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By C. C. Miller, C. A. Hutchinson, A. B. Dyes

This paper presents a simple and practical method for the estimation of effective permeability and reservoir pressures from the rise in bottom hole pressure when a well is shut in. The equations on which the method is based consider a stabilized well producing from a uniform formation when flow is shut off at the sand face followed by the unsteady state flow of a compressible liquid from regions far from a well to points closer in during the build-up period. An approximation for extending the method for two-phase flow in the reservoir is also presented. In order to compare the effects of extremes in the conditions existing at the external boundary of the reservoir, two general equations defining the build-up characteristics of the reservoir are shown: first, for a reservoir with constant pressure maintained at the radius of drainage, and second, for a reservoir with no influx over the radius of drainage. These equations define the build-up characteristics for the shut-in well as functions of time, the permeability and porosity of the drainage area, the viscosity and compressibility of the fluid flowing, the production rate prior to shut-in, and the radius of drainage of the well. When a well is shut in at the surface, rather than at the sand face, flow will continue into the well bore after shut-in due to the compressibility of the fluids in the bore. The effect upon the build-up characteristics of this flow into the well after shut-in has been studied by means of the electrical analyzer. From the basic relationships and consideration of the limitations due to continued flow after shut-in, methods have been developed for the estimation of the effective permeability of an area from the plot of the build-up characteristics of the well producing that area. Likewise, equations are presented for the estimation of the reservoir pressure from an early portion of the build-up curve. By means of the electrical analyzer, studies have been made concerning the variations in the build-up characteristics resulting from damaged or improved permeability in the immediate vicinity of the well bore. These studies show that the permeability estimated from the build-up curves represents the average effective permeability of the majority of the drainage area and that the permeability in the immediate vicinity of the well does not affect this estimate. Since the major portion of the drawdown is in the immediate vicinity of the well, variations in the permeability of this area greatly affect the productivity of the well as expressed by the productivity index. From pressure build-up and productivity index tests the ratio of the permeability of some arbitrarily specified area immediately surrounding the well and the effective permeability in the majority of the drainage area can be computed. This ratio is a measure of any damage to the well incurred in drilling or reworking and likewise any benefits as a result of remedial measures. In build-up tests and many other tests that are made on a producing well it is at least desirable, if not absolutely necessary, that the well be stabilized prior to testing. A method is presented here for relating the time required to stabilize a well and the reservoir and fluid properties. An equation is also presented for approximation of the length of shut-in time required to obtain sufficient build-up data for the estimation of permeability and reservoir pressure.

Jan 1, 1950

By G. H. Wilson

INTRODUCED in 1946 to serve a need in power- plant operation, closed-circuit TV has been used by well over 200 organizations in approximately 25 different industries. Known as industrial television, or simply ITV, it can be described as a private system wherein the television signal is restricted in distribution, usually by confinement within co-axial cable that directly connects the TV camera to one or several monitors, Figs. 1, 2. The picture is continuous and transmission is instantaneous, permit- ting an observer to see an operation that may be too distant, too inaccessible, or too dangerous to be viewed directly. Destructive testing or the machining of high explosives can now be conducted hundreds of feet away by personnel who still have close control through the eyes of the TV camera. It is also possible for one man to control operations formerly requiring the co-ordinated efforts of several workers. For example, at a large midwestern cement plant conveyance of limestone from primary crusher to raw mill and loading into five storage bins once necessitated the work of two men, one having little to do but prevent spilling of material by manually moving the tripper on the belt conveyor as occasion required. TV cameras mounted on the tripper now provide bin level indication to the conveyor operator at the crusher position so he is able to control the entire loading operation remotely, Fig. 3. By means of a switch, the picture from either camera is alternately available on a single viewer, or monitor, Fig. 4. Each camera is mounted on the tripper by means of a simple adjustable support and looks down into the bin, which is identified by the number of cross members on the vertical rod. Each associated power unit is located on a platform above the camera, Fig. 5. This centralized control by means of TV often has produced superior results, and in many instancés saving in operating costs has been sufficient to write off equipment costs within six months to a year.

Jan 7, 1954

By J. M. Gaines, C. H. Herty

IRon oxide (FeO) plays an extremely important part in the manufacture of steel. In the open-hearth furnace and the Bessemer converter it is the chemically predominant compound and controls to a large extent both the operation of the furnaces and the composition and quality of their products. Almost all of the refining action is carried out through the medium of FeO, which oxidizes carbon, manganese, silicon and phosphorus. At the end of any open-hearth or Bessemer heat the steel contains dissolved iron oxide, which must be wholly or partly eliminated. The type of deoxidation product depends on the amount of dissolved iron oxide and on the deoxidizer used. After the heat has been deoxidized and while it is being teemed, iron oxide diffuses from the ladle slag into the metal, causing losses of deoxidizer and increase in iron oxide content of the steel. It is generally believed that non-metallic inclusions are responsible for a great many failures of steel in service and for decreased yield of steel during rolling. The basis of most non-metallic inclusions is dissolved iron oxide. This investigation was undertaken in order to determine the amount of iron oxide that will dissolve in iron under various conditions. Steel-making slags are complex and it has been thought best to determine solubility under simple slags as a first step. The study is being continued under slags whose compositions approach those of operating slags Previous Investigations The solubility of oxygen in iron has been determined by a number of investigators (see Table 1) but their effort's have been directed toward the

An educated man is distinguished neither by his clothes nor by his knowledge; he is remarkable not for the things he says, but for the way he says them. You cannot even stand with him under an archway in the rain without finding him out. He may talk only of the weather. His words and his phrases alike my be simple. What distinguishes him is the arrangement of his words; however desultory his talk, it will be methodical; he has habituated himself to foreseeing the part to be played by each word he uses and the place to be taken by each sentence he utters. On the other hand, the uneducated man, though shrewd and well-informed, will relate facts and events as they recur to him, generally in disorder; in his effort to recollect and in his attempt to rectify forgetfulness he will pause irregularly, filling the intervals with meaningless phrases, such as "and then", "and so", or "said he to me", "said I to him"; and even the continuous parts of his story will be told confusedly-because he has not learned the proper use of words.* My own experience as an editor of technical manuscripts has taught me that the misuse of 'that' and 'which' is a fruitful cause of obscurity and confusion. The relative pronouns have distinct functions, and no writer can express himself clearly until he has learned to discriminate between these functions. For example : The engineers who refused to submit were discharged. The engineers, who refused to submit, were discharged. The engineers that refused to submit were discharged.

Jan 1, 1931

By Paul Beck

IT is well known that the hardness of metallic single crystals, like that of polycrystalline metals, increases during deformation (hardening by cold-work). It is also known that, as a consequence of deformation, the metallic material acquires an evident thermodynamic instability, revealed, for example, by the fact that the increased hardness gradually decreases with time, especially at elevated temperatures (softening by annealing). The temperature at which the stabilizing process begins is different for various metals, and for any metal it depends on the amount of deformation. Such stabilization of deformed metals may proceed in two different ways: through recovery, and through recrystallization. The former process allows the unstable deformed metal body to approach stability gradually and without visible change in the grain structure; the latter process, like an allotropic transformation, yields directly the undeformed stable "phase" in the form of new undeformed crystals, which, starting out of a certain number of nuclei, grow into and' consume' the deformed hard material. The extent of stability attainable through recovery is limited, espe-cially if the deformation of the metal crystal or crystals involves not only the gliding along slip planes, but also the bending of the slip lamellae, or at any rate the bending of comparatively large parts of the crystal lattice. In such cases, for instance in bent single crystals or poly-crystalline metals subjected to any deformation, recovery will not as a rule be able to restore the "straight" undeformed lattice, and stability can be attained only by recrystallization; that is, by the consumption of the bent crystal lattice parts by new, undeformed crystals-a much more drastic process. It is evident that the part of the surplus free energy stored in deformed crystals, which is present in the form of the elastic energy of the bent lamellae, is in these instances not considerably involved

Jan 1, 1937

By Jed H. Mosgrove

Ventilation is the method of producing, conducting, and distributing a constant current of fresh air through mine workings and returning the impure air to the outside atmosphere. Without ventilation no operations are possible in an underground mine. Therefore it is the most important single phase of mining, one on which everything else depends. A good ventilation system, therefore, must be correctly designed, properly conducted as the workings advance, and continually checked to make sure it is functioning correctly. Good air is essential for men to comfortably and safely perform their work. It is also essential to dilute, render harmless, and sweep the mine of any explosive fumes and the gases that are released in varying degrees by all coal seams and the rock strata in which they are contained. GENERAL The body of air that is being moved through the mine, known as the ventilating current, must have a definite way to enter and leave the mine. In other words, there must be a definite intake and return. The main consideration is to get the proper amount of good quality air to the working faces where it is needed. Inasmuch as the mine is divided into sections with interconnecting corridors, known as entries, it is necessary that there be a proper means of conducting the air to the proper points. As a simple explanation of a mine, consider a long tube and think of it in terms of a mine entry ill which the air must pass. The tube must have at least two openings before air can travel through it and this is the same for coal mine entries. The problem in ventilation is to find some means that will cause the air in the tube to flow from one end to the other. The only possible way to do this is to cause greater pressure at one end of the tube than at the other. Air at the end with the greatest pressure would then, of course, flow to the en which has the least pressure. Mine

Jan 1, 1973

By T. H. Aldrich

This paper is intended only to give a preliminary account of experiments made, and conclusions reached, concerning the treatment of certain refractory low-grade gold-ores, the profitable reduction of which may furnish a useful guide to the solution of similar mining and metallurgical problems, not only in the gold-bearing belt of the Southern United States, but perhaps in other regions also. It must be regarded as simply a " report of progress," preceding a more elaborate and conclusive report of regular practice. The mines of the Hillabee Gold Mining Co. are located upon what is generally known locally as Hog Mountain, on the northern edge of Tallapoosa county, Ala., about 15 miles from Goodwater and 14 miles from Alexander City, stations on the Central of Georgia railway. Gold has been known since 1839 to exist on this property, where it was discovered in that year by a man named Johnston. The property was worked for placer-gold by the old miners, and there are now the remains of four attempts to operate it by stamp-mill and plate-amalgamation. The present owners purchasid it in 1896, and since that time they have experimented at frequent intervals, in order to devise a process that would satisfactorily recover the gold. In 1903 regular operations were begun. Geologically, the mountain consists of an intrusion of what has been pronounced true granite in altered sedimentary slates. The cooling of the granite produced shrinkage-cracks, which have become veins. There is considerable question as to the period of the slate formation; but it is undoubtedly, in my opinion, of Carboniferous age. The veins, about 50 in number, strike N. 60° to 80° E.; dip approximately 65' from the horizontal; vary from a few inches to 25 ft. (being in gen-

Jan 1, 1909

By R. W. Balluffi, B. H. Alexander

RELATIVE diffusion rates of copper and zinc in a brass have been measured in a vapor-solid type of couple with which the amounts of copper and zinc diffusing past inert Kirkendall markers can be obtained by means of a few simple experimental measurements. If inert markers are placed on the surface of copper which is then exposed to zinc vapor from a brass chips, the particles become buried due to outward diffusion of the copper, as shown in Fig. 1. A schematic diagram of such a couple after diffusion is shown in Fig. 2. Consideration of the diffusion flow of copper and zinc shows that the entire hatched area, including the cross-hatched area, is proportional to the amount of zinc diffused inward past the markers and that the smaller cross-hatched area is proportional to the amount of copper diffused outward past the markers. These areas are completely determined by the expansion of the couple, the depth of the buried particles below the surface, and the chemical composition at the specimen surface. As Darken1 has shown, the ratio of diffusivities of copper and zinc is then given by the ratio of these two areas. Polycrystalline copper and two copper single-crystals made by the Bridgman method were prepared in the form of 1.5 cm diam disks approximately 0.5 cm thick with faces plane and parallel. Tungsten particles approximately 0.001 cm in diam were bonded to the surface of each disk by heating 5 hr at 1060°C in vacuo. Each specimen was next

Jan 1, 1953

By J. Rogers, K. L. Sutherland

THE relationships between collector and mineral, activator and mineral, and activator, collector and mineral will be considered herein. We propose to criticize current theories of flotation but we will not repeat the many pertinent arguments presented by Wark and Cox28 in 1937 in which the "chemical" or more strictly the "solubility" theory proposed by Taggart and co-workers22 is shown to be untenable. Recently Taggart, Arbiter and Kellogg24 have studied the long-chain aliphatic amines as collectors and have attempted to resuscitate the solubility theory for these particular collectors. Dean and Ambrose3 have felt that "we stumble over words" when we distinguish different mechanisms of adsorption. Our view is that nothing is more stultifying to the development of a science than attempts to force widely different phenomena into one classification. This oversimplification leads immediately to difficulties in the interpretation of results. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The response of minerals to activator and collector was determined by "captive-bubble" tests. The methods of preparation of specimens26 and of testing18 have been previously described. Results from captive-bubble tests were confirmed by flotation tests in glass-stoppered cylinders.25 The full lines shown in the figures relating solution composition to contact (flotation) distinguish solutions in which contact (flotation) is possible from those in which it is not. The curve is derived by successive approximation and the accuracy is ±0.2 pH units and ± 5 mg. per liter of collector or depressant. Solution compositions for which it was shown experimentally that contact or flotation is possible are marked by a circle, those for which it is not possible by a cross and those for which it is doubtful by a cross within a circle. It is assumed that at all other solution compositions within (without) the curve, contact or flotation is possible (not possible). After testing in the collector solution, the mineral was removed, washed, and tested by the captive-bubble method in water, or floated in a cylinder with frother only. In this way the composition of solutions in which a mineral was conditioned but in which properties of the collector solution prevented contact or flotation can be defined. The composition of solutions in which conditioning was possible lie between the full and broken curve, the experimental results being indicated on the figures by a square. The curves show the limits of composition of solution in which flotation in a cell would be possible. Many factors other than those considered in these tests determine recovery or grade of a given mineral in practice.

Jan 1, 1947

By L. D. Dougan, J. V. N. Dorr

PaGE Geological Conditions......................... 78 Development of Elko Prince Property.................. 78 Prince Vein.............................. 79 Mining Practice.............*.'.......:...... SO Milling Practice............................ 84 Power Plant............................... 96 Construction Costs.......................... 97 Geological Conditions The Elko Prince mine is in the Gold Circle district, Nevada, about 155 miles (2. 4 km.) from the town of Midas, 55 miles (88.5 km.) west of Battle Mountain and 50 miles (8.5 km.) northeast of Golconda. The district is described by Emmons in U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 408, 1910. Little was said of the Elko Prince, however, as only a small amount of work had then been completed. The geological structure of the region is simple. The oldest exposed formation, covering most of the area, is rhyolite, which has a light-colored devitrified groundmass enclosing phenocrysts of feldspar, quartz, and magnetite. It has been somewhat weathered and partially stained with oxide of iron. There are several outcrops of andesite which cut the rhyolite. The ore deposits occur as fissure veins, replacement veins, and sheeted zones. The Elko Prince vein is of the first type. The rhyolite near the veins is silicified, stained with oxide of iron, and, at some localities, replaced by ore, or is so permeated by metals as to be classed as ore. The vein filling consists chiefly of quartz, and the values consist entirely of gold and silver. Part of the gold exists as the native metal and part is associated with pyrite. Silver occurs free and as argentite in banded streaks through the vein. These veins trend in a northwesterly direction, with dips varying from 65' to vertical. Development of Elko Prince Property Gold was discovered in the district in the Fall of 1907, and a charac-stic rush followed The town of Midas was laid out and shortly had

Jan 1, 1919

"Located on the Big Hole River, three miles from Divide, Montana, and 21.75 miles from Butte.Built in 1899.DAM: Rock-filled wooden crib, 512 ft. long and 57.5 feet high.SPILLWAY: Equipped with flash-boards 189 ft. long, 8 ft. 10 inches high.PENSTOCKS: Two 8 ft. diameter of steel, each branching and supplying two wheels.WHEELS: Four double horizontal, double discharge turbines, made by The James Leffel & Co., 1,000 h-p., 180 r. p. m., direct connected to generators, operating at 60 ft. head. GENERATORS: Four G. E., revolving field, 750 k-w., 180 r. p. m., 800 volt, 3 phase, 60 cycle alternators.EXCITERS: Two water-wheel driven exciters.TRANSFORMERS: 12 250-k-w. G. E. air blast, primary 15,000 volts, Secondary 800 volts.OPERATION: The plant operates essentially as a peak load plant. Except in flood period, there is insufficient water to operate at full load continually. In December its average output is about 500 k-w."

Jan 1, 1913

By P. Martignan

THE year 1923 has seen new developments in the only French wells, i.e., those of Pechelbronn, Alsace. The output of the two pits now in operation totaled more than 75,000 tons, although there was a two months' strike. It is expected that 1924 will see an output of 85,000 tons; and 1925, 100,000 tons. A new pit has just been put in operation (fourth pit; the third not being in operation). The oil and the oil sands are extracted at a depth of 350 meters. Special attention has been given to the development of the distillation and refinery plants, particularly the manufacturing of lubricating oils. The present output of the lubricating-oil factories is approximately 20,000 tons neutral oils; 20,000 tons spindle oils, together with 2000 tons of paraffin. Engineers are introducing the most modern American processes of refinery and distillation. The company has 3000 employees. The capital of the company has just been increased from 45,000,000 francs to 81,000,000 francs. Some other drilling has been done in the Auvergne and Landes districts, and some oil has been found, but in too small quantities for commercial operation. Great hopes, however, are entertained of finding large quantities of oil, and the French Chambers have voted a special fund of 20,000,000 francs for investigating oil in France. Much work has also been done in the Colonies but without much success; oil is found in different districts of Tunis, but in relatively small quantities. In Morocco, drillings have not been successful. A prospecting mission recently returned from Madagascar gave an optimistic report concerning the oil conditions on the Island. Prospectings are being made also in French Indo-China. The present domestic yearly consumption is about: Gasoline 750,000 metric tons, kerosene 70,000 metric tons, automobile lubricating oil 75,000 metric tons.

Jan 3, 1924

By Lyall Zickrick

Numerous brands of virgin pig lead are used in the manufacture of lead and lead-alloy cable sheath for commercial cables. In changing from one brand of pig lead to another a readjustment of press operating conditions is nearly always necessary. This is due largely to different flow characteristics, and some brands extrude at a much lower pressure than others; for example, copper-bearing lead requires much more pressure than a low-bismuth lead under the same operating conditions. With the modern type of lead press the extrusion practice in general differs very little. Molten lead at a temperature of 375" to 400" C. (710" to 750" F.) is cast in a water-cooled cylinder and allowed to cool or solidify into a slug for six to nine minutes, This slug is forced into the die block and around the core tube through which the cable runs. The • die block is held at an optimum temperature by means of gas flames, usually 175" to 225" C. (350" to 435" F.). Measurements of the temperature of the cable sheath taken at the time of extrusion have covered a range of 190" to 225" C. (375" to 435" F.). According to Tammann, the rate of extrusion for a metal under constant pressure through a simple orifice is almost doubled for each 10" C. rise in temperature. Because of the irregularity of die-block construction, such a great increase is not obtained in lead-cable extrusion practice. To obtain more definite information about the effect of small percentages of metals usually present as impurities in virgin pig lead, a series of compression tests were made covering several different brands of lead and various alloys. Since the usual temperature of the sheath is approximately 200" C. as it emerges from the die block, these compression tests were all performed at 200" C. Five different brands of virgin pig lead were selected, as follows: Brand A: A desilverized western lead of very high purity. This lead contains neit,her copper nor bismuth. Brand B: A bismuth-free southeastern Missouri lead, usually containing 0.05 to 0.08 per cent copper. Brand C: A copper-free mid-western desilverized lead of very good grade, usually containing around 0.06 to 0.10 per cent bismuth.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. C. Fiedler

The development of cube-on-edge secondary re crystallization texture in Si-Fe strip depends upon the ability of inclusions, such as manganese sulfide, to restrain nomal grain gvowth. The ability of inclusions to perform this function is shown to depend upon their size and distribution. The desired uniform dispersion of many small inclusions is obtained by controlling the cooling rate from above the solution tempmature of the inclusions or, alternatively, by drastic 'quenching from above the solution temperature followed by heat treating at a lower temperature. The development of the cube-on-edge secondary recrystallization texture in Si-Fe strip depends upon both establishing the proper primary recrystallization texture and having inclusions to restrain normal grain growth. It has been suggested that the first requirement is met with a texture which, though weak, is near (110)[001]. A mechanism for secondary recrystallization originally proposed by ielsen' is consistent with the presence of this primary texture. It is visualized that a secondary grain appears where two adjacent grains happen to be sufficiently similar in orientation to be capable of behaving as a single large grain. This pair of grains will grow at the expense of its smaller neighbors as a consequence of its having lower grain boundary free energy. Other explanations of the origin of the secondary recrystallization texture have been offered,' and it can be concluded that the mechanism is not fully understood. Nevertheless, it is apparent that operationally the necessary primary recrystallization texture is obtained simply by interposing an anneal during the cold reduction to final gage. The role of inclusions in the development of the secondary recrystallization texture has been demonstrated by May and Turnbull4 in a comparison of a high-purity heat and a heat containing manganese sulfide. They showed that the driving force for secondary recrystallization is inversely proportional to the diameter of the matrix grains and that the function of the inclusions is to maintain a small matrix grain size. Other inclusions, such as various sul- fides,')' silicon nitride,8 and vanadium nitride,' titanium carbide,'' and vanadium carbide," have been shown to be effective in promoting secondary recrystallization to the cube-on-edge texture. There is also evidence that silica inclusions in Si-Fe strip made by powder-metallurgy techniques perform this function.' This report is concerned with the second of the two requirements for secondary recrystallization, namely the importance of the metallurgical control of the size and therefore number of inclusions. While the concepts involved are simple, they are fundamental to the making of this material. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE A heat containing 3.27 pct Si, 0.026 pct S, 0.06 pct Mn, and 0.004 pct C was made in an air induction furnace from electrolytic iron, 98 pct ferro-silicon, electrolytic manganese, and iron sulfide. The heat was divided between graphite and baked-sand molds with a cavity 2-5/8 by 5 in. and with walls 2-3/4 in. thick. Slabs, 1 in. thick and 2-5/8 by 5 in., were cut from the ingots and hot-rolled either in the as-cast condition or after one of the heat treatments described later. After pickling, the 80- to 100-mil-thick hot-rolled band was, unless otherwise noted, heat-treated for 5 min at 900°C before being cold-rolled to 25 mils. After a heat treatment of 1 to 3 min at 860°C, the strip was cold-rolled to 12 mils, the final thickness. The percent cube-on-edge texture was determined by dividing the maximum torque as averaged from four samples by the maximum torque of a 3-1/4 pct Si-Fe single crystal having the (110) plane in the plane of the sample. The torque measurements were made in a field of 1000 oe on 1-in.-diam disks. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The importance of the thermal history of the ingot is evident in Fig. 1 from the appearance of strips heat-treated in a temperature gradient. The sample

Jan 1, 1964

(Members are urged to send in for this column any notes of interest concerning themselves or their fellow-members.) Members and guests who called at Institute headquarters during the period May 10, 1916 to June 10, 1916: G. Aertsen, Philadelphia, Pa. Hennen Jennings, Washington, D. C. Frederick C. Alsdorf, Wickenburg, Ariz. H. M. LaFollette, LaFollette, Tenn. A. H. Anderson, Worcester, Mass. E. T. Lednum, Chicago, Ill. J. H. Batcheller, Mattapoisett, Mass. Francis Church Lincoln, Reno, Nev. Arthur B. Clark, Sheridan, Mont. H. Mortimer-Lamb, Montreal, Canada. J. Murray Clark, Toronto, Canada. Andrew W. Newberry, San Francisco, Cal. J. H. Collier, Oakland, Cal. C. E. Pettibone, Cleveland, 0. H. S. Emlaw, Spring Lake, Mich. Heinrich Ries, Ithaca, N. Y. E. L. Estabrook, Platteville, Wis. C. S. Robinson, Youngstown, 0. James W. Hambleton, El Paso, Tex. - M. K. Rodgers, Basin, Mont. James Henderson, London, England. E. J. Rossbach, St. Louis, Mo. G. P. Hulst, East Chicago, Ind. J. B. Tyrrell, Toronto, Canada. William F. Jahn, Riebeling, Mont. G. B. Waterhouse, Buffalo, N. Y.

Jan 7, 1916

By R. J. Colony

The failure, or disintegration, of concrete in structures, even when the cement, sand, and coarse aggregate used have passed satisfactorily all tests and inspections, is not uncommon. Such failures occur even when proper methods of mixing and placing have been used and where weather conditions were correct. In these cases, the origin of the trouble must be sought in the cement; therefore some additional mode of determining the quality of cement must be employed. The problem is to find a simple, usable, easily applied method that will supplement the standard tests. The solution of this problem involves a knowledge of the chemical composition of Portland cements, also of their constitution (or componental composition), as the behavior of a cement, when gaged, is dependent on the physical and chemical characters of the compounds of which it is composed, the proportions existing between them, and the fineness of grinding. It is likewise essential to know the character, behavior, and composition of the hydration products of Portland cement. The most promising method of attack makes use of chemical, mechanical, and petrographic methods. Chemical, by determining quantitatively not only the usual constituents, but the carbon dioxide and water. Mechanical, by determining the fineness with the air analyzer,' which separates into fractions of various grain dimensions all of that portion which in the ordinary sieve test passes the 200-mesh sieve and constitutes at least 75 per cent. of the total cement. These fractions may be further studied chemically and petrographically and micrometric measurements can be made of the grains. Petrographic, by the method of immersion, and by making thin sections from test pats of both neat cements and standard mortars. Normal Portland cement is composed of mechanical mixtures of definite chemical compounds having constant chemical and physical properties. In the order of their cementing qualities these are: Tri-

Jan 1, 1922

A dinner was given to Ambrose Swasey by the United Engineering Society, at the Engineers' Club, on November 14. Those present -included -twenty-one presidents and past presidents of the Founder Societies. Charles F. Rand, President of United Engineering Society, presided. President Robert S. Woodward, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Dr. Robert W. Hunt, of Chicago, made addresses to which Mr. Swasey responded. Dr. Michael I. Pupin, Chairman of Engineering Foundation, made the closing address. The evening was marked by the high character of the addresses, inspiration for grave duties lying before the engineering profession, and by the spirit of good fellowship. Among the seventy-two persons present were the following members of the Institute: E. E. Bartlett, William N. Best, J. Parke, Channing, C. R. Corning, F. C. Cottrell, J. V. Davies, J. V. N. Dorr, H. S. Drinker, Karl Eilers, H. M. Howe, A. C. Humphreys, Robert W. Hunt, Wm.. B. Jackson, D. S. Jacobus, J. H. Janeway, J. E. Johnson, Jr., John Johnston, George F. Kunz, Edwin Ludlow, Philip N. Moore, Fred'k. H. Newell; Wm. H. Nichols, H. Hobart Porter, Charles F. Rand, R. M. Raymond, .Jesse M. Smith, E. Gybbon Spilsbury, Bradley Stoughton, . Joseph Struthers, Benj. B. Thayer, Wm. H. Wiley, S. T. Wellman.

Jan 1, 1919

By Simon D. Strauss

The world appetite for minerals in the, third quarter of this century grew at a higher rate than had been anticipated. To illustrate, consider the experience of four, commodities. Excluding the Communist bloc, sometimes referred to as the centrally planned economies, demand for aluminum increased at a compound rate of 8.6% between 1950 and 1975,; copper rose by 4.4%; iron ore by 5.5%; and tin, the laggard in the group, by 2%. Except for tin, the figures are substantially greater than growth rates anticipated in 1950 in the Paley Commission report and other studies. The growth rate was not evenly distributed in geographical areas. Professor Wilfred Malenbaum of the University of Pennsylvania did an interesting study breaking these figures down as among three principal sources of demand -- the United States, other industrialized nations (which he referred to as the "rich lands"), and the developing world (which he referred to as the "poor lands").

Jan 1, 1982

By Waldemar Lindgren

No one would maintain that all ore deposits or all deposits of useful minerals have been formed by the same processes. Generally they have originated by special processes of concentration but these may be of many different kinds. Some deposits have their origin in chemical or biochemical processes of concentration in rivers, lakes or seas, others developed on land by means of chemical reactions of surface waters on various forms of rocks. Certain insoluble substances remained behind; others were dissolved and precipitated in favorable places. This action proceeded in the realm of the oxidizing surface waters or in the deeper zones to which the waters from the surface could find their way. Examples of the latter kind may be found in the extensive copper and vanadium deposits of some sedimentary beds or in the lead and zinc deposits of certain broad limestone strata. In these instances the evidence for any other mode of origin would seem to be very weak indeed.' Nor does it seem possible to deny that circulating waters may form deposits of the more common metals along fissures after having dissolved many constituents from paths traversed. Another very large class has been formed by magnetic processes of concentration. The last 40 years have been a period of intense activity in the investigation and description of a vast number of deposits; all modern methods have been employed and the result is an accumulation of data, difficult or impossible to master. It has been a period similar to that in petrography. The generalizations, the able deductions, have lagged behind. Evidently several geologists have become weary of this "infinite detail" and a mistrust of the microscope seems to have arisen. Although this feeling of being swamped in microscopic detail is a painful experience, nevertheless only through the detail in combination with the large features, and only by utilizing all the related sciences shall we

Jan 1, 1927

By AIME AIME

A COMMITTEE, representing a number of the larger oil companies in California, met in San Francisco on Nov. 12, 1919, for the purpose of discussing the depletion deductions to be allowed in computing the Federal income taxes under the Internal Revenue Act of 1918. It was the general sense of the committee that a system based on sound engineering principles should be formulated for estimating the value of oil properties, so that better and more uniform results might be obtained by the various companies in filing their returns with the' Bureau of Internal Revenue. A subcommittee, consisting of five petroleum engineers, was thereupon appointed to collect information and draft a report. The committee consisted of G. C. Gester, Carl H. Beal, J. H. G. Wolf, E. G. Gaylord, and E. D. Nolan; this report is the work of that subcommittee.

Jan 1, 1920