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By John T. Dickman, Ralph E. O’Dette

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) is in the process of evolving a computer-based information system which will process all of the material selected for abstracting in the area of chemistry and chemical engineering and its related fields such as the earth sciences and technologies. This system is already operational to some extent and is expected to be fully utilized by 1971. The objective of CAS is to make chemical and related information more readily available, more usable and more used. Chemical Abstracts handle some 5000 abstracts weekly from 13, 000 journals and patents from 25 nations. These cover all of the 80 CA subject sections which relate to chemistry and also extend into areas of interest to geologists, mineralogists, and mining engineers. In this way, CAS fulfills its objective of complete coverage of its major fields, informative abstracting, and indexing to maximum specificity. The concept of a computer-based information system is that of a single machine-language data base into which the results of intellectual analysis of the literature are entered and from which computer programs produce a variety of publications and services applicable to the needs of a wide range of users.

Jan 1, 1969

By D. R. Semmes

The possible oil territory of Alabama can be readily divided into two regions, the Paleozoic area of the north, and the Coastal Plain province of Cretaceous and younger formations lying to the south. This latter area has received much attention in the last few years and has been described by a number of writers.' Although the possibilities of the Cretaceous series have been much emphasized by recent writers, the fact remains that the two, or possibly three, localities where oil or gas have been found in anything like paying quantities are confined to the area of Carboniferous rocks. Moreover, almost all of the oil seeps and a good percentage of the gas seeps are confined to this area.2 Topographically, as well as structurally, the Paleozoic area can be divided into three rather well defined provinces: (1) The broad, open Coosa Valley lying adjacent to the crystalline oldland, with comparatively little relief, except for occasional longitudinal ridges and rather intense folding; (2) the plateau region of horizontal or gently warped Pennsylvanian strata broken by occasional anticlinal valleys aligned northeast and southwest, outliers of the Coosa Valley proper, in which the older Paleozoic formations are exposed—a region of much relief (200

Jan 1, 1921

By S. P. Burke

OUTBURSTS in coal mines have contributed greatly to the hazard of mining operations in localities in which they occur. They have been responsible for many casualties and fatalities and much property damage. An excellent review and symposium on the subject appeared recently1. From a study of the papers included in this symposium, and other litera-ture on this subject2, the following conclusions or statements seem justified: 1. Outbursts are more likely to occur in deep mines; that is, where the coal seam being mined has considerable overburden. 2. Outbursts usually occur when hard, dense, nonfractured coal is being mined. It is believed that in most cases a fault or a pocket of friable or soft or pulverized coal existed some distance behind the dense coal at the time of the outburst. 3. The outburst involves a rending or pushing of the solid material of the coal face, the roof, or the floor outwards and often is accompanied by the discharge of large quantities of very fine coal. 4. Drill holes or borings into the coal ahead of the workings have failed to yield information either from evidence of increased gas pressure or increased gas flow that makes possible the prediction of outbursts. 5. Mines in which outbursts occur are usually considered "nongassy," or only very slightly "gassy"; yet large volumes of gas may be produced at the time of the outburst. Despite the varied conditions and varied locations in which outbursts have occurred, the foregoing general statements appear to be applicable in whole or in part to all the recorded cases. These observations there-fore should be significant and any explanation of the mechanism of the phenomena should be consistent with them. The following suggestion seems to be in accord with this requirement, and is offered in the hope that it may assist in the further elucidation of this phenomenon.

Jan 1, 1935

By Perry Olcott .

THE Taka oil field is in the northern part of Titus and Franklin Counties, in north- eastern Texas. The small town of Talco, from which the field derives its name, is on the P. & Mt. P. R. R., about 15 mi. north of Mt. Pleasant, the county seat of Titus County. The oil field extends east and west from the town of Talco, the approximate center. In May, 1924, R. L. Cannon, while doing surface geology for the Humble. Oil & Refining Co., mapped the surface trace of this fault structure as evidenced by Upper Midway faulted down against Lower Midway. In the interval of sixteen years between the original surface work and the recent productive well completion, approximately eight wells were drilled into the Woodbine sand without success. The structure was well defined by those tests and all of the wells en-

Jan 1, 1936

By Theron Wasson

Discoveries in Michigan, which at the beginning of the year 1934 indicated possible new areas, did not develop into fields of market-breaking proportions. Hart, Oceana County, developed small production from the Traverse lime. Edmore, Montcalm County, proved a small area for oil from the Traverse. West Branch, Ogemaw County, previously reported as Ogemaw, had quite a drilling campaign but was somewhat disappointing because wells were small and erratic. During the year, 30 wells were completed at West Branch, and at the end of the year 15 others in and around this field were under way. At West Branch the Traverse lime, found at 1800 ft., has thin porous streaks near the top, which make small wells; the Dundee lime at 2800 ft. produces from a porous zone of varying thickness. Over the entire field the Dundee wells average 10 to 20 bbl. per day. Acid treatment has materially increased production from some Dundee wells in this field. About 3000 acres have been proved productive from the Traverse and Dundee. At the close of the year the well in Beaverton township, Gladwin County, is probably the most discussed of any in Michigan and may be opening a new field of some proportions. It had an initial production of 70 bbl. daily from the Dundee lime at 3830, which has decreased to 25 bbl. per day. Deeper drilling into the lime may increase production. During 1935 the area around this test will probably be the most active in the state. Structural conditions in Gladwin County, as in other parts of Central Michigan, are obscured by a thick mantle of glacial drift and it will take considerable drilling to outline subsurface conditions accurately. The most important new shallow gas area of the year is around Edmore in Mecosta and Montcalm counties. Eight wells have been drilled to the Michigan stray and the upper Marshall sand, having a combined initial production of 30 million cubic feet. These gas wells are scattered over so wide an area that an estimate of proven territory cannot be made until more drilling is done. At the present time no gas is being sold from Edmore.

Jan 1, 1935

By Walter Stephen

MODERN developments in alloy steels have been so rapid and diverse that engineering practice has scarcely had time to re-appraise all items of past experience wherein conclusions became axiomatic under conditions that no longer apply. A case in point is the wet screening of abrasive ores within the fine range still looked upon as belonging exclusively to classifiers. By virtue of the development of stainless steels (18 per cent Cr, 8 per cent Ni), it is no longer true that classifiers are more economical than screens in closed circuit with large-tonnage ball or rod mills at 65 or even 100 mesh, provided a selective overgrind of the higher-gravity constitu-ents of the ore is not desired. Wet screening of ores is a highly corrosive as well as an abrasive opera-tion, because of the inevitably high degree of oxygenation of the water. Screen cloth of ordinary or spring-steel wire almost at once becomes pitted and covered with a film of corrosion products, which causes rust-blinding of fine-mesh screens and offers high frictional impedance to the flow of ore particles. On the other hand, the well-known properties of stainless steel enable it to maintain a bright surface, and so to eliminate blinding either by ore particles or by corrosion products. That a large-tonnage mill grinding hard ore to 65 mesh can be oper-ated economically in closed circuit with screens instead of classifiers has recently been demonstrated at the Copper Cliff concentrator of the International Nickel Co.; in the test to be described, a 6 ½ by 12 ½ -ft. Marcy rod mill ground from 625 to 820 tons. of ore per day to approxi-mately 65 mesh, operating in closed circuit with three 4 by 5-ft. Hum-mer screens, without any classifier.. Stainless-steel cloth gave an indicated life of several months. There was no difficulty with blinding, yet dilution and spray water could be controlled so that screen undersize averaged not less than 40 per cent solids. In contrast, ordinary carbon steel was pitted and blind with rust within 40 hours.

Jan 1, 1938

By Eugene McAuliffe

The management of The Union Pacific Coal Co., which operates a group of coal mines in Southern Wyoming, believes in the value of applied psychology as a productive factor in the work of getting out coal. Operating almost wholly through the medium of mechanical loading machinery, the company has for some years paid a bonus, equivalent to one-half the labor saving made above a determined average output per shift worked, on a given machine. No penalty is attached where the established output is not obtained, but in 1933 the men on one class of machines earned an average premium of $0.633 per shift on 56.4 per cent of the tonnage loaded. On another class of machine, the men earned an average premium of $0.686 per shift on 28.4 per cent of the tonnage loaded An increase of 36 per cent in tons loaded per man-shift has resulted since the program was instituted. This coal company has also been very successful in reducing mine accidents through prizes awarded in an unusual way. At the close of the year, every man whose particular mine section passes through the year without a lost-time accident is given a ticket entitling him to participate in a safety drawing where an automobile is awarded as first prim.. There are also a number of cash safety prizes which are similarly awarded. Some 1500 persons attend the drawing, which excites much interest and attention. The particular plan employed, the payment of production bonus awards and safety prizes, is foundationed upon collective. rather than individual effort, and, once gotten under way, has proved to be substantlally self-cnforcing.

Jan 1, 1934

"Mining as an industry of Utah had its inception in the activities of United States soldiers who came to the Salt Lake valley under the command of Gen. P. E. Connor, founder of Fort Douglas, in October, 1862. Many of these soldiers were from California and naturally employed their spare time in the search for minerals. Although their military status did not permit them to make locations in their own names, they assiduously prospected the region in accordance with their own knowledge and with information conveyed to them by Indians and others. Their efforts were encouraged by their commander, who thereby fairly earned the title of father of the industry here, and by their other officers, and many discoveries that subsequently proved of great value were made by the soldiers.No systematic prospecting or mining had been done in the Territory previously, although early Mormon settlers in the southern portion had mined a little ore from time to time in order to provide supplies of lead for bullets. The Mormon leaders at that time did not encourage mining. They held that agriculture was more important and profitable for their followers.Coal was discovered and produced in 1850. Iron was discovered in 1850 and the first iron plant was in operation in 1852 in Iron County. The first non-ferrous metal production was in 1854, in Beaver County, when Isaac Grundy treated ore from the Rollins mine in what is said to have been the first lead furnace west of the Rocky Mountains. The first mineral location was the West Jordan claim in Bingham canyon, located September 17, 1863, now owned by the United States Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., and still productive. The first district organized in the state was the West Mountain (Bingham), December I 7, 1863. Other important districts of early organization are: Little Cottonwood, December 20, 1869; Big Cottonwood, July 11, 1870; American Fork, July 21, 1870; Uintah (Park City), July 8, 1871; Tintic, December 13, 1896; Ophir, August 6, 1870. The first silver-lead smelting was by J. W. Gibson at Stockton in 1866. Lieut. James Finnerty had previously erected two small trial furnaces there, but made no quantity production."

Jan 1, 1925

By Hans Lundberg, Basil T. Wilson, H. Steuart Scott

FOR the benefit of those readers who may not be in close touch with present practices in the geophysical prospecting for ore, brief reference will fiat be made to the advantages and shortcomings of the methods to be discussed. Magnetic and electric methods are generally accepted as the most useful for ore prospecting. By magnetic methods, magnetic intensities that are not normal may be recorded and outlined. From these can he located concentrations of such highly magnetic minerals as magnetite or pyrrhotite, which sometimes occur in such large masses that they are of economic value in themselves. More often. however, these magnetic min¬erals are associated with others, such as copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver, which, if existing in sufficient concentration and quantity, may constitute valuable ore bodies. It is therefore only when pyrrhotite and magnetite are present in these bodies that the magnetic method can be used to indicate their presence.

Jan 1, 1945

By J. N. Hummel

THE methods of electrical prospecting, which employ contact electrodes to produce an electric field in the ground, furnish information concerning the constitution of the material beneath the surface, as indicated by the distortion of this artificially produced field and anomalies therein. To reveal the distortion of such field of known character, it is only necessary to measure qualitatively the direction of the field, using sensitive compensation methods. In such a case, the survey is relatively simple, and that is an important factor from a practical point of view, The distortion of the normal field thus determined permits an easy interpretation and gives approximate information as to the subsurface conditions, without the necessity of a thorough theoretical knowledge of the electrical field. The true field of application of the equipotential lines and search-coil methods, which are based on this principle of directional determination of the electrical field in the ground, is that of search for deposits of economic minerals for the mining industry, although they can also be used in solution of other problems; for example, in the determination of the strike of anisotropic beds. The distortion of the electric field as represented by the picture of equipotential lines or other measured curves is striking only when bodies having conductivities different from that of the country rock are embedded in the underground, or when the underground is anisotropic.

Jan 1, 1931

By Edward Keller

Under the title, Labor-Saving Appliances in the Works-Laboratory, I published a paper1 in which mas described how multi-manipulations in a works-laboratory and in the furnace-room of an assay-laboratory, can be condensed into single manipulations by applying the proper mechanical devices. For example, I now deposit ill, or withdraw from, a muffle a set of 48 cupels as one unit. The front row (8) of these are blanks or heaters; the other 40, when they have attained the proper temperature in the muffle, are charged simultaneously with the 40 lead-buttons. Three manipulations here accomplish an operation which by the generally customary method requires 136, and this number is only limited by the size of muffle and cnpels. This operation is an enlargement of what I have already described in my former paper, and Fig. 1 shows the improved implements. In the paper referred to I described a gold-silver bead parting-bath, which is the last of the devices used in regular sequence in practice. This bath mas designated as being convenient, but mas not a labor-saver properly. Fig. 2 of the present paper shows a new device. Instead of the original tray, there are now sectional holders for the test-tubes, each having a wooden handle on either end, so that the holders ma?-be removed from the boiling bath, and the acid or water poured oE from each set of tubes (in this case, 7) without waiting to cool. The tubes, held in place by clutches, as shown in Pig. 3, rest in holes in the base-strip, having a smaller diameter than the tubes. Each holder is stamped at either end with a number, so that the bath becomes further useful by permitting several men to use it at the same time without interference. Apart from the handles, the holders are made of sheet-copper.

Jan 1, 1911

By E. C. Harder

INTRODUCTION FEW mineral deposits have in recent years attracted such general and Widespread attention as the Brazilian iron-ore deposits, due mainly to the quantities of rich ore occurring here, in contrast to the ever-decreasing grade of ores shipped from many large producing iron-ore districts of the world. The general average grade of the iron ores shipped from the Lake Superior district' has decreased to approximately 50 per cent., natural, in recent years. The Rubio ore of Bilbao, Spain,2 in 1890 averaged 55.5 per cent. metallic iron, dried; in 1902, 52.8 per cent., While at the present time a large proportion of the ores shipped from Bilbao are obtained by reworking the old dumps. In northern Sweden, where large magnetite deposits have only in recent years been extensively developed, selective mining is even now necessary in order to obtain high-grade Bessemer ores. During the last two years the iron ores of Chile have attracted much attention on account of the activities of the Bethlehem Steel Co. and others in the Chilean iron-ore region. Many of these ores are of good grade, yielding 67 and even 68 per cent. metallic iron, but judging from the Writer's observations in this region a large proportion of them Will be found to he of non-Bessemer grade. The most important variety of iron ore in Brazil is hard, dense to specular hematite, occurring in Minas Geraes. A large number (89) of analyses of this type of ore have been averaged, 3 giving the following composition: Per Cent. Iron 69.65 Phosphorus 0.0125 Silica 0.24 Combined H,0 0.38

Jan 10, 1914

By Chung Yu Wang, Guy C. Riddle

There are found in nature upward of II2 minerals containing antimony, but only a few of them, listed in Table I, can be considered as antimony ore-forming minerals. Stibnite (Sb2S3), antimony sulphide or glance, is the principal ore of antimony. The oxide ores—cervantite, kermesite, valentinite, sernarmontite—occur sparingly in nature. Dry methods are generally adopted for the extraction of the metal. Electrometal-lurgical methods have had much attention in America and Germany and have not yet found, on economic grounds, practical or extended application, except in a few places. During recent years, treatment of the poor grades of the ore, especially sulphide, by ore-dressing methods, has commanded some attention and been adopted at a few plants. The impure sulphide of antimony, resulting from the liquation process, is called lLneedle," "liquated" or "crude" anti- mony, and the refined metal itself is called antimony "regulus." The different processes for the treatment of antimony ores are shown in the diagram of Fig. I. Liquation of Crude Antimony The first step in the smelting of antimony is a simple one, the process of LLliquation," which produces crude or needle antimony. Ores containing $ 50 per cent Sb are used in the liquation process for the production of crude. The temperature required for liquation is between 550' and 600°C. Ores to be liquated are broken to about walnut size. If the pieces are larger than this, the low heat used will not penetrate' effectively, and if they are smaller the ore tends to pack too closely for adequate penetration. A packed charge also prevents the free escape of the fused sulphide. Intermittent Liquation in Crucibles The unique type of furnace that is in use in China for smelting is not highly efficient but is simple in construction and operation. The furnace is generally built

Jan 1, 1944

During the presentation of the papers, questions were deferred until after the last paper in the afternoon. At that time, the authors and co-chairmen formed a panel for discussion of any pertinent questions. The panel was as follows: Carl Gerity - Ozark Lead Company – Chairman Mike Young - Master Mechanic - Ozark Lead Company Largo Albert - Maintenance Specialist (hoisting) Mines Maintenance Dept. - International Nickel Company, with assistance from Co-author Alan Cameron - International Nickel Company Gary Beerkircher - Product Manager - Rexnord Inc., Nordberg Machinery Group Richard Schaal - Director of Maintenance - Superior Division, Magma Copper Company Rich Hodgson - Assistant Production Superintendent - FMC Corporation The remarks have been edited by the panelists for readability, the basic ideas were not changed. Additional thoughts by the panelists submitted at the time of their revision are indicated by ***.

Jan 1, 1975

By John C. Long

The advantages of firebrick regenerative hot-blast ovens being thoroughly appreciated by those engaged in modern blast-furnace practice, the important question now is to obtain the best and most efficient apparatus. The apparatus invented by the writer, and described in this

Jan 1, 1885

By George B. Holderer

The relation between man-hours of labor and production may be correlated for any industry, and already it has been widely used in piecework studies. It is not in general use as yet for recording labor efficiency of an enterprise or an industry. An exception to this is the Cement Institute, which tabulates the man-hours used in each operation and thus gets the total man-hours per barrel of cement. The writer knows of one steel company that keeps a complete record of man-hours for every operation from mining the ore to finishing the product. No doubt many others find the information useful, and such a study could be of value to the mineral industries.

Jan 1, 1937

By E. L. Ickes

DURing the summer and winter of 1918 eleven standard rigs were erected in the United Kingdom to test the petroleum prospects of- ten structures, eight of which were in England and two in Scotland. By the fall of 1921 ten of the wells were completed; the remaining one, the D'Arcy in Scotland, was stopped some months later. The tests were deep ones, five of the wells being 4000 ft. or more, the rest varying in depth between 1810 and 3918 ft. The total footage drilled was 40,047 ft. The holes were put down with standard or cable tools purchased in the United States (except the boilers). The larger sizes of casing, 10-in. and above, were also from America, while the smaller sizes were secured in Scotland. The Hardstoft well in England found a small production of high-grade oil and the D'Arcy well also encountered what is reported as a favorable showing at a depth of 1810 ft. The Werrington and West Calder wells had to be abandoned on account of drilling difficulties. The Apedale well encountered great thicknesses of ash in the Carboniferous and had to be abandoned on account of depth. The results might be summarized by saying that of the ten structures drilled upon, two yielded encouraging showings; three cannot be considered as having been adequately tested; and five produced dry holes, although in some of these small oil showings and gas were met. The total cost of the work amounted to about half a million pounds sterling, which sum includes the cost of all equipment, subsequently sold by the government. The work, under the superintendence of V. L. Conaghan, took place for the most part in the period immediately following the war—a period of high prices, labor and transportation difficulties, and unsettled conditions generally; factors tending to retard the work and affect the costs. The writer, as a member of the staff of S. Pearson & Son, Ltd., had charge of the administration of the work during its later stages and

Jan 1, 1924

By Clarence E. Sims, George A. Moore

INTRODUCTION IN previous publications of the writers4-7 it has been shown that vacuum extraction of steel can be carried as close to quantitative completion as desired provided the steel is in the austenitic state and sufficient time is allowed. For precise work, the method claims preference because the equipment for holding and heating the sample can be made simple, and because crucibles, boats, and other unnecessary materials can be eliminated and the blanks thus made very small. It is well known that the evolution rate of hydrogen is smaller just above the transformation than immediately below, as would be expected from the increase in solubility when passing into the gamma state. Many attempts have been made to obtain analyses by extraction just below the transition, using times of approximately 2 hr. While it is true that the rate of evolution drops nearly to zero under these conditions, it has repeatedly been shown that the process is incomplete since on raising the temperature into the austenitic range, evolution will be resumed, usually after a considerable induction period. The low-temperature evolution process appears to be useful in some cases for comparative tests where the residual error may be more or less constant between samples. For general use, however, there is no guarantee that the error caused by incomplete extraction is constant; hence, the more laborious but more reliable high-temperature process must be used. At high temperature, an original flash evolution, similar to that at lower temperature, is first observed. After not more than an hour, the flash subsides and evolution settles down to a regular first-order reaction rate for which the half-life* is usually of the order of a few hours for the 5/8-in. diam cylinder at 1050°C. The regular evolution may be followed for whatever period appears justified, after which the residual gas may be estimated as equal to that which was evolved in the last observed half-life period. Tests have shown that the composition of the evolved gas does not vary greatly during the progress of evolution; therefore the residual gas may safely be taken to have the same composition as the portion col-

Jan 1, 1948

By AIME AIME

THE Employment Bureau of the F. A: E. S., conducted under- the direct supervision of the secretaries of the four Founder Societies, has wanted to extend its activities and usefulness but it is operating right up to the limit of its budget; consequently, anything which requires the expenditure of more funds cannot be -undertaken, for the present. A great deal of time has been spent in recording, classifying, and interviewing the men listed, but owing to the business depression, only a comparatively small number of men have been placed' luring the last few months. There are men in New York from all over the country. What the Bureau needs is more positions available. With this in view, a number of high-grade engineers, themselves in need of employment, volunteered their services for a publicity campaign in the City of New York. A definite mode of procedure was evolved, and the success of the movement has been considerable, so much so that it has been thought well to call it to the attention, of members elsewhere, so that similar committees ' and campaigns might be organized in other cities. Following is a chronological arrangement of the methods used.

Jan 1, 1921

By Robert C. Freas, William H. Lane, David J. Krohn

Maysville, Kentucky, is the location of Dravo Lime company's new 9 070 mt(10,000 tons) per day limestone mine and 2 727 mt (3000 tons) per day calcination plant. This complex has been designed as a unit, and capitalizes on recent technological advances. Geologically the Dravo facility is.located on the eastern flank of the Cincinnati Arch, with the high calcium limestone being found at a depth of approximately 274 m (900 ft). A systems approach has been employed in designing and equipping the mine. This allows for maximum production while maintaining flexibility and versatility. All hydraulic drilling, large LHD equipment, and an extendable mine conveyor system are utilized in a five-part mining cycle. A modular concept modifies the room and pillar system to optimize ventilation. The limestone is calcined in three 5.18 x 61.87 m (17 x 203 ft) KVS rotary kilns with a design capacity of 909 mt (1000 tons) per day of lime per kiln. The kilns are coal fired and equipped with preheaters. Lime storage is provided by three 57 m (186 ft) high concrete silos with a combined capacity of 40 909 mt.

Jan 1, 1976