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By Charles S. Barrett, Frederick N. Rhines, Robert F. Mehl

The solid solutions which aluminum forms with copper, and with magnesium and silicon, are not extensive, and accordingly could not be expected to form Widmanstatten figures profusely nor with great ease. A study of the Widmanstatten figures in these systems seemed desirable, however, because of the interest which these alloys bear towards age-hardening theories resulting from the necessary relationship between the age-hardening phenomena and the atomic processes leading to the formation of Widmanstatten figures.' Alloys of Aluminum with Copper The most accurate determination of the solid solubi1it.y of copper in aluminum seems to be that by Dix and Richardsoq2 whose results are represented in Fig. 1. According to this work, aluminum dissolves 5.6 weight per cent of copper at 548", and less than one per cent at room temperature. Judging from the constitutional diagram, this solid solu-lion on cooling tends to precipitate the compound CuA12, and this conclusion has been confirmed experimentally by Schmid and Wassermann.

Jan 1, 1932

By A. J. Kraemer

The twenty-fourth of a series of semiannual surveys pertaining to motor gasoline marketed in the United States was made by the Bureau of Mines in August, 1931. The first part of a report giving the results of that survey as they pertain to specification data is given in this paper. A companion report, Part II, is in preparation and will discuss the results of other determinations made on the samples, including octane number ratings on the individual samples (to be made by the Bureau of Standards) and results of the determination of gravity, color, doctor test, and "gum" content by the copper dish method and the Bureau of Mines steam-oven method. The retail price and the tax at the time each sample was taken will also be reported.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. M. Urban

This paper, one of a series being prepared for and published by the United States Bureau of Mines on methods and costs of mining at various mica mines in the United States, describes the methods now in use in the principal mica mines of the Southern Appalachian States. Those papers are designed to disseminate technical information regarding the methods used. The cost tabulations represent operating expenditures only and not total costs. It is recognized that publication of total costs might in some instances cause embarrassment to individual producers as well as to the industry as a whole. On the other hand, operating costs are essential to the technical discussion and study of methods employed. The attention of the reader is specifically called to this differentiation in order that no misunderstanding of the scope of the cost tabulations shall ensue.

Jan 1, 1932

By A. C. Munro

This paper, which describes the milling practice at the Britannia concentrator, Britannia Beach, B. C., is one of a series being prepared by the Bureau of Mines. The concentrator treats copper ore at the present rate of 6,000 to 7,000 tons of dry ore daily and produces copper concentrate and pyrite concentrate by selective flotation methods. The copper concentrate is smelted and the pyrite product is utilized for acid manufacture.

Jan 1, 1932

Truman H. Aldrich W. Lawrence Austin W. S. Ayres John Henry Banks Andrew A Blair Walter M. Brodie R. C. Canby

Jan 1, 1932

The concentrating plant of the Broken Hill South Limited was described in Proceedings No. 44, Australasian Institute Mining and Metallurgy, December, 1921, by Wainwright and Read. It was erected on the present site in 1907 and 1908.From that date, the plant has undergone various alterations consistent with metallurgical improvements. By 1925, the timber work of the gravity secti"on had seriously deteriorated, so much so, that, when the machinery was working, the floors and supports vibrated badly, causing heavy maintenance costs.In 1928, it was decided to erect a new gravity-treatment section, to be followed later by a new flotation section.

Jan 1, 1932

By George R. Ingham

This paper is one of a buries being prepared by the Bureau of Mines on mining methods and costs at various mines in the United States, and is a description of the mining practice at Ajo, Ariz., where the New Cornelia Branch of the Phelps Dodge Corporation mines copper ore from an open pit, and operates a concentrator for the treatment of the ore thus mined. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to express their appreciation to M. Curley, manager of the New Cornelia Branch of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, for his review of this paper and permission to publish it. They also wish to acknowledge the assistance given by W. C. Lawson, assistant engineer, in the preparation of the paper.

Jan 1, 1932

By William L. Fink, Kent R. Van Horn

Zinc is one of the effective elements introduced to enhance the strength of aluminum. This strengthening is principally attributable to the high solid solubility of zinc in aluminum and the pronounced variation of solubility with temperature. Consequently an accurate determination of the solid solubility curve is desirable. The solid solubility relations have been studied by numerous investigators. Shepherd1 first established the existence of a solid solution region at the aluminum end of the diagram (-v phase) by specific volume and microscopic determinations. Bauer and Voge12 published a constitutional diagram which showed the limits of solid solubility as determined by thermal and microscopic methods. Hanson and Gayler3 presented the aluminum-zinc diagram which is now most generally accepted (Fig. 1). Chill-cast samples were given thermal treatments designed to obtain equilibrium conditions, quenched, and microscopically examined. The solubility was placed between 15 to 20 per cent at 60" C., 20 to 22 per cent at 140" C. and 36 to 38 per cent at 270" C. Sander and Meissner decidedly modified the limits of the -y phase field of Hanson and Gayler's diagram by using similar methods on chill-cast specimens annealed for a shorter period of time. Tanabe,s utilizing dynamic hard-ness, electrical conductivity and dilatometric measurements of specimens at temperature, obtained values comparable to Hanson and Gayler's at room temperature, but appreciably lower at higher temperatures. Nishimura6 concluded from age-hardening results of aluminum-zinc alloy chill castings, which had been quenched from 400" to 500" C., that the solubility of zinc in aluminum at room temperature is less than 5 * Metallurgical Division, Aluminum Research Laboratories. 1 E. S. Shepherd: Aluminum-Zinc Alloys, Jnl, phys. Chem. (1905) 9, 504. 2 0. Bauer and 0. Vogel: Aluminum-Zinc Alloys, Int. Jn1. Melallog. (1916) 8, 101. 3 D. Hanson and M. V. L. Gayler: A Further Study of the Alloys of Aluminum and Zinc. Jnl. Inst. Met. (1922) 27, 267. 4 W. Sander and K. L. Meissner: ZII~ Kenntnis der Konstitution der Aluminium-Zinklegierungen. Ztsch. f. Metallkunde (1922) 14, 385. 4 T. Tanabe: Studies in the Aluminum-Zinc System, Jnl. Inst. Met. (1924) 32, 415 6 H. Nishimura: On the Age-Hardening of Aluminum-Rich Al-Zn Alloys. Mem. Kyoto Imp. Univ. (1924) 3, 133.

Jan 1, 1932

By Clarence G. Merritt

Stainless iron, as mild stainless steel is usually called, an alloy ranging from 11.50 to 15.00 per cent chromium with carbon under 0.12 per cent, has been considered to be not appreciably affected in respect to corrosion resistance by heat treatment. This metal, while one of the most widely used of the "straight" chromium stainless alloys, has failed in many applications because of insufficient information regarding heat treatment. These failures have been attributed to many possible causes from an inherent lack of resistance to corrosion and misapplication to mlysterious electrolytic effects or comparatively minute non metallic inclusions. Many uses for a steel with such excellent physical properties as are latent in this alloy have been lost on account of corrosion failures which could have been avoided by applying proper heat treatment. The alloy has not received the recognition or attention it should because of the fact that the details of its metallurgical behavior were not thoroughly understood. Response to heat treatment of the steel is well known as regards tensile properties,1-2 but its application has been for improvement in tensile characteristics or on account of machining considerations rather than for corrosion prevention. The potential user of this steel has not been clearly advised in papers, either technical or commercial, that have been written about it in the last 10 years or more, of particular features that are of prime importance in developing the excellent properties of this metal. The data to be presented in this paper are concerned mainly with the effect of heat treatment on the corrosion resistance, but a study has also been made of the concurrent microstructural changes and an explanation developed for the phenomena revealed, as well as a correlation to the other physical properties—hardness, tensile characteristics and impact strength. Stainless steel, largely used for cutlery purposes, an alloy of approximately 13.00 per cent Cr with 0.30 per cent C;, must be hardened and the surface prepared by polishing or pickling for best resistance to staining and corrosion. Monypenny reports that a loss of hardness is

Jan 1, 1932

Jan 1, 1932

By John B. Knaebel

Hammer machines are now widely used for underground sampling and exploration. Their application to such work can be divided into two classes - sampling and testing with ordinary drilling equipment to shallow depths of 22 feet or less, and "long hole" drilling with heavy machines and special equipment to depths of as much as 250 feet or more. In the first category hammer drills are employed for either of two distinct purposes: first, as a means of checking the results of grab or cut samples or, in certain types of ore deposits, as a substitute for these methods; and second, as a method of sampling the ground 5 to 20 feet beyond existing faces and thus aiding in the control of stoping operations or in the direction of development headings, as the case may be. The deep-hole drill, in the second category, has proved to be a valuable adjunct to the old established methods of exploring, end developing ore, provided it is employed under natural conditions to which it is suited, handled by men thoroughly familiar with the technique of its operations, and used with its possibilities and limitations clearly understood.

Jan 1, 1932

Executive FREDERICK M. BECKET, Chairman HOWARD N. EAVENSON J. V. W. REYNDERS H. A. GUESS WILLIAM WRAITH Finance HENRY KRUMB, Chairman PAUL H. MERCER H. G. MOULTON Admissions JOHN M. LOVEJOY, Chairman GEORGE D. BARRON DONALD M. LIDDELI. E. V. DAVELER W. D. B. MOTTER, JR. Alternates AMOR F. KEENE L. F. STROBEL SAM TOUR Membership LEWIS B. LINDEMUTH, Chairman EDWARD H. ROBIE, Secretary Executive Committee NELSON DICKERMAN FREDERICK LAIST FRED H. KAY THOMAS T. READ H. A. KURSELL A. T. SHURICK SAM TOUR

Jan 1, 1932

By Edwin C. Eckel

The title of this study may fairly lead to misunderstanding unless its basal viewpoint is explained at the start. There is of course no chance of misunderstanding the term strategic minerals-for some years past it has been rather generally used to cover those mineral supplies, important for war use, which do not occur in adequate amount on the territory of the Power under consideration. Even here, however, I might add a note of warning. It is commonly understood that the list of strategic minerals will vary, according to what country we are considering; but it is rarely understood, even in Staff studies, that it varies equally according to the particular adversary we happen to be considering. In the present study I have stated the definition in the broadest possible terms, and have at this stage purposely avoided limiting it to any one country or war situation, with the express purpose of being free to bring out certain implications which are commonly, if not always, overlooked. The more important opportunity for misunderstanding is, of course, that my views on the phenomena war and peace do not coincide with those currently fashionable, particularly in advanced intellectual circles. For we must face the fact that for a decade past the natural reaction from war conditions has shattered the public mentality so completely that our public discussions of such questions have very little relation to fact; they are excursions into ideal rather than Realpolitik. And as such they serve merely to prevent public discussion or accept-

Jan 1, 1932

By John W. Frey

[Minerals, generally of great geological age, are to a very large extent the material basis of what we know as modern civilization. In most of the so-called civilized world the use f minerals has become such a commonplace that it is easy to se sight of their importance. It was the use of minerals, obably more than anything else, that made it possible for e American people to expand from the Atlantic seaboard the Pacific in a little over one hundred years. As the 1 to use the natural wealth at hand constitutes a funda¬ental element in American life, there seems to be justification for the thought that American geography is largely mineral geography. Of all American environmental reactions, the most striking are those which have come about through the use of the metals and the power fuels. If we turn to the ancient industry of agriculture, we find very little that is unique in North America except those developments which have come about through the use of machinery and transportation, both of which are contingent upon the use of minerals. Practically every crop now grown n North America was grown in some part of Europe before merica was discovered. One can point out exceptions to statement but in general it is true. Analysis of the es of North American agriculture shows that the outstand¬ characteristics are: regional specialization (i.e., the Economic Geographer; Chief, Petroleum Section, Minerals Division, u of Foreign and Domestic Commerce.]

Jan 1, 1932

By I. Ionel Gardescu

During the latter part of 1930 an agreement was reached among operators in Rumania to curtail the production of oil to about 100,000 bbl. per day. This agreement lasted only a few months and 1931 shows a new peak in production with an average yield of 136,900 bbl. per day as against an average of 116,600 bbl. per day for 1930. The total production for 1931 was 49,210,000 bbl.; an increase of 18.4 per cent over the previous year's production. It is interesting to compare the percentage production of the major companies to the potential production figures determined by the Government in September, 1930 (Table l), on the basis of which the proposed curtailment was to have been made. The three companies listed first in this table show an increase in average production for 1931 over their estimated potential production rating. This increase might be attributed at least in part to the recent development of the Boldesti field, which is controlled by these companies and of which the production at present is nearly 10 per cent of the total oil output for Rumania. Among the other fields, Moreni still holds first place with an output of 33.6 per cent, followed by Gura-Ocnitzei with 29.3 per cent. In both these fields the main source of oil is from the deeper Meotic sands. Other

Jan 1, 1932

By Howard N. Eavenbon

The low-volatile, or smokeless, coal field of southern West Virginia is in Fayette, Raleigh, Wyoming, Mercer, Summers and McDowell counties, in the extreme southern portion of the state, and extends into the adjacent counties of Tazewell and Buchanan in Virginia. McDowell County is the largest producer, with Fayette and Raleigh counties next. The total area of the field (Fig. 1) is approximately 1600 square miles, or 1,024,000 acres. The percentage of volatile matter in the various seams ranges from 15 to 26 per cent, The upper limit of true low-volatile coal is usually considered to be 23 per cent volatile matter; above this point, the coal usually is classed as medium volatile. This limit will be used in this paper. Geological Position of Seams The smokeless seams are among the oldest coal seams in the country, as the Pocahontas group of rocks is the lowest member of the coal-bearing series and rests on top of the Mauch Chunk red shale, in or below which no coal seams of any importance occur. The Pocahontas group, or Lower Pottsville measures, has a thickness of 750 ft. in southern McDowell County, which decreases to about 350 ft. at Prince, on the New River, in Fayette County, 50 miles to the northeast. In this group, at various points, 12 coal beds have been found, of which 4 have been found in workable thickness and are now being mined. The New River group, or Middle Pottsville measures, is just above the Pocahontas group and varies in thickness from 1300 ft. in southern McDowell County to about 700 ft. along New River. At various places, 16 beds of smokeless coal have been identified in this group, of which 5 have been found in workable thickness and are now being mined. A general columnar section of these strata is shown on Fig. 2. The workable seams in these strata, arranged in geological sequence, are as shown on page 77.

Jan 1, 1932

By E. H. Griswold

The efforts of petroleum production engineers during the past year have largely concentrated upon ways and means of reducing operating investments and expenses in order that the industry may survive a period of low crude oil prices. Major progress was made in outlining and solving the technical problems pertinent to unit operation in order that executives and legal staffs may actually arrange operating contracts to effect unit operation. Consequent savings in development and operating costs, accompanied by increased recovery, will thus be obtained. Well spacing has received considerable constructive thought and study, from which practical results are assured in the near future. The control of edge and bottom waters has advanced in technique through the engineering work done in Yates, Hobbs and East Texas, and there is evidence of greater cooperative efforts between engineers to increase recovery from pools by mutual gas conservation. The use of pressure control by surface and bottom-hole chokes has become general practice to reduce gas-oil ratios. The study of bottom-hole pressures has led to new conceptions of proper utilization of reservoir energy and maintenance of pressure by natural means. Pressure gradients of flowing wells have been measured in practice and strides made to develop workable formulas for the flow of oil and gas mixtures through vertical pipes. The information thus obtained will permit the intelligent design of flow tubing combinations. Gas-lit and repressuring advancements have been few, due to overproduction from naturally flowing wells. Satisfactory unloading valves for gas-lift wells have been developed and consistent progress made in gas-lift displacement pumps. The necessity for producing wells at high rates of flow while producing large quantities of sand has resulted in radical changes in Christmas tree and separator designs for the Oklahoma City pool. The opening of wells to obtain potential production for proration purposes has been eliminated in the Yates and Hobbs pools by the application of engineering principles.

Jan 1, 1932

By John M. Devine

The severe corrosion of equipment that is caused by the presence of hydrogen sulphide in oil and gas has been described in detail by several authors. Such corrosion, termed "low-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion", presents a somewhat different problem from the "high-temperature hydrogen sulphide corrosion" that is encountered in refinery operation and which has been described by various-investigators of refinery corrosion.

Jan 1, 1932

By David Donoghue

EFFORTS made in the year 1930 and in previous years restricted pro-duction in most of the fields of Texas to a point that was satisfactory, at the beginning of 1931, to the majority of producers and buyers. In the Panhandle, North Texas and West Central Texas districts, a few operators with refinery affiliations or contracts either ignored, or by virtue of injunction suits, did not comply with the Railroad Commission's orders, and there was some oil sold at less than posted prices, which, with the Oklahoma City difficulties, caused the first general price reduction. More could have been done perhaps to help the situation on the Gulf Coast and in the Laredo district, but natural advantages are not readily surrendered.

Jan 1, 1932

The purpose of this paper is to discuss briefly the problems encountered in designing and sinking No 7 shaft, and to present the methods employed in the operation.The illustrations accompanying the paper show the details of the construction of the equipment used in completing No 7 shaft, consequently the descriptions appearing in the text are brief outlines only. Mineral leases Nos 7 and 8, held by the Broken Hill South Limited, comprise an area of 69.5 acres. The length of the holding is approximately 2500 ft.The western orebodies, which are the main producing masses, enter the property at the northern bonndary. Generally, the dip of the orebody is to the west, and the pitch to the south, but local variations occur and even a reversal of pitch has been noticed. The angle of dip is approximately 70 degrees and the angle of pitch 45 degrees.

Jan 1, 1932