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By Daniel Moroz

This paper will provide an informative overview of the types of explosives and the various methods employed to control avalanches within the boundaries of major ski resorts.

Jan 1, 1991

Jan 1, 1899

By John Reilly

Costs of complex/underground projects have been consistently underestimated and delivery on time and on budget has been problematic. This has been attributed, to inadequate cost estimates and unidentified and/or insufficiently managed risk. Use of probabilistic cost estimates like the Washington State Department of Transportation?s CEVP® process (developed by the author and others) has produced more realistic cost estimates, explicitly identified and quantified risk (as input to risk management plans) and early awareness of key project issues. This paper updates previous work (NAT 2004), adds implementation detail for probalistic cost estimating as used by WSDOT, FHWA and other agencies and will address key issues in risk management, as related to probalistic cost estimates.

Jan 1, 2008

By G. W. Birge

Fifteen coal samples, representing the Winifrede, Chilton, Alma, No. 2 Gas, Powellton, Eagle, Douglas, Sewell, Beckley, Pocahontas No.4, and Pocahontas No.3 beds in Wyoming County, and five samples, representing the Fire Creek, Pocahontas No.6, and Pocahontas No.3 beds in Mercer County, W. Va., were carbonized at 9000 C by the Bureau of Mines-American Gas Association (BM-AGA) method, and yields of products and physical properties of cokes were determined. Expansion characteristics of the majority of samples were determined in the Bureau of Mines sole-heated oven. Chemical analyses and agglutinating values were determined for all coals. The coals were mostly strongly coking and low in ash and sulfur content. Dry, mineral-matter-free fixed-carbon content of the Wyoming County coals ranged from 63.0 to 83.4 percent. The Mercer County samples were all low volatile in rank. Yields of carbonization products were generally in accord with yields from similar rank coals of the Appalachian region. Because of their expanding tendencies, most of the medium-and low-volatile coals would require blending with lower rank coal for normal coke production.

Jan 1, 1965

By F. C. Stanford

The work of an engineer is to direct natural forces so that the: bring about the results that he wishes to secure. Heretofore he ha concerned himself chiefly with physical forces and inanimate objects until he has secured a truly marvelous degree of control over them The great problem of the present age is to secure a like degree of know1 edge and control of the human factor. Progress has already been made along this line, but it is only a beginning. Wilhelm Ostwald says tha scientific knowledge enables a man to be a true prophet; but it must be remembered that a good many people do not seem to be able to main tain a high average in prophecy. In short, 'the average of knowledge is not equal to the average needs of the present time, but continually fails to keep pace with it. It has been aptly said that the really essentia need of the period is for more brains; if we only had sufficient knowledg and sagacity we could not only solve all difficulties, but prevent then from arising. This generalization holds good for an industrial organization. Th most vital need of the management is for more brains. The logica course for an engineer in charge of an industrial organization is, therefore to direct whatever forces may be at his command toward the development training, and guiding of all the brains in his organization. This is easie said than done, for it involves the carrying on toward two objective: the maximum of productive work, and the development of the individual who perform it. This is essentially like the rebuilding and enlarging of plant, keeping it in full operation the while. On the other hand, if th aim is merely for maximum production from an organization, withou offering opportunity for development, the final outcome will necessari be like that of a plant that is driven at full capacity without stoppin for repairs or improvements; it eventually becomes so run down th either a complete rebuilding is necessary or else it has to be abandone

Jan 1, 1918

By R. C. Gifkins, K. U. Snowden

The value of the index n in power ktivs for the stress sensitivity of minimum creep rale at lead is derived front results drawn from lite literature and from previously unpublished nork on commercial (99.99 pel) and high-purity (99.999 pel) lead polycryslalline and hi crystal specimens. In tests al 0.5Tm (22 to 50'C) for slvesses below 250 psi, n fulls to mily for poly-cr,yslullirle specimens, single crystals, and bicrystals, and toy grain boundary sliding in bicrystals. Between 250 and 500 psi there is a tyansilion range and, for the polycrystalline specimens al least, u high-stress regime for 500 to 1500 psi where n is 5 or 6. These results are such that none of the suggested stress taws can he used to extrapolate to very loir stresses. Meclianisms for deformation in Ike grains and toy grain boundary sliding in the low-strcss regime are outlined. In particular, the mechanism for grain boundary sliding involves sliding controlled by diffusion from tensile to compressire Ledges. predictions based on this model give promising numerical agree-nicul with experiment. II is suggested that the mechanism for grain boundary sliding may he important in other circumstances, e.g., in creep of ceramic materials or superplaslicity, because it can operate with lille or no dislocation aclirity. WhEN the stress dependence of secondary creep rate is represented by a power law the values taken by the stress exponent n are found to vary between 1 and 7, see, c.g., Garofalo.' In Eq. 1 11 u is the applied stress and A a constant. The case for accepting values of v = 1 rests principally upon tests at high temperatures (>0.9Tm) and there have only been isolated tests at lower temperatures (rather than plots of creep rate against stress) for which the creep rates are such that some form of Nabarro-Herring creep with n = 1 is applicable. Hanson5 and Greenwood and cole6 plotted creep rate against stress for tests made in the vicinity of 0.5Tw, and found a "creep yield", so that below a certain low stress the creep rate was linearly related to stress: these observations appear to have been subsequently ignored. Various models have been proposed which agree with a large body of experimental results in which n equals -5 at high stresses (e.g., weertman7 and McLean8). Various alternatives to Eq. [1] have been proposed principally as a means of unifying creep data, but sometimes, it seems, in order to obviate the necessity for assuming a series of regimes of deformation associated with the various values of n; further refer- ence to these will be made in the section on stress laws. This paper calls attention to extensive results which show n = 1 for the creep of lead at room temperature (0.5 T,). RESULTS Fig. 1 is a composite diagram based on figures in the literature6,9,10 with additional results obtained by the present authors and their colleagues11,12 in the course of a number of investigations not directly concerned with stress sensitivity. In Fig. 1 In creep rate is plotted against In stress. The curves show results for two kinds of material. Lead I is of commercial purity (99.99 pct Pb) and lead IT a specially refined material, hydrogen-purified to remove oxygen; it contains 99.999 pct Pb. Curve A is for lead I in polycrystalline form (grain diameter 0.02 to 0.05 cm) at room temperature (22' to 26°C). Curve B1 is for lead I, polycrystalline, tested at 50C. Curve B2 is for lead 11, polycrystalline (grain diameter 0.02 cm), tested at room temperature (22 O- Curves C to F relate to tests made of bicrystals of lead 11: all of the same nominal orientation ("Y" in Ref. 12). Curves C and V are for creep within the component crystals of the bi crystals at 22°C (AB and CD in Fig. 2). Curve E is for creep measured in a gage straddling the boundary, approximately 0.15 mm either side (BC in Fig. 2). Curve F shows rates of grain boundary sliding (as distinct from strain rates in the other curves), obtained by averaging the offsets of six marker lines on the bi-crystal boundaries. The principal feature of the results is that the stress sensitivity falls into two distinct regimes, according to whether the stress is below approximately 250 or above 500 psi (there is a transitional range between 250 and 500 psi). The new result is that below -250 psi two of the curves (A and BI) give a value of n 1, and the other curves also drop below n - 2 to -1.5 but do not extend to low enough stresses to show clear evidence of n 1. At very high stresses the curves tend to give values of n - 6, as previously determined in other investigations. Curve R2 for the high-purity lead in polycrystalline form at room tenlperature almost merges with B, and thus gives new significance to the values for stresses of 150 and 200 psi; previously'3 these points had seemed to fall away from the curve of slope -3, but they now can be seen as almost completing a transition to n = 1. It should be noted that there was originally considerable apparent scatter in the results for the high-purity lead. However, this was found to be associated with annealing conditions or variations in residual content of oxygen and curve B2 was constructed using the highest rate (i .e., the rate for the purest lead) determined for each stress during the course of various investigations over the years: altogether, some forty tests were used in constructing curve R2.

Jan 1, 1968

By Nicholas Enraght – Moony, Alvin Johns, Zhonghan Zhang, Zhang Xianhua, T. Choo

"The tungsten (WO3)-rich ores from King Island Scheelite (KIS) Mine, Australia, containing scheelite(CaWO4) were previously recovered by gravity separation and flotation of fine scheelite (1978-92) with an overall recovery of 76% when both circuits were operating. Recently extensive test work has been conducted both in China and in Australia on KIS ores, assaying from 0.50%-1.34%WO3, and tailings assaying 0.2%WO3(GZRINM 2009; 2011a; 2011b). A new approach, which aimed at improving both recovery and grade of concentrate by means of an innovative all flotation route WOF (Whole Ore Flotation), achieved excellent results: 90%-92% recovery to concentrate grade of 66%-70%WO3for the ores. The process is characterized by the use of selective reagents in flotation, including a newly developed collector for scheelite, GYWA. The WOF process also embraces the "Improved Petrov Method" in the cleaning of scheelite rougher concentrate. Earlier investigations found that the removal of sulfides by flotation prior to scheelite flotation was not necessary. It was also found that recycling of process water did not influenceresults. Two main ore types were tested as well as tailings from 2009to 2001(0.20%WO3). In addition a flow sheet using wet high gradient magnetic separation (WHGMS) in tandem with flotation was also investigated for the tailings."

Jan 1, 2014

By M. S. Seehra, R. S. Pandurangi

"The interaction of amorphous silica particles with several hydrogen bonding agents (H2O,, C2H,OH, C,H,NO) was investigated by monitoring the changes in the bulk and surface IR vibrational modes of silica using photoacoustic spectroscopy, It is argued that the intensity of the silanol band at 3747 cm-1 provides (an inverse) quantitative measure of the interaction of surface groups, along with the shift in the broad hydroxyl band, the interaction following the order C,H,NO > C2H2OH > H2O.The use of IR spectroscopy to study the adsorption on solid surfaces is well documented in the literature,"" For example, hydroxylation of a clean silica surface results in the formation of the free silanol group Si-OH, with a sharp IR band near 3747 cm-1. Further hydroxylation produces a broad band near 3500 cm-1, which is believed to result from various hydrogen-bonded silanol bands leading to a multilayered surface structure of few nm.3-6 Earlier studies had indicated a relationship between the surface silanol band and various chemical activities of silica such as cytotoxicity,7-9 catalysis,10-12 and others.13 Recent studies from our group14-in which the intensity of the silanol band and cytotoxicity of silica, heat-treated at various temperatures up to 1095°C, were investigated-have provided a strong correlation between cytotoxicity and intensity of the silanol band.Coating of silica by PVPNO (polyvinyl-2-pyridine N-oxide with the empirical formula C7H8N0), a strong hydrogen bonding agent, is known to reduce the cytotoxicity of silica, presumably by chemically blocking the silanol groups from phospholipids.15 This interaction of the hydrogen bonding agents with the silica can be studied by IR spectroscopy, and Knozinger16 and Rouxlet and Semples17 have used transmission IR spectroscopy to study the effect of various chemicals on the surface IR modes of silica. However, one of the major disadvantages of transmission IR spectroscopy is that the sample preparation (grinding and mixing with KBr and pelletizing) usually distorts the surface modes (see, e.g., Ref. 14) and there is always a doubt about the effect of the sample preparation on the measured properties, In recent years, photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy has become the technique of choice for studying the IR spectra of samples in their natural state, since no sample preparation is necessary.18,19 Moreover, according to a recent paper,20 the relative intensity of the surface modes in PA spectroscopy of silica particles is much higher than that in transmission FT-IR spectroscopy. Consequently PA spectroscopy is ideal for studying the surface chemistry, In this work, we have used PA spectroscopy to investigate the interaction of three hydrogen bonding agents (C7H8NO, C2H5OH, and H20) with the silica surface by monitoring changes in the surface IR modes, Our results show that the surface IR modes get perturbed to a larger extent than the bulk IR modes in interaction with the hydrogen bonding agents, Moreover, whereas in the earlier studies, the shift of the broad silanol band near 3500 cm-1 was used as a measure of the interaction with hydrogen bonding agents,16,17 here we show that the relative decrease in the intensity of the sharp silanol band near 3747 cm-1 also serves as a quantitative parameter for the relative surface coverage and surface modification, Details of this work are given below,The Cab-O-Sil samples of silica used here were obtained from the Cabot Corporation of Tuscola, IL, In our earlier studies,14,20 we have shown these particles to be amorphous and about 0.05 am in size, For coverage of these particles with H20 and C2H50H, the following procedure was employed. About 5 mg of silica was mixed with 50 mL of the liquid (H2O or C2H5OH) and refluxed for one hour, The remaining liquid was allowed to evap¬orate to dryness and 1 mg of the treated sample was used to collect the PA spectra. In the case of PVPNO, the amount that binds to Cab-O-Sil is taken from the data on quar"

Mar 1, 1992

By Yutaka Shiraishi

Two methods were developed to measure the viscosity of the slag from the glassy to the liquid states in an ascending temperature process. The first method employs rotating parallel plates within which is placed a solid cylindrical sample in line with a sphere. The second method uses a tube which is pushed into a sample held in a rotating crucible. Both methods were tested using standard glasses, including boron trioxide and NBS standard glass #711. The main difference between these two methods is in sample preparation. Comparative measurements between two methods were performed using a sodium boro-disilicate glass containing 5%mol of alumina. The results showed good agreement in the mid-range of glassy viscosities, 105 to to7 Pa.s. In the liquid state, there were no significant differences between the two methods.

Jan 1, 2003

By A. Bhagavatula, M. Rezaee, M. J. Kiser, R. Q. Honaker

"A field study of the coal preparation plant fleet in the eastern United States was undertaken to determine if quantify of rare earth elements (REEs) present in the product streams are large enough to justify further concentration. Representative composite samples were taken from the clean product, coarse refuse, and fine refuse streams from 20 coal preparation plants. Each stream was then separated into various size and density classes and analyzed for ash and REE contents. The large database showed that coarse refuse contained the largest amount of REEs, although the ratio of heavy to light REEs was greater for the clean coal products. The concentration of REEs was also compared to that typically seen in the earth’s crust. This enrichment ratio ranged from approximately 1.5 to more than 4.0 as the ash content varied. The database also showed that a linear correlation existed between La and Ce for many REEs of interest, although there were several notable exceptions for some of the high-value REEs. INTRODUCTION Worldwide energy demand is expected to grow by as much as 37% by 2040 according to the International Energy Agency (2014). This growth, coupled with a decrease of the reliance on coal to generate energy, means that it is more important than ever for countries to secure the materials necessary to meet its energy projections. For the United States, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that total domestic electricity use will increase roughly 25%, from 3,836x109 kWh in 2013 to 4,797x109 kWh in 2040 (EIA, 2015). In the EIA’s reference case, coal’s contribution to electricity generation drops from 39% in 2013 to 34% in 2040. On the other hand, renewables share of electricity generation grows from 13% to 18% for the reference case. Compared to its current state, renewable energy electricity production is predicted to grow as little as 50% to as much as 121% over this time period, depending on the economic case being examined. This growth will largely be seen in the wind and solar sectors (EIA, 2015). The focus on viable renewable energy resources will be crucial to the future of fueling American growth. Many of the renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines and photovoltaic films, rely on materials and supply chains outside of the United States. The lack of a reliable and low-cost domestic supply could pose a threat to the growth of the renewable energy markets in the United States. This potential vulnerability recently led the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to create a Critical Materials Strategy Report. In this report, 15 elements were identified as critical for the continued growth of the renewable energy market. Eight of these elements were rare earth elements (REEs). Five REEs (dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, yttrium and europium) were identified as highly critical and vulnerable to shortages (Bauer et al., 2012)."

Jan 1, 2016

By J. Sjöberg, P. Lundman, E. Nordlund, C. Quinteiro

Abstract In the Kiirunavaara underground mine, crude ore is transported through ore passes from the production levels to the main haulage level. Failure and stability problems have occurred in some of these ore passes, with increasing frequency as mining depths increase. In this paper, selected results are presented from a research project run by LKAB. The presentation focuses specifically on stability analysis. Numerical models were used to identify failure mechanisms, in conjunction with empirical data and engineering judgment. The most important controlling factors governing failure and damage in ore passes were quantified. A causative model was established in which failure mechanisms and failure development were described. This model was used to formulate a prognosis of future ore pass stability, and for recommending remedial measures. Résumé Le transport du minerai entre les niveaux de production et le niveau principal de transport, à la mine de fer de Kiruna, se fait par des passes à minerai. Avec la profondeur d'extraction grandissante, les problèmes de stabilité au niveau de ces passes à minerai se sont multipliés. Les résultats d'un programme de recherche sur la stabilité des passes à minerai à la mine de fer de Kiruna sont présentés dans cet article. Les mécanismes de rupture ont été identifiés à l'aide de modèles numériques, de données de terrain et du jugement empirique des ingénieurs. Les facteurs principaux controllant l'instabilité des passes à minerai ont aussi été quantifiés. Un modèle a été établi dans lequel les mécanismes de rupture et le développement des dommages ont été décrits. Ce modèle a été utilisé à fins prédictives et remédiatives. Zusammenfassung In der Grube Kiirunavaara wird das gewonnene Erz über Sturzschächte von den Abbauebenen zu der Hauptförderebene gefördert. Mit zunehmender Tiefe des Abbaus sind vermehrt Standsicherheitsprobleme in den Sturzschächten aufgetreten, die teilweise zu Verbrüchen geführt haben. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden ausgewählte Ergebnisse einer Forschungsarbeit des LKAB präsentiert. Dabei wird der Schwerpunkt auf die Standsicherheitsuntersuchungen gelegt. Zur Ermittlung der Bruchmechanismen wurden numerische Modelle in Verbindung mit empirischen Daten angewendet. Die wichtigsten Einflußfaktoren für das Versagen der Sturzschächte wurden ermittelt. Es wurde ein Modell zur Beschreibung der Bruchmechanismen und des Versagensablaufs aufgestellt. Dieses Modell wurde verwendet, um die Standsicherheit zukünftiger Sturzschächte zu prognostizieren und um Sanierungsmaßnahmen zu erarbeiten.

Jan 1, 2003

Ore textures in Australian BIF-derived ores are quite complex and have formed the basis for ore genesis models, which includes hypogene upgrading or supergene upgrading then regional metamorphism for the microplaty hematite ores and supergene upgrading for the martite-goethite ores. Despite a high level of ore texture knowledge, little is known about the spatial distribution of ore textures within deposits or their relationship to downstream processing. This paper describes a new iron ore texture classification system to better understand the vertical textural zonation characteristics of Australian BIF-derived deposits, the interpreted role of recent supergene upgrading processes on modifying primary ore textures and their implications for downstream mineral processing. The iron ore textural classification scheme presented uses textural groupings defined on the basis of similarities in mineralogy, ore texture, porosity, mineral associations and hardness. The scheme is non-genetic and has been successfully applied to deposits in the Pilbara, Yilgarn and Gawler cratons. The main ore texture groups include dense martite/hematite, microplaty hematite, microplaty hematite-goethite, martite-goethite, goethite-martite and goethite-rich. Each group can be further subdivided into physically hard to softer subcategories. The ore textural groups can be divided into those interpreted to be associated with primary replacement of BIF and secondary textures resulting from more recent modification by near-surface hydration or dehydration processes. A schematic vertical section through BIF-derived deposits consists (from surface) of detritals underlain by a carapace, both of which may have been eroded, followed by a hydrated zone with replacement of primary ore martite and microplaty hematite by vitreous goethite. The hydrated zone is underlain by 0.2 - 6 m thick zones of intense dehydration and textural infilling of porosity with hematite and hydrohematite. Immediately below the dehydration zone is a strong zone of leaching, where more porous and friable ore textures occur, followed underneath by a gradational contact with primary ore. Secondary supergene processes can impact on beneficiation with hydration and leaching resulting in more difficult density separations at the concentrator stage due to reductions in density differences between ore and gangue and loss of heavy media into pores. Supergene modification of primary BIF-derived ore textures can substantially change lump metallurgical properties, with hydration and dehydration favourably increasing lump yield but reducing resistance to thermal shock whilst leaching will give the opposing outcome. The lump properties of ore textural groups appear to be relatively consistent within and between the iron ore deposits examined.

Jan 1, 2002

By D. Lambert

Process modeling for large deformation metal forming processes has been developed into a very successful tool in commercial applications during the last two decades. DEFOR.MTM is a well-known metal forming process simulation program used by many industrial and research institutions. Recent developments include the ability to model multiple deforming body behavior during multi-pass pack rolling and microstructure prediction during multi-pass shape rolling. This paper summarizes how DEFOR.MTM can be applied to a number of rolling processes and briefly describes preliminary work carried out using the ALE technique. Keywords: Simulation, Rolling, Pack, Shape, Microstructure, FEM, ALE, Tantalum

Jan 1, 2003

By C. S. Tout

While investigating methods for determining the best temperatures for hot-working experimental stainless steels, the Bureau of Mines Albany Metallurgy Research Center developed a machine in which hot-twist tests could be made in a few minutes. This machine is similar to some used previously except that specimens are heated by induction instead of by radiation, and their temperature is measured by a calibrated radiation-detection unit instead of by a thermocouple. In. developing the technique for using the new machine, tests were made on specimens of medium-carbon steel, mild steel, and AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) type 304 stainless steel. Tests also were made on as-cast specimens and preworked specimens of experimental AISI type 202, low austenitic stainless steel, and as-cast specimens of AISI type 301 experimental stainless steel. The optimum hot-working temperatures were determined for all types of steel tested. Also, data were gathered on the effects of test speed and temperature on torsional strength and the effect of twisting on tensile stress in the specimen.

Jan 1, 1962

By G. Couture

"The Glencore Raglan mine Concentrator, located in Quebec’s Nunavik region, has been in operation since 1997. The nickel metallurgical plant was originally designed to process 100 tonnes per hour of ore to produce 130 000 tonnes of nickel concentrate per year at 16% Ni. The increased grinding capacity and the discovery of rich ore bodies have increased the annual production to more than 190 000 tonnes of concentrate at 19% Ni. In 2014, the Metallurgical group, with support from BBA, implemented an expert control system on the flotation circuit. This project was initiated to cope with the high variability of the concentrator’s feed. Increasing the plant recovery and final concentrate grade were also important project objectives. The implementation of the expert system ensures better control of concentrate inventory while maintaining maximum plant throughput. This paper describes the successful implementation of the new control system, the control technology selection and the flotation circuit optimization. It will also discuss the performances obtained with this new approach and the improved process stability.IntroductionThe Raglan Mine is located in Northern Quebec along the 62th parallel. It has been in operation since 1997 and was originally designed to produce 130 000 tonnes of concentrate annually at 16% Ni. The increasing of the grinding capacity and the discovery of rich ore bodies have increased the annual production to more than 190 000 tonnes of concentrate between 18 and 20% Ni."

Jan 1, 2015

By Albert W. Scragg

"THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT consists of six sections, all with their own supervisors, reporting to the superintendent of administration. Although each of these sections is uniquely separate, they all work together, in one department, to provide very necessary services.1. Accounting 2. Purchasing 3. Warehousing 4. Data Processing 5. Inventory Control6. Office ServicesThis department, which now numbers 108 people, had its birth in an office over a hardware store in downtown Timmins in 1964. Initially, only basic accounting and purchasing functions were performed and these, of course, were on a very small scale. The growth of the administration department is a function of the growth of the company."

Jan 1, 1974

By F. L. Mentg

The utilization of acid leaching tailings was studied. It is obvious that the Fe in acid leaching tailings can be leached into solutions as Fe2+. In this paper, the influence of conditions, including the concentration of ferrous sulfate, pH, temperature and velocity of air flow was investigated. The optimum conditions for preparing seed crystal are as follows: the concentration of ferrous sulfate is 20 g/L; pH is 9.5~10; reaction temperature is 10~20?; velocity of air flow is 0.4m3/h. The optimum conditions for preparing iron oxide red are as follows: the concentration of ferrous sulfate is 5 g/L; reaction temperature is 80~85?; velocity of air flow is 0.13m3/h. At last, the product of iron oxide red could be prepared by ammonia method.

Jan 1, 2014

By C. Norman Cochran

The pllnse diagvam for the NaF-AlF3 system was used to calcutate an ionic model for the NaF-AlF3 system. Assuming an ideal solution,a series of simultaneous equations expressing equilibria be-tween solid and liquid phases at the euleclic, perilec-tic, and melting points were solved for the activities of the ionic species, the dissociation constants, and the entropies and heats of fusion. The calculations suggest the existence of A13F1415 ions in addition to the F-1+AlF6-3 , and AlF4-4 ions previously proposed by others. The calculaled valnes give better agreement with vapor pressures than the previous model without Al3Fl14-5. Additional possible vefinements of the model are proposed. CRYOSCOPIC1 investigations and density data2 for the NaF-A1F3 system have previously been used to study the dissociation mechanism of Na3A1F6 and to derive equilibrium constants for its dissociation to NaF and NaAlF,. Depending primarily on the heat of fusion assumed for cryolite, the dissociation constants ranged between 0.02 and 0.18 from cryoscopic studies, and from 0.09 at 1273°K to 0.16 at 1363°K from density data. In most cases the values were unable to reproduce satisfactorily the experimental liquidus lines very far on the A1F3 side of the Na3A1Fe composition. This suggested the existence of at least one other ionized compound in the melt besides NaA1F4 in the Na3A1F6-A1F3 side of the system. This is assumed to be liquid Na&13F14 (chiolite), which is already established as a stable solid in phase studies of this system. MODEL FOR THE MELT The melt is assumed to be an ideal solution with ion activities equal to anion fractions. The only cation in the model is sodium so that Temkin and simple anionic activities are identical. Although the compounds are completely ionized to Na' and the respective anion in the melt, molecular rather than ionic notation is used throughout this work. The Na3A1Fe is assumed to dissociate to NaA1F4 and NaF as in the former model, and Na&13F14 to dissociate to Na3A1Fe and NaA1F4. Other valid dissociation equilibria can be written involving these four compounds, but all of these can be obtained by combinations of the two described dissociation reactions and, thus, are automatically considered in these calculations. The model allows for no free AlF3 so that compositions for NAIF3 > 0.5 (mole fraction A1F3 on the NaF-A1F3 basis) cannot be treated. The question of the existence of free AlF3 in the melt will be discussed again later. The constants in the model were evaluated from points along the entire known liquidus line of the NaF-A1F3 system. Previous work employed only the liquidus line or densi- ties near the Na3A1F, composition. The liquidus line compositions used in the solution of the model are from unpublished work by Mr. P. A. Foster, Jr., for compositions between the Na3A1F6 melting point and the Na&13F14-A1F3 eutectic, and from the published works of Grjotheim,1 Phillips,3 and Foster4 for the remainder of the system. The relationships used in solving for the desired dissociation constants and heats and entropies of fusion are listed in Table I, and the points along the liquidus line at which each apply are indicated to the right of the relationships. The mole fractions of each of the separate species in the melt are symbolized by N. Relationships [I] and [2] are the respective dissocia-ation constants, Kl and K2, of Na3AIF6 and Na5A13F14 for this model. For simplicity, these constants will be assumed to be independent of temperature. Relationship [3] follows from the assumption of the ideal solution. The expression relating the values of N to the experimental values of NAIf3, is given in Relationship (41. Relationships [5], [6], and [7] each state the equilibrium between a compound in the melt and its pure solid phase for the portion of the liquidus lines where it precipitates. The heats of melting, AH,, and entropies of melting, AS,, used in [5], [6], and [7] are assumed to be independent of temperature. The compositions and temperatures of all five invariant points (two melting points, two eutectics, and one peritectic) along the liquidus lines from NAIF3 = 0 to NAIF3 = 0.5 were employed in the solution. The eutectic and peritectic compositions were particularly useful because each of these is involved in one more equation than other points along the liquidus lines and thus reduces the number of points required to solve for the constants. Also, their use assures that the inflection points in the derived liquidus line will correspond exactly with those on the experimental liquidus line. The total number of equations is 5k1 — 1, where n is the number of experimental composition points used. The number of unknowns is 4n + 5 (4n- 3 values of N, 3 values each of AH, and AS,, and 2 values of K). Thus, six points must be used in the solution to obtain an equal number of equations and unknowns. The one additional required experimental composition was taken on the liquidus line between the Na3A1Fe melting point and the Na3A1F6-Na5A13F14 peritectic. Previous work indicated this was a difficult portion of the curve to fit. The temperature used for the point was 1161°K, the same as for the NaF-Na3A1Fe eutectic. This choice of temperature gave two points with identical NNa3AIF6 values which simplifies the algebraic solution. The second point at this temperature is denoted 1161°'K. PROCEDURE FOR SOLUTION OF EQUATIONS Values were assumed for NNa,AIF and NNaF at the NaF-Na3A1F6 eutectic at 1161°k. By an iterative procedure, the corresponding values for NNa5A13F14 and NNaAlF4 at 1161°K were determined from 131 and 141. A value was assumed for NNaAlF4 at 1161°'K and

Jan 1, 1968

By E. C. Olsen

This paper describes the unusual hazardous conditions encountered in mining thick, inclined coal beds under heavy cover in Carbon County, Utah. This description includes heavy roof conditions, sloughing ribs, steep pitches, and severe bouncing experience. Emphasis is placed on the top bench system of mining and development in the top half of a 16-ft seam, under the roof rock, which is bolted, and the recovery of the bottom coal on retreat; success of bolted roof and ribs; and shuttle car haulage on pitches up to 25%. The use of protective cages for operators of face equipment, the guarding of belt conveyor systems to prevent injury associated with deliberate entry, and the positive lockout of electrical equipment is described and illustrated. Most coal mining areas of the Western United States are characterized either by thick beds, steep pitches or heavy cover. Individually, each of these may present inherent safety hazards that in- fluence mining. When all are met at one location, the combined effect is to make the safe operation of the mining property a challenge to management. These combined conditions are met in the coal mines of the Columbia-Geneva Steel Div. of the United States Steel Corp., in southeastern Utah. This coal bed measures up to 16 ft in thickness, the pitch is as much as 25% and mining is under a cover approaching 3000 ft. The Sunnyside coal bed is found in the Book Cliff Mountains, a great escarpment extending from west of Castle Gate, Utah, some 180 miles to Grand Junction, Colo. West of Green River, Utah, the Book Cliffs swing sharply to the north because of the domelike uplift of the San Rafael Swell to the southwest. It is in this northerly extension of the Book Cliffs that the Sunnyside coal in the Blackhawk Formation of the Mesa Verde Group, Upper Cretaceous Age is found. The strata are transected by numerous faults with from a few inches to as much as a hundred feet of displacement. All of these faults have had some effect on the mining operation, either in roof control or, in the case of major faulting, the pattern of mine development. MINING PRACTICES Mining has generally been confined to the Lower Sunnyside Seam which measures from 7 to 16 ft in

Jan 1, 1963

By Leonard P. Skolnick

PROPERTIES of materials containing a hard con-stituent dispersed in a metallic matrix are dependent on the distribution of the hard phase.'-' The grain growth of titanium carbide in liquid nickel was studied in order to understand microstructural development in this and similar systems. Smith" has examined the influence of surface energy on the distribution of phases in alloys. The grain growth of tungsten carbide in cobalt has been the subject of many conflicting theories. Those prior to 1950 have been summarized by Goetzel.' Recently, Gurland and Norton3 and Gurland8 have indicated that growth occurs primarily by diffusion through the liquid phase in order to lower the inter-facial energy between the carbide and the liquid metal. In the development of the Ti-C-Ni ternary phase diagram, Stover and Wulff9 have shown that both eutectiferous dendritic titanium carbide, and primary titanium carbide which had developed crystals of cubic symmetry, were rounded by heating below the solidus, and that if primary carbide was already present the typical eutectic decomposition products were not formed. Experimental Procedure The infiltration technique was used to study the grain growth of titanium carbide in nickel. In contrast to sintering, infiltration more readily assures uniform dispersion of the two phases, and the problems associated with mixing by milling; i.e., mill contamination, breakdown of original carbide size in the operation, development of interfering surface films, etc., are avoided. In addition, the complicating effect of densification by shrinkage is eliminated. The titanium carbides used were commercial grades. Their chemical analyses, size distributions and shapes are summarized in Table I. Size analysis was conducted by microscopic count on a minimum

Jan 1, 1958