Search Documents

By L. G. Margolin

INTRODUCTION In this paper we derive an expression to predict the onset of growth of a crack in a quasibrittle material. We employ an energy criterion, which was first proposed by Griffith (1920), and is essentially equivalent to the first two laws of thermodynamics. The criterion is applied to the elastic-plastic crack of Olesiak and Wnuk (1968), which is a three-dimensional generalization of the Dugdale (1960) crack. Our expression for the onset of growth differs in several respects from a criterion based on a crack in a brittle material (i.e., using linear elastic fracture mechanics) . Furthermore, the new features are in qualitative agreement with the experimental data. Among these new features are 1) the dependence of the apparent surface energy, or critical strain energy release rate on crack size (the shape of the R-curve); 2) the effect of in-plane stresses (i.e., the stresses that do not lead to any traction on the crack faces) on crack growth; and 3) a brittle-ductile transition. The energy criterion, as a necessary condition for crack growth, rests on a firm theoretical basis. However, its role as a sufficient condition is less secure. Several alternate criteria have been proposed as necessary and sufficient conditions for the onset of crack growth. We will contrast several of these, including critical strain (Olesiak and Wnuk, 1968; Goodier and Field, 1963) and crack opening displacement ("COD", Burdekin and Stone, 1966) with the energy criterion. We will show that these alternate approaches are inconsistent with the energy criterion, in the sense of being necessary conditions, and so should be rejected as criteria for growth--at least for the elastic-plastic crack.

Jan 1, 1984

By E. J. Westerman

Prealloyed powders of nickel-base superalloys were sintered to almost theoretical density in short sinterilzg times. It was ascertained that the rapid densification was caused by a small amount of liquid phase at the grain boundaries, which apparently ovriginated by incipient melting at temperatures considerably below those at which macroscopic melting of the compacts occurred. An increase in the quantity of liquid phase present during sintering-, caused by an increase in the sintering temperature, increased the densification rate, but resulted in a decrease in the room temperature tensile propevties. NICKEL-base superalloys, which presently comprise an important group of high temperature alloys, are difficult to fabricate by the forging, casting, and machining operations presently used. As it was felt that fabrication by powder metallurgical techniques might offer advantages in the production of super-alloy parts, a basic investigation of the most important process in the sequence of powder metallurgical operations, the sintering process, was undertaken on Rene 41, Udirnet 500, and Nimonic 90 and 100 powders. These alloys age harden by the precipitation of the ? Ni, rA1,Ti) phase. Nickel-base superalloys of the Nimonic type have been fabricated by powder metallurgical methods, and their mechanical properties reported in detail.' Other alloys for high temperature service which have been fabricated by powder metallurgical methods include a Co-base alloy of the Vitallium type;2,3 alloys with a Co-Ni-Fe-Cr base;4 stainless steels;5'6 Cr-W-Co alloys;" and a Co-base alloy, X-40.8 METAL POWDERS The superalloy powders investigated were: a) a prealloyed at.omized Rene 41 powder; b) a prealloyed atomized Udirnet 500 powder; c) a prealloyed atom-

Jan 1, 1962

By Frank F. Aplan

INTRODUCTION Coal is a solid, combustible mineral substance resulting from the degradation and alteration of vegetable matter largely in the absence of air. In this natural process of coalification, some non-combustible mineral matter is always associated with the combustible material. Coal preparation or cleaning is the process of removing this inert mineral matter from the coal. Preparation is highly successful in removing the large fragments of inert material, but is not very effective in removing the fine inorganic mineral matter intimately associated with the coal. Of the 600 million tons of coal produced in the United States every year, approximately one-half is produced by coal cleaning methods (1). The bulk of this tonnage is cleaned by coarse or intermediate gravity preparation methods (5 inches to 28 mesh, Tyler). Fine cleaning, say, -28 mesh, is done by shaking tables, washing cyclones, and flotation, or, until recently, the fines were either incorporated into the clean coal or simply discarded--not infrequently, the latter. In 1972, only 13 million tons of raw coal were cleaned by flotation in the United States, and from this 8.4 million tons of clean coal were produced (1). The percentage of clean coal produced by flotation in Europe (England, West Germany, Poland, U.S.S.R., etc.) is substantially higher. However, coal flotation has grown rapidly in the United States from only a few plants in 1950 to 31 in 1960 (2) and 66 in 1970 (1). Virtually all new preparation plants incorporate flotation into their basic flowsheet. The essential difference between ore and coal flotation is that for ores the entire tonnage is ground to flotation size, whereas for coal

Jan 1, 1976

By Albert Hahn

ABOUT three years ago John Hays Hammond took over the control of the Eureka Metallurgical Co., at Salt Lake City, Utah. Funds were advanced for investigating the process invented by R. V. Smith, for concentrating oxidized lead ores. A great deal of laboratory work was done and a reagent was developed by C. M. Nokes of Salt Lake, which was found to be particularly suitable for oxidized copper ores, refractory manganese silver ores, and oxidized gold ores. After sufficient laboratory work had been performed to demonstrate the fundamental principles of these inventions, a test mill, having a capacity, of 20 tons of ore daily, was erected at Murray, Utah. In this test mill approximately 1200 tons of various types of ores have been concentrated by means of the above-mentioned process and reagents, and this large-scale work as well as laboratory work is being continued at present. Details of these mill tests are given in Table 1, and a representative group of laboratory tests are shown in Table 2. The process requires no special machinery or appara-tus. Its success depends entirely, on the method of preparing the pulp and its subsequent flotation in clean water, as outlined in the Smith patent. The reasons for the success of the Nokes special reagent are not definitely known. The outstanding feature, which seems to be of extreme importance, is that when the concentrates are examined under the microscope, each particle of mineral appears to have a particle of paraffin, attached to it. This paraffin-mineral combination seems to be particularly suitable for flotation and it follows that any coating oils readily attach themselves to the paraffin-mineral combination.

Jan 9, 1923

By S. C. Sun

This article by Spokes and Mitchell de- serves high commendation. For many years mineral dressers have been at a loss to explain the variation in magnetic susceptibility of the same mineral species obtained from different localities. In fact, they do not even have a list of accurately measured data on the specific magnetic susceptibility of weakly magnetic minerals to consult. Experience as a university teacher has firmly convinced me that the average student has more difficulty in acquiring a satisfactory knowledge of magnetism than of any other branch of mineral dressing. This is almost entirely because the subject has been treated far too much from a strict practical standpoint and far too little from a fundamental one. It is no exaggeration to state that almost all the published theoretical discussions are based on the experimental results of manufactured chemicals and alloys, but not of naturally occurring minerals. In an attempt to remedy this state of affairs, the author of this article not only set up a new magnetic balance in the Department of Mineral Preparation of The Pennsylvania State University, but also performed work of fundamental value, thus pointing the way to further research. This is evidenced by the fact that an investigation of the magnetic susceptibilities of manganese minerals was recently completed by S. G. Watt under the direction of David R. Mitchell, now acting dean of the College of Mineral Industries of the Pennsylvania State University. D. J. Cook is studying the magnetic susceptibility of titanium minerals under my supervision. It is hoped that our research program can be continued for several years and that similar investigations will be Initiated at other universities and research institutions.

Jan 4, 1958

By R. Pakalnis, J. P. Savely, R. D. Call

A simple and inexpensive clay imprint core orienting device has been developed by Dr. R. D. Call. It has a minimum of moving parts, is durable and easily used by drillers, and adds only 15 minutes to a core run. Conventional wire-line drilling and a drill hole inclined 30° to 60° from the horizontal plane are required. The device will not operate in a vertical hole. The orientor is an eccentrically weighted downhole device which can be constructed in a mine shop from an old inner core barrel and lead. Modeling clay is packed in the core lifter case, which is screwed on the downhole end of the orientor. A clay imprint of the bottom of the hole is taken after each coring run. This imprint is matched to the top of the succeeding core run, the drill core is pieced together, and a reference line representing the drill hole is scribed on each core. Fracture attitudes are measured relative to the reference line and the core axis. On recent drilling projects, tests for imprint reproducibility were conducted. The results of these tests show an average variation of f3" in location of the scribed reference line between imprints. Comparisons of surface mapping data with oriented core data are good. It is rare that the entire length of drill core in intensely fractured zones can be oriented because it is impossible to piece the core together. However, if a triple tube set-up is used, a modification in the scribing procedure can result in a good statistical sampling of the fracture population. Attitudes of major structures have been oriented with this technique.

Jan 1, 1983

By R. W. Raymond

Samson Jordan was born at Geneva, Switzerland, June 23, 1831. At the age of 20 years he entered the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, at Paris, from which he was graduated with high honors in 1854. After some months of service with the Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Nord, he was employed (upon the recommendation of his former instructor, Prof. Burat, who had recognized his remarkable ability) at the mines of Portes, belonging to the Société de l'Elairage au Gaz et des Hauts Fourneaux, etc., of Marseilles, and subsequently to construct the St. Louis iron blast-furnaces of that Co. After finishing this work, he remained at Marseilles as a member of the directory of the Co., particularly connected with the development of its mines. In 1862 he became the general advisory engineer of the Co., and still later (1873) its general manager (Administratet~r), a position which he retained until his death, February 24, 1900. He became subsequently Administrateur of other important French industrial enterprises, including those of the Compagnie des Naut Fourneaux, Forges et Aciéries de Denain et Anzin, and the Compagnie Banco-Belge des Mines de Somorrostro ; and he was also, at various times, President of the Société technique du Gaz, Vice-President of the Comité des Forges de France, mepber of the Council of the Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie nationale. In all these positions, it is the unanimous testimony of his colleagues that he was no mere ornamental figurehead, but a profoundly wise, practical and industrious laborer and adviser, both patient and keen in the mastery of details, yet at the same time competent to apprehend the wider bear-

Jan 1, 1902

By David White

THE submission of carefully prepared estimates of the oil reserves of the United States calls for no apology or explanation. In this country, petroleum is a rapidly wasting asset and an occasional appraisal of the amount remaining in the ground is a simple business procedure to safe-guard the general welfare and the prosperity of the republic. The rumored danger of failure, in the near future, of the foreign supply on which we depend in constantly increasing amounts makes the immediate review of our available reserves the more imperative. The Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, in March, 1921, requested the American Association of Petroleum Geologists to cooperate in the preparation of new estimates of the oil remaining in the ground. With the members of this cooperative committee, state geologists, regional geologists, consulting specialists, and geologists and engineers attached to many companies worked both independently and through sub-committees. The reports for districts, counties, fields, etc., after review by local or state committees, were discussed by the joint cooperative committee in conferences that, in some instances, were attended by the original compilers of estimates for the states or smaller areas. Finally the data were reviewed and the figures revised by the joint cooperative committee, so that the totals given in Table 1 represent the opinion of the committee, which was composed of F. W. DeWolf, W. E. Wrather, Roswell H. Johnson, Wallace A. Pratt, Alexander W. McCoy, Carl H. Beal, C. T. Lupton, G. C. Matson, K. C. Heald, W. T. Thom, Jr., A. E. Fath, Kirtley F. Mather, R. C. Moore, and David White, chairman.

Jan 6, 1922

By F. C. Miller

THE metallurgical fuel of Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico has been a very tardy member in the caravan of western industrial progress. The history of western coke has naturally been closely related to the development of the metallurgy of iron and steel and the precious metals, in the State of Colorado. It was at Leadville, with a population of 300 in 1877, that the Sentinel was published by Richard S. Allen. The Sentinel gave very full accounts of the various mineral discoveries at the new town of Leadville, which found their, way to the more widely circulated journals of the East, and attracted the attention of many people. At the close of 1878, a census showed a total of 5040 persons. The first smelter was established in 1877, at Malta, two miles from Leadville, by A. R. Meyer, but was not successful. It was succeeded by the Harrison Reduction Works, in 1878. The La Plata began with one furnace in June, 1878, and in 1879 had four furnaces in active operation. These furnaces used charcoal for fuel, and, because of hot tops, suffered a tremendous loss in lead and silver. This difficulty was overcome by the erection of 50 single-bank 10-ft. beehive ovens at Crested Butte, Colo., in 1880. The slack coal sent to these ovens was very pure, and yielded a coke carrying as little as 4.5 per cent. ash. Among the pioneers in the Leadville district were Grant, Eddy, James, Billings, Eiler, and Dickson. To these men the West owes the present expansion of its mining industry, and the erection of metallurgical processes for the treatment of precious metals.

Jan 8, 1918

By Dr. O’Neil Thomas J., Donald W. Gentry

It was a western truism that more money was made from selling mines than from buying them, just as it was accepted that many a good mine had been spoiled by working it. from R. E. White, "The Mining Town," Alta California August 18,1873 INTRODUCTION One of the most important aspects of mineral enterprises of US corporations is the influence of the depletion allowance on cash flow. This allowance permits mineral producers to claim sizable federal income tax deductions not available to other industries, and these deductions significantly increase cash flows in mining. In the past several years the minerals depletion allowance has come under increasingly heavy fire from many sectors as a tax loophole that deprives the federal government of large amounts of revenue. One estimate of the loss of tax dollars in 1968 was $2.25 billion due to depletion deductions and intangible expenses in the oil industry. Largely on the basis of such arguments, the Tax Reform Act of 1969 reduced percentage depletion rates for a number of minerals, and the Tax Reduction Act of 1975 totally eliminated statutory depletion for most oil and gas. In regard to percentage depletion for hard minerals, the federal government has estimated its resulting loss of revenue at $1.75 billion for 1980. The TEFRA legislation of 1982 further reduced the statutory depletion allowance available to iron ore, coal, and lignite beginning in 1984. Thus, it is clear that minerals engineers and managers should have a thorough knowledge of the origin, evolution, justification, and computational procedures relating to the depletion allowance. ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF THE DEPLETION ALLOWANCE

Jan 1, 1984

By Charles D. Walcott

The following acts of the Directors are reported for the information of members At a meeting held June 20, 1907, Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Director of the U. S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C., having been recommended by unanimous vote of the Council, was unanimously elected an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, in recognition of his personal services to American geology, and of his generous co-operation with this Institute, to the Transactions of which he has not only himself made valuable contributions, but has also encouraged the preparation of such contributions by the members of the U. S. Geological Survey under his charge, his liberal policy in this respect having gone so far as to permit the preliminary publication by the Institute of important results reached by the geologists of that Survey, even before their final and full publication as public documents. This wise and generous course has not only brought the U. S. Geological Survey into intimate and sympathetic relations with the mining industry of the world, but has also enriched the Transactions of the Institute, especially in the department of the science of ore-deposits, with many valuable papers. At a meeting held Jan. 14, 1908, Mr. Charles Kirchhoff was unanimously re-elected a Trustee of the United Engineering Society, to serve for a second term of three years. At a meeting held Feb. 18, 1908, directly after the adjournment of the annual meeting of the Institute, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, James Gayley: Vice-President, James Douglas; Secretary, R. W. Raymond; Treasurer, Frank Lyman.

Mar 1, 1908

By Paul Averitt

In spite of recent trends in the United States toward construction of steam generating plants near mine mouths, and toward use of high-voltage direct current for long-distance transmission of electricity, coal in substantial amounts is being transported over relatively long distances to serve specific needs. As coal is a low-cost bulk commodity which is more suitable for use near the point of origin, some of these long hauls are of considerable interest because they show what can be done under the pressure for more and more coal to support industrial and economic growth. Japan has an Insatiable Appetite for Coal Perhaps the longest U.S. coal journey begins in the east Appalachian Basin of southern Pennsylvania, eastern West Virginia, and southwestern Virginia. High-quality coking coal mined in these areas is shipped by rail to Baltimore, Md., and to Hampton Roads, Va., where the coal is reloaded on freighters for shipment primarily to western Europe and Japan. In 1967, shipments of coal to western Europe totaled 19 million tons, and shipments to Japan totaled 12 million tons. Japan also imports coal from Australia, the U.S.S.R., Canada, Poland, the People's Republic of China, and to a lesser ex- tent from several other countries. In an effort to solve long-term needs, Japanese steel interests have contracted for the purchase from the Kaiser Steel Corp. of 51 million long tons of coking coal over the period 1970 to 1985. The coal will come from the Kaiser Steel Corp. mine near Fernie, British Columbia. This arrangement will reduce Japan's future dependence on Appalachian Basin coal.

Jan 10, 1969

By H. M. Morse

Mississippi, during the year 1941, experienced the greatest diversity of oil activity since the beginning of oil interest in the state—core tests for exploration, core tests for sulphur, continued drilling at Tinsley for production, and wildcatting, which brought to light two new oil fields and two new salt domes. There were 45 wildcat wells drilled in 1941, which showed greater results and findings geologically than the 85 drilled in 1940. Tinsley Oil Field (Yazoo County).—The Tinsley oil field, with its boundaries fairly well defined now, is 8 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point. During the past year 213 producing wells were completed, which brought the total number of producers in the field by the end of 1941 to 325 wells. Seven producing sands have been logged, with a total average thickness of 30 ft. of oil sand. The producing formations are the Selma, Eutaw and Tuscaloosa. The average total depth of the wells is 5012 ft. The average gravity of the oil is 35.4°. Production for 1941 was approximately 15,500,000 bbl. of oil. Vaughan-Pickens Oil Field (Yazoo County).—At the end of 1941 only three wells were Producing in this field, the fourth having been abandoned. The total production for the field for the year was approximately 250,000 bbl. of oil. The producing sand is the Wilburn, in the Eutaw formation. Cary Field (Sharkey County).—The British American Oil Producing Co. completed, on Sept. I, 1941, its F. B. Houston No. A-I well, sec. 23, T. 11 N., R. 7 W. It is

Jan 1, 1942

Shooting Soot from Stacks In the DuPont magazine of June, 1916, S. R. Russell describes a method of cleaning large smoke or kiln stacks which he calls "simple,. economical- slid-most efficient" and-which- he -says can- be used in either-lined or unlined stacks, brick or steel, without fear of injury to the stack or lining. He gives the following specific directions: "The gun can be made out of air old piece of shafting about 4 in. in diameter and 14 to 16 in. long. Bore a hole 1 ¾ in. in diameter and 10 in. long in the center of the piece. Then bore a small horizontal hole ¼ in. in diameter through the piece-to the bottom of the center bore. This hole serves as a touch hole for inserting the fuse. "The-whole thing can be mounted on a pedestal about 6 in. in diameter so that it will stand in an upright position. "The -method of operation is as follows: Pour some FFF Blasting Powder into the mouth of the cannon to about 2 in. from the top. Tamp to the collar with dry clay. , A short piece of fuse is inserted in the touch hole and in contact with the main powder charge. Open the flue door at the bottom of the stack, set the cannon on the bottom and in the center of the stack, light the fuse and close the flue door. "The explosion shakes and loosens the soot adhering to the sides, causing it to fall to the bottom. It can' then be removed through the flue opening.

Jan 9, 1916

By H. M. Morse

Mississippi, during the year 1941, experienced the greatest diversity of oil activity since the beginning of oil interest in the state—core tests for exploration, core tests for sulphur, continued drilling at Tinsley for production, and wildcatting, which brought to light two new oil fields and two new salt domes. There were 45 wildcat wells drilled in 1941, which showed greater results and findings geologically than the 85 drilled in 1940. Tinsley Oil Field (Yazoo County).—The Tinsley oil field, with its boundaries fairly well defined now, is 8 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point. During the past year 213 producing wells were completed, which brought the total number of producers in the field by the end of 1941 to 325 wells. Seven producing sands have been logged, with a total average thickness of 30 ft. of oil sand. The producing formations are the Selma, Eutaw and Tuscaloosa. The average total depth of the wells is 5012 ft. The average gravity of the oil is 35.4°. Production for 1941 was approximately 15,500,000 bbl. of oil. Vaughan-Pickens Oil Field (Yazoo County).—At the end of 1941 only three wells were Producing in this field, the fourth having been abandoned. The total production for the field for the year was approximately 250,000 bbl. of oil. The producing sand is the Wilburn, in the Eutaw formation. Cary Field (Sharkey County).—The British American Oil Producing Co. completed, on Sept. I, 1941, its F. B. Houston No. A-I well, sec. 23, T. 11 N., R. 7 W. It is

Jan 1, 1942

By E. M. Baroody

MUCH information on intermetallic diffusion has been obtained in experiments in which two volumes, initially at different uniform concentrations, are maintained in contact at an interface which is plane, or nearly so. Concentration-distance curves are obtained after suitable times, and analyzed on the basis of a one-dimensional form of Fick's law In early work the linear equation to which Eq. 1 reduces when D is independent of concentration was used. However, when the initial concentrations c, and c, are appreciably different this simplification is often unjustified, and the suggestion by Matanol in 1933 of a way of avoiding it was welcomed. Matano's paper was based on work done as early as 1882 by Boltzmann.2,3 In 1938 Rhines and Meh14 reported an extensive investigation of systems in which the diffusion coefficient depends strongly on concentration, and included a detailed description of the Matano-Boltz-mann method. To a large degree, this description represents the formal method as it is understood and applied today, most later discussions having emphasized thermodynamic and mechanistic aspects of diffusion. Exceptions are the comments of R. V. Churchill, contained in a paper by Ham, Parke and Herzig,5 and the papers by Hall8 and by Kirkaldy.7 More discussion appears necessary since some aspects of the problem remain obscure. Better computational procedures are also needed. The common method, involving graphical determination of slopes and areas, is inconvenient and makes the estimation of errors difficult. Background of the Matano-Boltzmann Method Eq. 1 is to be considered along with initial and boundary conditions. Take the origin of x at the

Jan 1, 1958

R. W. Balluffi (Atomic Energy Div., Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Bayside, N. Y.)—Since porosity is known to form in the copper side of Cu-Ni couples during diffusion24,25 it is of importance to consider this factor in interpreting the large variations of chemical diffusivity with copper concentration reported for this system. The presence of porosity may affect the measurement of D in two ways: 1—density changes in the couple invalidate the usual solutions of the diffusion equation, and 2—the pores may act as short-circuiting paths when transport through the vapor or along internal surfaces is appreciable or else as open circuits when these effects are small. The error produced by the first effect may be estimated by a graphical analysis. Fig. 8 shows the porosity generated in the copper side of the Kirkendall interface of a pure nickel vs pure copper couple after diffusion for 350 hr at 1040°C in hydrogen. In Fig. 9 the actual diffusion curve which would be obtained by the usual slicing technique is shown as a solid line drawn to the same scale (from the data of da Silva and Mehl"). The amounts of porosity (obtained by lineal analysis) and of nickel are graphically represented by the hatched areas. The standard solutions of the diffusion equation are valid only when all volume elements of unit length and unit cross section contain equal numbers of atoms." It is possible to correct the experimental curve to satisfy this condition by shrinking the couple in the direction of diffusion in such a way as to eliminate the porosity.* The corrected diffusion curve obtained after

Jan 1, 1954

By G. R. Speich, S. A. Kulin

R. C. Shnay (Dept. of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa, Ont., Canada)-—The authors are to be congratulated on an interesting and informative paper. However, several questions arise when the isothermal formation of martensite .is considered in relation to the formation of bainite at temperatures near the M, point. The reactions in an alloy and in a plain carbon steel would appear to be comparable; and in the course of a recent investigation of the austenite-bainite transformation in a plain carbon steel,Ia the writer has obtained data at temperatures above and below the M, point. These data are in some respects similar to those of the authors and a comparison would seem justified. The steel used in this investigation had the nominal composition: C, 0.80 pct; Mn, 0.20; and Si, 0.20. The course of the transformation was followed by the use of a magnetic balance. The magnetic moment of the specimen as determined by this instrument is directly proportional to the percentage of the total volume of the specimen which has transformed to bainite. ~lf specimens were austenitized at 1850°F for 4 hr, quenched to the transformation temperature, and quickly transferred to the magnetic balance. Readings were taken at regular intervals until the transformation had stopped. A typical transformation curve is shown in Fig. 9. The preliminary curve preceding the S-shaped curve was found at all temperatures above the M, to around 600°F. Both the extent of this preliminary curve and the time interval between it and the S-shaped curve were found to decrease with increasing temperature as was suggested by Davenport and Bain.14 Therefore,

Jan 1, 1953

E. R. Rice, Wickenburg, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary*):—While this paper is primarily intended as a discussion of Mr. Riter's, I think it will be best to indicate my criticism by describing my own field-methods. It has been my experience that, for ordinary work, the regular transit-book is to be preferred to the card-system for recording notes. This is specially true when computations in the field are required, for it is then necessary to have at hand the total latitudes, departures, ancl elevations. Moreover, the transit-book is easier to carry and manipulate in wet or cramped places, and is not as liable to damage as the loose leaf or card. I use a regular transit-book in the field, and then copy my notes, sketches, etc., in an o5ce-book, entering also the latitudes, departures, and other reductions. These values are then copied into the field-book, securing a duplicate record, in case either book should be lost or mislaid. In the field-book, the notes are entered on the left-hand, and the sketches and remarks on the right-hand page. The next two pages are left blank for the latitudes, departures, bearings, reduced distances, etc. Of course, the notes for the different parts of the mine are entered in the field-book in the order in which they are surveyed; but in the they are entered systematically. It has been my experience that the system of keeping notes used by a surveyor, is particularly adapted to the needs and temperament of the individual. Otherwise, he would not be

Jan 1, 1912

E. A. HOLBROOK,*Urbana, Ill.-To those who have followed the development of powdered coal two questions often occur. First, as to the moisture in the coal. In Illinois we recognize that the bituminous coals contain about 12 to 15 per cent. of what we call "contained moisture," that is, the moisture is present in the coal although this may appear absolutely dry and dusty. In addition, the surface moisture may be present in any amount. I would like to ask what is the relative effect of these two forms of moisture upon the work of pulverizing. Does Mr. Collins refer to the contained moisture or to the surface moisture in estimating the degree to which the coal must be dried? H. R. COLLINS.-In the lignite coals, of which this country possesses a great deal and is beginning to develop them to considerable extent, the "contained" or "combined" moisture does not .trouble us; we have no difficulty in reducing lignites to a high degree of fineness. But when dealing with bituminous, sub-bituminous, or semi-bituminous, we, prefer to reduce the combined moisture as well as the hydroscopic moisture as far as possible. We have recently put into operation, at a plant, furnaces and boilers consuming the lignite from northern New Mexico, which contains between 4 and 5 per cent. moisture as we pulverize and burn it. The evaporating efficiencies under the boilers have been so remarkable that we wish to check the results half a dozen times before quoting them. We have also just started two boilers at the Garfield smelter, and have obtained the same high efficiencies.

Jan 11, 1918