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By Charles Himrod

IN presenting this paper it is not intended to enter into any discussion of the theory of the blast-furnace, but simply to give the results of a number of determinations of CO and CO2 in furnace gases, and some conclusions arrived at, and the result of an experiment made in hopes of increasing the production of CO2. In the first table, on page 198, is given the averages of a number of analyses of gases of different furnaces, and in the second, of two stacks of different sizes under varying circumstances. The conclusions arrived at as to what influences the production of CO2 are as follows: 1st. Kind of fuel. Bituminous coal not permitting the formation of as much CO2 as coke. 2d. Kind of ores. Rolling-mill cinder being much less favorable to formation of CO2 than hematite ores, magnetites probably less than hematites, but more than cinder. 3d. Length of time of contact of gases with ore. Small furnaces and too rapid driving both waste fuel by not allowing enough time for conversion of CO into CO2. 4th. The temperature of blast. The hotter the greater the quantity of CO2. 5th. Regularity of passage of stock through the furnace. The hanging and dropping of the stock, however slight, seems to pack it more solidly in the hearth, increases the resistance to the blast, and decreases the quantity of CO,. These are the most common causes noticed which influence the production of CO2, unless we except the one that might be considered the greatest of all, the one that has spoiled so many tons of iron, and the amiability of so many furnacemen, the one most dreaded, the great unknown. It would seem a self-evident proposition that the better the contact of the gases with the ore and the less with the fuel, the greater would be the amount of CO2 produced. To prolong the contact of gas with the ore furnaces are enlarged with advantage, and pains are taken to charge the stock in such a, manner as will best promote it. Still, with furnaces of most approved construction and most skilful manipulation, the gases leave the furnace so rich in CO, that not half the heating power of the fuel is obtained, and the highest

Jan 1, 1877

Cortez Gold Mines operated a conventional 2,100 mtpd (2, 300 stpd) cyanidation plant until the 5 million ton ore body was worked out in 1973. (See Gold and Silver Cyanidation Plant Practice by F. W. McQuiston, Jr. and R. S. Shoemaker, Society of Mining Engineers, AIME 1975.) Sub-grade material was dump leached at the mine -mill location in 1971, and the resulting pregnant solutions were added to the feed in the plant's Merrill-Crowe precipitation unit for gold recovery. In early 1973, however, Cortez put into operation their Gold Acres mine which was located about 13 krn (8 miles) to the west of the 'Cortez mine. Economics at that time dictated the heap leaching of the lower grade portion of the ore body with the higher grade being trucked to the Cortez plant for milling. Leach ore was moved directly from the open pits to prepared leach pads located on a gently sloping terrain of 570 grade. Preliminary pad preparation at the leach site included removal of vegetation which was composed of sagebrush and grading of the base. Pads were comprised of mostly minus 74 micron (200 mesh) materials and were made of clay-silt or slime tailings spread on the pad area in thin 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 in. ) layers, compacted with a vibrating roller compactor to a depth of about 380 mm (15 in.). This was followed with a 100 mrn (4 in.) layer of coarse rock to prevent erosion on the pad and to allow solutions to move laterally under the heaps. Leach solutions normally traveled the length of the heaps and were collected in plastic-lined ditches from which they flowed by gravity to the pregnant solution storage pond. Both pregnant and barren ponds were constructed in the same manner as the leach pads - being lined with compacted tailings or clay silts. The Gold Acres facility required pregnant solution storage of 6 million liters (1.6 million gal) and barren storage of 3.8 million liters (1.0 million gal) designed to handle two to three days of heap drainage or to retain run-off from a major rainfall. Various heap heights were tried including 3, 6, and 9 meters (10, 20, and 30 ft), with a 6 m (20 ft) height selected. Ore was dumped by trucks in a single 6 m (20 ft) lift using a D8 Caterpillar dozer for

Jan 1, 1981

By G. C. Weaver, G. T. Harley

BEDS or lenses of potash and magnesium salts are found in a thick salt section (Salado) overlain by Rustler Red Beds in several members of which water is present and from one of which the refinery process water used by International is obtained. Most of the holes drilled are less than 1000 ft. deep, but some wildcat holes have exceeded 3000 ft. Cable or rotary tools are used to drill down to the salt. When samples of water are desired the cable rig is used, but when this is not necessary, and where caving material is present, the rotary rig has an advantage. The rotary rig has a further advantage in that only one machine is required to drill and core the entire hole, whereas the cable rig must be moved off to make way for the core drill. Casing is placed in the upper section of the hole as required to shut off water, and a 5 3/16-in. string is set in the top of the salt before coring starts. With the rotary rig drilling is often carried to the salt with no casing, as drilling mud seals off caving ground and water-bearing strata, and a string of 4-in, line pipe or 4-in. flush-joint casing is landed on top of salt. Several types of gasoline-powered core rigs have been used in the field and all recover a 2 1/2-in. core. More recently the Sullivan Model 37 rotary rig has been tried, and a Sullivan Model N has been adapted to use a rotary bit in the upper section. Core is recovered in 20 ft. sections with a double-tube core barrel, and the bit used is a bottom-discharge type set with diamonds. The drilling fluid must be a saturated brine to prevent solution and etching of the minerals present. Blowouts are apt to occur from nitrogen gas trapped under the several polyhalite beds, and some have been strong enough to blow the tools out of the hole. Core recovery is practically 100per cent. All holes are plugged after drilling, with cement through the salt section and opposite each water horizon, and mud through the remainder of the hole. Cores are carefully logged and preserved, and in sections containing potash and magnesium minerals they are quartered and analyzed. The correlation of ore beds between drill holes is briefly described.

Jan 1, 1946

By C. V. Millikan

New developments in air-gas lift practices in the Mid-Continent area since our Pall meeting in Fort Worth have done much to increase the efficiency of installations, and thus bring within economic limit of air-gas lift many wells which could not have been flowed profitably before. After the gas-lift had so thoroughly demonstrated its value in the Seminole field, its use spread to other areas and many installations were made of which the economy could be questioned. In the Seminole area, when production began to decline it was necessary either to increase the efficiency of the air or gas-lift or to put the wells on the pump, and pumping was not a process of lifting oil to which any operator looked forward with confidence. These conditions have resulted in the development of many practices which increase the efficiency and permit wells to be flowed with air or gas which earlier could not have been flowed economically, and wells which have been flowing to continue to a lower rate of production. The practices which have come into more common usage in the Mid-Continent area recently are mostly revivals of and improvements on practices which have been known in air-lift work for several years. Many arc peculiar to the individual well on which they are used. Intermittent Flowing Some interesting results are being obtained in Seminole and other districts by intermittent injection of gas. Gas is introduced during per-iods iods of 3 to 5 min. at a rate considerably over that necessary to acquire the production at a steady rate of injection, and is then cut off for a period of 3 to 15 min. Two to five wells are run from the same group of conlpressors. The total volume of gas required is sometimes reduced as much as one-third of that required when it is introduced at a constant rate, without changing the amount of oil production. The maximum pressure required is usually higher, but the average equal to or lower than that required for constant rate of flow. The effect on the wells is usually an irregular rate of flowing which may cause inconvenience where recycling is practiced. It would seem that this increase in efficiency is due to less slippage when the gas is introduced intermittently than when it is intro-

Jan 1, 1928

By Dorsey Hager

NORTH -CENTRAL Texas has recently become a center of interest for the oil men of America. The bringing in of the McClosky well at Ranger, Eastland County, and the shallow pool at Brownwood, Brown County, in 1917, has stimulated interest in this area to fever pitch. Oil men from all over the United States are now investing there. The area of present interest is shown by the accompanying map (Fig. 1). The money spent in leases runs into millions of dollars. It is no exaggeration to say that a strip of country 200 miles (321 km.) long and 125 miles (201 km.) wide, comprising some 15,000,000 acres (6,070,310 ha.)., has been leased practically solid at a cost for rentals and bonuses of at least $1 per acre. The test holes contracted for will certainly number 400, at a cost of at, east $5,000,000. From what has been done in the past six months, $20,000,000 at least will be spent. To pay, returns on this amount of money, new production to the extent of at least 12,000,000 bbl. must be obtained. At present, the production from new fields will not average over 5000 bbl. per (lay; three wells at Ranger are producing 3000 bbl.; 250 wells at Brownwood produce 1000 bbl.; and the Gray well, Coleman County, is as yet an unknown factor. However, at Ranger there is every indication of developing a good pool covering from 1500 to 2000 acres (607 to 809 ha;), more or less, but the wells are deep, 3400 to 3800 ft. (1036 to 1158 m.), and cost $35,000 to $40,000 to drill. Large wells are necessary to pay for such expensive holes. As new wells are drilled, the gas pressure will be lowered rapidly, and large production need not be expected. For those oil men who expect a second Cushing or an Eldorado, Ranger holds little of promise. At Brownwood, Brown County, there are some 250 shallow wells (depths from. 200 to 350 ft.) averaging 4 to 7 bbl. per day. There is a chance of an extensive producing area, for these shallow sands to the southwest, and the opening of several thousand acres of shallow oil territory, and also some promise of deeper oil horizons in the Ranger horizon, but probably all under 2500 ft.

Jan 6, 1918

By R. E. Zimmerman, T. W. Guy

IN approaching the problems of sampling coal, a brief statement of certain facts that are more or less taken for granted may be helpful: 1. The coal-mine operator needs reliable data as to the physical and chemical characteristics of his coal in order to plan and control intelligently its mining, preparation, and marketing. The consumer needs such data in order to select the equipment and the coal best suited to meet his requirements, to check the quality of fuel delivered, and the efficiency of its use. Various government control agencies require such data as a basis for classifications and establishment of limits, for use in carrying out the requirements of federal, state or municipal laws. 2. All such data must be obtained by analyses, measurements, or tests made on samples, which are taken to represent the coal tested. It is now becoming generally recognized that, in accordance with statistical laws, test results from samples are not expected to represent the exact qualities of the lot or lots from which they are taken, except within statistical, or "expected" limits. Such limits are definitely specified by some present standards of the American Society for Testing Materials and the British Standards Institution. 3. Samples that give ash within satisfactory limits are usually assumed to be sufficiently accurate for other analyses, except under special conditions such as meeting close specifications for coals showing wide variability in sulphur, fusibility of ash, or other quality. 4. In modern coal sampling the increment is recognized as the basis for taking samples. For a given accuracy the number and weight of increments specified are increased with: (a) the expected ash, and (b) the top size designation of the lot to be sampled. 5. It is extremely important that every sampler recognize that: the specified number and weight of increments are minimums, and that the precautions to be used in order to take them properly are also minimums; that in the reduction of the gross sample the sizes specified for the coal after each stage of the crushing are maximum; that the quantities specified to be taken after each crushing stage are minimum; that any short cuts or failures to meet the requirements specified will reduce the statistical accuracy of the results, although it is possible that one or two checks on a few results may seem to show otherwise.

Jan 1, 1950

By T. W. Guy

IN approaching the problems of sampling coal, a brief statement of certain facts that are more or less taken for granted may be helpful: 1. The coal-mine operator needs reliable data as to the physical and chemical characteristics of his coal in order to plan and control intelligently its mining, preparation, and marketing. The consumer needs such data in order to select the equipment and the coal best suited to meet his requirements, to check the quality of fuel delivered, and the efficiency of its use. Various government control agencies require such data as a basis for classifications and establishment of limits, for use in carrying out the requirements of federal, state or municipal laws. 91. All such data must be obtained by analyses, measurements, or tests made on samples, which are taken to represent the coal tested. It is now becoming generally recognized that, in accordance with statistical laws, test results from samples are not expected to represent the exact qualities of the lot or lots from which they are taken, except within statistical, or "expected limits. Such limits are definitely specified by some present standards of the American Society for Testing Materials and the British Standards Institution. 3. Samples that give ash within satisfactory limits are usually assumed to be sufficiently accurate for other analyses, except under special condi¬tions such as meeting close specifications for coals showing wide variability in sulphur, fusibility of ash, or other quality. 4. In modern coal sampling the increment is recognized as the basis for taking samples. For a given accuracy the number and weight of increments specified are increased with: (a) the expected ash, and (b) the top size designation of the lot to be sampled. 5. It is extremely important that every sampler recognize that: the specified number and weight of increments are minimums, and that the precautions to be used in order to take them properly are also minimums; that in the reduction of the gross sample the sizes specified for the coal after each stage of the crushing are maximum; that the quantities specified to be taken after each crushing stage are minimum; that any short cuts or failures to meet the requirements specified will reduce the statistical accuracy of the results, although it is possible that one or two checks on a few results may seem to show otherwise.

Jan 1, 1943

By R. W. Smith, G. W. Delamore, J. A. Spittle

RECENT work by the authors1 has demonstrated that the crystals constituting the equiaxed zone in small ingots originate, on quenching, in the chilled liquid. Whether any partial remelting2 takes place of the den-drites nucleated in the chilled region was not examined. However, the claim3 that this normally occurs, leading to crystal multiplication, has been disputed.4 Thus, for an equiaxed zone to form in the central region of an otherwise columnar ingot, it is necessary to transport crystallites from the chill zone to this region. In view of the work of Uhlmann et al.,5 it was considered desirable to examine the transport process further. Experimental Technique and Results. In the earlier experiments by the authors.1 a stainless-steel crucible 17/8 in. diam, 41/2 in. high, ad containing an alloy of A1-4 wt pct Cu, was quenched from 660°C into a bath of Wood's metal maintained at 100°C. Under these conditions a central zone of equiaxed crystals was obtained. However, if a 2250-G unidirectional magnetic field was applied for 2 sec immediately following the instant of quenching, or subsequently, the equiaxed zone did not appear. Careful thermal analysis showed that the short application of the field had virtually no effect on the thermal conditions of the melt. It thus appeared that the crystallites which were ultimately to grow large enough to form the equiaxed zone existed in the liquid immediately ahead of the interface, occlusion being prevented by the convective fluid flow induced by freezing from the walls of the cylinder. When this relative movement was prevented by the Lorenz forces induced by the application of the magnetic field, the crystallites were caught up in the rapidly advancing dendrite solid-liquid interface. To test this assumption, a small ingot of super-purity aluminum was partially melted and poured into a heated stainless-steel mold which was then immediately quenched into molten Wood's alloy. The resulting structure is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of columnar grains with a central fine-grained zone. Thus the unmelted solid present at the beginning of solidification had been transported ahead of the columnar interface. Discussion. There appears to be little or no information available on the interaction of suspended particles with a metallic solid/liquid interface. However, some information is available for transparent organic sys-

Jan 1, 1969

By N. S. Stoloff, R. G. Davis

It is concluded from an X-ray stztdy that the formation of the hcp Mg3Cd superlattice is a nuclea-tion and growth reaction. A two-phase, ordered-plus-disordered, region is observed between 153" nnd 141"C. A maximum in the flow stress is observed both at temperature and in quenched specimens within the two-phase region. The peak arises fro112 the extra energy required to create antiphase boundary upon cutting the ordered regions. Hardening during isothermal annealing in Mg3Cd has been shown to be similar to the domain hardening in Cu3Au-type alloys in that up to the maximum the structure is ordered domains growing into a short range ordered matrix. The hardening is due to a combination of short range order strengthening and the strengthening produced when antiphase boundary has to be created. In a recent study1 of the effect of long-range order upon the mechanical properties and deformation modes of hcp Mg3Cd a comparison was made be- tween quenched (disordered) and slow-cooled (fully ordered) specimens. The most striking observations were that the disordered alloy yields at a much higher stress than the ordered alloy, and that there is a change in slip mode from primarily (_0001) ba_sal slip in the disordered state to (0001), {1010}, {1122}, and {l011} slip in the ordered state. The main purpose of the present work is to extend these observations to determine whether MgsCd exhibits a peak in flow stress at an intermediate degree of order, or at a critical domain size, as do other orderedstems. However, disagreement exists about the Mg3Cd order transformation with respect to: 1) the location of the critical temperature for order, 165°C or 153"~,' and 2) how the degree of order varies with temperature. Welber et a1.5 concluded from specific heat measurements that the formation of Mg3Cd is a second-order reaction with the degree of order a continuous function of temperature, while Moore and Raynor concluded that it is neither a first-order reaction, with the degree of order a discontinuous function of temperature, nor a second-order reaction. Consequently it was considered necessary to undertake an X-ray investigation into the change in degree of order and structure in the

Jan 1, 1964

By J. W. Pamplin

SOME 40 miles east of Tampa is the center of the Florida pebble phosphate deposits. These are of Pliocene age and consist of several members of the Bone Valley formation.1 Physically the phosphate-bearing formation, locally called the "matrix," varies in thickness from nothing to about 25 ft., usually averages 10 ft., and consists mainly of clay, quartz and phosphate pebble, the latter particles varying in size from colloidal to one inch diameter. The pebbles range in color from dark gray, through white, to cream, and in hardness from that which must be broken with a hammer to that which can be scratched with the fingernail. They assay from 66 to 80 per cent bone phosphate of lime (called "B.P.L." in the trade) or tricalcium phosphate (Ca3P20s) and are secondary apatites. They form from 15 to 50 per cent by weight of the matrix, Over the matrix lies a varying thickness (5 to 40 ft.) of overburden composed of quartz and clay. Briefly, mining consists of two operations2 in open pits about 200 ft. wide by ½ mile or more in length. In the first step overburden is removed by large electric draglines at the rate of about 700 cu. yd. per hour. This is followed closely by hydraulic mining of the matrix at the rate of about 300 cu. yd. per hour. This matrix yardage is moved from an improvised sump in the floor of the pit to an ore-dressing plant, some-times a mile distant, by one, two or three "pit-cars" (pumping units) working on a 12-in. pipe line called the "rock line" to distinguish it from the high-pressure water line feeding the hydraulic giants, which is known as the "hydraulic line." This 700 yd. of overburden and 300 yd. of matrix-1000 yd. in all-amounts to about 1500 tons of material moved each hour. The over-burden is dumped into the mined-out pit alongside the pit being mined. The matrix moves to the ore-dressing plant at the rate of about 7 ½ long tons in 4000 gal. of water per minute-a ratio of approximately one to two by weight, or one to six by volume. This constitutes the "mill heads," but in the pebble district it is called the "matrix."

Jan 1, 1938

By Charles W. Wagner

A premature explosion might be described as an explosion that, occurs before the miner expects it. Notwithstanding that it is unexpected, a premature is generally within the miner's control. A hangfire explosion is a blast that occurs after the miner expects it,, and in all instances, except where the explosives or blasting accessories are defective, hangfire explosions are within the miner's control. Causes of Premature Explosions Generally, there are seven methods of shot-firing in anthracit,e mines; namely: (1) cap and fuse with dynamite, (2) fuse with pellet powder, (3) squib with black powder or pellets, (4) exploders and delays with dynamite or black powder, (5) exploders with dynamite, (6) delay ignitors with black powder or pellets, (7) electric squibs with black powder or pellets. Cap and Fuse.—This method of firing seems to produce the greatest number of premature explosions. This is not solely because of the method, but is the result of mispractices which are possible with this method of firing. The two most common mispractices followed with cap-and-fuse blasting are the firing of multiple holes and the use of short fuse.. In the firing of multiple holes by cap and fuse, investigations have shown that in nearly every instance where the miner was injured by this method of firing he remained too long at the face lighting the several fuses, so that the first shot went off before he could reach a place of safety. Such accidents could have been avoided either by accurate judgment by the miner of the relative lengths of the fuses or by the use of electric firing. Rules exist in nearly every mine forbidding the lighting of more than one hole at a time where the cap-and-fuse method of firing is practiced. Where it is desirable to fire more than one hole at a, time, electric firing should be used. It is difficult to understand why so many premature explosions result from the use of short fuses, inasmuch as the cost of fuse is practically a negligible item in the expense of a day's work. Notwithstanding this, however, we frequently find miners using short lengths of fuse in an effort to save one or two cents per hole, or about 15 to 20 # in a day. A practice

Jan 1, 1931

By G. F. Fix, R. E. Esarey

During 1939, Indiana experienced a grcat increase in prospecting and drilling for oil and gas. Major activity, as during the preceding year, was in the southwestern part of the state, the Indiana portion of the Eastern Interior Coal Basin. An increasing interest was evident during the year, however, in the entire state, chiefly in northern Indiana (on the south flanks of the Michigan Basin) and in the old Trenton field of east central Indiana. In the latter area several tests to deeper horizons in the Trenton and to the underlying St. Peter sandstone were completed. Results in this area have been discouraging, however, since these deeper horizons are very erratic. The regional structure in the Indiana portion of the Michigan Basin is generally favorable to oil accumulation, but the picture is complicated by a uniform mantle of glacial drift and a lack of subsurface information. Several wells were started during the last half of 1939 to test the Devonian and Trenton formations in this area. Production from these formations was found at several localities many years ago, hut, no sustained effort has been made to locate pools in this area, which covers perhaps 20 counties. There were 377 wells completed in Indiana during 1939, and 77 others were in various stages of drilling at the close of the year. Of the 377 completed, 255 were classed as field locations and 122 as wildcats. The field wells were divided as follows: 156 oil wells, 39 gas wells, and 60 dry holes; the wildcats: 98 dry holes, 19 oil wells and 5 gas wells (wildcat oil and gas wells include deeper production in oil fields and field extensions as well as new field discoveries). During the year 218 more wells were completed than during 1938. Outstanding developments for 1939 include the discovery of several new oil and gas fields. In the Griffin field, which was discovered during the closing days of the previous year, 103 wells were drilled, including field extensions. Of these, 97 were productive oil wells. This field now covers more than 2000 acres of productive area and has not as yet been defined. There are five producing horizons in the field, including the Waltersburg, Tar Springs, Elwren, and Aux Vases sandstones of Chester age and the McClosky horizon of the Ste. Genevieve limestone. Produe-

Jan 1, 1940

By G. F. Fix, R. E. Esarey

During 1939, Indiana experienced a grcat increase in prospecting and drilling for oil and gas. Major activity, as during the preceding year, was in the southwestern part of the state, the Indiana portion of the Eastern Interior Coal Basin. An increasing interest was evident during the year, however, in the entire state, chiefly in northern Indiana (on the south flanks of the Michigan Basin) and in the old Trenton field of east central Indiana. In the latter area several tests to deeper horizons in the Trenton and to the underlying St. Peter sandstone were completed. Results in this area have been discouraging, however, since these deeper horizons are very erratic. The regional structure in the Indiana portion of the Michigan Basin is generally favorable to oil accumulation, but the picture is complicated by a uniform mantle of glacial drift and a lack of subsurface information. Several wells were started during the last half of 1939 to test the Devonian and Trenton formations in this area. Production from these formations was found at several localities many years ago, hut, no sustained effort has been made to locate pools in this area, which covers perhaps 20 counties. There were 377 wells completed in Indiana during 1939, and 77 others were in various stages of drilling at the close of the year. Of the 377 completed, 255 were classed as field locations and 122 as wildcats. The field wells were divided as follows: 156 oil wells, 39 gas wells, and 60 dry holes; the wildcats: 98 dry holes, 19 oil wells and 5 gas wells (wildcat oil and gas wells include deeper production in oil fields and field extensions as well as new field discoveries). During the year 218 more wells were completed than during 1938. Outstanding developments for 1939 include the discovery of several new oil and gas fields. In the Griffin field, which was discovered during the closing days of the previous year, 103 wells were drilled, including field extensions. Of these, 97 were productive oil wells. This field now covers more than 2000 acres of productive area and has not as yet been defined. There are five producing horizons in the field, including the Waltersburg, Tar Springs, Elwren, and Aux Vases sandstones of Chester age and the McClosky horizon of the Ste. Genevieve limestone. Produe-

Jan 1, 1940

By D. B. Williams

For the first time in the history of the Venezuelan petroleum industry production exceeded 200 million barrels. The total production for all fields amounted to 205,430,869 bbl., which is more than 9 per cent of the world's 1939 total. This is an increase of over 15 million barrels or 8.0 per cent above the 1938 figure, which, compared with the slightly less than 2 per cent increase of the 1938 figure over 1937, shows the marked activity in Venezuela during the past year. The Maracaibo Lake fields are still the predominating factor in Venezuelan production, showing an increase of approximately 9½ million barrels over last year's figure and accounting for 71.8 per cent of Venezuela's total. Lagunillas continues to hold precedence as a single field, having yielded 47.1 per cent of the accumulative total and 39.4 per cent of 1939's total. This field showed an increase of slightly more than 3½ million barrels over 1938. Tia Juana, the second largest field, attained a record production, increasing its percentage of the Venezuelan total from 23.4 in 1938 to 23.7 in 1939. The La Rosa field, which includes Punta Benitez and Ambrosio, declined from 13.7 to 12.0 per cent; Bachaquero, the southernmost Lake field, which came into regular production at the end of 1938, contributed over 31/3 million barrels. Quiriquire, in eastern Venezuela, ousted La Rosa as the third largest producing field, and, although production increased by 11/3 milliorl barrels, percentage of the total declined from 13.2 to 12.9. Mene Grande, the oldest field, declined from 6.6 per cent in 1938 to 5.9 in 1939. Tem-blador produced for a whole year for the first time and yielded 3,647,867 bbl. The Colon district, in the Maracaibo Lake area, comprising the Tarra-Los Manueles fields, showed slight increases, as also did Cumarebo and Pedernales. Construction of the 16-in. pipe line from Oficina to Puerto La Cruz (Guanta), the longest line of this size in the world, was completed toward the end of the year and this new field in eastern Venezuela started shipping oil in December. This field is operated by the Mene Grande Oil Co. and was credited with a production of 2,347,625 bbl. in 1939. Jusepin field, some 25 miles southwest of Quiriquire in eastern Venezuela,

Jan 1, 1940

By A. Bar-Or, G. Hirsch, P. Wynblatt

The rates of nucleation and growth at various temperatures in U-0.45, 1.1, and 1.35 at. pet Cr alloys were determined, providing a qliantitative proo-f that the transformation under study is controlled by nucleation and diffusional growth. The linear relationship, log NV US 1/T2, suggests that the nucleation of the alloys is probably controlled by the classical law of nuclei formation. The established linear relationship, log G us 1/T, in the three alloys suggests that growth in each alloy is controlled by bidimensional nuclei formation. It was established that both the rate of growth and the rale of nucleation are retarded by chromium. Using classical formulae, sApN and sApG (the ß/a apparent interphase energies) were calculated from the nucleation and growth results, respectively. It was found that their values are of the same order of magnitude. However, why sApN is unaffected by the addition of chromium, while sApG increases with it, needs further clarification. In the last few years, an appreciable amount of research has been conducted into the mechanism of the ß —a transformation in uranium and uranium alloys. Recently, Burke1 reviewed the published work concerned with this transformation. He concluded that in dilute uranium alloys it is firmly established that, at high temperatures in the a range, ß decomposes by a diffusional process. However, he based his conclusion either on experiments dealing with the over-all transformation,2 or on qualitative results.3 It was felt that a better insight into the mechanism of transformation could be gained from the quantitative measurements of growth and nucleation rates, which we aimed to carry out in the present work. In a previous work,4 we have shown that a rim of a grains is formed during isothermal transformation at the high a range. The thickening of this rim with time was used for measuring the rate of growth in U-0.45 at. pet Cr.5 This method was also used in the present work for two more alloys. For meas- uring the rate of nucleation, a method of quenching and macroetching was developed to allow differentiation between a grains formed during isothermal transformation at the upper a range and those formed after quenching, Fig. 1. EXPERIMENTAL WORK AND RESULTS The Rate of Nucleation. The measurement of the rate of nucleation was effected by counting the num-

Jan 1, 1965

By D. B. Williams

For the first time in the history of the Venezuelan petroleum industry production exceeded 200 million barrels. The total production for all fields amounted to 205,430,869 bbl., which is more than 9 per cent of the world's 1939 total. This is an increase of over 15 million barrels or 8.0 per cent above the 1938 figure, which, compared with the slightly less than 2 per cent increase of the 1938 figure over 1937, shows the marked activity in Venezuela during the past year. The Maracaibo Lake fields are still the predominating factor in Venezuelan production, showing an increase of approximately 9½ million barrels over last year's figure and accounting for 71.8 per cent of Venezuela's total. Lagunillas continues to hold precedence as a single field, having yielded 47.1 per cent of the accumulative total and 39.4 per cent of 1939's total. This field showed an increase of slightly more than 3½ million barrels over 1938. Tia Juana, the second largest field, attained a record production, increasing its percentage of the Venezuelan total from 23.4 in 1938 to 23.7 in 1939. The La Rosa field, which includes Punta Benitez and Ambrosio, declined from 13.7 to 12.0 per cent; Bachaquero, the southernmost Lake field, which came into regular production at the end of 1938, contributed over 31/3 million barrels. Quiriquire, in eastern Venezuela, ousted La Rosa as the third largest producing field, and, although production increased by 11/3 milliorl barrels, percentage of the total declined from 13.2 to 12.9. Mene Grande, the oldest field, declined from 6.6 per cent in 1938 to 5.9 in 1939. Tem-blador produced for a whole year for the first time and yielded 3,647,867 bbl. The Colon district, in the Maracaibo Lake area, comprising the Tarra-Los Manueles fields, showed slight increases, as also did Cumarebo and Pedernales. Construction of the 16-in. pipe line from Oficina to Puerto La Cruz (Guanta), the longest line of this size in the world, was completed toward the end of the year and this new field in eastern Venezuela started shipping oil in December. This field is operated by the Mene Grande Oil Co. and was credited with a production of 2,347,625 bbl. in 1939. Jusepin field, some 25 miles southwest of Quiriquire in eastern Venezuela,

Jan 1, 1940

INSTITUTE MEDALS AND PRIZES ASIDE from the John Fritz Medal, in which the Institute participates through its representation on the John Fritz Medal Board, the Institute itself has five major awards to make annually for excellence in technical papers, as follows The Robert W Hunt Medal, The Hadfield Prize, The J E Johnson Jr , Award, The Lewisohn Platinum Prize to senior members, and the President's Prize to junior members ROBERT W HUNT MEDAL The partners of Robert W Hunt established a fund which was presented to the Institute at a fitting ceremony on May 27, 1920, to establish an annual medal and a sum of money to be awarded under the following rules, 1 The award shall consist of two prizes, first of a gold medal, second of a sum of money, a certificate to accompany each prize The money prize shall not be awarded to a member over 40 years of age, but under unusual circumstances, both prizes may be allotted to one person provided that he is not over 40 years of age In general it will be understood that the Committee shall award the money prize to, the younger men, rather than the medal 2 The awards shall be made not oftener than once a year to that person or persons contributing to the Institute the best original paper or papers on iron and steel The scope of the term "iron and steel" shall be determined by the sub-committee consider¬ing the awards In general, papers dealing with the practical side of the subject have preference over those dealing with the theoretical side in recognition of the fact that Captain Hunt's main contributions to the industry have been in the improve¬ment of production and quality of material 3 A sub-committee of three to five, including the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Committee, shall be appointed by the Iron and Steel Committee annually to adjudge the award subject to approval 4 The awarding committee shall submit its report to the Iron and Steel Committee at its October Meeting, and the award be certified to the Secretary of the Institute in time to permit the presentation to be made at the Annual Meeting of the Institute 5 The recipient of the award shall be designated "The Hunt Medallist "

Jan 1, 1923

Although the 71 Minerals operation is now closed down and the operating data presented is almost five years old, it is well worth describing since it was the first heap leaching operation conducted on a primarily silver ore. Tombstone was discovered in 1877 by Ed Schieffelen; and it became one of the most famous mining towns in the West through the stories connected with Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton brothers. Like many silver deposits .in the western United States, the Tombstone ores were relatively shallow. Several million ounces of silver were recovered in the relatively few years the camp was active; but mining virtually ceased by the early 1900s and was only continued in a small way until the 19409, a history similar to that of Tuscarora. The 71 Minerals operation was started in May 1975 and continued until late 1978 within the city limits of Tombstone on waste dumps; one was the' Lucky Cuss, Schieffelen's discovery, which had accumulated from the old underground operations. This waste material was mostly less than 50 mm (2 in.) in size, although there was some larger lumps. The grade was about 34 g Ag and 0.5 g Au per mt (1.0 oz Ag and 0.015 oz Au per st). The Tombstone dumps contained approximately 1,000,000 tons. The dumps and patented claims were held by a single owner, Tombstone Development Company, thus sufficient leaching material could be acquired from one source rather than dealing with a number of individuals, as is usual in putting together leaching ventures in old mining camps. 71 Minerals Ltd. was formed and a lease of the properties obtained. A site was selected close to the major mine dumps not far from down- town Tombstone. Pads approximately 90 m (300 ft) wide and 180 m (600 ft) long with an 8-degree slope were prepared using compacted old mill tailings as a base sealant on the pads. Mining was done at a rate of about 2,000 tons per day with a dozer, two scrapers, a front-end loader, and 30 ton trucks. The ore was dumped by the scrapers as it came from the dumps with no screening or crushing in 460 mm (18 in. ) layers and trimmed with the loader. Based on bulk sampling and laboratory testing, the majority of thegold and silver values were recovered within 30 days of leaching.

Jan 1, 1981

ASIDE from the John Fritz Medal, in which the Institute partici¬pates through its representation on the John Fritz Medal Board, the Institute itself has three major awards to make annually and one special prize for excellence in technical papers, as follows The Robert W. Hunt Medal and Prize, The J. E. Johnson, Jr , Award, the James Douglas Medal, and The Lewisohn Platinum Prize to senior members. ROBERT W. HUNT MEDAL AND PRIZE The partners of Robert W. Hunt established a fund which was presented to the Institute at a fitting ceremony on May 27, 1920, to establish an annual medal and a sum of money to be awarded under the following rules¬ 1 The award shall consist of two prizes, first of a gold medal, second of a sum of money, a certificate to accompany each prize. The money prize shall not be awarded to -a member over 40 years of age, but under unusual circumstances, both prizes may be allotted to one person provided that he is not over 40 years of age. In general it will be understood that the Committee shall award the money prize to the younger men, rather than the medal 2 The awards shall be made not oftener than once a year to that person or persons contributing to the Institute the best original paper or papers on iron and steel The scope of the term "iron and steel" shall be determined by the sub-committee considering the awards In general, papers dealing with the practical side of the subject have preference over those dealing with the theoretical side m recognition of the fact that Captain Hunt's main contributions to the industry have been in the improvement of production and quality of material. 3 A sub-committee of three to five, including the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Committee, shall be appointed by the Iron and Steel Committee annually to adjudge the award subject to approval.. , 4 The awarding committee shall submit its report to the Iron and Steel Committee at its October Meeting, and the award be certified to the Secretary of the Institute in time to permit the presentation to be made at the Annual Meeting of the Institute. 5 The recipient of the award shall be designated "The Hunt Medallist " This prize is administered by the Iron and Steel Committee.

Jan 1, 1923

By H. R. Drullard

TO obtain the best results from hammer drills, close attention must be paid to two factors in drill maintenance, which are of equal importance; one is lubrication, the other is the shank. With the exception of stoping drills, most modern rock drills require both oil and grease. The oil ports are in the lubricator, on or behind the hammer cylinder; the grease port for the lubrication of the chuck sleeve and rotating mechanism is on the chuck end. Ordinary machine oil is not adapted to rock drills; a heavier more gelatinous oil such as castor machine oil or liquid grease should be used. The lubricators should be filled once for every 12 or 14 ft. (3.5 to 4 m.) of hole drilled. Grease guns should be used to fill the port in the chuck end once a shift; a medium (No. 3) grease is well adapted to this purpose. Hard grease must not be put into the lubricators, as it will not flow through that part. Contrary to the popular belief, oiling a machine once or twice a shift does not provide sufficient lubrication; the drills should be oiled once for every 12 or 14 ft. of hole drilled. The rotating handle of a stoping drill is an oil reservoir and is provided with a port for oiling. The rotating handle is packed with wick-ing, or similar material, which causes the oil to feed slowly from the handle to the other parts of the machine. Stoping drills require oil at least twice a shift; lighter oils than castor, such as Arctic Ammonia, may be used. Drills used in shaft sinking can be oiled satisfactorily by placing a good-sized, drop, sight lubricator on the station above the sinking operations and connecting it with the air-line supplying the sinking drills. If this lubricator is properly filled and adjusted, a uniform oiling of the sinking machines will be effected without the necessity of oiling the drills individually. The grease end should be filled at the station or surface before each drilling period. The shift boss should see that the machines are greased and also that the lubricators at the station function properly. The life of the air-drill hose is somewhat shortened by this method, as oil attacks the inner tube; but as some oil is always present in the compressed air, this is not a serious objection to the method.

Jan 1, 1922