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By H. Margolin, E. Ence

Two versions of the Ti-Mn binary diagram have been published recently.' , -0th diagrams show two compounds in the region between 40 and 70 wt pct Mn, but disagree as to the reaction in which these compounds are involved. The investigation of the manganese-rich portion of the Ti-Mn binary diagram was undertaken at New York University as part of an investigation of ternary systems with titanium and manganese in order to determine which of the proposed diagrams is correct. A number of alloys between 31 and 70 pct Mn were prepared in a manner similar to that described by Cadoff and Nielsen; except that low currents (110 amp in argon atmosphere) and long melting times (up to 20 min) were used to prepare the alloys. Compositions were determined from weight-loss data, assuming all loss as due to manganese. Heat treatments were carried out with relatively large pieces, since there was a tendency for manganese to be lost during heat treatment. When X-ray diffraction data was to be obtained, the central parts of heat-treated specimens were used to make filings or powders which were not heat treated. Specimens were heat treated from the as-cast state. Heat-treatment times were as follows: 1150°C, 1 day; ll00°C, 2 days; 1000°C, 5 days; and 900°C, 15 days. It should be noted that equilibrium was not attained at 900°, 1000°, and in one case, at 1150°C. Metallographic specimens were electrolytically polished and strain etched by a technique described elsewhere.' At least four, and possibly six, phases were found in the region investigated. On the basis of information available at this time, a completely self-consistent diagram cannot be constructed, and therefore data are presented only for those phases which have been identified by both X-ray and microstruc-ture. Of the compounds detected, the one highest in manganese is the Laves phase, TiMn,, which is hexagonal with a MgZn, type of structure.V he diffraction data for TiMn2 from a 70 pct Mn alloy annealed at 1150°C are shown in Table I. The c/a ratio and parameters of TiMn2 agree well with those of Wall-baum hnd Rostoker et al. The values obtained here are c/a = 1.641, a = 4.825A. Another compound is the y-phase which is estimated to contain about 60 pct Mn. The y-phase has a structure which is identical to that of TiMn, with c/a = 1.639, a = 4.906Å. The fact that y has a Laves-type lattice would suggest that TiMn, has a range of solubility which extends from the composition of TiMn2 (69.6 Mn) to that of y (60 pct Mn). However, this could not account for microstructures which, in the 60 to 70 pct Mn region, show several phases in both the as-cast state and after annealing at 1150°C. Fig. 1 shows a two-phase structure of a 60 pct Mn alloy annealed at 1150°C. The phases present are y (white) and e (dark). If y were TiMn, then, according to Rostoker et al.,' the second phase of Fig. 1 should be P-Ti. The diffraction data for the 60 pct Mn alloy of Fig. 1 are shown in Table I. The starred d-values are from the e-phase and these lines do not correspond to those of &Ti. Comparison of as-cast and 1150°C microstructures of the 60 pct Mn alloy indicates that e precipitated from y. Since y has a

Jan 1, 1955

By J. W. Freeman, D. N. Frey

Fundamental reasons for the improvement in creep resistance of an austenitic alloy by cold working were investigated mainly by X-ray diffraction. The creep resistance was found to be improved by the internal stresses in the lattice of the alloy induced by the cold work. THIS investigation was concerned with the fundamental reasons for improvement in creep resistance of an austenitic alloy as a result of cold working. Also, the investigation was carried out to elucidate the conditions under which cold working could be expected to improve the creep resistance. To achieve these ends, creep resistance and internal structure were correlated for a variety of cold-worked conditions. Since the aim of the investigation was not to obtain specific and extensive information on any one alloy, creep testing was done with a single stress at 1200°F. Structural studies were carried out primarily with X-ray diffraction characteristics. The alloy used, low carbon N-155, was selected on the basis of being representative of at least some of the alloys used in gas turbines. Low carbon N-155 alloy in the form of %-in. sq bar stock was used in this investigation. The chemical composition, in percent, was: C, 0.13; Mn, 1.43; Si, 0.34; Cr, 20.73; Ni, 18.92; Co, 19.65; Mo, 3.05; W, 1.98; Cb, 0.98; N, 0.14; and Fe, balance. The bar stock was produced from a 13-in. sq billet, finished to 7/s in. round cornered square between 2060" and 1910°F. Prior to use in this particular investigation, the bar stock was solution-treated 1 hr at 2200°F and water quenched. This procedure was used in order to put the stock in a condition where effects of prior processing were minimized. Experimental Procedure The specific approach to the problem was twofold. First, the influence of cold working, under various conditions, on the creep rate under a single stress at 1200°F and on the internal structure was in part determined. Second, the effect of annealing at various times and temperatures on the creep rate and internal structure of the cold-worked samples was in part evaluated. The first step was basic to the investigation—creep resistance and structure were to be correlated. The second step was taken to see if the annealed samples showed some internal changes which could also be correlated with changes in creep resistance. This it was felt would facilitate solution of the basic problem. The creep and structural studies were carried out on samples reduced approximately 5, 15, and 40 pct at room temperature and 15 pct at temperatures up to 2200 °F. Annealing of various of the samples was done at 1200°, 1400°, 1600°, and 1800°F for time periods up to 1000 hr. Studies of the annealed samples were concentrated on materials rolled approximately 5, 15, and 40 pct at room temperature and 15 pct at 1400°F. The creep tests were carried out at 1200°F under 40,000 psi, the latter being approximately the 1000 hr rupture stress of the material

Jan 1, 1952

Jan 1, 1940

By W. M. Weigel

The first successful use of the wire saw in slate quarrying in the United States was late in 1926, at the quarry of the Colonial Slate Co. near Wind Gap, Pa. This installation was sponsored and supervised by the United States Bureau of Mines in collaboration with the National Slate Association.' The success of this trial resulted in other installations of wire saws, so that 27 were in operation at Pennsylvania slate quarries2 by October, 1928. Marble Quarrying with a Wire Saw Until recently, little or no attempt has been made to use the wire saw in the quarrying of other stone, but it is believed that its successful use in slate will be followed by attempts to take advantage of its possibilities in other quarrying operations. An example of such a trial is the recent installation of a wire saw at the marble quarry of the Saint Clair Marble Co. near Guion, in the Ozark region of northern Arkansas. This quarry is in a comparatively new district and the decision to open and develop it had to be made in the face of many unknown factors. For this reason, it was essential that the development costs be held at a minimum, and as a wire saw could be installed more cheaply than standard channeling equipment, it was decided to try it out. One factor Largely controlling the decision was that the location was peculiarly adapted to this method. The point of development selected was on the rather abrupt end of a ridge formed on the south by an almost perpendicular bluff along the White River and on the north by a rather steep slope with little or no overburden. By taking advantage of this topography it was possible to place the supporting standards for the sheaves at both the outer and driving end without the necessity of drilling or excavating openings to receive them, and to locate the motive power in line with these standards, which made it unnecessary to deflect the sheaves.

Jan 1, 1931

By R. H. Ogburn

THE GROUND now being worked by the Fairbanks Exploration Co., near Fairbanks, Alaska, has been known to be gold bearing since 1901. In the early days it was worked by drift mining and other small-scale methods. In 1922, Hammond started prospecting the gold-bearing ground and obtaining options on the properties desired. Two years later the present Fairbanks Exploration Co. started taking up the options, and preparing to exploit the ground. For the prospect drilling Keystone drills were used, with holes at the points of equilateral triangles 600 ft. apart. Holes were also put down more closely spaced to determine the limits of dredging ground. In the first drilling casing was used to the bottom of the holes, but in later work the casing was put down only to the bottom of the thawed ground, and the rest of the hole put down without casing. The gold content was determined by panning, each 2 ft. of depth being determined separately. Where no casing was used the size of the hole was determined by using water to measure its volume. The greatest concentration of gold occurs at or near bedrock. All the gold-bearing streams head in one big dome. Gold, however, is not found clear to the head of the creeks, the pay being first found some distance downstream from the head.

Jan 1, 1933

By Robert Anderson Cook

AS the margin of profit in the manufacture of iron continues to decrease, attention is called more and more to economies in every department. Beginning at the bottom, in the preparation of the ore at the mine, me notice a general tendency is towards the shipment of richer ores, securing to the mine-owner a better price per ton, which the purchaser is glad to pay by reason of the saving in freight of iron, and in the cost of reduction, which depends so largely upon the amount of fuel and flux, and the productive capacity of the plant. In other words, the difference in value between rich and poor ores is much greater than their relative percentages of iron indicates; because the barren material in a lean ore is not merely worthless, it is a positive source of expense, requiring transportation, handling, fluxing, smelting, and its due share of general expenses; in return for which it yields nothing and decreases the available capacity of a given plant and capital for profitable work. The enriching of the ore is done in most places by hand-picking, and in a few by wet concentration; but the managers of several magnetite mines in Sweden have been practically successful in doing it by machinery. The only magnetic separating machine which has actually taken the place of hand-picking was designed and patented by Mr. Jonas Wenström of Örebrö, Sweden. In this machine, which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Mr. Wenström has taken advantage of the property of soft iron to become magnetized by induction. The machine consists of a barrel made up of soft iron bars and some non-conducting material (usually wood), which is rotated around a stationary shaft by means of a cog-wheel. Inside of this barrel, on the shaft, is placed eccentrically a cylindrical electro-magnet, provided with a number of manges (N, S, Fig. I), between which wire is wound in such a manner that the flanges are of negative and positive polarity, being energized by a current passing through the wire coils from a small dynamo. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the flanges, N, S, are circular, and follow the internal contour of the barrel on the front side, while on the opposite side they are cut down to the line B, B' in Fig. 2. Hence the bars of the revolving barrel on the front side of the machine are mag-

Jan 1, 1889

By Kefton H. Teague

Attempts to locate domestic supplies of sillimanite have been unsuccessful until recently. This paper describes recent discoveries of sillimanite-bearing schists in the Southeastern States, with emphasis on geology of the deposits, mineral composition, origin, and reserves. Statements concerning possible methods of mining, milling, and utilization of sillimanite are given. Results from refractory tests on a laboratory scale are summarized.

Jan 1, 1950

By AIME AIME

AT the meeting on Engineering Education on Mon- A day afternoon E. A. Holbrook, of the University of Pittsburgh and chairman of the Committee, presided as chairman with W. B. Plank acting as vice- chairman. About sixty members of the educational fraternity were present. Dean Holbrook, after a few introductory remarks, introduced the first speaker of the afternoon, Charles Y. Clayton, who then presented his paper, "Why Do So Few Elect Metallurgy?" in which he stressed the fact that ,one of the things the study of metallurgy ,now needs is publicity and public education on what metallurgy is and 'does. Another thing he brought out is that the study of metallurgy has been looked on for many years merely as a branch of other departments. He gave tables showing past and present enrollment in the course of metallurgy in various schools.

Jan 1, 1930

By Martin A. Mayers

It has long been recognized that it would be highly desirable to be able to predict the temperatures at various points in a burning fuel bed and their variations with changes of the properties of the fuel and the rate of air supply. Experimenta1 investigations of fuel-bed temperature1-4 have not been lacking, but the absence of any theoretical background has made it impossible to use the results of these tests as a basis for prediction, except in a very general may. A mathematical analysis", based on a somewhat simplified theory of the distribution of lieat in a fuel bed, lias recently been completed by the author. Even though numerical values of some of the coefficients are not known, the calculations result in some conclusions of general significance. Thus, for example, it appears that when the temperatures throughout the fuel bed can be calculated, the rate at which ignition of the fuel by underfeed action can be maintained can also be calcu1ated. The uncertainty concerning the values of the coefficients referred to above is serious limitation on the use of that method. The following paper presents a discussion of these coefficients and includes estimates of their values based on the data now available. A brief description of the theory on which the analysis is based, and some results of the calculations showing their degree of agreement with experimental results, are presented by way of introduction to the discussion of the coefficients. For a more. extended discussion of the theory, see the A.S.M.E. paper5. Theory and Comparison with Experiment The theoretical analysis is similar to that used in the calculation of the stationary temperatures in a conducting solid in the classical theory of heat concluction. The fuel bed is pictured as a uniform, continuous, porous solid through the interstices of which air can be blown and ill which combustion can take place. The solid lias a finite thermal conductivity, so that heat may be transported in any direction, against the flow of air as well as in the same direction. While it is true that nothing

Jan 1, 1938

By Martin A. Mayers

It has long been recognized that it would be highly desirable to be able to predict the temperatures at various points in a burning fuel bed and their variations with changes of the properties of the fuel and the rate of air supply. Experimenta1 investigations of fuel-bed temperature1-4 have not been lacking, but the absence of any theoretical background has made it impossible to use the results of these tests as a basis for prediction, except in a very general may. A mathematical analysis", based on a somewhat simplified theory of the distribution of lieat in a fuel bed, lias recently been completed by the author. Even though numerical values of some of the coefficients are not known, the calculations result in some conclusions of general significance. Thus, for example, it appears that when the temperatures throughout the fuel bed can be calculated, the rate at which ignition of the fuel by underfeed action can be maintained can also be calcu1ated. The uncertainty concerning the values of the coefficients referred to above is serious limitation on the use of that method. The following paper presents a discussion of these coefficients and includes estimates of their values based on the data now available. A brief description of the theory on which the analysis is based, and some results of the calculations showing their degree of agreement with experimental results, are presented by way of introduction to the discussion of the coefficients. For a more. extended discussion of the theory, see the A.S.M.E. paper5. Theory and Comparison with Experiment The theoretical analysis is similar to that used in the calculation of the stationary temperatures in a conducting solid in the classical theory of heat concluction. The fuel bed is pictured as a uniform, continuous, porous solid through the interstices of which air can be blown and ill which combustion can take place. The solid lias a finite thermal conductivity, so that heat may be transported in any direction, against the flow of air as well as in the same direction. While it is true that nothing

Jan 1, 1938

By M. E. Wadsworth, R. C. Peterson, W. M. Fassell

The temperature and pressure dependence of the reaction of tantalum in oxygen were investigated from 500° to 1000°C at pressures from 10 mm Hg to 600 psi total oxygen pressure. Tantalum was found to oxidize linearly under the above conditions. Three distinct regions of temperature dependence were found with different energies of activation. From 500° to 600°C the rate of oxidation of tantalum was found to be essentially independent of the oxygen pressure at the pressure investigated. The oxidation rate increases rapidly with an increase in pressure from 600' to 800°C. The dependence of the oxidation rate on the bulk concentration may be expressed by V = k'?, where k' is the specific rate constant and ?=k1Co2/(l + K1Co2), where k, is the equilibrium constant for the adsorption of oxygen on tantalum. ONLY a limited amount of data has been presented in the literature on the oxidation behavior of tantalum metal. Some values of its oxidation rate were reported in the Corroston Handbook' and by McAdams and Geil.' The first extensive investigation of tantalum was the work of Gulbransen and Andrews." They determined the reaction rates of tantalum in O2 and N2. Their results indicate that this metal follows the parabolic law in the temperature range of 250" to 450°C in O2 at pressures of 7.6 cm Hg with an activation energy of 27,400 cal per mol. In nitrogen, the metal follows the parabolic law from 500" to 800°C at 7.6 cm pressure. All experimental determinations were of 2 hr or less duration and deviations from the parabolic rate conceivably could occur at longer times. A spectrophotometric study of the oxidation of tantalum by Waber, Sturdy, Wise, and Tipton' indicated good agreement between this method and the microbalance technique. The experiments were conducted in air from 220" to 350°C. The metal was found to follow the logarithmic law up to 320°C and the parabolic law at higher temperatures. The activation energies in the logarithmic region were reported as 12.57 kcal per mol and 12.0 kcal per mol, respectively, for the microgravimetric and spectrophotometric methods. In the parabolic region the activation energy was found to be 27.2 kcal per mol, in good agreement with the value of Gulbransen and Andrews." The present paper is concerned with the behavior of tantalum from 500" to 1000°C in oxygen at pressures ranging from 1/2 to 40.8 atm pressure. Earlier preliminary data by McKewan5,6 indicated the following facts concerning the behavior of tantalum: 1—At temperatures from 500" to 600°C, the metal followed the linear law. 2—At 575°C the rate of oxidation was found to increase with O2 pressure. 3—The Arrhenius plot in this temperature region was nonlinear. The nonlinearity of the Arrhenius plot was indicative of a more complex behavior than originally suspected for this metal.

Jan 1, 1955

By Alan Kissock

MOLYBDENUM is thought of as one of the rarer elements, for though it occurs in almost every country of the world it is seldom found in commercial quantities. In this country, however, there is one deposit which makes the term "rare" a misnomer. There are two commercially mined molybdenum minerals: molybdenite, the sulfide, and wulfenite, a lead molybdate. Of these two only the former is of any con- sequence but wulfenite is of mineralogical interest. It is frequently associated with oxidized lead ores and particularly in arid sections. Deposits, however, are usually quite superficial. It is highly oxidized and yet it does not appear to be an alteration product for it apparently disappears below water level and I know of no case where primary molybdenite, or in fact any molybdenum whatever has been identified below these surface wulfenite occurrences. The genesis of wulfenite would make an !- interesting study.

Jan 1, 1933

By David M. Cregger

The performance of the nation's first geologic repository for Commercial High Level Waste will be evaluated in a variety of ways which will involve the use of the state-of-the-art thermomechanical computer codes. Elastic properties of the host rock and the materials surrounding the repository are required for this numerical modeling effort to assess both near- and far-field effects. Only limited laboratory testing is possible, however, making it extremely beneficial to expand the data base by calculating dynamic elastic properties from available geophysical well logs. Elastic theory dictates that for an isotropic solid there are only two independent variables in addition to mass density, namely the compressional velocity, the shear velocity, and Poisson's Ratio. Compressional velocity and density are readily measured by geophysical well logs or in the lab; the crux of the solution requires measuring or determining either the shear velocity or Poisson's Ratio. Examination of acoustic propagated shear waves measured during confined compression testing demonstrates that Poisson's Ratio is a fundamental lithology-dependent parameter. Once a rock mass is appropriately classified, application of the laboratory derived dynamic Poisson's Ratio will yield a continuous and reasonable in situ modulus from acoustic and density logs. For preliminary characterization and assessment of the mechanical properties of rocks within the subsurface, and for studies of rock quality, this method is sufficiently accurate. The general availability of acoustic and density logs from wells logged for other purposes has made the application of this method desirable.

Jan 1, 1984

By William E. Messner

California’s Monterey Peninsula, noted for its beaches, resort hotels, and beautiful homes, also harbors a pioneering beneficiation operation. Here for more than 35 years the Del Monte Properties Co. has provided sand products from large dunes, some over 300 ft high, located in the Del Monte Forest. Raw material-the dunes derived by wave action from Santa Lucia granite of Jurassic age-has unusually consistent chemical and physical composition. Coarse crystalline feldspar is the principal constituent, followed in abundance by quartz, with some biotite, ilmenite, garnet, zircon, and monazite.

Jan 2, 1955

By Charles Hart

THE-report of the advisory committee to the U. S. Bureau of Mines, on the use of oxygen in metallurgy, brings to the art of steelmaking a radical change in the method of operation of the many processes of this widely diversified industry. When completed, the improvements suggested by the use of oxygen will be far-reaching and revolutionary. As to its effect upon the iron blast furnace, the use of oxygen should be as important as any of the improvements in the art of iron smelting and should take its place beside the German "Hochofen" which was the first attempt to use a shaft for preheating the stock, and beside the hot-blast stove which heated the blast before entering the furnace. The former initially produced molten iron and the latter made unbelievable economies in fuel consumption. It would seem that a discussion of this paper would be best served by following the conclusions on page 17 of the report and analyzing them seriatim. 1. (a) A decrease in costs, due to higher smelting heats is only attainable by taking full advantage of these heat units. This is affected by, adding additional ore to the burden which in turn increases production and yields a larger tonnage upon which to figure costs. These economies appear in decreased cost per ton of iron for coke and limestone consumed, and a proportionate reduction in all items entering the cost above materials. We can take no exception to these. premises. It is a well-known fact that silicon in the iron and sulfur removed" are the result of hearth temperature, other matters remaining constant. To a practical furnaceman the most satisfactory manner of controlling a furnace is by increasing the burden. It is not necessary, therefore, to consider the question of refractories, for this discussion presupposes that the temperatures in the furnaces will be kept practically where they now stand for making the various grades of iron. The same situation obtains in regard to the height of the furnace, which, as intimated, was one of the great strides forward in this art, and its abandonment at this time, is inconceivable. The shaft prepares the stock so that at each succeeding step we have exactly the proper conditions. All the stock entering the furnace is dried and preheated. The limestone is calcined by sensible heat practically at no cost, for this is sensible heat which otherwise would pass from the top with the gases. Under normal conditions, external calcination has been attempted without tangible results. Under normal average furnace operation, limestone requires about 760 B.t.u. for calcination and the loss of sensible

Jan 11, 1924

By Frank L. Nason

In the year 1904 an eminent Swedish geologist prepared a report on the iron-ore reserves of the world. His estimates follow: Countries. Tons. United States,.1,100,000,000 Great Britain,.1,000,000,000 Germany,.2,200,000,000 Spain,.. 500,000,000 Russia and Finland,...... 1,500,000,000 France,..1,500,000,000 Sweden,..1,000,000,000 Austria-Hungary,....... 1,000,000,000 Other countries,1,200,000,000 Total,.10,000,000,000 The iron-ore allotted to the United States by the Swedish geologist is barely sufficient to last 20 years at. the present rate of consumption. On the other hand (according to Edwin C. Eckel,' from whom the above and following statistics are quoted), there is hardly need for worry on the part of our iron industries for the next two centuries or more. Upon the basis of careful work by the U. S. Geological Survey, in which Mr. Eckel has taken an important part, the following estimates are definitely, but by no means finally, given for the United States: District. Tons. Lake Superior District,... 1,500,000,000 to 2,000,000,000 f red hematite,.. 1,000,000,000 Alabama, brown hematite, hematite, . 725,000,000 red hematite,.. 200,000,000 Georgia, { brown hematite, . 125,000,000 Tennessee, { red hematite,.. 600,000,000 Tennessee, { brown hematite,hematite, . 225,000,000 f red hematite,.. 50,000,000 Virginia, } brown hematite, . 300,000,000 Total,..4,725,000,000 to 5,225,000,000

Jan 1, 1913

By J. Morgan Clements

Petroleum has been known in Japan since at least 668 A. D., for a picture shows the presentation, during that year, to the Emperor Tenchi (Tenji) of "burning water" and ('burning earth" by his subjects from Echigo Province, which today is the largest producer of petroleum in Japan. The burning water was doubtless petroleum and the burning earth either bituminous shale or oil-soaked earth or rock from near the oil seepages. The early methods of getting the oil were simple and similar to methods used today in Japan and in China. Where the seepages occurred, trenches or shallow wells were dug along the seepages and allowed to fill with oil, which was then bailed out; in some cases, they filled with oil and water and overflowed. During the 300 years following 1500 A. D., the use of petroleum in Echigo Province seems to have increased considerably, as compared with earlier centuries, and records show that in 1818 the depth of the wells had been greatly increased. Doubtless, they passed through the seepages and tapped the shallow oil-bearing strata; probably some of these deeper wells were dug before that time. The real value of petroleum was not recognized until early in the Meiji era, which began in 1868, when the Japanese learned that the kerosene that was being imported was derived from petroleum. Guided solely by information obtained from books, they refined the oil and increased the depth of their wells in order to increase the production. The deepest well, dug by hand, about this time was 894 ft.' (273 m.) and by 1874 the recorded production reached 3499 barrels. In 1876, Benjamin Smith Lyman prepared geological maps of the Echigo oil field, which were the first of such geological maps made in Japan, and based on these a more enlightened development of the oil fields began; the Japanese, however, still dug the wells by hand. Toward the end of the '80s) an American well-drilling outfit was secured, but the efforts to use it failed from lack of experience by the operators. In 1888, a complete well-drilling outfit was purchased and American oil-well

Jan 1, 1923

By J. Morgan Clements

Petroleum has been known in Japan since at least 668 A. D., for a picture shows the presentation, during that year, to the Emperor Tenchi (Tenji) of "burning water" and ('burning earth" by his subjects from Echigo Province, which today is the largest producer of petroleum in Japan. The burning water was doubtless petroleum and the burning earth either bituminous shale or oil-soaked earth or rock from near the oil seepages. The early methods of getting the oil were simple and similar to methods used today in Japan and in China. Where the seepages occurred, trenches or shallow wells were dug along the seepages and allowed to fill with oil, which was then bailed out; in some cases, they filled with oil and water and overflowed. During the 300 years following 1500 A. D., the use of petroleum in Echigo Province seems to have increased considerably, as compared with earlier centuries, and records show that in 1818 the depth of the wells had been greatly increased. Doubtless, they passed through the seepages and tapped the shallow oil-bearing strata; probably some of these deeper wells were dug before that time. The real value of petroleum was not recognized until early in the Meiji era, which began in 1868, when the Japanese learned that the kerosene that was being imported was derived from petroleum. Guided solely by information obtained from books, they refined the oil and increased the depth of their wells in order to increase the production. The deepest well, dug by hand, about this time was 894 ft.' (273 m.) and by 1874 the recorded production reached 3499 barrels. In 1876, Benjamin Smith Lyman prepared geological maps of the Echigo oil field, which were the first of such geological maps made in Japan, and based on these a more enlightened development of the oil fields began; the Japanese, however, still dug the wells by hand. Toward the end of the '80s) an American well-drilling outfit was secured, but the efforts to use it failed from lack of experience by the operators. In 1888, a complete well-drilling outfit was purchased and American oil-well

Jan 1, 1923

By W. N. Lacey, R. H. Olds, B. H. Sage

The volumetric behavior of five mixtures of black oil and natural gas and of two mixtures of condensate and natural gas from a field in the San Joaquin Valley was experimentally established. This work was carried out at roo°, I9o° and 250°F in the pressure interval between 400 and 5000 psi. The viscosity of the liquid phase of four mixtures of black oil and natural gas was experimentally measured in the above-indicated temperature and pressure intervals. The effect of methane upon the precipitation of bitumen from the black oil was studied at 230°F. Introduction The solution of a number of the economical and technological problems which arise in connection with petroleum production is dependent upon the availability of the necessary quantitative information covering the materials involved. This requires data concerning physical properties of naturally occurring hydrocarbon mixtures at the pressures and temperatures characteristic of underground petroleum reservoirs. The experimental determination of the desired data for each situation encountered is relatively time-consuming. However, it is considered to yield results sufficiently more reliable than those obtained from correlations to justify the effort. For these reasons there was undertaken a laboratory investigation of the viscosity of the liquid phase and the volu- metric and phase behavior of mixtures of oil and gas samples obtained from wells in a field located in the San Joaquin Valley. Terminology The nomenclature of petroleum engineering is not at present entirely standardized. Many commonly used technical terms are not everywhere given the same meanings. For the purposes of this paper the following definitions will be adopted: Black oil refers to the dark-colored, hydrocarbon liquid obtained when the producing horizon of the well lies partly in the condensed hydrocarbon phase of the reservoir. Condensate is the term applied to the relatively volatile, pale yellow or amber-colored hydrocarbon liquid that is often obtained from the surface separator system when the producing horizon of the well lies in the gas cap of the reservoir. The gas obtained from the surface separator system is called natural gas regardless of whether the well is producing black oil or condensate. As might be expected from the multi-component character of naturally occurring hydrocarbon materials, the compositions of black oil, condensate and natural gas are subject to considerable variation depending upon the temperatures and pressures prevailing in the surface separator system as well as upon the overall composition of the material produced from the reservoir. In order to obtain samples capable of reproducing the total hydrocarbon material produced by the well, all oil and gas mixtures used in this investigation were com-

Jan 1, 1949

By Robert M. Grogan

Fluorspar is the commercial name for fluorite, which is the mineral having the composition CaF2, calcium fluoride. Its valuable properties are due to its content of fluorine, and it is the only important commercial source of that element. The name is derived from the Latin fluere, to flow, because the mineral melts easily and is a good flux. History The mineral has been known since Greek and Roman times, when it was used for drinking cups and ornamental slabs. Various peoples including the Chinese and the American Indians have carved ornaments from large crystals. Its usefulness as a flux was known to Agricola, who wrote about it in 1546.1 Mining began in England about 1775 15 and at various places in the United States during the period 1820 to 1840.28 Substantial production was achieved first in the period 1888 to 1900 in consequence of the development and widespread adoption of the basic open hearth method of making steel, in which fluorspar is used as a flux. After that, production and usage was stimulated by growth in the steel, aluminum, chemical, and ceramic industries and accelerated by World Wars I and II. The organic fluorides called "Freons" entered the picture in 1931, and the use of anhydrous HF as a catalyst in the manufacture of alkylate for high octane fuel blends began in 1942. The development of the froth flotation process in the late 1920's, a differential flotation scheme for separating fluorspar from galena, sphalerite, and other minerals in the 1930's, and the application of heavy-media concentrating methods to the treatment of low-grade ores in the 1940's were outstanding technological contributions that enabled increased production of fluorspar concentrates. Composition and Properties Fluorite in its purest form contains 51.1 pct calcium and 48.9 pct fluorine. Substitution of small percentages of cerium and yttrium for calcium have been noted.4 Mechanical inclusions of gases and fluids such as petroleum and water, and of other solid minerals such as pyrite, marcasite, and chalcopyrite are common. The fluorspar of commerce contains attached and admixed mineral impurities, chiefly calcite, quartz, barite, celestite, and various sulfides. It is interesting that the purest commercial form in which the mineral is sold, acid grade concentrate, contains a minimum of 97 pct CaF2, and as such is of comparable purity to many reagents used in chemical laboratories. Fluorite has a marked tendency to occur in large, well-formed crystals sometimes six to ten inches on a side. It crystallizes in the isometric system, frequently forming cubic and octahedral crystals or combinations thereof. The mineral also occurs in massive and in earthy forms, and in crusts or globular aggregates with radial fibrous texture. Crystalline fluorspar exhibits a great array of colors, from colorless and water clear to yellow, blue, purple, green, rose, red, bluish and purplish black, and brown. The colors are often arranged in alternating bands parallel to cube faces. They may be altered by exposure to X-rays, heat, ultraviolet light, and pressure, and are caused by a variety of factors including the presence of trace impurities and displaced ions in the lattice. Sometimes the changes induced by X-rays can be reversed by ultraviolet radiation. The mineral has a hardness of 4, and is the model of that hardness on the Mobs scale.

Jan 1, 1960