Changing Technology in Extractive Metallurgy

This book is a supplement to the author’s book A History of Metallurgy which he edited in 1994. In the present work he records the changes in the metallurgical unit operations that took place over the centuries. Any metallurgist who does not grasp the historical background of his profession, its relation to the chemical industry, and its connection to today’s technology is missing a great deal in his or her education. The book is in 800 pages, illustrated by 500 Figures many of them in color, contains over 165 biographical notes of the scientists and engineers who contributed to this endeavour, and selected references in each chapter for further reading. ISBN 2-922686-02-7. Published March 2006. Price $95 + postage.

Table of Contents

Part I — Introduction

1. History and the Metallurgist
2. The Industrial Revolution
3. Changing TechnologyPart

Part II — The Pioneers

4. Biringuccio (1480–1539)
5. Agricola (1494–1555)
6. Ercker (1530–1594)
7. Barba (1569–1762)
8. Réaumur (1683–1757)
9. Gellert (1713–1795)

Part III — Mineral Beneficiation

10. Historical Outline
11. Biographical Notes

Part IV — Pyrometallurgy

12. Historical Outline
13. The Blast Furnace
14. The Age of Steel
15. The Science of Steel
16. Retorts and Distillation
17. Chlorination and Fluorination
18. Metallothermic Reactions
19. Sintering and Alkali Fusion
20. The Electric Furnace
21. Flash Smelting
22. The Rotary Kiln
23. Refining by Chemical Transport Reactions

Part V — Hydrometallurgy

24. Historical Outline
25. Pressure Hydrometallurgy
26. Cyanidation
27. Alumina Production
28. Processing of Copper Sulfide Concentrates
29. Bacterial Leaching
30. Treatment of Leach Solution
31. Cementation of Copper. The End of an Era

Part VI — Electrometallurgy

32. Historical Outline
33. Biographical Notes

Name Index
Subject Index