comminuted zinc had been patented for recovering copper, etc., from ore leaches. Other inventors proposed the virtual making of zinc powder by the attrition of balls of zinc, and by similar means, during the passage of a stream of gold-bearing solution. Sulman claimed the use of zinc dust, or fume, in a special apparatus, effecting a more or less regular feed of dust and solution by means of intermittent siphons; the mixture or "emulsion" (as it is still called) rising with diminishing velocity through an inverted cone in which it

Jan 1, 1918

By Rogers Wade

THE Pilares mine of the Moctezuma Copper Co. is situated at Los Pilares de Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico, about 75 mi. (120.7 km.) South of the international boundary and about 7 mi. (11.26 kin.) east of the town of Nacozari de Garcia. It is situated at an elevation of 5000 ft. (1524 m.) in one of the northward trending ridges that form part of the mountain mass that culminates in the Sierra Madre de Mexico. To the east, south, and west, the topography is rugged and diversified; to the north less diversity exists, ranges of mountains rise sharply out of almost level ground and give the basin range structure characteristic of the southwest. The climate is dry, the average rainfall of 15 in. (38 cm.) being confined almost entirely to the months of June, July, and August. The

Jan 8, 1919

By J. L. Humphrey

The origin of roof bolting is obscure, but is believed to have begun some 40 years ago in the mines of St. Joseph Lead Co. in southern Missouri. It was not until after World War II, and more particularly after 1949, as a result of the concentrated effort of the USBM, that roof bolting attracted widespread interest. It is estimated that at the end of 1954, 26 pct of all bituminous coal mining in the U. S. was being done under roof bolts. Those mines alone use nearly 2,000,000 roof bolts per month, according to USBM statistics. Uses in metal mines are increasing rapidly, as confidence and knowledge grow. The application has found equal success in other fields, such as tunneling work for dam and waterway construction and right of way maintenance on highways and railroads.

May 1, 1956

By AIME AIME

THE Engineering Education Committee of the Institute convened at the Engineering Societies Building on Feb. 18, .1929, with. E. A. Holbrook, dean of the Schools of Mines and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, in the chair. STATISTICAL' STUDY OF STUDENTS IN MINING The first paper, a statistical study of the students enrolled in courses leading to a mining degree in 40 institutions, was presented by H. D. Keiser,, assistant editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal; who gave a brief outline of an article he was about to publish in ?that journal?. The complete article appears in the issue for March 30; 1929: To avoid repetition the results are summarized as follows: A request was sent to 42 institutions which give courses in mining' for the number of students enrolled as freshmen; sophomores; juniors, seniors and special students in mining for the years 1925-26, 1926-27, 1927-28, 1928-29. Two of these colleges replied that there were no students in mining. Students' enrolled in courses in metallurgy, geology and engineering, other than mining, were excluded from the statistics:. The statistics received were arranged in, four groups, according to the completeness of the information. One complete group of 25 institutions 'shows as follows:

Jan 1, 1929

By Robert R. Walden, LaMont West

KENTUCKY'S first acid-grade fluorspar flotation mill, shown in Fig. 1, was placed in operation Aug. 1, 1952, by the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. at Mexico, Ky. During 1951 a critical shortage of acid-grade fluorspar developed and it became necessary for the company to produce part of its fluorspar requirements. In 1951 the company purchased the Crider and Lennen metallurgical fluorspar mill and an adjacent stockpile of tailing at Mexico, Ky. The tailing, assaying about 26 pct calcium fluoride, originated from log washer and jig mill concentrators in the area. As the mill did not have a fluorspar dryer or convenient rail facilities, the company leased the Burleson concentrator at Marion, Ky., where these facilities were available. At Marion, Ky., on the Illinois Central Railroad, dry acid-grade fluorspar is transported direct to the company's Calvert City, Ky., hydrofluoric acid plant.

Jan 5, 1954

By Fred W. Stiefel

THIS paper covers the operation and maintenance of Diesel locomotives underground on a portion of the Delaware River Aqueduct.[t] This part of the tunnel is r5 miles long, with shafts 14 ft. in diameter spaced about 5 miles apart. These shafts (2, 2a and 3) are 825 ft., 1551 and 840 ft. deep, respectively. The grade of the tunnel is almost level, except for the 12,100 ft. north of shaft 2, which has a grade of 2.31 per cent. The tunnel is circular, 19 to 19 ft. in diameter, It lies at a depth of 400 ft. below sea level, with a maximum overburden of 2400 feet. The tunnel driving was carried on in six headings, using 15 storage-battery locomotive each of 13 gross tons and having a [inum] speed of 8 miles per hour. The longest haul was 3 miles, which proved to be the maximum distance for which storage-battery locomotives could be employed economically for the amount of material to be moved. One locomotive was used for switching cars at each heading, one for switching cars at the bottom of each shaft and one on the main-line haul from the heading to the shaft. The maximum amount of material hoisted in one shaft from two headings when 104 ft. of tunnel was driven in 24 hr. was 1000 cu. yd., or about 2000 tons of rock in place. The total quantity excavated was 950,000 cu. yd. (1,500,000 tons of rock). The tunnel-lining operations using con¬crete presented a problem of hauling a maximum distance of 5 miles in the tunnel. The concrete-placing equipment had a capacity of about 2000 cu. yd., or 4000 tons in 24 hours. Experience had shown that storage-battery equipment could not handle this quantity of material within the time required at the distance of 5 miles, Trolley-locomotive haulage was considered dangerous and expensive, and would cause interference because transmission equipment would be required. Therefore the performance of Diesel locomotives of 160 hp., with a speed of 18 miles per hour, in comparison with that of other types of locomotives, was studied. CHOICE OF LOCOMOTIVES In deciding upon the type of locomotive to be used for the 5-mile haul, four alternatives were considered, as follows: I. To purchase additional storage-battery locomotives with the necessary batteries over the 6 locomotives and 12 batteries available. 2. To convert the existing battery locomotives to the trolley type. 3. To purchase new trolley locomotives. 4. To purchase Diesel locomotives. PROPOSITION No. I The go-hp. storage-battery locomotives available (each weighing about 12 tons), when hauling a load of 64 tons, with a drawbar pull of about 1900 lb. on a level track, developed a speed of 8 miles per hour and could make five round trips in 8 hr. with a

Jan 1, 1942

By E. B. Spice

Although much may be learned about the economics of cold weather operations by studying successful mining ventures in southern and central Canada, it is the purpose of this article to extend the study by considering only permafrost areas. Geographically this means most of the country north of the 60th parallel. In this area, at the present time, only five Canadian companies are carrying on routine and successful mining operations on a year-round basis. However, there have been some score of unsuccessful ventures, and a number of properties in the development stage show promise of being producers. Problems of cold weather are worthy of study. It may be pointed out that successful mines in this area face problems of isolation and costly transportation as well as cold weather. To reach valid conclusions, consider the development of a mythical mineral deposit located on the 65th parallel in the heart of the barren lands; problems of isolation and transportation will be ignored.

Jul 1, 1956

By ERJIINICI FERRARIS

1. HISTORICAL REVIEW AND INTRODUCTION. THE development of the mining industry in Sardinia dates from the application of the minim law of 1859, which, following the example of the French mining law of 1810, declared prospecting to be free, and suppressed the liens which had previously attached the mine to surface ownership. The first ore-dressing plants were installed by German engineers upon the classic models of the Harz and of Freiberg; but in 1880 Sardinia commenced to open a new path in that industry, utilizing the refuse from the mining of rich, selected minerals, of poor deposits, and of mixed ores. The first experiments were attempts to adapt the existing apparatus to local conditions, but progress was rapid, as was demonstrated already in 1887 by the calamine-dressing-mill of Monteponi, which exhibited a large plant designed in accordance with the experience gained, and constructed entirely in the machine-shops of the country, after new models and designs.1 This example was followed two years later by the Société Malfidano, with a large plant of the same sort, and with the reconstruction of the old-fashioned-dressing-mill, built in 1880 by the Austro-Belgian Company. In 1900, almost all the mines of Sardinia had adopted the new designs, and the island contained 32 concentrating-works, employing 2,000 h.p. and 1,924 workmen. Since that time, there have been added a large dressing-mill for blende at Gennamari, and two for calamine, at San Giovanni and at Masua, while the establishments at other mines have been enlarged and perfected. For the treatment of intimately mixed ores, a large establishment has been built upon the new

Jan 5, 1908

By Arthur Coffinberry

EVE have studied the gold-aluminum system by X-ray diffraction and by the microscope over the entire range of composition for temperatures between 300° and 500° C. Results obtained are shown in Fig. 1, com-bined with the work of Heycock and Neville1 at higher temperatures. The diagram differs in important details from that given by Hansen2 in his critical compilation of the literature of binary alloy systems. This work was, undertaken both because of the intrinsic value of a knowledge of the phase diagram of this system and because of the need of theoretical metallurgy for precise and accurate data, particularly X-ray diffraction data. Systematic studies of equilibrium diagrams, particularly by Hume-Rothery,3 have shown regularities that yield a certain insight into the nature of alloying forces. It has been shown, for example, that solid solubility depends on the concentration of free electrons in the alloy, on the relative radii of solvent and solute atones, on the forces of attraction between atoms, and on the relative stability of intermediate phases. The well-known Hume-Rothery rule states that the crystal structures and compositions of many intermediate phases depend on the electron-to-atom ratio. This has been confirmed and extended by wave mechanical calculations.4 A knowledge of the forces between atoms in alloys, even an imperfectly developed empirical one, should be a valuable guide in the preparation of technological alloys of desirable properties. Furthermore, such informa-tion is basic in such problems as rate of diffusion, age-hardening, phase transformations, and others. The most valuable data for this purpose are furnished by X-ray diffraction studies. Unfortunately, work has been

Jan 1, 1938

THREE regional meetings are planned for this summer and fall following the spring meeting held under the auspices of the Iron and Steel Committee and the Ohio Section at Cleveland in April and in lieu of a general fall meeting of the Institute. Plans for all of them are maturing rapidly. Excellent programs and. interesting visits to points of local tech¬nical interest are already assured. THE SALT LAKE CITY MEETING This meeting will be under the auspices of the Milling Committee and the Utah Section. It will be one of the features of the joint convention held the week of August 22 to 26 with the Western Division of the American Mining Congress. The Congress will be responsible for the general arrangements and for the program on the first day. The following general committees have been appointed:

Jan 7, 1927

By ALEX. S. THOMAS

HOWEVER good a furnace may be in regard to design, etc., or however excellent in the quality of the gas used, a suitable heat for the successful working of the metal cannot be obtained unless the melt be coated with a proper quantity of slag. This coating may be excessive or it may be deficient in quantity. The right degree of heat is the essential condition of successful working, for the quality of the steel made is never very good when the metal is allowed to simmer in the furnace for an excessive period, and this heat cannot be obtained if the metal is not protected by a proper covering of slag. This is not only to prevent the metal being over-oxidized and wasted, but also to prevent the metal being chilled when exposed with only a thin covering of slag. The slag may be obtained in either of two ways : 1, naturally, by the presence of sufficient silicon in the iron used, to unite with iron oxide to form a staple slag ; or, 2, by the addition of slag or free silica. In the first case the slag is formed naturally by the action of the oxygen in the flame - i.e., the oxidizing atmosphere of the furnace-on the silicon in the metal when melting. The charge then melts, as it is termed, "thick," and protects the banks from being cut. If too much silicon be present, however, and an excessive quantity of slag be formed, it will be found to be rather infusible, and unless care be taken to add the oxides quickly and follow the furnace up-thus rendering the slag more fusible by the extra iron oxide-the furnace bottom is liable to be pulled up. In such cases the author has frequently been able to warn

Nov 1, 1906

By Blamey Stevens

(San Francisco Meeting, October, 1911.) My previous paper is entitled, The Laws of Igneous Emanation Pressure. The present paper lays no claim to the exactitude and completeness of a law, since it is of a provisional nature and may be disregarded when experiments have established a basis for more exact reasoning. The general physical states in which aqueous emanations may occur are first considered. The possible physical conditions under which the mineral elements may occur in emanations are then discussed, and a classification of deposits, dependent on emanation, is proposed. A system of scientific experimental investigation is outlined, and it is shown that the physical and chemical properties of emanation may be exactly determined thereby. The investigation is urged as feasible and simple, and not necessarily requiring large and costly apparatus. It is the only step necessary to make possible the formulation of a complete set of laws of igneous emanation. Process of Emanation. In a rising column, magma ranges in temperature from 900° to 1,200°C. Exhalation must begin at some fairly great depth. What this depth may be we can only surmise, since no experimental evidence is available. Exhalation, however, continues as the magma flows upward, until at another level the occluded gases have all escaped. This depth is probably upward of 5,000 ft. (See Fig. 1.) All exhalations must come from between these two levels. As the whole emanation is the sum of the exhalations and residues, the residues must come from below the uppermost level. They will be most abundant when coming, from those parts of the intrusion which have solidified below the lower level.

Apr 1, 1912

The following list contains the names of members whose death notices have been printed in MINING AND METALLURGY from March 15, 1947 through March 15, 1948 Biographical sketches published in MINING AND METALLURGY are indicated in the last two columns Year of Election - Name - Date of Death - Issue Containing Biography - Page 1938 ABERNATHY, G E , (M) Feb 6, 1948 April 1948 266 1935 ARCHER, M T, (M) Oct 26, 1947 Dec 1947 633 1947 ATIKINSON, JAMES E, (S) Feb 6, 1948 June 1947 309 1940 AYRES, VINCENT L, (M) Oct 14, 1947 Jan 1948 59 1915 BABCOCK, JAMES E , (M) April 1, 1947 June 1947 309 1942 BAGGALEY, WILLIAM BLAIR, (A) Aug 28, 1947 Jan 1948 59 1897 BUIN, II POSTER, (M) Mar 9, 1948 April 1948 219 1945 BAMPFIELD, A E (M) Unknown Mar 1948 215

Jan 1, 1952

By John Freeman

THE tensile properties of steels at elevated temperatures have been studied by numerous investigators,1 primarily for the purpose of determining their suitability for structural uses. Tests with this objective have been confined largely to the temperature range of approximately 20° to 500° C., because of the rapidly decreasing tensile strength at the latter temperature. Tests have also been extended to higher temperatures for the purpose of determining the most suitable forging range. This temperature range is also of theoretical interest. The phenomenon of increased tensile strength and decreased ductility in the so-called "blue-heat" range, approximately 200° to 300° C., is well known. It was suggested to the Bureau early in 1926 that a study of the properties of rail steels in this temperature range might prove of interest in relation to the studies of transverse-fissure failures in rails. There were available from another investigation3 several new rails from several different heats made to approximately the same specification requirements, the complete manufacturing histories of which were known. It was decided to determine, at least in the preliminary series of tests, only the ultimate tensile strength, elongation and reduction of area, because of the difficulty, time and cost involved in determining the proportional limit and yield point at elevated temperatures.

Jan 1, 1930

By Manuel Valerio Ortega

This Mexican amalgamation-process, invented in 1557, at Pachuca, by Bartolome de Medina, has been widely discussed in America and Europe, but thus far there is no universal agreement as to all the chemical reactions involved. Having been, after many trials, the first to succeed in effecting the amalgamation of silver-ores by the same mechanical means, but doing without one of the chemical substances which had been considered indispensable in the practice of 300 Sears, I am led to offer these notes as a contribution to the discovery of an exact theory concerning the patio process. My treatment for silver- and gold-ores being protected by letters-patent in this country, the United States, France, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, I may speak freely concerning its materials and manipulation. I. Patio-Amalgamation. The ore extracted from the mine is sorted by pepenadores, who break the large pieces with hammers, rejecting those which contain no ore, set aside the very rich to be smelted, and deliver the rest to be crushed and pulverized for direct amalgamation in the patio. The broken lumps, of about fist-size, are first ground in Chilean mills, and then reduced, in arrastras or tahonas, to fine slime. After the lama or slime has acquired a suitable consistency by the evaporation, through the sun's heat, of a part of the water which it contained, it is spread upon the patio or amalgamating-floor, where it is mixed with 5 or 6 per cent. of common salt. The next day a certain amount (depending upon

Jan 1, 1902

By Jay J. Burns

TWO zinc concentrating mills are operated by the St. Joseph Lead Co. in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. The Edwards mill is operating at present only sixteen hours a day treating 400 tons daily. The metallurgy at Edwards presents no unusual problems therefore this discussion is mainly limited to the metallurgy of the Balmat ore. The Balmat mill has a capacity of 1,250 tons per day and the operating crew consists of three shift bosses each with five millmen per shift. Two crusher operators work on each of two shifts and one cleanup man on day shift. The repair crew is made up of a foreman and three repairmen, one of the repairmen being capable of taking over any operating job in the mill from shift boss down. Each millman is capable of handling the next job in line and several men in the yard crew are broken into handling the start-off job in the mill so that temporary shortages of men do not cause extensive overtime. Sphalerite, pyrite, and galena, the principal ore minerals, occur in a gangue of calcite, dolomite, and silicates, especially diopside, plus tremo-

Jan 1, 1947

By AIME AIME

LOCAL COMMITTEES. GENERAL RECEPTION COMMITTEE.-Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Lupton, Mr. and Mrs. T. H Lasley, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Faxon, Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Evans, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. James, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Thomas, Air. and Mrs. H. S. Probasco, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Lasley, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Llewellyn, Mr. and Airs. T. G. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Thomasson, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Milburn, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Raht, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Notting¬ham, Mr. and Airs. Z. C. Patten, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Warner, Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Read, Mr. and Mrs. Carl White, Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Allison, Air. and Mrs. C. E. Buck, Mr. and Airs. H. F. Temple, Air. and Mrs. M. M. Hedges, Mr. and Airs. X. Wheeler, Mr. and Airs. John A. Patten, Air. and Airs. N. T. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Preston, Mr. and Airs. Morrow Chamberlain, Mr. and Airs. T. C. Thompson, Mr. and Airs. T. L. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Hurlbut, Air. and Mrs. C. A. Lyerly, Mr. and Mrs. Garnett Andrews, Air. and Mrs. M. B. Ochs, Mr. and Airs. Webster James, Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Montague, Mr. and Mrs. Z. C. Patten, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Sadd, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Pound, Air. and Mrs. George D. Lancaster, Air. and Airs. J. F. Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Barr, Air. acrd Mrs. W. B. Davis, Mr. and Airs. Douglas Baxter, Air. and Mrs. W. R. Crabtree, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis M. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Newell Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. E. Y. Chapin, Mr. and Mrs. W: B. Riddell,. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Frazier, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Moon, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Mitchell, Dr. and Airs. J. H. Race, Mr. and Airs. A. W. Chambliss, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Smartt, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Tarwater, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Drewry, Capt. and Mrs. A. B. Putnam, Mrs. Minnie C. Ewing, Mr. G. F. Meehan, Mr. Sam S. Gerstle, Mr. P. A. Brawner, Mr. C. M. Preston, Air. George M. Guild, Mr. L. M. Mansfield, Dr. J. W. Johnson, Dr. J. AI. Hogshead. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.-H. S. Chamberlain, Chairman; H. S. Probasco, C. M. Preston, H. Clay Evans, J. T. Lupton, M. B. Ochs, C. C. Nottingham, Al. Al. Alli¬son, R. S. Faxon, C. E. James, C. A. Raht. EXCURSION TO CHICKAMAUGA PARK.-T. C. Thompson, Chairman; B. F. Thomas, G. F. Meehan, Morrow Chamberlain, W. J. Bass, J. K. McGoodwin. EXCURSION TO HALES BAR LOCK AND DAM.-R. H. Williams, Chairman; John A. Patten, Newell Sanders, George M. Guild, Capt. A. B. Putnam. EXCURSION TO ROCK-WOOD.-F. H. Clymer, Chairman; T. L. Brown, T. A. Wright, J. P. Tarwater, T. L. Peterman. INSTITUTE HEADQUARTERS.-The Hotel Patten. THE first session, held Thursday evening, Oct. 1, in the Banquet Hall of the Hotel Patten, was called to order by Capt. H. S. Chamberlain, Chairman of the Local Committee, who, in behalf of the city of Chattanooga, extended a hearty welcome to the members and guests of the Institute.

Nov 1, 1908

By Maurice L. Pinel, Thomas T. Read, Thomas A. Wright

THE erroneous, but until recently widely prevalent, belief that iron castings were first made in Europe in the fourteenth century has been adequately refuted in a number of earlier papers;1,11,12 but except for an unpublished metallographic study by the late William Campbell, and a phosphorus analysis by T. A. Wright of the metal of the Han dynasty cast-iron stove described by Laufer,2 nothing was known of either the chemical composition or the metallographic structure of the metal of any ancient iron casting, although data on castings of recent manufacture are abundantly available. The metal of the stove, which had been buried in a grave for at least 15 centuries, was so corroded that it seemed inadvisable to publish the results on it until more and better specimens from other ancient castings could be obtained. During a journey through China, extending from Peking in the north to Canton in the south and Cheng-tu, Ssu-chuan, in the west, in the late summer and autumn of 1936, one of us (T. T. Read) was fortunate enough to obtain, and bring home for study, nine castings, all more than 1000 years old, of which the date of manufacture is precisely known because of inscriptions cast in them, another that lacks a dated inscription, but of which the date, as explained below, can be otherwise established, and a specimen from the largest iron casting ever made," which is also dated. The period covered by this suite of specimens extends from 502 to 1093 A.D. In addition, a sample was obtained from a casting of date unknown, but which was certainly cast before 1000 A.D. and possibly as early as the third century A.D. A detailed description of these specimens is as follows: 1. 502 A.D. A pair (right and left) of recumbent lions (Fig. 1). Base 7 ¼ by 14 3/8 in., height over-all 5 ½ in., weight 26 lb. each. The translation of the inscription on the base is: "Made on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month of the third year of Ching Ming of Great Wei" (Sept. 11, 502 A.D.).

Jan 1, 1938