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H. 0. HOFMAN, Boston, Mass (written discussion*).-The paper by Mr.. Pyne gives clear evidence of the difficulties the metallurgist is likely to encounter when he tries to recover in the blast furnace the metal from old chromite lining used as a refractory material in the copper reverberatory furnace. It appears that chromite cannot be fluxed at temperatures which usually prevail in copper blast furnaces. This calls to mind the freezing-point curve drawn by M. Simonis1 of mixtures of chromite and kaolinite. The chromite used in the experiments contained 52.9 per cent. Cr203, 22.6 FeO, 4.8 AI203, 9.6 Si02, .10.1-MgO; FIG. 1. the kaolinite was clay from Zettlitz with 98.5 per cent. clay-substance: The accompanying curve shows that the eutectic mixture with 35 per cent. kaolinite and 65 per cent. chromite freezes at Seger cone No. 15 (1435° C.), while kaolinite fuses at cone No. 35 (1770° C.) and chromite at cone No. 42 (2000° C.). The curve indicates that the difficulty in the blast furnace can be overcome by having at the smelting zone a temperature much higher than is usual in copper smelting; a charge composition similar to that prevailing at the Mansfeld copper smeltery -which gives with 23 per cent. coke a, slag of the composition Si02, .49.09; .(FeMg)0, 5.58; (CaMg)0, 16.02; A1203,-16.02-might flux and fuse chromite.

Jan 3, 1918

By E. G. Leonardon

THE first to appreciate and foresee the value of applying electrical measurements to structural studies was Prof. Conrad Schlumberger, Professor of Physics at the School of Mines in Paris. One of his earliest practical undertakings in this line was carried out, in the field, at Fierville-la-Campagne, Normandy, in 1912. His book, published in 1920,1 still stands as an authoritative, fundamental treatise on the use of the electric current in geological studies, in spite of the rapid evolution of geophysics during the last seven years. A remarkable feature of this book is that, even then, it stressed the role of electricity in structural investigations and made public the first successful results obtained therewith. Stratigraphic studies have been pursued continuously by Conrad Schlumberger and his associates since 1912, the only interruption being the World War. The results attained demonstrate the wide possibilities of electrical exploration in structural work. This field of activity is, at the least, as varied and valuable as the search for ore. It is curious that until very recently it has so slightly attracted the attention of geophysicists and geologists on this continent. The purpose of this paper is to present briefly some examples of the practical application of the potential methods to geological studies. These examples are chosen from a number of problems solved in the field by our firm, in the course of its consulting practice. Certain fundamental points are briefly stated before the field operations and interpretations are described.

Jan 1, 1928

By Elmer R. Kaiser

COMBUSTION of coal and transfer of heat from flames and gases to boiler surfaces continue to be of great interest to engineers here and abroad. Numerous investigations have been in progress to improve furnace and boiler performance and economy. The importance of better understanding of the processes and opportunities for improvement is apparent when it is remembered that heat from at least 500 million tons of coal a year the world over is being transferred to boiler water at efficiencies ranging mostly between 50 and 90 pct. Even slight gains in efficiency, economy, and labor saving become very significant when multiplied by the enormous quantity of fuel consumed. Also the competitive position of the large coal, oil, and gas industries in satisfying the fuel consumers is greatly affected by the achievements made through technical progress with each fuel. This paper is part of a continuing activity of Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., to extend the knowledge of coal utilization for steam generation and to seek promising directions for future research and development in cooperation with others. Particularly in the latter regard, numerous interviews were held during the last three years to seek the experience and advice of boiler and combustion- equipment manufacturers, electric-utility executives, and fuel engineers. A wealth of published information was also reviewed, which together with the interviews pointed to the advisability of further work on ash and sulphur control.

Jan 3, 1954

By William E. Ford, Edward Salisbury Dana

General Principles of Optics Optical Instruments and Methods General Optical Characters of Minerals 1. Diaphaneity 2. Color 3. Luster Special Optical Characters of Minerals belonging to the different Systems A. Isometric Crystals B. Uniaxial Crystals General Optical Relations Optical Examination of Uniaxial Crystals C. Biaxial Crystals General Optical Relations Optical Examination of Biaxial Crystals 306. Before considering the optical characters of minerals in general, and more particularly those that belong to the crystals of the different systems, it is desirable to review briefly some of the more important principles of optics upon which the phenomena in question depend. For a fuller discussion of the o tics of crystals, special reference is made to the works of Groth (translation by Jackson), Liebisch, Mallard, Duparc and Pearce, Rosenbusch (translation by Iddings), Iddings, Johannsen, Winchell, mentioned on p. 3 also to the various advanced text-goks of Physics. 307. The Nature of Light. - Light is now considered to be an electro- magnetic phenomenon due to a periodic/variation in the energy given off by vibrating electrons. This energy is transmitted by a series of periodic changes that show all the characters of ordinary wave phenomena. The light waves, as they are commonly called, possess certain short wave-lengths that are of the correct magnitude to affect the optic nerves. Other similar waves with longer or shorter wave-lengths belong to the same class of phenomena. Immediately beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum come the so-called "ultra- violet" waves with still shorter wave-lengths and on beyond these we have the X-rays and the "gamma" rays produced by radium. Of the waves having greater lengths than those of light waves we have the waves that give

Jan 1, 1922

By B. T. Brady, Wilson Blake

One of the more widespread experimental procedures currently used in experimental rock and soil mechanics work involves the use of a short circular cylinder loaded axially between nonrigid end plates1-5 (Fig. 1a and b). It is widely recognized 6 that a number of undesirable features are connected with this test procedure ; the most noteworthy of these is the development of a nonuniform stress distribution throughout the specimen resulting from an elastic mismatch between the specimen and the end plates. In general, the end plates and specimen possess different elastic properties. As a result of this elastic mismatch, the uniform distribution of stress and strain applied to the end plates is altered at the interface, the degree of which is dependent not only on the magnitude of the elastic mismatch but also on whether there is any relative movement between the specimen and the end plate. A convenient measure of the elastic mismatch is the ratio (vp/Ep) / (v8/E3), where v and E are Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus and the subscripts s and p refer to the specimen and end plate, respectively. For most tests that use steel end plates, (v8/E8) is greater than (vp/Ep) ; i.e., the specimen tends to expand or contract laterally more than the end plates. Because of the frictional restraint offered by the end plates, shearing stresses are developed at the interface that, for compression testing, act inward producing a "clamping" effect (Fig. lc). The effect of this "clamping" is to produce a state of triaxial stress throughout the specimen. Fig. Id illustrates the coordinate system and stress nomenclature used. In a homogeneous, elastic two-dimensional plate loaded uniaxially at the edge, a uniform stress distribution is obtained at a distance from the

Jan 1, 1972

By Rodolfo V. de la Cruz, Richard E. Goodman

Knowledge of the initial state of stress in rocks provides a key to the solution of many problems in rock mechanics. The initial state of stress is part of the basic data required for rational design of structures in rock, since its redistribution when engineering activities are conducted is a primary load on the rock portion of the engineering system. Knowledge of initial and subsequent changes in the state of stress is also relevant in the study of active faults and crustal strain. The purposes of stress measurements are not generally well served by methods which disclose only one of the stress components at a point. Recently, interest has centered on overcoring methods which though ex- pensive and difficult have the important advantage of yielding data on three or more stress components. In a previous paper, the authors introduced a new method-termed borehole deepening-based on measurement of the deformations that occur close to the bottom of a borehole when it is deepened by further drilling without overcoring.l The proposed method is at a disadvantage when compared with over- coring procedures in that the quantities to be measured are somewhat smaller and the measuring environment is more hostile. However, the borehole deepening method presents three distinct advantages in comparison with overcoring procedures: (1) Using the same borehole, both the initial and the subsequent changes in the state of stress can be obtained by borehole deepening. Stress changes with time are

Jan 1, 1970

By T. Sterry Hunt

I HAVE already referred to this interesting locality in the opening address, but at the request of some of the members of the Institute, brought before them specimens of the ore and the accompanying rock. The ore, which is cassiterite, is also met with elsewhere in Maine, at Paris and Hebron, but it there occurs associated with orthoclase, quartz, tourmaline, and beryl, in concretionary granite veins, which cut the micaceous gneisses of the White Mountain series. At Winslow the veins traverse an impure gray micaceous limestone, which is found in many parts of this region, and is subordinate to the same gneissic series. The veins, which are seldom more than an inch or two in thickness, are abundant through a considerable breadth of the rock, and are interlaminated with it, occupying places between the sedimentary layers, which are distinctly marked by different shades of color. Occasionally, however, they cut across the stratification for a little distance, showing that the disrupting action was not always confined to tearing the layers apart. The vein-stone consists of purple fluor-spar, and silvery white mica with quartz. In this gangue the cassiterite, nearly black in color, is disseminated in small crystalline masses, sometimes one-half an inch in diameter, and is associated with a little mispickel. I have only seen the veins as exposed at a single point, but was informed that similar veins holding the ore are met with at a distance of several thousand feet.

Jan 1, 1873

By G. B. Walker

THE sink-float methods designated by heavy-media separation processes were pioneered by C. Erb Weunsch for the treatment of base metal ores as an improvement over jigs. The work of Weunsch was further developed by Victor Rakowsky and The American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. Early in the development of the processes, the inherent unsuitability of galena as the solid constituent of the medium was recognized and ferrous media amenable to magnetic recovery and control were developed. The high efficiency and low cost of magnetic recovery and cleaning of ferrous media regardless of particle size, slime contamination, or surfacial oxidation had led to the adoption of ferrous media by all of the sink-float plants operating under the heavy-media separation processes patents controlled by American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co. Approximately 2,000,000 tons of base metal and nonmetallic minerals are treated each month by these methods.

Jan 1, 1949

By Clyde Williams

A MAN who is a first-class metallurgist, engineer, and scientist and an outstanding organizer, administrator, and executive and who, at the same time, has an innate ability to "make friends and influence people" everywhere he goes is an exceptional personality at any time. And if such an individual can retain this combination of virtues during a great war despite the fact that the Government loaded him with enough work and responsibility for three such men. he is a most exceptional personality. And if he can keep his head and maintain an unfailing sense of humor during the trying war years and, while dealing with hundreds of jittery metallurgists and metalworkers, with Army and Navy brass, and with red-tape-entangled war agencies by the dozen, he is a rare personality indeed. Such a man is Clyde Williams, director of Battelle Memorial Institute. who will be President of AIME in 1947. The Institute is fortunate in having him as its mentor during what may be a critical and important year.

Jan 1, 1947

By Fred H. Brooks

INTRODUCTION The toughest job for any mining company, large or small, is to locate and identify a property which it feels has the potential for development and which can be tied up through location, lease or option under terms within their means. In the case of a small company, this precludes grass-roots exploration with its attendant high costs and the extended time required to develop a prospect to the point of being a project. The small mining company, therefore must limit its search to known properties which, for various reasons, have been shut down or were never thoroughly developed at the time of discovery. These types of prospects are located either through literature search, familiarity with many mining areas in general, or through contacts and submittals from a variety of sources. In order to develop a marketable presentation to any investor, the basic requirements are the same: - the property must demonstrate the potential to provide a satisfactory return on investment - the evaluation study must be thorough and professionally developed. In order to promote any mining property, it is first necessary to know what you have. INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT We normally begin with a detailed literature search of the district, assembling all available data on the basic geology, production records, and old reports of this or neighboring properties and any other information which can be found. This will aid in the general understanding of the basic geology and hopefully allow a fairly detailed knowledge of the specific occurrence. With this information one can begin to speculate on the reserve potential and develop some high and low figures for estimating purposes as to mining method, production rate, metallurgy and begin developing estimated capital and operating costs. Cashflow runs are developed for varying tonnages (high and low), estimated high and low grades of metal and at differing market prices for the product. FINANCE CONTACTS Brooks Minerals, from its inception, has been an operating company and we have been able to assemble a small but experienced operating staff. For this reason we try to put together projects and joint ventures where we can be the operator and maintain a certain degree of control. Whether due to familiarity with many colleagues in the mining industry or due to unfamiliarity with the banking houses and securities markets, the approach to raising finance has generally been to contact the established mining companies. This requires a familiarity with the corporate philosophies of these companies with respect to their development goals and financial capabilities. A common mistake is to shotgun the proposal to many companies of different sizes and goals in hopes that one might be interested. It is more beneficial, when possible, to tailor a proposal to each company, stressing the positive points where the specific proposal best meets their interests. One company may be more interested in a development program with fairly certain and conservative return potential. The property may well contain both possibilities but a lack of understanding of the individual company's method of operation could spoil the deal. In another instance, one company may look at a property as a moderate income producer over an extended life, yet a second may elect to high-grade the deposit over a shorter period in order to provide early cash flow or take advantage of a favorable market situation. MAKING THE DEAL There are as many types of deals as there

Jan 1, 1985

By Thomas A. Edison

We have not yet begun. to realize the possibilities of automatic machinery, in part because we have not developed the designing brains, and in part because we have not sufficiently simplified industry to make possible the economical use of such machinery. The principle of the Jacquard loom, has scarcely been utilized except in weaving silk and in the player piano. It is the principle of bringing into action the various parts of a machine in accordance with a pattern traced on a steel card by perforations or as on the paper roll of a player piano. This principle gives us a control which can be applied to any kind of machine. It is a' great reserve principle for the future. But even now, with the machinery that we have at command, anyone can cut the number of employees in two, at the same time doubling his output, by installing semi-automatic or automatic machinery. And no one knows how far this process can go on. Cutting down the number of men is not just putting some poor fellows out of a job. It is increasing the number of good jobs by increasing the production per capita to a point where really satisfactory wages can be paid out of it, and this in turn- increases the amount of work required to be done and creates new jobs. Thus, cheapening in- creases the demand.

Jan 1, 1929

By J. Douglas Gibson

In Canada, the economic climate for mining is still warm, but a noticeable chill set in last November when the Government published a White Paper on tax reform known as the Carter Report. Moreover, this chill could drop to a freeze injurious to the whole Canadian economy if two of the proposals in the Carter Report are adopted. The offending suggestions call for an end to (1) the depletion allowance and (2) the three-year tax holiday for new mines. Both of these tax incentives have played a major role in the postwar development of the Canadian economy and will, if undisturbed, play an even more important role in the future. The fact that they have worked and worked well is evident from the record. Fruits of an Industrial Beanstalk Excluding fuels, the value of Canadian mineral production was just under $3 billion in 1968-almost nine times as much as in 1946. With fuels included, the figure is $4.25 billion, or almost ten times as much as in 1946. Proportionately, this growth far exceeds that of Canada's manufacturers or of her economy as a whole. Table I traces the overall mineral production growth by principal products. Of particular interest here are petroleum, iron ore, natural gas, sulfur and potash, the combined production of which has grown from little or nil to a point where it now accounts for more than 40% of Canada's mineral output.

Jan 1, 1970

By Robert Lindsay

A NUMBER of detailed investigations of the physical changes accom-panying age-hardening have raised the question as to the possibility of some phenomenon preceding the actual process of precipitation. There is considerable evidence to indicate that in the first stages of the aging process there is a pronounced distortion of the crystal lattice. This is particularly marked in duralumin. It would be of considerable theo-retical interest to know the nature of this distortion as compared with that produced in other ways and to find out whether, in supersaturated alloys, it is a necessary antecedent to the formation of a second phase by precipitation. It was believed that a study of the age-hardening char-acteristics of a normally aged alloy compared with one that had been mechanically distorted might supply some useful information on these points. In addition, information would be obtained regarding the effect of a mechanical distortion on any subsequent stage in the aging process. Duralumin was chosen as the material for this investigation because the various aspects of its aging behavior can be shown in detail by suit-able variations of the aging temperature. Also, probably more work has been done on this class of alloys than on any other. In spite of the many published results, it was felt that the experiments would be significant only if all of the work were done on samples from the same source and if they were examined under identical experimental conditions.

Jan 1, 1939

By Edward Perry

IN the exploration of a copper deposit by drilling, obvious advantages are to be gained from a distinction between primary and secondary ore.1 Perhaps the chief of these is the aid which such a distinction renders in determining where a given hole should stop. The copper assay, often a sufficient guide, cannot always be exclusively relied upon. Primary ores may extend downward indefinitely and may fluctuate in value independently of depth: if primary ores are consistently lean for a considerable vertical distance, there is little reason to expect that, still deeper, they will increase to the commercial grade; on the other hand, rich primary ores may persist uninterruptedly downward or may come in again below a lean interval. Secondary ores, however, have a comparatively limited vertical extent; in a large way enrichment decreases with depth and finally gives out. It follows then, that when a hole descends from profitable ore into ore of less than the commercial minimum, the practical significance of the situation depends upon whether this decrease results from a decrease in secondary enrichment or is a variation in primary content: if the copper of the ore passed through has been chiefly secondary, little is gained in the average case by extending the hole much below the point at which the commercial limit is reached; but, when copper is chiefly primary, due weight must be given to the possibility that, still deeper, the ore may again improve.

Jan 2, 1916

By T. Sterry Hunt

I HAVE already referred to this interesting locality in the opening address, but at the request of some of the members of the Institute, brought before them specimens of the ore and the accompanying rock. The ore, which is cassiterite, is also met with elsewhere in Maine, at Paris and Hebron, but it there occurs associated with orthoclase, quartz, tourmaline, and beryl, in concretionary granite veins, which cut the micaceous gneisses of the White Mountain series. At Winslow the veins traverse an impure gray micaceous limestone, which is found in many parts of this region, and is subordinate to the same gneissic series. The veins, which are seldom more than an inch or two in thickness, are abundant through a considerable breadth of the rock, and are interlaminated with it, occupying places between the sedimentary layers, which are distinctly marked by different shades of color. Occasionally, however, they cut across the stratification for a little distance, showing that the disrupting action was not always confined to tearing the layers apart. The vein-stone consists of purple fluor-spar, and silvery white mica with quartz. In this gangue the cassiterite, nearly black in color, is disseminated in small crystalline masses, sometimes one-half an inch in diameter, and is associated with a little mispickel. I have only seen the veins as exposed at a single point, but was informed that similar veins holding the ore are met with at a distance of several thousand feet

By Douglass D. Donald

The New Jersey Zinc Co. successfully holed through a 2 ½ -mile haulage tunnel connecting its new Ivanhoe shaft with the Van Mater Shaft at Austinville, Va. This 8 x 10-ft cross-section tunnel was driven from both ends and met at a point approximately a mile from one shaft and a mile and a half from the other. In order to make certain that the faces met accurately on line and grade it was necessary to refine conventional mine surveying practices. The mines that are serviced by these shafts are located in the southwestern part of Virginia approximately midway between Roanoke and Bristol at the west foot of the Blue Ridge. While the presence of lead-zinc sulfide ores has been known in this area for more than 200 years, it was in 1902 that New Jersey Zinc Co. acquired the Austinville property, which has been in constant operation since that time. About ten years ago the company undertook an extensive diamond drilling program at Ivanhoe several miles to the southwest. This program was successful in locating sufficient ore to justify the purchase of a number of the properties in this area and plans were made to develop the new orebodies. The discovery of this ore as well as substantial additional reserves at Austinville resulted in a decision by the company to increase its daily milling capacity to 3000 tons, of which about 1000 tons would be supplied from the Ivanhoe mine.

Jan 9, 1958

By S. R. Balajee, I. Iwasaki

The interaction between British gum 9084 and dode-cylammonium chloride (DAC) at quartz and hematite surfaces was established from coadsorption studies and streaming potential measurements. The cationic DAC interacts with the somewhat anionic British gum 9084, leading to the formation and adsorption of a binary complex of DAC-British Gum 9084 at the interface. The parallel ability to depress quartz along with hematite as a result of the interaction between DAC and British gum appears to be the main reason for the ineffective depressant action of starches and starch derivatives in the cationic flotation of iron ores. Amines are not particularly selective collectors for the flotation' of siliceous gangue from iron ores and, therefore, a suitable iron oxide depressant is needed for a satisfactory separation. Various starches and their derivatives have been extensively tested with oxidized iron ores,'-3 and it has been empirically established that British gums and dextrins are preferable. However, for the flotation upgrading of magnetite-taconite concentrates from 8 or 8.5% Si O2 to about 5% Si 02, British gums, which have been used so successfully on oxidized iron ores, have been found to have no effect and oftentimes are actually deleterious.4 In previous articles,5-7, starches were shown by adsorption measurements, flotation tests, and floccula-tion tests to interact with calcium ions in solution, and it was thought that a study on the interaction between starches and dodecylammonium ions would be able to shed some light on the anomalous flotation behavior described above. In fact, starches are known to interact markedly with paraffin-chain-type surface active agents and, thereby, to precipitate the starch or inhibit the iodine-starch reaction.8 From X-ray diffraction studies and viscosity measurements, the formation of a helical complex between mylose and a surface active agent has been postulated.9 The interaction with other types of hydrophilic colloids, such as synthetic polymers and proteins, has also been investigated and is usually explained in terms of van der Waals' force interaction and/or ion-ion interaction. In the present investigation, the interaction of British gum and dode cylammonium chloride on quartz and hematite was studied by adsorption and streaming potential measurements in an attempt to establish the mutual adsorption behavior of British gum and dode-cylammonium chloride on mineral surfaces and to clarify the anomalous depressant activity of British gum in the cationic flotation of iron ores. All the measurements were carried out at a natural pH of near 7 because dodecylammonium chloride gives maximum selectivity of flotation separation at this pH2 and to avoid any third parameter in the system. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND METHODS Minerals: The quartz and hematite samples used for the adsorption tests were prepared as described in a previous paper,"J except that the specific surfaces of the samples were increased to 5,860 and 16,000 Sq cm per gm, respectively. For the streaming potential measurements, the 48165-mesh fractions screened out of the original samples were etched with hydrochloric acid, washed repeatedly with water, and stored under water in Pyrex bottles. Reagents:DodecyIammonium chloride (DAC) was prepared1 1 by bubbling dry hydrogen chloride gas through a benzene solution of high-purity dodecylamine supplied by Armour and Co. British gum 9084, received from Corn Products Co., was solubilized by first dispersing it in water to produce a 0.05% solution and then homogenizing it in a blender for 5 min. Distilled water was used in the preparation of the samples and the solutions and for all test work. Adsorption Measurements: The procedure for the adsorption density determinations was also the same as that described in the previous paper.1° The residual concentrations of the British gum and the DAC in the supernatant solution were analyzed colorimetrically by the phenol-sulf uric-acid and amine-picrate methods, respectively. The validity of the mine-picrate method for the colorimetric analysis of DAC in the presence of British gum and the analysis of British gum in presence of DAC were checked by establishing calibration curves between optical density and concentration. Streaming Potential Measurements: The cell assembly for the streaming potential measurements was similar to that described by Fuerstenau.' The streaming potential

Jan 1, 1970

By Arthur A. Center

AT the beginning of 1944 it was expected that the production of metallic zinc in the United States from domestic and foreign concentrates would exceed the 1943 figure though domestic production of concentrates was expected to drop below the 1943 rate, mostly in the Tri-State area. Imports of concentrates were estimated to more than take care of such deficiency. North American concentrate production, available for import to the United States or elsewhere during the year, was estimated at over 200,000 tons recoverable zinc content; South American at about 65,000 tons; Australian at about 50,000 tons. Production of both concentrates and metal in the United States, however, did drop, attributable in considerable part to man-power shortage in the industry. However production exceeded consumption, which fell off, and stocks of metal increased. These stocks have increased since the middle of 1942 but production and consumption are coming nearer to a balance. The A, B, and C premiums, which have played an important part in keeping up domestic production of concentrates, extend only to the middle of 1945 by present legislation. Congress is being asked for their continuance during the war and

Jan 1, 1945

By Charles Will Wright

THE HIGHLY SPECIALIZED heavy air transport services to mining regions, such as exist in the New Guinea gold fields and in northern Canada, have been even more essential in the development of mines in Peru. Few nations have been con- fronted with greater natural obstacles to transport than has Peru, and without the plane it would have been impossible to get the machinery and supplies for the construction of power plants and mills to many of these interior mines, situated as they are over high mountain ranges, with muleback the principal means of transportation. As the mines within a district become important producers and warrant the expenditure, the mule trail is being replaced by automobile roads to connect with the railway stations and with the airports.

Jan 1, 1940

By Gail F. Moulton

In spite of an increase of 7 cents per barrel in the posted price of oil for the Panhandle field effective June 16, 1943, there was less drilling during 1943 than ir, any of the several previous years. The drilling statistics are compiled as Table 2 and show the material increase in the percentage of the total number of field wells completed as dry holes. This increase suggests that the productive area of the field is largely drilled up on the well-spacing pattern now followed and that new discoveries will be required to permit any important new activity in the area. The fact that only four wildcats were drilled in the area during the year indicates that some new prospecting technique or some ncw point of view is required to stimulate exploration. No new producing areas were discovered during 1943 and no additions to oil reserves were made through extensions or discovery 'of new pays. Accordingly, the proven reserves in the area declined by the amount of the production, or nearly 31 million barrels. These results of drilling are similar to those obtained during 1942, whcn no new oil areas were discovered as a result of wild-catting, a total of five wildcat wells in 1942 resulting in four failures and one gas-fieid discovery of undetermined merit. sion. The number of oil-producing wells reported by the Commission increased during the year by 163 to a total of 5576 as of December.

Jan 1, 1944