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By Felix A. Vogel

Flue-dust, to most blast-furnace operators, means a troublesome by-product, the formation of which should be curtailed, if not prevented entirely. However, with the increasing use of fine ores, larger furnaces, and high-pressure blast, the production of flue-dust is constantly increasing, and amounts annually in the United States to from 3,000,000 to 3,500,000 tons, an exceedingly high tonnage, of which a large part has been discarded as valueless.

Jan 1, 1913

By A Allen, J. A. Garcia

The large increase in the wages of mine workers makes it imperative that all factors tending to limit production per miner be eliminated, if possible. The trolley and storage-battery locomotive, mining machine, hoisting engine, mining system, etc., have increased the possible output per man. But this output is still limited by the capacity of the hoisting engine and cable and by the size of the mine car. The superiority of skip hoisting in metal mining is shown by its almost universal adoption. By varying the size of skip and the rope speed, any desired tonnage can be secured and, since frequently only one kind of material is handled and breakage is unimportant, the loading of the skips can be easily and cheaply effected from bins into which the cars are dumped. The cars may then be designed to fit the conditions in the mine instead of being a compromise between hoisting and mining conditions, very likely suiting neither. In coal mines, the usual practice has been to hoist the car to the surface, either on platform or self-dumping cages. Of late years the number of skip-hoisting plants in coal mines has been rapidly increasing, but there is more or less inertia to overcome in establishing so radical a change in practice; also the earlier skip operations were not uniformly successful. As a result, it became evident that metal-mining practice would require radical modification before skip hoisting could be successfully used in coal mining. Objections to Skip Hoisting Breakage Except where coal is used for coking, or for other purposes whcre breakage is unimportant, breakage of the coal is vitally important all the way from the face to the railroad car. The average selling price is seriously reduced when the percentage of screenings is increased. Following metal-mining practice exactly, the coal would be dumped into a deep pocket, cut off into a skip load by a measuring hopper or other means, dumped into a deep, narrow skip, and dropped into a bin at the top, all of which would contribute to excessive breakage.

Jan 1, 1922

By H. G. Schneider

The Smackover oil and gas field lies in Ouachita and Union Counties, Ark., in the south-central part of the state, in T.15 and 16S., R.15, 16, and 17W. It is 10 miles north of El Dorado, the principal business and railroad center in the south-central part of the state, and extends from the town of Smackover in all directions. Productive territory having an aggregate area of nearly 55 sq. mi. has been developed. It extends 6 miles from north to south and 12 miles from east to west. The field may be divided into two parts: the east district, which includes the area east of the town of Smackover, and the west district, which includes the area west of the town of Smackover. In relation to the neighboring productive fields of Arkansas, the Smackover field is 9 miles north of the El Dorado oil and gas field, 8 miles slightly west of north of the East El Dorado oil and gas field, and 16 miles east of the Stephens oil field. Smackover was discovered in May, 1922, when the Oil Operators Tnist drilled well No. 1 on the J. T. Murphy farm, in the southeast quarter of sec. 8, T.16S., R.15W. This well is located almost on the top of the Norphlet dome and was drilled to the Nacatoch sand. It had an initial open flow volume of 30,000,000 cu. ft. of dry gas per day, and a rock pressure of 950 lb. per sq. in. In July, 1922, the V. K. F. Co. completed the first oil well in sec. 29, T.l5S., R.l5W., on the north side of the Norphlet dome, and 3 miles north of the first gas well. This well started the active development of the north and northwest sides of the dome.] The field was extended westwards, when oil was discovered in the Nacatoch sand, during October, 1922, in sec. 4, T.l6S., R.l6W., 51/2 miles west of the original gas well. This opened up the so-called "light oil district," which is located on a structural terrace, for which the name

Jan 1, 1924

By Arnold Hague

At the Buffalo meeting, October, 1888, Dr. Raymond presented a paper entitled: "Soaping Geysers" (p. 449 of the present volume), in which he called attention to the use of soap by tourists to cause eruptions of several of the well-known geysers in the Yellowstone Park. Incorporated in this paper appears a communication received from me, written from camp in the Park, in reply to some inquiries on the subject. The letter discussed somewhat briefly the means employed by visitors to the Park to hasten the eruptions from hot springs and reservoirs of hot water, which remain dormant for days, or even weeks or months, at a temperature near the boiling-point, without any display of geyser-action. As the paper has called forth considerable comment, I desire to elucidate one or two points in relation to the temperature of the springs, and to answer some inquiries about the composition of the thermal waters. In the summer of 1885, a Chinaman, employed as a laundryman for the accommodation of the tourists at the Upper Geyser Basin, accidently discovered, much to bis amazement, that soap thrown into the spring from which he was accustomed to draw his supply of water produced an eruption in every way similar to the actual workings of a geyser. Tourists with limited time at their command, who had travelled thousands of miles to look upon the wonders of the Yellowstone, soon fell into the way of coaxing the laundryman's spring into action, to partly compensate them for their sore disappointment in witnessing only the periodical eruptions of Old Faithful. Successful attempts upon this spring soon led to various endeavors to accelerate action in the dormant and more famous geysers. In a short time, so popular became the desire to stimulate geysers in this way, that the Park authorities were compelled to enforce rigidly the rule against throwing objects of any kind into the springs. In connection with a thorough investigation of the thermal waters of the Yellowstone Park and the phenomena of the geysers, I undertook a number of experiments to ascertain the action of soap upon the waters and to determine, if possible, those physical conditions of various pools and reservoirs which permitted the hastening of an

Jan 1, 1889

By C. G. McLachlan

This paper outlines a series of tests carried out during the first six months of 1927, in the laboratory and mill of the Moctezuma Copper Co. The object of the tests was to determine whether the soluble salts present in the mill circuit water were having a detrimental cffect on the recovery made by flotation. To accomplish this object a series of water analyses were made, followed by flotation experiments in which definite quantities of the salts found were added as addition agents. Before proceeding to describe the results obtained in the course of the investigation, reference will be made to five articles that have appeared during the last two years in which the action of such salts is discussed. Two of these are by A. T. Tye1, 2 and describe flotation practice at Cananea and the way in which water high in ferrous and ferric salts is conditioned for differential flotation. Two, one by A. C. Munro and H. A. Pearse3 and the other by H. A. Pearse,4 outline Britannia milling methods, and the advantages that have been derived from ore washing; while in the fifth, A. W. Hahn5 summarizes the results of laboratory experiments in which ferrous, ferric and aluminum sulfates have been added in varying amounts. The mill of the Moctezuma Copper Co. has a daily capacity of 3000 tons, and is situated about 75 miles south of Douglas, Arizona, on the Rio de Nacozari, in the Mexican state of Sonora. The ore treated is mined from the company's mine at Pilares, about 5 miles southeast of the Concentrator. This ore contains about 2.5 per cent. copper— present almost entirely as chalcopyrite—and 10 per cent. iron, of which

Jan 1, 1928

By Jesse O. Betterton

Recently some experimental work was conducted by the author in connection with the direct leaching of certain zinc ores with sulfuric acid with the object of subsequently recovering the zinc by electrolysis. The ores contained relatively large quantities of soluble silica, making it necessary to evolve special methods for handling the silicate solutions resulting from a leach of the ore, and also for the final removal of the silica before electrolysis. The problem was complicated by the presence of vanadium in the ore, the commercial recovery of which was very desirable. This paper, however, deals only with the silica phase of the problem. The zinc in the ore occurs in the form of a silicate (hemimorphite) and, to a very small extent, as the phosphate (hopeite) and carbonate (calamine); the vanadium is found as descloizite and vanadinite but mainly as descloizite. The experimental work was done in a plant producing 50 lb. of zinc = daily, in which the complete cycle of operations, including the final electrodeposition of the zinc, was performed continuously for one year. Some of the conclusions given here are the result of the operations in -this plant; the others are from laboratory tests inaugurated both as a guide to the plant operations and, in certain cases especially, to determine the limits in question. The practice in the 50-lb. zinc plant was to direct leach the ore crushed to pass 40 mesh, with spent electrolyte from the cells containing approximately 3 per cent. zinc and 10 per cent. free acid. This resulted in an acid leach solution and an ore residue. The acid leach solution was ' subjected to a special treatment for subsequent removal of vanadium; then the silica and vanadium in solution were precipitated together and removed as a "silica residue" by pressing through an ordinary plate and frame press. The next step was to treat the filtrate from the silica residue with zinc dust as a final purification step before it went to

Jan 1, 1923

By Jesse O. Betterton

Recently some experimental work was conducted by the author in connection with the direct leaching of certain zinc ores with sulfuric acid with the object of subsequently recovering the zinc by electrolysis. The ores contained relatively large quantities of soluble silica, making it necessary to evolve special methods for handling the silicate solutions resulting from a leach of the ore, and also for the final removal of the silica before electrolysis. The problem was complicated by the presence of vanadium in the ore, the commercial recovery of which was very desirable. This paper, however, deals only with the silica phase of the problem. The zinc in the ore occurs in the form of a silicate (hemimorphite) and, to a very small extent, as the phosphate (hopeite) and carbonate (calamine); the vanadium is found as descloizite and vanadinite but mainly as descloizite. The experimental work was done in a plant producing 50 lb. of zinc = daily, in which the complete cycle of operations, including the final electrodeposition of the zinc, was performed continuously for one year. Some of the conclusions given here are the result of the operations in -this plant; the others are from laboratory tests inaugurated both as a guide to the plant operations and, in certain cases especially, to determine the limits in question. The practice in the 50-lb. zinc plant was to direct leach the ore crushed to pass 40 mesh, with spent electrolyte from the cells containing approximately 3 per cent. zinc and 10 per cent. free acid. This resulted in an acid leach solution and an ore residue. The acid leach solution was ' subjected to a special treatment for subsequent removal of vanadium; then the silica and vanadium in solution were precipitated together and removed as a "silica residue" by pressing through an ordinary plate and frame press. The next step was to treat the filtrate from the silica residue with zinc dust as a final purification step before it went to

Jan 1, 1923

By H. H. Stoek

A study of Americarf coal-mine practice shows two of its distinctive features to be: A greater number of accidents per thousand employees than in any of the other leading coal-producing countries; a much greater percentage of the coal lost than in any of the other leading coal-producing countries. Although our subject is mainly concerned with the second feature, any consideration of mining methods should include safety, efficiency, and economy or costs. If the argument could be offered that our wasteful mining was necessary on account of safety, and that it is carried out with less loss of life than in other countries, the plea for conservation of coal could not he so strongly urged. But when we are wasteful of both life and property, the subject merits more: consideration than it has received. Some coal operators will doubtless say that the unit of accidents should be the number per million tons produced rather than per thousand employees, for by adopting this unit America probably stands in the lead rather than the lowest among the countries. However, vital statistics are not usually so expressed by other governments, by life and accident insurance companies, or in other industries, and it is merely begging the question and attempting to bolster up a bad condition to adopt a peculiar unit for the statement of our accidents. For many years the statement was made by various agencies, and was unchallenged, that "For every ton of bituminous coal mined in the United States a ton had been lost in the way of pillars left in the mines." This statement was undoubtedly true for many years, and although in the past decade some progress has been made toward obtaining a higher extraction, and in some districts very decided progress, the loss is still great; and, although no exact data can be given, it is probable that for the United States as a whole at least one ton is lost for every two mined.

Jan 1, 1923

By H. H. Stoek

A study of Americarf coal-mine practice shows two of its distinctive features to be: A greater number of accidents per thousand employees than in any of the other leading coal-producing countries; a much greater percentage of the coal lost than in any of the other leading coal-producing countries. Although our subject is mainly concerned with the second feature, any consideration of mining methods should include safety, efficiency, and economy or costs. If the argument could be offered that our wasteful mining was necessary on account of safety, and that it is carried out with less loss of life than in other countries, the plea for conservation of coal could not he so strongly urged. But when we are wasteful of both life and property, the subject merits more: consideration than it has received. Some coal operators will doubtless say that the unit of accidents should be the number per million tons produced rather than per thousand employees, for by adopting this unit America probably stands in the lead rather than the lowest among the countries. However, vital statistics are not usually so expressed by other governments, by life and accident insurance companies, or in other industries, and it is merely begging the question and attempting to bolster up a bad condition to adopt a peculiar unit for the statement of our accidents. For many years the statement was made by various agencies, and was unchallenged, that "For every ton of bituminous coal mined in the United States a ton had been lost in the way of pillars left in the mines." This statement was undoubtedly true for many years, and although in the past decade some progress has been made toward obtaining a higher extraction, and in some districts very decided progress, the loss is still great; and, although no exact data can be given, it is probable that for the United States as a whole at least one ton is lost for every two mined.

Jan 1, 1923

By Courtenay DeKalb

Revision of the United States mining law is needed chiefly because of the following reasons: 1. The conceptions as to the characteristics of orebodies that were held at the time the statute of 1872 was enacted have since proved to be in many respects erroneous. 2. The operation of the existing law has been found to work unnecessary hardship upon many claimants to mineral land. 3. The existing statute fails in large degree to encourage development of mineral resources. 4. The existing law often produces conflict between placer and lode-claim rights, working unnecessary injustice to placer claimants. 5. The methods of establishing the rights of locators on United States mineral land are defective, and are not uniform throughout the States within which such lands exist. Law of the Apex The objections to the so-called "law of the apex" are so well known as to require no detailed statement. It is sufficient to point out that the apex rule was based upon the notion that ore deposits consisted of well-formed veins included between definite walls, like the slice of ham in a sandwich. The fact is that veins conforming to that simple type are rare. Irregularity is the rule, and the chief metal production of the United States comes from mass? which bear no resemblance to the tabular form of vein. Manifestly the law of the apex fails completely in such cases. Moreover, the tendency is constantly toward the exploitation of ores of lower grade than could formerly be worked, and such deposits exist mainly in the form of large irregular impregnated zones and masses, so that the future development of our mineral resources would be continuously embarrassed by shadowy claims to extra-lateral rights by the locators of so-called apexes.

Jan 1, 1915

By C. C. Miller, A. R. Belyea, C. H. Herty, E. B. Burkart

The removal of sulfur from steel has been studied by many investigators, but the quantitative relationships between the factors involved have not been determined. This is undoubtedly due to the number of variables encountered in practice, an attempt to study any one reaction or relation being affected by other reactions the relative importance of which cannot be estimated. The factors that affect the extent of removal of sulfur in the basic open-hearth process are generally considered to be: 1. Basicity of the slag: (a) Iron oxides in the slag; (b) carbon in the metal or carbide in the slag; (c) temperature. These factors affect the reactions: FeS + CaO = CaS + FeO FeS + CaO + C = CaS + CO + Fe. 2. Amount of sulfur in the gas. 3. Amount of manganese in the metal. The factors which affect the rate of removal of sulfur include, in addition to these: 4. Fluidity of the slag: (a) Normal changes in fluidity with temperature; (b) changes in fluidity because of the addition of special reagents such as fluorspar. 5. Agitation of the bath. Within the past two years, two papers have been presented dealing with the influence of sulfur in the gas on slag and metal. Nead' has shown that if a gas high in sulfur be used for heating, the metal and slag will absorb sulfur. Whitely2 concluded from his experiments that if a

Jan 1, 1925

By Orrin P. Peterson

The decision of the Supreme Court -of the United States not to review the findings of the lower courts closes an interesting chapter in the mining litigation that has arisen as a result of the extralateral feature of the mining law. The time seems opportune to record some of the important geological features, and also some of the legal features, of the controversy, in the hope that these will be permanently accessible to members of the mining profession. After many rumors of litigation, the Utah Consolidated Mining Co. sued its neighbor for the ore that had been, it was alleged, wrongfully extracted from its so-called Yampa limestone lode. This ore lay beneath Utah-Apex surface and was claimed by virtue of the extralatera1 rights conferred on the Utah Consolidated Co. through the ownership of certain specific mining claims, one of the principal claims being the Yampa. Previous to bringing suit, the Utah Consolidated Co. had strengthened its position by purchasing the Old Yampa mine and by making an agreement with the Utah Metal & Tunnel Co., which gave it clearer title to the outcrop of the Highland Boy limestone. Access to the workings of the Utah-Apex Co. was secured and reciprocal privileges gave Utah-Apex representatives the right to enter the properties of the Utah Consolidated Co. This resulted in the Utah-Apex immediately bringing countersuit for ore alleged to have been wrongfully extracted from under its surface in the Leadville country, see Fig. 4. Six cases came up for consideration: five related to the original suit and the countersuit, and one related to the Dana extralateral claims of the Utah-Apex Co. Well-known attorneys, geologists, and mining engineers were engaged by both sides, and thousands of feet of development work were done to prove or disprove ideas that would sustain the contentions of the opposing sides. Models of wood, wire, and glass were constructed to present clearly to the court the actual physical relations. These models were also of great value to the attorneys and witnesses in clarifying hazy impres-

Jan 1, 1924

By C. G. Grant, Wm. B. Price

This investigation of low copper-nickel silvers was untiertaken to check the work of Lèon Guillet on special brasses and to determine, more accurately, the effect of the addition of nickel on the mierostructure of the binary alloys of copper arid zinc. It was hoped that the results could be successfully applied to the practical production of low copper-nickel silvers. To explain the results of his investigations on special brasses, Lèon Guillet evolved his conception of "fictitious compositions." He states,' in his general conclusions, that on the introduction of a small amount of a third metal to a copper-zinc alloy, it enters into solid solution with the normal constituents up to saturation, but by so doing it brings the ternary alloy into a state microscopically equivalent to a binary copper-zinc alloy of fictitious composition, and physically more nearly like the latter than the brass containing copper-zinc in the ratio actually present. The physical properties of the ternary alloy, when compared to the same properties of an actual brass of the fictitious composition, are modified by the natural properties of the third element. Beyond the point of saturation, a special constituent appears and the above generalization no longer holds. For example, if a 60:40 brass has 4 per cent. of tin substituted for 4 per cent. of zinc, the actual composition would analyze 60:36:4. Assuming that 1 per cent. of tin plays the same part as 2 per cent. of zinc, the proportions of copper and equivalent zinc may be stated as 60 parts of copper and 44 parts of zinc, which, figured to 100 per cent., gives an analysis of 57.7 per cent. of copper and 42.3 per cent. of zinc, the fictitious composition for a 60:36:4 tin brass. The relation between ternary alloys containing copper and zinc together with a third metal, and the microscopically equivalent binary alloy of copper and zinc, may be expressed mathematically.

Jan 1, 1924

By L. O. Howard

Much work has been done recently on the lead-antimony system1 in connection with lead-rich alloys of commercial importance containing less than 20 per cent. antimony. Dean, Zickrick and Nix have called attention to the perpetuation in the literature of several erroneous data, such as a eutectic temperature of 228° C. at 12.5 per cent. antimony, instead of 247° at 13 per cent. The series is given as a classic example of a straight eutectiferous series in such late books as those of Heyn and Grossmann, 2 Jeffries and Archer,3 Guillet and Portevin,4 Pulsifer,5 Rosenhain,6 and Liddell,' as well as the somewhat earlier works of Hof-man (1918), Wang (1909), and Williams (1920). The work of Dean has definitely shown a solid solution of antimony in lead at about 2.5 per cent. antimony. While lecturing to a class in general metallurgy at the University of Idaho, the writer had the students prepare a series of lead-antimony alloys for the purpose of illustrating methods of thermal analysis. Proper proportions of powdered antimony (sold as C.P.) and test lead were mixed and melted in graphite crucibles under a reducing cover. Cooling

By Linn Bradley, W. W. Strong, H. D. Egbert

A hot-dry method of cleaning the gas from blast furnaces has been shown1 to conserve the sensible heat energy of the gas, and in general it thus permits of a higher flame temperature. The electrical method of cleaning gases removes from 98 to 99 per cent. of the suspended matter in one operation when operating properly, thus making possible the use of a very clean gas for burning in the stoves. The use of such clean gas thus makes feasible a different type of hot-blast stove construction from that being used at present. It therefore seems advisable to construct the stoves from the viewpoint of getting the maximum amount of heat energy into the products of combustion. By preheating the air added to the top gas and obtaining a better mixture of the air and top gas, less excess air will be required and a higher flame temperature obtained from the combustion of the top gas. The interior of the stove should be provided with a kind of brick that will withstand a high flame temperature, will conduct the heat energy along certain directions, insulate the flow of heat along other directions and at the same time store heat energy so as to make the flow of such energy more uniform. It is quite likely that these results can be best obtained by using several kinds of bricks: one type which is a good insulator of heat energy to be used for lining the stove and for making partitions through the stove to restrain the flow of heat; another type of brick or material with high refractory qualities; and a third type which will be a good conductor of heat energy. The surface of the stove exposed to the atmosphere should be a minimum in comparison to the mass of checkerwork which it is possible to obtain, due regard being paid to other conditions. With clean and hot furnace top gas it will be advisable to consider a rearrangement of the checker work in the stoves. One season for the present size and shape of checker openings is to provide facility for

Jan 1, 1917

By William B. Potter

It is a time-honored custom in this, as in other kindred bodies, for the retiring President on giving place to his successor, after a year of official duties which have been the means of directing his attention in a more than usual degree to the work and interests of the Association, to report the results of his observations from this outlook, and the thoughts that may be suggested by the view. In looking out over the many fields of activity within the range of this Institute, the attention may be arrested by special features marking recent progress and development, or such as by their meager outline or lack of important detail stand in less pleasing contrast, or. even form unsightly objects in the view. It may be that the special field and particular work in which one is engaged will, when observed from the more distant standpoint, or in the light of the whole outlook of the profession, assume a different aspect or develop features of new interest and importance. In this way some special object may suggest to the observer a, fitting theme for the occasion. To others, again, an outline of the whole view may seem a more useful subject for study and review. All fields are examined and the wide horizon of the whole profession scanned to note and report whatever is new in knowledge and practice—the new permanent bench-marks that appear near the horizon designating ground definitely located; the stakes which mark reconnoissance into new territory, and even the prominent objects that faintly appear through the mist of the distant atmosphere, and which may serve later on as points of attachment for the advancing lines of survey into the unknown. And besides these, there is the progress of the work in older and nearer fields—what has been attempted, what accomplished,

Jan 1, 1889

By George K. Burgess, Robert A. Hadfield

1. Introduction.—The methods of production of sound steel ingots have been described in several papers read recently before this Institute. It was thought by Director Stratton, of the U. S. Bureau of Standards, and ourselves to be of sufficient interest and importance, as a further contribution to this subject, to compare the properties of rails rolled in one mill according to American practice, from several types of ingot of substantially the same chemical composition but cast by several processes; and to compare in considerable detail the properties of an ingot manufactured by the Hadfield special-feeding process and one of the usual type for rolling into rails. We are greatly indebted to F. W. Wood, President of the Maryland Steel CO., who made this investigation possible by kindly placing his rail mill at our disposal; and he and his associates at Sparrows Point did everything possible to make the experiment a success, including the execution of several of the tests and analyses. 2. Classification and Manufacture of Ingots.—Of the ingots used in this investigation, eight were made in Sheffield and furnished by Sir Robert Hadfield, and one was made and furnished by an American steel company,l as a comparison ingot, and was supposed to represent the usual type of ingot from which rails are made. The characteristics of the ingots are given in Table I. Ingots 1, 2, 3, and 4 were cast large end up and fed by the Hadfield method in the usual manner with charcoal and blast continued until the molten steel has set on the top of the head, say varying from 20 to 40 min. To ingots 1, 2, and 4 was added 0.1 per cent. aluminum, and to the nickel-chrome ingot, No. 3, 0.125 per cent. For sake of comparison, there were also included two ingots, Nos. 8 and 9, cast with the small end up and fed by

Jan 1, 1915

Chairman James F. Kemp :—I call upon Prof. Albert Sau-veur to open the general discussion on the subject of sound steel ingots. Albert Sauveur, Cambridge, Mass.:—I believe that I have the privilege, this instant, of opening one of the most important, significant and far-reaching discussions ever held before this Institute. I believe that our talk this morning will be heard far and wide, not only on this side of the water, but also on the other side. Everywhere, in short, where steel is manufactured. I welcome the opportunity of expressing my mind in regard to the production of sound steel ingots, a subject about which I entertain Rome very decided opinions. I shall not attempt to discuss the relative merits of the various processes that have been described. I shall, on the contrary, confine myself to a general consideration of the important questions before us. So intensely do I feel regarding the production of sound steel ingots that I have put my remarks on paper in my desire to present my views. I have always remembered my astonishment, not to say dismay, some twenty years ago, when I beheld for the first time a steel ingot, a rail steel ingot, that had been split open from top to bottom. There was the pipe! There was an enormous cavity extending from a short distance from the top to nearly one-third of the length of the ingot; and when I was told that manufacturers seldom discarded more than one-tenth of the total length of the ingot it became evident to me that a large proportion of piped, and therefore, defective, or at least weak and dangerous, rails were manufactured; in fact, probably one rail out of six, nearly 17 per cent., of dangerous rails.

Jan 1, 1914

By C.H. Davis, W.H. Bassett

The ease and value of the application of spectrum analysis to industrial chemistry appears to be appreciated in few of the large works laboratories of this country. For 8 years, this analysis has been of great value to the authors in both analytical and metallurgical work. To the analyst the complete qualitative analysis of an unknown alloy, revealed by a spectrogram, is a sure basis for the planning of the most direct and rapid method of attack. As the determination of each element proceeds, the purity of precipitates may be checked as often as desired. The spectrograph proves invaluable in the recognition of impurities, the separation of which would entail a lengthy and difficult procedure, or when the weight of an unknown is less than is necessary to complete the desired determinations. A few hundredths of a gram will usually suffice for spectrographic analysis. In the separation of the rarer elements, the spectrograph will show, with precision, the point where each step has been successful. In zinc of certain classes, indium, gallium, and germanium have been isolated in this way; the presence of antimony in lake coppers has been proved; and bismuth has been detected in zinc and in alloys where the presence of a few thousandths of a per cent. would be harmful. An antimony precipitate in a delicate determination may contain a considerable proportion of tin or arsenic, both of which will be revealed. The spectrograph is consequently important to the metallurgist as well as to the analyst. Impurities in raw material are often a source of annoyance, especially when their detection involves delay and costly analytical work. Whethcr low conductivity in copper is due to arsenic, nickel, or something else may be cluickly found out. Residual traces of boron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and other deoxidizing agents are easily identified where wet analysis may fail to reveal their presence, even after days of effort. Complex alloys of any kind are dissociated by the spectro-

Jan 1, 1923

By W. H. Bassett, C. H. Davis

The ease and value of the application of spectrum analysis to industrial chemistry appears to be appreciated in few of the large works laboratories of this country. For 8 years, this analysis has been of great value to the authors in both analytical and metallurgical work. To the analyst the complete qualitative analysis of an unknown alloy, revealed by a spectrogram, is a sure basis for the planning of the most direct and rapid method of attack. As the determination of each element proceeds, the purity of precipitates may be checked as often as desired. The spectrograph proves invaluable in the recognition of impurities, the separation of which would entail a lengthy and difficult procedure, or when the weight of an unknown is less than is necessary to complete the desired determinations. A few hundredths of a gram will usually suffice for spectrographic analysis. In the separation of the rarer elements, the spectrograph will show, with precision, the point where each step has been successful. In zinc of certain classes, indium, gallium, and germanium have been isolated in this way; the presence of antimony in lake coppers has been proved; and bismuth has been detected in zinc and in alloys where the presence of a few thousandths of a per cent. would be harmful. An antimony precipitate in a delicate determination may contain a considerable proportion of tin or arsenic, both of which will be revealed. The spectrograph is consequently important to the metallurgist as well as to the analyst. Impurities in raw material are often a source of annoyance, especially when their detection involves delay and costly analytical work. Whethcr low conductivity in copper is due to arsenic, nickel, or something else may be cluickly found out. Residual traces of boron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and other deoxidizing agents are easily identified where wet analysis may fail to reveal their presence, even after days of effort. Complex alloys of any kind are dissociated by the spectro-

Jan 1, 1923