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By G. W. King, A. Bogrow, L. F. Marek

The purpose of this paper is to present the data and some interpretation of the results of a laboratory study of the reduction of iron ore and the deposition of carbon from the reducing gas mixtures in such reductions. One major object of the study was to determine the effect of gas pressures on these chemical processes. Effort was made to approximate the conditions of temperature, gas composition, linear and mass gas velocities, pressure range, and extent of reduction prevailing in commercial blast furnaces. The results show that the reduction of Fe203 proceeds by two steps, largely consecutive under the conditions used herein: reduction of Fe203 to FeO, and reduction of FeO to Fe. Unless the gas has a CO!CO, ratio greater than 2.1 only the first step occurs under these conditions (850°C) but the following generalizations apply to either step or to the combination. The rate of reduction of relatively fine ore particles .at any time is proportional to the mass rate of supply of CO (provided some of it is thermodynamically available): the rate therefore is proportional to the linear velocity at constant pressure, or to the pressure at constant linear velocity. Thus, the rate of reduction may be increased without increase in linear velocity of the reducing gas by increasing the mass velocity of the gas and increasing the pressure correspondingly to avoid any increase in the linear velocity. The rate "constants"—i.e., the efficiency of conversion of the "available" CO supplied— is not actually constant but decreases as the reduction proceeds, and is a function only of the state of the ore; i.e., of the amount of reduction already accomplished and hence of the amount of CO passed. The particle size of ore used in nearly all the experiments was relatively small (8 to 14-mesh). The rate of reduction in run 16 with 3 to 8-mesh ore particles is within experimental error the same as with the finer ore. Although this would indicate an absence of effect due to particle size in this range of ore particles, it is desirable to have more data on other ore sizes and on ore of different densities before arriving at any generalizations on this point. Although it is possible to extend the analysis of these results to consideration of the more detailed kinetics and mechanism of iron oxide reduction, such extension is beyond the scope of the present paper. From the experiments on carbon deposition, it was evident that if carbon deposition is increased at all by the application of pressures up to 10 psi ga., such increase appears to be less than the experimental and analytical error. It appears safe to conclude that at top pressures on the order

Jan 1, 1948

By L. F. Marek, G. W. King, A. Bogrow

The purpose of this paper is to present the data and some interpretation of the results of a laboratory study of the reduction of iron ore and the deposition of carbon from the reducing gas mixtures in such reductions. One major object of the study was to determine the effect of gas pressures on these chemical processes. Effort was made to approximate the conditions of temperature, gas composition, linear and mass gas velocities, pressure range, and extent of reduction prevailing in commercial blast furnaces. The results show that the reduction of Fe203 proceeds by two steps, largely consecutive under the conditions used herein: reduction of Fe203 to FeO, and reduction of FeO to Fe. Unless the gas has a CO!CO, ratio greater than 2.1 only the first step occurs under these conditions (850°C) but the following generalizations apply to either step or to the combination. The rate of reduction of relatively fine ore particles .at any time is proportional to the mass rate of supply of CO (provided some of it is thermodynamically available): the rate therefore is proportional to the linear velocity at constant pressure, or to the pressure at constant linear velocity. Thus, the rate of reduction may be increased without increase in linear velocity of the reducing gas by increasing the mass velocity of the gas and increasing the pressure correspondingly to avoid any increase in the linear velocity. The rate "constants"—i.e., the efficiency of conversion of the "available" CO supplied— is not actually constant but decreases as the reduction proceeds, and is a function only of the state of the ore; i.e., of the amount of reduction already accomplished and hence of the amount of CO passed. The particle size of ore used in nearly all the experiments was relatively small (8 to 14-mesh). The rate of reduction in run 16 with 3 to 8-mesh ore particles is within experimental error the same as with the finer ore. Although this would indicate an absence of effect due to particle size in this range of ore particles, it is desirable to have more data on other ore sizes and on ore of different densities before arriving at any generalizations on this point. Although it is possible to extend the analysis of these results to consideration of the more detailed kinetics and mechanism of iron oxide reduction, such extension is beyond the scope of the present paper. From the experiments on carbon deposition, it was evident that if carbon deposition is increased at all by the application of pressures up to 10 psi ga., such increase appears to be less than the experimental and analytical error. It appears safe to conclude that at top pressures on the order

Jan 1, 1948

By A. L. Foell

THE development of the modern blast furnace began more than one hundred years ago, with the abandonment of the small hillside furnaces. Its development, especially during the past 50 years, has been accomplished through a rapid succession of enlargements and improvements. The remarkable growth in furnace output during this period is a tribute to the engineers and operators who have constantly endeavored to build larger and more efficient blast furnaces. The blast-furnace operators and their mechanical and electrical maintenance staffs have originated most of the furnace improvements as a result of their practical operating experience. FURNACE LINES About 50 years ago furnaces consisted of hearths about 11 ft. in diameter, which merged into rather high flat boshes, with no cylindrical section between the bosh and inwall and no cylindrical section at the stock line. Since then the lines of the furnace invariably have included a cylindrical section above the bosh and a cylindrical section at the stock line. Notable increases have been made in both hearth diameters and furnace heights. During the past 10 years hearth diameters in new and replaced furnace stacks have rather consistently fallen within the range of 25 to 28 ft. while their heights have varied between 100 and 106 ft. The lines of most large furnaces using Mesabi ores have followed a fairly uniform pattern (Fig. I) in which the principal dimensions for 25-ft. hearth furnaces are as follows: [Hearth diameter 25 ft. o in. Height of bosh 10 ft. o in. Bosh angle 8 1 ½° Diameter top of bosh 28 ft. o in. Inwall batter per foot 15/16 Stock-line diameter 19 ft. 6 in. Large-bell diameter 14 ft. 6 in. Height from iron notch to top ring casting 100 ft. o in.] In determining the size of a new furnace for the replacement of an existing stack or for an addition to productive capacity, it is not possible to formulate a procedure that can always be followed. Local conditions, requirements as to capacity, available raw materials and prospects for future expansion dictate the size of such proposed improvements or additions. However, where the immediate requirements indicate a stack or furnace of a certain productive capacity, and the future prospects indicate that more capacity can be utilized, it is well to consider building the furnace for the ultimate capacity rather than to install a smaller hearth with provision for future enlargement. The decision to build the larger hearth and stack for the ultimate capacity probably will require no greater initial investment, since the saving in the cost of brickwork will about offset the greater cost of the hearth jacket, tuyere breast and bosh bands. In the meantime, the furnace of larger hearth dimensions, while operating below its ultimate output, will yield a better coke rate and

Jan 1, 1942

By R. M. Brick, Arthur Phillips

The normal method of preparing metallic alloys for commercial use involves the preparation of a melt containing the given components in the chosen proportions and allowing the homogeneous liquid mass to solidify in a mold of the desired form. The solidification is frequently accompanied by a segregation of the alloying elements in different parts of the casting. When the segregation is occasioned primarily by marked differences in density of the solid and liquid phases, it is termed "gravity" segregation. When the segregation conforms to a selective freezing in harmony with the teachings of the equilibrium diagram of the alloy system—i.e., the lower melting phases are concentrated in the regions of the casting last to freeze—it is often referred to as "normal" segregation. However, in many cases the lower-melting part of the system is concentrated in the parts of the casting first to freeze and the result in this case is termed "inverse" segregation. To complete the terminology of the subject, normal segregation in a single phase is usually called "coring" and the word will be used in that sense in this paper. Inverse segregation, particularly when the liquid phase is exuded or sweated out on the surface of the casting, is sometimes called "liquation." Unfortunately, some ambiguity has arisen from the use of this term and it is perhaps advisable to confine its use to the dictionary definition; namely, "The separation of two phases by heat sufficient to melt one but not the other." The gravity and normal types of segregation are both well understood and to some extent, are controllable by taking advantage of the most favorable cooling rate for a given casting condition. Inverse segregation has received considerable attention from several investigators but none of the theories offered seem to account in a convincing way for the many examples of this type. The observations made in the present work on segregation in single crystals, and in some other castings, tend to support one theory of the mechanism of inverse segregation and definitely to

Jan 1, 1937

By Howard J. Smith

At the meeting of this Institute in February 1933,I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. AS a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by G. R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K2O; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1938

By Robert H. Richards

This truly remarkable machine was built on a preliminary scale in May, 1895. The first full-sized table was built by Mr. A. R. Wilfley, and was used in his own mill in Kokomo Colo., in May, 1896. The first table sold for installation was placed in the Puzzle mill, Breckinridge, Summit county, Colo., in August, 1896. The mill enthusiasts at first hailed it as the cure for all the ills that flesh is heir to in the milling line. A little later it was found to make losses which were serious, and on this account the table succeeded only to a limited extent in displacing the vanners of the gold-mills. Still later, mill-men in a number of districts throughout the country made special studies of the faults of the machine, and devised a number of ways of grouping supplementary machines to overcome as far as possible the losses, and at the same time retain the benefit of the extraordinarily large capacity accompanied by the production of clean concentrates for which the machine has become so justly famous. I hope to make an exhibit of some of these methods in an appendix to my book on ore-dressing which is now in preparation. These experimenters have not written up the subject, and if they possess all the facts they have not given them out for the benefit of the mining profession at large. The object of this paper is to obtain the facts and to present them so clearly that their bearing can be seen by all. To this end two complete series of tests have been planned. One (the present paper), to study concentration of galena in presence of quartz; the other (to follow shortly), to study concentration of chalcopyrite in presence of quartz. Some authorities claim that the table does its best work when treating natural products; by this phrase I mean products which have been crushed to pass through a limiting

Jan 1, 1908

By Edwin M. Chance

During the past 10 years, the safe and efficient lighting of the coal mines of this country has received an ever-increasing amount of attention. Several States have passed laws attempting to regulate the type of lamp to be used and the nature of the fuel to be burned, and the mining departments of coal-mining States have generally shown a keen and intelligent interest in this subject. The passage of the recent Employers' Liability Act in Pennsylvania has made it necessary for many coal-mining companies to take out liability insurance, and the companies underwriting such insurance have made it desirable for the insured to permit the use of none but illuminants of established worth. While these conditions have not obtained for a sufficient length of time to permit the statement that the illumination of coal mines by portable lamps has been standardized, still, considerable progress has been made and the direction of future practice in this branch of coal-mining technology is very evident. Under these conditions it seemed that a review of the methods now used in coalmine illumination, together with a brief consideration of the principles underlying these methods, might be of some interest. Miners' lamps may be divided into three classes: The open light, the electric cap lamp, and the flame safety lamp. It will be desirable to consider each of these classes separately, as each has properties peculiar to itself and one class is hardly comparable with another. In this country, without question, the open light is the most generally used of all miners' lamps. This fact is explained by the relative freedom of a large proportion of our mines from gaseous conditions, and by the admirable systems of ventilation installed in those that show a tendency toward such conditions. In the metal mines, the miner's candle has had and still has considerable vogue. Because of the small amount of ventilation usually supplied in metal mines, the freedom of the candle from any tendency to produce noxious gases or offensive odors, and the small amount of air it consumes, are valuable assets, while, because of the light color of the rocks in which workings are driven, the meager light is not a serious handicap.

Jan 1, 1918

By Howard J. Smith

At the meeting of this Institute in February 1933,I presented a paper on potash development in southeastern New Mexico1, which contained a brief review of the Geological Survey's 20-year search for commercial sources of soluble potash minerals and of the events that led to the discovery, exploration, and first development of the deposits in that state. AS a more comprehensive review of the subject was published in December2, the present paper is intended only to discuss recent developments in the domestic potash industry, particularly in New Mexico. A summary of the findings of potash in the Permian Basin, by G. R. Mansfield and W. B. Lang, geologists of the United States Geological Survey, is now in process of publication by the University of Texas and will be omitted from this paper. In New Mexico prospecting for potassium salts during the past two years has increased materially the known area of commercial deposits; development has resulted in an increase from one to three in the number of shafts and the starting of a fourth; an increase of annual productive capacity to 1,000,000 tons of crude salts, or 250,000 tons of K2O; and an increase in annual refining capacity to 140,000 tons of muriate of 62.5 per cent grade. Construction has been completed to increase still further the production of high-grade salts. In California the American Potash & Chemical Co., operating on Searles Lake brines, has increased its plant capacity from about 100,000 tons to 180,000 tons of muriate a year and is now producing soda ash and salt cake in addition to potash and borax. Potash production from cement-plant and industrial-alcohol wastes remains unimportant.

Jan 1, 1938

By Edwin F. Nelson, Charles Wirth, Gustav Egloff, C. D. Maxutov

The treatment of emulsified crude oils has been a problem for years in the petroleum industry. Until comparatively recently various methods of settling with and without chemicals have been used with indifferent success. Since wells have been acidized, emulsified crudes have been produced, which add considerably to the need for improved methods of treatment. The presence of large quantities of salts in the oils from acidized wells has presented several new problems to the industry. The use of hydrochloric acid in well treatments has caused the formation of sodium, magnesium, and calcium chlorides by interaction with the dolomitic limestones. These salts dissolve readily in the water normally present in the oil, and they are therefore incorporated in the emulsified oil. The crystalline salts have also been found in the oil, prevented from settling by protective films such as asphalt, resins and petrolatum. In some instances, free hydrochloric acid has been found. The salts may be present in crude oil in amounts ranging from a few pounds to over 1000 lb. per 1000 bbl. of oil. The transportation of these crude oils through pipe lines has led to erosive and corrosive effects, which are a tremendous cost to the petroleum industry. During 1937, more than 1,200,000,000 bbl. of crude oil was transported through pipe lines. Of this quantity approximately 10,000,-000 bbl. was water, and considerably more than 50,000,000 lb. was salts. If the crude oils were treated at the producing wells to remove the salts and water, an appreciable saving would be possible. The treatment would not be difficult, since it has been found that these oils are more easily treated at the time they are produced than after the aging and more stable emulsification that occur before they reach the refinery. Since great costs are involved in the use of these salty crudes at the refinery, treated oils essentially free of salts would naturally command a premium. The real added costs lie in refining salt-containing crude oils. Severe corrosion of refinery equipment in both topping and cracking installations has appeared in many refineries. Chemicals such as ammonia, lime and

Jan 1, 1938

By George H. Ashley

The present critical state of the supply, distribution, and utilization of coal and the necessity for pooling and zoning coals calls renewed attention to the lack of any fully adequate classification of coal. In the past coals have been classified as anthracite, semianthracite, semibitumi-nous, bituminous, subbituminous coals, and lignite, and a few special types, such as splint coal and cannel coal. But under the term bituminous coal are included a great variety of coals differing markedly both physically and chemically. The term subbituminous coal covers as great a range of chemical differences. In order to distinguish these varieties of bituminous coals it has been customary to designate coal by names derived from the place where mined, or by the name of the bed from which it is mined. Thus, in the market reports, coals are quoted as Pocahontas coal, New River or Sewell coal, Moshannon coal, Ohio coal, Williamson County coal, Jellico coal, and so on indefinitely, no limit being set as to the boundaries of the area to which a given name is applied. Nor is there any scale by which the coal from one place may be compared with the coal from some other district or some other bed. On the one hand, coals from the same district may be quite distinct and sell at very different prices or coal from the same bed may differ greatly in different districts; on the other hand, coals from different states may be so similar physically and chemically that one could replace the other in practical use without any appreciable difference in service. The following classification, arrived at after a careful review of a large number of systems of classification and of all of the recognized characteristics of coal, brings together all coals that so nearly resemble each other physically, chemically, and in heating qualities that any coal of a given type could replace any other coal of the same type and grade in use. Thus, if coals A and B are classed as of the same type and grade they have, so far as known to the writer, approximately the same heating value when burned under the same conditions, and the same character, length of flame, and properties affecting transportation and stocking; and if of the same grade, approximately the same percentage of impurities.

Jan 1, 1920

By Parke A. Hodges

CHROMIUM, one of the most vital of the strategic metals, has constantly increasing importance as research expands potential uses in alloy steel metallurgy. All signs point to a steadily growing use for chrome ore, and the general subject has received a great deal of attention recently.1 A relatively little known country, Southern Rhodesia produced a total of 5.949 million tons, or 18.6 pct of the total world chrome output, between 1906 and 1950, according to figures from the U. S. Dept. of Commerce. According to U. S. Bureau of Mines figures, Southern Rhodesia produced 291,525 tons in 1950 and 300,267 tons in 1951, or approximately 13 and 11 pct, respectively, of world production for the two years. In 1953 the Rhodesian Vanadium Corp. produced about 85,000 tons of which probably 7,000 tons were concentrate. Production by other companies was high. Large in themselves, the figures assume even greater significance because most of this output is of metallurgical grade.

Jan 8, 1954

NEW MEMBERS The following list comprises the names of those persons who became members during the period of June 10, 1918, to July 10, 1918. ALLPORT, JAMES H., Cons. Engr Barnesboro, Pa. ANDERSON, G. E., Engr., Exploration Dept., American Smelt. & Refin. Co.,Tucson, Ariz. BAKER, HARRY A., Capt., Co. M, 53d Pioneer Infantry, Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S. C. BEALL, ROBERT STEPHENS, Supt., Empire Zinc Co. (of Colorado), Canon City, Colo. BLAYLOCK, SELWYN GWILLYM, Mina & Met. Engr., Asst. Gen'l Mgr., Cons. Min. & Smelt. Co. of Canada, Ltd., Trail, B. C., Canada. BOTTERILL, THOMAS CLARK, Min. Engr., Belmont Surf Inlet Mines, Ltd., Surf Inlet, B. C., Canada. BOWMAN, MAURICE Asst. Supt., New Idria Quicksilver Min. Co., Idria, San Benito Co., Cal. BROOKS, EARL W Chief En r. Inland Collieries Co. Harmarville Pa. BROWN, DEWITT W Chief Chem., Prime Western Spelter Co., Iola, Kansas BUISSON, ARTHUR Min. Engr., Dept. of Mines, Sussex St., Ottawa, Canada. BUNYAN, F. W Chem., Southern Pacific Railway Co., Sacramento, Cal. BURNETT, ARCHIBALD Supt., Swansea Lease Inc., Swansea, Ariz. BURTON, GEORGE E., Resident Geol., Empire Gas & Fuel Co., Varsity Shop Bldg., Norman, Okla.

Jan 8, 1918

By William C. Maurer

A survey of 25 novel drills has shown that spark drills have potential for drilling oil wells and blastholes at higher rates than rotary drills. Available laboratory and field data were extrapolated to drilling rates of 70 to 280 fph for full-scale spark drills. Most of the data used in these extrapolations were from small-scale laboratory tests at atmospheric pressure. Accurate extrapolation of the small-scale spark drill tests to full-scale field drills was complicated by the fact that the effect of fluid pressure in the well bore and the effect of spark size were not known. In order to answer these questions and to more accurately evaluate the potential of spark drills for drilling blastholes and oil wells economically, a high-voltage spark discharge system was assembled. This equipment produced powerful sparks (10,000 joules) equivalent to those that would be used on a 100-kw full-scale field drill. These sparks are 100 times more powerful than those previously used on spark drills, thus eliminating extrapolation of the spark size. In addition, a pressure chamber was modified to enable using these sparks to produce craters in rocks at fluid pressures up to 15,000 psi, thus eliminating extrapolation from atmospheric pressure to the high pressure existing in deep oil wells. These tests have provided considerable information for more accurately evaluating spark drills for oil-field drilling. MECHANISM AND THEORY OF SPARK DRILLING Spark-Drilling Mechanism When a high-voltage capacitor is discharged across two electrodes, the dissipated energy produces a high-temperature, high-pressure plasma for a few µsec. When these sparks are discharged in air, they undergo considerable expansion (Fig. 1) and produce low-pressure pulses (103-

Jan 1, 1970

By Hassell E. Hunter

The Wyoming Minerals - Conoco Crownpoint Joint Venture represents the first time that big hole drilling has been exclusively used to develop a privately financed mine. Three shafts, one ten feet in diameter and two six feet in diameter, have been successfully drilled to depths of 2243', 2188' and 2188' respectively and lined with hydrostatic designed steel casing. The largest shaft is to be used to as a development shaft to handle muck and water from enlargement and station excavation of the other two shafts. A reverse fluid air assist circulation system with potassium base mud was used during drilling. The mud was cleaned by settling in steel lined tanks with assistance from cyclone type sand separators. Deviation was monitored with wireline gyroscopic surveying instruments at 30 foot intervals. Horizontal departure did not exceed 16 inches off perpendicular. Casing was designed to withstand full hydrostatic pressures with a 1.5 safety factor for the large shaft and 1.25 safety factor for the two smaller shafts. All casing welds were x-rayed prior to lowering the casing into the hole. Cementing the annular space completed the operation. The total time to mobilize, drill and move off the three shafts was 363 days. The drilling operation was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Jan 1, 1982

By L. E. Mannion

Sodium carbonate or soda ash is one of the two principal alkalis of commerce, the other being sodium hydroxide. The use of sodium carbonate is recorded in ancient Egypt, where naturally occurring brines or solid salts were the source of impure soda for glass manufacture. In early modern times until the 19th century, soda ash, as well as potash, was recovered mainly by leaching the ashes of plants. In Europe, during the 18th century, a brown lye for laundering was produced by pouring hot water over burned seaweed. One of the better grades of this kind of material was a product from Spain termed "barilla," which analyzed 24 to 30% Na2CO3 (Hou, 1942). The birth of the modern chemical industry may be said to start with the LeBlanc process for making sodium carbonate from salt, sulfuric acid, and lime. Although invented in France in 1691, England made the most extensive use of it. In 1863 Ernst Solvay devised the ammonia-soda or Solvay process, and by 1874 the first of many Solvay plants was built. These were to supplant the LeBlanc method and dominate soda-ash production until the present time. Although of lesser importance, natural sodium carbonate deposits continued to support operations in various parts of the world. Shortages during World War II stimulated production of "natural" soda ash, particularly at Searles Lake, Calif., and at Lake Magadi, Kenya. Within the last ten years in the United States, a notable surge in production has occurred based on the vast trona deposits in Wyoming. Table 1 lists some principal producers of natural soda ash and the character of the source deposits. Uses and Specifications Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is a white, crystalline hygroscopic powder, an aqueous solution of which is strongly alkaline. Most commercial soda ash is a product that must meet high standards of purity and uniformity. Two forms are commonly sold: a fine, powdery material called light ash, and a more coarsely crystalline dense ash; these weigh 32 to 39 and 60 to 66 lb per cu ft, respectively. Dense ash may be produced by adding a little calcium chloride to the sodium carbonate solution to control crystal size and prevent agglomeration. Specifications and typical analyses of light and dense ash in the United States are shown in [Table 2]. Sizing generally achieves about 75% of light ash and 90% of dense ash between +30 and -100 U.S. screen mesh. World use of sodium carbonate now exceeds 24 million tpy, of which the United States produces more than 7 million tons. The market for soda ash is dominated by the glass industry, which uses almost half the supply. Inorganic chemicals, including phosphates and silicates, consume about 30%. Other principal uses include the manufacture of soaps and detergents, petroleum, caustic soda, organic chemicals, and paper; and nonferrous and ferrous metallurgy. [Fig. 1] shows the percent consumption by use of soda ash in Europe, Japan, and the United States. The price of soda ash in the United States remained relatively stable during the 1960s at about $33 per ton; in 1972 it reached $35 per ton. The price in 1975 was $42 per ton. Geology Mineralogy [Table 3] is a list of the more common sodium carbonate-bearing minerals. Anhydrous sodium carbonate is almost never found in nature; only natron, thermonatrite, and trona have been used directly as sources of sodium carbonate. At Searles Lake, burkeite and hanksite are important in the reconstitution of

Jan 1, 1975

By B. M. Larsen, L. S. Darken

SOME years ago we collated all laboratory data then available to us on the distribution at equilibrium of manganese and of sulphur between metal and simple slags, and used the results in setting up an equation, which proved to be in accord with determinations of the distribution ratio of manganese and of sulphur between liquid steel and open-hearth slag, over a wide range of operating conditions. We now present an outline of our calculations and inferences on these two closely related questions, which are of especial importance because of the advisability of conserving manganese wherever possible. In general. our results show that in the open-hearth furnace equilibrium between metal and slag, with respect to both manganese and sulphur, is substantially attained during the finishing period of the heat, or in about a half hour to an hour after any additions were made. This implies that the end result will be identical whether manganese is added as alloy or metal to the liquid steel or as oxide to the slag. The proportion of total manganese retained by the steel is favored: (I) by use of the minimum amount of lime, consistent with other operating limitations, required to give a lime-silica ratio of about 2.4, which usually corresponds to a minimum practical slag volume; (2) by a high concentration in the slag of MnO relative to FeO; (3) by high operating temperature. Absorption of sulphur by the slag from the liquid metal is favored: (I) by large slag volume; (2-by a high concentration of active (or "free") lime and of manganese oxide dis) solved in the slag; (3) by low concentration of silica, iron oxide, and phosphate dissolved in the slag. DISTRIBUTION OF MANGANESE BETWEEN SLAG AND METAL AT EQUILIBRIUM On the basis that the distribution of manganese between liquid steel and slag is controlled by the reaction [FeO + Mn ;7± MnO + Fe [A] slag metal slag metal] the distribution at equilibrium, at a given temperature, is expressed by the equilibrium constant for this reaction, which is defined as [K" aFPI OFeO ? aMn] where a is the activity of the molecular species denoted by the subscript. The activity of each of the several components, although it is not known precisely, is approximately equal to the concentration of each component expressed as its mol fraction; that is, as the ratio of the number of mols of the given component to the total number of mols of all the molecular species present in the metal or slag, as the case may be. Moreover, since the activity, or concentration, of iron in the liquid metal is in fact substantially constant, the term aFe may he combined with K" to give a new constant K'. Making these changes.

Jan 1, 1942

By J. D. Irving

In the summer of 1899 there appeared in the Black Hills Mining Review† a short note announcing the discovery of certain deposits of wolframite in the vicinity of Lead City and Yellow creek, Lawrence co., South Dakota.

Jan 1, 1902

By Randolph Specht

A two year study was made of the waste disposal of the pebble rock phosphate industry. Solid slimes are impounded in large settling areas and the process water is re-used. Clear effluent was not found to be toxic to fish or animal life in field tests or in controlled experiments.

Jan 7, 1950

By Kenneth A. Grace

Jan 1, 1985