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By H. B. Fuqua, B. E. Thompson

For a very brief description of the North Texas area, and the general geological features with which it is associated, the reader is referred to the opening paragraph of last year's summary1. A more complete discussion of the structure of the area, together with other interesting data concerning it, has been published recently by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas2. It has been impossible for the authors to isolate the statistics for production for each of the many small pools of this district, as such statistics are not kept by operators except by counties or arbitrary divisions of counties. The total number of wells drilled in Archer, Wichita and Clay counties also has been subject to some estimate, as many of the shallower holes are not reported. While both routine development in proven or semiproven areas and exploratory drilling during 1935 showed an increase over the year 1934, the discovery of new producing areas of importance did not show improvement over that period. Several extremely local productive spots within semiproven areas were found in Archer, Cooke and Wilbarger counties; and extensions to older producing areas were developed in Archer, Baylor, Cooke, Montague, Wichita and Wilbarger counties. In Archer County, the Grace and Woods No. 1 Archer County (Fee), 4 miles northwest of Archer City, in the Thomas Glass survey, encountered a sand from 2836 to 2845 ft. of Pennsylvanian (lower Canyon) age, which showed an initial yield of 75 bbl. daily. While its production is of negligible importance, it is given special mention in this review because of the fact that it is producing from a new and deeper horizon than has been previously exploited in the county. Little deep development occurred in the district during the year. The Walter Gant No. 2 C. M. Worsham in J. M. Swisher survey, about 14 miles east of Henrietta, in Clay County, was abandoned at 5127 ft. in

Jan 1, 1936

By Walter J. Karplus, Otto J. M. Smith

The transient response of earth formations may be tlcter.171ined by means of four electrodes mounted coli-rienrly on n sonde. Exponentially decaying current pules are applied to one pair of electrodes and the re.rrrlting voltage transient at the other pair is recorded. It is shown by theoreticol analysis and verified by laboratory experiments that this arrangement readily yields the direct resistivity of the formation and provides valrrable additional information as well. INTRODUCTION Although electrical transients have been employed with moderate success in geophysical prospecting, their application to well logging has received virtually no attention in technical literature. In the conventional direct resistivity logging methods only the zero frequency impedance of the formation under study is measured, and no information is obtained regarding its reactive characteristics. Since the use of certain transients appears to offer some advantages in this respect, experiments were performed on a laboratory scale to investigate this possibility. This investigation was limited to a study of a four-electrode array where both the receiving and transmitting electrode pairs are mounted on a logging sonde, and decaying exponential pulses are applied to the transmitting electrodes. THEORY Given an electrode configuration as shown in Fig. I, located in a homogenous medium of resistivity p, if each electrode has an effective radius, r, which is small compared to the spacing, s and a, it is easy to show by integrating the volume resistivity that the input resistance, Rrw, of the transmitting electrodes is Rxw=p/2pr If a capacitor of capacity C, charged to a voltage Em, is suddenly connected to these electrodes, the resulting current, I(t), will then be The voltage transient, E(t), at the receiving electrodes may then be found by substracting the resulting potential at electrode Y from that appearing at electrode Z. and by inserting Eqs. 1 and 2 Integrating Eq. 4 with respect to tim

Jan 1, 1957

By S. P. Burke

OUTBURSTS in coal mines have contributed greatly to the hazard of mining operations in localities in which they occur. They have been responsible for many casualties and fatalities and much property damage. An excellent review and symposium on the subject appeared recently1. From a study of the papers included in this symposium, and other litera-ture on this subject2, the following conclusions or statements seem justified: 1. Outbursts are more likely to occur in deep mines; that is, where the coal seam being mined has considerable overburden. 2. Outbursts usually occur when hard, dense, nonfractured coal is being mined. It is believed that in most cases a fault or a pocket of friable or soft or pulverized coal existed some distance behind the dense coal at the time of the outburst. 3. The outburst involves a rending or pushing of the solid material of the coal face, the roof, or the floor outwards and often is accompanied by the discharge of large quantities of very fine coal. 4. Drill holes or borings into the coal ahead of the workings have failed to yield information either from evidence of increased gas pressure or increased gas flow that makes possible the prediction of outbursts. 5. Mines in which outbursts occur are usually considered "nongassy," or only very slightly "gassy"; yet large volumes of gas may be produced at the time of the outburst. Despite the varied conditions and varied locations in which outbursts have occurred, the foregoing general statements appear to be applicable in whole or in part to all the recorded cases. These observations there-fore should be significant and any explanation of the mechanism of the phenomena should be consistent with them. The following suggestion seems to be in accord with this requirement, and is offered in the hope that it may assist in the further elucidation of this phenomenon.

Jan 1, 1935

By J. S. Kasper, R. M. Waterstrat

IN view of the recent findings of a pronounced ordering of atoms in s phase alloys containing elements of the first long row of the periodic table (and including molybdenum),l it is of interest to resolve the question of ordering for s phases containing second and third-row elements. Examples of the latter have been provided recently by Greenfield and Beck2 and two of them, Re-Cr and Ru-Cr, would appear to be favorable for a study of ordering by X-ray diffraction methods because of the considerable differences in the scattering factors concerned. In addition, s phase is found to occur in the Os-Cr system, where the difference in scattering factors is even larger. Accordingly, X-ray powder intensities have been measured in an attempt to learn the nature of the ordering, if any, in these three v alloys. Since there is no reported work on intermediate phases in the Os-Cr system, an exploratory investigation was made in this system, and it was found that, in addition to the s phase, the phase with the A-15 or ß-W structure also occurs. Specimen Preparation—The alloys were prepared by compressing mixed powders of —200 mesh size and sintering in an atmosphere of pure dry hydrogen. All alloys were rapidly cooled from the annealing temperature to room temperature in a stream of cold dry hydrogen in a water-cooled chamber. Table I lists the sources and purities of the starting materials, as well as the details of processing for each of the alloys investigated. Intermediate Phases in the Os-Cr System—In the absence of information on intermediate phases in the Os-Cr system, it was suspected that this system would resemble that of Ru-Cr, where a s phase, RuCr2,2 and a phase with the A-15 structure, RuCr3,3,4 have been identified. Both these phases were found in the Os-Cr system and at compositions

Jan 1, 1958

By O. N. Wampler

UNDERGROUND lighting in the zinc mines of the Tri-State district can be separated into four di-visions. 1. Foot of shaft. 2. Pumps, fans. incline hoists and other stationary machinery. 3. Haulage ways. 4. Headings and stopes. One of the main improvements in lighting around the bottom of the shaft is in the use of skidoo flash lights, which have replaced the old electric skidoo bells. These bells were used as signals from the hoisterman to the tub hooker. In the event that a can bumped the side of shaft or a rock spilled from the can when dumping; the hoisterman rang the skidoo bells as a signal for all to leave the vicinity of the shaft bottom on a dead run. These bells were much better than no signal at all, but many of them were often out of order; the worst feature being that when out of order this fact was not immediately indicated. The electric flash-light signals work on the opposite principle and are burning at all times except when the hoisterman breaks the circuit when signaling danger. Therefore should a break or short occur in this arrangement, the shaft bottom is immediately thrown in darkness. Since the reaction from the eye is quicker than from ear, there is a slight saving of time- to the men escaping from the point of danger. Even this brief period of time may save a life. One other, point, to be emphasized, is that all lights near the shaft bottom should be on the signal circuit so that the entire area is momentarily darkened. I. have inspected mines where only one or two lights are used as signals, with the remaining lights around the shaft on another fixed circuit. In this case the flashing of the signal lights is almost drowned out by the stationary lights. These flash signals must be as startling as possible, which can only be done by flash-ing all the lights.

Jan 6, 1928

By W. H. Burke

Deeper drilling, resulting in greater circulating distance and pressure, has directed attention to the advantages of the study of properties and control of rotary muds, which until recently have not had much consideration. One fundamental property of muds is viscosity, and viscosity is influenced by the quantity and character of colloidal material and can be controlled by chemical treatment. Colloidal Matter of Rotary Muds Two types of colloids are found in muds; the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic. Hydrophobic colloids do not associate intimately with water and are sensitive to small quantities of electrolytes. Hydrophilic colloids associate intimately with water, but are not so sensitive to electrolytes. The colloidal particles of rotary muds are derived from clay; In clay the particles may range in size from submicroscopic to macroscopic; a substance is a clay if the greater proportion of the particles are within the size limits prescribed for clay. The larger particles are inert and have no effect on the viscosity of normal hydrophobic colloidal muds. There are two theories accounting for the colloidal properties of clay-water suspensions: (1) the physical theory, that clay in water is a coarse colloidal suspension, and (2) Ashley's1 theory, that clay is a granular material with a colloidal gel surrounding the crystalline grains. The most important colloidal substances known to exist in clays besides the clay particles are: (1) colloidal silica, (2) colloidal alumina, (3) colloidal ferric hydroxide, (4) colloidal silicates, and (5) colloidal organic matter. Plasticity, a peculiar property of clay-water suspensions, is due to the colloidal particles. It is commonly (although not with strict accuracy) measured in terms of viscosity, and depends upon the amount and the state of flocculation of the colloidal matter present in the suspension. Fluidity in a rotary mud may be caused by a lack of colloidal clay particles or by deflocculated or flocculated clay particles, while viscosity in a

Jan 1, 1935

CONTENTS PAGE Ross, J. M. and WAYLAND, R. G.-Mining Methods at the Homestake. Discussed by Benjamin F. Tillson, R. M. Raymond, I, H. Barkdoll, Arthur Notman 1 EMMEL, RUDOLPH.-Mining Methods in Zaruma District, Ecuador. Discussed by Rudolph Emmel, George A. Packard, Fred Hellmann, R. M. Raymond, Arthur Notman 2 MISHLER, R. T. and BUDROW, L. R.-Methods of Mining and Ore Estimation at Lucky Tiger Mine. Discussed by Fred Hellmann, Benjamin F. Tillson...4 PARK, JOHN FURNESS.-Mining Methods of Jarbidge District. . Discussed by R. S. Lewis : 5 Mining Methods at the Homestake Discussion of the paper of A. J. M. Ross and R. G. WAYLAND, presented at the New York Meeting, February, 1925, and issued, as Paper No. 1408-A, with MINING AND METALLURGY, February, 1925. BENJAMIN F. TILLSON, * Franklin, N. J.--It requires a good deal of timber to operate, especially the caving systems. An important function in mine operations now seems to be forestry and to operate a timber tract in order to insure a supply of timber. By depleting the timber resources of your section, you only increase your costs later when timber must be brought in from the Pacific Coast or the East. Our experience has been that any square-set method of timbering is the most expensive. Timbering for stoping systems, top slicing if you will, although it uses a large volume of time does not require as expensive timbering as the square-set method; also it does not require as long a life for-the timber, so that such wood as birch and maple, which have strength but not long life under the fungus conditions in the mine, may be used. All the drifts in the orebody are thoroughly timbered, and it has required a lot of timber. If we had it to do over, we would spend a lot more money in the development of rock drifts; as a matter of fact, we must ultimately come to that any way.

Jan 6, 1925

By Clarence Zener

THEORETICAL considerations by one of the authors have led1 to the prediction that the dynamic internal friction of annealed metals has a broad maximum at a certain grain size. This prediction they have veri-fied2 for alpha brass. In the present paper the theory is extended to include the precise manner in which the internal friction varies with grain size on either side of the maximum. New experimental data are pre¬sented to test this extended theory. The physical basis for the type of internal friction that is being investi-gated lies in the interplay between stress and temperature. Just as local fluctuations in temperature give rise to local fluctuations in stress, so like-wise fluctuations in stress give rise to fluctuations in temperature. But temperature gradients give rise to necessarily irreversible thermal cur-rents, and hence to internal friction. The theory for this type of internal friction has been developed quantitatively,3 and has been experimentally verified,4,5 for the particularly simple case of the transverse thermal cur-rents accompanying transverse vibrations. Of more fundamental impor-tance are the intercrystalline thermal currents accompanying all types of vibration. The variation in stress across grain boundaries arises from the elastic anisotropy and at least partial random orientation of the individual crystallites. An exact quantitative treatment of the internal friction due to these thermal currents is of course out of the question. However, much information can be obtained from general arguments.1,6 Thus when the frequency of vibration f is low, or when the grain size d is small, adja-cent grains remain nearly in thermal equilibrium, and vibration proceeds isothermally with little internal friction. Again, when the frequency is high, or the grain size large, the heat flow per cycle is small, the vibration proceeds adiabatically with little internal friction. The internal friction will become a maximum in the transition region. The degree of adiabatic-

Jan 1, 1940

By Charles R. Fettke

The outstanding event of the year 1929 in the Appalachian area was the intensive drilling activity in the Bradford and Richburg pools of northwestern Pennsylvania and southwestern New York State, particularly the former, in connection with the continued extension of the five-spot system of water-flooding. More new development work was undertaken and completed than during any previous year since reclamation methods were first applied. This was due in part to an excellent price for oil and in part to discovery of the fact that more intensive methods (five-spotting) yielded greater profit. While several oil wells of comparatively large initial production were completed, no new oil pools of significance were discovered in the Appalachian area during the year. A number of small gas pools were opened in areas already surrounded by producing wells and at least three others in areas located some distance from any producing pools. Petroleum Development According to statistics of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, 33,7,57,000 bbl. of petroleum were produced in the Appalachian field during 1929 as compared to 31,060,000 bbl. in 1928.' Of the total 1929 production, 23,391,618 bbl. consisted of Pennsylvania grade oil as compared to 21,096,710 bbl. in 1928. The 1929 Pennsylvania grade production represents an increase of 37.4 per cent. over that of 1924. This increase can be attributed largely to the rapid development of water-flooding in the Bradford and Richburg pools. The Bradford field of northwestern Pennsylvania and adjaccnt portions of New York State experienced the busiest year since the boom days of the early eighties. Wells completed during the year totaled 2679.2 In spite of the high prices asked for acreagc, which in some of the choicest territory has been as high as $6000 an acre, a considerable number of properties changed ownership during the year. There is at present a pronounced tendency to consolidate the great number of small individually operated properties into larger units.

Jan 1, 1930

By Frank Firmstone

IN the summer of 1881 we were forced to break up and remove the large mass of iron which had accumulated under No. 2 furnace at Glendon, in order to prepare the foundations of the new furnace which has taken its place. We used "Atlas" powder, drilling the holes with a pair of Rand drills. These worked very well when the iron was at all uniform in hardness; but this was not often the case; and it frequently happened that the holes were hopelessly blocked when but little over a foot deep. Good tamping became, therefore very important. The common method of tamping is certainly very dangerous when there is a percussion cap in the hole, and has, no doubt, caused many of the accidents attributed directly to high explosives. We found an excellent and safe method by using plaster of Paris, mixed to the proper consistency and ponred into the holes as soon as they were loaded. Clean dry sand was mixed with the plaster to reduce the quantity needed. With proper attention the tamping would set in a few minutes, and little or no more time was required than for tamping in the ordinary way. We used a "magneto" machine (Laflin and Rand) to fire the holes; and an additiollal advantage in the plan was that any risk of cutting the exploder-wires in tamping was avoided. We found it worth while to load holes not over 13 inches deep in a block 3 or 4 feet thick since the bottom of the hole was enlarged by each shot so that the next time it could be loaded more heavily, and three or four shots in this way often did as much good as a new hole twice the depth, to drill which might have taken ten or twelve hours. The rise in temperature when boiled plaster solidifies is not sufficient to ignite the exploders, as we found by repeated trials before using it in a loaded hole.

Jan 1, 1884

By Richard E. Chism

The metric system is now in official use in the Republic of Mexico, having been adopted by the Government in the year 1862. Athough it is used to compute all customs and other duties to be paid to the General Government, in the measurement of public and private lands arid in all freight and other transactions on the railroads, and is taught exclusively in the public schools, the system has made but slight head way among the people,and has not succeeded in displacing the old-time weights and measures, which are still used in ordinary commerce. The latter were founded on old Spanish models, but, owing to the inexactness of the first standards and to subsequent changes, differ at present very widely from their originals. As to local modifications, weights are the same all over the Republic, but measures of the same name differ greatly in capacity in different States, and even in neighboring towns. The value in the metric system here assigned to each denomination of the old weights and measures is that fixed by the Mexican Government at the time of the adoption of the metric system. The equivalents in American weights and measures were calculated by me from data found in Trautwine's Pocket-Book as to the comparison between the French and American weights and measures, and are believed to be correct. I shall be thankful for early notice of any error that may be detected, that it may be corrected before the final publication of this paper in the Transactions. Linear Measures. Kilometers. Miles. 1 legua (league) = 5000 varas . = 4.19 2.604375 Meters. Feet. 1 vara (yard) = 3 pies.....= 0.83800 2.749578 1 pie (foot) = 12 pulgadas.....=0.27933 0.916526 Inches. 1 pulgada (inch) = 12 lineas . = 0.02328 0.916526 1 linea (line).......= 0.00194 0.076577 The vara is also divided (for dry-goods-selling) into palms or cuartas (palms or quarters). Meters. Feet. Inches. 1 palmo or cuarta .. .. = 0.209500 =0.687394 = 8.248728

Jan 1, 1887

By W. H. Andrews

The constantly increasing consumption of Portland cement in the State makes the above subject of particular interest at this time. The increasing demand is due to the rapid settling of the country and the fact that new uses are being found frequently for the above named commercial article. The industry is one that is bound to grow as the population increases, and this being the case it may be well at this time to consider briefly the matter of the chemical and physical composition of proper raw materials. A cement mixture is one that contains approximately 75 per cent, carbonate of lime, 15 per cent. silica, and 5 to 7 per cent. alumina and iron oxides; the other elements being magnesium carbonate and mall quantities of the rarer elements generally associated with limestone deposits. It can be readily seen from the above composition that it is possible to build up this mixture from a number of different materials. First.—A rock high in carbonate of lime can be mixed with clay or shale in such proportions as to bring about the desired composition ; the chief difficulty in the building up of such a mixture is that it is hard to find a clay or shale in which the silica-alumina ratio lies between 4 to 1 and 3 to 1 and at the same time shows physical characteristics which will make certain its adaptability to the practical manufacture of Portland cement. Very often clays or shales are found which are right chemically but contain large quantities of grit or free silica. Such clays or shale must be ground to extreme fineness in the mixture in order to make the silica and alumina combine with the lime when the mixture is burned. On the other hand, clays or hales are often found that have the proper physical characteristics but in which the amount of alumina is too great. Second.—A mixture can be built up of different limestones some of which run above the 75 per cent. requirement and others below;

Jan 1, 1914

BURKE BAKER, Philadelphia, Pa. (written discussion*).-The small briquetting plant of the American Briquet Co., at 25th Street and Washington Ave., Philadelphia, was built primarily as a demonstration plant. Its output per hour is 4 tons of 2-oz. briquets, which have been retailed in the, vicinity during the year the plant has been in operation. They have proved very acceptable for use in ranges, heaters and grates in-home, and in steam heating plants in apartment houses and hotels. They have not been sold for power purposes, although satisfactory tests have been made in. this field. Anthracite silt is used and is shipped direct from breaker or washery, the only preparation it receives being the removal f excess moisture by means of a Ruggles-Coles rotary dryer. Care is taken, however, to purchase silt containing less than 18 per cent. ash. The method is covered by U. S. Patent No. 941454, issued to Chas. E. Hite, and is known as the "emulsion process." The binder, which is the, basis of the patent, is composed. of 0.5 per cent. cornstarch or wheat flour; 1 per cent. asphaltum or hydrolene, and 6.5 per cent. water, on the weight of coal dust. It is prepared in a tank equipped with paddle agitators and heated by steam jets. The starch and water are first made into a paste by being brought to the boiling point with live steam; the melted asphaltum is then introduced and thoroughly beaten into the paste by the agitators. This rapid stirring breaks. the hot asphaltum into minute particles which are distributed through the paste, producing a smooth chemical emulsion. This emulsion, when dried, is not soluble in water. The binder is mixed with the dry coal dust in a horizontal paddle mixer, 8 per cent. binder to the weight of coal being used. The resultant plastic mass is then discharged into the press, which is of the simple roll type. Since the binder is a liquid and is not sticky or gummy until

Jan 3, 1918

By T. Wasson

The same limitations' that characterized 1931 existed in the old fields of Indiana and Illinois during 1932. Prices remained low. The average for the year for Illinois and southwestern Indiana was $1.032 as against $0.852 for 1931 and $1.616 for 1930. In September a curtailment of production of about 25 per cent became effective and was continued to the end of the year. There were no new discoveries and very little wildcatting was done. Considering the age of the wells, and the number still producing, there were few abandonments. The most outstanding thing about the old fields in these states is their long continued productivity. Illinois The fields along the southeast end of the LaSalle anticline had their peak of 33,686,000 bbl. in 1908. In 1932, with a 25 per cent restriction for 355 months, these fields produced 4,661,000 bb1.l There were 52 new completions (most of them in old territory) and of these 33 were dry, 8 were gas, and 11 were oil wells. The new oil wells had a total initial of 102 bbl., or an average of 9.3 bbl. per well. Nineteen of the new producers were in Crawford County. There were about 200 wells abandoned in the old southeast fields in 1932 as compared to 210 in 1931. The greatest number, 86, were in Lawrence County. To the end of 1932, the four major counties—Clark, Crawford, Lawrence and Wabash—had produced almost 394,000,000 bbl. from 92,160 acres. Better than one-half of this was produced in Lawrence County from 26,240 acres. The Dupo area of Sinclair County had no additions to production although four wells were drilled. On the Jacksonville structure in Morgan County, six gas wells with an average depth of 300 ft. were drilled to sands in the base of the Pennsylvanian. They produced an open-flow total initial of 2,000,000 cu. ft. This gas will be developed further to supply a local market.

Jan 1, 1933

By Harrison R. Cooper

This section will outline procedural, statistical, and model applications developed for specific problem solving and for specific applications in beneficiation processes. Iron Ore Processing Introduction of taconite as a basic raw material in the iron ore industry took place with application of high order technical resources for process development and engineering. This investment of resources encouraged computer utilization to maximize efficient use of capital. From this recognition, process control computers have been installed for operations use in the major taconite plants of the iron range. One of these installations, the Minntac Division of U. S. Steel at Mountain Iron, Minnesota, is described in the paper by Chase in these proceedings. Other computer techniques used in taconite processing are outlined by Tuttle, Ahlquist and Carlson, representing Erie Mining. In this volume Tuttle, et al. describe statistical methods for development of information in taconite beneficiation. Statistical methods used in iron ore processing are described by Volin in treating flotation data as outlined in prior proceedings of the symposia and in other publications. 1,2,3 Industrial Minerals The use of linear programming for feed blending at the Carlsbad operation of International Minerals and Chemicals was outlined by Nunnekoven in 1963.4 Subsequent application of this procedure at the Kingston phosphate operation in Florida was described by Loper. Continued development led to installation of an on-line computer in the Kingston plant which reached operational status in 1967.6,7,8 Application of an on-line computer to industrial mineral production accomplished at Kingston is regarded as a milestone in computer use development. Following this achievement, the Cominco potash beneficiation plant near Saskastoon in Canada was automated by installation of an on- line computer programmed to carry out direct digital control functions to effectively operate the plant by process computer. The procedures used in the Cominco operation are described by Madge in this volume. Development of a mathematical model

Jan 1, 1969

E. S. BARDWELL,* Great Falls, Mont. (written discussion ?).-There are several points in. connection with the manufacture of ferromanganese in the electric furnace which it seems to me. might prove of interest in this connection. Recent observation of a, number of electric furnaces varying considerably in size and transformer capacity, and all working under the same conditions, shows the small furnaces to be much more efficient in operation than the large furnaces. The furnaces examined were all of the same type. The crucibles consisted of tanks varying in size from 71-z by 15 ft. by 4 ft. deep, to 12 by 20 ft. by 9 ft. deep, with linings formed of carbon electrode butts. The smaller furnaces had transformer capacity rated at 1500 k.v.a.; the largest furnace had a transformer rated at 3000 k.v.a. All of the furnaces were operated on three-phase, 60-cycle current, the three electrodes being in a straight line. The voltages varied from 65 volts in the smaller to 100 volts in the larger furnaces. The charges consisted of manganese ore, coal, iron turnings, and limestone in proper proportions. The small furnaces, operating at low voltage, were making good recoveries. The slag loss was low and the volatilization loss almost nil. The larger furnaces, operating at higher voltages, showed increased loss of manganese in the slag and greatly increased volatilization loss when working on the same charges as the smaller furnaces, or on charges similarly calculated. The exact reasons for this state of affairs are difficult to state; a number of factors probably contribute to the results obtained in the large furnaces. First as to the effect of the higher voltage on manganese content of the slags. Increasing the voltage of the furnaces apparently tends to promote irregular working. The current takes the path of least resistance; this means superheating in certain areas in the crucible and insufficiently high temperatures in adjoining areas. The partially reduced manganese in the cooler areas passes into the slag and escapes further reduction.

Jan 11, 1918

By John G. H. Crump, E. W. Owen, Peter P. Gregory

A noticeable decrease in activity characterized the year 1938 in the West Texas area. The total number of wells completed dropped to 2045 for 19381 as compared with 2806 completions in 1937,l a decline of 27.12 per cent. This trend contrasts the sharp increase of 76.29 per cent in completions in 1937 over the 1936 total. Of 2045 well completions during 1938,' 1788 were oil wellsll 16 were gas producers1 and 241 were listed as failures.' During 1938 the ratio of dry holes drilled to oil-producing or gas-producing wells completed was one dry hole to each 7.48 oil wells, which compares with one dry hole drilled to each 7.477 oil wells in 1937. Nearly 200 wells drilled during 1938 in West Texas were either wildcat or partly wildcat wells, an increase of about 25 over the year 1937, when approximately 175 wells drilled were so classified. The 200 exploratory wells drilled represent about 10 per cent of the total number of wells completed. West Texas produced 71,257,541 bbl.1 of oil in 1938 as compared with 75,743,000 bb1.2 of oil in 1937, a decrease of 4,485,459 bbl., or a 5.92 per cent decline. By comparison, West Texas produced 22.36 per cent more oil in 1937 than during 1936. In December 1938, the 9247 producing oil wells in West Texas1 averaged 22.08 bbl. per day per well as compared with December 1937, when 7571 wells1 produced an average of 25.18 bbl. per day per well, or a decline in daily well average of 12.32 per cent. Discoveries No outstanding new fields were discovered in West Texas during 1938, in spite of continued, active wildcatting operations. Several new oil-producing areas were, found, however, the value of which is still unknown.

Jan 1, 1939

By William Reynolds

This paper deals with the results of a study of the application and development of mining machines for cutting out and removing dirt bands in bituminous coal beds. Face Preparation When one or more dirt bands1 occur in a seam of coal, the problem of elimination of impurities becomes manifest. The degree of completeness to which these impurities arc removed at the face has an important bearing upon labor costs, haulage costs and outside cleaning costs, and often the ash content of the product is markedly affected. Yet, because the present-day miller is paid for the number of tons he loads he often lacks interest in the quality of the coal. To insure a clean product, a system of penalties for dirty coal is enforced, but control of extraneous impurity content in the loaded coal is often inadequate and ineffectual when coal and banded impurity are shot as one. It seems only logical that to reduce the amount of impurities by proper face preparation before the men are permitted to load the coal is the most efficient method of preparation. Many mines with one or more bands of impurities in their seams are able to mine a desirable product with a comparatively small amount of surface preparation. In fact, three companies in West Virginia have recently changed their methods of fact* preparation, with most gratifying results. The first company (in the Kanawha field) after changing its cutting practice with the hope of relieving a sales problem, was rewarded by an approximate 3 per cent drop in ash in the product. Another company, operating in the same field, reduced its ash approximately 4 per cent by a change in cutting practice. The third company (in the Pocahontas field) found the wet washer inadequate in producing a marketable coal, and installed new cutting machines. Three cuts are now being made in each working place, and the results arc so satisfactory that the cleaning plant has been abandoned.

Jan 1, 1938

By V. Lessels, D. J. Buckwalter, D. H. Rose

A cyanide leaching process developed at Michigan Technological University was tested in a 12 to 24 tpd pilot plant. Flowsheet layout and equipment are described. Cyclic operation of leaching, copper precipitation by acidification, and regeneration of the cyanide leaching solution are discussed. Copper extraction and reagent consumption were as predicted by laboratory tests, and the process was proven to be technically feasible. The White Pine Copper Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Copper Range Co., produces copper in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Production in 1965 amounted to 138 million pounds of metal. An expansion program now under way will increase this by approximately one half. The highly mechanized room and pillar mine produces 18,000 tons of ore per day, which is treated in a flotation plant. The concentrate is smelted in a reverberatory furnace, the matte is blown in converters to blister copper, and the blister copper is further refined to a uniformly high-quality Lake copper, which is 100% conductive and has a silver content of 25 to 40 oz per ton. The run of the mine ore averages 22.5 lbs of copper per ton with the ore mineral occurring in the form of chalcocite. The nature of the mineralization is such that the sand tailings average a little over 4 lbs of copper per ton. Intensive research has improved copper recovery in the flotation operation to some extent, but at the scale of present operation about 12,000 tons of sands containing over 48,000 lbs of copper go to the tailings pond daily. When the plant expansion is completed, the loss of copper will be somewhat greater. In 1959, the White Pine Copper CO, initiated a study of the recovery of copper in the sand tailings. Inasmuch as the flotation operation was considered to be optimized, a logical approach seemed to be leaching. For various reasons ammonia, ferric chloride, acid, and biological leaching were ruled out as impracticable. This led to a consideration of cyanide leach-

Jan 1, 1968

By E. W. Owen, John G. H. Crump, Peter P. Gregory

A noticeable decrease in activity characterized the year 1938 in the West Texas area. The total number of wells completed dropped to 2045 for 19381 as compared with 2806 completions in 1937,l a decline of 27.12 per cent. This trend contrasts the sharp increase of 76.29 per cent in completions in 1937 over the 1936 total. Of 2045 well completions during 1938,' 1788 were oil wellsll 16 were gas producers1 and 241 were listed as failures.' During 1938 the ratio of dry holes drilled to oil-producing or gas-producing wells completed was one dry hole to each 7.48 oil wells, which compares with one dry hole drilled to each 7.477 oil wells in 1937. Nearly 200 wells drilled during 1938 in West Texas were either wildcat or partly wildcat wells, an increase of about 25 over the year 1937, when approximately 175 wells drilled were so classified. The 200 exploratory wells drilled represent about 10 per cent of the total number of wells completed. West Texas produced 71,257,541 bbl.1 of oil in 1938 as compared with 75,743,000 bb1.2 of oil in 1937, a decrease of 4,485,459 bbl., or a 5.92 per cent decline. By comparison, West Texas produced 22.36 per cent more oil in 1937 than during 1936. In December 1938, the 9247 producing oil wells in West Texas1 averaged 22.08 bbl. per day per well as compared with December 1937, when 7571 wells1 produced an average of 25.18 bbl. per day per well, or a decline in daily well average of 12.32 per cent. Discoveries No outstanding new fields were discovered in West Texas during 1938, in spite of continued, active wildcatting operations. Several new oil-producing areas were, found, however, the value of which is still unknown.

Jan 1, 1939