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BECAUSE of the impetus given to placer mining since the price of gold was advanced to $35, several types of small dredges have made their appearance, especially in the Lincoln and Oroville areas of California. Some of these are known as "doodle bugs," and have been given considerable publicity, though many believe their performance has been overrated and that complete costs of construction and operation, if known would not put them in so favorable a light. Fig. 1 is a doodle bug owned by E. M. Clark and operated near Lincoln, Calif. It is understood that it was abandoned because of inability to handle deep ground. A similar machine that has been operated-profitably by Comstock Placers is shown in Fig. 2.

Jan 1, 1938

By Paul M. Tyler

DOES mining pay? Inasmuch as the whining of minerals from Nature is one of the world's principal sources of new wealth, this question is of general economic interest but it is obviously of even more vital concern to investors and those engaged in mining. In a previous article on "Wage Costs in the Mineral Industries,' published in the November issue, I attempted to show that wages paid workers on the job accounted for, roughly, 50 per cent of the mine dollar. Salaries normally range over 5 per cent - lower for large metal mines but higher in stone quarries and minor nonmetallic min. in, industries. Purchases of supplies, materials. fuel, and power generally aggregate within the range of 15 to 25 per cent of total receipts, with the average well under 20 per cent. The total of all such specified expenditures which may he loosely described as

Jan 1, 1934

By Northcutt Ely, Charles F. Wheatley

This chapter deals with the systems of laws by which governments regulate the exploration for and production of the minerals within their jurisdictions. It is a summary, restricted by necessary space limitations, of material assembled by the author for a forthcoming publication of the United States Bureau of Mines, "Summary of Mining and Petroleum Laws of the World." (Information Circular, 1959.) The present study is organized in three parts, dealing with (1) the historical background of these legal systems, (2) laws of the United States, and (3) laws of other countries of the world. The reader's attention is invited to the acknowledgments at the end of the chapter, which inadequately express the appreciation due those who have assisted in the collection of this material. Part I. Historical Development of Major Western Systems of Land Tenancy with Respect to the Ownership and Control of Minerals The use of metals in primitive societies was largely confined to the manufacture of weapons for self-preservation. The ruler's control over copper, then brass, then iron, was essential to maintenance of his own ascendancy at home and his group's position against neighbors who had access to similar metals. Ancient societies were thus characterized by the ruling group's ownership of minerals and metals. The Egyptian civilization, which emerged in the fourth millenium B.C. upon the agricultural subjugation of the lower valley of the Nile, was responsible for extensive development of the upper valley as a source of mineral wealth. The production of gold during the height of that civilization has been estimated at $30,000,000 per year, thus equaling the early placers of California and Australia. The mines of Egypt were the property of the Pharaohs and were controlled at their direction. Greek mining developed a different scheme of land tenancy which more closely resembled modem concepts. Development of mineral resources was

Jan 1, 1959

By Norman C. Stines

Russia's mineral potential is a secret that has been effectively kept by the Iron Curtain. There is no conclusive data and because of its extreme importance to the Free World, the subject is greatly discussed. Opinions range from those presented by Paul Tyler in his article "Russia's Mineral Potential," June issue of MINING ENGINEERING to those of Norman C. Stines, presented herewith. Mr. Stines is a consulting mining engineer of Los Gatos, Calif. He was in Russia, China, and Manchuria from 1909 to 1918 as a mining executive. From 1917 to 1919 he served as assistant military attache Intelligence Branch U. S. Army in Petrograd, Russia.

Jan 11, 1951

By T. R. A. Davey

A Survey of current and recent research and developmental work is supplemented by predictions for processes which should be developed over the reminder of this century.

Jan 1, 1970

By W. C. Winegard, A. Galibois, C. J. Beingessner

The effects of solutes on the distribution of two-dimensional configurations of grains in zone-refined tin have been studied. When solutes with partition coefficients (ko) greater than unity are added, three-sided pains become more prevalent and the growth law changes. It is shown by electron-Probe micro-analysis that a solute buildup occurs ahead of a moving grain boundary when ko > 1. It has been found recently1, 2 that solutes with partition coefficients greater than unity have a larger retarding effect on grain growth than solutes with k, less than unity. ko is defined as the ratio of the concentration of solute in the solid to the concentration of solute in the liquid with which the solid is in equilibrium. Niessen and winegard2 have suggested that this effect is probably due to the complex shape changes which occur during the process of grain growth and that no theory based on single boundary motion3-5 can explain the results. They suggested that the dissociation of the unstable fourfold junction was delayed in alloys where ko was greater than 1 because the boundaries at the junction had to move into a region of high solute concentration. If indeed this mechanism were correct, it was felt that not only would the dissociation of fourfold junctions be affected by the solute buildup ahead of the boundaries, but the collapse of three-sided grains would be impaired. These combined effects would naturally lead to a modification in the distribution of the number of sides per grain seen on a two-dimensional section. The present investigation was undertaken to test these hypotheses by examining the grain-growth process in detail. EXPERIMENTS The Distribution of Grain Configurations in Zone-Refined Tin as Seen on a Two-Dimensional Section. Following the method of Bolling and Winegard,6 zone-refined tin was cast into button-shaped specimens and, subsequently, plastically deformed under a drop hammer at room temperature. The resulting flat coin-shaped samples were annealed at 200°C, some for 50 sec and others for 100 sec. The specimens were then examined to determine the distribution of the number of sides per grain, i.e., the num- ber of crystals adjacent to any particular grain in the section. For simplicity, the grains were classified as three-sided, four-sided, and so forth; this concept is schematically illustrated in Fig. 1. As indicated by smith,' it was necessary to examine every grain within an enclosed area to obtain a proper distribution of the relative frequency of each type. The distributions for the two annealing times are illustrated in Fig. 2. The total number of grains examined is also indicated on the figure. It is evi-

Jan 1, 1965

By J. F. Myers, F. M. Lewis

The paper reports the development of a large, slow speed ball mill closed circuited with a hydroscillator. This increased grinding efficiency 28 pct over conventional units.

Jan 1, 1950

By R. W. Parsons

The over-all apparent single-phase permeability of fracture-rock systems was studied using two different two-dimensional models. In a strict sense the results are applicable only to these models, yet may give some insight into real reseruoir behavior. The regular fracture-matrix model can have any number of regular fracture sets. All fractures within each set have the same orientation, width and spacing. The gross behavior is amlytically equivalent to that of an anisotropic permeable medium. In the heterogeneous fracture systems, individual fracture conductivities vary within a two-dinensioml network pattern. A computer program calculates the overall permeability after the conductivities are randomly placed in the network. The calculated permeability depends upon the distribution of these conductivities and the particular fracture pattern into which they are placed. Although detailed information on actual reseruoir fracture systems is not available, this study shows how some of the possible variables may affect obserued gross reservoir characteristics. INTRODUCTION Characteristics of reservoir rocks are determined by direct (core analysis) or indirect (logging and production tests) examination. Both methods, singly and together, are widely used in reservoir evaluations. For fractured reservoirs a problem exists in relating characteristics of cores to the in situ reservoir properties. Knowing fracture characteristics can be of value in determining production mechanisms. Because of the limitations of observation, the intimate details of a fractured rock system will never be known. One approach in analyzing fractures is to study the behavior of some conceptually simple models. The two models analyzed contain features which may be realistic, yet are mathematically tractable. Flow is considered in two dimensions only, with the plane of interest at right angles with the fractures. This concept represents the horizontal flow in a reservoir system with the fractures oriented vertically. Only single-phase, laminar flow is considered. The regular fracture-rock system permeability is calculable from a simple analytical expression. The heterogeneous system requires a computer program for calculating overall permeability.

Jan 1, 1967

By AIME AIME

THANKS to the excellent preliminary work of: the Division officers and the local committee the fall meeting of the Coal Division at Bluefields was a brilliant success. West Virginia was at its best with its beautiful mountains, good roads and foliage, just beginning to turn to autumn colors. The meeting began on time and was kept on time throughout. The papers were-well prepared and, being on subjects of live interest, provoked 'lively discussion. One factor in bringing this about was that they were not too numerous and that with one exception copies had been submitted in advance a sufficient time to permit of them having been studied. The Friday morning session was presided over by John .J. Lincoln of the Crozier Coal and Coke Co. and president of the Pocahontas Coal Operators Association. After brief announcements by Thomas H. Clagett, chairman of the local committee, regarding plans for the two day's involved, and by Howard N. Eavenson, chairman of the Division, the reading of papers was taken up.

Jan 1, 1931

The following additional notes about prices of coal in the early days were collected from the sources shown. Several data about canal tolls and labor conditions are also included. 1796, November: "The inhabitants lay it (coal) in at about 3;d. (83¢) sterling per bushel." (Ref. 73: p. 147.) 1804, March: "In March, 1804, I sent a person accustomed to mining to open the vein of coal, and to load the ark, which was accomplished, and early in the month of April the ark, with the first cargo of bituminous coal passed safely the Conewago falls, and landed her coal at Columbia, Lancaster County. The coal was sold at 31¢ per bushel at Columbia." ($7.75 per ton). This was the first coal from Clearfield County near the town of that name. (Letter from William Boyd: Pa. Senate Jour., 1833-1834, vol. 2, p. 561.) 1807: The following notice appeared in the Bedford Gazette: "Huntingdon, June 4. "Stone Coal.-Such of the farmers as wish to make experiment with stone coal as a substitute for plaster, in manuring their Indian corn, may be supplied with coal gratis upon application to Peter Hughes, at Mr. Riddle's mines, on the Raystown Branch. The proprietor of the mines offers not only to refund the carriage, but to pay the expenses of applying the coal, if upon a fair experiment it is found to be inferior to plaster, which now sells at two dollars per bushel." (Ref. 735: p. 708.) 1809: Coal was delivered in Pittsburgh at 5¢ per bushel or $1.25 per net ton. (Ref. 444: p. 50.) Coal was delivered in Connellsville at 4¢ per bushel or $1.00 per net ton. (Ibid.: p. 185.) 1810: Pittsburgh.-"Coal may be obtained of a good quality, ready delivered at 5¢ a bushel." ($1.25 per net ton.) (Ref. 315: vol. 2.) 1811: "It (coal) costs 6¢ a bushel at your door." ($1.50 per net ton.) (In Pittsburgh.) (Ref. 277: 1811, p. 68.) 1814: At Columbia, now part of Donors, Washington County, Pa., an original sale of lots in 1814 gave the purchaser of each lot the right to mine stone coal gratis from a bank on the property. (Ref. 410: vol. 1, p. 547.) "A laborer is able to dig upwards of 100 bushels per day." (4 tons.) (Ref. 277: 1814, p. 109.) A paper about the early newspapers in West Virginia says: "Collier Wanting. From 10 to 20 steady and industrious men, who understand digging coal, may obtain high wages in Kenhawa for that business, if immediate application is

Jan 1, 1942

By Ralph H. Sweetser

BENEFICIATION of iron ores from the blast-furnace point of view means more than the usual enrichment of the iron contents by the removal of a large part of the clay, carbonic acid gas, silica, or moisture of the natural ore; it includes all these, but it also embraces several other mechanical .processes made , necessary by the exacting requirements of present-day blast-furnace practice. The increasing use of iron- bearing by-products, to as much as a third or more of the total ore burden, has introduced still another series of processes for improving the blast-furnace ore burden. As we look back over the past three decades of blast- furnace practice 'in. this country, we see that many of the blast-furnace troubles were directly due to lack of proper preparation of the iron ore burden,, and we realize that beneficiation in one form or another would have remedied the trouble. This was particularly true in the smelting of magnetic iron ores, where run-of- mine ore included such big lumps of 'magnetite along with rich fines that the furnace operations were greatly retarded and control of the furnace such as is usual today, was completely unknown.

Jan 1, 1930

By R. J. Charles

F. C. Bond: This is an outstanding paper on comminution theory and represents a considerable advance in mathematical formulation. It clears the way for a discussion that should ultimately decide whether the work index should be considered as a parameter according to the Third Theory or as a constant. In the empirical differential equation dE = —Cdx/x [1] either Corn must be treated as a variable to satisfy known crushing and grinding conditions. The author has chosen the exponent n as the variable, with C as a constant. According to the Third Theory, in the general case n is a constant equal to 3/2, and C is a variable related to the work index Wi. If x is placed equal to P (the size in microns which 80 pct of the product passes) and F is the size 80 pct of the feed passes, then C equals 5 W1, and dE = 5 -5 Widx/x = 10 Wi 10 Wi w = vP vF which is the basic equation of the Third Theory. It is apparent that this integration involves the error of treating the parameter Wi as a constant, just as the author's treatment involves the error of integrating his variable n as a constant. These errors are probably relatively unimportant, considering the small range of the variables. When more is known about the factors contained in the work index, Eq. 1 can be revised as a partial differential equation. The Third Theory exponent of 1/2, or n = 3/2 in the Charles' differential equation (Eq. l), was not chosen primarily because it is the average between the Kick and Rittinger exponents; this may be merely fortuitous, since it is illogical to define truth as the average between two errors. It was first discovered from the study of a large mass of crushing and grinding data and confirmed by laboratory testing. The general correspondence of the Third Theory equation to actual crushing and grinding results over the entire size reduction range argues strongly that a fundamental phenomenon is involved. The a posteriori theoretical explanation of the constant Third Theory exponent is that the work done in breaking rock is proportional to the length of the crack tips formed. Compressive force applied to the rock results in deformation and strain energy. When this locally exceeds the breaking strength a crack tip forms, the surrounding strain energy flows to the crack tip and extends it to split the rock, with release of the energy as heat. Under rapid impact the crack tip may form before the strain has reached equilibrium, resulting in less energy expenditure and probably a coarser product. In any case, the elastic limit of a brittle material is practically the same as its breaking strength, and the work necessary to form the crack tip is the work required to break. The crack length of a ton of broken rock cannot be measured directly. However, the particle shapes of feed and product are similar, and the crack length is considered equal to the square root of one half of the new surface area formed. It is, therefore, proportional to 1/vD, where D is the equivalent product particle diameter. This is the basis of the Third Theory equation. Many secondary factors can be imposed upon the crack length breakage. These may cause the Third Theory work index to increase or decrease somewhat as the product size becomes finer. The work index is properly a parameter rather than a constant, making it an increasingly valuable practical criterion of the work input required in crushing and grinding.

Jan 1, 1959

By H. Rees

This paper supplements and brings up to date a report prepared earlier this year and presented at the Eleventh Pan American Railway Congress in Mexico City. Most of the original report is contained in this paper in order to acquaint the reader with the project background. On December 1, 1961, construction of this locomotive was completed. Stationary testing started immediately, and a host of problems in various areas were uncovered. Many of these had no relation to the use of coal in a direct fired gas turbine. All of them emphasized the problems which plagued previous projects of this kind. In 1944 the Locomotive Development Committee of Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., was formed to study the problems of combustion, coal handling, and fly ash removal which would have to be solved before coal could be used to fire a gas turbine. By 1947 this committee was composed of the chief executive officers of nine eastern railroads and five eastern coal companies. All of the members of this committee were vitally concerned in a coal fired gas turbine because coal cost only one-fourth as much per heat unit as fuel oil. A number of research projects were started to develop and test components on a small scale. This included work at John Hopkins University, Battelle Memorial Institute, Institute of Gas Technology at Chicago, Purdue University, and Southern Research Institute. By 1946 a pilot plant had been installed at the Dunkirk, New York plant of Alco Products Div. of American Locomotive Co. The U. S. Bureau of Mines made available to the Locomotive Development Committee (hereafter called LDC) a Houdry process gas turbine plant, originally destined for a Russian oil refinery. The full scale pilot plant was used to evaluate the results obtained from the small scale studies under actual gas turbine conditions. Operation of this plant disclosed a number of problems which had not been discovered in the small scale tests. By 1951 four 250 hr tests had been conducted with the Houdry gas turbine to test out a variety of equipment. The major problem concerned the removal of abrasive fly ash from the products of combustion so that wear on turbine blades would not be excessive. The first 250 hr test showed that the original fly ash separating equipment was inadequate. Large ash particles passing through the turbine blading were nicking the leading edges of the first row blades. At the conclusion of the second 250 hr test, erosion was so severe that the first row of stator and the first row of rotor blades were replaced. At the end of the third 250 hr test, it was necessary to replace the first three rows of stator blading. The fourth test was used to test out a new design fly ash separator developed by LDC and named the Dunlab tube. This device gave more encouraging results than any of the others tested. Early enthusiasm for overcoming major difficulties had resulted in placing an order in 1946 with Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. for a 3750 hp regenerative gas turbine. The gas turbine, together with associated combustion and ash removal equipment, coal handling equipment, generators and gear reduction unit was installed at Dunkirk by 1951. A 750 hr test was made in 1952 with the LDC-Allis Chalmers gas turbine power plant. At the end of this test it was necessary to replace the first four rows of both rotor and stator blading. Rows 5 and 6 did not require replacement. In 1953 the American Locomotive Co. joined with LDC and assumed an active role in equipment development and manufacture. During 1954 LDC-Alco operated the rebladed gas turbine 300 hr to determine if a new fly ash separator was adequate. Performance of the improved separator was considerably better, but trouble was experienced with clogged blowdown lines from the Dunlab tubes. When these lines clogged it permitted the passage of abrasive particles. In 1955 a total of 1421 hr was run. This included 243 hr of cycle operation on Union Pacific coal from the D. O. Clark mine at Superior, Wyoming. During the 243 hr a total of 370 tons of coal was consumed. The purpose of this test was to determine if U.P. coal was suitable for use in a coal fired turbine. It was the unofficial opinion that it was as good or better than the eastern coals that had been tested.

Jan 1, 1964

By PROCEEDINGS OF MEETINGS

THE opening session of the Institute was held at Hazle Hall, Tuesday evening, October 27th, with a large attendance of members. President Raymond called the Institute to order, and after a few introductory remarks, introduced Mr. I. Lowthian Bell, President of the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, and Honorary Member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Mr. Bell was received with great applause, and made his acknowledgments in a brief speech, of which the following is the substance: He desired to thank the Institute personally for the honor conferred upon him in his election to membership, and also for the invitation extended last year to the body of which he was President. The difficulty felt by many members of the Iron and Steel Institute, of leaving for a long journey the works of which they had charge, aggravated by special industrial troubles at the time of the invitation, had obliged them to conclude that it could not then be accepted in a fitting manner. The iron manufacture of this country is a subject of great interest to Englishmen, who look with pride upon the achievements on this side the water of the descendants of a common ancestry. His own reception in this country had far surpassed in cordiality even the well-grounded anticipations he had formed from the assurances of the President and other friends. Notwithstanding the flattering manner in which his friend, in introducing him to the Institute, had spoken of his contributions to the science of iron metallurgy, he could not take to himself alone the significance of this welcome. He knew it was a recognition of the services rendered by the body which he had the honor to represent; and he was glad to see present a member of that body, Mr. Thomas Whitwell, who had fortunately been able to make the journey at this time, and whom he had had the pleasure of meeting on the shores of Lake Champlain. He had been requested to say something of his impressions of the American iron industry. It was not easy to digest so soon the vast

Jan 1, 1875

By Orlando E. Romig

As metals and alloys are composed of an aggregate of allotriomorphic crystals or grains, each possessing an individual orientation, the physical characteristics of a metal or an alloy are closely related to the properties of the individual crystals. The preparation and study of single metallic crystals are, therefore, matters of considerable importance. The advent of the X-ray spectrograph as a valuable metallurgical tool has magnified the importance of this subject, because the interpretation of some X-ray spectrographs is difficult unless single crystals are used in these studies. Previous Work The first paper, as far as the writer knows, on the behavior or preparation of single crystals of metals is by Baker.' He describes the behavior of extruded wires of sodium and potassium. These wires, when pulled in tension, instead of showing the usual conical fracture common to most metals, had a chisel-shaped fracture when they were broken. I and 11, Fig. 1, have a similar fracture. Baker checked his results by preparing single crystal wires from molten sodium and potassium and observing their properties. He pre- pared the wires by filling glass tubes, under oil, with the molten metal. The surfaces of the strained wires showed slip bands of remarkable clearness of which photographs are shown in his paper. He concluded that these wires were single crystals and "that the portions of the metal brought into play are cubes. Such cubes, when placed so that a plane through two opposite edges was parallel to the axis of the wire, would allow of lateral contraction by faces gliding over one another in one direction only and not in the direction at right angles."

Jan 1, 1927

By Oliver Bowles

PRICES of quartz sold in the United States in 1938 ranged from $1.15 to $36,000 a ton. This startling variation was due simply to the differences between glass sand and rock - crystal, materials that are virtually the same in composition. It illustrates the complexities in qualities, uses, and values of industrial minerals. It is generally stated that mineral deposits are exhaustible resources which can never be replaced when depleted. This statement is no longer true with respect to certain industrial minerals now recovered in increasing quantities from that most inexhaustible of all sources of supply, the ocean. Salt has long been obtained from sea water, particularly on the Pacific Coast, and reference was made a year ago to the large bromine recovery plant at Wilmington, N. C. Now the Westvaco Chlorine Products Corp. is operating a large plant at Newark, Calif., having a capacity sufficient to recover daily from the ocean raw materials that will produce 60 tons of various magnesium products. Lime is used to precipitate the magnesia from salt-water bittern. The products are chiefly magnesium carbonate for chemical uses, periclase and other refractories, and oxychloride cement for flooring.

Jan 1, 1939

By Willard P. Ward

HAVING been engaged during the past year in the manufacture of ferro-manganese in a blast furnace, I have imagined that some further information on this subject might be of interest to that large number of members of the Institute who are engaged in the iron and steel industries. The great question of the economical production of good steel, ingot metal, or homogeneous iron (we scarcely know now what to call it) from good materials, and at reasonable prices, has, thanks to the intelligence and energy of a few American engineers, been successfully solved in this country. Nearly all first-class railroads, and many that would riot rank so high, have adopted the Bessemer rail. Martin boiler-plates are rapidly gaining ground, in competition with

Jan 1, 1877

By Willard P. Ward

Having been engaged during the past year in the manufacture of ferro-manganese in a blast furnace, I have imagined that some further information on this subject might be of interest to that large number of members of the Institute who are engaged in the iron and steel industries. The great question of the economical production of good steel, ingot metal, or homogeneous iron (we scarcely know now what to call it) from good materials, and at reasonable prices, has, thanks to the intelligence and energy of a few American engineers, been successfully solved in this country. Nearly all first-class railroads, and many that would not rank so high, have adopted the Bessemer rail. Martin boiler-plates are rapidly gaining ground, in competition with

By CLARESCE CARLETON SEJIPLE

(Wilkes-Barre Meeting, June, 1911.) AT a number of mines in eastern Nicaragua, 3.5- and 5-ft. Huntington mills are used for grinding gold-ore after a preliminary breaking in jaw-crushers. The smaller mills are made sectional to facilitate transportation to the more difficultly accessible mines. The capacity of the smaller mills is about 20 or 25 per cent. that of the larger, but in proportion to the quantity of ore ground they require more power and are subject to greater wear. The notes herein given are from records of the performance of the larger mills, but, in general, apply to the smaller also. THE NATURE OF THE ORE. The ore occurred as a series of flat veins in a highly-decomposed rock, probably alaskite. The primary mineralization comprised pyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, chalcopyrite, and quartz; the oxidation-products of which were chiefly hydrated iron oxide or limonite, chrysocolla, azurite, and malachite. The kaolinization of the feldspar of the country resulted in the admixture of a great quantity of clay with the oxidized ore. The quartz was sandy, imbedded in the clay; and probably the greater part represented the residue from the crushed rock in the fissures after leaching, and kaolinization of the feldspar. There was little vein-quartz in the unaltered primary sulphide ore. Only the oxidized ore was mined for the gold that it contained in amounts that averaged $4 per ton. No specks of gold were ever seen in the ore, and the gold obtained by panning was always exceedingly fine. The amalgamation-bullion was about 800 fine in gold and 60 to 80 in silver. The ore delivered at the mill contained from 5 to 15 per cent. of moisture; during the rainy season the quantity was much greater. The moisture and clay made the ore so sticky that it had to be raked over steeply-inclined grizzlies; it hung in the ore-bins,

Oct 1, 1911

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 Athabasca. 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 clip 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

Mar 1, 1908