Search Documents

By A. M. Gaudin

Jan 1, 1962

By E. W. Filer, R. P. Smith, L. S. Darken

The solubility of nitrogen gas in purified iron and low alloy steels is determined for the y region (930° to 1350°C). The diffusivtiy of nitrogen is estimated from the rate of approach to equilibrium. The investigation of aluminum-killed steels, held in nitrogen, discloses precipitation of aluminum nitride, the solubility of which is determined. ALTHOUGH several investigations of the solu-bility of nitrogen gas in y iron have been reported, all have made use of the method adopted by Sieverts in his classic work, whereby the solubility is determined by the pressure or volume change of the gas. The agreement between different investigators* is rather poor, particularly as compared to the self-consistency of results of several individual investigators. The present report represents a portion of our investigation of the equilibrium of nitrogen and nitrogenous atmospheres with iron and steels. The method adopted in this temperature region (910" to 1400°C) consists of holding the specimen in gaseous nitrogen, quenching (or cooling), and determining the nitrogen content by direct analysis (solution in acid followed by distillation and titra-tion of the ammonia).** Up to 1050°C a 20 in. vertical wire-wound (Kan-thal) furnace was used; this was wound in three sections so that by proper adjustment of relative currents, and use of a modulator1 and a commercial controller (using a chromel-alumel control couple), a zone almost 6 in. long could be maintained uniform within a few tenths of a degree. Since the temperature coefficient of the nitrogen solubility is low, the full precision was not utilized and a variation of l° to 2" was tolerated; a variation of a similar amount also occurred occasionally between the beginning and end of the experiment. At higher temperature a vertically mounted, tubular Globar furnace and control unit was used; the zone of uniformity (l° to 2"C) was here limited to about 2 in.; fluctuations with time were comparable to those in the wire-wound furnace. Reported temperatures were measured by use of a platinum-platinum-rhodium thermocouple, which was frequently com- pared with a similar standard couple which was calibrated at the gold and palladium points and also compared with one certified by the Bureau of Standards; error from this source is believed to be less than 1 "C. Nitrogen gas from a commercial cylinder was mixed with slightly over 1 pct H by use of a gas mixer described previously.' This mixture was passed over hot copper and through ascarite and phosphorus pentoxide to remove oxygen and water vapor. The purified gas contained 1.05 pct H. This procedure was adopted to prevent the formation on the specimens of oxide film, which is well known to be nearly impervious to nitrogen; its success was attested by

Jan 1, 1952

By W. S. McCain, B. A. Wilcox, A. H. Clauer

The creep and creep-fracture behavior of a Ni-200-2Th0, alloy has been studied over the temperature range 816° to 1038°C and stress range 4000 to 19,000 psi Specimens having their axes either parallel or transverse to the final sheet-rolling direction were tested in air, and the apparent activation energy for creep was found to be 92 kcal per mole, regardless of specinien orientation. The stress dependence 01- the steady-state creep rate, was satisfied by where n depended on orientation; n = 9.7 for rrzaterial transverse to the rolling direction and n = 24.3 for material parallel to the rolling direction. In the latter case, the relation was also valid. The rupture strength of material parallel to the rolling direction was -1.5 times gveater than the transverse rupture strength. Several tests in vacuum revealed that here the creep rate was higher and rupture life lower than for comparable tests in air. THERE is an increased interest today in producing improved dispersion-hardened alloys for high-temperature structural applications. This had led various materials designers to modify existing alloys, such as thoriated nickel. One system that has received considerable attention is based on chromium additions to Ni-ThO2, with the obvious motive of improving the oxidation resistance. Another effect of chromium is that of lowering the stacking-fault energy, y, of nickel. For example, the addition of 30 wt pct Cr decreases y from -225 erg per sq cm for pure nickel1 to -70 erg per sq cm.' This decrease in y could have several effects on the deformation behavior. There is some evidence that cross slip of dislocations around Tho2 particles is a mechanism of tensile3 and creep4 deformation in TD Nickel (Ni + 2 vol pct ThO2) at temperatures below 0.5 the absolute melting point of nickel, T,. A decrease in ? by chromium additions should increase the difficulty of cross slip. Also it has been suggested that the high-temperature (T > 0.5Tm) rate-controlling creep process in "recrystallized" Ni-Tho2 alloys is the climb of edge dislocations over Tho2 particles.5 According to weertman6 a decrease in the stacking-fault energy should decrease the dislocation climb velocity resulting in a decreased steady-state creep rate. Thus, chromium additions to recrystallized Ni-Tho2 alloys would be expected to decrease the creep rate, all other conditions being constant. However, a difficulty arises when the stacking-fault concept is applied to high-temperature creep of dispersion-strengthened metals which are produced on a commercial or semicommercial scale. This occurs because the materials are processed so that they have a high-stored energy of cold work, and the other substructural effects could obscure any influence of stacking-fault energy per se. An example of an alloy with a high stored energy of cold work is TD Nickel bar. This material has a fibrous grain structure (1 I diam by 10 to 15 p long), and the structure is stabilized by the ThO2 particles. Annealing at high temperatures, e.g., 3 hr at 1300°C, causes no recrystallization or grain growth.4 Previous work by the authors4 showed that the high -temperature creep behavior of TD Nickel could not be related to any simple dislocation theory of creep, and this probably was associated with the complex initial structure of the material.

Jan 1, 1968

PRESIDENT PHILIP N. MOORE, ST. Louis, Mo. PAST PRESIDENTS WILLIAM L. SAUNDERS NEW YORK, N. Y. L. D. RICKETTS NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT SIDNEY J. JENNINGS NEW YORK, N. Y. TREASURER GEORGE C. STONE NEW YORK, N. Y.

Jan 1, 1917

A tentative plan for the Colorado Meeting has been formulated as follows: One day will be spent at Denver, one day at Colorado Springs, one day at Cripple Creek, a trip by automobile to the top of Pike's Peak, one day at Pueblo, one day at Leadville. All the principal mines and mills of the districts mentioned will be visited, including the gold mines in Cripple Creek, the lead, zinc, and steel works. of Pueblo, the production of ferro-molybdenum by electric furnace at Leadville, etc. Special arrangements are being made for the social entertainment of ladies at all points; one evening at Colorado Springs will be devoted to a reception and dance, and the usual dinner will he given on another evening. The following papers have already been accepted for the Colorado Meeting, and some have already been published: Fireproofing Mine Shafts by the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. By E. M. Norris. (March Bulletin.) Air Blasts in the Kolar Gold Field, India. By E. S. Moore. (March Bulletin.) The Use of Coal in Pulverized Form. By H. R. Collins. (April Bulletin.) Coal Mining in Washington. By F. A. Hill. (April Bulletin.) Carbocoal. By C. T. Malcolmson. (May Bulletin.) Gaging and Storage of Oil in the Mid-continent Field. By O. U. Bradley. (March Bulletin.) An Interpretation of the So-called Paraffin Dirt of the Gulf Coast Oil Fields. By A. D. Brokaw. (April Bulletin.) The Theory of Volcanic Origin of Salt Domes. By. E. DeGolyer. (May Bulletin.)

Jan 5, 1918

By Hagh H. Bein

MOST mining engineers and geologists realize the value of photographs in their professional work. Members of each group use photographs to illustrate their reports, and articles and photographs, when available, will often save many words of written text in explaining some point or in proving some pet theory. No one hesitates to take aboveground pictures but many rarely take their cameras underground. However, underground photography, too, is really simple. I do not believe that anything new is offered here and the procedures given are merely a compilation of various methods I have tried and used, with some success, over the past six or seven years. The article will deal with photographs to be taken in metal mines, but only in those where no gas hazard exists, with resultant danger of explosions and fire. Some mining company geologists consider the camera a necessary part of their equipment and carry one on their daily trips to the various parts of the mine under their observation. I know of one company whose files of geologic sketches of heading, backs. and veins are supplemented by actual photographs so that a nice geologic picture

Jan 1, 1945

By Allen F. Agnew

Geologic studies for the Federal and State governments in the Wisconsin-Illinois-Iowa zinc-lead district were begun in 1835, and subse¬quent surveys were made in the three states at in¬tervals until 1916, see Table I. The current study of the district, Fig. 1, by the U. S. Geological Survey was begun in 1942 in the hope that a systematic investigation would help in¬crease production of zinc and lead, then in ex¬tremely short supply. Major emphasis of the USGS program was on detailed mapping of the geologic structure and ore deposits. Preliminary maps and reports covering localities of intensive mining ac¬tivity have been published during the course of this study, Fig. 2. By 1950 the objectives of the study by the USGS were revised; 7Y2-min quadrangles of relatively unprospected localities as well as inten¬sively mined localities are now being mapped in Wisconsin. Since 1945 the investigation in Wiscon¬sin has been made in cooperation with the Wiscon¬sin Geological and Natural History Survey, and since 1951 the geologic mapping of areas of particu¬lar interest in Iowa has been performed in coopera¬tion with the Iowa Geological Survey. At intervals since 1943 the Illinois State Geological Survey has mapped the geologic structure and ore deposits of localities in the Illinois part of the mining district, see Fig. 2.

Aug 1, 1955

By R. S. Bradley

WHAT are known as insulating firebrick are lightweight firebrick with low thermal conductivity designed primarily for use in direct contact with furnace gases. These are a recent development in the refractories industry, and are really an outgrowth of the type of insulating brick suitable for use behind refractory walls developed by the insulation manufacturers. To differentiate between these two types of brick, the manufacturers have recently agreed upon the use of the term "Insulating Firebrick" to apply to the type of brick suited for use in direct contact with furnace gases, and the term "Insulating Brick" for the type suitable for use behind refractory walls. Insulation was applied to steam pipes as far back as 1900. This was a low-temperature insulation, the most common type being magnesia blocks. The next development was applying insulation to the outside of furnace walls, a service which necessitated an insulating material of higher temperature resistance. Natural diatomaceous earth, both in the powdered and brick form, was used; this was efficient and is still used extensively for backing up refractory walls where the inner surface temperature of the insulation does not exceed 1600° F.

Jan 1, 1937

By W. L. Zeigler

During the middle 1880's, shortly after the discovery of silver-lead ores in the Coeur d'Alene district of northern Idaho, it became apparent that concentration of the ores would be necessary to obtain a profitable product. Too much siliceous material was present for direct smelting, and the majority of the ores found at depth were too low in metallic content for economic smelting processes at the time. As the ores occurred in quartzite shear zones with siderite and quartz gangue, a large quantity of waste material was present in all the mines. As the galena was not finely disseminated, this made possible relatively good extraction of the argentiferous galena by coarse concentration. The first concentrators consisted mainly of coarse crushing, screening and jigging, principally by Harz jigs, the slimes being treated on buddles. Later Wilfley tables took the place of sand jigs and vanners superseded the buddles. Because of the marketing conditions, no attempt was made until 1900 to effect a recovery on the zinc minerals present, which were found associated in varying amounts with the galena. All through this period, the greater part of the production was obtained from mines containing ore assaying high in lead and low in zinc. Parts of some ore bodies would be reversed in this respect, so that ores high in zinc were left intact. During the decade after 1910, several important mines, The Success and The Interstate Callahan, containing ores high in zinc, were put into operation and were a material aid in the needed zinc production during World War I. Gravity concentration by jigs and tables was used during this period, with bulk flotation increasing in popularity for the treatment of the fine material that had already been treated by ordinary slime concentrating machinery. No extra fine grinding for flotation concentration was thought profitable at the time. Tailings Discharged into Streams From the start of mining and milling operations in this district until 1904, no attempt was made by the various mills in the upper district to impound or stack their tailings. They discharged them directly into the adjacent creeks or streams, to be carried away by high water. The Bunker Hill and Sullivan and the Last Chance mines, both in the relatively flat valley of the district, stacked huge piles of the coarse jig tailings on the near-by river bottom. Rain and snowfall are heavy in the Coeur d'Alene district, as it is on the heavily timbered Pacific slope of the Bitter Root Mountains. A heavy runoff occurs every spring and there is an occasional flood of disastrous proportions when warm "Chinook" winds accompanied by rain

Jan 1, 1949

By E. A. Anderson

In 1918 the American Society for Testing Materials held a symposium2 on what was then known as season cracking. The sessions included six papers, all on brass. During the ensuing 26 yr., many new workers have come into the field and several other metals have been found subject to failure by stress-corrosion cracking when the right combination of stress and environment is achieved. It is not surprising, therefore, that the present symposium has brought forth 29 papers covering alloys of seven important metals. The phenomenon of stress-corrosion cracking is not necessarily confined to these seven metals. Dix3 has stated, "Indeed, it is probable that ingenious investigators can find solutions which will stress-corrosion crack any known metal or alloy." Mears, Brown, and Dix4 have indicated that stress- corrosion cracking failures are not necessarily limited to metals but may include the plastics. It is to be expected that the increase in the number of metals known to crack in service and the general emphasis on such failures at a symposium such as this will alarm many to whom the subject is un- familiar. Such alarm is not justified by the record. It is true that stress-corrosion

Jan 1, 1945

Jan 1, 1910

By C. M. Brinckerhoff

Safety work in mining at the Andes Copper Mining Company, Potrerillos, Chile, is divided into three parts: (1) accident prevention, (2) fire prevention and protection, and (3) silicosis prevention and control. In the company's operations a steady campaign has been waged to reduce accidents and silicosis, and to prevent fires. In the following pages the safety record for the past twelve years will be examined and the methods explained by which the accident rate was reduced. Table 1 contains yearly data pertaining to the scale of the mining operations and the accident record. Block caving is used for all ore production and the tonnage mined has averaged 30,000 short tons per day for the past seven years. Table 2 classifies 44 fatal accidents which have occurred since 1935. The leading causes of accidental death are transportation of ore and use of explosives, followed in order by persons falling, falls of ground, and by asphyxiation. In the case of serious accidents, however, the greatest cause is falls of ground, followed, in turn, by ore transportation, persons falling, explosives, and asphyxiation. Accident Prevention The improvement of the safety record was obtained by a combination of many factors. In surveying the results at Andes for the past twelve years, it is possible to select some features of the present operation which have contributed to the accident record. The most important of these are: (1) good staff planning, (2) good equipment, (3) an alert safety organization, and (4) education and selection of the workmen. GOOD STAFF PLANNING As a result of good staff planning, the mine has good working conditions, namely, good ventilation, moderate temperatures and humidity, and good lighting. These factors not only reduce accidents but also improve efficiency. In haulage work, accidents have been reduced by having traffic move in a forward direction only. The latter makes possible a one-man train crew. Trains are centrally dispatched from loading drifts which are interconnected by signal lights, so that when a train in a lateral drift is given permission to move into a main line drift, a red light signals in all other lateral drifts in that area. Good track is maintained, and safety niches are required at all switch throws. Since safety niches were provided there have been no fatal or serious accidents at such points. All main line haulage drifts are illuminated by electric lights. Haulage drifts are kept clean. Adequate clearance has been provided between cars and between cars and the sides of the haulage drifts. The 4 1/2 ton Cranby type cars are equipped with roller bearings, and the 10 ton loconlotives with trolley shoes instead of wheels. These two features are responsible for improved ore haulage conditions and contribute to greater efficiency and safety.

Jan 1, 1950

By Henry Mackay

THE interesting paper recently submitted by Messrs. Tobelmann and Potter' shows that chemical problems have developed which are of great interest in this new and important branch of metallurgy. Those who realize what a process of this kind really involves will agree that it deserves a better name than "leaching process." The word leaching conveys the idea that the copper is simply leached out of the ore with acid and then precipitated on iron; the chemistry of such a process would be of little interest. As, however, during the first year's operation of this plant 24,400,532 lb. (11,067,837 kg.) or about two-thirds of the produce, was electrolytic copper, while 7,992,033 lb., or about one-third, was cement copper, it would seem more appropriate to term the process electrochemical. It further appears, from the particulars given, that efforts have been made to have the entire production in the form of electrolytic copper. -This could be done if the chemistry of the problem were kept in balance, so that it would not be necessary to discard any solutions that carried copper and acid of commercial value. A process, such as that under consideration, in which the copper is precipitated from solution by electrolysis, the solvent being at the same time regenerated, is one that requires special chemical and electrochemical knowledge and experience if all the -copper in solution that has been extracted from the ore is to be successfully and economically produced as electrolytic copper. The object of this paper is to discuss, from the practical and theoretical standpoints, the chemical and electrochemical problems involved in the working of a process of this kind, and' which must be solved to keep it in chemical and electrochemical equilibrium. In such a process, if the chemical balance is maintained, a solution can be used alternately as a

Jan 9, 1919

By B. E. Grant

There are several exceptions from the practical operating viewpoint that might be taken with the paper. The author recommends using a "curve" in plotting safety factors of ropes and suggests that the U. S. Bureau of Mines change its present "step curve" method to the "curve" method. From an engineering theoretical point of view that is possible, but from a practical standpoint it is not possible. Rope manufacturers fabricate their ropes in diameter gradients of 1/16 in. to 1/4 in. which automatically sets up a step pattern gradient. If ropes were manufactured in the diameter gradients of 1/1000 of an inch or thereabouts, the curve method could be used. Also, from a practical standpoint, if an operator is to hoist from a depth of 4000 ft, for example, he will determine the size of the rope necessary for that depth, and it is only natural that he will have safety factor to spare at lesser depths, and in plotting this excess capacity the natural end result is a curve. The U. S. Bureau of Mines tables are set up so that the operator will know what size rope at the required safety factor he will need at his maximum depth. He is not concerned with lesser depths. W. A. Boyer (author's reply)-Mr. Grant states, "Rope manufacturers fabricate their ropes in diameter gradients of 1/16" to 1/4" which automatically sets up a step pattern gradient." There is no connection or relationship between the "size" pattern gradient and the present "factor of safety" step pattern gradient. The inherent factor of safety values for any particular size of rope with a given connected load when plotted for various depths is a curve, and with modern rope material and construction the inherent factor of safety curve is quite far removed from the present recommended factor of safety step curve. This is shown quite clearly in Figs. 3 and 4 of my paper.

Jan 11, 1954

By I. R. Taylor

Union Carbide has recently developed two open- pit vanadium mines in the Wilson Srpings area of central Arkansas about five miles southeast of Hot Springs. The ores from these mines, together with those from a larger vanadium deposit at nearby Magnet Cove, are processed at a new 1600- tpd plant built by the company in the immediate vicinity (Fig. 1). The Wilson Springs vanadium deposits are associated with the Potash Sulfur Springs intrusive, a circular igneous complex which is exposed over an area that is somewhat less than a mile in diameter.1 The complex has a crude ring structure similar to that of the larger Magnet Cove instrusive six miles to the east.2

Jan 4, 1969

By E. H. Dix, F. Keller

The use of magnesium as an alloying element in aluminum alloys has been limited, in general, to comparatively small quantities. In duralumin-type, strong aluminum alloys, magnesium is present to the extent of 35 to 3/4 per cent. and various grades of Magnalite and the "Y" alloy of the National Physical Laboratory of England contain up to 1 1/2 per cent. In this country small quantities of aluminum alloy sheet containing 4 per cent. magnesium are produced commercially. All commercial aluminum contains sufficient silicon to convert a portion of the magnesium added to the compound Mg2Si. It is well known that the solubility of both magnesium and magnesium-silicide decrease with decrease in temperature. It is, therefore, impossible to separate the age-hardening effect of the magnesium-silicide from that of magnesium, except by the use of aluminum of such high purity that the silicon content is negligible. The present paper is the fifth l, 2, 3, 4 of a series from the laboratories of the Aluminum Co. of America reporting the results of investigations of the equilibrium relations in aluminum-rich alloys made from the high-purity aluminum manufactured by this company. 5 Previous Investigations A number of investigations have been made of the constitution of the complete aluminum-magnesium system and several determinations made

Jan 1, 1929

By F. Keller, E. H. Dix

The use of magnesium as an alloying element in aluminum alloys has been limited, in general, to comparatively small quantities. In duralumin-type, strong aluminum alloys, magnesium is present to the extent of 35 to 3/4 per cent. and various grades of Magnalite and the "Y" alloy of the National Physical Laboratory of England contain up to 1 1/2 per cent. In this country small quantities of aluminum alloy sheet containing 4 per cent. magnesium are produced commercially. All commercial aluminum contains sufficient silicon to convert a portion of the magnesium added to the compound Mg2Si. It is well known that the solubility of both magnesium and magnesium-silicide decrease with decrease in temperature. It is, therefore, impossible to separate the age-hardening effect of the magnesium-silicide from that of magnesium, except by the use of aluminum of such high purity that the silicon content is negligible. The present paper is the fifth l, 2, 3, 4 of a series from the laboratories of the Aluminum Co. of America reporting the results of investigations of the equilibrium relations in aluminum-rich alloys made from the high-purity aluminum manufactured by this company. 5 Previous Investigations A number of investigations have been made of the constitution of the complete aluminum-magnesium system and several determinations made

Jan 1, 1929

By H. R. Gardner

The heat treatmmt of plutonium was studied using the Jominy end-quenching technique commonly used for determining the hardenability of steel. Plutonium specimens were end-guenched from temperatures in each of the ß, y, d, d') and E phases. One series of specimens with a low-iron content, 165 pprn Fe, and another gvoup with a high-iron content, 678 pprn Fe, were used in order to study the effect of a Pu-Pu,Fe eutectic network on the hardness and micro-structure. Hardness traverses indicated no significant variations in hardness with either cooling rate or quench temperature. Metallographic studies indicated major effects on microstructure. Grain size was found to vary markedly with quenching temperature and cooling rate. It was determined that the Pu-PueFe eutectic network could be modified extensively by heat treatment, including spheroi -dization in the y phase and 6 phase below 413°C. An unidentified spheroidal inclusion was observed to go into solution in the delta and higher temperature phases. 1 HE element plutonium is unique among metals in that it has six allotropic forms in the solid state.' These have been designated' as the a, ß, y, d, d', and phases. The respective phase transformations occur at approximate temperatures of 122", 210°, 319°, 450°, and 480°C with a melting point at 640°C. With this number of phase transformations it becomes pertinent to consider the effect of heat treatment and cooling rate in the various phases on the microstructure and hardness of plutonium. To determine; the effect of a wide range of cooling rates, the Jominy end-quenching technique was applied to cylindrical plutonium specimens. In addition, since the presence of iron in amounts greater than 500 pprn is common in plutonium and results in a network of the Pu-Pu6Fe eutectic, it was decided to study heat treatment effects on two bomb reduced plutonium buttons with different iron contents. A low iron button containing 165 ppm Fe and a high iron button containing 678 ppm Fe were selected for this comparison. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Experimental Material. The cylindrical bars for Jominy quenching were cast from button stock in vacuo in MgO coated graphite molds. Metal pouring temperature was approximately 950°C and the molds were preheated to 300°C. The castings were machined to 0.5 in. diam. by 2.5 in. long cylinders. Chemical analysis and density data for the two groups of Jominy specimens containing different iron contents are presented in Table I. Except for iron, heats 19-12-1 and 20-2-1 are comparable within the limits of analytical accuracy. Representative specimens from the low-iron and high-iron bars were taken for metallographic examination. The low iron specimen was found to have extensive microcracking, Fig. 1. In addition, numerous unidentified spheroidal inclusions were present, Fig. 17. The average grain size of the low-iron plutonium is 0.068 mm, Fig. 4. In the high-iron plutonium, a Pu-Pu6Fe eutectic network is prominent, Fig. 7. The average size of the network is 0.100 mm. Unidentified spheroidal inclusions were also common in the high-iron plutonium. The average grain size of the high-iron plutonium is 0.036 mm. Experimental Technique. A Jominy end-quenching fixture was fabricated for glove box use. A 2.5 in. water height was used with an orifice of 0.250 in. ID. The orifice to specimen distance was maintained at 0.5 in. Annealing temperatures of 160°, 265°, 400°, 465°, and 535°c were chosen for the study of the effect of quenching from ß, y, d, d', and e phases on microstructure and hardness. During quenching, cooling curves were obtained from the Jominy specimens at distances from the quenched end of 1/16, 1/8, 3/8, 3/4, 1-1/4, and 2 in. Cooling rate calculations were made from the cooling curves for temperature intervals of 100° to 110° 160" to 170°, 330" to 340°, 420° to 430°, and 490° to 500°c. These temperature intervals were chosen

Jan 1, 1962

By Stewart, J. B.

THE property at which this work was done consists of a large deposit of potash salts occurring in massive beds of rock salt, overlain by 600 ft. of salt-impregnated shales and marls. It is in the Province of Cataluiia, Spain, about 45 miles from the railway station of Mauresa and about a mile south of Suria. In addition to sinking the shaft, the program of construction work laid out by the European owners (not Spaniards) included a single-track narrow-gage railroad from Mauresa to the mine; one large office building and several large shop buildings, all of brick and concrete with steel truss roofs; two extensive benches for the future recovery plant; and a large village of stone dwellings for employees. The pay-roll showed approximately 1200 to 1500 men employed. After two years' operation, ending early in the autumn of 1920, the shaft had been sunk 325 ft. and still had an equal distance to go to reach the potash; all tunnels for the railroad were done and the road-bed $0 per cent completed; only a little more than the foundations were completed for all the large buildings, and the excavations of the benches were about 75 per cent done-while only a fair start had been made upon the employees' village. This was the state of affairs when the European owners decided to offer this property under a one-year option to an American syndicate, providing that they agreed to carry on the entire building program and to sink the shaft as fast as was consistent with the quality of work which they demanded, for they wished the shaft to endure at least 200 years.

Jan 1, 1926

By L. O. Howard

THERE are three active mines in the Chewelah-Colville district, the United Silver Copper near Chewelah, and the Old Dominion and the Chloride Queen near Colville. The Admiral near Valley is also doing development work. The Chewelah district is in the south central part of Stevens County in the Colville Valley. Chewelah, a thriving town of 1600 people, and the scene of operations of the Northwest Magnesite Co., is about the center of the district. It is situated in a farming community on the Spokane-Nelson branch of the Great Northern railway, about 65 miles north of Spokane. Only two or three of the mines in the district have been extensively developed, although many have been prospected. The general elevation of the valley, is about 1600 or 1700 ft., that of the mountain ranges on each side about 3000 to 4000 ft., with gentle slopes and rounded glaciated tops. Prospecting is often difficult because of much glacial debris.

Jan 1, 1925