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By Peter Joralemon

Peter Joralemon's contention that Nevada contains one of the world's major gold belts is the result of 30 years' active involvement with the state's regional geology. He first suggested the possibility of an arsenical gold belt-tenuously based on two replacement deposits 480 km (300 miles) apart-in his 1949 doctoral thesis of the Getchell mine. In the years that followed, some 18 or 20 arsenical gold ore bodies have been discovered along the lineament Joralemon postulated. In this article, he uses the evidence that he's collected over the last three decades to refine his 1949 thesis. Joralemon's conclusion: A mineral belt containing a billion dollars worth of gold extends the length of Nevada, and a number of ore bodies are yet to be discovered.

Jan 7, 1978

By G. H. Pardue, L. H. Gollwitzer, J. H. Moran, R. L. Morris

Experimental and theoretical studies of casing-borne signals have provided data on the attenuation efect, compressive strength and shear modulus for different types of cement. These data resulted in the establishment of a definite relationship between the cement compressive strength and the Cement Bond log reading. The relationship is influenced by the casing dimensions, but is independent of the type of cement and the curing conditions. The theoretical analysis provides a mathematical statement of the phenomenon and shows that the attenuation rate is basically a function of the shear modulus of the cement and the thickness of the casing. The lab tests provided a connection between the shear modulus and the compressive strength, and permitted a comparison of the experimental and theoretical work. The results of the experimental and theoretical study have provided means of quantitative interpretation of the Cement Bond log. This interpretation is made more convenient with the use of a nomograph. INTRODUCTION Past interpretation of Cement Bond logs has been essenlially based upon a qualitative comparison between the log response in the zone of interest and the responses in the "fully cemented" and the "uncemented" intervals. Most of the variables influencing the magnitude of the signals were recognized in an earlier paper'; however, insufficient laboratory data were available at that time for quantitative evaluation of these variables. Early attempts to use the numerical amplitudes of the signals without full knowledge of their significance resulted in erroneous comparisons between various types of cement. An extensive program was undertaken to evaluate, both experimentally and theoretically, the attenuation phenomenon and to study the effects of the more common variables. A major objective of the experimental program was to obtain data on the relationship between cement-bond-tool response and physical property standards used by the industry so that practical interpretation methods could be devised. The studies included a comparison of attenuation rate with these properties as a function of time, temperature and pressure, using common sizes of casing. The main result was that a definite relationship was established between the compressive strength of the cement in inti- mate contact with the casing and the response of the cement bond tool. For a given casing thickness, regardless of the type of cement or the curing conditions used, the attenuation rate is a function of the compressive strength. A theoretical analysis showed that the attenuation rate for casing-borne signals should be a function of (among other things) the shear modulus of the cement and the thickness of the casing. The relationship between the compressive strength and shear modulus for curing times similar to those encountered in the field was determined from laboratory tests. Using this relationship, the computed attenuation rates showed reasonable agreement with the measured attenuation rates. The purpose of this paper is to report the results of the experimental and theoretical investigations and to present the first practical method for a quantitative interpretation of Cement Bond logs based on known variables. This method is applicable where the casing-borne signal is not affected by high-velocity formation arrivals. DESCRIPTION OF LOGGING TOOL The Cement Bond logging tool shown schematically in Fig. 1 has been described previously.' The tool consists of two sections: acoustic and electronic. The acoustic section contains a transmitter and a receiver, usually spaced 3-ft apart. Sonic energy emittted by the transmitter travels through the casing and is detected at the receiver. The electronic section measures the amplitude of the

WHEN pouring concrete it frequently happens that space prohibits the placing of a mixer at the point, or points, where the concrete is to be used. Usually in such cases recourse is had to some form of pressure chamber, or concrete gun, to blow the mix by compressed air from the mixer to the point of pouring. Recently such a case arose at one of the western mines. The experience obtained there may be of benefit to others, not expert in the means of transporting mixed concrete, when they run up against similar situations. The first stage in pouring in this instance was a vertical drop of 100 ft. from the mixer on one level to the point where horizontal travel began on a lower level. Standard 6-in. pipe with flange joints was used, hung in the shaft space available. A standard 45" bend near the bottom directed the mix, with free discharge, into an air chamber for the horizontal stage of travel. With an air chamber at the mixer and pressure applied to the falling mix in the vertical section, jamming frequently occurred at the turn and the pipe would have to be taken apart for freeing. To obviate this difficulty the mix was poured slowly without the addition of air pressure, when it was found that the mix got through much better.

Jan 1, 1929

By G. Sachs, Jr. Brown W. F., Ebert L. J.

It is a generally recognized fact that a steel quenched from the austenitic range and tempered to yield a structure composed of tempered martensite becomes increasingly more ductile with increasing tempering temperature. However, the conventional tensile test fails to yield any value that is sensitive to differences in behavior on tempering among the various low-alloy steels or among different heats of a particular steel. The notched impact bending test, on the other hand, has been recognized for a considerable length of time as capable of revealing differences in impact properties among various steels tempered to 'the same strength level (i.e., the same tensile strength in a conventional tensile test). However, this test is very complex and its significance has not been clarified up to the present time. Of its three characteristic features—the high speed, the notch, and the bending—the notch has been found by Davidenkov2 to be the most potent embrittling factor. Recent investigations on low-alloy steels have shown static notch-bar tensile tests to be more lucid and to evaluate the metal properties in much the same manner as impact tests. In an attempt to analyze the fundamental nature of this test, it was found possible to separate the effects of the two basic characteristics of the stress pattern introduced by the presence of a circumferential notch, the stress state and the high initial stress concentration at the notch bottom. The major conclusions drawn from these previous investigations were as follows: I. The magnitude of the triaxiality at fracture depends primarily on the initial notch depth. Its effect is a great reduction in the average ductility (contraction in area at fracture in the notched section) as compared with that observed in uniaxial tension. This triaxial stress state occurs at a point in the interior of the notch specimen. It determines the notch ductility if the notch is mild and/or the metal possesses a considerable ductility. On the contrary, brittle specimens probably fracture on the metal surface (at the notch bottom) at which point biaxial stress state is present. This biaxiality also considerably reduces the ductility of the metal. For small notch ductilities the notch strength and the notch ductility become very sensitive to embrittling factors. This is contrary to the behavior. of the ductility values derived from a conventional tensile test, which are comparatively insensitive.

Jan 1, 1947

By Ebert L. J., G. Sachs, Jr. Brown W. F.

It is a generally recognized fact that a steel quenched from the austenitic range and tempered to yield a structure composed of tempered martensite becomes increasingly more ductile with increasing tempering temperature. However, the conventional tensile test fails to yield any value that is sensitive to differences in behavior on tempering among the various low-alloy steels or among different heats of a particular steel. The notched impact bending test, on the other hand, has been recognized for a considerable length of time as capable of revealing differences in impact properties among various steels tempered to 'the same strength level (i.e., the same tensile strength in a conventional tensile test). However, this test is very complex and its significance has not been clarified up to the present time. Of its three characteristic features—the high speed, the notch, and the bending—the notch has been found by Davidenkov2 to be the most potent embrittling factor. Recent investigations on low-alloy steels have shown static notch-bar tensile tests to be more lucid and to evaluate the metal properties in much the same manner as impact tests. In an attempt to analyze the fundamental nature of this test, it was found possible to separate the effects of the two basic characteristics of the stress pattern introduced by the presence of a circumferential notch, the stress state and the high initial stress concentration at the notch bottom. The major conclusions drawn from these previous investigations were as follows: I. The magnitude of the triaxiality at fracture depends primarily on the initial notch depth. Its effect is a great reduction in the average ductility (contraction in area at fracture in the notched section) as compared with that observed in uniaxial tension. This triaxial stress state occurs at a point in the interior of the notch specimen. It determines the notch ductility if the notch is mild and/or the metal possesses a considerable ductility. On the contrary, brittle specimens probably fracture on the metal surface (at the notch bottom) at which point biaxial stress state is present. This biaxiality also considerably reduces the ductility of the metal. For small notch ductilities the notch strength and the notch ductility become very sensitive to embrittling factors. This is contrary to the behavior. of the ductility values derived from a conventional tensile test, which are comparatively insensitive.

Jan 1, 1947

By Howard Martens, Pol Duwez

IN two papers published in 1949, alloys of chromium with the refractory metals tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, and columbium were investigated in view of their possible use as high temperature resisting materials. For the Cr-Ta system, a partial phase diagram was presented and the only intermediate phase was identified at Ta2Cr3. A phase of the same composition was also observed in the Cb-Cr system. The X-ray diffraction data presented in these papers, however, were insufficient for crystal structure determination. It is shown in the present study that the only intermediate phase in both the Ta-Cr and the Cb-Cr systems corresponds to the ideal stoichiometric ratio TaCr2, or CbCr2. Both structures are cubic, MgCu, type. At high temperature, however, TaCr2 has a hexagonal MgZn, type structure, which can be retained at room temperature by fast cooling. The alloys were prepared by melting in a helium arc furnace on a water-cooled plate. The design of the furnace was essentially the same as that described in ref. 3. Some alloys were also obtained by sintering compacts made of the mixed powders pressed at 80,000 psi. The sintering was carried on for 4 hr at 1375°C. The tantalum and columbium powders were supplied by Fansteel Metallurgical Corp., North Chicago, 111. The tantalum powder was the reagent grade, with a particle size smaller than 400 mesh and a total impurity content less than 0.1 pct. The columbium powder was smaller than 325 mesh and contained approximately 0.1 pct C and traces of Fe, Ti, and Zr. The electrolytic chromium powder from Charles Hardy, Inc., New York, was smaller than 300 mesh and contained about 0.1 pct Na, 0.05 pct Ca, and traces of Cu, Al, Mg, Si, and Co. Powder diffraction patterns were obtained with a 14.32 cm camera, using copper Ka radiation filtered through nickel foil. The powder pattern of the TaCr2 alloy obtained by sintering at 1375'C was different from that obtained on the same alloy rapidly cooled from the melt. Contrary to this result, the powder pattern of CbCr2 was the same, whether the alloy was made by sintering at 1375°C or by melting, and was similar to that of the TaCr, sintered. It was also found that the structure of the TaCr2 specimen obtained by melting was retained after heating for 4 hr at 1590°C, but transformed into the structure found in the sintered specimen after heating for 4 hr at 1375°C. Hence, the structural change of TaCr2, appears to be a reversible polymorphic transformation. CbCr2 and ToCr2 Structure, Low Temperature Form By using large scale Hull-Davey charts, the powder pattern of CbCr, and of the low temperature form of TaCr2 were readily interpreted on the basis of a face-centered cubic lattice with a parameter of approximately 6.95 kX. The indices of the reflections together with the values of sin' 0 are given in Tables I and 11. From this list of observed reflections, it appears that the (200), (600), (024), (046), and (028) reflections are missing. The lack of (h00) reflections for h 4n indicates a four-fold screw axis. The missing (Okl) spectra for k + 1 An indicate the existence of a diamond glide d. The combination of these symmetry elements can be found in the O— Fd3m space group, which is therefore the most probable one. After having determined the approximate density of TaCr, by the immersion method, the number of molecules per unit cell was calculated and found to be nearly eight. This information, added to the fact that the most probable space group is O leads to the consideration of a structure of the MgCu2 type, in which the atoms have the following positions: 8 magnesium in a and 16 copper in d. On the basis of this structure, intensities were computed by means of the usual formula: 1 cos'20 I a sin2 cos where F is the structure factor; 8, the Bragg angle: and p, the multiplicity factor. As shown in Tables I

Jan 1, 1953

By GERALD A. WARING

ALASKA'S coal consumption is now about 130,000 tons annually. About one-quarter of this amount is used in the southeastern part of the territory and in settlements on the western coast and comes from Seattle and from British Columbia mines. About 60,000 tons is sub-bituminous coal from the Healy River mine in central Alaska, and is used mainly at Fairbanks, sixty miles to the north, for heating and the development of electric energy, for the city and the gold-dredging operations of the Fairbanks Exploration Co. The remaining 40,000 or 50,000 tons is bituminous coal from Matanuska Valley, in the south-central part of the territory. These coal deposits extend intermittently for about forty miles along the valley, which trends eastward from the upper end of Cook Inlet.

Jan 1, 1934

By K. C. Ko, M. K. McCarter

Experimentation with seismic velocity measurements at Kennecott Copper Corp.'s Bingham mine disclosed that some recognized slide areas are characterized by low velocity profiles. A new traverse technique employed during the investigation allows rapid and precise measurements of a quantity referred to as "apparent velocity." This value is a weighted average of the actual velocity in the overbreak zone near the surface and in the intact rock at depth. The low points on the velocity profile are apparently the result of lower actual velocities and deeper overbreak in less competent material within the slide zones. Experience verifies the usefulness and practicality of the technique in delineating adverse areas prior to detectable failure. The technique may be employed as a rapid and economic means of slope stability surveillance in large open pit mines.

Jan 1, 1973

By W. L. Austin

THE advance made in recent times in this branch of metallurgy is indicated y the attention the subject is receiving from important American copper-producing companies. Reference to the files of publications devoted to the mining industry discloses that some 20 American companies are actively investigating the amenability of their ore, or other material, to leaching methods, and that plants of varying capacities up, to 10,000 tons per day are under construction or are projected. Several leaching works are in commercial operation. It has been frequently pointed out that no method of leaching is universally applicable, for the reason that each ore differs in some particular from apparently similar ore found elsewhere, and also because local conditions are rarely the same even where the ore closely approximates in character that being worked at some other point. For this reason the older companies are approaching the matter in a conservative manner, experimentally determining for themselves the salient features in each instance. In considering a leaching proposition three factors at once fix the attention: (1) disengaging the metal from mineralized forms in Which it is found in nature; (2) recovering the metal in a commercial state after it has been dissolved; (3) the apparatus best adapted to carrying out the several operations.

Jan 8, 1914

By D. Harrington

WHEN the word gas is mentioned in connection with mining, almost invariably it is inferred that the explosive gas, methane, is in mind and that it must refer to coal mining. While it is true that methane occurs, or is likely to occur, in almost any or all coal mines, it is also a fact that the metal mines of the world have in them by far a greater variety of gases than have the coal mines. In many cases the gases in metal mines are as dangerous to individuals as the gases likely to be found in coal mines; in some instances the metal mine gases are even more deadly. The coal mine is more likely to have methane than the metal mine, in rare instances it may have high percentages of nitrogen or high carbon dioxide, or there may be a deficiency of oxygen where the air is confined in a blind end or in a sealed region; much more rarely there are found in coal mines in relatively small percentages, ethane, or other hydrocarbons with odor of ether, gasoline or kerosene, or there may be minute percentages of hydrogen sulfide. In time of coal mine fire or explosion, there is likely to be high carbon monoxide (4 per cent. or over in some cases) and if the coal contains much sulfur, there may be some sulfur dioxide in the fire fumes. In metal mines there are a number of cases of occurrence of methane and attendant explosions; some metal mines have appreciable percentages of the decidedly explosive hydrogen; in some metal-mining regions carbon dioxide flows into the mine, fills the workings and overflows just like water. In other regions, at many working faces there are high-temperature gases containing a mixture of gases of sulfur (sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and possibly SO3 in some cases) together with carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and the deadly hydrogen sulfide in lethal proportions is found in some high-sulfide metal mines at blasting time. Carbon monoxide constitutes a decidedly dangerous day by day hazard in connection with metal-mine blasting, because of the heavy charges of dynamite that are used and the use of fuse, which in burning gives off much carbon monoxide. The poisonous gas hazard is accentuated because of the relatively small openings where metal-mine blasting is done and to the inefficient ventilation of the usual metal mine.

Jan 1, 1930

By George L. Heath

It may at first appear doubtful that any further ideas can now come from such a well-trodden soil, when we consider that the ground of the subject has been so thoroughly gone over in many of its phases and that observations have been recorded in technical journals, ever since the days when Luckow and his cotemporaries brought the electrolytic deposition of pure copper to the position of an exact scientific method. Certain facts, however, which seem worthy of note, have come under the writer's observation during an extended use of the method in a large refinery, involving frequent tests of refined Lake and electrolytic copper, and thousands of assays of native copper concentrates and tailings. This work has required a careful study of the conditions suited to the assay of refined copper, and of ores and tailings— conditions which must be varied for each particular case to secure the best results. Especially is this true when we come to the exact determination of pure copper in the high-grade refined metal of the present day. Very slight traces of impurities (especially tellurium, selenium, bismuth, tin, arsenic and antimony) seriously injure the properties of copper, notably its electrical conductivity. The increasing demands of electrical science and construction lead to the conclusion that the analysis of all high-grade American coppers, at least, has become, and must be in future (in or-

Jan 1, 1898

By C. O. Ensign

Results of the application of geo1ogic knowledge to grade control have been remarkable. Grade reduction from dilution has been diminished from greater than 9% at the time of the program's beginning to about 2% at present. This has resulted in an increase of about 1.8 lb of copper per ton of ore mined and has made a substantial contribution to earnings at White Pine during the past two years. Even more improvement is expected in the future. The White Pine orebody, situated in the southwestern portion of the Keweenaw peninsula of upper Michigan, is a gently dipping stratiform or bedded deposit. Copper distribution is stratigraphi-cally controlled with higher values being confined to specific beds in the ore column. Room-and-pillar mining is practiced. Mining technique and geologic characteristics present a special array of problems in controlling the grade of ore. A routine program of grade control was started in the White Pine mine in August 1961. The program is based upon development and application of geologic knowledge to assist mine operating personnel to increase the grade of ore, primarily by accurate stratigraphic control and selection of areas for development on the basis of grade distribution trends. Geologists work closely with mine supervisors to offer the necessary geologic guidance. STRATIGRAPHIC POSITION OF COPPER The important rock series in the White Pine area is comprised of three formations of late Precambrian age. In descending order they are the Freda sandstone, Nonesuch shale, and Copper Harbor conglomerate. The Nonesuch shale is about 600 ft thick. Economic copper concentration occurs only in the lowermost 20 to 25 ft of the formation; however, within a restricted area along the southwest side of the mine the uppermost 1 to 7 ft of the Copper Harbor conglomerate (lower sandstone) contain sufficient quantities of copper to be included in the ore column. The ore consists primarily of chalcocite with subordinate native copper disseminated in shales, siltstones, and sandstones. MINE BOUNDARIES AND STRUCTURE The mine area is bounded on the west by the sub-outcrop of basal Nonesuch at bed rock surface and on the southwest by the White Pine fault (Fig. 1). The south and southeast limit of the orebody is reasonably well delineated by thinning or pinch-out of favorable host beds. Northern, northeastern, and eastern limits have not been established. The White Pine fault is actually a wide zone of shearing which strikes approximately N 40° W. It is downthrown on the southwest side and dips steeply to the northeast. Maximum vertical displacement is about 1500 ft.

Jan 1, 1964

By L. S. Darken

The manufacture and treatment of metals comprises operations whose effectiveness depends in large measure upon diffusion phenomena. The significance of such phenomena has, for a few simple cases, long been understood, but in more complex cases it has not been adequately recognized. This paper presents a mathematical analysis of some of the cases in which diffusion leads to the formation of a new phase within the metal, and this analysis provides a basis for interpreting quantitatively many apparently diverse experimental observations recorded in the literature, some of which are outlined in the following pages. OBservt1ons Recorded in Literature An outstanding instance is the general type of phenomenon in which diffusion of an element into an alloy is followed by a phase change, which most frequently is a reaction (precipitation) of the diffusing element with one or more components of the alloy to form a compound. Thus in certain alloys heated in contact with oxygen not only the usual oxide scale appears but, in addition, beneath the surface, a well-defined zone in which free oxide particles are dispersed with notabIe uniformity. This zone, commonly referred to as the subscale or zone of internal oxidation, is remarkable in that the visible boundary between it and the unaltered metal is usually sharp. Such a subscale, which appears to have been recognized first in oxidized copper alloys, has been described and studied by C. S. Smith,l by Rhines,2 and by Rhines, Johnson and Anderson;3 but it appears also in other alloys when they are exposed to conditions that bring about the precipitation of some compound, not necessarily an oxide. Another clear case of this same kind is the diffusion of carbon into a steel containing an element such as molybdenum, chromium, vanadium or tungsten, whose carbide is less soluble in iron than iron carbide, the result being that some part of that element is precipitated as a dispersed carbide. A similar phenomenon may occur on the welding of two alloys each of which contains one of a pair of elements that react to form a compound or a new phase of any sort. But in addition to the precipitation of a compound formed from the diffusing element, other effects may result merely from the presence of the diffusing element. For instance, if homogeneous austenite, nearly saturated with respect to carbon, is heated in contact with silicon in the absence of oxygen, one would expect to find, behind the several iron-silicon phases analogous to a scale, a zone of austenite containing dispersed carbide, because of the fact that silicon decreases the solubility of carbon in iron. As still another example, oxidation of an alloy may result in diffusion toward the surface of one or more of the constituents; for instance, during oxidation of a steel containing an element such as "copper, which is less prone to oxidation than iron, there is a notable enrichment of copper just beneath the scale-metal interface. AS an example of a yet more

Jan 1, 1942

By L. S. Darken

The manufacture and treatment of metals comprises operations whose effectiveness depends in large measure upon diffusion phenomena. The significance of such phenomena has, for a few simple cases, long been understood, but in more complex cases it has not been adequately recognized. This paper presents a mathematical analysis of some of the cases in which diffusion leads to the formation of a new phase within the metal, and this analysis provides a basis for interpreting quantitatively many apparently diverse experimental observations recorded in the literature, some of which are outlined in the following pages. OBservt1ons Recorded in Literature An outstanding instance is the general type of phenomenon in which diffusion of an element into an alloy is followed by a phase change, which most frequently is a reaction (precipitation) of the diffusing element with one or more components of the alloy to form a compound. Thus in certain alloys heated in contact with oxygen not only the usual oxide scale appears but, in addition, beneath the surface, a well-defined zone in which free oxide particles are dispersed with notabIe uniformity. This zone, commonly referred to as the subscale or zone of internal oxidation, is remarkable in that the visible boundary between it and the unaltered metal is usually sharp. Such a subscale, which appears to have been recognized first in oxidized copper alloys, has been described and studied by C. S. Smith,l by Rhines,2 and by Rhines, Johnson and Anderson;3 but it appears also in other alloys when they are exposed to conditions that bring about the precipitation of some compound, not necessarily an oxide. Another clear case of this same kind is the diffusion of carbon into a steel containing an element such as molybdenum, chromium, vanadium or tungsten, whose carbide is less soluble in iron than iron carbide, the result being that some part of that element is precipitated as a dispersed carbide. A similar phenomenon may occur on the welding of two alloys each of which contains one of a pair of elements that react to form a compound or a new phase of any sort. But in addition to the precipitation of a compound formed from the diffusing element, other effects may result merely from the presence of the diffusing element. For instance, if homogeneous austenite, nearly saturated with respect to carbon, is heated in contact with silicon in the absence of oxygen, one would expect to find, behind the several iron-silicon phases analogous to a scale, a zone of austenite containing dispersed carbide, because of the fact that silicon decreases the solubility of carbon in iron. As still another example, oxidation of an alloy may result in diffusion toward the surface of one or more of the constituents; for instance, during oxidation of a steel containing an element such as "copper, which is less prone to oxidation than iron, there is a notable enrichment of copper just beneath the scale-metal interface. AS an example of a yet more

Jan 1, 1942

By H. R. Banks

PONDERING the action of a ball mill employed to carry on comminution from the product of fine crushing to the point where flotation, cyanidation or other concentrating methods are applicable, one wonders where this machine had its origin. When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reiterated the observation of that older poet Von Logau, and wrote “Tho’ the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small," he probably visualized the type of mill that was employed in medieval times for the production of flour, and can therefore not be considered as having gained admittance to the fraternity of millmen, on behalf of, either poet. He does, however, make it quite clear that the efficiency of even these Mills of Destiny was low, and to that extent voices a characteristic of fine-grinding equipment that has been the bugbear of all metallurgical engineers. PRINCIPLE OF BALL MILL The principle of the ball mill probably is traceable to the action along the coast line of oceans or lakes, or in the mountain streams. Wave action on rocks and pebbles, close to the shore line, gives the potential energy to the grinding media, which, in their rolling and tossing, break down the sands, and the resultant "pulp" carried out from the shore is classified and settles out in sizes ranging downward to extremely fine mesh. Surely, these are the real mills of God. If we allow our minds to dwell on the total tonnage that has been handled in this way, adding to the sands and clays at present in existence those enormous tonnages of metamorphosed sedimentaries, we sense the vast quantity of rock that has been so reduced. Is it not likely, therefore, that the answer to the beginnings of pebble milling, and eventually ball milling, came through the perception of this natural mill by one of our engineering forebears? METHODS OF GRINDING The relatively low return of mechanical input to a ball mill, in terms of useful work accomplished, has always intrigued me immensely. The potential energy absorbed by a ball raised to a high point in its path is apparently released with a very small return in useful work. Is the ball mill the most desirable means of fine grinding, or is there some other method through which we can recover a reasonable amount of the energy input in terms of useful work? Some years ago, on his retirement, H. W. Hardinge was questioned as to his thoughts on the trend of fine-grinding equipment. As I recall, his prophecy at that time was that the most likely field for improvement in grinding media would be toward a charge of flat disks with some mechanical scheme to cause them to slide over each other. Undoubtedly, Mr. Hardinge went through the usual experience of the muller and bucking board, the customary introduction of the budding millman to his calling. I have often wondered, but have never got beyond the wondering stage, as to the

Jan 1, 1945

The Industrial Minerals div. has been forging ahead in formulating a program for the February Annual Meeting in Los Angeles. Several papers have been listed and more are being worked into the program. For the cement, lime and gypsum part of the sessions, papers on Gypsum in the Aircraft Industry, Geology of San Marcos Island Gypsum Deposit, and Status of New Dry Rotary Blast Hole Drills, are expected. The Chemical Raw Materials sessions will feature a symposium on potash, with 13 papers as the anticipated number to be presented. Airborne and Ground Magnetometer Work has been suggested. Eight papers have been set for Mining Geology, Four papers, Mining Phosphate Rock, Idaho Phosphorous, and Geology of Carlsbad Potash and Geology of Pearlite will be on the program. Sessions on Dimension stone and slate have been tentatively worked out with papers on Geologic Factors Affecting the Dimension Stone Industry of California, A Quarter Century of Granite Quarrying in Massachusetts, Rock Bursting and Other Geologic Problems in the Granite Quarries of Barre, Vt., Quarry Practices in the Indiana Building Stone Industry, Stratigraphy and Composition of the Salem Limestone, and Dimension Stone in the U. S. in 1952. The Rare Minerals Committee is aiming for six papers with two papers now definitely on the program.

Jan 1, 1952

By M. J. Buerger

POSSIBLY the most puzzling features observed during a single-crystal deformation test are the appearance of slip striae on the surface of the crystal and the strengthening of the specimen.1 While the first phenomenon is mainly of theoretical interest, the latter is fundamental to all strain-hardening and cold-working processes in which the deformation occurs by translation. The plastic deformation of crystals has received considerable discussion2 and need not be reviewed here in any great detail. It has been observed, essentially, that after a certain amount of initial stress is applied, the surface of the crystal becomes covered with sets of parallel striae or rings which appear to divide it into thin slabs or slip blocks.3 The striae are the traces of rational crystallographic planes along which shearing movements are localized, these movements providing the strain which accompanies stress applied beyond pure elasticity. As deformation under the applied stress proceeds the slip blocks shear past one another, although the essentially single-crystal character of the specimen is unimpaired. All of the shearing apparently takes place in the immediate vicinity of the original slip striae without the appearance of new planes of movement.4 Since each increment of strain is attended by an increased stress requirement to continue the deformation, the crystal strengthens during the process.

Jan 1, 1928

By C. W. Sherman, J. Chipman, H. I. Elvander

THE pronounced and usually deleterious effects of sulphur on all ferrous metals and the resultant necessity for its control in metallurgical processes have stimulated many investigations of the system iron-sulphur. The data required for thermodynamic study of the behavior of sulphur in molten iron and steel include the activity and free energy of the dissolved sulphur and its heat of solution. Such data are also of theoretical interest since there is all too little information available concerning solutions of nonmetallic solutes in metallic solvents. It was the purpose of this investigation to attack the problem very directly by a study of equilibrium at several temperatures in the reaction H2 (gas) + S = H2S (gas) [1] K1 = PH2S /PH2 as where the sulphur is present in the liquid iron in amounts up to several percent by weight. Such a method of attack is not new since several careful studies have already been reported. It is planned, however, to extend the study to other metallic solvents and particularly to determine the effects of the various alloying elements on the activity of sulphur in liquid iron. This paper presents the results on molten iron-sulphur alloys containing up to 4 pct sulphur in the temperature range 1530°-1730°C. Literature Review The significant researches on dilute molten solutions of sulphur in iron include those of Chipman

Jan 1, 1951

By G. A. Vissac

In the presentation which follows, wash-ability curves, such as are commonly used in making studies preliminary to the cleaning of any coal or to the concentration of any mineral, have been reduced in each instance to a single straight line; thus all the most important characteristics of the coal or mineral are represented in a form more advantageous than that in which such data usually are shown. To obtain consistent results, float-and-sink data must be based on a single definite narrow size range, which may be designated "a coal unit." It will be shown that such units, each embodying a different size range, can be grouped to form what may be termed "a composite coal." A three-dimensional presentation will emerge, which will closely identify the coal, illustrate its characteristics in a new manner and explain many obscure facts. Float-and-sink Tests For the preliminary study of any cleaning or concentration problem, or in the control of any operation, float-and-sink tests must be made. The results of these tests are grouped in tabular form and then illustrated in various systems of curves; but if such a graphic representation is to have the utmost practical value, it must offer at least the following advantages: (I) It must be easier to read than the tabular results, and (2) it must be easy to plot, check and interpolate. The first requirement will be attained by reducing the number of curves to a minimum, and the second by some system of representation that will use only straight lines. Of the many washing curves now in use, only the "recovery curve," often known as the "composite curve"—a somewhat misleading term—will be considered; Any point on the recovery curve will show what percentage of weight of clean coal can be recovered when the mineral is washed at a certain specific gravity. As an example, the tests listed below Fig. I are illustrated in the drawing by a curve obtained by plotting (I) as abscissas the ash content of the coal recovered and (2) as ordinates the corresponding percentage of refuse discarded; but, in general practice, instead of writing down that weight, it is customary to set down its complement, which is the corresponding weight of coal recovered. From this curve can be deduced the information necessary for the solution of most practical problems. New Form of Graphic Presentation The resemblance of the recovery curve ill Fig. 1, or, for that matter, the recovery curve obtained in common practice! to a Power curve is apparent. The general equation of such a curve is Y = axn, where n is negative. Taking logarithms: log y = a + n log x. Using a logarithmic scale, the equation of the recovery curve will be Y = A + bX. On this logarithmic basis! the recovery graph will be a straight line, using the same variables as in Fig. I; namely, the ash con-

Jan 1, 1942

By G. A. Vissac

In the presentation which follows, wash-ability curves, such as are commonly used in making studies preliminary to the cleaning of any coal or to the concentration of any mineral, have been reduced in each instance to a single straight line; thus all the most important characteristics of the coal or mineral are represented in a form more advantageous than that in which such data usually are shown. To obtain consistent results, float-and-sink data must be based on a single definite narrow size range, which may be designated "a coal unit." It will be shown that such units, each embodying a different size range, can be grouped to form what may be termed "a composite coal." A three-dimensional presentation will emerge, which will closely identify the coal, illustrate its characteristics in a new manner and explain many obscure facts. Float-and-sink Tests For the preliminary study of any cleaning or concentration problem, or in the control of any operation, float-and-sink tests must be made. The results of these tests are grouped in tabular form and then illustrated in various systems of curves; but if such a graphic representation is to have the utmost practical value, it must offer at least the following advantages: (I) It must be easier to read than the tabular results, and (2) it must be easy to plot, check and interpolate. The first requirement will be attained by reducing the number of curves to a minimum, and the second by some system of representation that will use only straight lines. Of the many washing curves now in use, only the "recovery curve," often known as the "composite curve"—a somewhat misleading term—will be considered; Any point on the recovery curve will show what percentage of weight of clean coal can be recovered when the mineral is washed at a certain specific gravity. As an example, the tests listed below Fig. I are illustrated in the drawing by a curve obtained by plotting (I) as abscissas the ash content of the coal recovered and (2) as ordinates the corresponding percentage of refuse discarded; but, in general practice, instead of writing down that weight, it is customary to set down its complement, which is the corresponding weight of coal recovered. From this curve can be deduced the information necessary for the solution of most practical problems. New Form of Graphic Presentation The resemblance of the recovery curve ill Fig. 1, or, for that matter, the recovery curve obtained in common practice! to a Power curve is apparent. The general equation of such a curve is Y = axn, where n is negative. Taking logarithms: log y = a + n log x. Using a logarithmic scale, the equation of the recovery curve will be Y = A + bX. On this logarithmic basis! the recovery graph will be a straight line, using the same variables as in Fig. I; namely, the ash con-

Jan 1, 1942