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By David Russell, Courtland Lee

FOREWOHD-Americans have been able to create wealth from the nation's natural resources to an extent unprecedented in recorded history, thanks largely to the existence of a free market and of a rational body of laws. The General Mining Law of 1872, for instance, by establishing the rules of the game, was quite effective in channeling the ability of Americans to discover and develop mineral deposits. Another example was the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 which made available the more easily discovered mineral deposits by spelling out the conditions and rules under which miners could obtain leases on federal lands.

Jan 5, 1977

By C. R. Swarts

The use of compressed air or gas in oil wells for raising crude oil to the surface has, within the last year, become a dominant factor In production engineering. Previous application of this principle was largely confined to oil wells that had been pumping for a considerable length of time. In the Seminole area, the gas-air lift has been applied to wells imniediately after natural flow has ceased and in some cases while the wells were still flowing. This early application of the gas-air lift has been watchcd with intense interest by the petroleum industry, both with respect to methods of application and mechanical installations and to the effects on immediate and ultimate production. Methods of Application The Seminole pool at its inception contained sufficient gas associated with the oil to cause natural flow. As no frce gas was found in the main productive horizon, the Wilcox sand, all the gas present was dissolved in the oil, hence the natural flowing life was short, rarely lasting over 45 days. When natural flow ceased, high fluid levels were common, and as depth and crookedness of holes were obstacles to efficient pumping, the gas-air lift was used almost exclusively in raising the oil to the surface. Because of the high gravity of the oil, 41" A. P. I., and its high gasoline content, and also because of the desire to obtain production before offset wells became productive, quantity of production was the aim of the operators and a method of flow was used whereby this aim could be fulfilled. One of the outstanding features of this method consisted in flowing the wells through the annular space between the tubing and rasing. By this means a greater quantity of fluid could be handled than by flowing through the tubing of the size in ordinary use. Wells that would produce only a few hundred barrels on the pump were by this rnethod made to produce as high as 7000 bbl. on the lift. A few days or wreks of production at that rate meant a large recovery of oil. Casing of 636 in. diameter was commonly used as a production string with a 5 3/16-in. liner set on top of the oil sand. Upset tubing for irtro-

Jan 1, 1928

By Roy J. Greenfield, Charles H. Stoyer

A geophysical survey was made in Kylertown, Pa., in an area where the ground water is polluted with acid mine drainage. Since acid mine water is a good electrical conductor, both direct-current electrical and electromagnetic loop methods were examined for their ability to determine the subsurface electrical conductivity structure and from this to imply the location of the acid water. Consistent results were obtained with the two methods and the interpreted subsurface resistivities were consistent with the electrical resistivity measured for water samples. It was demonstrated that fracture traces which act as conduits for ground water flow can be located with electromagnetic surveying methods. Thus geophysical methods for measuring subsurface electtrical resistivity can be used to advantage for monitoring the environmental impact on the ground-water system of acid mine water.

Jan 1, 1977

By W. H. Blauvelt

The only way in which the difficult problems of classification of coal for the manufacture of by-product coke can be solved is to analyze them by the use of scientific data. It is very easy to adopt classifications for coal for the manufacture of by-product coke along certain lines; we can easily say that for a certain class of metallurgical operation coke made from bituminous coal must not contain more than so much sulfur or more than so much ash and should yield certain returns in the by-products, tar, ammonia, benzol, gas, etc. Those points we are fairly clear on and I think it is hardly worth while to discuss them because I presume that they are familiar to most of us who have any occasion either to make coke or to use it. But there is a field in the manufacture of coke which we know very little about. For example, we are operating a plant on a certain mixture of coal. Suddenly our blast-furnace man or the user of the coke tells us the coke is not as good as it was before. The coke is analyzed and the coal is analyzed. Everything seems to be about the same as it was— the ash is the same, there is no more sulfur, and so on—but the coke, for the use to which it is put, particularly in the blast furnace, is wrong. What happens? The management decide to try a slightly different coal mixture. They do not necessarily raise the total hydrocarbons, the volatile matter in the mixture, nor change the sulfur or the ash, but they do make a change which improves the value of the coke for metallurgical use. The reason for this difficulty, as I see it, is the " combustibility " of the coke—I hesitate to use the word, but it is the best one I have available. Combustibility of Coke We know now that the combustibility of coke is a very vital point in many metallurgical processes and I think one of the most notable instances of the proof of this is the experience of the Carnegie Steel Co. in the production of coke at its Clairton plant. The history of that

Jan 1, 1930

By E. B. Swanson

There is only one way to transport natural gas and that is by pipe lines. In the past few years, these lines have been extended rapidly into areas which previously had been served mainly by solid and liquid fuels. In the subject given me, this extension is referred to as an invasion, which implies a rather forceful entry. Whether or not such an implication may be applied to recent natural-gas developments is unimportant. It is the fact of the extension, not its definition, which is important. For centuries, natural gas has been utilized for various purposes in many parts of the world. It was the foundation of fire worship at Baku. The Chinese used it for the evaporation of brine in salt manufacture. In our country, its history seemingly dates back 110 years to the vicinity of Fredonia, N. Y., where seepage gas was assembled and used for lighting purposes. A few years later, a %inch pipe was laid to a lighthouse on Lake Erie, and the early records of the Lighthouse Service tell of the difficulties surrounding this use. With the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania, there followed further development; the town of Titusville was piped with natural gas and, some few years later, gas was made available for manufacturing plants adjacent to the oil fields. For more than a half century, the industry was concentrated in the

Jan 1, 1932

By R. P. Smith

The diffusivity of carbon in iron, cobalt, and alloys of 89.7 and 79.3 wt pct Co has been determined by a decarburization method for the temperature range 850° to 1100°C. The Plots of log D us 1/T for the two Fe-Co alloys are linear through the region of the Curie temperature, showing that, unlike some cases of substitutional diffusion, carbon diffusion in these alloys is not affected by electron spin order. RECENT investigations1-' have shown that for substitutional diffusion in iron the change in diffusivity with temperature does not follow an Arrhenius equation, at temperatures near the Curie temperature. Data on the diffusivity of carbon in a iron5"9 indicate that this anomaly does not exist for interstitial diffusion; however, this has not been definitely established. Since cobalt and Fe-Co alloys, 80 to 100 pct Co, have Curie temperatures in a temperature range convenient for carbon-diffusion measurements they are suitable systems for studying the relation of interstitial diffusion and the Curie temperature. EXPERIMENTAL The carbon diffusivity, D, was determined by a decarburization method. The diffusion cylinders, made from small vacuum melts of electrolytic cobalt and plastiron, were about 0.76 cm diam and 6.3 cm long. A small amount of carbon was added to each melt to keep the oxygen content as low as possible. The cylinders were first treated with a hydrogen-3 pct water vapor mixture at 1100°C to constant weight, then carburized to the desired initial carbon content with a suitable CO-C02 gas mix-

Jan 1, 1964

By P. Breidt, E. S. Greiner

THIS note reports a determination of the melting point of germanium, and the liquidus of the Ge-Ga alloys; lattice constants of the a phase are given. The alloys were prepared by melting germanium (>20 ohm-cm resistivity) and gallium (99.6 pct) in evacuated silica tubes. The materials (50 to 70 g) were heated at 1000°C, held in the liquid state for about ¾ hr, and then cooled rapidly in the tubes. Points on the liquidus were obtained by thermal analysis which consisted of obtaining time-temperature data during heating and cooling the materials in high purity graphite crucibles and a helium at- mosphere. Temperatures were determined with a Pt—Pt-Rh thermocouple protected by a silica sheath. The couple was calibrated against a National Bureau of Standards calibrated couple and also against the freezing points of copper, silver, aluminum, and the 28.1 wt pct Cu, 71.9 wt pct Ag alloy eutectic. The samples for X-ray analysis were prepared by heating small pieces of the ingots in evacuated glass or quartz tubes at temperatures between 600" and 900°C for periods ranging from 2 hr to 22 days, periods deemed sufficient for equilibrium to be attained, followed by quenching in water. The heat-treated samples were ground to powder for X-ray analysis. The lattice constants of the germanium-rich phase (a) were determined with a baok-reflection focusing camera. The X-ray reflections (331 and 422 Cr Ka, 422 and 333 Cr KB) were corrected

Jan 1, 1956

By D. C. McLean

This report summarizes the work that has been done during the past several years in adapting resins for use as auxiliaries in mine roof support. The resins were applied in two ways: 1) by injection into the strata, and 2) as a bonding agent for roof bolts and reinforcing bar. The Explosives and Mining Chemicals Department of the American Cyanamid Co. has worked during this period in cooperation with the Roof Control Research Group of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the Pattin Manufacturing Co., the J. H. Fletcher Co., the Homestake Mining Co., the U.S. Steel Corp., the National Mines Corp. and the Pocahontas Land Corp. in an effort to create resin formulations and methods for applying them as a practical and sate type of roof support for mining areas particularly where conventional support is inadequate, yet expensive. This, work has involved much pioneering in a field where theory, speculation, and pure mythology predominates, and little basic engineering data is available. It is strange butt true that, despite the importance of roof control both from an operational and safely standpoint, there is scarcely a mining' company in this country that has an engineer, or anyone, assigned to the study of roof support problem, except temporarily--after a bad roof fall. The responsibility for improving roof control methods seems to have been placed entirely upon the shoulder, of the USBM, various State departments of mines, and individual roof bolt manufacturing; companies. It was in cooperation with the USBM that Cyanamid first developed resins for mining use.

Jan 1, 1964

By Fred Bond

THE process of comminution by grinding is properly classified as an art, rather than as a science. Like most other operations concerned in ore dressing, or in the treat-ment of nonmetallic minerals, the mathe-matical relationships of rock breaking are still obscure, and much disputed. If some basic formula exists, comparable for in-stance to E = RI in electricity, it has not yet been placed in common use. The absence of such a comprehensive mathe-matical background undoubtedly is the cause of many inefficient designs and installations, as well as of much poorly oriented experimental work. On the other hand, the mathematical immaturity of the process constitutes an opportunity for a real contribution on the part of those who enjoy mental pioneering. Some of the statements made in any such exploratory work may be little more than opinions, and it is to be expected that some will later be proved untrue; but such an evolutionary development is necessary if we are ever to arrive at the fundamental laws, the discovery of which can change the empirical art into a mathematically exact science. The most significant principle of com-minution that we possess is probably Rittinger's law, which states that the work done in crushing or grinding is proportional to the area of the new surface produced. There is an alternative theory, known as Kick's law, which formerly was preferred to Rittinger's but which now is rather dis-credited. According to Kick, the work done in comminution is proportional to the volume, or weight, of the pieces broken, or to the cube of their diameters, while accord-ing to Rittinger it is proportional to the square of the diameters.

Jan 1, 1940

By J. B. Cheatham

The influence of friction on the force required for an idealized bit tooth to penetrate a "plastic" rock is analyzed. The rock is assumed to obey the Coulomb-Mobr yield criterion and the tooth is represented by a two-dimensional sharp wedge. At the tooth-rock interface the stress field not only satisfies the yield condition but also is such that the ratio of the shearing stress to the normal stress is equal to the coefficient of friction. The solution relates the force on the tooth to the depth of penetration, the tooth angle, the coefficient of friction between the rock and bit tooth and the angle of internal friction and compressive strength of the rock. INTRODUCTION Most rocks are brittle at atmospheric pressure but exhibit ductility and increased strength as the confining pressure is increased. In a previous analysisl the force required for a bit tooth to penetrate a rigid-plastic rock was computed for two limiting conditions: (1) a perfectly lubricated tooth-rock interface which should correspond to a lower limit for the penetrating force, and (2) a perfectly rough interface which should provide an upper limit. Experimental results2 for rock indentation under confining pressure have confirmed that the analysis generally predicts upper and lower limits for the penetrating force as a function of rock properties and tooth angle. The present analysis extends the previous work to account for the friction between the rock and the tooth. ANALYSIS The force required for incipient plastic flow of an idealized model of a rock under a bit tooth is computed subjected to the following assumptions. BIT TOOTH 1. sharp two-dimensional wedge (end effects neglected) 2. rigid tooth (elastic deformation of tooth neglected) 3. displacement of tooth is normal to rock surface 4. friction exists between tooth and rock ROCK 1. semi-infinite, isotropic and homogeneous 2. rigid-plastic (elastic deformation of rock neglected) 3. non-work hardening (horizontal stress-strain curve) 4. Coulomb yield condition* (linear Mohr envelope) 5. smooth, flat surface According to the Mohr theory of failure it is assumed that failure occurs when the state of stress is such that the Mohr stress circle becomes tangent to an experimentally determined envelope. The Mohr failure curve is frequent1y approximated by a straight line and referred to as the Coulomb-Mohr failure criterion. If the rock is under sufficient pressure to be ductile we can use the linear envelope as a yield condition. The Coulomb-Mohr yield criterion is illustrated by Fig. 1 and is expressed by the following equation:l

By Rodolfo V. de la Cruz

The in situ deformability of rock masses is determined by relating the applied load to the radial displacements of points on the borehole wall that are outside of the loaded surfaces. The external displacement method includes the steps in which: a) radial displacement sensors are installed to measure the change in length of a diameter of a borehole; b) unidirectional self- equilibrating pair of forces perpendicular to the direction of radial displacement measurements are applied on opposite sectors of the borehole wall, and; c) using elastic theory, the in-situ deformability of the rock mass can be related with the applied loads and measured radial displacements. The displacements outside the loaded surfaces are comparatively smaller in magnitude than displacements inside the loaded surfaces. These displacements, however, are sufficiently large and can be measured precisely by commercially available linear displacement sensors. Loads are applied by a conventional borehole jack. Existing methods for measuring the in situ deformability of rock masses yields unreliable results due to complex boundary stresses, small and varying contact areas, and the existence of fractures. It was shown that in the external displacement method, the effect of boundary pressure distribution and contact area are negligible. Also, since the displacements measured in the external displacement method were due to materials that are deeper inside the rock mass, borehole fractures have less influence on the calculated deformation modulus.

Jan 1, 1982

By Y. C. Kim, I. K. Chopra, F. Martino

This paper reviews geostatistical work in a coal deposit performed jointly by the University of Arizona and the Homer City Owners. The study objective was to Predict more accurately the inseam sulfur values of the deposit for the purpose of future emission control. Based on initially available 112 DDH information, variogram models were developed for sulfur, ash, and thickness for the entire deposit. The deposit was then kriged using 333 m x 333 m panel size. Kriging produced better results than conventional isopachs. The estimation variance information obtainable from geostatistics was then used to improve development drilling activities that were underway. This effort was successful. Up-to-date experience on the use of conditional simulation of the deposit appears promising for future emission control strategy development

Jan 1, 1982

By R. H. Cox, A. S. Allen, James Paone

The southwestern Illinois communities of Belleville and Maryville lie within the greater metropolitan area surrounding St. Louis. Missouri. They also lie within that part of the Illinois coal basin where the Number 6 coalbed has been mined for more than a century. About half the coal was left as pillars to support the ground surface. Years later, however, damaging movements are affecting buildings, streets, and public utilities in some areas. They are generally believed to be related to abandoned mine workings. The threat of continued or increasing incidence of damage raises the need to explore other subsidence-control measures for protecting affected areas with high population density. Because of experience gained in a subsidence-control program of backfilling abandoned coal mines in the Applachian region and in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the Bureau of Mines was called upon to investigate the subsidence occurrences at Belleville and Maryville, and recommend protective measures. Funds ware appropriated for the Bureau to initiate subsidence-control projects at two residential sites in Belleville and one in Maryville. Subsurface investigation of the sites by diamond core drilling revealed two conditions that differ from those encountered at most sites of previous subsidence-control projects. The mine workings were found to be dry and the mine floor consisted of soft underclay which characteristically loses strength with increase of moisture. It had been anticipated that water would have percolated into the mine workings at one .or more of the sites through cracks resulting from subsidence. Under such conditions Bureau engineers believed that injection of mine waste by the pumped; slurry technique3 would provide support and stabilize any movements initiated by the softening of the clay. With discovery that the underclay deposits at the three sites have apparently not been exposed to water since the mines were operating, hydraulic backfilling of any type was considered inadvisable on the basis of present knowledge. To avoid introducing water, a portable pneumatic system is being devised for injecting minus 0.01 27 m (1/2 in.) mine waste into the mine workings. Machines for pneumatic backfilling have been used in Europe not only for subsidence protection but also for strata control, for reducing spontaneous combustion and methane accumulation, and as a means of waste disposal. The Bureau experimented with a pneumatic machine in the Northern anthracite field of Pennsylvania in the 1950's. Previously pneumatic machines have been installed in active mine workings discharging from horizontal pipelines which conveyed air- borne material into rooms to be filled. In the present adaptation to abandoned mines, the machine and air compressor will be operating at the surface, to impel material vertically down injection boreholes with sufficient air pressure to disperse fill material laterally in mine workings at the base of injection holes. Large diameter access and ventilation boreholes will be provided at one site for entry into mine workings to observe backfilling progress. The Belleville and Maryville projects are part of the Mined Land Demonstration Program of the Bureau of Mines. The Illinois State Geological Survey and Department of Mines and Minerals are furnishing technical support.

Jan 1, 1979

By Kenneth Seaver

(San Francisco Meeting, September, 1915) INTRODUCTION IT is rather gratifying that in the field of the manufacture 'of refractories, in which, as a whole, foreign practice has surpassed us, the United States stands pre-eminent in the making of silica brick. In some instances European manufacturers have refused point-blank to credit the possibility of making to such specifications as are common with us, until the actual 'completed shapes were shipped for inspection. But both the manufacturer and consumer in foreign lands are now frankly learning from us, and benefiting by our advanced practice in this field, as is evidenced by the orders placed here and the efforts put forth abroad to come up to the standard of American-made material. In no metallurgical operation has the employment of silica brick spread with. such leaps and bounds as in the building of plants for the carbonization of coal, particularly in the byproduct coke oven. Today, in practically all types of oven, the structure above the floor level (except the facings) is of silica, while in the recuperative and in some regenerative types, its use is extended to that portion of the oven below the floor as well. By reason of the fact that there are a number of classes of refractories of higher silica content than the usual so-called fire-clay brick, there is sometimes a misunderstanding as to the class of material referred to as "silica" brick. We here refer only to a brick having a silica content of 94 per cent. or more and made usually from quartzite rock with a small percentage of lime as a binder. The term "silica" brick is sometimes rather loosely applied to brick front highly siliceous clays, or to a quartzite refractory of mingled fire-clay and quartz rock; but such products are not considered in this discussion.

Jan 9, 1915

By Roland D. Parks

Corundum, little publicized as an industrial abrasive, has, in its small way, contributed greatly to the production of many specialized items vital to our war program and to Our allies. Optical elements Of the highest quality for range finders, bombsights, and scientific instruments; precision metal parts for torpedoes and airplane engines; quartz crystal plates for military radios; armorplate and malleable castings for tanks and guns; and eyeglasses for everyone; these are some Of the products that corundum has helped to produce in the quantities needed and on time. Unlike metals and many other raw materials, corundum is not incorporated into any Of these finished products. It is simply a grinding medium used to produce the desired finish or precision; an operating supply or tool, so to speak. With a Mobs' scale index of 9, corundum ranks next to the diamond in hardness among the natural minerals and is superior to emery and garnet. The gem varieties of corundum, including the Oriental ruby and sapphire, are frequently more highly prized as jewels than the diamond. It is the intent Of this paper to deal Only with a description of the corundum industry, the administration of wartime control, and certain economic aspects as seen by the author. Several references are listed to assist anyone who wishes further information on the geological occurrence of the mineral. Ore Production and Consumption For the past two decades, south Africa has been the world's sole producer of corundum ore. A possible exception is Russia, where, it is understood, there was considerable production during the thirties for domestic consumption but for which statistics are lacking. The United States is the world's principal consumer of corundum ore; imports lor the period 1934 through 1940 averaging 3000 Short tons per year, The years 1935 and 1936 were close to the 5000-ton mark, and imports during 1941, the last prewar year for which statistics have been released, were approximately 6000 Short tons. Again lacking statistics on Russia, the United Kingdom ranks second, but far below the United States in consumption of ore. Historically, corundum has been found in some 35 countries throughout the world, but the principal deposits are in South Africa, Canada, Madagascar, Russia and the united States. Deposits are generally small and subject to rapid exhaustion. Thus, the United States was the principal world producer for the period 1870 to 1900, when operations ceased except for two years during World War I. India was a producer of ore from 1898 through 1921, with peak output in 1916 through 1918 Canada came into production in 1901 with substantial output of ore and finished grain until 1914; the production thereafter was smaller until 1921. Madagascar has produced ore since 1910 but has had important output in only a few scattered years. South African production started in 1912

Jan 1, 1948

By Roland D. Parks

Corundum, little publicized as an industrial abrasive, has, in its small way, contributed greatly to the production of many specialized items vital to our war program and to Our allies. Optical elements Of the highest quality for range finders, bombsights, and scientific instruments; precision metal parts for torpedoes and airplane engines; quartz crystal plates for military radios; armorplate and malleable castings for tanks and guns; and eyeglasses for everyone; these are some Of the products that corundum has helped to produce in the quantities needed and on time. Unlike metals and many other raw materials, corundum is not incorporated into any Of these finished products. It is simply a grinding medium used to produce the desired finish or precision; an operating supply or tool, so to speak. With a Mobs' scale index of 9, corundum ranks next to the diamond in hardness among the natural minerals and is superior to emery and garnet. The gem varieties of corundum, including the Oriental ruby and sapphire, are frequently more highly prized as jewels than the diamond. It is the intent Of this paper to deal Only with a description of the corundum industry, the administration of wartime control, and certain economic aspects as seen by the author. Several references are listed to assist anyone who wishes further information on the geological occurrence of the mineral. Ore Production and Consumption For the past two decades, south Africa has been the world's sole producer of corundum ore. A possible exception is Russia, where, it is understood, there was considerable production during the thirties for domestic consumption but for which statistics are lacking. The United States is the world's principal consumer of corundum ore; imports lor the period 1934 through 1940 averaging 3000 Short tons per year, The years 1935 and 1936 were close to the 5000-ton mark, and imports during 1941, the last prewar year for which statistics have been released, were approximately 6000 Short tons. Again lacking statistics on Russia, the United Kingdom ranks second, but far below the United States in consumption of ore. Historically, corundum has been found in some 35 countries throughout the world, but the principal deposits are in South Africa, Canada, Madagascar, Russia and the united States. Deposits are generally small and subject to rapid exhaustion. Thus, the United States was the principal world producer for the period 1870 to 1900, when operations ceased except for two years during World War I. India was a producer of ore from 1898 through 1921, with peak output in 1916 through 1918 Canada came into production in 1901 with substantial output of ore and finished grain until 1914; the production thereafter was smaller until 1921. Madagascar has produced ore since 1910 but has had important output in only a few scattered years. South African production started in 1912

Jan 1, 1948

By W. O. Philbrook, R. H. Spitzer, F. S. Manning

A generalized mathematical model has been developed to describe the kinetics of the gaseous, topo-chemical reduction of porous hematite spheres. Gas-solid reduction is permitted at each of three advancing interfaces and is controlled by a complex series-parallel sequence of chemical and transport steps. Despite the fact that transport resistances are significant to the advance of each interface, little deviation from linear advance is predicted for the first 98 pct of reduction. Calculations to predict the movement of magnetite /wustite interface by a solid-state diffusion mechanism have been incorporated into the earlier dense-pellet model.' The porous-pellet model is found to give a better description than the dense-pellet one for McKewan's measurements2 of interface movements in dense polycrystalline hematite reduced in hydrogen-water vapor mixtures. THIS paper reports a continuation of work"3" directed toward the better understanding of gas-solid reactions and the development of mathematical models that may be helpful in the design or control of ore-reduction processes. Laboratory studies of the reduction of single oxide samples in tube furnaces normally employ an abundant excess of pure reducing gas. Reduction may appear to be adequately described by a model assuming gas-solid reaction solely at the iron/wustite interface.''' However, when iron ore is reduced in either a fixed bed or an efficiently operated counter-current column, there are portions of the bed where the partially spent gas is no longer capable of reducing wustite to iron. Nevertheless, the formation of the intermediate reaction products, wustite or magnetite, can and does continue. In order to account for this aspect of the reduction of beds of particles, three semiempirical mathematical models were devised.' One of these was for the limiting case of completely dense particles, and two alternatives were provided for porous particles. For purposes of the analysis, a dense pellet was defined as one in which the wustite and magnetite layers were impervious to the reducing gas when the atmosphere was capable of forming iron. In a porous pellet, the intermediate product layers were assumed to be sufficiently permeable to allow reducing gas to penetrate beyond the iron/wustite interface to form wustite and magnetite by removal of oxygen as a gaseous product rather than by a solid-state redfiction mechanism. Further progress required a better understanding of the reaction of the individual particles with the gas stream. A comprehensive mathematical treatment was developed' to describe the continually changing interplay of transport and reaction steps

Jan 1, 1967

By W. A. Foster

NINETY years after the Riddle nickel deposit N was discovered in Oregon in 1864, Hanna Coal & Ore Corp. began mining operations. Until 1954 much prospecting and preliminary development work had been done on the property, but no ore had been shipped other than for metallurgical testing. The deposit is being explored by churn drilling and trenching, and a few test shafts have been put down for the purpose of studying the ore in place, determining volume and moisture factors, and gathering bulk samples for pilot plant and smelter tests. In churn drilling, 6-in. casing is driven down 2 or 3 ft behind the drill bit and bottomed at each 5-ft interval. All the sludge for each cased 5-ft interval is dumped through a splitter and one eighth is saved and analyzed. Drillholes are stopped after going through the ore zone and penetrating fresh peridotite in which the nickel content is less than 0.5 pct.

Jan 8, 1957

By C. Ernest Birchenall, Robert F. Mehl

APPLICATION of diffusion laws in the customary form to experimental studies in binary metallic solid solutions has shown the diffusion coefficient to vary with concentration for all systems investigated. The factors determining this variation have not been ascertained. However, the question of whether the diffusion coefficient would become a constant, independent of concentration throughout a single phase if the concentration gradient in the diffusion equation were replaced by an activity gradient has been an attractive subject for speculation. Wagner1 derived an expression for the force acting on a diffusing particle in terms of the chemical potential. This was also the approach chosen by Jost2 in his monograph. From a somewhat different point of view, Eyring3 and his co-workers have used activity gradients when dealing with diffusion in concentrated nonideal solutions. The only actual test with experimental data is that given by Darken,4 though this is more qualitative than quantitative. Many others opposed the application in any way of thermodynamic concepts to kinetic phenomena, including diffusion processes. A rigorous examination of this principle requires good data expressing the relationship between activity and concentration for solid solutions for which reliable diffusion work has been done. The literature provides such information only for the interstitial solution of carbon in gamma iron (austenite) and for the substitutional copper-zinc solutions (alpha brass). Activity data for carbon in austenite at 800°C and 1000°C are available from the recent work of Smiths on the equilibrium of hydrogen-methane and carbon monoxide-carbon dioxide mixtures with gamma iron. Combining these with the diffusion studies of Wells and Mehl6 makes possible a quantitative test for this interstitial solid solution. The vapor-pressure determinations for zinc over brass by Hargreaves7 allowed the calculation of activities in this system over a wide range of temperatures and concentrations. Extensive investigation of diffusion in this substitutional solid solution has been carried out by Rhines and Mehl.8 ACTIVITIES IN BRASS9 If the vapor phase of zinc is assumed to behave as an ideal gas, any solid or liquid solutions that are in equilibrium with the same partial pressure of zinc at the same temperature have the same thermodynamic activity of zinc. In order to assign a numerical value to the activity azn, it is necessary to choose some standard reference state to which an activity value of unity is arbitrarily assigned. It is customary to choose the liquid or solid state of the pure material. Then azn is defined numerically by azn = Pza/Pzn° [I]

Jan 1, 1947

By C. S. Smith, E. W. Palmer

For several years an investigation has been in progress in the research laboratory of The American Brass Co. to determine the thermal and electrical conductivities of most copper alloys of commercial importance and several of scientific interest. This paper contains such data on the binary alloys of copper with silicon, aluminum, manganese and nickel, and on a large number of ternary or more complex alloys. Some interesting general relationships between the thermal and electrical conductivities for all copper alloys at all temperatures are pointed out. The data for the copper-zinc, copper-phosphorus and copper-tin binary systems have already been published1,2 † except for the electrical conductivity at 200" C., which is given in the appendix of this paper. Literature on Thermal Conductivity of Copper Alloys The papers referred to above contained a summary of the figures available in 1929 for the thermal conductivity of copper alloys. There is given in Table 1 herewith a selection of the data that have appeared since that time. The measurements of Hanson and Rogers3 are particularly interesting since they cover a series of alloys in the alpha solid solution range and show the effect of heat-treatment. Their alloys were tested as annealed castings, and are not therefore directly comparable to the worked alloys measured in the present investigation, although the difference is small. Bailey's determinations4 were carried out on the alloys used by Lees6 in 1906, and extend his results to higher temperatures. It is most unfortunate that the alloys were not analyzed, for the approximate compositions given are hardly sufficient identification of the material. It is equally to be regretted that neither Hanson and Rogers nor Bailey give data for the electrical conductivities of their samples. Sager6, using the heat-wave method of King, determined the thermal conductivity of copper, nickel and four alloys of the two metals. His results are included in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1935