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By B. K. Larkin, H. R. Bailey

One of the most complicated and potentially one of the most promising secondary recovery methods is that of underground combustion. A number of field tests1,2,3 have been performed recently, apparently indicating that the underground combustion process is technically feasible. Relatively little has been published concerning laboratory or theoretical investigations of the underground combustion process. A few results of laboratory tube runs have been published4,5 and these data are valuable in understanding the process. The tube run data also emphasize the complexity of the thermal recovery process. Under various conditions, problems in heat transfer, multiphase fluid flow and combustion rates arise. For example, at low temperatures the combustion process proceeds so slowly that the front cannot be propagated. It is a problem in heat transfer to predict what injection rate of air is necessary to sustain combustion in a particular reservoir. Certain fluid flow aspects of underground combustion have been studied by Wilson, et a13. In the development of some of the flow equations, assumptions of adiabatic combustion were made. Vogel and Krueger1 have devised an analog model of the heat conduction process for a constant temperature cylindrical source moving radially outward in a homogeneous conducting medium. Jenkins and Ramey7, in a discussion of the Vogel and Krueger paper, present an analytical solution of a heat conduction problem related to problems considered by Vogel and Krueger. In the present paper an idealized model of the heat conduction problem is considered, which is more general than the model of Vogel and Krueger or Jenkins and Ramey. In particular, initial well heating, vertical heat losses and arbitrary frontal velocities are included. Equations for the temperature are obtained in terms of integrals. These integrals have been evaluated numerically for the case of frontal movement corresponding to a constant air injection rate and the case of constant frontal velocity. These results are presented graphically. From these graphs one may estimate conditions under which nearly adiabatic temperatures are obtained. The application of these results requires some knowledge of reservoir thermal properties, combustion rates and residual fuel content. Assuming no vertical losses it is possible to obtain explicit evaluations of these integrals in the linear con- stant velocity case and in the radial case corresponding to a constant air injection rate. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS The geometry of the radial system is illustrated in Fig. 1 where the reservoir is represented as a slab of thickness h. By making an energy balance for an infinitesimal volume, one obtains the following equation. T= x T+F(z.r).........(1) where F (z,r) =HWv1/pc (r-r1), if z h/2 = 0, if z >h/2 . In Eq. 1, V- represents the Laplacian operator and 8 is the Dirac delta function. Eq. 1 is the well-known diff-sion equation with a source term and may be applied to a linear system. For example, if the source is moving in the direction of the x axis, then the argument of the delta function is x - 1,. In deriving Eq. 1 the following approximations were made concerning the actual combustion process: (1) all heat transfer is by conduction in a homogeneous medium, (2) the formations bounding the reservoir have the same thermal properties as the reservoir, (3) the combustion fuel is consumed instantaneously as the front arrives, (4) there is a constant fuel concentration

By Lester A. Blackner

Discussion of the paper of LESTER A. BLACKNER, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 102, June, 1915, pp. 1249 to 1290. SIDNEY J. JENNINGS, New York, N. Y.-In the historical part of the development of the caving system discussed by Mr. Blackner, I notice the absence of one man's name, Charles Henroten. Mr. Henroten used the caving system in South Africa in the. Kimberly mines, and realized from his work there that ground would cave when properly prepared. I think it is due him that his name should be mentioned in connection with an exposition of this system in America.

Jan 12, 1915

By O. Hall

DIAMOND drilling has become a very important factor in mining. It is the most satisfactory method of obtaining proof of the existence of an orebody and of determining the character and extent of the body, in measures where a core can be made. Large investments are based on the information obtained. The method of development, the mine and reduction plants, and subsidiary essentials as railways are often built without other information. The Mond Nickel Co. has drilled about 50,000 ft. (15,240 m.) per yr. for several years and has given considerable study to the question of improving the methods and of overcoming the limitations of this means of securing information. One of the main limitations of the diamond drill has been its inability to drill a straight hole. To depths of 1000 ft. (304 in.) the deflection is often not large but all holes tend to curve and take somewhat erratic courses. A hole running at a small angle to a fissure plane tends to run, along the fissure. If the hole is at a large angle, the tendency is to penetrate the fissure plane at right angles. The face of the bit having one side in solid formation beyond the fissure, the other in the selvage of the fissure tends to turn, the rods curving to the extent of their clearance in the hole. Usually rock measures have somewhat regular fissuring or strata and holes take somewhat similar courses, usually at right angles to the fissuring or strata. Excessive pressure or short or worn core barrels increase curvature. Slow speeds, correct feeds, sharp hits, and core barrels the full size of the hit, tend to decrease curvature but do not prevent it Curvature once started increases rapidly. The disappointments from crooked holes have been numerous. Discoveries have later been found to be on the properties of others. One Canadian company had a hole, supposedly discovering ore 300 ft. (91 m.) from old workings, unexpectedly turn in 8 ft. (2.4 m.) of wooden core from a timber in the old workings.

Jan 9, 1919

By Joseph W. Murray

Prior to 1950 Magma's ore production came from two parallel, steeply dipping, east-west striking mineralized faults, one called the Main or Magma vein and the other the Koerner vein, which lay about 1100 ft to the south. This vein system has been explored and mined over 9000 ft horizontally and 4800 ft vertically. In 1950 continued exploration led to the discovery and development of replacement orebodies in the Devonian limestone zones adjacent to the veins. These replacement deposits occur in the eastern part of the Magma mine and follow the strike and the 30º east dip of the host limestone. Strike length of the ore bodies varies from 250- 500 ft and thickness from 15-125 ft. The orebodies are large tabular masses with chalcopyrite and bornite being the dominant ore minerals. Hematite and pyrite are the most abundant gangue minerals. Incompetent limestone, shale, or a porphyry sill hanging wall is characteristic of portions of the replacement beds. In many instances the ore is blocky, badly fractured and intermixed with layers of limestone gouge, pyrite and hematite.

Jan 6, 1973

By J. K. Edgar

For a number of years the production and use of super-purity aluminum (better than 99.99 pct) has been steadily increasing. High-grade lots of. such aluminum show certain outstanding characteristics not found in lower grades containing principally silicon, iron and copper as impurities. One such characteristic is the so-called "self annealing," that is, the re-crystallization of the heavily cold worked metal at room temperature.' Interest therefore is aroused as to the effects of the impurities. It is well known that the amounts of silicon and copper which occur in aluminum of better than 99.95 pct are completely soluble, at least at elevated temperatures (above 200°C). Iron, on the other hand, is known to be fairly insoluble in solid aluminum. Thus, a knowledge of the limits of this solubility would he of considerable use in studying the characteristics of the high purity metal. All investigators have agreed that iron has very low solubility in solid aluminum. Rosenhain, Archbutt and Hanson2 reported traces of an aluminum-iron phase in the "purest samples of aluminum obtainable." Gwyer and Phillips3 reported that an iron constituent was visible under the microscope in metal containing ".0088 per cent iron." Roth4 found that in the solid state the solubility of iron in high purity aluminum was 0.01, 0.01, 0.017 and 0.022 pct at 225, 320, 500 and 600°C respectively. Dix5 working with alloys containing less than 0.03 pct impurities, concluded from microscopic and chemical analyses of eutectic areas that the eutectic composition was close to 1.7 pct iron. Dix placed the eutectic temperature at 65s°C. Archer and Fink,6 using high purity aluminum-iron alloys, found that the hypoeutectic liquidus intersects the eutec-tic horizontal at 1.7 pct. This is in fair agreement with the investigation of the aluminum-iron system by Gwyer and Phillips who placed the eutectic at 1.89 pct iron with a freezing point of 653'C. Preparation and Chemical Analysis oP Alloys Electrolytically refined aluminum (99.991 pct aluminum) and a high purity alumi-num-iron alloy (11.45 Pet iron) were used in the preparation of the alloys for this investigation. To aid in controlling the iron content of the experimental alloys, an alloy of lower iron content was prepared first from these materials. The high purity aluminum was melted and heated to about 700°C in a plumbago crucible coated with alundum cement and the aluminum-iron alloy was then added. The alloy was thoroughly stirred, fluxed and skimmed and then chill-cast into notch bars. The aIlalyses of the three materials are given in Table I. The alloys for the determination of the solid solubility of iron in aluminum were prepared by melting 600 g total of the aluminum plus the required quantity of the aluminum-iron alloy (No. 92531). These

Jan 1, 1949

By T. Prof. Egleston

DURING the last winter we have been actively engaged in the School of Mines in search for boracic acid. This has been owing to the fact that Mr. M. W. Iles, assistant in the qualitative laboratory, has discovered a test for that substance which makes its discovery exceedingly simple instead of being, as previously, very difficult. It consists in powdering the mineral, calcining it, then moistening it with sulphuric acid, and heating on a platinum wire until the sulphuric acid is expelled. It is then moistened with glycerin and made to take fire. If boracic acid is present it infallibly gives a green flame. It is not at all surprising, under such circumstances, the test being so easy, that boracic acid has been found by the students in a great many cases where its presence was not previously suspected, and in some where its detection was previously too difficult to warrant looking for it. We were not prepared, however, for its discovery in Lake Superior iron ores, and were disposed at first to think that a mistake had been made. After, however, it had been frequently reported in these ores it was considered worth while

Jan 1, 1877

By C. A. Heiland

MEASUREMENTS of gravity with gravimeters have come into increased use in this country and abroad in the past five years. Probably 100 to 125 gravimeter parties are working in the United States alone. In oil exploration, gravimeter methods have relegated the gravity pendulum definitely to second place, if not third, and now closely rival and possibly surpass the torsion balance in many applications. Gravimeters have lately been applied in mining, although it is doubtful whether they will ever replace electrical or magnetic methods in this work. Notwithstanding the widespread application of gravimeters, there has been no article covering the entire field in the domestic or foreign literature. The purpose of this paper is to meet the demand for com-prehensive engineering information on the subject. The working principles of a number of gravimeters will be, illustrated and treated in relation to the action of corresponding seismometers and astatization methods. The mathematical discussion of theory has been confined to the most necessary fundamentals and been given in as ele-mentary form as possible. A description of calibration methods con-stitutes the last part of the paper. The symbols shown at the top of page 2 will be used in equations throughout the paper.

Jan 1, 1939

By James M. Barker

Sulfur is a nonmetallic element of great physical and economic importance to the world. It is widely but sparingly distributed throughout the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element in the universe and eighth most abundant in the sun. In the earth's crust, which is mainly igneous, it ranks 14th, but is eighth or ninth in sediments (Kaplan, 1972; Stanton, 1972). It apparently is very abundant in the core of the earth, because it is a strong chalcophile, and it is fifth in abundance in stony and iron meteorites (Field, 1972) where it occurs as trolite (FeS). In ancient times sulfur was called brimstone, literally "burning stone." Today the term brimstone is used interchangeably with the term elemental sulfur. Shelton (1979) summarized most of the common definitions of terms, grades, and specifications for the sulfur industry as follows (with minor additions): Sources of Sulfur: Combined sulfur-Sulfur that occurs in nature combined with other elements. Cupriferous pyrites-Pyrite containing relatively minor amounts of copper sulfide minerals. Hydrogen sulfide-A toxic gas (H2S) occurring in natural gas and petroleum. Involuntary sulfur-Sulfur produced primarily as a result of legislative or process mandates. Native sulfur-Sulfur that occurs in nature in the elemental (uncombined) form. Nonferrous metal sulfides-Copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and molybdenum sulfides that are processed for their metal content. Organic sulfurs-Complex organic sulfur compounds occurring in petroleum, coal, oil shale, and tar sands. Pyrites-Iron sulfide minerals that include pyrite, marcasite, and pyrrhotite. Sulfate sulfurs-Sulfur in anhydrite and gypsum. Voluntary sulfur-Sulfur produced in response to market forces. Basic Sulfur Products Produced and Marketed: Acid sludge-Contaminated sulfuric acid usually returned to acid plants for reconstitution. Brimstone-Synonymous with crude sulfur. Bright sulfur-Crude sulfur free of discoloring impurities and bright yellow in color. Broken sulfur-Solid crude sulfur crushed to -8 in. Byproduct sulfuric acid--Sulfuric acid produced as a byproduct of a metallurgical or industrial process, generally relating to combined sulfur sources. Crude sulfur-Commercial nomenclature for elemental sulfur. Dark sulfur-Crude sulfur discolored by minor quantities of hydrocarbons ranging up to 0.3 % carbon content. Elemental sulfur-Processed sulfur in the elemental form produced from native sulfur or combined sulfur sources, generally with a minimum sulfur content of 99.5%. Formed sulfur-Elemental sulfur cast or pressed into particular shapes to enhance handling and to suppress dust generation and moisture retention. Frasch sulfur-Elemental sulfur produced from native sulfur sources by the Frasch mining process. Hydrogen sulfide-Associated with natural gas or petroleum and produced at refineries and coke oven plants; used to make sulfuric acid or recovered sulfur. Liquid sulfur-Synonymous with molten sulfur. Liquid sulfur dioxide-Purified sulfur dioxide compressed to the liquid phase. Molten sulfur-Crude sulfur in the molten phase.

Jan 1, 1983

By H. J. Rose

Graphic methods have long been used to advantage in dealing with diverse phases of fuel technology and research. Not only are graphs convenient for presenting data and making calculations, but they are invaluable for deriving generalizations from a mass of data. This is particularly true when relationships are obscure and numerical correlation is poor. This paper describes a new form of graph, the Multibasic Coal Chart, which has been developed to facilitate the study and comparison of coals of all ranks from peat to anthracite on any moisture and purity basis. This type of chart is of unique value for coal classification purposes, since it permits a direct visual comparison of the results obtained when coals are classified by the various systems which have been proposed. Coals are highly variable in character as a result of wide differenees in original vegetal ingredients, degree of metamorphism, and nature and amount of associated impurities. For nearly 100 years, attempts have been made to devise a satisfactory method of classification, and many tables, formulas, ratios and graphs have been suggested. Many of the suggested systems possess considerable merit and have found a limited use, thus promoting a better understanding of coal. However, objections have been raised against each system, and none has received general adoption. When the various systems of classification are compared, it is found that there is an apparently almost hopeless confusion due to: 1. Serious lack of agreement as to the proper moisture and purity basis on which to classify coal. More than ten different bases have been proposed, each of which requires complete recalculat.ion of the analysis data used. 2. Lack of agreement as to what chemical and physical properties are most important and best to use for classification purposes. There is too little knowledge of the degree to which these properties can be correlated.

Jan 1, 1930

By H. E. McKinstry

MOVEMENT on a fracture of irregular shape can cause local widening of the fissure and thereby offer freer channelways for circulation of ore-depositing solutions. This influence, coupled with large areas of wall rock available for reacting with ore solutions in brecciated and shattered ground can account for locally active deposition of metals and the resulting ore shoots. Such irregularities in the fracture system may be caused by local variations in the strength of rocks and by pre-existing lines of weakness, especially if these stand at favorable angles to certain components of the fracturing stress. Therefore correct interpretation of the mechanics of fracturing should permit deductions as to structurally favorable places on unexplored portions of the vein system.

Jan 1, 1941

By G. S. Rice

Undoubtedly there is a serious problem through the juxtapostion of gas and oil wells and coal mines, not only at the present time, but possibly of far more serious import for the future.

Jan 1, 1915

Jan 1, 1933

By D. Y. Geng, Syd S. Peng

This paper analyzes the effects of geology and mining methods on surface subsidence factor, angle of draw and angle of critical deformation based on the results of 40 longwall subsidence profiles in the Northern Appalachian coalfield. Several equations were derived to show the relationships between those parameters. Furthermore, the equations were transferred and plotted in the form of several monographs for convenience of applications.

Jan 1, 1982

By Terry G. Richard, Vernal H. Kenner, Sunder H. Advani

This paper presents and discusses the results of thirty-one fracture toughness tests on Pennsylvanian Age Clay Shale. Two different orientations for this anisotropic material were studied and two series of tests were conducted, namely, 1. a test series to determine the effect of moisture content on fracture toughness, and 2. a test series to study mixed mode fracture. Increased absorbed moisture is found to reduce fracture toughness. Several analyses of mixed mode failure are found to give varying non-conservative predictions of failure stress intensity level.

Jan 1, 1982

By A. Coskun, J. F. Elliott

The activity of aluminum in liquid Al-Fe alloys .has been measured by an improved version of the transportation method in which the metallic vapor has been collected by its solution in a metallic condenser. The results can be represented by the equation: log yAl = -3.0(1 - xAl2) (0.6 < XAl < 1.0) This equation applies at 1315°C. MORRIS and zellarsl adapted the transportation method for measuring the vapor pressure of a com- ponent of an alloy at high temperature. We have modified their technique further2 for use with metals that are strong oxide formers. In the present case the method has been applied to the Al- Fe system to obtain the activity of aluminum in the liquid region at 1315°C. Dried ultrahigh-purity hydrogen (Matheson) is the carrier gas. The operations, Fig. 1, of deoxidizing the gas, equilibrating the gas with the sample at 1315";, and then collecting the aluminum vapor are all accomplished within a single, continuous alumina tube to avoid contamination of the system by leaks. De-oxidation to a very low level of PO2 (<10-25 atm) is Obtained by passing the hydrogen through a tightly packed bed of aluminum powder. The temperature of this bed increases to approximately 550°C in the direction of the gas flow. The boat containing three pellets of the alloy is supported on the end of a

Jan 1, 1969

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 undcrlain by two major structural features. The northernmost portion of the district, including Cooke, 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

Jan 1, 1938

By W. F. Burns

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) ATTEMPTS were made in 1908, at the Great Falls Works, to produce ingots direct from the Butte precipitate by smelting the material in a reverberatory refining furnace. The ingots produced in this manner averaged 99.4 per cent. of copper and 0.40 per cent. of arsenic and antimony. The copper content being considered too low, it. was decided to cast the copper into anodes and to treat the anodes in the electrolytic plant. No. 1 Furnace, in which the precipitate was treated, was a regular cathode refining furnace previously employed in making wire bar, cake, and ingot from electrolytic cathodes. The hearth of the furnace was 24 by 12 ft., having a capacity of 100,000 lb. of cathodes. The furnace was coal fired, and the copper was dipped by means of trolley ladles.

Jan 7, 1913

By Rollin Farmin

"SWELLING GROUND" delivers pressure on mine timbers that originates in expansion of the wall rock, whereas "heavy ground" delivers only gravitative pressure. Of the several possible causes considered, the swelling is attributed to the physical surface action of water on gouge and flaky rocks at the periphery of the mine opening.

Jan 1, 1944

Activity with the legislation proposing to liberalize War Minerals Relief Act has now started before the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House. They are considering House Joint Resolution No. 170, which brings out the fact that war minerals claims in excess of $15,000,000 had been filed but that a considerable portion of the claims are being denied because of the Attorney General&apos;s. interpretation of the Act. The resolution states that it was the intention. of Congress in passing the War Minerals Relief Act "that all producers of the minerals mentioned should be repaid such sums as they are in equity and good faith entitled." The Attorney General&apos;s opinion is that the request or demand must have been made on the claimant direct. The resolution provides. that all claimants "who in response to any personal, written or published request or demand from any of the Government agencies-mentioned-in said Act in good faith expended money in producing or preparing to produce any of the ores or minerals named-therein *-*-* and have heretofore filed their claims within the time and-in the manner prescribed in said Act" are to be reimbursed for the n t-losses-incurred.

Jan 12, 1919

Division of Geology, State of Tennessee, 401 Seventh Ave, North, Nashville, Tenn. Walter F. Pond, State Geologist A selected list of Bulletins available: Bulletin 1(B), Bibliography of Tennessee geology (1911); 2(A) Outline introduction to mineral resources (1910), 2(D) Marbles (1911); 2(G) Zinc deposits (1910), 16, Red iron ores of east Tennessee (1913), 22, Geology and natural resources of Rutherford County (1920), 24(A) Geology and oil possibilities of parts of Overton, Clay, Pickett and Fentress counties (1920); 24(B) Oil and gas resources of northeastern Sumner County (1920), 26, Mineral resources of Waynesboro Quadrangle (1921); 28, Marble deposits of East Tennessee (1923), 29, Magnetic iron ores of east Tennessee (1923), 31, Zinc deposits of east Tennessee (1923), 33, Tennessee coal fields, 37, Geology and mineral resources of Hardin County, 38, Stratigraphy of the Central Basin (in press), 39, Brown iron ores of the Eastern Highland Rim (in press) From 1911 to 1919, inclusive, volumes were issued annually on The Resources of Tennessee Only a few of the separate papers contained in those volumes are now available Vol. 2 (1911): No 1, Explosions of coal dust in mines, and other papers, No. 4, Lignite and lignitic clays in west Tennessee, and other papers; 5, The growth of knowledge of Tennessee geol¬ogy; 9, The valley and mountain iron ores of east Tennessee, 10, The iron industry of Lawrence and Wayne counties, and other papers; 11, Barite deposits in the Sweetwater district, and other papers, 12, The iron ore deposits in the Tuckalioe district, and another paper Various oil maps (15 to 40 cents each) and traverse maps of counties (25 cents and 31 each) can be had, as well as pertinent U. S topographic maps.

Jan 1, 1933