Basic Information in the Granitic Rocks of the Boulder Batholith

Dark fine grained basic masses of rock are found in nearly every part of the Boulder Batholith, these commonly being referred to as inclusions, segregations, autoliths, and various other names. The origin, distribution, and composition of the dark inclusions form the basis for this report.

The Electrowinning of Manganese from Rhodochrosite

Manganese is commonly known to be a metal of great strategic importance. It is essential in the production of all steels, first as a scavenger to remove oxygen and sulfur, and second as an alloying element in wear-resis­tant steels.

Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Eagle Formation in Montana and Adjacent Areas

A conspicuous two hundred and fifty foot sandstone of central Montana, known as the Eagle Formation, constitutes part of the some five thousand feet of Cretaceous sediments in the state. It stands out in steep cliffs which stretch for many miles in the outcrop area from Wyoming to Canada.

A Study of a Carbonaceous Gold Ore

The presence of graphite in the ore of the Missouri-McKee Mine has made its treatment by the methods now used quite unsatisfactory. The study was undertaken to de­velop a new flow sheet which would give a high recovery and yet be economical enough to handle low grade material.

The Beneficiation of Montana Silver Star Chromite Ore

It is known that there are large deposits of chromium ore in Stillwater and Carbon Counties in South-Central Montana. The late James F. Kemp of Columbia University, stated in 1928, that these were the largest chromium deposits in the United States and probably in the world, although they were not considered of commercial grade as compared with foreign ores.

The Anodic Oxidation of Vanadium in Phosphoric Acid Solution

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze the possibility of recovering the vanadium in the phosphoric acid by anodic oxidation in an electrolytic cell. This problem allowed not only the possibility of improving a commercial operation, but a study of the functioning of an interesting and very important phenomena.

Helena and Ennis Talc Deposits

The purpose of this report is to collect geologic data concerning two Montana talc occurrences at Helena and Ennis and to offer some explanation as to their origin. The two deposits cited are in somewhat similar lithologic settings and both possess the same mineralogical and structural features. Because of this similarity only the Helena deposit is covered in detail.

Stratigraphic Studies of the Ordovician and Devonian Formations Throughout the Northwest Plains Area

As yet the knowledge of Ordovician and Devonian physiography in this vast northwest region remains almost a complete secret. Very little, in any, work has been done along this line with the exception of those areas where the various formations outcrop.

Report of Investigation on the Physical Characteristics of the Oil Sands from the Cut Bank Field, Montana

The purpose of this research was to study the physical characteristics, mainly, porosity and permeability of the oil sands from the Cut Bank field, Glacier County, Montana. In so doing, a better understanding of the relation­ship of these physical characteristics to one another and to the pool itself could be obtained.

IN-SITU TEM PLASMA CHIP NANOFABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

A silicon-based microcell was fabricated with the potential for use in in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of materials under plasma processing. The microcell consisted of 50 nm-thick film of silicon nitride observation window with 60μm distance between two electrodes. E-beam scattering Mont Carlo simulation showed that the silicon nitride thin film would have very low scattering effect on TEM primary electron beam accelerated at 200 keV. Only 4.7% of primary electrons were scattered by silicon nitride thin film and the Ar gas (60 μm thick at 1 atm pressure) filling the space between silicon nitride films. Theoretical calculation also showed low absorption of high-energy e-beam electrons. Because the plasma cell needs to survive the high vacuum TEM chamber while holding 1 atm internal pressure, a finite element analysis was performed to find the maximum stress the low-stress silicon nitride thin film experienced under pressure. Considering the maximum burst stress of low-stress silicon nitride thin film, the simulation results showed that the 50 nm silicon nitride thin film can be used in TEM under 1 atm pressure as the observation window. Ex-situ plasma generation experiment demonstrated that air plasma can be ignited at DC voltage of 570. A Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that etching and deposition occurred during the plasma process and larger dendrites formed on the positive electrode.

Characterization of a Coal Fly Ash-Cement Slurry by the Absolute Foam Index

This dissertation established a standard foam index: the absolute foam index test. This test characterized a wide range of coal fly ash by the absolute volume of air-entraining admixture (AEA) necessary to produce a 15-second metastable foam in a coal fly ash-cement slurry in a specified time. The absolute foam index test was used to characterize fly ash samples having loss on ignition (LOI) values that ranged from 0.17 to 23.3 %wt. The absolute foam index characterized the fly ash samples by absolute volume of AEA, defined as the amount of undiluted AEA solution added to obtain a 15-minute endpoint signified by 15-second metastable foam. Results were compared from several foam index test time trials that used different initial test concentrations to reach termination at selected times. Based on the coefficient of variation (CV), a 15-minute endpoint, with limits of 12 to 18 minutes was chosen. Various initial test concentrations were used to accomplish consistent contact times and concentration gradients for the 15-minute test endpoint for the fly ash samples. A set of four standard concentrations for the absolute foam index test were defined by regression analyses and a procedure simplifying the test process. The set of standard concentrations for the absolute foam index test was determined by analyzing experimental results of 80 tests on coal fly ashes with loss on ignition (LOI) values ranging from 0.39 to 23.3 wt.%. A regression analysis informed selection of four concentrations (2, 6, 10, and 15 vol.% AEA) that are expected to accommodate fly ashes with 0.39 to 23.3 wt.% LOI, depending on the AEA type. Higher concentrations should be used for high-LOI fly ash when necessary. A procedure developed using these standard concentrations is expected to require only 1-3 trials to meet specified endpoint criteria for most fly ashes. The AEA solution concentration that achieved the metastable foam in the foam index test was compared to the AEA equilibrium concentration obtained from the direct adsorption isotherm test with the same fly ash. The results showed that the AEA concentration that satisfied the absolute foam index test was much less than the equilibrium concentration. This indicated that the absolute foam index test was not at or near equilibrium. Rather, it was a dynamic test where the time of the test played an important role in the results. Even though the absolute foam index was not an equilibrium condition, a correlation was made between the absolute foam index and adsorption isotherms. Equilibrium isotherm equations obtained from direct isotherm tests were used to calculate the equilibrium concentrations and capacities of fly ash from 0.17 to 10.5% LOI. The results showed that the calculated fly ash capacity was much less than capacities obtained from isotherm tests that were conducted with higher initial concentrations. This indicated that the absolute foam index was not equilibrium. Rather, the test is dynamic where the time of the test played an important role in the results. Even though the absolute foam index was not an equilibrium condition, a correlation was made between the absolute foam index and adsorption isotherms for fly ash of 0.17 to 10.5% LOI. Several batches of mortars were mixed for the same fly ash type increasing only the AEA concentration (dosage) in each subsequent batch. Mortar air test results for each batch showed for each increase in AEA concentration, air contents increased until a point where the next increase in AEA concentration resulted in no increase in air content. This was maximum air content that could be achieved by the particular mortar system; the system reached its air capacity at the saturation limit. This concentration of AEA was compared to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for the AEA and the absolute foam index.

Mineral Occurences in Certain Pegmatite Dikes in Southwestern Montana

Pegmatite dikes are rather common in occurrence in parts of southwestern Montana, particularly in a region to the east of the Tobacco Root range 50 to 75 miles southeast of Butte.

An Experimental Investigation of the Age Hardening of Nickel with Boron

Since 1911, at which time, the age hardening phenomenon of duralumin was discovered by Film, much re­search has been carried on investigating the various alloy systems. The successful application of age hardening to the copper aluminum system (duralumin) has indicated the possibility of hardening practically all the metals in the same way.

The Velocity of Falling Particles in a Liquid Medium

The investigation was prompted by the fact that there seemed to be some discrepancy between the results published by Richards,and the empirical figures used in classification and in gravity concentration. Further, the work of Richards was restricted to quartz and galena whereas this study also includes pyrite and calcite.