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By Jan D. Miller

Under the name given to this column, I almost feel obliged to write about some aspect of grinding, but I have decided instead to comment on the future of chemical processing. In recent years, I have seen a tremendous interest in extractive metallurgy develop among undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Utah. For example, of the 12 graduating seniors this year, over half seem to prefer extractive metallurgy to physical metallurgy. In particular, they seem to be most interested in hydrometallurgy, or chemical processing, obtaining industrial exposure to the phenomena they study via part-time employment at the Kennecott Research Center and the USBM Metallurgical Center in Salt Lake City. The stimulus has been generated by society itself. Many students are dedicated to the proposition that new technology can circumvent the destruction of our environment, a concept which provides considerable motivation. At the governmental level, the recent concern for the quality of our environment has created action in the area of chemical processing both through imposition of stringent air and water quality standards, and through increased funding for technological research in this area. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) gave impetus to this movement when it pointed up the need for development and support of such disciplines as extractive metallurgy, particularly chemical processing, in a recent report on Mineral Science and Technology. The recommendations in the NAS report have prompted governmental action on many fronts, including the Bureau of Mines, and have also given rise to direct legislation in the form of two bills -H. R. 3492 and S. 635- presently before Congress to a mineral engineering education. The report recommends that chemical processing technology (more generally extractive metallurgy) be developed by both new engineering techniques and unconventional chemical techniques such as application of the chemistry of nonaqueous liquids to mineral systems.

Jan 1, 1971

By H. R. Peterson

The control of autogenous grinding circuits is very similar to the control of conventional grinding circuits. In both circuits the classifier must be operated to achieve the required degree of mineral liberation. Crude ore grade and grinding mill density are important in both circuits. The biggest difference between the control of the two circuits is the pronounced effect that crude ore changes have on autogenous circuits. The importance of crude grade, weight recovery, size and hardness is greatly magnified because the crude ore in the autogenous circuit is also supplying the grinding media. Crude ore sizing is a particularly critical factor in achieving efficient primary autogenous milling. Because of the above, computer control is advantageous for autogenous circuits. Changes in crude ore may necessitate rapid changes in the entire circuit control strategy, and only a computer can facilitate these changes. Also, the techniques of control are very different for conventional and for autogenous grinding. Set-point control is usually satisfactory in conventional circuits, but the multiplicity of varying conditions in an autogenous circuit usually require some type of computer optimizing search routine. Autogenous mills can be separated into two general types. In primary autogenous mills the media is obtained from the mill feed, and in pebble mills the sized pebble media is added separately from the material being ground. PRIMARY AUTOGENOUS MILL CIRCUIT CONTROL - FIGURE 1 Power Draw Primary autogenous mills are usually run at full motor loading so production will be at maximum. Therefore, power draw must be closely controlled; this is done by adjusting feed rate. The versatility of computer control is extremely valuable for power control, especially during starting and stopping. To bring the mill power up as fast as possible at

Jan 1, 1982

By W. Bonfield

A study has been made of the dislocation substructures produced in hot-pressed beryllium specimens strained to various levels in the range from 800 x 10-6 In. pev in. to fracture. A number of distinctive dislocation configurations were observed in this region which had not been noted at lower levels of strain. These included dislocation-dislocation interactions to form networks, dislocation "walls", subgrain boundaries and complex arrays, interactions between dislocations and large beryllium oxide particles, and the generation of dislocations from certain particles. The nature of these differences in substructure and their relation to the stress-strain characteristics of polycrystalline beryllium are discussed. In a previous study1 of the plasticity of commercial-purity, hot-pressed beryllium a transition was found in the deformation characteristics in the mi-crostrain region. The initial plastic deformation could be represented by a parabolic stress-strain equation, but above a critical stress there was a complete departure from this relation and a reduction in the strain-hardening rate. The dislocation configurations produced by various levels of micro-strain in this region were examined by transmission electron microscopy and a general correlation was established between the observed transition in deformation characteristics and the dislocation structure of the material. The two stages in the micro-strain region distinguished in these experiments were designated as Stage A' and Stage B'. Stage A' type deformation generally was noted up to a plastic strain of -80 x 10"6 in. per in. and Stage B' type from -80 x 10-6 to -800 x 10'6 in. per in. The discovery of two stages in the microstrain region naturally posed pertinent questions as to the existence of any further distinct stages in the subsequent plastic deformation. The purpose of this paper is to present a study of the dislocation configurations produced in similar beryllium specimens strained to various levels in the range from -800 x 10 in. per in. to fracture and to discuss the relation between substructure and the stress-strain characteristics. It is concluded that this region of strain can be considered as a distinct stage in the plastic deformation of polycrystalline beryllium. Tensile specimens of gage length 1 in. and cross section 0.18 by 0.06 in. were prepared from commercial-purity, hot-pressed QMV beryllium and then annealed at 1100°C for 2 hr. 2 followed by a careful chemical polishing procedure.3 The specimens were strained at a constant rate to various levels of strain in the range from -800 x 10-6 in. per in. to fracture (at 0.5 to 2 pct elongation), using the Tuckerman strain-gage technique1 to measure plastic and total strain. Thin foils were obtained from the strained and fractured specimens by chemical polishing3 and were examined using an RCA-EMU 3 electron microscope. Considerable care waS taken to avoid both accidental deformation during the preparation of the thin foils and excessive heating during their examination. Selected-area diffraction patterns were determined for each micrograph. Tilting experiments were also performed whenever appropriate to establish the dislocation zero-contrast position and hence determine the Burgers vector. This operation was sometimes not possible due to the rapid contamination of the foils which occurred in the electron microscope. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION To enable the distinctions between the dislocation arrays at high and low strain levels to be adequately made, the main characteristics of Stage A' and Stage B' deformation are briefly reviewed. 1) Stage A'. In the annealed starting condition there was a variable density (5 x 107 to 3 x 10' cm per cu cm) of isolated dislocations within a grain. The initial deformation in a tensile specimen was heterogeneous, with the dislocation density increasing in a few grains to 5 x 10g to 1.5 x 101° cm per cu cm. The deformation occurred exclusively on the basal plane by the movement of one or more 1/3 (1130) type dislocation systems. The dislocations were long and regular in form and nearly all the intersections exhibited a simple four-point node configuration. No interactions between glide dislocations and beryllium oxide particles were observed. 2) Stage B. In Stage B' there was a large increase in the number of grains exhibiting dislocation movement and also a change in the nature of the deformation, in which jogged dislocations and elongated loops became the characteristic feature. The splitting up of the elongated loops into smaller loops and the possibility of source action from the re-

Jan 1, 1965

By Irving H. Wentworth

The little town of San Nicolás, Tamaulipas, Mexico, lies approximately 60 miles east of Linares, situated in the State of Nuevo Leon, and 150 miles SE. of Monterey, as shown in the sketch-map, Fig. 1. The place is reached from Monterey by the Tampico train as far as Linares, a distance of 92 miles, and then by coach the rest of the way. It is situated in a narrow valley between low hills, the houses forming one main street and a plaza. It is peopled by about 500 inhabitants. The climate is temperate, the thermometer ranging from 90" in summer to a few degrees below freezing-point in winter; but this severe weather only lasts a day or two at a time, when the " northers " blow. There are no streams in the vicinity, but water sufficient for the use of the people is obtained from wells. The rainfall is about the same as that in the rest of NE. Mexico. The rainy months are July, August, and September. The rest of the year is practically dry, with an occasional showery day or two during the winter, when a " norther " is blowing. Timber is abundant in many localities. There are two varieties of oak, besides mesquite, ebony, "maguira," "patol," and a number of other kinds of trees indigenous to this region. I. History. On the discovery of the silver-lead bearing veins occurring in this district, the mining-camp of San Nicolás was founded in 1767 by the Spaniards, and numerous mines were opened and worked for a distance of about 3 miles east and 5 miles west of the town. At the western extremity and near the Car-rolefia mine, a small town called San Pedro was huilt. The

Jan 1, 1913

By J. F. Butler

Boron nitride, BN, has been identified in boron low-carbon steels by means of light microscopy, electron microscopy and diffraction, and chemical analysis. This boron nitride is responsible for strain aging suppression in these steels through the removal of nitrogen from solution; however, small oxidizing potentials which result in deboronization In the austenitic temperature range also result in boron nitride decomposition and the subsequent occurrence of nitrogen strain aging. THE addition of boron to low-carbon steels is an effective means of eliminating the detrimental effects of strain aging;',' however, the mechanism by which boron suppresses strain aging has not been established. In studying the effect of heat treatment on the strain aging of boron low-carbon steels, Butler3 found that no detectable nitrogen was present in the ferrite solid solution after various heat treatments even though the total nitrogen analyses of the steels were 0.003 pct N. Apparently the function of boron in suppressing strain aging is the removal of nitrogen from solution to form a relatively stable second phase. A clue to the identity of this phase was found by Speight4 who extracted from an aluminum-killed boron steel an acid insoluble residue which contained boron and nitrogen in proportions corresponding to the compound, BN. Shyne and Morgan5 found that the addition of nitrogen to a hardenable boron steel lowered its hardenability in a manner which suggest-d the presence of nucleating particles (presumably BN) even at high austenitizing temperatures. Although this indirect evidence for the presence of boron nitride in boron steels has been found, the compound was not identified metallographically as a separate phase in these steels. Because boron has an affinity for oxygen comparable to that of silicon,5 boron steels must be thoroughly killed with aluminum in order to prevent the reaction of boron with oxygen.7 The affinity of boron for oxygen also is demonstrated through the ease of deboronization of a boron steel in an oxidizing atmosphere. Digges, Irish, and Carwile8 found that a mixture of wet natural gas and air caused both deboronixation and decarburization of a boron steel at 1900°F. The boron content rose at the surface of the steel due to the formation of boron oxide. Shyne and Morgan9 encountered deboronization at much lower oxygen potentials; loss of boron occurred in steels treated at 1750o F under argon purified to 0.0014 pct 0, even though decarburization did not occur. Boron oxide, B2O3, is much more stable than the nitride, BN, as is indicated by the standard free energies of formation at 980oC: -235 kcal per mol of B2O3 (liquid) and -28 kcal per mol of BN (crystal). It is evident that the oxygen potential must be kept low in the presence of BN in order to prevent its decomposition and the subsequent formation of B2O3' The purpose of the work described in this paper was to identify the nitride phase responsible for the removal of nitrogen from solution and to study its stability under oxidizing conditions. IDENTIFICATION OF BN In order to identify the phase containing boron and nitrogen, several alloys high in boron and nitrogen were made up in a small vacuum furnace. In alloys 3 and 4, Table I, electrolytic iron was used as a charge material. Boron additions were made in the form of 18 pct B ferro-boron after the iron was molten. In the case of alloy 3, the charge was solidified at this point; for alloy 4, nitrogen at 1 atm pressure was admitted over the melt before it was

Jan 1, 1962

By J. S. Marsh

OPPORTUNITY to pay tribute to the memory of Professor Henry Marion Howe is a strenuous assignment as well as an honor. Upon recalling Howe lecturers and lectures of the past 25 years, glancing over the list of those earlier, and rereading Howe's books, I arrive at several conclusions: 1—Many lecturers either worked under or knew Professor Howe. 2—It is virtually impossible to pick a subject on which Professor Howe did not touch. 3—There is precedent for a technical paper based upon pursuit of a single subject. 4—There have been listening lectures and reading lectures. There is solid comfort only in 2: the subject field is wide open. I did not know, nor even ever saw, Professor Howe, so can supply no fitting reminiscence. As a college student I was dimly aware that he counted among the giants. Fuller appreciation of his stature came with reading his books and papers, growing acquaintance with some of his associates, and the intrinsic dignity of the climax of the Annual Meeting, beginning at four o'clock of a Thursday afternoon in the auditorium of the Engineering Societies Building in New York. As for producing the technical paper sort of thing, it is my lot to have reached an age and assignment such that to do so would be to filch information from those who did the work and whose story is theirs to tell; for this I have no enthusiasm. As for the final conclusion, Professor Howe was one of the chosen few so highly expert at expository writing that he could produce a lecture or paper that reads as though it would also have listened well. One of his tricks was the free use of words not ordinarily part of the technical vocabulary, provided that such words were likely to communicate most precisely what he had in mind. How wonderful it would be for all who must read reports by the ton if ability at exposition could be taught with the effectiveness open, say to, differential calculus! Perhaps Professor Howe should be required college reading even if for no other reason than to prove that technical writing need be neither dull nor diffuse. My assignment is clearly still strenuous. Another point to consider is the fact that metallurgy is now so tremendously diversified that hope of finding a topic of universal appeal is negligible, even if one were competent enough to be permitted free choice. That which follows is, therefore, a compromise composed of necessity and of the obligation to attempt to avoid boring to slumber those of you who are not especially interested in the general subject chosen. The Iron and Steel Div. is now essentially a process metallurgy division, heavily concerned with the smelting of iron and the making of steel. The American Iron and Steel Inst. figure for present steel capacity of this country is 125,828,310 net tons; how this is divided among processes is indicated by the production totals for 1953, shown in Table I. The glamor girls and boys make the front page and so it is with steelmaking processes. If there is an Antarctic Daily Bugle, it undoubtedly has carried stories of revolutionary development, such as oxygen processes and vacuum melting, and stories of the incomparably rosy destiny of electric arc melting. All such certainly have their place and their future; meanwhile, it is the sturdy and old reliable open hearth that accounts for the bulk of production reported back on the financial page, and it is the old reliable that is most likely to continue to account for the bulk for some perfectly sound raw material, technologic, and economic reasons. This, plus the fact that next year marks a centennial (for it was in 1856 that Frederick and William Siemens conceived the regenerative open hearth), is reason enough to talk about open hearth furnaces, but is not the real one. The real reason is that in some years of association with open hearths, I have accumulated—in addition to a genuine liking and respect for them—certain odds and ends of fact and fancy that this lecture provides a unique chance

Jan 1, 1956

By G. H. Miller

With the recent advances which have been made in science and technology and the increased use of mathematics in this area, the question of the best mathematics courses for a mining engineer to take is of major importance. The question becomes even more difficult to answer due to the recent increase in the number of different mathematics courses in the last two decades offered by the mathematics departments. Therefore, the National Study of Mathematics Requirements for Scientists and Engineers (NSMRSE) was designed to provide some answers to these questions. Approximately 10,000 scientists and engineers were selected for the Study, These individuals were placed in two categories: (1) The Awards Group, recipients of national honors or awards and those recommended by the members of the Board of Advisors as having national and international reputations in their areas of specialization and (2) The Abstracts Group, persons exceptionally productive in their research, based on the number of journal articles listed in the last five years in the Engineering Index, Scientific and Technological Aerospace Reports, Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, and the Physics Abstracts. The NSMRSE Course Recommendation Form and the Instruction and Course Content Sheet were constructed with the aid of the Board of Advisors and other consultants. For the Study, 40 courses were selected by the mathematical consultants. In order to make sure that the basic content of the mathematics courses was the same for all respondents, a brief resume of each of the 40 courses was given. The NSMRSE Course Recommendation Form consisted of seven sections. These sections were as follows: Section 1, 38 different specializations; Section 2, orientation of work (applied through theoretical); Section 3, highest degree obtained; Section 4, place of employment (academic, nonacademic); Section 5, administrative capacity (administrative or nonadministrative); Section 6, age groups (five-year intervals). Section 7 contained the 40 courses which were to be marked according to five categories: (1) Course Length, 3 to 36 weeks; (2) Applied-Theoretical Orientation, a five-point scale; (3) Course Level, freshman through graduate; (4) Knowledge of Course; and (5) Use of Course Content in Work. The Analysis The report of the data is based on the replies received from 44 mining engineers. This group was part of the Awards and Abstracts Group for all engineers. The resume of the recommended courses is reported in quintiles (upper fifth to lower fifth), since recommendations of this kind are not precise. The results of the Study are based on recommendations of the most active research men in engineering in the U.S. today; therefore, the reader should realize that these course recommendations represent an upper bound of mathematics requirements for the Ph.D. in both undergraduate and graduate work. Conclusions and Recommendations 1) Mining engineering students who plan to be active research specialists should take all those courses which are "very highly recommended" (80-10070) and "highly recommended" (60-79.9%). Those courses in the upper two quintiles and recommended by most mining engineers are: first-year calculus, third-semester calculus, elementary differential equations, applied statistics, and machine computation. Courses of "moderate recommendation" (40-59.9%) are: vectors, intermediate ordinary differential equations, the first course in partial differential equations, elementary probability, and linear programming. 2) The great majority of mining engineers indicated that they prefer a course which is concerned primarily with applications. Only the standard courses such as first-year college mathematics, calculus, differential equations, and advanced calculus received a recommendation for 50% theory and 50% practice. Therefore, all mathematics courses given to mining engineers should contain many applications and little theory. Engineers in both the applied and the combination (ap-plied-theoretical) groups indicated a definite need for applications in all courses. 3) In general, recommendations were for mathematics courses to be given for short intervals of time such as 3, 6, or 12 weeks. Only the standard courses mentioned previously received the usual one-semester or one-year recommendation. Therefore, it is of value to combine several related courses into a one or two-semester course so that the mining engineering student could acquire important mathematical knowledge at an early date in order to prepare him for his research. 4) There was little use for the newer courses in modern mathematics such as the functional analysis sequence, the modern algebra sequence, and the group theory sequence. In addition, there were uniformly very low recommendations (0-19.9%) for multilinear algebra, complex variables, mathematical logic, special functions, integral equations, approximation theory, analytic mechanics, integral transforms, and geometric algebra. Therefore, these courses should be given a low priority. 5a) Comparisons among mining engineers with different backgrounds showed that the combination ap-plied-theoretical group recommended more mathematics than the applied group. 5b) There was little difference in recommendations between the administrative group and the nonadminis-trative group. 5c) Analysis of age groups showed that those in the lower age groups gave significantly higher recommendations to courses such as the first course in partial dif-

Jan 1, 1971

By J. B. Conway

RECENT studies of first-stage creep data have led to a special least-squares procedure for use in calculating the Andrade creep-equation constants. This procedure is easy to apply, uses only experimental data, and yields results which do not vary with the individual making the analysis. Taking logarithms of the Andrade equation I = lo(1 +ßl1/3)ekt leads to In l = In lo + In(1 + ßl1/3) + kt A residual can then be defined as the difference between the logarithm of an experimental length value and the logarithm of a calculated length value. Following the usual least-squares approach differentiation with respect to 10 and k of the expression for the sum of the squares of the residuals leads to two equations which cannot be solved directly for the three constants involved. However, values of ß can be assumed and corresponding values of lo and k can then be calculated. Then the sum of the squares of the residuals can be calculated. For a certain value of ß this sum will exhibit a minimum value to identify the least-squares values for ß, lo, and k. An illustration of the application of the above least-squares approach is obtained by employing the creep data for lead originally presented by Andrade' in the development of the one-third creep law. A plot of the sum of the squares of the residuals as a function of ß is shown in Fig. 1 along with the corresponding lo and k values. The minimum is seen to occur at ß = 0.0143 from which lo = 39.149 and k = 7.27 x 10-5. Based on these results the Andrade equation for these lead data is 1 = 39.149(1 + 0.0143 t1/3)e7.27 x 10-5t compared to the equation I = 39.13(1 + 0.01457/l/3)e6.95 X 10-5t developed by Andrade (calculation procedure not given but was probably a graphical solution). Calculating length values using the above equations and comparing with the experimental length values, residuals corresponding to the difference between experimental and calculated length values can be obtained. The sum of the squares of the residuals can then be calculated. For the case of the least-squares approach a value for this sum was found to be 2.37 x 10-3 compared to a value of 3.47 x 10" for the equation originally proposed by Andrade. In other words, while the constants proposed by Andrade provide an excellent fit for the lead data, a still better representation is afforded by applying the least-squares approach discussed above. A similar result was obtained for the lead data at 162oc.l The least-squares approach led to 1 = 9.866(1 + 0.0497 t1/3)el.011 x 10-2t compared to the equation I = 9.94(1 + 0.0433 l1/3)e1.06 X 10-2t given by Andrade. In this case, too, the sum of the squares of the residuals is slightly smaller for the equation based on the least-squares approach. It should be pointed out that a double trial and er-

Jan 1, 1965

By A. P. Pipilen, M. Weintraub, W. F. Hosford, A. A. 230-000-000-006 Orning

In a study of the principal factors affecting the transport of coal-water mixtures through a centrifugal pump and a pipeline, the interrelation between solids concentration, velocity, and pressure drop was established for a minus 2-in. bituminous lump coal in concentrations up to 48% by weight. Optimum concentrations were found to exist for maximum capacity of a given pipeline and for minimum energy requirements per ton of coal. Coal size degradation by particle fracture took place in the pump; abrasion and attrition to form fines took place in both pump and line. A novel system of studying flow of solid-liquid mixtures in pipelines by the determination of relative sound intensities was developed. The hydraulic transport of minerals is in part an established art and in part a relatively new field of industrial technology. The established art developed especially where the mineral was under water, where water was used in hydraulic mining, or where large quantities of water had to be pumped from the mining site to expose the mineral. Power requirements and limited life of pumps and pipelines, under such conditions, were relatively unimportant. Examples may be found in dredging, and in hydraulic mining and transportation of phosphate rock.' In the design of a coal pipeline the most needed information relates to flow characteristics, power requirements, pressure drop, size degradation, and size segregation as a function of solids-water ratio and size distribution of the mineral. A considerable amount of information has become available concerning pressure drop and energy requirements.2'3 These topics were therefore not studied intensively. Coal degradation, however, has not been clearly delineated. Lammers and coworkers4 showed that coal may be severely degraded in size but did not distinguish between degradation produced in the pump and in the line. It is the primary purpose of this paper to outline techniques used to acquire some of the much needed design data. A full report of the investigation is to be published by the Bureau of Mines at a later date. APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE The apparatus for circulation tests (hereafter referred to as Type III tests) consisted essentially of a loop and a centrifugal solids handling pump, with attendant instrumentation, and coal weighing and feeding equipment. It also included an adequate water supply, as shown in Fig. 1. The selection of 6-in., schedule 40, carbon steel pipe was based on the top size of coal to be used. Assuming that the top size of coal should not exceed 1/3 the inside diameter of the pipe, a 6-in. pipe would accommodate 2-in. coal, a realistic size for transport from the mine face. An 872-ft loop was constructed first. Later a few tests were made with a lengthened circuit of 1361 ft by superimposing an additional loop on the original one. All bends used were of 3-ft radius. A noisemeter microphone, taped to the pipe at various points, but generally about 50 ft downstream of the pump, was used to sense segregation of the coal and the length of slugs of coal in water. To measure the stream velocity, radioactive sources were encapsulated in plastic cubes. The specific gravity of the blocks was adjusted to 1.3 and 1.8 to simulate low ash and high ash coal particles. Their passage through the pipeline was detected by a Geiger counter. Because the repeated circuits of the Type III tests did not permit coal degradation in the line to be distinguished from that produced by the pump, the two

Jan 1, 1964

By Eugene McAuliffe

SINCE 1917, the bituminous coal industry has surged, violently at times, across the nation's social, industrial and economic foreground. To-day a silent, yet more active, force is working within the industry, and the movement now taking place, if allowed to continue, will cause serious consequences when coal is again wanted at the rate of 550,000,000 tons annually instead of at the rate of 400,000,000 tons, the apparent requirement for 1921. I refer to the shift of tonnage from the highly unionized fields of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois to the non-union fields of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Alabama and certain western states, and to the so-called union fields in Kentucky and Colorado, on which the union saddle rests lightly. This movement, in the absence of the usual winter transportation shortage, is taking place rapidly and will be accentuated if, as is probable, work is suspended in the union mines on March 31 next. This drift of tonnage has been made possible by the unit wage reductions in the non-union fields and by the modification of the so-called conditions that have been saddled on all mines wherever the United Mine Workers have gained a foothold; these changes permitted the first reduction in mine cost, which made possible the securance of contracts; better running time assisted in making further reductions, and the transfer of ton-nage served to increase the unit cost in the field from which it was transferred. This situation not only opposes the highly unionized operation but brings about a transfer of traffic from the roads serving such mines to those that serve in a primary or secondary manner the more favored localities. The net result is evidenced in (a) the migration of union labor to the non-union mines; (b) the deteriora-tion and decadence of union properties; (c) the neces-sary curtailment in the purchase of new equipment and in the maintenance of existing equipment and track facilities on the part of the carriers serving the union fields. This, in turn, when business is restored to normal or to the point above normal that invariably follows an adverse swing of-the business pendulum, will cause (d) a shortage of coal and coal transportation facilities; (e) an era of coal speculative debauchery with exorbitant prices and serious deflection in the matter of quality; (f) a period of labor unrest followed by de-mands for increased wage rates supplemented by a marked loss in individual efficiency, with, resultant strikes, business unrest, and the pressure of new eco-nomic theories. In 1918, the labor status with respect to relative tonnage produced was approximately as follows: pro-duced in highly organized fields, 62 per cent.; produced in partly organized fields, 21 per cent.; produced in unorganized fields, 17 per cent. During the strike of November and December, 1919, the mines that remained at work attained 35 per cento of the nominal production of soft coal, a situation made possible by the migration of union labor to non-union mines and the concentration of the nation's coal trans-portation facilities on the rails of the carriers serving the non-union fields. The history of the efforts made by the carriers to untangle the car scrambling which took place during this period and which sent the self clearing battleship type of car into western territory where it could not be readily unloaded, and the western gondola type of car to New England and the seaboard, is yet painfully recalled. -This confusion proved a serious factor in the coal car shortage that continued throughout the following year. We are drifting toward a similar situation now, propelled by economic forces rather than by a sudden strike.

Jan 1, 1922

By G. L. Oldright

THE metallurgist is familiar with the rapid development of concentration -by flotation and smelting in the reverberatory in recent years, brought 'about chiefly by the exhaustion of' bodies of .rich, coarse, direct smelting ore. Geologically speaking, in many porphyry-copper districts, the richer contact or replace let deposits surrounding 'the main ore-forming igneous intrusion have been exhausted, and it is necessary to beneficiate the copper minerals disseminated throughout the mass of the intrusion itself. The organization of great companies to treat such low- grade ores on a large scale and the practices resulting from the necessity for an economic method of treatment 'are among the most prominent metallurgical developments of the past decade. It is interesting to note the effect of the present trend of practice on the inter-relationship of the concentrator and smelter, on the constituents of the smelter charge, and on smelting in general.

Jan 1, 1925

By A. Madrazo

The Standing-Katz method for predicting liquid densities of reservoir fluids has been tested using experimental data of 154 bottom-hole or recombined reservoir fluid samples. New pressure- and temperature-correction curves for the Standing-Katz type correlation are presented which improve the accuracy of prediction. INTRODUCTION The present study was undertaken to investigate the known methods of determining liquid densities and to select one of them which might yield a better correlation if additional data were employed. An appropriate correlation would incorporate the following characteristics: (1) ease of handling in the computations, (2) results within engineering accuracy and (3) data easily accessible. After careful investigation of the different methods, the Standing-Katz correlation1 appeared to have these characteristics. The Standing-Katz correlation for liquid densities of hydrocarbon systems is based upon limited data. The original work, which employs apparent densities for methane and ethane, was based on data of 15 saturated crude oils in equilibrium with natural gas. Therefore, a test of the correlation using additional experimental data would serve either to validate the Standing-Katz correlation or to form a basis for corrections if such were necessary. PROCEDURE AND GRAPHICAL SOLUTION The data of 154 bottom-hole or recombined reservoir fluid samples were employed to calculate the densities at 14.7 psia and 60°F by the method described in Table 1. Volume contributions for methane and ethane were assigned from the pseudo liquid density plot (Fig. I), but volume contributions for N2, CO2 and HzS were not considered. The densities computed at reference conditions of 14.7 psia and 60°F were then elevated to their respective temperatures and pressures by the use of the correction curves proposed by Standing.' The percentage differences between the experimental values and the calculated values were determined; these samples were grouped into temperature, pressure and density ranges to determine a possible trend. It appeared that, at temperatures above 160°F, the calculated density values were consistently larger than the experimental density values; however, no obvious trend was found for the density and pressure ranges. There is a relationship between the pressure-correction and temperature-correction curves. This relationship, embodied in the temperature-correction curve, can be expressed as follows. The experimental densities of 125 samples above their bubble points were known. From these isothermal data, it was possible to determine an experimental-density difference between two pressures; and (from Fig. 2*), a calculated density difference between the same two pressures was determined. The relative effect of temperature must be considered in the calculated-density values. The effect of temperature can be determined by entering Fig. 3* at the two densities in consideration and obtaining the change in density at constant temperature. This change, or delta density, must be added

By E. S. Messer

A knowledge of the magnitude of the irreducible inter.;titial water in a porous medium is so important to petroleum engineering that its determination has become routine in core analyses. The method of determination, being a production problem, should encompass the basic requirements of simplicity in technique and calculations, with reproducible results obtainable in a short interval of time. The results of the evaluation tests outlined in this report indicate that the evaporation method for determining the irreducible water is a technique which meets the requirements. The procedure consists, as the name implies. of permitting the saturant in the pore spaces to evaporate until only an irreducible volume remains. The determination of this volume can be made either graphically or by a mathematical comparison of fluid flows; the time required for each determination being dependent on the fluid used. When fluids other than those having reservoir characteristics were used, a volume factor had to be calculated which was based on the relative volume of various liquids adsorbed on grain surfaces and retained in pores. This factor made possible the calculation of an irreducible water volume when more volatile fluids such as toluene and benzene were used as the saturants. Also presented is the theoretical discussion necessary for the calculation of the capillary pressure as determined from the evaporation curve. A comparison is made between the calculated values and those obtained by experimental means. INTRODUCTION In all geological formations there exists, in the pore spaces of the rock structure, water that is held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces. "Interstitial water" is the term given to this water and is defined as that water coexisting in the pore space with the oil prior to exploitation. The term ''connate water" has often been used synonymously with this term; however, this can be true only by a specific definition since, geologically, it means the water in place at the time the rock structure was formed. The quantity of the interstitial water is a variable factor in any formation, since it depends on the hydrostatic forces present in any multiple-phase system. These forces may become unbalanced by the introduction of an extraneous force such as the raising or lowering of the "water table" or the migration of oil into a water-filled formation. Any unbalanced force results in a change in the interstitial water. There exists, however, an irreducible interstitial water. for a particular sand, that is the fraction of the pore space occupied by water when the capillary pressure at the particular point in question is at an equilibrium with the hydrostatic head of the oil sand in the reservoir. For this discussion the term "irreducible water saturation" will be used in place of "irreducible interstitial water saturation" for the sake of brevity; however, they are understood to be identical. A great amount of work has been devoted to the theory and methods for studying the irreducible water saturation and its related capillary pressure. As a result of the publications of Leverett;' Hassler, Brunner and Deahl;2 Calhoun and Lewis;3 and others, the role of capillary pressure studies is being accepted by the industry as a tool for studying suhsurface phenomena. Many techniques have been developed and published for determining the capillary pressure and irreducible water. In general, these techniques may be grouped into three classifications. One of the first was the capillary pressure method described by Leverett1 and expanded by Bruce and Welge.4 The experimental results were compared with water saturation of cores obtained using oil-base mud. Thornton and Marshall compared the irreducible water saturation of core samples determined by the capillary pressure method and by salinity and reported good agreement between the two methods. The second classification for determining the irreducible water and capillary pressure may be referred to as the "centrifugal force method." The general technique is similar to the capillary pressure method except that the force driving the reservoir fluid from the sample is of a centrifugal nature. A complete description of this method was presented by J. J. . McCullough and F. W. Albaugh.6 A process, the reverse of the capillary pressure method, was presented by W. R. Purcell.7 Mercury under pressure is driven into the pores of the rock and the saturation of the core determined at each applied pressure. The resulting capillary pressure curve is used to evaluate the irreducible water saturation. The techniques mentioned are singular in their approach to the irreducible water saturation. In all cases. an external force was applied to the core. The forces employed in the evaporation method are the vapor pressure of the liquid causing evaporation, the kinetic diffusion forces. adsorptive forces and. to a lesser degree, the viscous forces resisting flow to the surface. The basic definition of irreducible water is that water held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces This water has been described by previous investigators as being held in the microcapillaries too small to support fluid flow. Actually, this fluid volume is made up of the water in the microcapillaries and as a film adhering to the surface of the crystals. All capillaries. therefore, possess some liquid as a film, the thickness of the film being dependent on the properties of the fluid and solid. A discussion of experiments with references pertaining to the measurement of this immobile layer next to the solid surface can be found in the text by J. J. Bikerman.8 Eversole and Lahr calculated the thickness of this layer to be in the order of 10 ' to 10' cm for aqueous solutions and glass. Between two quartz surfaces they found the thickness to be 2 x 10 cm. The work of Volkova, on the capillary movement of water and toluene in quartz grains, indicated the thickness of the Immobile layers to be near 10' cm. Since any measurement is an average value, it is easy to understand that an absolute value would depend on the roughness of the surfaces involved and the complexity of the system. A calculated effective pore radius of 2 x 10 cm is obtained at the, irreducible saturation of a porous media in a water-air system when a capillary pressure of 100 psi is applied. Since the separation of the sand grains is of the same approximate magnitude as the immobile layer.

Jan 1, 1951

By E. S. Messer

A knowledge of the magnitude of the irreducible inter.;titial water in a porous medium is so important to petroleum engineering that its determination has become routine in core analyses. The method of determination, being a production problem, should encompass the basic requirements of simplicity in technique and calculations, with reproducible results obtainable in a short interval of time. The results of the evaluation tests outlined in this report indicate that the evaporation method for determining the irreducible water is a technique which meets the requirements. The procedure consists, as the name implies. of permitting the saturant in the pore spaces to evaporate until only an irreducible volume remains. The determination of this volume can be made either graphically or by a mathematical comparison of fluid flows; the time required for each determination being dependent on the fluid used. When fluids other than those having reservoir characteristics were used, a volume factor had to be calculated which was based on the relative volume of various liquids adsorbed on grain surfaces and retained in pores. This factor made possible the calculation of an irreducible water volume when more volatile fluids such as toluene and benzene were used as the saturants. Also presented is the theoretical discussion necessary for the calculation of the capillary pressure as determined from the evaporation curve. A comparison is made between the calculated values and those obtained by experimental means. INTRODUCTION In all geological formations there exists, in the pore spaces of the rock structure, water that is held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces. "Interstitial water" is the term given to this water and is defined as that water coexisting in the pore space with the oil prior to exploitation. The term ''connate water" has often been used synonymously with this term; however, this can be true only by a specific definition since, geologically, it means the water in place at the time the rock structure was formed. The quantity of the interstitial water is a variable factor in any formation, since it depends on the hydrostatic forces present in any multiple-phase system. These forces may become unbalanced by the introduction of an extraneous force such as the raising or lowering of the "water table" or the migration of oil into a water-filled formation. Any unbalanced force results in a change in the interstitial water. There exists, however, an irreducible interstitial water. for a particular sand, that is the fraction of the pore space occupied by water when the capillary pressure at the particular point in question is at an equilibrium with the hydrostatic head of the oil sand in the reservoir. For this discussion the term "irreducible water saturation" will be used in place of "irreducible interstitial water saturation" for the sake of brevity; however, they are understood to be identical. A great amount of work has been devoted to the theory and methods for studying the irreducible water saturation and its related capillary pressure. As a result of the publications of Leverett;' Hassler, Brunner and Deahl;2 Calhoun and Lewis;3 and others, the role of capillary pressure studies is being accepted by the industry as a tool for studying suhsurface phenomena. Many techniques have been developed and published for determining the capillary pressure and irreducible water. In general, these techniques may be grouped into three classifications. One of the first was the capillary pressure method described by Leverett1 and expanded by Bruce and Welge.4 The experimental results were compared with water saturation of cores obtained using oil-base mud. Thornton and Marshall compared the irreducible water saturation of core samples determined by the capillary pressure method and by salinity and reported good agreement between the two methods. The second classification for determining the irreducible water and capillary pressure may be referred to as the "centrifugal force method." The general technique is similar to the capillary pressure method except that the force driving the reservoir fluid from the sample is of a centrifugal nature. A complete description of this method was presented by J. J. . McCullough and F. W. Albaugh.6 A process, the reverse of the capillary pressure method, was presented by W. R. Purcell.7 Mercury under pressure is driven into the pores of the rock and the saturation of the core determined at each applied pressure. The resulting capillary pressure curve is used to evaluate the irreducible water saturation. The techniques mentioned are singular in their approach to the irreducible water saturation. In all cases. an external force was applied to the core. The forces employed in the evaporation method are the vapor pressure of the liquid causing evaporation, the kinetic diffusion forces. adsorptive forces and. to a lesser degree, the viscous forces resisting flow to the surface. The basic definition of irreducible water is that water held in a state of equilibrium between capillary and hydrostatic forces This water has been described by previous investigators as being held in the microcapillaries too small to support fluid flow. Actually, this fluid volume is made up of the water in the microcapillaries and as a film adhering to the surface of the crystals. All capillaries. therefore, possess some liquid as a film, the thickness of the film being dependent on the properties of the fluid and solid. A discussion of experiments with references pertaining to the measurement of this immobile layer next to the solid surface can be found in the text by J. J. Bikerman.8 Eversole and Lahr calculated the thickness of this layer to be in the order of 10 ' to 10' cm for aqueous solutions and glass. Between two quartz surfaces they found the thickness to be 2 x 10 cm. The work of Volkova, on the capillary movement of water and toluene in quartz grains, indicated the thickness of the Immobile layers to be near 10' cm. Since any measurement is an average value, it is easy to understand that an absolute value would depend on the roughness of the surfaces involved and the complexity of the system. A calculated effective pore radius of 2 x 10 cm is obtained at the, irreducible saturation of a porous media in a water-air system when a capillary pressure of 100 psi is applied. Since the separation of the sand grains is of the same approximate magnitude as the immobile layer.

Jan 1, 1951

By J. Geertsma

In order to obtain a better insight into the pressure-volume relationship of reservoir rocks a theory of pore and rock bulk volume variations is presented. The theory is independent of the shape of the pores but is restricted to isotropic porous media built up of continuous homogeneous matrix material. The main conclusion obtained from this theory is that only three elastic constants and three viscous constants are required for describing pore and rock bulk volume variations if the porosity is explicitly introduced into the treatment. In addition, reasonable approximations are introduced for various types of reservoir rock, e.g., sandstones, limestones, and shales, which lead to further simplifications of the basic formulas. In consequence there is then a further reduction in the number of deformation constants which have to be determined experimentally. It is shown how measurements of these remaining deformation constants can be performed most conveniently. Finally the application of the theory to reservoir studies is discussed and the translation of experimental results obtained in the laboratory into reservoir behavior is considered. INTRODUCTION The decline of fluid pressure in connection with the withdrawal of fluid from an underground reservoir gives rise to a change in volume of both reservoir fluids and reservoir rock. The volume variation of the reservoir rock results in a decrease of both the pore volume and the total volume of the fluid-filled formation. Whereas the variation in volume of the reservoir fluids with pressure is usually known from PVT analysis, that in the volume of the porous medium is rarely measured, as it is considered of minor importance in reservoir engineering. Nevertheless, certain experimental results' suggest that in a number of cases the neglection of the variation in pore volume may introduce errors into material balance calculations of reservoirs producing above the bubble point. Only a few experimental results on the compressibility of porous rocks have been published. The compressibility of pure quartz and of calcite can be found in a paper by Adams and Williamson'. Botset and Reed' carried out some experiments on the compressibility of loose sands, while Carpenter and Spencer' measured the compressibility of a number of consolidated sandstones, which data were supplemented by Hughes and Cooke5. Hall' finally reported a number of experiments designed to study the influence of the porosity on the compressibility of oil-bearing formations, from which it appeared that, particularly in the low porosity range, the compressibility of the pore volume is important enough to be taken into account. Difficulties, however, arise in applying these experimental results to field cases. This is partly due to the fragmentary nature of the published data. Yet even if more complete data were available, the need for a theoretical background would be strongly felt. Such a background can be partially found in studies carried out by Biot,6,7 who published a theory of elastic deformations of porous materials and their influence on fluid displacement within the pores, by Lubinski8, who studied the stress distribution in an elastic porous medium neglecting pore compressibility, and by Gass-mann" who mathematically analysed the elasticity of packings of spheres. The contributions of Biot intro-duce a number of deformation constants which are impractical for reservoir rocks from an aspect of experi-mental determination. The theory developed by dass-mann is correct but difficult to read. It appeared, how-

Jan 1, 1958

By Robert Bell

The Tar-Sands" is the name which has been given to the extensive horizontal deposit of fine Cretaceous sand, blackened by tarry petroleum, which forms the banks of the last or lowest 130 miles of' the Athabasca river before it terminates in Athabasca lake. The Cretaceous strata, to which these sands belong, extend northwesterly from Dakota all the way to this lake and for 500 miles beyond it. The Athabasca river forms the uppermost section of the Athabasca-Mackenzie, one of the great rivers of the world. It rises on the Pacific side of the Rocky mountains, westward of Edmonton, and flows north of east to a point called Atha-basca Landing, 100 miles north of Edmonton, where it turns northward and runs about 280 miles before it falls into the west end of Athabasca lake. The section of this river-system which discharges the lake just named into Great Slave lake, is called Slave river, and below the latter lake it becomes the Mackenzie river. Along the section of 280 miles of the Athabasca river above mentioned, the Cretaceous strata consist of bluish-gray and drab-gray marls, on top, from Athabasca Landing to Drowned rapid, 110 miles down stream; then heavily bedded gray sandstones, 225 ft. in greatest thickness, underlying these, form the banks for about 40 miles further. The strata appear to be horizontal, but they really dip very slightly to the southward. At Drowned rapid, we see the first of the tar-sands resting on almost horizontal beds of bluish-gray limestone of Devonian age. In some places the limestone is associated with shaly or marly bands. Notwithstanding the great hiatus between the two series, the horizontal tar-sands lie conformably upon the almost level upper beds of the limestone wherever the two formations are seen together, all along the river, throughout a

Jan 1, 1908

By C. E. Turner, J. R. Elenbaas, R. D. Grimm, J. A. Vary, D. L. Katz

A technique is presented by which well samples and core plugs of dolomite formations are classified by microscopic examination into seven different porosity grades. Quantitative values of porosity and permeability are determined for each grade by a statistical correlation of the core plug test data with the porosity grading system. These quantitative values are applied directly to the grades exhibited in the well samples for the purpose of estimating the reservoir void space for wells that were not cored. The procedure is described for estimating the gas reserves per unit area lor the South Hugoton gas field. but a reserve estimate for the field is not given. INTRODUCTION The miscroscopic examination of well sample; and the graphic recording of their lithologic qualities and other distinguishing characteristics of various geologic formations drilled is both a science and an art of long standing and wide application. Usually the primary objective of a geologist who "sits on the well" and examines the samples are: to identify the formation being drilled, determine the total depth, casing point. and completion interval. In most cases the porosity is described. if done at all, in general terms. such as: trace, scattered, fine, poor, fair, medium. good, excellent, or in some other relative terms. In fields where various geologists have examined samples and recorded observations on many wells considerable variations in lithologic terms and porosity descriptions occur unless there is primary effort to establish uniformity of logging observations and standards of recording observable porosity. When an estimate of the pore volume of a reservoir is made a geologic concept of the processes that control the magnitudes of porosity and permeability is developed by microscopic examination of well samples. The characeristics and appearances are then mentally related to rather general quantitative units of porosity based on physical core data from the same reservoir or on such data or experience in other reservoirs that have similar qualities. The reliability of such estimates depends largely on the variations of the lithology of the formations, the geometric properties of its void system. the extent of comparisons of sample appearances with porosity data, as well as the uniform recording of all relevant characteristics. This statement is particularly significant for dolo-mitized limestone formations of substantial thicknesses and heterogeneity such as the Permian Dolomites of the Hugoton gas field. Jn this field, as well as in most of the Permian Dolomite fields, the producing formations are of relatively great thicknesses in which the porosity and permeability of the reservoir varies substantially in all directions, depending on the crystalline structure. degree and kind of impurities, kind of fossils anti cementation thereof, degree of dissolution. and fracturing. The variations of the lithologic texture of the dolomites and post deposition alterations have resulted in porosities and permeabilities of such magnitudes that only a part of the gross thickness can be counted as "pay." At the time of this study insufficient gas production had been experienced to apply the pressure decline production method in the South Hugoton Field and the electric logs are not definitive enough. The problem of estimating gas reserves in the south part of the Hugoton Field is primarily one of determining the pay thickness and porosity from well samples and core data. The area studied embraced all that part of the field lying south of an east-west line through Guvmon, Okla., anti containing approximately 1.000,000 acres. This paper describes a technique of correlation of physical core data with well samples so that quantitative values of pay thickness, porosity. Permeability, and connate water may be assigned to well samples that are representative of a given interval, and thereby permitting the estimation of gas reserves lor a given unit area. The procedure was developed by a uniform microscopic qualitative porosity grading of the dolo. mite core plugs.. and relating these grades to the respective physical core data on a statistical basis The well sample-were also graded in a Similar manner in order that the quantitative values established lor the core plugs could be applied to the well Sample for wells that were not cored. GRADING OF DOLOMITE A group of experienced geologists was given the assignment of examining the samples on all wells in South Hugoton in order that they could log their observations in a uniform and standardized manner and grade the observed porosity so that it could be related quantitatively to the core data. The group initiated the study 011 chips from cores which bad been tested for porosity and permeability. This study continued until all of the geologists developed a common knowledge of lithologic terms and of the characteristic appearances of the samples and their relations to measured porosity. The characteristic appearances of the dolomite samples under twelve-power magnification as related to their qualitative porosities afforded a classification of the dolomite into :even grades of porosity, ranging from dolomite of no-visible porosity under twelve-power magnification to dolomite of excellent porosity. The assigned grade for a specific 10-ft interval is a weighted average of all visible grades of porosity exhibited by the cuttings representing that interval. The porosity characteristics were recorded by a color graph adjacent to the lithology column in conjunction with a numerical system for further definition of relative porosity as shown in Fig. 1. The three vertical lines to the right of the lithology column each represent 33 1/3 per cent. which lines were used to record the percentage of the samples, for any particular interval. that showed porosity under the microscope. The colors were used to denote actual pore size. i.e., orange. blue and I-ed for pore diameter of one-fourth or less. one-fourth to one-Ilalf. and greater than one-half millimeter, respectively. The area colored 1)). one or more colors represents the percentages of the samples exhibiting pores of the respective size or sizes. The numerals from one to six inclusive shown on the log in

Jan 1, 1952

By R. V. Colligan

[CONTENTS PACE Educating and Training Economic Geologists of the Future. By C. H. BEHRE, JR. (TP 2278, Min. Tech., Nov. 1948. Discussions by R. V. COLLIGAN and EVAN JUST) ....... I Mercury Industry in Italy. By EDWIN B. ECKEL. (TP 2292, Min. Tech., Jan. 1948. Discussion .............................. by C. N. SCHUETTE) 3 Chert in the Kingsport Formation at Mascot, Tennessee. By ARTHUR T. ALLEN. (TP 2299, ............... Min. Tech., Jan. 1948. Discussion by M. M. BUTLER) 5 Wall Rock Alteration at Butte, Montana. By RENO H. SALES and CHARLES MEYER. (TP 2400, Min. Tech., May 1948. Djscussions by C. D. HULIN, W. D. JOHNSTON, JR., and L. C. ................................... GRATON) 5] Educating and Training Economic Geologists of the Future R. V. COLLIGAN*-I can best illustrate my opinions by drafting another five year plan (Table 2). This plan is set up following the same stipulations outlined by Dr. Behre, namely: (I) the student is preparing himself for commercial work as a mining geologist; (2) he is attending an institution with a sufficiently broad curriculum (that is, engineering school and mining school as well as liberal arts college) to furnish the courses listed; and (3) he is not planning to continue his studies through to a doctor's degree before going into commercial work. A comparison of my study plan (Table 2) and that submitted by Dr. Behre (Table I) will at once point up the basic similarity, due to the obvious fact that there are so many essential courses which must be included in any outline of study. However, a more detailed analysis will show up certain differences, which, in fact, are only certain refinements on Dr. Behre's program. These I plan to discuss in order of their importance. The first and most important change is the addition of 12 hr of optional subjects, making a total of 24 hr of optional subjects as against a total of 12 hr under Dr. Behre's schedule. This of course entails the elimination of certain courses, which I shall discuss later. However, I wish to make it clear that I suggest eliminating these courses not because I feel that they are unnecessary, but rather because I feel the optional courses are more necessary to the complete education of the individual. I appreciate that Dr. Behre recognizes the importance of the cultural side of education, but I take issue with his thesis that the student will get it without credit and in his spare time. I do not think that the average college student, and certainly not the college freshman, is mature enough to know what he needs and where to get it in his spare time. I think it must be "spoon-fed"; he must be oriented through specific courses. University life (or should I say "college life") is too full of athletics, fraternity activities, dances, "bull sessions," and countless other enjoyable distractions, all of which contribute to the "full man." I fail to see how the average young American male can possibly sandwich in a necessary complement of "cultural activities" in his spare time. Since these latter activities do not fall within the pattern set by the "group," and show less promise of immediate return in enjoyment, or increased social status on the campus, they are bound to suffer in competition with the more popular, "group" activities. No doubt much of the criticism levelled against arts colleges, namely, that the cultural courses are useless, is well taken, for the culture

Jan 1, 1947

By Arthur Notman

DESPITE the tremendous drop in the volume of domestic production of metals, their prices, and profits, the world as a whole has managed to produce and consume nearly as much as in 1937. Measured by production, 1937 was the record year for copper, lead, and zinc. The Copper Institute figures for 1938 (estimating December as equal to November) show that although apparent domestic consumption declined 309,422 tons, foreign consumption increased 133.035 tons. The total for 1938 was 1,971,790 tons compared with 2,148,177 tons for 1937. The domestic decline was 38.5 per cent, the foreign increase 9.9 per cent, and the total decline 8.2 per cent.

Jan 1, 1939

[Abstmct of remarks by R. II. Sweetser arid suhscqueut discussion at the New York Meeting, February, 1926. The Transactions mill ultimately contain a report of work resulting from these discussions. Need for a standard of ualuration.—There should be an accepted method for evaluating the different kinds of bituminous coals based on their carbon just as that for iron ores is based on iron. Variation in the classes of coals and their desirability fol the different industrial uses is analagous to the case of iron ores. The iron people have developed a standard. In the past coals have not been intelligently distributed because the public has not been informed as to its uses. Many operators have known nothing about the final disposal of the coal shipped from their mines. Sales agents and retailers have had no means of evaluating coals except to make the price as high as the market will stand. Producers and distributors need to know how much more valuable the coals would be if prepared so as to contain less objectionable material. Mr. Swectser cnlletl on the Goal and Coke Committee of the Institnte to organize a study through producers and users to develop a method scientifically and comnereially sound E. A holbrook said that the information exists but the public is unwilling to investigate. He praised Ashley's1 nomenclature of the different kind of coal which has been accepted by the Coal Mining Institute of America and recommended to the American Enginecring Standards Commitee. G. S. Rice pointed out the wider variety and distribution of consumption of coal compared to Iron ore. C'. M. Young approved Mr. Sweetser's remarks and hoped lor a research institution, probably endowed, to study utilization of coal after it comes from the ground. Mr. Sweetser cited incidents to prove his former statements. He said that a reduction of 1 per cent. ash in the coal would cut down the cost of pig iron at a blast furnace 30 c. a ton, that the coal men should tell what the iron men would have to pay to get better coal. H. J. Prryn endorsed the need of blast-furnace operators to know the kind of coal from which their- coke is made and the latler's ash content, as this affects coke consumption. A. C. Fieldncr explained that the difficulty of evaluating coal on the basis of chermical analyses for calorimetric tests is: (1) representativr

Jan 1, 1927