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By K. E. Brown, F. W. Jessen

By utilizing an 8,000-ft experimental field well equipped with 10 gas-lift valves and 10 Maihak pressure recorders, gas-lift tests were conducted with port sizes ranging from 5/16 through I in. The well was equipped to provide accurate means of measuring surface pressures, temperatures, quantity of injection gas and fluid production. The tests were conducted in 2%-in. OD tubing, and the well was making 95 per cent water. A complete evaluation of gas-lift-valve port sizes shows the relationship of per cent recovery, gas-liquid ratios, minimum pressure created at the operating valve and horsepower requirements for each port. The length of time necessary for the fluid in the tubing to reach equilib.rium conditions after each cycle was recorded. Fallback of fluid at depths of 477, 969, 1,685, 2,493 and 4,290 ft was noted. For each port size, pressure loads of 2.50, 300, 350, 400 and 450 psi were lifted with a valve operating at approximately 550 psi at 6,000 ft. Gas-liquid ratios for each load were varied from excess gas to a gas volume per cycle whereby the load failed to reach the surface. Numerous curves are presented in evaluating the accumulated dara. The results show a 1-in. port to be the most efficient under all conditions. The production of intermittent liquid slugs against different-sized surface chokes was evaluated. These tests were conducted from a 7/16-in. ported valve at 4,072 ft. Tests indicate that, when possible, a %-in. in diameter choke or larger should be used at the surface. In the past few years most of the advancement in gas-lift operations has been made in continuous-flow operations. Yet, it is estimated that at least 70 per cent of the wells on gas lift in the United States are of the intermittent type. Since the term "slug flow" is sometimes used in both intermittent- and continuous-flow operations, it would be well to distinguish between the two types of flow. Continuous-flow gas lift is defined as a method whereby the fluids are produced at a continuous rate at the surface. This generally requires a continuous injection of gas through a surface choke; however, various other control devices sometimes are installed to eliminate freezing, to shut-off gas during natural flow periods, etc. The actual flow of fluids in the tubing may be of the slug type (one of many flow patterns known to exist in continuous flow). Intermittent flow is defined as a method of gas lift whereby the liquid is produced in separate piston-type slugs. Perhaps this type of flow could best be thought of as a ballistic-type flow where the liquid leaves bottom as a piston, propelled by a slug of expanding gas. Gas generally is injected through some type of control at the surface at predetermined intervals. However, the valve may have characteristics whereby gas can be injected through a small choke and still result in a ballistic-type flow. The purpose of the experimental work was to evaluate the most efficient port size to be used on the operating valve for the ballistic type of lift and, in addition, to establish the importance of utilizing a surface choke large enough to allow slugs to be produced without detrimental effects. This work is part of a compre- hensive study of both intermittent-and continuous-flow gas lift, representing a joint project conducted by the Ohio Oil Co., the Sun Oil Co., Otis Engineering Corp, and The U. of Texas. The problem of evaluating port sizes has been given little previous attention. Some work undoubtedly has been done which has not been published to date. Some tests were conducted when the wireline, mechanically-opened valve (Nixon) first came on the market. This valve was capable of utilizing full tubing area as its port size. It is known that this was a very efficient valve, but to the authors' knowledge the results of tests have never been published. EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT These tests were conducted on an actual field well, the Ohio-Sun Unit Well No. 2-E, in the North Markham-North Bay City field, Matagorda County, Tex. The well incorporated 23/8-in. OD tubing and produced 95 per cent water. Since the running of equipment was to be quite elaborate and expensive, a well was selected in which both intermittent- and continuous-flow tests could be conducted. This particular well was capable of producing in excess of 1,000 B/D of liquid (95 per cent salt water), yet with a 3/64-in. in diameter bottom-hole choke, production was controlled to 82 B/D. Most of the intermittent tests were conducted at this low rate. Figs. 1 and 2 show all the surface and down-hole equipment. As can be seen, every attempt was made to insure that ample equipment was available for reliable testing procedures. Fig. 1 shows the surface testing equipment. The input gas was controlled first by a regulator, then

By B. P. Bellport

When tunneling crews set world records in rates of advance by boring up to 403 ft in a single day and 6851 ft in a month, then the age of rapid under- ground excavation is near at hand with its attendant economies. Boring machines excavate tunnels with uniform diameters and smooth walls and only about 5% overbreak compared to 20% overbreak experienced by conventional drill-blast methods. This advantage minimizes the concrete required for lining and because a circular section is more nearly self-supporting there is less of a need for supports before the concrete is placed. In addition, laser beam guidance improves the accuracy of excavation with boring machines. In the first successful application of laser guidance for boring machines in the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, the final excavation was within 5/8 in. of the established line and grade over a 10.079- ft advance.

Jan 1, 1971

By A. Lubinski, W. D. Greenfield

Bumper subs are currently used in offshore operations to permit a constant weight to be carried on the bit while drilling, regardless of the vertical motion imparted to the drill pipe by drilling vessel heave. As shown in this paper. the vertical motion of the lower end of the drill pipe (the bumper sub end) may be appreciably greater than the vessel heave. Therefore, the necessary stroke of bumper .rubs for successful operation is greater than thought in fie past. Also, there is an appreciable tendency of the drill pipe to buckle above the unbalanced type of bumper sub. Thus, more drill collars than previously used should be carried above unbalanced bumper subs to keep drill pipe straight. INTRODUCTION Drilling bumper subs are placed in the drilling string for various reasons. This paper is concerned with their use only as an expansion and contraction joint while drilling from a floating rig. In this application the bumper subs are normally located just above the drill collars and their function is to allow the driller to maintain accurate weight control on the bit regardless of up-and-down movement of the drilling vessel. This paper analyzes the effects of bumper subs on the drilling string and presents recommendations for their future use. When subjected to vertical oscillations, the drilling string behaves like a long, distributed system of mass and spring. The magnitude of vertical motion at the bumper sub is always greater than the heave of the drilling vessel due to the dynamic reponse of the drilling string. The ratio of these motions increases with the length of the drilling string, and may reach values of 1.5 or even 2 with strings 16,000 ft long. Thus, the total travel required in bumper subs can be considerably more than the motion of the drilling vessel. Lack of knowledge of this fact could have contributed to problems previously experienced with bumper subs. This fact can also lead to fatigue problems in the drilling string for very deep wells. Satisfactory operation should be obtainable whether hy-draulically balanced or unbalanced bumper subs are used in the drilling string. Theoretically, the balanced sub is preferable since its use does not require placing drill collars above the bumper sub to prevent drill-pipe buckling, an inherent characteristic of the unbalanced bumper sub. The current method of calculating weight of drill collars required to prevent helical buckling of drill pipe above unbalanced bumper subs is erroneous. Placing drill collars above the sub to prevent drill-pipe buckling has the same effect on dynamic response as increasing the length of the drilling string by an equal weight of drill pipe. Thus, total travel required in the subs is increased. Means for calculating the correct weight, which is much greater than previously thought, are given in this paper. BALANCED VS UNBALANCED BUMPER SUBS A drilling bumper sub is essentially a telescopic joint capable of transmitting torque at every position of its stroke. Thus, it allows the operator to isolate the weight of the drilling string from the weight of the drill collars above the bit. This permits the driller on a floating rig to maintain accurate control over the weight on bit — a control that is unaffected by vertical motion, due to wave and tide action of the drilling vessel. UNBALANCED BUMPER SUBS The unbalanced bumper sub is simply a splined tele~copic joint (Fig. I). Ordinarily, this arrangement will operate satisfactorily, but the presence of drilling fluid under pressure results in a pressure force that acts downward on the drill collars and bit, tending to open or extend the bumper sub. This downward force is equal to the pressure drop across the bit times the area indicated by diameter d2 in Fig. 1. Denoting this force by Fd, and the pressure drop across the bit by ?p yields Fb = (p/4)d22(?P) .........(1) There is also an upward-directed force given by Fu = (p/4) d22-d21)(?p) .......(2) which puts the drill pipe immediately above the bumper sub in compression, resulting in helical buckling. However, buckling is actually more severe than expected in that buckling occurs as if the compression were equal to Fd, rather than to Fu. This surprising phenomenon is well known as far as tubing is concerned;1-3 but, in contrast with the case of tubing, this force may shorten drill pipe only a few inches. Thus, this cannot explain the operating difficulties that sometimes have been encountered. However, having the drill pipe in compression and helically buckled is contrary to current practice; therefore, drill collars whose weight in mud is equal to the force Fd should be added above the bumper sub. Since the value of Fd depends on the pressure drop across the bit, the

By R. F. Evans, J. M. Avert

Much has been written of the glamour of magnesium from sea water, the Aladdin-like creation of a huge magnesium plant in the Nevada desert using cheap hydroelectric power from Boulder Dam; the marvels of the Hansgirg process for the electrothermal reduction of magnesium oxide by carbon, and the ferrosilicon process for producing magnesium from dolomite. This is the story of the production of magnesium by the electrolytic process, using steam-electric power supplied by a public utility, in a plant at Painesville, Ohio, 30 miles east of Cleveland on the shore of Lake Erie. The story is not without interest, since it involves several unique developments that provide the answer to a question frequently asked: How is it possible to produce magnesium metal economically at such a location as Painesville, Ohio? Basically, the answer lies in making use of facilities already in existence for the production of soda ash, which makes it possible to manufacture magnesium chloride, the principal raw material, cheaply enough to offset the high cost of electric power. To this is coupled the successful conversion of by-product chlorine into a product required for the war program. The source of magnesium for this opera- tion is the enormous surface deposit of high-grade dolomite in the region south of Toledo, within reasonable freight haul of Painesville. This same geological stratum underlies the Painesville plant, but unfortunately at a depth of about 3000 ft.— apparently too great a depth to permit underground mining to compete with the delivered cost of rock from surface quarries in other areas. The cost of dolomite obviously is an important factor, since the rock contains only some 12 per cent magnesium (20 per cent MgO) so that one dollar on the cost of stone means more than $8 in terms of its magnesium content, and more than that in terms of recoverable magnesium metal. Production of Magnesia from Dolomite In the summer of 1941, the Diamond Alkali Co. was well along with construction of a plant intended for the commercial production of refractory and other grades of magnesia from dolomite. The process to be used was designed to make maximum economic advantage of existing plant and operations by tying the production of magnesia in with the manufacture of soda ash in such a way as to make use of the lime [CaO)., value of calcined dolomite. The process finally adopted after a lengthy research and development program has much in common with the old Clerc-Nihoul process, but includes certain innovations found to be necessary or advantageous. Essentially, the process is based upon the following series of reactions:

Jan 1, 1949

By Orville R. Lyons

THE continuous vacuum filter, whether it be a vertical or horizontal disk, inside or outside drum, when properly applied is a very effective device for dewatering fine solids. Because of the number of variables that affect its performance, however, it is not possible to obtain consistently maximum moisture reduction in an operating plant. This paper presents a method for determining the average cake moisture and the variations in cake moisture to be anticipated when dewatering fine solids by continuous vacuum filters under normal operating conditions. Previous investigators1,2 have found that certain factors influence filter performance, drum or disk diameter, speed of rotation, percentage of immersion, and the percentage of solids in the feed influence capacity. Blinding of the filter cloth reduces effective vacuum, produces a wetter cake, and may decrease capacity. Reduced vacuum or improper adjustment between vacuum and blowing portions of the cycle will produce a wetter cake and also may decrease capacity. Widely fluctuating feed tonnages will adversely affect cake moisture and capacity. Flocculation, when properly applied, increases capacity and reduces cake moisture. Without flocculation, the slimes are the first particles sucked to the filter medium, which becomes partially blinded in consequence. With flocculation, the flocs act as coarse particles and the filter medium is not blinded. Overflocculated pulps, although filtering well, may yield wet cakes. Average Particle Size and Cake Moisture A method for predetermining the surface moisture content of coal filter cakes was published in 1949; but this method could not be applied to coals deficient in —200 mesh material or to fine mineral concentrates. Test data obtained for geared-weight types of vibrating screens4 and for centrifuges5 used to de-water coal provided definite correlations between the average particle size of a dewatered cake and the surface moisture content of the cake. It was thought that this same method of correlation should be applicable to filters, whether dewatering fine coal or fine mineral concentrates. To develop a correlation or correlations between average size of cake and cake moisture, the author collected data for filtration operations from as many sources as possible. In a considerable number of instances the information was provided by plant preparation engineers,"-" a few of the tests were on a laboratory scale: and the remainder of the data was obtained from published articles.10-17 Table I contains size-consist and miscellaneous data for coal filter cakes, and Table II contains the same data for mineral concentrate filter cakes. Fig. 1 shows the relationships existing between the average particle size of the cake and cake moisture (surface moisture for coal and total moisture for minerals) when dewatering fine solids by a variety of makes and types of filters. Average particle size is calculated by averaging the linear openings of the various pairs of screens used in the screening test, weighted in accordance with the percentages of material in the various fractions.

Jan 1, 1952

A SELF-RESPECTING miner doesn't wash the cuttin's off his hard hat until he quits his job but, on the other hand, he keeps his lamp clean and a "spot" focus on the work at hand; the former habit is a matter of pride and the latter serves for efficient operation. During 1949, the mining engineer got all the "wet raises" for the problem of cutting costs to meet the drop of metal prices and keeping research work up to schedule when strikes tied up his work were his headaches. We note, not without admiration, that he hasn't washed the muck off his hat in token of surrender but, on the contrary, his light shines bright on the job to be done as can be seen in the following pages. Few people have any conception of how much ore and rock have to be mined and how much sorting it takes to cull a pound of copper from a 1 % ore body. These people would be even more startled to picture the problems faced by the engineer in mining and extracting, profitably, .2 oz of gold from a ton of ore as is done at some of our lode mines. Strikers have sometimes kept our researchers from their pilot plants and research laboratories, but the end of the year shows progress in making ore out of taconite and ferruginous sandstone, with a pilot plant in operation at Aurora, Minn., and plans for one near Birmingham. Unfortunately, it looks as though the mining engineer will have to make John Doe secure in mineral resources in spite of himself. Coal for steel, power, and to warm our homes is still economically possible, in spite of Mr. Lewis, through development of mechanized tools for mining. During the year, the use of continuous mining machines has extended, transport systems are being adopted to keep the ore flowing from the face to the tune of 40 tons per man-shift. Experiments in the gasification of coal are going forward in several places and may eventually extend our fuel reserves by the addition of coal seams now too lean for mining. Liquid fuel from coal, oil shale, or natural gas will become economic when oil consumption exceeds our supply; but, at less than 30 cents a ton direct cost for mining oil shale, the engineer is almost making it competitive under present market conditions. In this age of specialists, the mining engineer is still holding his own as a broad-gauge man. As a matter of fact, he is emerging from a stage of semispecialization as a coal, nonmetallics, or metal mining man to the realization that, with mechanization, mining is fundamentally materials handling whether it is fluorspar, coal, or copper ore. From the coal business come rubber-tired mechanical loaders to the iron mines of Birmingham. Shuttle cars are also finding application in the lead mines of the Tri-State. Open-pit methods are universal. Belt conveyors, trucks, Diesels, and mobile, jumbomounted drills are finding application in all types of mining. In preparation, such methods as flotation,- heavy density, electrical, and centrifugal are finding application in coal, nonmetallics, and metals. These concepts have been recognized by the mining engineer who has kept himself informed and has been quick to seize a method, machine, or a process from another operation and, with ingenuity, applied it to his problems. This, our Annual Review issue, is written by mining engineers. In gathering these separate articles under one cover for publication, we think of it as a trrbute to the tireless energy and skill of these men. They get little of the publicity accorded physicists, medical men, labor leaders, or company executives, but they supply raw materials without which industry would die.

Jan 1, 1950

By Albert F. J. Bordeaux

(Cleveland Meeting, October, 1912.) THE immediate vicinity of the sea-shore, affording special facility for the exportation of ores, makes it possible to work certain mines in the Vladivostok district, which, in more remote places of Siberia, would remain unproductive. Outside of the city of Vladivostok the population is small and the country is very little prospected. Additional discoveries of valuable deposits like the large body of calamine which has recently been opened in the neighborhood of earlier worked lead-silver ores, in the Tetiuhe valley, are still in the field of possibilities. For many years gold alone was produced, in part from the coastal rivers and in part from a quartz-vein on Askold island near Vladivostok. But the production is diminishing, and prospectors are looking for other rivers in the interior, such as the tributaries of the Ussuri. These rivers are now more accessible than formerly, due to the slow but gradual development, of colonization by the Russian peasants. The few natives of the country, called Orodjones, are of the Chinese race. They resemble the North American Indian and are hardy fur-hunters. They have given some attention to placers and have already shown good specimens of gold-dust from the rivers Iman, Bikin, Noto, etc. Coal-mining was begun in the Vladivostok region more than 20 years ago, but in a somewhat irregular way. The industry is not as yet important and the best coal-seams are badly prospected, or ire even neglected. Copper, lead, and iron exist in several places. The amounts give some encouragement to the anticipation that the discoveries will give rise to important metallurgical works. I here present a review of the various deposits, based upon such safe information as is in hand, when I have not drawn upon my personal observations. Fig. 1 is a snap of Eastern Siberia, showing the mineral deposits.

Oct 1, 1912

By Henry M. Howe

This paper may be regarded as a report of progress of an investigation into the influence of prior exposure to different high temperatures, under different conditions, on the properties of steel after it has been cooled completely. The following are the chief divisions: II.—Experiments on toughening manganese-steel by sudden cooling. III.—A study of the critical points of common or carbon-steel, chiefly by examining the spontaneous retardations which occur in heating and cooling it, and by examining the ductility of pieces of steel which have been cooled suddenly from different temperatures by quenching them in water or brine. IV.—A brief note on Osmond's theory. V.—A study of the critical points by examining the ductility of pieces of steel which have been cooled slowly from different temperatures at, above, and below them. VI.—A description of the furnace used, with notes on thermoelectric pyrometry. It remains to throw further light on the questions studied by ascertaining the condition of the carbon and the hardness proper, and by studying the microstructure and the fracture of the many pieces treated. I hope to present later the results of experiments in some of these directions. With few exceptions, the experiments have been performed in my private laboratory. I tender sincere thanks to my assistant, Mr. William Haskins, S.B., on whom most of the labor has fallen, for his zealous and intelligent co-operation; to the Sterling Steel Co. for their extra hard steel, Series 17; and to Mr. Joseph Hartshorne and the Pottstown Iron Co. for their soft basic steel. Series 8, 9,10, and 18 were supplied by Messrs. Spaulding, Jennings & Co., of the West Bergen Steel Works; to them also my thanks are due. The temperature of the pieces treated has been very carefully

Jan 1, 1894

By R. H. Harrington

The definition of precipitation-hardening1 is well understood and its principles have been subjected to study for some time. However, the variation of properties with double aging, combined with strain-hardening, gives promise of new and useful phenomena. Properly to understand these distinctions, definitions of these terms are necessary. Precipitation-hardening1.—This reaction usually depends upon an alloy having such a composition that it consists only, or in major part, of but one phase, a solid solution, at a high temperature, so that, upon slow cooling, this solution breaks down into two phases, the solid solution and a compound. By heating the alloy to the temperature for maximum solution of the compound, quenching, and reheating to a suitable lower temperature for critical dispersion precipitation of the compound, useful properties of the alloy may be developed to a maximum. Double Aging.—Dougle aging in part is similar to the process for precipitation-hardening, consisting of heating a precipitation-hardening alloy to the solution temperature, quenching, reheating to the suitable dispersion precipitation temperature, strain-hardening, and again reheating to a suitable temperature to develop certain useful properties to a maximum. The strain-hardening may be induced by two methods: (I) a rate of cooling from the first reheat may suffice to strain the solid solution lattice of the alloy; or (2) the alloy may be cold-worked to a suitable degree between the two reheats. Pkecipitation-hardening of Copper-cobalt-beryllium Alloys1.2 The composition of principal interest is that of 2.6 per cent Co, 0.4 per cent Be, 97 per cent Cu. The alloy has been developed commercially and, with certain reasonable precautions, ordinary brass-foundry practice suffices to produce an alloy of high quality. Preliminary Precipitation-hardening Study.—Samples were cut from a I-in. round rod cast in a graphite mold. These samples were then

Jan 1, 1937

By T. Lane Carter

It is a curious fact that while in our Transactions there are papers dealing with mining-districts in all parts of the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, there is not one which describes the mining possibilities of Nicaragua, our near neighbor. To be most interested in distant objects, like the moon, and to neglect what lies at our feet, appears to be a trait of human nature. The neglect of Nicaragua is not confined to the American Institute of Mining Engineers. In no other transactions am I able to find papers dealing with mining in Nicaragua, some parts of which are as much in need of discovery and research as the North Pole. I hope this paper will be the precursor of many others to be printed in our Transaclions, dealing not only with the miniilg possibilities of Nicaragua, but with the whole of Central America, where there are vast areas a,waiting skill and capital for their development. Much of this capital and skill should come from the United States in the future, although it is probable that European capitalists, when they appreciate fully the possibilities, will investigate more and more the mining-resources of Nicaragua and ot'her Central American republics. Fig. 1 is a sketch-map of Nicaragua showing the principal mining-districts. 11. History. Mining in Nicaragua did not begin yesterday. It was commenced by civilized man when the Spanish conquerors pene-' trated into the interior and forced the natives to procure the precious metal for them. It is strange that the Spaniards did not find more gold, and work on a scale as extensive as in Colombia and other parts of South America. Probably in Nicaragua the Indians covered up most of the rich prospects

Jan 1, 1911

By F. Lynwood Garrison

Except in the old Catalan forge, or its modifications, attempts to make iron and steel directly from ore in a practical and economical manner have failed so frequently and completely that such schemes are looked upon with justifiable distrust. Without exception, all have failed from one cause or another, although in some instances every indication of a practical success was manifest in the beginning. It is, therefore, necessary to carefully examine and consider every detail affecting the process, or more properly, furnace, under consideration. This I have done to the best of my ability during a long visit to Russia last summer, and after satisfactorily observing the practical success of the furnace in the iron works of Count Stroganoff at Dobriansky in the Government of Perm, I decided to investigate as completely as possible the history of similar furnaces in Finland and Russia. These data, sifted and verified with the greatest possible care, form the substance of the present paper.* An illustration on page 321 of Percy's Iron and Steel shows the old type of Osmundssmide or harkugnar, which has been in use in Northern Europe since pagan times. Fig. 1 shows a furnace of this kind. It should, perhaps, more properly be called a high-bloomary furnace or forge, the Swedish word hark meaning bloom or loupe. It was with this type of furnace that Mr. Husgafvel began his experiments at Porsaskoski in 1875. Attempts to obtain better results with larger furnaces of this type were failures, as every bloom or loupe obtained necessitated blowing out the furnace with a consequent large waste of fuel. A larger furnace of course increased this waste with no corresponding advantage. A movable hearth of threeeighth inch iron, lined with a mixture of clay, quartz and lime, was next tried, but in consequence of the frequent repairs of this lining,

Jan 1, 1888

By Harold V. Pearce

THE plant of the Boston and Colorado Smelting Company, at Argo, Colo., has not received special notice in technical or scientific publications for some time past. Dr. Peters' described the development of the reverberatory furnace used at Argo, but he dealt almost exclusively with the increase in size and the corresponding gain in capacity. Since the time of his description the changed conditions have led to a modification of the former smelting practice, and this modification forms the basis of the present paper. No claim is made for personal originality in connection with these improvements, in fact, I expressly disclaim any such intention, since nearly every successful step in the development of the process now used at Argo has been suggested by Dr. Richard Pearce at various times during the past 12 years, though perhaps in a different manner of exe¬cution. These changes would undoubtedly have been made before, were it not that many problems of greater metallurgical importance and momentarily of more urgent need thus had to be solved. At the time to which I refer, economic conditions demanded mainly an increase of capacity. Moreover, the determination and placing of exact losses in smelting were not so imperative as they now are. About three years ago, the time of my appointment to the - management of. the works of the Boston and Colorado Smelting Co., the great decline in the price of copper occurred; the Argo plant, in common with all others engaged in the copper-industry, lost heavily in the market-value of the stocks on hand of ore and furnace-products. Added to this was the unfortunate circumstance that the copper-supply of the Argo plant from general sources began to dwindle; in fact, it almost entirely ceased. About this time the smelting-plants in the west-

Mar 1, 1905

By N. H. Darton

In the coastal plain region of the middle Atlantic slope there are no large supplies of potable surface-waters. The great rivers by which the region is intersected are tidal estuaries, and the water of their local branches is often of bad quality. The cities situated at intervals along the western margin of the region obtain a plentiful supply of excellent water from the rivers above the tidal estuaries, but out on the coastal plain surface-waters are mainly used. A few artesian wells have been sunk which afford abundant water, but their number is at present very limited. Norfolk, Newport News, and the many smaller places use surface-waters, and all over the region there is great need for purer and more abundant supplies. During the past five years I have been engaged in a study of the geology of the coastal plain for the U. S. Geological Survey, and have given special attention to the question of subterranean waters. In this communication I shall present a brief review of the geological conditions under which such waters occur in this region, and give an account of the wells which have been bored. Unfortunately the number of well-records is small, and some of the most important questions of subterranean geology are as yet far from settled. It is hoped that this paper may lead to further borings, especially as the cost of artesian wells has been much reduced by the introduction of new machinery and methods, and is now quite within the reach of the average community. In New Jersey there are many wells, and the water-bearing horizons are so definitely determined that they may almost everywhere be predicted with certainty. In Maryland and Virginia the data are less definite, but there is excellent evidence of a wide distribution of water at moderate depths.

Jan 1, 1895

By Richard L. Gordon, Charles J. Johnson

Electric power demand doubles about every ten years, and because of the associated burgeoning fuel requirements, power stations absorb over half of the coal output in the United States. Throughout the 1960's, demand for coal utilized to generate electricity grew at an average annual rate of 6.5% but coal producers held back greater expansion because they expected nuclear plants to proliferate faster than they actually did. Even so, the growth rate is expected to continue at the 1960's rate until at least 1976. The continuation of the 6.5% growth rate beyond 1976, however, will require additional orders for coal-fired plants during the early 1970's. In fact, plants consuming a total of 130 million tons of coal must be ordered in the next few years. If the requisite plants materialize, total 1980 coal output for electrical power generation will be approximately 600 million tons.

Jan 1, 1971

By Walter Harvey Weed

AMONG the many causes of that perplexing feature of mine-exploitation, the unequal distribution of the ore, the influence of the country-rock upon the vein-contents has long been accepted as an important factor in certain districts, but the general application of the theory has not been proved. It is now possible to obtain trustworthy data with which to test the theory, and either to confirm or to overthrow this time-honored tradition. By the searching methods of modern petrography and chemistry, rock-determinations are now scientifically made, while the examination of thin sections of ores supplements field- and laboratory-study, and affords conclusive evidence of the paragenesis of the ore-minerals. In the great mass of data regarding mineral deposits accumulated during the past century, there are some facts which stand the test as to reliability; but the greater part are not available for use in this discussion. Within the last 20 years, however, many able workers have contributed careful and accurate accounts of various ore-deposits; and it is by the facts given in such papers, and by personal experience, that. I have become convinced that there is in some districts a true relation between the country-rock and the mineral contents of the veins. My own interest in the subject arose from the observation of a number of striking instances of the variation of vein-contents with the nature of the inclosing rock. Having already recorded certain observations of this kind, I venture to present in this paper further notes, together with a few facts from the literature of the subject, which seem to prove the correctness of my view. It is apparent that if the relation holds true, though in limited districts only, it will be of great practical in-

Jan 1, 1913

By AIME AIME

THE CHAIRMAN of the fast growing Petroleum Division is not only a graduate of the University of California, but a third generation native son. After a few years spent in hard-rock geology, his professional efforts were transferred to the sedimentaries and to petroleum investigations, as a consulting geologist. For ten years these investigations covered the Rocky Mountain, Oklahoma, Texas, and eastern districts. After the war he returned to Casper, Wyo., as chief geologist for the Consolidated Royalty Oil and Western Exploration Companies. This employment afforded him the opportunity to study particularly the economic relationship between the lessor-lessee interests in development and production, a somewhat unusual type of petroleum specialization.

Jan 1, 1939

By J. L. Jernegan

IN a former paper laid before the Institute, entitled Lead and Silver Smelting in Chicago, I endeavored to give a description of the manner in which argentiferous lead ores from the far West were treated in that city, and also described the method employed in the desilverization of the silver-lead produced from the ores. It will perhaps be remembered, that very siliceous ores, principally from the Emma mine, Utah, containing over 40 per cent. of silicic acid, were then being treated at the works of the Chicago Silver Smelting and Refining Company in the reverberatory furnace, with the use of metallic iron, in the form of borings, as a precipitating medium for the lead ; and that the extraction of the silver from the resulting bullion was effected by the Balbach process. The Swansea Works, also the works at Brighton, just outside of this city, and those of S. P. Lunt, were at that time treating ore of a similar character by the same method. The inadequacy of the process for the ores then under treatment was, in a manner, pointed out by me in the paper above referred to. Since the time of its writing, many and important improvements have been made in the metallurgical treatment of Western ores in Chicago. Most ores are now roasted previous to reduction, and the latter operation is conducted in the shaft-furnace instead of the reverberatory. Such is the fact at least at the Swansea Works, the largest in the city, and here it was where the first steps were taken in this direction. In selecting these works as the subject of this paper, I am in hopes that the description given of the various metallurgical operations, as they are there now conducted, will serve to give an idea of the improvements introduced

Jan 1, 1876

By A. T. Yu

As the first loads of Noamundi iron ore rumbled into the new 54-in. Gyratory Crusher on March 30, 1968, one of India's largest and most modern iron ore processing complexes began operations. The completion of the $13 million mining and processing complex brought to a successful conclusion the second chapter of a phased expansion program initiated in 1958 by India's gigantic Tata Iron and Steel Co. The completed complex will yield annually 2.5 million tons of washed, sized ore and sinter fines destined for Tata's furnaces at Jamshedpur. Hewitt-Robins Div. of Litton Industries was awarded the turnkey project on the basis of world- wide competitive bids. Eighty miles southwest of the city of Jamshedpur, Noamundi lies on an approximate geographic grid of 22º-5' latitude north and 85º-30' longitude east. The mine is approximately 600 ft above sea level.

Jan 11, 1968

By Daniel R. Hull, H. F. Silliman, Earl W. Palmer

The brass-rolling industry has not had a great deal of experience with antimony in its product. There have been some recent excursions with antimony as a corrosion inhibitor in tubes, but in sheet brass it has been regarded with apprehension and generally avoided. This is not to say that contaminations have never occurred, and probably a great many brass mill men have had their own ideas on the effect of such contamination. Our own views were based upon certain experiences some years ago with strip castings that split lengthwise in the early stages of rolling. The nature of this splitting is shown in Fig. I, from a photograph taken in 1922 as a record of 20 bars of 65-35 common brass made with an antimonial brand of copper. These bars were cast 6¾ in. wide by I in. thick by 45 in. long. In the first pass through the rolls, 19 of the 20 split lengthwise throughout their length, while each half curved outward in a wide arc as it emerged from the rolls. In those days, if splitting was not a frequent occurrence, it was not unfamiliar. One can recall periods of short duration when large amounts of common brass would behave in this way. There was nothing imaginary about these spells. The affected metal would split lengthwise in the breakdown rolls, and no maneuvering of mill practice made any difference. The condition would descend like a plague, demoralize the mill for several days, and disappear. It is doubtful if anyone knew the cause—however many explanations may have been current. In 1921 a quantity of split brass was traced to the use of fired small-arms

Jan 1, 1943

By H. F. Silliman, Daniel R. Hull, Earl W. Palmer

The brass-rolling industry has not had a great deal of experience with antimony in its product. There have been some recent excursions with antimony as a corrosion inhibitor in tubes, but in sheet brass it has been regarded with apprehension and generally avoided. This is not to say that contaminations have never occurred, and probably a great many brass mill men have had their own ideas on the effect of such contamination. Our own views were based upon certain experiences some years ago with strip castings that split lengthwise in the early stages of rolling. The nature of this splitting is shown in Fig. I, from a photograph taken in 1922 as a record of 20 bars of 65-35 common brass made with an antimonial brand of copper. These bars were cast 6¾ in. wide by I in. thick by 45 in. long. In the first pass through the rolls, 19 of the 20 split lengthwise throughout their length, while each half curved outward in a wide arc as it emerged from the rolls. In those days, if splitting was not a frequent occurrence, it was not unfamiliar. One can recall periods of short duration when large amounts of common brass would behave in this way. There was nothing imaginary about these spells. The affected metal would split lengthwise in the breakdown rolls, and no maneuvering of mill practice made any difference. The condition would descend like a plague, demoralize the mill for several days, and disappear. It is doubtful if anyone knew the cause—however many explanations may have been current. In 1921 a quantity of split brass was traced to the use of fired small-arms

Jan 1, 1943