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By Webster Hodge

MALL generators and motors are required to Soperate, in some critical applications, at temperatures where cold-worked silver-bearing copper re-crystallizes. Copper containing up to 30 oz Ag per ton has been used for many years to build the highest grades of commutators and slip rings. With failure of commutators impending because silver-bearing copper cannot withstand the stresses imposed at these higher temperatures, Cr-Cu was tried as a substitute with varying degrees of success. Cr-Cu proved difficult to fabricate because a critical heat treatment was necessary to obtain sufficient ductility. Besides, its rupture strength was shown to be low at operating temperatures, its electrical conductivity lower than desired, and its cost high. Furthermore, it often contained hidden flaws. The Nippert Electric Products Co. set out to find a better material by undertaking a research project with the stated objective of providing a material suitable for commutators that would have 1) a softening temperature above 750°F (400°C), 2) a minimum electrical conductivity of 90 pct of that of pure copper, 3) a strength not less that that of cold-worked silver-bearing copper, and 4) a materials cost of not over 1.5 times the cost of copper containing 25 to 30 oz Ag per ton. No commercial alloy met these specifications. However, it was found that copper containing from 0.18 to 0.35 pct Zr could be produced quite easily in the laboratory, and promised to fulfill the major requirements noted above. Interest naturally centered in the lower part of this composition range, since such alloys gave somewhat better electrical conductivities, and were lower in

Jan 1, 1958

By E. T. Turkdogan, P. Grieveson

Molten silver is equilibrated with silicon nitride at 1400°C in nitrogen + hydrogen gas mixtures, and from the solubility data the activity coefficient of silicon is found to be 1.76 at silicon concentrations below 1 pct. Using this value, and that available from the silicon cmbide solubility measurements, together with those derived from the phase equilibrium diagvam, the activities of silver and silicon are estimated for the entire composition range. The main feature of the activity data is that there is a pronounced positive deviation from ideality. The activity of silver in molten silver containing up to 5 pct Si was determined by Schadel, Derge, and Birchenall1 by measuring the vapor pressure of pure silver and of the alloy over a temperature range of 850º to 1050°C. They deduced from their results that there is a positive deviation from Raoult's law and that the activity coefficient of silver increases with decreasing temperature. However, as pointed out by Kubaschewski and Catterall,2 their activity coefficients are much too high, giving silver activities greater than unity. At a later date McCabe and Birchenal13 showed that the previous vapor pressure data on silver4 were high by a factor of about 1.3; presumably a similar error must have occurred with the vapor pressure measurements on the Ag-Si alloys. The activities of silicon and silver calculated by tager' from the phase diagram and by Gibbs-Duhem integration, respectively, show a positive deviation from Raoult's law for silicon activity and positive and negative deviations for the silver activity. According to these computations, at infinite dilution of silicon ygi = 1.12 at 1420°C. d'Entremont and chipman6 measured the solubility of silicon carbide in molten silver at unit carbon activity; the equilibrium silicon content is found to be Nsi = 0.017 ± 0.002 atom fraction for 1420°C. Using the data of Grieveson and Alcock7 for the free energy of formation of silicon carbide from pure silicon and graphite, the activity of silicon for unit activity of carbon and of silicon carbide is asi = 0.0308 at 1420°c; therefore for the above solubility data on silver, YSi = 1.81, which is somewhat higher than that given by Hager. Use is often made of silver alloys in the measurements of activities of solutes in metals where silver has a very low solubility; in fact, Ag-Si and Ag-A1 alloys have been used in the past for such purposes. In an attempt to gain more thermodynamic data on molten Ag-Si alloys, measurements have been made in the present study on the solubility of silicon nitride in molten silver; the results on these solubilities are given in this paper together with a detailed discussion of activities of silver and silicon. SOLUBILITY OF SILICON NITRIDE The standard free energy of formation of silicon nitride is known with a reasonably high degree of accuracy. According to the measurements made by Hincke and Brantle8 and by Pehlke and Elliott,' the following are the free energy data for the standard states of solid Si3N4, liquid silicon, and Nz at 1 atm pressure:

Jan 1, 1963

By J. R. Cahoon, W. V. Youdelis

FOR the diffusion of copper in silver-rich alloys, there have been only two previous investigations, that of Seith and Peretti in 1936, and that of Sawatzky and Jaumot2 in 1957. Seith and Peretti obtained a value of 24.8 keal per g-atom for the activation energy of diffusion whereas Sawatzky and Jaumot obtained a value of 46.1 keal per g-atom. Admittedly, Seith and Peretti used relatively high concentrations of 2 at. pet Cu and polycrystalline diffusion couples, while Sawatzky and Jaumot investigated tracer diffusion in single crystals of silver. The difference in the results, however, seems too large to attribute solely to solute concentration, as a change of over 20 keal per g-atom in the activation energy suggests a change in the mechanism of diffusion. Therefore, in the present investigation the diffusion coefficient for copper in polycrystalline Ag-2 at, pet Cu alloy is re-established using conventional sandwich-type diffusion couples and electron-probe microanalyses, and the results are compared with those of the previous studies. The diffusion couples were prepared from high-purity silver (99.999 pet) and high-purity copper (99.999 pet). The silver disks, 1/4 in. long and 4 in. in diam, were machined from an ingot which had been solidified in a dynamic vacuum of 10-3 mm of Hg to eliminate oxygen absorption which otherwise would result in copper oxide precipitation in the weld zone. The alloy disks of similar dimensions were machined from an alloy ingot (nominal composition 2 at. pet Cu) which had been unidirectionally solidified to obtain a predictable solute concentration,3 and homogenized for 1 week at 800°C. Sandwich diffusion couples were made by pressure welding an alloy disk between two silver disks in an induction heating coil. The couples were diffusion-annealed at temperatures of 800°, 756°, 699°, and 630°C in tube furnaces in which the temperature was controlled to better than ± l°C. The diffusion couples were examined metallographically for weld defects, and couples showing even minute defects at the weld interfaces were rejected. Concentration penetration curves were established using an A.R.L. Microprobe analyzer. CuKO radiation was counted and converted to concentration using 0.5 and 1.0 wt pet Cu chemically analyzed standards. Initially, four continuous profiles were obtained, and averaged to obtain the final diffusion curve. The initial analysis was performed commercially and the welds were not located with respect to the profile. Therefore, the results were rechecked by the authors using the Mellon Institute A.R.L. probe. In the latter case, concentrations were obtained at 10-µ steps for four different traverses, and then averaged to obtain

Jan 1, 1968

By W. H. Gunniss

When the copper smelters were built, in Montana, all of the refractory products which were used in their construction were shipped in from Eastern factories. It was apparent that if a material suitable for the manufacture of these products could be found within the State, a saving of freight could be effected and a new industry built up. Prospecting for such materials was started and experiments were made with samples from numerous deposits. Considerable effort and funds were expended in an attempt to manufacture silica brick from Dillon quartz, a light colored sandstone that is found near Dillon, Mont., on the Oregon Shortline railroad. As a brick material the Dillon quartz was a failure, but it has proved very satisfactory as a silica cement. It is now being used in laying silica brick and for reverberatory furnace bottoms. A bed of quartzite that is particularly suited to the manufacture of high-grade silica brick was finally discovered at Browns Spur, 6 miles west of Anaconda. The material from this deposit is now being used in the manufacture of the Anaconda silica brick, which have gained a wide reputation for heat-resisting and lasting qualities. The analysis of an average sample of this quartz is: SiO2, 96.7; Fe2O3, 0.3; Al208, 2.5; CaO, 0.3 per cent. The very low percentage of fluxing ingredients makes this a most refractory material. All of the Anaconda silica brick are hand molded. Various types of brick machines have been tried, but the hand-mold process proved the best suited to the manufacture of silica brick from this material. The silica is first put through a jaw crusher and is then dumped into wet pans, where 4 per cent. of lime paste is added, to produce a bond. Without the lime the material would not be plastic enough to mold. After a few minutes' grinding in the wet pans the material is conveyed to the molder, who forces it into the molds by hand. The brick are then dumped on pallets and placed in the drier, where they are left. until dry enough to be set in the kilns. Some of the brick are re-pressed before being dried. They are burned about five days, in round down-draft kilns. It is not necessary to have as much heat in the kilns as the brick will be subjected to when in use in the furnaces. Montana refractories are used in smelters throughout the West. Prospecting for fire clays was also carried on. After experimenting with clays from several different deposits, it was found that a mixture of

Jan 1, 1914

By H. W. Camp

RESEARCH is defined, scientifically, as a "sys- tematic investigation of some phenomenon, and also a search for hidden treasures." Chemists tell us that the hidden treasures of petroleum are far richer than the .products which have been best known to us. However, these secrets will be discovered only through intensive and systematic, as well as scientific, industrial research. Indeed, the scope of the subject is so great that such an intensive research program should be assumed by a centralized organization supported by the petroleum industry as a whole. Such organization would assume the responsibilities for investigation of new products and development of markets for such products. Gasoline, the chief product of the petroleum industry, has become a cheap commodity. The continual un-controlled overproduction of crude petroleum, the in-tensive competitive condition in the marketing of petro-leum products and the increase of refining efficiency and installing of cracking facilities, have all combined to lower the market value of gasoline. The lower cost of gasoline has all been passed on to the purchaser in the form of lower prices so that today the most important product can scarcely be manufactured at a profit. In other fields, manufacturing industries have diversified their products when faced by a similar situation. Thus, they have been able to widen their marketing outlook. Why cannot the petroleum industry employ the same tactics ? Right now we are hearing much discussion concerning the development of a wider market for existing petro-leum products and new products for existing or prospec-tive markets. For instance, we can cite recent develop-ments for use of propane, butane, and ethylene. Butane has been found to be an efficient and inexpensive re-frigerant, especially adapted to home refrigerating sys-tems. Propane and butane fractions of natural gasoline may be shipped under pressure and may be used as a substitute for acetylene in cutting torches in connection with oxygen. There is a possibility of substituting butane for gas oil in the carbureting of coal gas, as we know that butane contains practically the gas enrich-ment as the same volume of gas oil and should prove to be a superior product for this function. Ethylene, a hydrocarbon present in cracked gases, is finding an outlet for the artificial ripening of green fruits. The following table . shows the more general use of petro-leum products as now established.

Jan 4, 1928

By R. G. Hall

The method of crushing rock by throwing with violence against a resisting surface does not differ in principle from the method of dropping it from a height upon a specially arranged surface. The former is applied in various mills now in use, especially those for reduction of the softer rocks and minerals. The latter is the principle of the Hadsel mill. Probably not new, but Hadsel's method of approach is at least novel, and applicable to hard as well as softer rocks. An elevating wheel raises the rock and drops it from a height upon a hard metal plate or series of plates. The first commercial mill consisted of two units, one on each overhung end of a horizontal shaft, driven by a gear train from a 100-hp. motor. A description of this machine, then in operation at a mine at Georgetown, Calif., was printed in the Engineering and Mining Journal (April, 1932) and need not be repeated here. That machine took mine run ores of a size up to 12 in. and successfully produced a pulp of approximately minus 60 mesh, suitable for flotation. The mills were each 24 ft. in diameter and 3 ft. in width of face. The elevating buckets were formed of steel plates, extending inward from the periphery, inclined to the tangent at 75". This plate was 3 ft., the width of the wheel, and 2 ft. deep. One side of the wheel towards the carrying shaft was closed, the other was open except for the rim plate enclosing the ends of the buckets and extending inward about 5 ft. on the radius. About a 90" arc was immersed in a concrete tank, which acted as a classifier. The breaking plates, seven in number, were carried cantilever through the open side of the wheel. The lowest plate was placed just above the water level. The illustrations (Figs. 1 and 2) make plain the general arrangements. The plant set-up was somewhat crude but worked well enough to demonstrate the weak points of the mill. In this operation it was early apparent that, considering all the factors from delivery of the mine run ore to the final pulp for flotation or cyanida-tion, the Hadsel mill offered possibilities of great simplicity of plant and savings in power. Continuous operation developed mechanical weaknesses, some of which were readily discernible in details of design, some became more apparent as operations progressed.

Jan 1, 1935

By Enid C. Plante, K. L. Sutherland

PRACTICAL metallurgists are unanimous in stating that oxidation of mined sulphide ore adversely affects separation of the constituent minerals under standard conditions in a mill. Frequently, the need for different operating conditions in different plants is attributed either to the extent of oxidation of the mineral surfaces or to soluble oxidation products. The investigations reported in this paper study the effect of oxidation on the primary condition necessary for flotation, namely that of adhesion of an air bubble to the mineral. OXIDATION PRODUCTS FROM SULPHIDE MINERALS Weinig and Carpenter1 state that the relative rates of oxidation of some sulphides are: FeAsS > FeS2 > CuFeS2 > ZnS >PbS > Cu2S tetrahedrite. They also show that oxidation is rapid at first, that sulphides of older geological formations are more stable than those of recent date and that mixtures oxidize more rapidly than any one mineral alone. The more rapid oxidation of mixtures is borne out by results of Gottschalk and Buehler2 who found that PbS, ZnS and CuS oxidized 8 to 20 times faster when pyrite was present. Only the end products of oxidation, sulphate and the metal ion, were identified in these tests. Gaudin3 states that pyrite is difficult to oxidize in the laboratory. Winchell,4 using pyrite containing 99.98 pct FeS2, allowed water to percolate through a bed of this ground material. At the end of three months only a trace of Fe +++and S04- were found. Even after 10 months the quantity of Fe+++ was only 7.8 mg and S04- 25.5 mg per liter of percolating solution. Carmichael5 confirmed Winchell's results on the slow oxidation of pyrite. Usually the oxidation of sulphide surfaces has been conducted in neutral or acid solutions, the acidity being caused by the oxidation products. Eliseev and Nagirnyak6 found that treatment of pure pyrite with lime gave only thiosulphate, but considered it possible that thiosulphate was obtained not by oxidation of the pyrite itself, but by oxidation of calcium disulphide. Mitrofanov7 suggested that thiosulphate was formed by the following process: oxidation of sulphide to give free sulphur (this frequently happens with marcasite), followed by oxidation of the sulphur to sulphur dioxide and reaction of the sulphur dioxide with sulphur to give thiosulphate. Ferric and ferrous hydroxides, or similar compounds, were shown to be present. The Research Staff of the United Verde Copper Co.8 treated ore from the United Verde mine with lime. Thiosulphate, sulphide and polysulphides were stated to be

Jan 1, 1947

United Engineering Trustees, Inc Engineering Foundation Engineering Societies Research Board Other Committees United Engineering Trustees, Inc. ARTHUR S. DWIGHT GEORGE D. BARRON J. V. N. DOER Engineering Societies Library Board ROBERT PEELS PHILIP W. HENRY GEORGE C. STONE JOSEPH E. POGUE The Engineering Foundation H. C. BELLINGER GALEN H. CLEVENGER J. V. N. DORR

Jan 1, 1929

By H. M. Chance

Asst. Geologist, Pennsylvania Geological Survey THE following tables have been compiled from the annual reports of the Inspectors of Mines, to determine the percentages of fatal and non-fatal casualties from roof-falls and explosions of fire-damp. As we cannot assume that every accident has been recorded by the inspectors; as many casualties terminating fatally after the lapse of a considerable period, are inevitably recorded as "non-fatal;" and as clerical errors may have crept into the compilation,* the figures of these tables cannot be considered absolutely correct, but the summary is sufficiently reliable to show the features I wish to differentiate. Under the heading a Miscellaneous" are included all accidents not directly attributable to explosions of fire-damp, roof-falls or falls of coal. Prominent among the numerous causes included under this head are premature or delayed explosion of blasts, accidental explosion of powder or cartridges, accidents from mine cars, falls in shafts, machine accidents, sliding of loose coal in pitching breasts, sltffouration by choke-damp, etc., comprising in all 48 per cent of the total number of casualties. * Compiled by Mr. Maxwell Chapman

Jan 1, 1882

By W. C. Ellis, E. S. Greiner

Metallic titanium has been prepared in small quantities since the beginning of the century. Hunter1 reported in 1910 that he obtained a malleable product of 99.9 pct purity by the reduction of the tetrachloride by sodium in a closed container. Later Van Arke12 and Fast prepared small quantities of malleable titanium by thermal decomposition of titanium iodide. Another method for producing malleable titanium from tetrachloride was reported by Kr0ll4 who used magnesium as the reducing agent. More recently Dean, Long, Wartman, and Anderson5 working at the U.S. Bureau of Mines have reported the preparation of the metal on a pilot plant scale by the reduction of titanium tetrachloride by magnesium in an atmosphere of helium. Their product, which is malleable, was used in the present investigation. Early in 1948 after the work of this paper was completed Campbell, Jaffee, Blocher, Gurland, and Gonser6 described the strength and working characteristics of pure titanium which was prepared by the iodide method on a scale producing 300 to 600 g per run, in the form of 0.3- to 0.4-in. diam rods. Their product is characterized by low hardness and large capacity for cold work which they attribute to a high degree of purity with respect to oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. Titanium has a melting point of about 1725 C," it may be classed as a light metal since the specific gravity is 4.5 g per cc-I. The crystal structure is close-packed hexagonal from room temperature to 885°C. Above this temperature the structure is reported7 as body-centered cubic. The change in crystal structure has been associated with discontinuities in specific heat,8 electric resistanceg and theimoelec-tric force10 at temperatures near 890°C. It is reportedll that annealed titanium has a tensile strength of 78,700 psi which can be increased by cold-work to 123,000 psi. In the present investigation, the lattice constants at room temperature, the thermal expansivity between 30 and 800°C, as well as the electrical resistivity and thermoelectric force against platinum between — zoo and I000 C have been determined. Materials For the measurements, two series of specimens were prepared from titanium furnished by the U. S. Bureau of Mines. The first was made from an annealed sintered compact, 0.38 in. thick. Sections of the compact were cold-swaged with intermediate anneals in vacuum to the sizes used. Sizes over 0.25-in. diam were annealed at I000°C and smaller sizes at 800°C. Specimens originating from the sintered compact are designated in this paper as A. The second series of specimens was made from a rod of titanium, 0.19 in. in diam, which was cold-swaged with the necessary intermediate anneals to the required sizes. This series of specimens is designated B. The impurities in the specimens of titanium, determined by chemical analysis, are given in Table 1. Oxygen and nitrogen which Were not determined by analysis, are probably present although in small quantities in view of the ductility of the material.

Jan 1, 1949

By W. H. Echols

An oil-emulsion mud, consisting of a mixture of oil-base mud and bentonitic water-base mud, has been used experimentally in drilling 8 of the 35 wells in the Sivells Bend field, Cooke County, Texas. Experience indicates the oil-emulsion mud can be controlled in much the same manner as a water-base mud, and the "drilling" functions of the two types of mud are comparable. The average water-loss for the oil-emulsion mud was 3.8 cu cm per well. When using oil-emulsion mud to drill the last 2000 ft of 7000 ft wells, the mud costs were approximately 2½ times that of water-base mud. There is nothing to indicate well productivities have been affected through the use of oil-emulsion mud. However, drilling time and bit footages were increased and the holes were maintained more closely to bit guage. The apparent advantages gained through the use of oil-emulsion mud in the Sivells Bend field do not appear to justify the increase in mud costs. Introduction until a comparatively few years ago most of the development of drilling mud was directed toward improving the functions of the mud as related to actual drilling operations. The industry has long recognized that one disadvantage of rotary drilling over cable-tool drilling is the possibility of injury to producing zones through the blocking effect resulting from the infiltration of water or mud into the sands. Recognizing this disadvantage, considerable attention has been diverted toward the development of muds that will improve the quality of well com-pletions through the reduction or elimination of water into the sands, but without sacrificing too many of their "drilling" functions and at a cost commensurate with the benefits derived from their use. This phase of mud research has already found practical application, for example, in the development of the Rangely field, Colorado, it appears the use of oil-base mud during drilling-in operations will contribute appreciably toward making this exploitation more profitable. Much of the discussion to follow will be better understood if a brief sketch of the Sivells Bend field is given. The Sivells Bend field, discovered by The Texas Co. in 1944 and still in the process of development, is in a large bend on the Texas side of the Red River about 85 miles north of Dallas. Geologically, the structure is an unsymmetrical anticline, with faulting having contributed to its development. The productive sands are of the Strawn series of Pennsylvanian age, the sands being lenticular in character and varying considerably in development from well to well. At Present there are 35 producing wells in the field, producing from seven different sand lenses. The productive sand lenses vary from 15 to 50 ft in thickness and the individual sands have average permeabilities of from 75 to 375 md. The presently productive sands are encountered at depths of from 6300 to 7300 ft, but testing has indicated that commercial production might be obtained from other sands as high as 5200 ft. Histories of older Strawn

Jan 1, 1948

By R. M. Sellwood

The No. 4 I.S.F. Smelter Complex at the Avonmouth Works of Imperial Smelting Corporation (N.S.C.) Limited commenced operation at the beginning of 1968. The furnace rating is 120,000 tons zinc and 40,000 tons lead per annum. Zinc and lead concentrates are unloaded onto a 1,000 tons per hour capacity conveyor belt and automatically weighed and sampled before receipt into a 48,000 ton capacity raw material store. Distribution is by a reversible boom stacker into 16 x 3,000 ton bays and recovery is by a front end loader. Materials are fed to 16 proportioning bins for feeding via continuous weigh feeders to a 132 square metre effective updraught area sinter machine with a material flow rate of 240 tons per hour over the machine. The required quantity of output lump sinter at up to 800ºC is fed to 2 x 600 ton storage bins on the I.S.F. plant. By-product SO2 rich gas is fed to a conventional wet gas single stream acid plant rated at 600 tons per day utilizing a dry N.T.P. gas volume of 100,000 cubic metres per hour. The hot sinter and preheated coke (800ºC) are automatically neighed and charged to a 27.3m2 shaft area I.S.F. fitted with 2 x 5.5 m. wide lead splash condensers. Grade 4 zinc is tapped and transferred to the zinc refinery. Conventional type lead bullion and slag are tapped from the bottom of the furnace through a separation forehearth. The refinery consists of 6 lead and 3 cadmium columns to produce some 52,000 tons per annum of S.H.G. metal. S.H.G. metal and Grade 4 metal is cast into various shapes as required.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. H. Hoffman

The writer does not claim a right to discnss this subject as a furnace-man or user of iron-ore in this new form. His efforts have been confined to mining, preparing, and separating the magnetic ore from the gangue. Two years' experience in experimenting and another two years in producing concentrates on a commercial scale, have led me to believe that the new trade of making concentrates must be well learned in all of its details. If there have been any partial failures in this most useful branch of the iron business, the failures have been caused chiefly by inexperience or lack of patience. Although I have, within the past five years, constructed machinery

Jan 1, 1892

By David R. Mitchell

The mineral pyrite (or marcasite) occurs in coal beds as balls, lenses, veinlets and bands. Several million tons are wasted annually on the refuse dumps from coal mining and coal-preparation activities. Sporadic attempts have been made in the United States to recover this pyrite for manufacture of sulphuric acid but only a few plants have succeeded in recovering it on a commercial scale. Several chemical companies in the East became concerned about supplies of pyrite early in 1943, but by late summer of that year the situation had eased. If for no other reason than national security and self-sufficiency during wartime, methods of recovering pyrite from coal-mine refuse should be worked out and made available to coal-mine operators who are potential producers of pyrite. Eastern sulphuric-acid plants are particularly likely to have their sources of raw material blocked by war conditions, so that special studies to determine where supplies of pyrite can be obtained for these plants from inland sources are desirable. Davis's1 summarization of conditions during World War I gives the following facts: During those years, the shortage of pyrite became acute. Shipments of hand-picked pyrite were made from a number of coal mines in Illinois, Indiana, western Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. A mechanical concentrating plant for sepa- rating pyrite from picking-table refuse was built at Danville, Ill., and operated for several years, and a small pyrite-concen-trating plant treating washery refuse near Gillespie, Ill., operated for several months in 1918. The Consolidation Coal Co. of Fairmont, W. Va., constructed and operated a sulphuric-acid plant using pyrite recovered from coal-mine refuse. The U. S. Bureau of Mines during 1917-1919 made a comprehensive survey of pyrite-production possibilities from coal mines and estimated that there was a potential yearly production of 435.000 tons from Ohio and Pennsylvania and 928,000 tons from Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana mines. This estimate included only mines that could produce one per cent or more of their coal production as pyrite containing a minimum of 40 per cent sulphur. PyRite Production According to the Minerals Yearbook,2 approximately 660,000 long tons of pyrite was produced in the United States in 1941, with an average sulphur content of 42 per cent. The average value f.o.b. mines was $3.09 per long ton. Spanish pyrite, 48 per cent sulphur minimum, was quoted at 12 cents a unit c.i.f. U. S. ports, equal to $5.76 a ton for shipments of minimum sulphur content. Most of the pyrite produced in the United States is obtained as a by-product in the dressing of copper and zinc ores. Metal mines in the East making pyrite concentrate for the market or use in company-operated sulphuric-acid plants

Jan 1, 1944

By R. R. Angel

Drilling rate is a parameter that should be considered in determining the volume requirements for air and gas drilling. The use of past methods which ignore the effects of the solids content upon the pressure and velocity of the annulus flow stream can result in undercalculation of the required volurne by as much as 50 per cent. A vertical-flow equation is presented for determining volume requirements. This equation includes the effect of the solids that are transported up the annulus in the flow stream by incorporating the drilling rate as one of the parameters. The effect of down-hole temperature on required circulation rates is also ana-lvzed. A simple approximate method of determining volume requirements is presented. This method is more accurate than the methods used in the past. Hole cleaning difficulties are analyzed for a recent air drilling job where past methods indicated that - excess air was being used. Sample curves of calculated boitom-hole pressures are presented for air and gas drilling in several hole sizes. INTRODUCTION In certain areas the use of air or natural gas as a circulating medium for drilling oil and gas wells is becoming a common practice. Large increases in penetration rate and bit life are achieved through the use of these media in preference to mud or water. Drilling rates as high as 90 ft/hr have been obtained in shales. The importance of maintaining adequate circulation rate is generally recognized; however, much disagreement exists among drilling operators as to what constitutes "adequate" circulation rate. In quarry drilling, where annular velocities can be accurately determined, an annular velocity of 3,000 ft/min of standard air is required for best results in rocks having approximately the same density as those commonly penetrated in drilling oil or gas wells'. Although this standard air velocity has proven satisfactory for quarry drilling, some oil and gas well drilling operators believe that an equivalent annular velocity of more than 4,000 ft/min is required; others believe that as little as 2,000 ft/min . is sufficient. Much of this disagreement results from determining the required circulation rates with methods which fail to incorporate the drilled solids in an equation which is applicable to vertical flow. Hughes Tool Co. Bulletins No. 23' and 23-A3 present data for determining circulation rates based on the Weymouth formula. These data do not include the drilling rate as a parameter and, therefore, neglect the effect of the solids being transported up the annulus. In spite of this apparent defect and the fact that the Weymouth formula is not applicable to vertical flow, the Hughes data have well served the drilling industry in many areas and are important and timely contributions to the science of air and gas drilling. The Hughes data purposely omit a correction for increasing down-hole temperature. At slow drilling rates this effectively compensates for the use of a formula which is not valid for vertical flow; however, volumes determined by the Hughes method are not sufficient to support rapid drilling rates at moderate and great depths. For example, Phillips Petroleum Co.'s Cauthorn "D" No. l in the Vinegarone field for Val Verde County, Tex., was air drilled from 1,500 to 9,300 ft using a compressor delivering 1,400 cu ft/min. The 8 3/4-in hole was drilled with 5-in. drill pipe, and drilling rates as high as 90 ft/hr were obtained between 7,000 and 9,300 ft. No water or caving hole was encountered. At 7,728 ft it was necessary to wash-out 60 ft of cuttings to reach bottom after a trip to change bits. At 8,130 ft a twist-off occurred and the drill col-lars were stuck in drill cuttings. These difficulties indicate that the 1,400 cu ft/min of air was not sufficient to keep the hole clean. Hughes data indicates that 1,180 cu ft/min is sufficient to produce an annular ve-

Jan 1, 1958

By M. R. J. Wyllie, F. Morgan, P. F. Fulton

The importance of formation factor, F, not only in electric logging but as a fundamental rock parameter has recently been stressed.',: The desirability of investigating the range of variation of the resistivity index exponent, n, in the relationship I = S ;", where I is the resistivity index and Sw the water saturation as a fraction of the void volume of a porous medium, has also been urged.3 The magnitude and variation of n with saturation and rock texture is a subject not only of theoretical interest but also one of prime importance in the interpretation of electric logs. A simple technique has recently been developed which enables both F and u to he measured with high accuracy and which may also find acceptance as a convenient method for the determination of irreducible saturation attainment in the restored state method of core analysis. Experience has taught that reproducible measurements of F are possible only if the resistance measuring electrodes are so arranged with respect to a plane face on a porous medium that they are able to make electrical contact with substantially all entry pores in that plane. In practice this may be achieved by using a platinized-platinum gauze electrode backed by some absorbent material (such as felt) which has been saturated with a fluid identical with that used to saturate the porous medium. Applicatiorl of pressure to the electrode and absorbent material then forces the gauze against the plane face of the porous medium and simultaneously squeezes saline solution through the meshes of the gauze. By this means the electrode is in continuous aqueous contact with all pores and satisfactory and reproducible low resistance contact with the porous medium is achieved. Clearly this method, although satisfactory for measurements of F, cannot be applied to the making of continuous resistance measurements on a porous medium while capillary pressure desaturation is being carried out. However, accepting the principle that for satisfactory results electrical contact must be made between a measuring electrode and all pores adja- cent to that electrude, methods of bringing electrodes into intimate contact with the surfaces of porous media were investigated. Two methods were ultimately found to be satisfactory: in the one, the metal electrode is formed on the required portion of the porous medium by the use of a metal spray gun, while in the second the electrode is painted on with an ordinary camel's hair brush. The first method has the advantage of permitting the use of any metal which can be sprayed, but has the disadvantage of requiring rather elaborate and expensive equipment. The second method is presently limited to silver electrodes although in principle other metals, e.g. platinum or gold, could be used. Moreover, the method is so simple and cheap, and has been found to be so satisfactory that it will be described in some detail. The core being investigated is cut into a right circular cylinder and is extracted and dried in the usual manner. The ends are then lightly painted with silver conducting paint* of the type used in printed electrical circuits. The quantity of paint used is not critical but the recommended, minimum compatible with entirely coating the core ends is recommended, particularly on the end that contacts the barrier. The core is then dried at atmospheric temperature for one hour or for shorter periods at any suitable elevated temperature up to about 110°C. It will be found that silver coatings so prepared are not only strongly adherent but also permeable and the core may be the core may be desaturated by the ordinary capillary pressure technique through one of the coated faces. The same permeability is characteristic also of thin metal coatings formed using the spray-gun technique. An ordinary Lucite capillary pressure desaturation cell has been adapted to a form suitable for measuring the resistivity of the saturated silver faced cores both at 100 per cent saturation (i.e., F) and at intermediate saturations down to the irreducible minimum. This has been achieved as follows: A Coors porcelain barrier, having a displacement pressure of c 30 psi was grooved across a diameter. Dimensions of this groove were c 1 mm deep and 1 mm wide at the top. The groove was then painted thickly with silver conducting paint, the paint in the groove being extended lightly over the edges of the groove for a distance of c 1 mm on each side. A 30 gauge silver wire was then arranged in the groove in a form of a spring bow, each end of the silver being held at diamet~ically opposite ends of the groove by means of plastic cement. The arc of the bow at its highest point was arranged to be a millimeter or so above the face of the barrier, while one end of the bow wire was led by means of a pressure-tight connection through the wall of the capillary pressure cell. The groove in the barrier was then Surrounded by suitably cut portions of Kleenex in the conventional manner so as to ensure capillary continuity from core to barrier, and the core placed on the barrier. The weight of the core distorted the silver spring bow and good electrical contact was thereby made between the outside of the cell and the lower painted silver electrode. Electrical connection to tile top painted silver

Jan 1, 1951

By W. L. Kendrick

At Henderson, Nev., Manganese Inc. is mining by open pit methods a low grade manganese ore averaging 21 pct Mn, concentrating it to 42 pct by flotation, and agglomerating it to produce nodules of metallurgical grade-about 48 pct Mn. The striking aspect of the whole operation, and one that has considerable effect on nodulizing, is the use of approximately 250 lb of reagent per ton of mill feed. For many years rotary kilns have been used for drying, calcining, clinkering cement and other products, and burning lime. Their use for nodulizing or agglomerating a metallic ore is new-first reported in this country in 1904, when a small rotary kiln at South Chicago was employed to nodulize flue dust from a blast furnace. After a short time this process was replaced by sintering.

Nov 1, 1956

The volumes of Transactions, which are published annually, contain the list of officers, rules, etc., the Proceedings, and the papers revised for final publication. (In this revision, after the preliminary publication, authors are permitted to use the largest liberty; and the changes and additions made in papers are sometimes important. It should be borne in mind by those who study or quote a paper in the preliminary edition, that they may not have in that form the ultimate and deliberate expression of the author's views. It should be added, however, that in the majority of cases there are no important changes.) These volumes are for sale as follows, in paper covers:

Jan 1, 1910

By J. S., Douglas

IN 1880, the late James Douglas, LL.D., was superintendent of the Chemical Copper Co., operating the Hunt & Douglas process for the treatment of the siliceous copper ores of the Jones mine at Phoenixville, Pa. In conjunction with this a refining furnace was operated. After correspondence with Ben Williams, of Bisbee Ariz., who was commencing the mining and smelting of the Copper Queen ore. Dr. Douglas decided-to make his first journey to Arizona. While making plans for the trip lie visited a friend in Philadelphia, a .Mr. Logan, a prominent lawyer. He, through Professor Treadwell, brother of the discoverer of the great Treadwell gold mine of Douglas Island, Alaska, had an option with his min¬ing partner, Mr. Lenig, on the Eureka and Wade Hampton claims near the headwaters of the Verde River in Yavapai County, Arizona. These two claims, later the source of practically all of the wealth of the Jerome district, were then owned by C. P. Head and Co. Prescott merchants. Hugo Richards, banker, and formerly sutler at Camp Apache; Rod and John McKinnon prospectors and Nova Scotians; and perhaps one or two 'other owners of minor interests. Mr. Logan, hearing of Dr. Douglas intended trip to Bisbee, asked him to go first to see the two mining prospects, and this, Douglas, in need of the $500 fee, agreed to do as the time on the option on the claims was running short.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. A. Eisele

The Bureau of Mines has played an important role in the revival of precious-metal mining underway in the Western United States. During the past 30 years, many techniques used by industry to recover gold and silver were pioneered and developed by the Bureau of Mines. In 1952, technology was developed to strip gold from granular activated carbon and allow the carbon to be reused. In 1969, the heap leaching concept was applied to low-grade gold and silver ores and mine wastes. Heap leaching in conjunction with carbon adsorption-desorption permits very low value material to be economically processed. In 1970, an oxidation treatment based on hypochlorite was developed to increase the recovery of gold from carbonaceous gold ores by cyanidation. In the early 19501s, attempts were made to employ carbon-in-pulp technology to recover gold from ores, but the fixed price of gold and increasing operational costs made the process unprofitable. The Bureau of Mines and Homestake Mining Co. jointly operated a carbon-in-pulp pilot plant, and the technology was used in full-scale production at the Homestake Mine in 1972. In 1973, a pressure stripping method, which decreased the time needed for the stripping step, was developed to desorb gold and silver from carbon. An alcohol desorption method, developed in 1976, also decreased the carbon stripping time. These stripping methods are in commercial use. In 1979, an agglomeration pretreatment was developed that permitted clayey precious metal ores to be heap-leached. Agglomeration-heap leaching technology is being used by at least 30 operations, several of them major gold and silver mines. Almost all precious-metal-mining companies use at least one of the above techniques in production facilities.

Jan 1, 1984