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By David L. Thompson

The Alumet Company, a partnership of National .Steel Corporation, the Southwire Company, and Earth Sciences, Inc., is in the final phase of its feasibility study for an alunite plant. To be located in southwestern Utah, it could be the first commercial-scale operation in the Western Hemisphere to recover alumina from an ore other than bauxite. Sulfuric acid and sulfate of potash are by-products of the process. Alumina production level will be set at 500,000 tons p

Jan 1, 1976

By Calvin Pierson, R. S. Dean, E. P. Barrett

MANY studies have been made of the properties of steel produced by adding varying amounts of sponge iron to the charges used in steelmaking furnaces.1-3 The results of these previous studies, however, have failed to disclose a reason for the belief of steelmakers that steel made in this way is definitely different from steel made entirely from scrap or iron melting stock. This paper deals chiefly with the structure of the sponge iron, of the wrought iron made by welding the sponge iron into blooms, and of the steel made by melting the forged and rolled blooms. It is believed that the structure of the final steel is inherited from the ore and that this inherited structure produces marked differences in the properties of the steel and explains the feeling of steelmakers which is based on their experience. Three kinds of sponge iron were used in this investigation: One made from a limonite ore reduced with natural gas, one made from a hematite ore reduced with natural gas, and one made from a magnetite ore reduced with charcoal. The sponge iron made by reduction with natural gas

Jan 1, 1935

By V. F. Parry, E. O. Wagner

This paper summarizes investigations during 1949 on three pilot plants for drying low-rank fine coal by entrapment in hot gases. Detailed operating results on processing seven coals having moisture ranging from 24 to 62 pet, formulas and data for calculating performance of large units, and general conclusions on the problem of drying fine coal are presented. THIS paper presents a summary of investigations by the Coal Branch of the Bureau of Mines during 1949 on the removal of internal moisture from low-rank coals by processing them in the entrained and fluidized state. A paper on this subject, giving a summary of the early work, was presented at the 1949 AIME annual meeting1 and gave a the- oretical discussion of the time and heat required to dry various sizes of low-rank coal. The investigations on two pilot plants were presented in the foregoing paper. During 1949, three additional pilot plants were built to study phases of the drying problem and to investigate different techniques of handling fine coal in the entrained and fluidized state. The present paper gives operating data on the new units and presents detailed data on the drying of seven coals having bed moisture ranging from 62 to 24 pct. The problem of removing surface moisture from fine coal is principally one of heat exchange and dispersion of the coal particles so that heat can reach the liquid moisture to permit evaporation, and it does not involve the factors of size and time of contact to any great extent. If enough heat can reach the surface of the particles at temperatures higher than 250°F, moisture evaporates almost instantly, and the factors of time and size are of secondary importance compared with the factors of heat balance and dispersion of the coal. Therefore, it does not appear to be necessary to employ a fluidized bed when removing surface moisture, and the most efficient process would be one in which the coal particles are entrained in a hot gas stream of optimum temperature traveling at a velocity that causes the particles to disperse into a low-density phase. When low-rank coals are dried, the fluidized bed is necessary to provide control of time of contact. This is done by adjusting the superficial velocity which controls the density or dispersion of the particles. The density of beds having fluidized properties suitable for drying low-rank coals appears to range from about 5 up to about 15 lb per cu ft. When the density is below 5 lb per cu ft, which represents a low-density phase, optimum conditions for removal of surface moisture should be found, and this requires superficial velocities of about 15 fps. The problem of removing bed moisture from low-rank coals involves consideration of size of coal, temperature, mass flow, heat balance, pressure, time of contact, and method of dispersing the coal in the heating mediums. The experimental work presented here gives data on these factors. Coal sizes up to 1/2 in. x 0 were dried with hot gases having initial temperatures ranging from 1900° to 2400°F. Coal

Jan 1, 1951

By E. O. Wagner, V. F. Parry

This paper summarizes investigations during 1949 on three pilot plants for drying low-rank fine coal by entrapment in hot gases. Detailed operating results on processing seven coals having moisture ranging from 24 to 62 pet, formulas and data for calculating performance of large units, and general conclusions on the problem of drying fine coal are presented. THIS paper presents a summary of investigations by the Coal Branch of the Bureau of Mines during 1949 on the removal of internal moisture from low-rank coals by processing them in the entrained and fluidized state. A paper on this subject, giving a summary of the early work, was presented at the 1949 AIME annual meeting1 and gave a the- oretical discussion of the time and heat required to dry various sizes of low-rank coal. The investigations on two pilot plants were presented in the foregoing paper. During 1949, three additional pilot plants were built to study phases of the drying problem and to investigate different techniques of handling fine coal in the entrained and fluidized state. The present paper gives operating data on the new units and presents detailed data on the drying of seven coals having bed moisture ranging from 62 to 24 pct. The problem of removing surface moisture from fine coal is principally one of heat exchange and dispersion of the coal particles so that heat can reach the liquid moisture to permit evaporation, and it does not involve the factors of size and time of contact to any great extent. If enough heat can reach the surface of the particles at temperatures higher than 250°F, moisture evaporates almost instantly, and the factors of time and size are of secondary importance compared with the factors of heat balance and dispersion of the coal. Therefore, it does not appear to be necessary to employ a fluidized bed when removing surface moisture, and the most efficient process would be one in which the coal particles are entrained in a hot gas stream of optimum temperature traveling at a velocity that causes the particles to disperse into a low-density phase. When low-rank coals are dried, the fluidized bed is necessary to provide control of time of contact. This is done by adjusting the superficial velocity which controls the density or dispersion of the particles. The density of beds having fluidized properties suitable for drying low-rank coals appears to range from about 5 up to about 15 lb per cu ft. When the density is below 5 lb per cu ft, which represents a low-density phase, optimum conditions for removal of surface moisture should be found, and this requires superficial velocities of about 15 fps. The problem of removing bed moisture from low-rank coals involves consideration of size of coal, temperature, mass flow, heat balance, pressure, time of contact, and method of dispersing the coal in the heating mediums. The experimental work presented here gives data on these factors. Coal sizes up to 1/2 in. x 0 were dried with hot gases having initial temperatures ranging from 1900° to 2400°F. Coal

Jan 1, 1951

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

The area discussed herein, commonly known as the North Texas district, embraces the following 10 counties: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita and Wilbarger. It is underlain by two major structural features. The northernmost portion of the district, including Coolie, Montague, northern Clay, Wichita, Wilbarger, Foard and Hardeman Counties, is underlain by the system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift, which is parallel to and closely related to the Wichita-Amarillo uplift of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. While the presence of a great majority of the numerous oil fields of the area is traceable to this feature, the production in Archer, southwestern Clay and southeastern Baylor Counties is due to the influence of what is known as the Cisco arch (so called because of its influence on Cisco deposition), the axis of which extends in a northwest-southeast direction across southwestern Wichita County into Archer County. Developments during 1938 Important discoveries in the district were considerably more numerous and of more economic importance than for several years. In addition to a number of small, relatively unimportant discoveries and to the usual local extensions to the various producing fields in the several counties, at least eight fields, most of them apparently of considerable areal extent and importance, were found. The Helmerich and Payne, Incorporated and Blackwell Oil and Gas Company No. 1 Wilson. 4 miles southeast of the town of Holliday, in north central Archer County, encountered a pay of Strawn age at a depth of 3841 to 3858 ft., and was completed for an initial production of 1952 bbl. T'his well opened a new deep pool in the K. M. A. producing zone 8 miles southeast of the K. M. A. production. Subsequently an additional deeper horizon, also of lowcr Strawn age, was discovered by wells that failed to yield commerecial oil from the horizon of the discovery well.

Jan 1, 1939

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

The area discussed herein, commonly known as the North Texas district, embraces the following 10 counties: Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita and Wilbarger. It is underlain by two major structural features. The northernmost portion of the district, including Coolie, Montague, northern Clay, Wichita, Wilbarger, Foard and Hardeman Counties, is underlain by the system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift, which is parallel to and closely related to the Wichita-Amarillo uplift of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. While the presence of a great majority of the numerous oil fields of the area is traceable to this feature, the production in Archer, southwestern Clay and southeastern Baylor Counties is due to the influence of what is known as the Cisco arch (so called because of its influence on Cisco deposition), the axis of which extends in a northwest-southeast direction across southwestern Wichita County into Archer County. Developments during 1938 Important discoveries in the district were considerably more numerous and of more economic importance than for several years. In addition to a number of small, relatively unimportant discoveries and to the usual local extensions to the various producing fields in the several counties, at least eight fields, most of them apparently of considerable areal extent and importance, were found. The Helmerich and Payne, Incorporated and Blackwell Oil and Gas Company No. 1 Wilson. 4 miles southeast of the town of Holliday, in north central Archer County, encountered a pay of Strawn age at a depth of 3841 to 3858 ft., and was completed for an initial production of 1952 bbl. T'his well opened a new deep pool in the K. M. A. producing zone 8 miles southeast of the K. M. A. production. Subsequently an additional deeper horizon, also of lowcr Strawn age, was discovered by wells that failed to yield commerecial oil from the horizon of the discovery well.

Jan 1, 1939

By A. L. Holley

The existence of iron ore and anthracite coal in the neighborhood of Providence, R. I., baa long been known, chiefly as a geological fact; that these materials, so near to each other and to tidewater, are of such a good quality and are present in such large quantity, as to have seriously raised the question of establishing blast furnaces there, was a surprising fact to me; and I have thought that the few notes I have lately gathered on the subject would be of interest at this partly New England meeting. The coal field referred to has an area of above 400 square miles, and is found throughout the belt of transition rocks extending from Newport Neck to Mansfield, Massachusetts. It underlies the cities of Providence and Newport, and the towns of Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Warwick, Barrington, Cranston, North Provi-

Jan 1, 1879

[PRESIDENT GEORGE OTIS SMITH, District 4 WASHINGTON, D. C. PAST PRESIDENTS SAMUEL A. TAYLOR, District 3 PITTSBURGH, PA. E. DEGOLYER, District 0 NEW YORK, N. Y. FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT W. H. BASSETT, District 1 WATERBURY, CONN.]

Jan 1, 1928

By B. Blumenthal

THE present investigation was planned as a survey of the lead-rich portion of the ternary lead-antimony-silver system by thermal analysis. Since, however, a rigorous application of the conventional thermal analytical method is time consuming, an attempt was made to speed up the investigation by reducing the time required for a single thermal analysis. This was done by increasing the rate of cooling to 12° to 18°C. per minute, since such a rate does not permit even an approach to equilibrium conditions, the melt was stirred vigorously by a stirrer operating at the high rate of 665 r.p.m. This proved to be effective in obtaining cooling curves with distinct points of arrest and of excellent reproducibility, which satisfactorily compare with those obtained at a rate of 1" to 2°C. per min. with or without slow stirring (Fig. I). By this method the lead-rich end of the lead-alltimony system and a series of ternary alloys in sections parallel to the lead-antimony side of the ternary system were investigated and it was observed that the two branches of the liquidus curve of the binary alloys did not intersect at the euteotic temperature. An equivalent effect mas observed in the ternary system. The eutectic temperature of the binary lead-antimony system was found to be 252.0°C., which confirms the recent in- vestigation by Pellini and Rhines,1 who determined the eutectic temperature to be 2 51.5°C. The observation that the curves of primarY crystallization of the lead-antimony system do not intersect at the eutectic temperature was previously made by Dean.2 Dean explains the phenomeilon by assuming the existence of a compound Sb4pb. He felt that supercooling was not the cause of the phenomena because he was unable to influence them by inoculation. The X-ray investigation by Solomon and Morris-Jones,3 the metallographic investigations by Stead,4 Charpy,5 Gontermann,6 and Dean, Zickrick and Nix,7 and the numerous investigations of physical properties, definitely disprove the occurrence of any compound. The work of Dean was not confirmed by Broniewski and Sliwoski,8 whose experiments did not show any irregularity and who report a eutectic composition of 13 per cent antimony and a eutectic temperature Of 2500 to 252°C. at a rate Of coo1ing of about 6°C. Per min. Abell Redlich and Adler9 then report a eutectic composition of 12.1 per cent upon reviewing the previous publications and adding a few of their own cooling curves. In 1934 Quadrat and Jiriste10 found from careful analyses of the bottom portion of slowly cooled hypereutectic melts that the eutectic only 11 .4 to 11.5 per cent antimany. (Previous analyses by Stead4 .in 1891 gave 13 per cent.) Weaver,ll however, reported in 1935 that cooling cunres indi-

Jan 1, 1944

By B. Blumenthal

THE present investigation was planned as a survey of the lead-rich portion of the ternary lead-antimony-silver system by thermal analysis. Since, however, a rigorous application of the conventional thermal analytical method is time consuming, an attempt was made to speed up the investigation by reducing the time required for a single thermal analysis. This was done by increasing the rate of cooling to 12° to 18°C. per minute, since such a rate does not permit even an approach to equilibrium conditions, the melt was stirred vigorously by a stirrer operating at the high rate of 665 r.p.m. This proved to be effective in obtaining cooling curves with distinct points of arrest and of excellent reproducibility, which satisfactorily compare with those obtained at a rate of 1" to 2°C. per min. with or without slow stirring (Fig. I). By this method the lead-rich end of the lead-alltimony system and a series of ternary alloys in sections parallel to the lead-antimony side of the ternary system were investigated and it was observed that the two branches of the liquidus curve of the binary alloys did not intersect at the euteotic temperature. An equivalent effect mas observed in the ternary system. The eutectic temperature of the binary lead-antimony system was found to be 252.0°C., which confirms the recent in- vestigation by Pellini and Rhines,1 who determined the eutectic temperature to be 2 51.5°C. The observation that the curves of primarY crystallization of the lead-antimony system do not intersect at the eutectic temperature was previously made by Dean.2 Dean explains the phenomeilon by assuming the existence of a compound Sb4pb. He felt that supercooling was not the cause of the phenomena because he was unable to influence them by inoculation. The X-ray investigation by Solomon and Morris-Jones,3 the metallographic investigations by Stead,4 Charpy,5 Gontermann,6 and Dean, Zickrick and Nix,7 and the numerous investigations of physical properties, definitely disprove the occurrence of any compound. The work of Dean was not confirmed by Broniewski and Sliwoski,8 whose experiments did not show any irregularity and who report a eutectic composition of 13 per cent antimony and a eutectic temperature Of 2500 to 252°C. at a rate Of coo1ing of about 6°C. Per min. Abell Redlich and Adler9 then report a eutectic composition of 12.1 per cent upon reviewing the previous publications and adding a few of their own cooling curves. In 1934 Quadrat and Jiriste10 found from careful analyses of the bottom portion of slowly cooled hypereutectic melts that the eutectic only 11 .4 to 11.5 per cent antimany. (Previous analyses by Stead4 .in 1891 gave 13 per cent.) Weaver,ll however, reported in 1935 that cooling cunres indi-

Jan 1, 1944

Establishment of a Bureau of Mineral Research at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, initiated by the State of Michigan with legislation in 1951, is moving toward realization. The Michigan Legislature appropriated $24,000 to cover preliminary costs of plans and specifications for "engaging in a broad, widespread study of the beneficiation of lowgrade ores, of ore dressing, and all the problems of metallurgy that enter into such a program." Ralph C. Calder, of Detroit, who designed Michigan Tech's campus buildings, is preparing plans for the proposed Ores Research Building. Members of the college staff, Professors F. J. Tolonen, W. E. Keck, and Research Engineer Paul Jasberg are assisting in preliminary planning. C. Harry Benedict, retired chief metallurgist of Calumet and Hecla and a member of Michigan Tech's Board of Control, is assisting with technical details. Professor Nicholas Manderfield, head of the department of Mineral Dressing, was assigned to visit other research installations and suggest plans for the Bureau.

Jan 1, 1952

By H. E. Sadler, B. Silliman

INTRODUCTORY NOTE. THE research here recorded was undertaken early in the present year, and has been prosecuted steadily for about eight months. While the work has been under my constant supervision and advice, the labor has all been performed by Mr. Sadler, to whom is chiefly due the development of the successive steps which have led to the final result. The process is better than I dared to hope, and we are able to place at the command of chemists and engineers interested in the matter an apparatus of continuous and uninterrupted action, and methods of analysis by which the daily averages of the two variable and inconstant factors of illuminating gas, ammonia and sulphur, may be determined with all needful accuracy, even by those little skilled in chemical manipulation, and with very little loss of time. This research has been carried out in the laboratory of the New Haven Gaslight Company. B. SILLIMAN. October 17th, 1876.

Jan 1, 1877

By E. E. Barker

Although flotation was known to be a successful process prior to 1312, Utah Copper Co.'s ores were not entirely treated by this process until 1923. Experiments had been conducted, of course, prior to that time, and in February, 1917, the first unit of the Arthur plant was changed over from gravity concentration to flotation. On May 16, 1918, the entire Arthur plant was on flotation, excepting the coarse concentrate which was tabled prior to fine grinding. The reasons for the delay in adopting flotation at these plants were, first, that it was decided to await the outcome of the litigation with the Butte & Superior Mining Co., which began with an injunction served on Oct. 3, 1911. This litigation continued for years. Then the demands on the plants in the war years 1916, 1917 and 1918, really precluded any further drastic changes during that period, as all efforts were bent on maximum tonnage, and the cry of tonnage, rather than of recovery, was the major issue. The postwar depression followed these years of intensive production, so that it was not until 1922 that the Magna plant was equipped to use this process. Excepting, then, the amount of coarse concentrate that was tabled, 1923 was the first year when the Utah Copper Co.'s ores were on a full flotation basis. Effect of Flotation on Ore Reserves The object of this paper is to point out the effect that flotation has had on the operations of the Utah Copper Co. In 1905, when D. C. Jackling began making history in copper, the ore reserves were 34,000,000 tons, with a grade of 2 per cent. copper and a mill capacity of 700 tons daily. The point of cut-off between nonprofitable and profitable grades was 1.2 per cent. A few years later the capacity was increased to 6000 tons, when 1.1 per cent. became the point of cut-off. Ore reserves had climbed to 80,000,000 tons, having a grade of 1.9 per cent. In 1911 there was an ore reserve of 300,000,000 tons, with a grade of 1.5 per cent. and a cut-off of 1 per cent.; in 1918 the ore reserve was approximately 400,000,000 tons, and a grade of 1.38 per cent., and point of cut-off 0.95 per cent., based on normal costs and prices. Up to this

Jan 1, 1928

L. K. ARMSTRONG H. L. NORTON SECRETARY-TREASURER of SECRETARY-TREASURER Of COLUMBIA SECTION ARIZONA SECTION PERCY E. WRIGHT A. B. CARPENTER SECRETARY-TREASURER Of SECRETARY-TREASURER Of PUGET SOUND SECTION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SECTION

Jan 8, 1919

By R. L. Mauger, P. E. Damon

Potassium-argon dating of the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic intermediate to acidic plutons and volcanic rocks of Arizona and northern Sonora demonstrates the existence of two distinct magmatic episodes. The earlier episode begins in late Campanian time and dies out before the middle Eocene. Following a quiescent period in middle and late Eocene time, magmatism increases in Oligocene time, becomes most intense at the Oligocene-Miocene boundary and dies out as the Pliocene is approached. Pliocene magmatism is primarily confined to extrusion of post-orogenic basalts. The late Mesozoic-early Cenozoic magmatic pulse is essentially confined within the limits of the classical Laramide orogeny (Laramie through Wasatch time). The mid-Tertiary pulse is contemporaneous with the mid-Tertiary Basin and Range orogeny. The Laramide provides an excellent specific example of Umbgrove's concept of the pulse of the earth and in general his concept appears to be meaningful. Copper porphyry mineralization is time-congruent with Laramide magmatism and there seems to be no doubt as to the existence of a genetic relationship between the two phenomena. Two origins are tenable: direct accumulation of the copper sulfides in the copper porphyry liquid magmatic environment; or, introduction of the mineral constituents entirely from a larger source magma when the host rock is already crystalline. Transgression and regression of the epicontinental seas provide an excellent indicator of orogeny and epeirogeny. There was an overall transgression of the epicontinental seas from early Triassic time through the Turonian epoch in early late-Cretaceous time. Thereafter, there is a relatively continuous regression of the seas until the present time. Both the earlier transgressive episode and the later retreat are intermpted by temporary but distinct reversals. These interruptions can be correlated with classical orogenies. There are six distinct orogenies so indicated in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic eras. These occur at approximately 35 to 40 m.y. intervals. The regression of the epicontinental seas following the Turonian epoch was contemporaneous with the deepening of the Pacific ocean basin over the Darwin Rise. As the Darwin Rise was collapsing the East Pacific Rise was being elevated. The Western United States, situated on the eastern flank of the East Pacific Rise, was upwarped and tilted toward the east. Epeirogeny is the primary consequence of processes that operate on a global scale. Orogeny is an exothennic process that is limited in space and is treated here as a secondary consequence of epeirogenic-initiated warping. The off-campus buildings of the University of Arizona Geochronology Laboratories rest on the volcanic rocks of Tumamoc Hill. From this hill, the observer may obtain a beautiful view of typical Basin and Range topography. The city of Tucson lies below, contained within the broad Santa Cruz basin and surrounded on all sides by characteristic NW-SE trending ranges towering as much as 7000 ft above the valley floor. Since the senior author arrived in Tucson eight years ago, a great deal more has been learned about the geochronology of this and neighboring basins and ranges. For example, the volcanic rocks underlying the laboratory at Tumamoc Hill were shown on the state geologic map as Quaternary basalt. A student of the senior author has demonstrated that the so-called basalts are in fact alkali-andesites (Halva, 1961), and we now know that these alkali-andesites or doreites (Mielke, 1965) are of early Miocene age rather than Quaternary age (Bikerman and Damon, 1965). Is it any wonder then that geologists disagree on the nature and time of Basin and Range volcanism, plutonism and tec-tonism? The plain fact is that few definitive Cenozoic fossil sites were available upon which to base a chronology and geologists were forced to guess the ages of rocks in order to achieve the semblance of a time classification. We have now made considerable progress in developing a K-Ar chronology for the volcanic and plutonic rocks of the Basin and Range (Bikerman, 1965; Damon and Bikerman, 1965; Damon et al, 1964 and 1965; Mauger et al, 1965). It is the purpose of this paper to point out the main features of this chronology and to discuss the relationship of magma-tism to orogeny-epeirogeny during post-Turonian time. We will also discuss probable relationships during

Jan 1, 1967

By Lewis W. MacNaughton, F. L. Burchard

The North Texas district, as herein defined, includes the counties of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Coolie, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita, and Wilbarger. This area covers generally the crest and south flank of a system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift. The oil and gas accumulations along this feature are in traps, which, although localized by structures incident to the regional uplift, are usually modified by stratigraphic changes in the sediments. Excepting the fields in southeastern Baylor, southern Archer, and southwestern Clay Counties, all the fields within the district are on this Red River uplift. These exceptions, which have the same type of oil and gas accumulation as the other fields, are on the extreme north end of the Bend arch, which is a broad anticline plunging northward from the Llano uplift in central Texas to Archer County. The larger part of past oil and gas production has come from Pennsylvanian strata, with less important amounts from the Permian, and minor but increasingly important quantities from the Ordovician. DevELopments during 1941 Nearly 1600 wells were drilled in the district during 1941 as compared with more than 1700 in 1940. However, the ratio of successful drilling operations was higher and some 1200 oil wells were completed. Production held about even with the previous year, as did the number of producing oil wells. Known oil reserves increased slightly throughout exploration, which generally was carried on at greater depths than in former years. The average depth of discovery wells was 300 ft. deeper than in 1940. Although discoveries were evenly divided numerically between horizons above the base of the Strawn series and those below the Strawn, the deeper horizons, including the Bend series of the Pennsylvanian, the Mississippian limestone, and the Simpson and Ellenburger of the Ordovician, furnished most of the increase in oil reserves. The largest single addition to the reserves was in the Ellenburger formation in the K.M.A. field. During the year 112 wells were completed in this horizon, bringing the total developed acreage to some 4600 acres. The Straan series in K.M.A. also received considerable development in 1941, with 114 completions. K.M.A. Pressure Maintenance Satisfactory progress was made by the K.M.A. Pressure Maintenance Association in 1941. At the end of the year, 99 wells were being used for input and total monthly volume of gas returned to the reservoir reached a high of 340,548 M cu. ft. in December from a low of 208,853 M cu. ft. in February. Total volume of gas returned during 1941 was 3,306,052 M cu. ft. To the end of the year, 150 cu. ft. of gas had been returned for every barrel of oil produced from the reservoir while the input ratio for December was 397 cu. ft. Per

Jan 1, 1942

By F. L. Burchard, Lewis W. MacNaughton

The North Texas district, as herein defined, includes the counties of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Coolie, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita, and Wilbarger. This area covers generally the crest and south flank of a system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift. The oil and gas accumulations along this feature are in traps, which, although localized by structures incident to the regional uplift, are usually modified by stratigraphic changes in the sediments. Excepting the fields in southeastern Baylor, southern Archer, and southwestern Clay Counties, all the fields within the district are on this Red River uplift. These exceptions, which have the same type of oil and gas accumulation as the other fields, are on the extreme north end of the Bend arch, which is a broad anticline plunging northward from the Llano uplift in central Texas to Archer County. The larger part of past oil and gas production has come from Pennsylvanian strata, with less important amounts from the Permian, and minor but increasingly important quantities from the Ordovician. DevELopments during 1941 Nearly 1600 wells were drilled in the district during 1941 as compared with more than 1700 in 1940. However, the ratio of successful drilling operations was higher and some 1200 oil wells were completed. Production held about even with the previous year, as did the number of producing oil wells. Known oil reserves increased slightly throughout exploration, which generally was carried on at greater depths than in former years. The average depth of discovery wells was 300 ft. deeper than in 1940. Although discoveries were evenly divided numerically between horizons above the base of the Strawn series and those below the Strawn, the deeper horizons, including the Bend series of the Pennsylvanian, the Mississippian limestone, and the Simpson and Ellenburger of the Ordovician, furnished most of the increase in oil reserves. The largest single addition to the reserves was in the Ellenburger formation in the K.M.A. field. During the year 112 wells were completed in this horizon, bringing the total developed acreage to some 4600 acres. The Straan series in K.M.A. also received considerable development in 1941, with 114 completions. K.M.A. Pressure Maintenance Satisfactory progress was made by the K.M.A. Pressure Maintenance Association in 1941. At the end of the year, 99 wells were being used for input and total monthly volume of gas returned to the reservoir reached a high of 340,548 M cu. ft. in December from a low of 208,853 M cu. ft. in February. Total volume of gas returned during 1941 was 3,306,052 M cu. ft. To the end of the year, 150 cu. ft. of gas had been returned for every barrel of oil produced from the reservoir while the input ratio for December was 397 cu. ft. Per

Jan 1, 1942

By P. G. Shewmon

If interfacial equilibrium is maintained at the interface between a growing precipitate and the supersaturated matrix, so that solute diffusion alone determines the growth rate, the precipitate shape should evolve toward that characteristic of the dendrites found in solidification. However, this shape is rarely observed in precipitation reactions proceeding at high temperatures where interfacial equilibrium is usually felt to prevail. Thus some other stabilizing factor must enter, to keep the interface smooth. It is shown that a slow interfacial reaction (low interfacial mobility) will stabilize the interface, while transformation stresses have a IN studying the kinetics of phase transformations such as solidification or proeutectoid precipitation at high temperatures, it is customary to assume that equilibrium exists across the interface and that the rate of the reaction is determined by the rate at which heat and solute diffuse to and from the interface. In the case of precipitation, such an assumption predicts an almost infinite rate of initial growth. It is generally stated that the rate cannot be infinite and that during some initial period the rate must be determined not by solute diffusion but by an interfacial reaction, i.e., transferring atoms across the interface. The duration of this much weaker stabilizing eFfect and impurities tend to enhance instability. It is also concluded that a sets an upper limit on the wavelength of the perturbation that can give instability. Thus initially all flat or smoothly curved particle interfaces will be stable even if their growth is diffusion-controlled. Proeutectoid precipitation in the Fe-C system is considered in some detail and it is shown that the experimental results can only be rationalized if the growth rate of ferrite in steel transformations is determined by a slow interfacial reaction for all hut a few orientations between the two phases. initial period has never been clearly established, but it is generally assumed to be too short to affect any measurable results.' Several authors have pointed out that in the case of interfacial equilibrium any bump in the surface will grow out ahead of the planar interface due to the higher gradient in front of it.2j3 Thus the interface will be unstable with respect to an irregular interface with points (plates) propagating rapidly out ahead of the interface into the supersaturated phase. Recently, Mullins and Sekerka have given equations for the stabilizing effect of surface tenion.~ They found that for particles with a radius of curvature of 1 p or greater the stabilizing effect of surface tension will be completely overcome by a supercooling, or supersaturation, of as little as

Jan 1, 1965

By R. B. Gilmore, Lewis W. MacNauhgton

The North Texas district, as' herein defined, includes the counties of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita, and Wilbarger. This area covers generally the crest and south flank of a system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift. The oil and gas accumulations along this feature are in traps, which, although localized by structures incident to the regional uplift, usually are modified by stratigraphic changes in the sediments. Excepting those in southeastern Baylor, southern Archer, and southwestern Clay counties, all the fields within the district are on this Red River uplift. These exceptions, which have the same type of oil and gas accumulation as the other fields, are on the extreme north end of the Bend arch, which is a broad anticline plunging northward from the Llano uplift in central Texas to Archer County. The larger part of past oil and gas production has come from Pennsyl-vanian strata, with less important amounts from the Permian, and minor but increasingly important quantities from the Ordovician. Developments during 1942 Approximately 500 wells were drilled in the district during 1942, in contrast with some 1600 wells drilled during 1941, and only some goo oil wells were completed, a decrease from 1941 of more than 10 per cent in the number of successful drilling operations of the total wells drilled. Production increased slightly over the previous year in spite of a decrease in the number of producing wells. The average depth of discovery wells was some 600 ft. deeper than in 1941. Although more discoveries produced from horizons above the base of the Strawn series than those below the Strawn, the deeper horizons, including the Bend series of the Pennsylvanian, the Mississippian limestone, and the Simpson and Ellenburger of the Ordovician, furnished most of the addition to oil reserves. The largest single addition to the reserves was again in the Ellenburger formation in the K. M. A. field. During the year 47 wells were completed, bringing the total developed acreage in this horizon to some 5450 acres. The most active area was Montague County, in which eight fields, or potential fields, were discovered although only 39 oil wells were completed. K. M. A: Pressure Maintenance Satisfactory progress was made by the K. M. A. Pressure Maintenance Association in 1942, At the end of the year, 100 wells were being used for input and total monthly volume of gas returned to the reservoir reached a high of 430,971 M cu. ft. in December, with an input ratio of 587 cu. ft. of gas returned for each barrel of oil produced during the month. This represents a utilization of 50 per cent of the gas available for return during that month. Comparison of the present average bottom-hole pressure by means of a decline

Jan 1, 1943

By R. B. Gilmore, Lewis W. MacNauhgton

The North Texas district, as' herein defined, includes the counties of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cooke, Foard, Hardeman, Knox, Montague, Wichita, and Wilbarger. This area covers generally the crest and south flank of a system of buried mountains known as the Red River uplift. The oil and gas accumulations along this feature are in traps, which, although localized by structures incident to the regional uplift, usually are modified by stratigraphic changes in the sediments. Excepting those in southeastern Baylor, southern Archer, and southwestern Clay counties, all the fields within the district are on this Red River uplift. These exceptions, which have the same type of oil and gas accumulation as the other fields, are on the extreme north end of the Bend arch, which is a broad anticline plunging northward from the Llano uplift in central Texas to Archer County. The larger part of past oil and gas production has come from Pennsyl-vanian strata, with less important amounts from the Permian, and minor but increasingly important quantities from the Ordovician. Developments during 1942 Approximately 500 wells were drilled in the district during 1942, in contrast with some 1600 wells drilled during 1941, and only some goo oil wells were completed, a decrease from 1941 of more than 10 per cent in the number of successful drilling operations of the total wells drilled. Production increased slightly over the previous year in spite of a decrease in the number of producing wells. The average depth of discovery wells was some 600 ft. deeper than in 1941. Although more discoveries produced from horizons above the base of the Strawn series than those below the Strawn, the deeper horizons, including the Bend series of the Pennsylvanian, the Mississippian limestone, and the Simpson and Ellenburger of the Ordovician, furnished most of the addition to oil reserves. The largest single addition to the reserves was again in the Ellenburger formation in the K. M. A. field. During the year 47 wells were completed, bringing the total developed acreage in this horizon to some 5450 acres. The most active area was Montague County, in which eight fields, or potential fields, were discovered although only 39 oil wells were completed. K. M. A: Pressure Maintenance Satisfactory progress was made by the K. M. A. Pressure Maintenance Association in 1942, At the end of the year, 100 wells were being used for input and total monthly volume of gas returned to the reservoir reached a high of 430,971 M cu. ft. in December, with an input ratio of 587 cu. ft. of gas returned for each barrel of oil produced during the month. This represents a utilization of 50 per cent of the gas available for return during that month. Comparison of the present average bottom-hole pressure by means of a decline

Jan 1, 1943