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By T. D. Tiemann

The caustic extraction of silica from Wisconsin and Minnesota taconite was investigated by bomb digestion over the temperature range from 312 to 40S°F at caustic concentrations from 25 to 500 gpl. Residual concentrates containing as much as 65 pct iron were obtained. The high rate of silica extraction is related to a microcrystalline variety of quartz, since it is shown that the rate of extraction of silica from quartz is directly proportional to its surface area. Increasing dependence on foreign ore reserves makes the need for developing the technology necessary for treatment of our low grade ores even greater than it was at the time of World War 11, when much research was conducted on the extraction of alumina from clays. Representative of these were the studies carried on at the University of Illinois.' More recently, the U. S. Bureau of Mines investigated the production of alumina from anorthosite, and currently the aluminum industry is showing renewed research interest in this field. The studies reported here are part of a continuing research program based on the above concepts and aimed at the eventual development of processes for the treatment of low grade ores, particularly those of iron. The fact that large reserves 3 of low grade nonmagnetic taconite are contained in the iron formation of the Wisconsin Gogebic range have made this ore an important and attractive target for investigation. The idea of removing silica by caustic extraction is not new.495 The digestion in caustic solution of ground flint, diatomite, and other forms of chalcedonic silica is the basis for the production of soluble sodium silicates by the wet-process. Upgrading bauxites by the caustic extraction of silica has been investigated6 and is the subject of a German patent.7 Although mention is made by Roe' of the caustic extraction of silica from low grade Michigan and Wisconsin iron ores, and he lists a number of patents and references on the subject, recent work in the field does not appear to be extensive. As far as the author knows, there has been no work in this field on these particular ores. It is hoped that this paper will stimulate further investigation which will eventually lead to an econclmic means of processing these large low grade reserbes. TACONITES The taconites investigated in this study were from Minnesota and Wisconsin. That from Minnesota, a semi-taconite, Nas obtained from the Oliver Iron Mining Division, U. S. Steel Corporation, and represents a sample of an oxidized iron formation from their King Mine on the Mesabi range. The Wisconsin taconite came originally from the trench sampling of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, and represents a composite of the Norrie, Pabst, Yale, Plymouth, and Pence members of the Gogebic iron formation. Assays on these samples are given in Table I. A typical calcu1atr:d average analysis of the Wisconsin taconite is given in Table 11. Chemically, the Minnesota semi-taconite sample contains about 39 pct iron and 39 pct silica, while the Wisconsin taconite contains 30 pct iron and 53 pct silica, both on the dry basis.

Jan 1, 1962

By J. S. Marsh

The student of steelmaking is all too well acquainted with the fact that in many instances he must deal with data that in graphical representation exhibit the property most desirable in bird shot. This is scarcely mystifying, since the effort to establish one variable as a function of another is usually hampered by the simultaneous operativeness of two or three other factors that may be important. A large part of arriving at relationships that have the pleasing self-consistency of, say, precise measurements of thermal expansion, consists of determining what factors must be held constant-—an even larger part usually consists of collecting data for which those factors have been so maintained. It is not intended to imply that functional relationships in the physical chemistry of steelmaking are hopelessly obscure; on the contrary, it is merely necessary to be undisturbed by marked deviation of some points from a curve that otherwise makes sense. A reaction mechanism suggested by such a curve may call attention to hitherto unsuspected factors operative in the origin of the deviating points, and thus permit another step to be taken in the direction of fuller understanding. It is proposed, therefore, to suggest several empirical relationships. Even though the approach is not always rigorous, deviations caused by simplifying assumptions appear to be too small to obscure a provisional It has been appreciated for some time that the carbon-oxygen reaction in liquid steel is highly important. For example, Körber et al.,' in introducing a summary of their extensive work on steelmaking reactions, said: "... the far-reaching and truly dominating action of carbon upon the metallurgical reactions will be especially stressed ..." In "Basic Open Hearth Steelmaking"2 (hereafter BOHS, for simplicity), it is accepted repeatedly that the various slag-metal interactions are nearly always controlled by the carbon-oxygen reaction. Before further discussion of this reaction, however, it will be worth while to consider briefly the carbon-oxygen equilibrium. In BOHS (p. 483) it is stated that: When liquid iron is brought into contact with gases containing carbon monoxide it absorhs carbon and oxygen. Conversely the carbon and oxygen in the metal unite to form carbon monoxide which is evolved from the bath during the open-hearth boil or while rimming ingots are solidifying. . . . When the equilibrium pressure is one atmosphere the equilibrium-constant equation simplifies, on the assumption that the activity of each element is equal to its percentage, to a constant which has been so much used that it has acquired a special symbol m. where m = %C X %O

Jan 1, 1945

The early history of coal in West Virginia is all included with that of Virginia in the few records available but for present-day readers it is much more convenient that the account of this area prior to the Civil War be grouped with that since then. West Virginia shares with Maryland in the first record of coal noted in the Appalachian fields. This was along the upper Potomac River, in the fall of 1736, and the data about it are given under Maryland, as most' of the development of the area was in that state. The next record of coal was left by John Peter Salley in his account of the expedition he made with Howard and others in 1742. (See p. 17.) The next reference found is that of Dr. Thomas Walker, in 1750, when he passed through the Pocahontas coal field. This has been described on page 18. Six years later, in March 1756, Capt. William Preston, who was with Major Lewis in his expedition down Big Sandy River, wrote in his journal: "Tuesday 2.... Moved down the branch and- came to the main creek where we camped. Put on half rations. Came into the Cole land; crossed the river 8 times."1 The party crossed from the head of Clinch River to Horse Pen Creek, then to Jacob's Fork and down it to Dry Fork of Tug River; the coal was seen in what is now McDowell County. The early settlers must have known of the presence of the great Pittsburgh bed in the northern part of the state, both along the Monongahela River and elsewhere, because the outcrops could easily be seen along streams in many. places. The report of the Commissioners for Adjusting Claims to Unpatented Lands, made in 1789, contains several references to coal in the names of streams, made years earlier. The earliest is one for 1,000 acres to James Walker, in Monongalia County, "adjoining his settlement on a branch of the right hand fork of Pappaw known by the name of the Stone Cole Lick made in the year 1773."2 Another of 400 acres in the same locality was settled upon in 1777.2 A third spoke of a tract "on the left hand fork of Stone Cole about three miles from the mouth," in 1783.1 Monongalia County then covered all of the northern

Jan 1, 1942

By Thomas J. O’Neil

During the past five years, the mining industry has been subjected to new operating constraints that are unprecedented in number, scope, and urgency. The industry must operate in a safer, cleaner manner, yet produce more without large price increases. Compliance with any new sweeping legislation is always difficult-and particularly so in today's adverse economic climate, which is being aggravated by the steady stream of environmental control and tax-reform programs. In effect, while government is unwittingly but surely undercutting the country's productive capabilities, it blames industry for the resulting failure to meet consumer demand. Any such real or alleged failure then brings heightened bitterness from Congress. During the recent energy shortage, for instance, threats of nationalization were ventilated in public along with proposals to abolish the mineral depletion allowance.

Jan 11, 1974

By Charles Will Wright

The present struggle for economic and industrial supremacy by the Communist world is against the United States, its main target, and the other Free World nations. The basis of industrial power is minerals, so the Communist nations are building up mineral production within their borders, often regardless of costs, and are acquiring quantities of mineral products from Free World countries for future use. They are contracting for additional supplies and advancing funds for the development of these quantities. A number of the less developed mineral producing countries of the Free World are being infiltrated by Communists and Communistic influence. This situation is well known, but as yet little has been done to oppose these activities or to awaken the public to their seriousness. The Communist countries are still far behind the Free World Nations in production of many essential minerals. But, shortages are being made up from Free World nations in exchange for petroleum, manganese ore, chromite and other products. Restrictions on shipments of strategic materials to Communist countries have not been maintained.

Jan 1, 1964

By Aaron J. Miles, Eugene A. Stepenson

The pressure distribution in a producing oil or gas reservoir has been obtained mathematically in a limited number of special cases where the boundary of the reservoirs are simple geometric figures with the wells conveniently located within them. Using some of the previous work as a basis, it can be proved that a number of additional problems of pressure distribution can be solved by use of soap film. This method is particularly applicable to a reservoir drained by a number of wells, or to a reservoir of irregular shape, or to both. Since this method obtains the pressure distribution, it also establishes the drainage boundaries of the wells. This paper derives the analogy between the equation representing the pressure distribution in a reservoir and the equation of the deflected membrane. It also describes the apparatus and the method of operation. The experimental method is employed to solve a problem whose mathematical solution is known and the results compared. These are found to be in good agreement. The method is applicable to any homogeneous liquid, compressible or incompressible, or to a gas, flowing in a reservoir of uniform thickness, permeability and porosity. The flow state may be either the steady state or the transient state wherein the density or pressure of the fluid in the reservoir declines at a constant rate. PRESSURE-DISTEIBUTION PBOBLEM Fluids encountered in the oil reservoir are compressible and expand and move toward the drilled hole where the Dressure is lowest. The loss of fluid from the reservoir lowers the pressure in the more distant parts of the reservoir, permitting the fluids in these parts to expand and move toward the well. The area around the well affected by drainage is increasing continuously, and the density, pressure, and velocity of flow

Jan 1, 1938

By Gilbert Soler

Producers of alloy steels recognize the importance of chemical composition in relation to the hot-working properties and the typical surface defects found in their product. Each analysis of steel has its own peculiar characteristics. Under conditions of standard mill practice each analysis is susceptible to certain types of defects. Mill practice must be varied to obtain the best combination of surface and internal quality in the product. Chemical composition influences the cast structure and crystallization characteristics of the ingot. It also determines the rate of heating and cooling, the plastic hot-working range, and the phase structure of the steel at various temperatures. as well as the tendency toward scale formation and decarburization. This paper endeavors to emphasize the manner in which chemical composition affects the various properties of steel, and to indicate the relative importance of these factors in relation to the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of killed steel. The influence of chemical composition may be outlined as follows: I. Effect on the cast structure of steel, including: A. State of deoxidation, and type of inclusions. B. Gas content of steel. C. Freezing point and melting point of steel. D. Crystallization characteristics and segregation. 11. Effect on the hot-working properties and surface characteristics of steel, including: A. Plastic hot-working range. B. Phase structures at hot-working temperatures. C. Rate of heating. D. Cooling characteristics. E. Scale formation. F. Surface decarburization. EFferect of Chemical Composition on Cast Structure of Steel State of Deoxidation and Type of Inclu-sions.—The state of deoxidation is limited by the final chemical analysis desired in the finished product, and is controlled primarily by carbon, manganese, silicon, and aluminum, and to a lesser degree by chromium, titanium, vanadium, or other deoxidizing elements. The degree of deoxidation affects the density of the cast structure and broadly classifies the steel as killed, semikilled, or rimming. This in turn manifests itself in surface characteristics. The manner and extent of deoxidation also controls the amount, type, and distribution of nonmetallic inclusions formed. The equilibrium of manganese, silicon and aluminum with the slags and pouring refractories with which the metal comes in contact is important, especially in regard to inclusions of fire-clay origin. Some surface Seams and hot-working difficulties can be traced to nonmetallic inclusions.

Jan 1, 1941

By J. M. Flaitz, A. S. Parks

OF the various methods of sampling gas-condensate wells, a method that secures a continuous representative sample of the well stream is desirable. Such a method, consisting of a sampling tube introduced into the well tubing, has proved satisfactory. The method is sufficiently accurate for operating and engineering problems A portable testing apparatus can be used with the sampling tube to obtain data useful in studying the economic and technical aspects of the development and operation of gas-condensate properties. Introduction The recent discovery and development of gas reserves that contain hydrocarbons that condense with reduction of temperature or Pressure, or both, to form a product known as condensate, has brought many new problems to the oil and gas industries. With further discovery of deep, high-pressure fields it is presumable that many more gas fields of this type will be added to the steadily increasing number. Such gas reserves are found either associated with oil as a gas cap or in separate formations. There seems to be no positive correlation between the physical or geological nature of the reservoir, and the chemical composition or phase characteristics of its contents. Knowledge of the chemical make-up and phase behavior of gas-condensate reserves is needed to cope with many problems. A knowledge of the chemical composition and phase characteristics of the reservoir material is necessary to properly design a gasoline or recycling plant, to estimate natural gas and condensate reserves, to enable the operator to study the economic and technical aspects of various methods of operation and development, and to carry Out the plan of operating subsurface and surface lease equipment. This information is often useful in questions of mineral ownership, proration, legal position, and taxation. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss methods used by the writers to determine the chemica1 composition and phase characteristics of the fluids produced from a condensate well. The scope of the paper includes a discussion and description of the method of sampling, the results of tests on the accuracy of the sampling method, a description of a portable testing apparatus used to examine the phase characteristics, typical results of tests on wells from several condensate fields, and some of the applications of these data to production problems. References to previous work on this subject are cited at the end of the paper. The Problem At reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure, the fluids produced from a condensate well exist in a homogeneous vaporous condition. The consequent reduction of temperature and pressure that occurs as this gas enters and flows up the well tube results in condensation of some of the hydrocarbon material to form a liquid. The relative amount of liquid condensed at any point in the flowing system

Jan 1, 1942

By Robert H. Leach, C. H. Chatfield

THIS paper gives a brief summary of the process of manufacture of sterling silver, and some of its more important physical properties, as observed in commercial production of rolled sheet and wire. Although papers have been published by Turner and Smith,1 Rose,2 Sperry3 and Jordan,4 there are few technical data available, and unfortunately the time allowed for the preparation of this paper has not been sufficient to make it as comprehensive as the title might indicate. ANALYSIS OF STERLING SILVER Fine or pure silver is too soft for coinage and the manufacture of articles in which strength and resistance to wear are desired. From the earliest times of which we have record, copper has been the metal generally used to harden silver. Analyses of coins and silver articles from ancient tombs show varying amounts of copper, and old Roman silver objects in the British Museum have approximately the same analysis as our sterling. The first authentic record of the establishment of a stand¬ard alloy is during the reign of Henry II in England. During the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the people in the Eastern Provinces of Germany had a reputation for the standard and purity of their silver coinage, and it is said that Henry II employed some of these Easterlings, as they were called, to improve and standardize the English coinage, which had become debased. The peculiar standard adopted is probably accounted for by the system of weights used. A troy pound contains

Jan 1, 1928

By F. Garofalo

It has been shown by various investigators that during constant stress creep the dependence of minimum creep rate, 6,, on stress, o, is given by em = A onat low stress levels, md by 6, = A' exp [ß s] at high stress levels. In these relations A, n, A', and ß are constant at constant temperature. A single relation has been found which satisfies conditions for both high and low stresses and agrees well with experimental results. This relation is 2, = AN (sinh a s)n, where A" is a constant at constunt temperature and a = p/n. This relation also satisfies the linear relation, 6, = k s, found at temperatures near the melting point at low stresses. EXPERIMENTAL creep results have led to a number of empirical relationships between minimum creep rate, 6,, and the applied stress, s. Under conditions of constant stress it is generally found that at low-stress levels,'-' the dependence of minimum creep rate is given by 6, = Asn. At high-stress levels'74 the experimental results fit the relation, 6, = A' exp [po l. In these relations A, n, A' and ß are constant at constant temperature. A model based on climb-of-edge dislocations from a pile-up array leads to a relation similar to that found experimentally at low stresses.' On the other hand. theories based on chemical-reaction rate,5 nonconservatively moving dislocation jogs, and jog migration and climb-of-edge dislocations4 lead to a relation similar to that found experimentally at high stresses. No difference in mechanism between low and high stress levels has been clearly defined; it is questionable whether such a difference really exists. In any event, the major argument usually given in substantiation of a change in mechanism from low to high stresses is that no single relation exists for defining the stress dependence of the creep rate over wide ranges in stress. However, such a relation has been found and is of the form, dm = A" (sinh a s)n, where A" is a constant at con- stant temperature and a = ß/n. This relation agrees well with experimental results over wide ranges in stress and temperature for copper, aluminum, an A1-3.1 pct Mg alloy, and an austenitic stainless steel. STRESS DEPENDENCE OF MINIMUM CREEP RATE At low stress levels the minimum creep rate, gm, depends on the stress, 0, under conditions of constant stress creep through the relation em=Aon [1] The quantities A and n have been defined previously. In the range in which this relation applies, a linear dependence is found in a log em,-log o plot. Above the stress range of application of relation [I], the minimum creep rate increases much mar; rapidly than predicted by relation [I]. This behavior is shown in Fig. 1 for a series of creep tests on copper4 at various temperatures ranging from 673 o to 973°K. Relation [I] is satisfied at the lower stresses, although the results at 973°K are quite limited. In all cases the transition beyond the applicable range of relation [I] is a gradual one indicating no abrupt change in mechanism. For all test temperatures, values of n have been determined from the results in Fig. 1. These are reported in Table I under Alog tm/hlog o. At high stress levels the stress dependence of minimum creep rate under conditions of constant stress is given by im = A' exp [ß a] 2] All factors have been defined previously. In a log em-0 plot, relation [2] predicts a linear function. Experimentally, a pronounced deviation from the prediction of relation [2] is found at lower stresses. As the stress is lowered, the minimum creep rate decreases more rapidly than predicted by relation [2]. This shown for copper in Fig. 2. Again it is found that the transition from high to low stresses is gradual and no really sharp change is found. Values of p determined from the high stress results are given in Table I. The dependence of minimum creep rate on stress at constant temperature for all ranges in stress

Jan 1, 1963

By Gerhard Bockstiegel

Kuczynski's formula has been derived for the case of nonspherical particles. TWO formulae of Kuczynski's type have been derived, one describing the increase in tensile strength, the other describing the progress of shrinkage of a powder compact. It has been strength,shown that the exponents of all three formulae each contain two magnitudes of different physical characters, viz, the geometrical factor a and the kinetic factor ß. The interrelationships between the three exponents are stated. SOME years ago Kuczynski1 experimentally showed that the radius, x, of the area of contact between very small spherical metal particles and a metallic block is related to the time of sintering, t, by the following equation x = constant tk [11 where k has the value 1/5 or 1/7. Assuming that the metal particles were perfect spheres and the metallic block was perfectly flat, he derived the foregoing equation from theoretical considerations of the process of material transport in metals, and he showed that exponent k is different for different mechanisms of transport, e.g., k = 1/2 for viscous flow (according to Frenkel2), k = 1/3 for evaporation and condensation, k = 1/5 for volume diffusion, and k = 1/7 for surface diffusion. From this Kuczynski concluded that the mechanism of transport was either volume diffusion or surface diffusion, depending on whether the value of k, as found in his experiments, was 1/5 or 1/7. Subsequently. Cabrera8 corrected Kuczynski's calculations with regard to surface diffusion, showing that the theoretical value of exponent k is 1/5 for both volume and surface diffusion. He supposed that the different experimental values of k were due to slight differences in the shape of the metal particles. An exponential relationship similar to the aforementioned was found by Okamura, Masuda, and Kikuta,4 Masuda and Kikuta, and Takasaki8 when studying the rate of shrinkage on powder compacts during sintering. The authors measured the shrinkage by means of the fraction w = Vp — V./Vp — V,,,, where V,, is the volume of the green compact, V, is the volume of the sintered compact, and V,,, is the volume of the compact in its densest state. This fraction, w, they found, is related to the time of sintering, t, by the equation w == constant tm. [21 Further, Bockstiegel, Masing, and Zapf7 observed that the tensile strength, s, of sintering iron powder compacts can also be related to the time of sintering, t, by an equation of the foregoing type, i.e., s = constant tn. [3] For exponent n the values 0.28 (S=2/7) and 0.35 ( 2/5) were obtained, and the authors pointed out that there might exist a simple interrelation between exponent n as found in their experiments and exponent k in Kuczynski's equation. The authors supposed that 2k = n, since the strength of adhesion between a metal sphere and a block (as in Kuczyn-ski's experiments) must approximately be proportional to their contact area, p. x2. Theoretical Considerations This paper is an attempt to correlate the fundamental experiments of Kuczynski's type with the results obtained with powder compacts as represented by Egs. 2 and 3. In particular, the paper is to show how the rate of sintering is influenced by the geometry of the sintering particles and by the type of material transport. As the geometry of particles conglomerating in a powder compact is very complex, some simplifying assumption has to be made, of course, in order to adapt the problem to mathematical treatment. In the following paragraph a suitable simplification is introduced, and Kuczynski's formula is derived for the case of nonsphcrical particles. Relation Between Area of Contact and Sintering Time—As the face of contact between two particles in a sintering powder compact is not necessarily a circle (as in the case of spheres sintering to a block), Kuczynski's formula is modified as follows: Let the perimeter of the face of contact be described by means of polar coordinates R, 4, as shown in Fig. la, so the area of contact, f, is determined by f= 1/2 . S112p[R(Æ) ]2 dÆ [4] Then, let the two particles be intersected by a plane perpendicular to area f. The intersection is shown in Fig. lb. According to the nomenclature in this figure, the distance, h, between the surfaces of the two particles is a function of T and Æ: h = h(r,Æ). For the particular case of spherical particles, as in Kuczynski's theory, this function becomes: h = constant r2. It shall be assumed here that in the close neighborhood of their

Jan 1, 1957

By Arthur Young

UNEMPLOYMENT no longer finds its cure in pros-perity. Not only is there surplus labor in over-developed industries -like coal -mining, but more and more man, power is being released by technical im-provements in production. A new problem in industry has arisen: What is to be done with the labor dis-pensed with by better methods and more highly de-veloped equipment? Are luxury industries the logical outlet for our new unemployed? There has been a marked decline in employment in the manufacturing industries during 1927. Its extent is shown by the Bureau of Labor Statistics index, which receded from a high of 91.4 in March to 87.3 in October, with an estimated figure of approximately 85 in De-cember. This was a drop between the high and low points in the year of about 7 per cent, which means roughly that at the close of 1927 there were approxi-mately 600,000 fewer persons employed in manufac-turing industries than in March -of 1927, and upward of 400,000 less than in December, 1926. Does this de-cline reflect a swing toward industrial depression? Paradoxically it does not; the cause of unemployment at this time does not lie in a lack of prosperity, but rather is largely traceable to prosperity. Capital has been abundant and has gone back into production in the form of great increases in mechanization and new processing. Management is more than ever on the alert to improve methods, as well as to cut costs through reduction of personnel. Properly applied incentives and employee cooperation also have increased produc-tion per man. A new phenomenon in the industrial world-technological unemployment-is the result. Of course, there are added to those unemployed be-cause of the reasons just considered those affected by the coal strike, the period of shutdown at the Ford plants, and the reduction in expenditures by railroads and public utilities. This whole situation suggests that the problem of unemployment is not entirely solved by ironing out seasonal variations or by achieving business prosperity.

Jan 1, 1928

The Library of the above-named Societies is open from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. on all week-days, except holidays, from September 1 to June 30, and from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. during July and August. The Library contains about 55,000 volumes, including sets of technical periodicals and the publications of scientific and technical societies. Members of the Institute, with few exceptions, are forced to spend a portion of their time in localities isolated from sources of information. To these the Library can render valuable service through correspondence; letters requesting information will receive special attention. The Library is prepared to furnish references and copies of articles on mining and metallurgical subjects; to determine the existence of mining-maps, and to furnish general information as to the geology and mineral resources of all countries. All communications should be made as definite as possible so that the information received may be what is desired and not include collateral matter which may not be of interest. The time spent in searching for such collateral matter will be saved, and the information will be sent more promptly and in more usable-shape. The members of the Institute can be of service to the Library by forwarding copies of mining-reports, maps privately issued, and similar material, which will be classified, indexed, and made available to other members. Suggestions for additions to the Library, either by purchase or personal solicitation as gifts, will be welcomed. It is hoped that members while in the city will use the Library freely, and assurance is given that most careful service will be rendered to them.

Jan 2, 1914

By F. A. Olson, J. S. Cho, M. E. Wadworth

An infrared study of the states of hydration of MgSO4 revealed a hitherto unreported metustable dehydration state in the temperature range just below that of the stable anhydrous salt. Infrared, thermogvavimetric, and X-ray studies indicated that the state had bisulfate and hydroxide characteristics. A formula fitting all of the experimental evidence is hydrogen-bonded Mg(OH)HSO4, or possibly the chemically equivalent 1/2 Mg(HSO4)2. Mg(OH)2 Infrared spectra of the 7, 6, 1, and OH2O states of hydration are given as well as the spectra of the newly found state which is called the bisulfate state in this paper. Thermogvavimetric studies as a function of water-vapor pressure gave an enthalpy value of 16 cal per mole, and 25 eu for the conversion of the bisulfate state to that of the anhydrous salt. The free energies of the transition varied from 1.76 to 0.18 kcal per mole as the transition temperature varied from 279° to 336°C. The bisulfate state is believed to be of importance in catalytic dehydration phenomena using MgSO4 and may be of interest because of properties in sulfating reactions differing from those of the monohydrate. Also, an analogous state may exist as a hydration state of other sulfates. ANHYDROUS magnesium sulfate is a catalyst with a high degree of specificity for the dehydration of secondary alcohols.1'2 The only product obtained at the usual operating temperature range of 360" to 400°C other than the corresponding olefin is water. Thus, the bonding of water to the anhydrous salt as well as an understanding of the hydration states of MgSO4 became of interest in attempting to understand the catalytic mechanism better. In the process of this study using infrared, X-ray, and thermogravimetric analyses a dehydration state not previously reported was found. Proof of its existence, the nature of the state, and its role, if any, in the catalytic mechanism then became of interest. This paper is concerned principally with the first two aspects of this problem. Magnesium sulfate forms many hydrates, of which the monohydrate and heptahydrate (Epsom salts)3 are most important. Other hydrates4 are known with 1-1/4,5 l-1/2, 5 2, 4, 5, 6, and 12 H2O's. The hydrates with 1-1/4, 1-1/2, 2, 4, and 5 HzO's are unstable. The anhydrous salt is very stable thermally and has a strong affinity for water. It can be heated without additional decomposition to about 800°C.' At 900°C noticeable decomposition takes

Jan 1, 1964

CHARLES KIRCHHOFF, Chairman. ALBERT SAUVEUR, Vice-Chairman. HERBERT M. BOYLSTON, Secretary, Abbot Bldg., Cambridge, Mass. John Birkinbine, J. Esrey Johnson, Jr., Felix A. Vogel, William H. Blauvelt, William Kelly, Leonard. Waldo, James Gayley, Richard Moldenke, William R. Walker, Henry D. Hibbard, Joseph W. Richards, William R. Webster. Henry M. Howe, E. Gybbon Spilsbury, Frederick W. Wood. Robert W. Hunt, A. A. Stevenson, It will be noted that the various interests of the iron and steel industry are authoritatively represented on this Committee by producers of raw materials (iron ore, coke, and other fuels, refractories, etc.) and of finished materials, by consumers, consulting metallurgists, and educators. The primary duties of the Committee are to secure important papers on iron and steel, to promote their discussion, to organize lively and fruitful meetings, and otherwise to foster the interests of the large number of members of the Institute connected with the iron and steel industry in its many phases. Its success during the past year has been noteworthy. Through its instrumentality many valuable papers were presented at the Cleveland and New York meetings, followed by animated and productive discussions, while the attendance of iron and steel men at both meetings was remarkably large and representative.

Jan 5, 1913

By H. C. Fiedler

A high degree of cuhe-on-edge grain orientation and good magnetic properties were obtained in Si-Fe strip processed from laboratory heats containing vanadium nitride inclusions. The higher the nitrogen content the greater was the restraint on normal grain growth and the greater was the ability to undergo secondary recrystal-lization. The degree of restraint in a heat containing magnanese sulfide inclusions was slightly greater than that in the lowest nitrogen vanadium nitride heat. The high rate of diffusion of nitrogen in the temperature range in which the texture is developed makes it necessary to retard the loss of the inclusions until the texture has been developed. MAY and Turnbulll have shown that to develop the cube-on-edge secondary recrystallization texture in Si-Fe it is necessary that inclusions, such as manganese sulfide, be present to prevent normal grain growth. They showed that the driving force for the growth of the secondary grains is inversely proportional to the diameter of the matrix grains, and that the function of the inclusions is to maintain a small matrix grain size. Fast3has developed cube-on- edge texture in Si-Fe by nitriding the hot rolled band. The silicon nitride thereby formed promotes secondary recrystallization during the anneal of the final gage strip. To obtain the best magnetic properties, the inclusions must be removed from the strip after the grain orientation has been developed. Nitride inclusions have an inherent advantage over sulfide inclusions in that the greater diffusivity of nitrogen as comared to sulfur permits the use of shorter times and or lower temperatures for the purification heat treatment. The purpose of the work to be described was to examine the usefulness of vanadium nitride inclusions in developing the cube-on-edge texture and to determine the magnetic properties of oriented strip made from heats containing these inclusions. A comparison is made with a heat having had iden-

Jan 1, 1962

By Lynn B. Hales

The software systems which support the Pinto Valley Supervisory Control System are divided into three general categories. These are defined as the real-time operating system; a process data acquisition, reduction, and communication system; and a set of process-oriented systems which interface the operators and engineering staff to the process. The role of each of these three classes is reviewed. The software systems which provide reports, status displays, and trend graphs are discussed.

Jan 1, 1978

By Benjamin Moore

AT present the demands of the United States for strontium are met by imports from Germany, England and Canada, which vary considerably in proportions of ore and finished salts, in tonnage and in value. Statistics for the period 1926-1932 are given in Table 1. Domestic deposits are TABLE 1.-Strontium Imported into the United States, 1926-1932° Ore Chemicals Year Short Tons Value Pounds Value 1926 2,200 $58,159 5,433,044 $115,436 1927 1,356 58,711 4,233,816 149,383 1928 759 31,157 3,380,464 136,561 1929 973 45,505 4,578,327 196,233 1930 220 10,459 2,153,788 104,807 1931 (260 lbs.) 123 1,742,714 83,564 1932 5 276 469,481 20,910 a Mineral Industry (1934) 42, 61. known in many states, but the larger and purer ones are in the West, particularly in the desert region of southeastern California and western Arizona. These deposits are large enough to command interest, par-ticularly in consideration of future cheap power at the Boulder Dam. The deposits described in this paper were examined during an investi¬gation of the, mineral resources of the Boulder Dam region by the United States Geological Survey for the United States Bureau of Reclamation' in the spring of 1934. Mr. D. F. Hewett, who had general charge of the investigation, Mr. W. T. Schaller and Mr. M. I. Goldman contributed many helpful suggestions. Mr. N. H. Harshman assisted efficiently during the field work.

Jan 1, 1935

By John V. W. Reynders

Our entry into the World War suddenly brought home to us in a startling way the vital importance of manganese. Since the war, much has been written and said upon the subject of manganese and a great deal of time and money have been spent in attempts to find an adequate substitute for this metal in the manufacture of steel; none has been found. It is true that ways are known by which it is possible to make small amounts of good steel without manganese, but taking into consideration the diminishing quality of iron ores and fuels as well as the increasing exaction of specifications for finished products, it may safely be assumed that, high-grade manganese ore will be more and more a necessity in the production of steel as time goes on. Taking world resources as a whole it may be well to point out that the problem of obtaining needed supplies of manganese from a strictly commercial viewpoint is now less serious than it was before the war. Formerly it was feared that world resources of high-grade manganese ore might be exhausted in a relatively short time, but, largely as a result of the stress laid upon the importance of manganese during the war, the world's available supply of high-grade manganese ore has been greatly augmented by new discoveries and fuller development of previously known deposits. Sources of Production Russia alone, of countries producing the major part of the world's stee1, has within its geographical boundaries sufficient manganese to supply its needs. The domestic production of England is inadequate and English requirements for high-grade manganese are supplied principally from India. France also draws largely upon India, as it depends upon foreign sources of supply except with respect to a small tonnage of silico-manga-nese and silico-spiegel produced in the Hautes-Pyrénées. Germany and the United States likewise depend upon foreign sources of high-grade ore, though each possesses comparatively large reserves of ferruginous manganese ore and manganiferous iron ore. At present the world demand for high-grade manganese ore is met with ease by the production of Russia, India, Gold Coast and Brazil.

Jan 1, 1927

By Eric A. Nordhausen

A good deal of dialogue has been published and voiced concerning one mining regulation or another, that, according to those raising the issues, in effect shuts down or drastically reduces mine and/or mill reduction. The objective of this discussion is to there fore synthesize the various regulations affecting the uranium mining industry and attempt to realistically assess the extent of impact to yellowcake production - on both an individual and collective basis. Emphasis is placed on the later or newer permitting requirements under the Mill Tailings Act, Underground Injection Control Program, the Consolidated Permit Program, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RcRA).

Jan 1, 1980