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By Jerome Alexander

IT is an outstanding fact of Nature that many of the practical properties of substances are dependent, not on their ultimate chemical composition, but on the kind and degree of aggregation of their constituent particles. Thus, a granite boulder is unmoved by wind or water, but if reduced to a fine dust it will be blown about by the wind and washed away by the rain. Carbon in one crystalline state of aggregation (diamond) is the hardest known substance, whereas in another crystalline state (graphite) it is so soft that it is used as a lubricant. Laying too much stress on the mere chemical analysis of substances is apt to obscure the fact that the nature of the aggregation of their particles is always a factor of importance, and sometimes the most important factor. Colloid chemistry deals with matter in. a very fine state of subdivision; its sphere begins with particles just a little smaller than a wave length of light-and extends clown until they blend into molecular dimensions. With particles of this size; such phenomena as surface tension and adsorption, which depend on the development of free surface, become enormously magnified. Thus a cube of 1 cm. edge has a surface of only 6 sq. cm.; but if it is reduced to colloidal dimensions by being cut up into cubes each having an edge of 0.01 , (0.00001 mm.), it will yield one million, million, million (1,000,000,000,000,000,000) such cubes, having a combined area of 600 sq. in., or 21,274 sq. ft. The tiny force with which a drop of rain clings to the window pane becomes a. factor to be reckoned with, if the surface involved is increased millions of times. From the colloid-chemical viewpoint, metals and alloys may be regarded as jellies or sponge-like structures, the viscosity or stiffness of which at ordinary temperatures is exceedingly great; and like all jellies their properties are dependent on the composition and degree of dispersion of their constituent phases. These, in turn, depend on chemical composition, mutual solubility, speed of chilling, subsequent mechanical and heat treatment, etc In fact, in preparing metals and

Jan 2, 1919

By G. P. Bowman, D. F. Howard, R. K. Saxer, J. R. Myers

This study was undertaken to redetermine the phase diagram of the lead molybdate-bismuth molyb-date salt system. A portion of this diagram was originally determined by Zambonini in 1920, and more recently by Beale. Thermal analysis and X-ray methods were used to define this system. The diagram was found to be a simple eutectic type with an eutectic at 11 mol pet lead molybdate and 634OC. A maximum solid solubility of 6 mol pet was found at the lead molybdate end of the diagram. Solid solubility at the bismuth molybdate end of' the diagram appeared to be quite limited and possibly nonexistent. These results generally agree with those of Beale, but differ significantly from those of Zambonini. MOLTEN salt systems have been vigorously investigated since World War 11. Much of this work has been performed as pure research; however, consideration has recently been given to their possible use as coolants in nuclear reactors. Because of this application and other potential applications, it was decided to reinvestigate the lead molybdate-bismuth molybdate phase diagram. This diagram was originally determined by Professor F. Zambonini of the University of Turin in 1920.' In 1961, a portion of this diagram was redetermined by Beale.2 With the quality equipment and high-purity materials available today, it was expected that discrepancies between the results of this present investigation and Zambonini's work would be obtained. This investigation was conducted in two parts. First, the general shape of the phase diagram was determined by cooling-curve analysis. Next, the primary solid-solution phase at the lead molybdate end of the diagram was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction techniques. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE High-purity lead molybdate, assaying 99.993 pet, and high-purity bismuth molybdate, assaying 99.989 pet, were employed during this investigation.* The results of a spectrographic analysis of the two salts are presented in Table I. Twenty-two experimental compositions were prepared for cooling-curve analysis. Compositions selected are presented in Table 11. Several randomly selected samples were analyzed chemically to check that the compositions of the prepared specimens were within the limit of

Jan 1, 1964

By Raymond Mancha

TO determine the optimum inside dimension of an airshaft, it is necessary to strike the proper balance between the cost of power for air friction and turbulence losses within the airshaft, on the one hand, and the cost of sinking the airshaft, on the other. An airshaft larger than necessary is extravagant because the increased amortization rate exceeds the reduction in power cost. Conversely, an airshaft smaller than is needed wastes more power than can be justified by the corresponding reduction in amortization rate. The airshaft power is a function of the air volume Q cu. ft. per min. and the air- pressure drop p in. water gauge across the airshaft The airshaft pressure drop is calculated by the formula: [ ] wherein R is the air-friction coefficient for the portion of the airshaft 1 ft. deep, 0 ft. in perimeter and A sq. ft. in area, when passing an air volume of Q cu. ft. per minute. The airpower w kw. dissipated within the airshaft is computed by the formula: [ ] With a combined over-all unit efficiency of the fan and drive of E per cent, the air- shaft power requirements become [ ] There are 8760 hours per year, so with energy at I cent per kilowatt-hour the annual cost per kilowatt for continuous operation is $87.60; therefore, with energy at C$ per kw-hr. the annual airshaft power cost MI dollars per year becomes: [ ] which, expressed by the component parts, becomes : [] The amortization rate a dollars per year per dollar invested includes both depreciation and interest on the investment. These in turn involve the expected useful life of the airshaft and available monetary interest rate. For the purpose of this discussion the cost of airshaft sinking is assumed to comprise a fixed move-in charge Y dollars, which covers the cost of transporting, erecting and removing the shaft-sinking equipment and is independent of the air- shaft size. Also, it is assumed that the cost of shaft lining, if any, is fixed at $X per cu. yd. of lining material and that excava-

Jan 1, 1946

By Felix Shay

THE Agua Fria mine is in eastern Honduras at Lat. 140° 06' N., Long. 86° 36' W. Danli, the seat of the local municipal government, is the nearest town. The property is approximately 44 miles east of Teguci-galpa, the terminus of a truck road from the Pacific coast. The mine lies at an altitude of 3300 ft. with surrounding elevations as high as 6000 feet. For 20 years the oxidized croppings of the Agua Fria vein had been worked intermittently when in 1927 an attempt was made to open the property. A shaft was sunk 300 ft. and considerable ore was blocked out, but before a mill could be installed financial difficulties arose and the mine reverted to the original owners. Erle P. Halliburton, of Los Angeles, purchased the property in 1934. At that time a careful consideration of all factors involved showed that air transport was the only practical method of moving the equipment and machinery necessary to commence production. The other alternative was by muleback, which required sectionalizing all equipment to a maximum load of 200 lb., and during the rainy season this type of freighting was subject to serious delays. It was decided to purchase a trimotor Ford powered by three Pratt and Whitney Wasp B motors developing 400 hp. each. There were several reasons for the choice: (1) this type of plane was available at a reasonable price, owing to its replacement by faster models on most of the airlines in the United States; (2) the ship was capable of carrying a pay load of 3000 lb. over the required distance; (3) since this airplane had been widely used there would be no difficulty in securing competent personnel or in purchasing spare parts. It was necessary to rebuild the plane for cargo service. The windows were removed and the fuselage was entirely covered. A hatch was cut in the top of the fuselage to receive heavy crane loads and pieces of freight that were too large or too long to go through the rear door. The seats were removed and the interior of the plane was lined with Duralumin sheets. A heavy-duty landing gear was installed and the floor was reinforced.

Jan 1, 1940

By Ralph Nichols

The mines are near the town of Gilmore, in the Texas mining district. This district was organized in 1880. The present producing mines are near the terminus of the Gilmore & Pittsburg railroad. This railroad connects with the main line of the Oregon Short Line at Armstead, Mont. The distance from Gilmore to Armstead is 70 miles. The town of Gilmore is near the head of the Lemhi river at an elevation of 7,000 ft., while the mines are from 400 to 1,300 ft. higher. The range of mountains upon which the mines are situated forms the water shed for the Little Lost river on the west and the Lemhi river on the east. The winters are severe and the snow fall is heavy, but the mines ship right through the year. There is an abundance of timber suitable for all mining purposes in the immediate vicinity. Water is piped into the camp from a lake about 2.5 miles distant. This lake is about 1,400 ft. above the town of Gilmore. The water is exceptionally good for boiler and domestic purposes. The mining companies now producing are the Pittsburg Idaho Co., Ltd.; the Latest Out Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.; and the Oilmore Mining Co., Ltd. Besides the above propertiea, there are a number of prospects in different stages of development. The producing mines of the district are fissures in limestone, with a general northeast-southwest course and a dip to the west of from 40' to 70°. These fissures are at about right angles to the bedding of the limestones. The veins are regular and the ore shoots strong, both laterally and in depth, so far as developed. The ore shoots have a rake or pitch to the south. The character of the formation is shown in Fig. 1, a section of the Latest Out mine. Character of Ore. The ores of the district are oxidized, carrying an excess of iron over the silica (insoluble matter). The vein filling is a mixture of limonite and hematite, which is replaced by shoots of lead-silver ores. The lead minerals consist of carbonate of lead principally, but with small quantities of sulphide, sulphate, and other lead minerals.

Jan 1, 1914

By Henry M. Howe

If a bar of wrought iron or steel is suddenly cooled from a bright red-heat, the contraction which then occurs is considerably greater than the expansion previously caused by heating the bar, so that its final length is considerably less than its initial length. Mr. Thomas Wrightson has investigated this phenomenon,* and has shown that not only does this permanent contraction occur on sudden cooling, but, if the heating and cooling be repeated, say fifty times, a further permanent contraction occurs at each successive cooling. In Mr. Wrightson's opinion, this contraction cannot be explained on mechanical grounds, and he ascribes it to some molecular change caused by sudden cooling; but I think that we need not invoke mysterious molecular changes to explain this phenomenon, which appears to me to be due to very simple and purely mechanical action. Let us consider the cooling as divided into two periods, in the first of which the exterior or skin of the bar becomes almost completely cooled, and hence tends to contract almost to its initial dimensions, while the still hot arid plastic interior contracts but little; in the second period the already cool skin remains nearly constant in temperature, and hence tends to contract but little, while the interior cools from a comparatively high temperature to the ordinary temperature, and hence undergoes great contraction. The excess of the contraction of the skin over that of the interior during the first period tends to make the bar bulge in the middle of its length. This, as well as the decrease of density which occurs, Mr. Wrightson correctly explains. The interior of the bar just sufficed to fill the skin when both were in their initial condition, before being heated at all. At the end of the first period, the volume of the still hot interior is more than the now contracted skin can hold while maintaining its initial shape; and the effect is much the same as when we powerfully blom into a soft India-rubher Lag of the shape of the skin of the bar—it bulges, and tends to approach the spherical shape, in which the ratio of surface to

Jan 1, 1886

EVERY intelligent and practical investigator of minerals says that copper ore is found in various regions of the world and that among others Italy is very rich in it. But very little is mined there, perhaps because of a cowardly Italian avarice which has the power to make us lazy and indolent in carrying out those lofty and fine designs which should reasonably make us proceed swiftly, or perhaps because we are not prone to attempt extraordinary profit but only undertake those enterprises in which we are certain of a return on our investment. The reason for this might also be found in the meager possibility of success, which, since these things are not easily attempted because they are enormous undertakings of doubtful outcome, cools the spirit of men and in place of enthusiasm introduces the fear of loss, the fear of having to sacrifice not only time but also the work and money invested; then they think of the difficulty [II] of discovery, of the impossibility of full ownership, and of the necessity of excavating the mineral marrow from the hardest bones of the mountains with the brawn and efforts of men. To this is added the fear common to many that in attempting such things they may be called fools by certain ignorant and dissolute persons, and it seems better to them to be praised for becoming rich through usury and by many other infamous and illicit methods than to lay themselves open to the danger of censure from such as these. But there are those who deserve still greater censure, particularly princes and all rich and powerful persons, and theirs is an even more useless error than that of those who refrain for the above reasons. If the occasion and means present themselves for both attempting and continuing such a profitable and laudable affair as mining ores and if they hesitate solely because of cowardice or because they give ear to the bayings of ignorant hounds, or if because of their own willfulness they wish to remain prisoners of a detestable and ugly avarice, then this is their own loss.

Jan 1, 1942

By Fred H. Klaer

Water supplies dependent upon induced infiltration can be developed by vertical wells, by infiltration galleries, or by horizontal water collectors. Each method is described and the advantages of water obtained by induced infiltration with respect to cost, chemical quality, and temperature are shown by specific water supplies. THE subject of ground water in industry is assuming increasing importance as new processes and new industries are developed. Industrial specifications of chemical quality and temperature for process water and for cooling purposes are becoming more rigid, and water must now have many properties to meet these requirements. As ground water is usually more constant in quality and temperature, many industries are turning to ground-water supplies to satisfy their growing need. As many published articles have stated during the past several years, the ever increasing demands have caused shortages of water supply in many localities throughout the United States. Although such shortages are generally of a local nature, they have given rise to many attendant problems, such as increased pumping costs, salt water encroachment, and rising ground-water temperatures. One partial solution to the problems of overdevelopment of the ground-water reservoirs in many areas can be accomplished by developing ground-water supplies that are dependent upon induced infiltration and by planning the use of underground reservoirs. These reservoirs can be filled during periods of excess precipitation and stream flow and can be emptied during periods of drought, in a manner similar to the use of surface reservoirs. In this way water that otherwise would be wasted into the oceans is salvaged during periods of excess. The development of water supplies dependent on induced infiltration is a relatively new concept and should be defined. When a well is pumped, the water level around the well is lowered in the shape of an inverted cone or cone of depression. As pumping is continued, the cone of depression will continue to expand, horizontally and vertically, until the quantity of water crossing the perimeter of the cone plus the recharge within the area of the cone is equal to the quantity of water being pumped.

Jan 1, 1954

By Joseph Richards

THERE are two essentially different types of case-hardening processes; that using a dry mixture in which the object to be case-hardened is packed and kept for the necessary time at the necessary temperature, and the "liquid" process, employing a bath of fused, salts into which the object- is immersed and which by immediate contact case-hardens the surface of the article. The Shimer process belongs to the second class, and was a war emergency invention. Of the liquid melts used as baths, the most effective and most fre¬quently used are melted potassium cyanide and melted sodium cyanide. These may be used either pure, or mixed with salts that reduce the melting point and the percentage of cyanide present. The use of these baths since 1914 has met many commercial difficulties because of the high price and frequent commercial scarcity of the cyanide salts; at present sodium cyanide has practically entirely displaced potassium cyanide. Another trouble is the danger to the workmen handling the cyanide salts, which are extremely poisonous, and the annoying and poisonous vapors or gases given off in the workshop, unless an effective system of hoods and ventilation is provided, so as to prevent the gases from the baths mixing with the air of the room. Porter W. Shimer, of Easton, Pa., has invented a substitute for the bath of melted cyanides which case-hardens with equal or greater facility and effectiveness, gives off no poisonous vapors, and costs for chemicals materially less than the cyanide costs in the previously used baths. The process has been in use over a year in a large American works and the following statement embodies the results of practical experience in the use and operation of the process. The Shinier liquid or melted bath consists of a mixture of easily fusible salts that do not possess case-hardening properties, into which is immersed fresh calcium cyanamide, which imparts to the bath case-hardening properties. The composition of the non-case-hardening-,salts appears rather immaterial. Good results have been obtained by using a mixture of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and barium chloride in

Jan 2, 1919

By F. D. Weeks

THE Salida smelting plant, owned by the Ohio & Colorado Smelting & Refining Co., is situated at an altitude of 7,000 ft., about 2 miles west of Salida, Colo., and 215 miles southwest of Denver. Salida is a division point on the. Denver & Rio Grande R. R. where the narrow-gauge line serving the Sari Juan region joins the through standard gauge. This narrow-gauge road also serves the coal and coke companies at Crested Butte and the lime quarries and mines at Monarch and Garfield, which are only 20 miles distant. These facts, together with the possibility of an appropriate site, doubtless influenced the builders to locate at this point. The smelting plant and yard occupy 80 acres of land on the northeast side of the Arkansas River. The slope of the ground is such as to permit of the ore being delivered by cars at a point 25 ft. above the feed floor; and in front of the furnaces there is a fall of 50 ft. for the slag clump. A recent purchase of river bottom has provided slag room for 20 years. As originally constructed, the plant consisted of four blast furnaces, 40 by 144 in. at tuyeres, two copper-matting furnaces, dust chamber, stack, power plant, blowers, sampling works, and one railroad trestle about 16 ft. from bed floor to rails. Later 12 hand roasters of excellent design were added and the practice of smelting leady matte in-a copper-matting furnace was abandoned. Since the plant passed under the present management the equipment has been increased so that the following is a brief description of the same at this date: Two lead blast. furnaces, 48 by 180 in. at tuyeres, 17 ft. 6 in. tuyères to feed floor; four lead blast furnaces, 40 by 144 in. at tuyères, 17 ft. 6 in. tuyères to feed floor; two copper-matting furnaces, not used; blast-furnace flue, 900 ft.; area 245 sq. ft.; blast-furnace stack, 150 ft.; above furnace floor, 190 ft. When smelting a 500-ton charge per day, the gases approximate 63,700 cu. ft. per minute and travel at a speed of 260 ft. per minute.

Jan 8, 1915

By K. L. Meissner

It is well known that the so-called pure aluminum contains noticeable amounts of impurities, chiefly iron and silicon, and many investigators have studied the forms in which these impurities exist. Hanson and Archbutt1 state that iron exists in aluminum as FeA13 and silicon as elementary Si. The solubility of FeA13 in solid aluminum is practically zero, or at least so small that the smallest trace of this compound is always visible as a separate constituent. Under the microscope an untrained eye can hardly distinguish, without etching, the two constituents FeA13 and Si, but they can be differentiated by suitable etching reagents. Anderson2 also found the same results. At the same time, Merica, Waltenberg, and Freeman3 found a constituent of unknown composition. They found a small thermal effect, at 610" C., on the cooling curves of aluminum with small amounts of iron and silicon. The intensity of this effect increased with increasing silicon content, until an effect occurred at 576" C. due to the eutectic between aluminum and silicon. The authors ascribed the effect at 610" C. to a compound, which they call "X constituent." It was thought to be a ternary compound containing iron and silicon and could be observed under the microscope as dark particles. Dix4 has published unetched photomicrographs of an aluminum with 0.51 per cent. iron, 0.99 per cent. silicon, and 0.32 per cent. copper that shows three constituents: the dark Si (black in the figure), the lighter FeA13, which appears in half tone and crystallizes in needles, and a constituent of the same color as FeAL3 but of different crystal form, often resembling Chinese script. This last constituent, Dix thought, is a compound of Fe and Si; not the compound FeSi but a compound containing a relatively small amount of silicon. Therefore an alloy of aluminum. iron, and silicon (the copper should not be regarded in the following considerations) must contain the following four constituents: Al, FeA13, Si, and a compound of Fe and Si. This, however, does not agree with the laws of chemical equilibrium.

Jan 1, 1926

By Earnest R. Woakes

Those engaged in pumping from shafts, or other mining works, may be intereited in the following suggestion of what is believed to be a novel method of raising moderate quantities of water against a considerable head. It is admitted that the ordinary Cornish pump, as generally used in mines, is hard to beat, on account of both its extreme simplicity and its easy adaptation to the requirements of mining; its great drawback, however, being the enormous weight of heavy rods and successive plungers that have to be kept in motion, not to mention the necessary " balance-" and " angle-bobs," with all their accompanying friction and wear and tear. It is contended that the following method would, to a great extent, overcome these drawbacks ; though, no doubt, many old miners may say it would also introduce new ones. Possibly, this may be the case. It is only desired that this pump may be judged upon its merits. The chief novelty of the method consists in employing the almost unlimited pressure obtainable from a high column of water, augmented, if necessary, by a hydraulic ram or press at the top, to work a small-diameter piston or plunger at the bottom of a shaft or well. This high-pressure plunger, indicated at E, in Fig. 1, transmits power direct to a larger-diameter plunger, F, constituting, together with the ordinary H-piece, valves, and wind-bore, the actual pump, which raises the water, by column C, to the adit-level or other discharge, placed as far as possible below the head of the high-pressure column A and ram W. It will thus be seen, that it is only necessary to maintain a prmsnre on the small piston, E, equal to that on the larger one, F, by means of the small but high column of water, A, in order to cause F to descend, and thus force the water up through C. The up-stroke is accomplished by a small water-wheel, or other engine, connected to the light rod or wire rope B, this having only to raise the weight of the actual plungers and fill the H-piece with water from the tank or

Jan 1, 1892

By George H. Ashley

Mining, including quarrying, dates back almost to the dawn of history, beginning almost with the beginning of what we call civilization. State surveys date back about 100 years. Evidently mining flourished for thousands of years before state surveys were thought of. Why should it not continue to flourish without state surveys? First, it may be noted that as mining and civilization were contemporaneous, so state surveys and the science of geology were almost contemporaneous. As recently as 30 years ago the United States mineral laws were interpreted to mean that coal lands in the public domain were only those lands on which workable coal outcropped. The half billion acres of public land underlain by .coal but on which it did not outcrop were treated as homestead lands and open to settlement. Just what did the science of geology do to or for the mining industry? Until geology arose rocks or minerals or ores were where they were found. Their finding might be accidental, or might be the result of deliberate search or prospecting. In open, rocky country, with little or no vegetation, as in parts of the West, prospecting served very well, though at an enormous expenditure of human time and effort, if not money. The old saying that every dollar's worth of gold taken from the earth has cost two dollars may largely be charged to the time value of the usual method of prospecting. Geology changed all that. The science is still young and it still labors under handicaps of immaturity and early errors. Geology, however, has gradually been discovering the relations and conditions under which the several mineral deposits occur. Its elaborate studies of exhausted or nearly exhausted mineral deposits has done for it what human autopsy has done for medicine and surgery. Perhaps in no field is this plainer than in the oil and gas industry. Note might also be made of several important coal fields in England and on the Continent, in which the coal is everywhere deeply buried. Passing over the long period of growth during the past 100 years, geology today is prepared to offer the mining industry: first, a knowledge of the geologic conditions under which most minerals occur and to explore

Jan 1, 1935

By W. H. Meyer

Although an aerial photograph is not a map, most of the information that is necessary for compiling a map is recorded in the photograph provided some form of radial-line method is used to determine the true position of images. The slotted-templet method, which is based on the well-established radial-line principle, has made it possible to construct accurate mosaic maps at a cost comparable with that formerly charged for the average mosaic. It makes possible the securing of these results with far less ground control, which is always expensive. It has expanded widely the possible use of aerial photographs for mapping. Although a vertical or oblique aerial photograph is not a map, most of the information that is necessary for compiling a map is recorded in the photograph. Some ground controls or data are needed, the number and accuracy to be governed by the mapping method to be used and the scale and final accuracy desired in the finished map. Radial-line Control It is essential that the principle of radial-line control in the use of vertical aerial photographs be understood and accepted before any confidence in the slotted-templet method can be gained. A simple sketch and some enlargements showing the Empire Stale Building will serve to illustrate the cause of displacement of an image that is above the datum plane as recorded in the photograph. The top of the tower of the Empire State Building is directly above the base, and when the image of the top is shown almost two blocks away from the center of the base, it is evident that the image of the top of the tower is not the true location, and in this particular case we know where the true location is; namely, over the center of the base of the tower. If the top of the tower were the top of a hill 1250 ft. high, we would have no way of knowing by inspection the true position of the top of the hill, so it is very important to have a method whereby the true location of any such point can be determined, and thereby make it possible to convert the detail of an aerial photograph into accurate information for mapmaking.

Jan 1, 1941

By William A. Longacre

In a previous paper the author discussed the problem described by the title of this paper, outlining and reviewing the Gish-Rooney method, with comparison and brief analysis of the interpretation techniques of Roman2 and Tagg.3 Some aspects of the simple type of two-layer system were reviewed from various sources.4, 5, 6 The Two-layer Problem For the configuration shown in Fig. I, and for any electrode separation A, the SurfAce of earth p, DepthH i P2 Infinite depth Fig. i.—Two-Layer system. apparent resistivity is a function of the relative depth the overburden resistivity pl, and a factor K defined by the equation P2 + P1 where p, is the resistivity of the lower bed. Thus, by the known theory of electrical images, p = pi [1+ */(*-7)] where The Multilayer Problem As the number of isotropic, homogeneous, horizontal layers increases, the difficulties of interpretation multiply. The theory becomes much more involved, and in view of the state of our knowledge, the general problem is virtually impossible of exact solution. However, certain types of multilayer problems can be worked out in terms of two-layer theory. Humme1,7 Pirson,8 Tagg,3 Watson,9 and others have pointed out the possibility of building up approximations of multilayer resistivity curves with suitable combinations of two-layer curves. Many three-layer curves can be constructed in this way to a good degree of accuracy, and special types of four-layer curves can be approximated. It is very likely that as the number of layers increases, the method of combination will not give good approximations except in very special cases. In the analysis of actual field data, the author has found that many obviously multilayer curves can be solved partially with a good degree of accuracy, using the theory that thin adjacent beds may be considered as one layer or zone, and applying two-layer theory to the extremities of the field curve. Modified Tagg Method of Interpretation Tagg's second method, though superior to his first, necessitates a large number

Jan 1, 1946

By Mark Sheppard

DURING the winter of 1937, the writer visited a West Virginia stone, quarry at which the overburden is stripped hydraulically. The quarry is in a bed of limestone, about 200 ft. thick, which outcrops on a hillside above a small river; the quarry face is 175 ft. high. The top of the stone is cut in all directions by erosion channels, which are filled with a tough, red clay. Some of the larger channels are 30 ft. deep and 8 ft. wide, The thickness of the clay overburden ranges from a few inches to 10 ft., the average being estimated as less than 3 feet. The topography of the district is rugged, and the hillside above the quarry face is not suited to the use of the usual mechanical methods of moving dirt. Until hydraulicking was started 10 years ago, the over-burden was dug by hand labor, dumped to the quarry floor and trans-ported to the dump in quarry cars, Cleaning deep channels was a slow and expensive process. When hydraulicking was started, the top of the quarry face was over 200 ft. above the level of the river. The pipe line was carried in a semi-circle around the top of the quarry about 200 ft. from the face and about 50 ft, above it. As there is no adequate supply of water above the quarry, the water must be pumped from the river: As quarrying pro-gressed the pipe line was moved until the discharge points are now over 300 ft. above the river. Water is pumped from the river by a four-stage centrifugal pump having a 5-in. intake and a 4-in. discharge. It is direct-connected to a 200-hp,, 2300-volt, 1760-r.p.m. induction motor. At 1760 r.p.m. the rated capacity of the pump is 750 gal. per minute under a head of 600 ft. The pump is installed in a house of frame construction on the river bank, about 10 ft, above normal water level, which also houses the pump for the mill-water supply. Above the pumps are hoisting hays into which the motors are raised whenever the river reaches flood stage.

Jan 1, 1938

GEORGE S. RICE (written discussion *).-An interesting and important question arose during the coal famine of last winter as to whether the development of new mines should be discouraged on account of the need of labor for the necessary construction and development work at a time of scarcity of labor, more especially as there was an apparent overcapacity of existing mines. The question was referred to the author for his comments, which led to the study of the statistics. The essential results of this study are indicated on the accompanying chart, which illustrates, among other things, the increase in production or consumption, and the estimated maximum production capacity of the bituminous and sub-bituminous mines of the United States. The curves shown are based on data published in the "Mineral Resources" of the United States Geological Survey, and cover the period from 1900 to 1916 inclusive. The following curves have been drawn from the data secured: 1. Average number of days that the mines worked. 2. Yearly total production of bituminous and sub-bituminous mines. 2a. Yearly production of machine-mined coal. 3. Average annual production, equivalent to consumption, for a period of 17 years. 4. Number of coal mine employees each year. 5. Estimated capacity of mines, on basis of 300 working clays in the year. 6. Estimated drop in capacity if no new mines are opened. Considering these curves and the data from which they were constructed: It will be noted that the average number of days the miners worked varied from 193 in 1908 to 234 in 1900, the average being 217. The causes for so many idle days out of the possible total number of working days in the year are well known, namely: (a) Lack of business; (b) lack of cars. Taking the country as a whole, (a) is the important factor, which might otherwise be expressed as being an excess of productive capacity. The yearly production of the mines, which is practically synonymous with consumption, has shown a steady increase, with a few set-backs. An average line has been struck which indicates that the average annual increase of production has been 18 million short tons (16,330,000 metric tons).

Jan 5, 1918

By J. C. Bayles

THE most unsatisfactory occurrences in the experience of a manufacturer are those from which he suffers damage and learns nothing useful. That there are such incidents, and that they occur with annoying frequency, is unfortunately true. An accident which can be understood and explained always carries some consolation with it. However bad the copnsequencee, one finds comfort in reflecting that they might have been worse, and that the knowledge of how to avert a more disastrous calamity from the same cause is worth what it cost. But when an accident occurs, which remains unexplained after anxious days of investigation and sleepless nights of reflection, and which is as liable to occur twice or twenty times, as once, very little satisfaction of any kind can be extracted from it by the most philosophical victim. Three such incidents have come under my notice in one establishment. Fortunately none of them were attended with very serious consequences, as no one was hurt, and the damage to property was slight; but in each instance, loss of life and great destruction were escaped by so narrow a margin as to make them extremely disquieting. I have recorded them in the hope, that from the experience of others maybe gained what my own careful investigations have failed to reach-—satisfactory explanations. The first of these curious occurrences was the bunting of a 16-inch pipe carrying air under a compression of about 1 pound. The pipe was made of light galvanized iron with soldered seams. Into it a rotary fan-blower delivered air, and from it smaller pipes were carried to the furnaces. The blower was run continuously. Neither the main pipe nor its branches had any connection with the gas conduits. Both air- and gas-pipes delivered into the furnaces; but although the gas was under much higher compression than the air, there appeared to be no good reason why, having free escape in case of leakage, it should ever make its way back into the air-pipe. One warm afternoon in June the main air-pipe exploded with great vio-

Jan 1, 1891

By H. J. Stehli

Probably the earliest sinter from lead ore was made in the product sinter boxes attached to some hand reverberatory roasters. The ore was drawn from the roaster bed when dead roasted, and then by laborious effort fritted together by rabbling at a high temperature in the sinter box. This was not a true sinter, but was a great improvement over the dusty dead-roasted fine ores. The Huntington-Heberlein pots were the first real advance in the art, and produced some real sinter. They required that the sulphides be preroasted to 5 or 6 per cent sulphur, and the long cycle of operating and deep bed of material used in the pots fostered the formation of densely fused material and fines. This necessitated crushing of the densely fused cake and returning to the next charge large amounts of fines screened out. The Huntington-Heberlein pots made comparatively high lead losses because the deep bed and high internal temperature together favored the volatilization of lead. Lime (CaO) was added to the charges, and this addition constituted the patented feature of the Huntington-Heberlein process. Its sole function we now know was to act as an isolator of the sulphide particles, and any other substance—for instance, iron oxide—of equal fineness performed the same function. The Savelsberg process used limestone instead of burned lime, and in this there was a definite advantage. The converting of CaCO3, to CaO is a highly endothermic reaction, so the lime acted not only as an isolator of sulphide particles but absorbed excess heat and to some extent prevented premature fusion of the sulphides. The Carmichael-Bradford process used gypsum instead of limestone, and had the disadvantage of adding more sulphur to a charge from which it was desired to eliminate sulphur. Here again the gypsum served only as an infusible isolator of sulphide particles. The first Dwight-Lloyd apparatus to sinter lead ores commercially was installed at Perth Amboy in 1907. The fact that lime in any form was necessary to sintering was quickly disproved by making excellent sinter from Bunker Hill and Sullivan table concentrates, silica sand and iron oxide only.

Jan 1, 1937

By B. Bryan

The tank car price of gasoline today is controlled by oil in the ground, rather than by stocks of gasoline or methods of refining. Previous to the commercial cracking of fuel oil, there was a normal and continuous relation between gasoline stocks, consumption and prices. From the beginning of the new cracking era in 1923 to the summer of 1926 there was a changing relationship, growing toward a correlation between the potential gasoline in storage and the price of gasoline. Since the development of large reserves of shutin production in Wyoming, California, Seminole, West Texas and Venezuela, the relationship between stocks of gasoline and gasoline prices has disappeared. The extreme depression of the Group 3 price can only be accounted for by oil which is not being produced but which we fear may be produced at any time. In Fig. 1, the curve of gasoline stocks is simply stocks of finished gasoline. The curve of potential gasoline is made by taking 40 per cent. of all stocks except gasoline, kerosene and lubricants, adding to that stocks of finished gasoline and dividing the sum by total gasoline con-sumption to get the months' supply of gasoline at the current rate of consumption. The price curve is the lower figure given by the National Petroleum News for the first quoted date of each month, with the price scale reversed. Stocks of potential gasoline have decrrased from 17 months' supply at the peak of 1924 to a low of 7 months' supply during the past summer, yet the low immediately precedes the lowest price for gasoline since it was a waste product. The tendency of the price curve to parallel the curve of potential supply is quite pronounced until the summer of 1926, since which time they have abruptly separated. The curve of gasolinct stocks is equally remarkable in relation to price when it is considered that total consumption for the year 1927 is almost exactly twice that of 1924. Clearly a new factor has been introduced. There is no possible factor to account for this distortion except known reserves of oil in ground storage, and therefore, until such time as the Bureau of Mines or the

Jan 1, 1928