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By G. S. Rice

Some form of longwall mining is generally used in Continental Europe; also in Great Britain where the coal is weak and friable, or the coal bed provides material for pack walls and filling, or where the bottom is soft and squeezes up easily, or the roof is pliable, or the bed is thin and brushing provides building material, or the thick multiple seams are mined in layers, such as the 24-ft.seam at Weymss, Scotland, or the 10-yd. pitching bed near Coventry, England. Pillar methods have been retained in British fields where the coal beds are from 5 to 9 ft. (1.5 to 2.7 m.) thick, and free from thick partings or binders or without draw slate, which would provide waste rock for pack walls, or where the roof is hard and requires shooting to bring down, and also the bottom or floor is comparatively hard. The room-and-pillar system, by which probably 95 per cent. of the coal of the United States is produced, is now found in only a few mines in Wales, where it is known as the pillar and (single) stall method. The American room-and-pillar system is not equivalent to the bord-and-pillar or stoop-and-room system. The essential difference between the bord-and-pillar and the average American room-and-pillar system is probably due to natural conditions. The majority of the coal mines in the United States have a depth of less than 700 ft. (213 m.). The bulk of the coal mined in Europe comes from a depth of more than 1200 ft., while the deepest mines in Great Britain, Belgium, and France reach 3500 to 4000 ft. In deep workings wide spans are impracticable, even with the use of abundant timber; accordingly, as the mines in the United States become deeper the rooms will become narrower and the pillars thicker, and the bulk of the coal will be extracted on the retreat. It is generally conceded, without reference to the cost of production, that the larger the pillars left on the first mining, the more thoroughly can the coal be extracted. In Europe complete extraction is generally compelled either by the lessors or by the governments; whereas in this country it has been more largely a question of competitive cost of production, or the support of the surface in the flat farming districts of the

Jan 1, 1922

By Ellis Clark

THE greater portion of the brown ore in the vicinity of Easton, along the north slope of the Lehigh Mountain or Durham range of hills, is obtained from mines instead of from open cuts or quarries, as is the case in the ore-beds in the western part of Northampton County, in Lehigh County, and in Berks County. The reasons for this method of procedure are various, and the principal causes of the shaft and regular mine system of working being adopted instead of the open air cuts, are : First, the large amount of stripping that would be necessary, as the richer and more valuable portions of the ore do not appear to be found as near the surface as those in other portions of the Kittatinny valley; second, the occurrence of the ore in regular beds, interstratified with the clay, and, to a less extent, in pockets or erratic deposits, as is the case in the mines of Lehigh County; and third, on account of many of the mines being situated at the immediate base of the Lehigh Mountain, where the surface water would be in such large quantities as to be with difficulty handled, and where the subsequent caving in of the sides of the open cut would be almost certain to expose the gneiss rock, which is water-bearing, the large quantities of water coming from which would probably drown out the ore-bed. Shafts, and a regular system of gangways and mining are therefore required by the configuration of the surface, the depth of the deposits and their geological structure. The ordinary size of the shafts is about four feet square, but where an extensive plant of pumping machinery is required the size may be increased to eight feet by six, with two compartments for the hoisting and pump-shaft respectively. A man-way, consisting of ladders with rests at intervals of twenty or thirty feet, is comprised in the pump-shaft, the wire rope being used for purposes of ascent and descent only in exceptional cases, on account of accidents which

Jan 1, 1879

By William Vietti

WEST TEXAS and New Mexico has been overshadowed by the develop-ment in East Texas to such an extent that the area has been placed on a settled production basis by most of the operators. Considerable develop-ment work on both proven and unproven acreage remains to be carried on, but the incentive, a ready and profitable market, has been lacking. The main characteristics of the fields in this area are so well known that they are not described again in this paper, which thus resolves itself into a statistical review of the more important production features of the area. Proration has been in effect during the year and has been rigorously applied with the full cooperation of all producers. Proration in West Texas and New Mexico is based in the more pro-ductive fields on a potential and acreage distrbution of the allowance to the individual wells or acreage units. Potentials are determined generally by a short production test of from 1 to 4 hr.; and the hourly rate is multiplied by 24 to obtain the 24-hr. production or rated potential of the separate wells. The potential values thus set up have been questioned by many production men who are not willing to concede that the instantaneous (hourly) capacity of a well to produce is its potential capacity for a day with all other wells in the pool producing at their capacity. However, the potential of a well determined as above remains its chief rating as a measure of the permeability in place and as an indication of the possible reserve feeding that well. , The acreage factor has made it unnecessary to overdevelop properties in order to obtain an allowance proportionate to neighbors who are willing to drill an excessive number of wells on a piece of acreage in the hopes of a quick drainage and a corresponding profit. Proration has resulted in an orderly development of many of the pools in this area on the base as out-lined above, resulting in more reasonable spacing of wells and the more even withdrawal of oil and the ensuing expectation of high recoveries.

Jan 1, 1933

By Howard S. Bryant

Kansas maintained its fourth position on the list of all oil-producing states, for the ninth consecutive year. Total crude-oil production during 1935, as reported by the Oil & Gas Journal, was 53,364,446 bbl. on 97 per rent tank table calculations. This represented an increase of 17 per cent over the production in 1934, which had been the all-time peak of production in Kansas up to that time. Many of the 51 new discoveries of the year, listed in Table 2, did not have a pipe line outlet until about January, 1936; therefore did not contribute to the 1935 production of the state. The potential of all wells in Kansas at the end of the year was 998,-000 bbl. per day, and the daily allowable was 143,000 bbl. per day, showing proration to the extent of 14 per cent of capacity, under the rules of the State Corporation Commission. Several important new pipe lines were built into western Kansas by extending older lines from east to northwest, providing additional outlets for new crude-oil production, and increasing the service facilities from the older oil fields. The crude-oil price level remained unchanged throughout 1935 as it did in 1934, the price of Kansas 36" gravity crude being quoted at $1 per barrel. However, on Jan. 9, 1936, the price of this gravity oil was raised to $1.10 per barrel. Following the trend of the past several years, drilling activity was largely in western Kansas, and showed a still farther westward push from last year. A relatively high percentage of successful wildcat wells at a relatively shallow drilling depth, combined with the expiration of leased acreage assembled before the depression, caused the rapid exploration and development campaign, begun in 1934, to continue. This has caused the opening of more new fields in 1935 than during any previous year in the history of oil production in Kansas. A summary of the results of drilling in western Kansas is given in Table 2. Eastern Kansas had considerable drilling, showed six new fields or extensions of oil fields, but in the limited space of this paper such developments cannot be described.

Jan 1, 1936

By Erwin Zodrow

An elaborate model for the magnetite distribution and genesis in the Smallwood mine, Labrador, based on factor analysis with orthogonal and oblique rotation of the factors, was proposed in an earlier paper. However, it is implicit in that model that variances of one variable shared with all others (communality) are estimated. To avoid the problem of communality estimation in the present investigation, a different type of factor analysis is used which (1) emphasizes the shared variances, and (2) attempts to eliminate, as much as possible, errors associated with the estimation of communality and sampling (unique variance). The samples for the present analysis are not the commonly employed oxide percentage variables, but counts of mineral species in specified areas of thin sections from drill core in the Smallwood mine: quartz, magnetite, calcite, and specular-hematite minerals. The counting procedure for mineral species is similar to modal analysis differing from it principally in the aspect of texture recognition. The constant area in which mineral species are counted is dependent primarily on

Jan 1, 1975

By Howard S. Bryant

Kansas maintained its fourth position on the list of all oil-producing states, for the ninth consecutive year. Total crude-oil production during 1935, as reported by the Oil & Gas Journal, was 53,364,446 bbl. on 97 per rent tank table calculations. This represented an increase of 17 per cent over the production in 1934, which had been the all-time peak of production in Kansas up to that time. Many of the 51 new discoveries of the year, listed in Table 2, did not have a pipe line outlet until about January, 1936; therefore did not contribute to the 1935 production of the state. The potential of all wells in Kansas at the end of the year was 998,-000 bbl. per day, and the daily allowable was 143,000 bbl. per day, showing proration to the extent of 14 per cent of capacity, under the rules of the State Corporation Commission. Several important new pipe lines were built into western Kansas by extending older lines from east to northwest, providing additional outlets for new crude-oil production, and increasing the service facilities from the older oil fields. The crude-oil price level remained unchanged throughout 1935 as it did in 1934, the price of Kansas 36" gravity crude being quoted at $1 per barrel. However, on Jan. 9, 1936, the price of this gravity oil was raised to $1.10 per barrel. Following the trend of the past several years, drilling activity was largely in western Kansas, and showed a still farther westward push from last year. A relatively high percentage of successful wildcat wells at a relatively shallow drilling depth, combined with the expiration of leased acreage assembled before the depression, caused the rapid exploration and development campaign, begun in 1934, to continue. This has caused the opening of more new fields in 1935 than during any previous year in the history of oil production in Kansas. A summary of the results of drilling in western Kansas is given in Table 2. Eastern Kansas had considerable drilling, showed six new fields or extensions of oil fields, but in the limited space of this paper such developments cannot be described.

Jan 1, 1936

By Richard Rothwell

At the last meeting of the Institute, Mr. Per Larsson read a very interesting paper on the Chapin mine of Michigan, in which he described the systems of mining that had, at different times, been tried in that great ore-body, and especially the system now in use, which consists in working the ore out from the bottom upward in lifts. Shortly after that paper was written, but before it had been published, or that I had had an opportunity of reading it, I bad the pleasure of visiting the mine. At that time I was making a profes sional examination of a nnmber of the mines on theGogebic Range, and others in the Menominee region, Michigan and Wisconsin, and had occasion then, as during several previous visits, to study closely the methods and cost of mining in these districts. As the outcome of these investigations, it appeared evident to me that the system of working on the chamber-and-pillar plan, which up to that time had been the only method of underground work adopted in the Gogebic

Jan 1, 1888

By J. Price Wetherill

THE coal-seams that are worked vary from 32 to 100 feet in thickness, and occur at all angles of inclination, but are never flat for any great extent. They contain coal, slate, and an unsolidified coal, called dirt by the miners, in various proportions, a uniform seam of coal alone being rare. The upper walls are composed of conglomerate, sandstone, or slate; the first two hard and solid in texture, and withstanding the action of the atmosphere and moisture sufficiently well to offer but little trouble to the mining operations ; while the latter crumbles rapidly, owing, in part, to the decomposition of iron pyrites which it contains in large quantities, and in part to its own friable character, and requires constant care to avoid accidents to the men working below it, and to prevent its mixing with the coal mined. The floors are composed of slate. As in all mining operations, the. general system pursued is to reach with a permanent outlet such a point in the seam as will

Jan 1, 1877

By M. D. Cooper

UNDERGRADUATES in mining engineering may be prepared for work by giving them sound instruction in the courses generally considered essential to the profession. The industry is not deeply concerned about the details of those courses. The average man in the coal industry does not wish to insist upon a rigid program. Therefore, he differs little from those in the teaching profession who evidently are not unanimous in their opinions, or all college catalogs would be alike. For the good of the profession, it is just as well that there should be differences in regard to details. It appears that students graduating in mining engineering from the accredited institutions receive similar instruction. It is taken for granted that the graduate will have a good understanding of English, mathematics, mechanics, electricity, chemistry, physics, geology, and surveying, in addition to his major courses in mining. Somewhat belatedly, industry hopes he will have had at least an introduction to the subject of labor relations, the importance of which is only too clear at present. The coal industry expects, of course, that students in mining engineering will be taught the strictly mining subjects by men who have had practical experience in the mines and who keep themselves well informed in regard to current methods. While the undergraduate is subject to the control of members of the teaching profession, industry expects him to be trained in certain ways that are not a part of his textbooks, but can be made an inseparable part of his development by the skillful supervision of his teachers. Of the desired characteristics, dependability is of the utmost importance. Probably most employers would overlook certain short-comings if the young graduate demonstrated that he was thoroughly dependable. If he always appeared at the right place at the right time with the proper equipment, he would soon be well established as a welcome member of his organization. The graduate who gets a reputation for being undependable will have little opportunity for advancement. Closely allied to dependability is loyalty. Athletic teams and social groups in college tend to develop loyalty which may well be carried over into industry. This does not mean that the graduate has to be satisfied with customary practices. The average manager is glad to see the graduate make constructive criticism as long as he demonstrates his loyalty at the same time. It is important that his loyalty keeps him alert arid ready to take helpful action for the benefit of his organization, and especially to stand with it during times of stress. With or without an introduction to labor relations in college, the graduate is expected to develop ability in this most important field. Beginning with himself, he will find it essential to deal agreeably with his immediate associates. Getting along in friendly fashion with his own small group will be a great help as his responsibilities increase and he is required to deal with larger numbers of persons. On a higher scale, his interest in his community may grow at the same time by voluntary work in any one of a great number of useful activities. Industry expects the graduate engineer to be a mature man at the time he gets his first job. Supposing that he has better than average intelligence, industry expects him to continue to grow intellectually and to fit himself for responsible jobs when they are offered to him. For this reason, employers are apt to look over his college record to see what he did that would indicate his fitness for leadership. There is interest in knowing what he did beyond the requirements. As evidence of his mental growth, it is expected that the graduate will do independent thinking; that he will not take too much for granted. When he reads a report, he should develop the ability to see whether the subject is new or whether it is just a description of an old method that has been superseded by something better. For the same reason, the graduate should be able to accept conditions that have been arrived at by sound experience rather than cling to something else that seems better in theory. In this connection, it may be remarked that the ability to operate successfully a personal budget will be noteworthy, as it may be assumed that a man who knows how to conduct his own affairs will be prepared to assume the larger responsibilities of industry. Membership in AIME will indicate to the employer that the graduate is interested in the mining industry as a whole. Therefore, it is good evidence of something more than a local outlook. Quite apart from college training and mental ability, the newly employed graduate will be expected to be willing to do hard manual labor for a time. This will give him an understanding of the actual conditions of work done by those he supervises later. He will gain their confidence and be able to see that the work is carried on in a safe and efficient manner. Part of this experience may be acquired in his summer vacations during his undergraduate career. Such work would make a favorable impression on a prospective employer, especially if the graduate showed a willingness to continue it until he was prepared for something better. To summarize, the man in authority in the coal industry will not quarrel with the professor of mining engineering over details of curriculum. He will be pleased if the school sends him graduates who possess a good foundation in the courses studied, and who may be depended upon to do their work faithfully and intelligently. Such men will be ready when the time comes to assume their places as leaders of an essential industry.

Jan 1, 1951

By M. D. Cooper

UNDERGRADUATES in mining engineering may be prepared for work by giving them sound instruction in the courses generally considered essential to the profession. The industry is not deeply concerned about the details of those courses. The average man in the coal industry does not wish to insist upon a rigid program. Therefore, he differs little from those in the teaching profession who evidently are not unanimous in their opinions, or all college catalogs would be alike. For the good of the profession, it is just as well that there should be differences in regard to details. It appears that students graduating in mining engineering from the accredited institutions receive similar instruction. It is taken for granted that the graduate will have a good understanding of English, mathematics, mechanics, electricity, chemistry, physics, geology, and surveying, in addition to his major courses in mining. Somewhat belatedly, industry hopes he will have had at least an introduction to the subject of labor relations, the importance of which is only too clear at present. The coal industry expects, of course, that students in mining engineering will be taught the strictly mining subjects by men who have had practical experience in the mines and who keep themselves well informed in regard to current methods. While the undergraduate is subject to the control of members of the teaching profession, industry expects him to be trained in certain ways that are not a part of his textbooks, but can be made an inseparable part of his development by the skillful supervision of his teachers. Of the desired characteristics, dependability is of the utmost importance. Probably most employers would overlook certain short-comings if the young graduate demonstrated that he was thoroughly dependable. If he always appeared at the right place at the right time with the proper equipment, he would soon be well established as a welcome member of his organization. The graduate who gets a reputation for being undependable will have little opportunity for advancement. Closely allied to dependability is loyalty. Athletic teams and social groups in college tend to develop loyalty which may well be carried over into industry. This does not mean that the graduate has to be satisfied with customary practices. The average manager is glad to see the graduate make constructive criticism as long as he demonstrates his loyalty at the same time. It is important that his loyalty keeps him alert arid ready to take helpful action for the benefit of his organization, and especially to stand with it during times of stress. With or without an introduction to labor relations in college, the graduate is expected to develop ability in this most important field. Beginning with himself, he will find it essential to deal agreeably with his immediate associates. Getting along in friendly fashion with his own small group will be a great help as his responsibilities increase and he is required to deal with larger numbers of persons. On a higher scale, his interest in his community may grow at the same time by voluntary work in any one of a great number of useful activities. Industry expects the graduate engineer to be a mature man at the time he gets his first job. Supposing that he has better than average intelligence, industry expects him to continue to grow intellectually and to fit himself for responsible jobs when they are offered to him. For this reason, employers are apt to look over his college record to see what he did that would indicate his fitness for leadership. There is interest in knowing what he did beyond the requirements. As evidence of his mental growth, it is expected that the graduate will do independent thinking; that he will not take too much for granted. When he reads a report, he should develop the ability to see whether the subject is new or whether it is just a description of an old method that has been superseded by something better. For the same reason, the graduate should be able to accept conditions that have been arrived at by sound experience rather than cling to something else that seems better in theory. In this connection, it may be remarked that the ability to operate successfully a personal budget will be noteworthy, as it may be assumed that a man who knows how to conduct his own affairs will be prepared to assume the larger responsibilities of industry. Membership in AIME will indicate to the employer that the graduate is interested in the mining industry as a whole. Therefore, it is good evidence of something more than a local outlook. Quite apart from college training and mental ability, the newly employed graduate will be expected to be willing to do hard manual labor for a time. This will give him an understanding of the actual conditions of work done by those he supervises later. He will gain their confidence and be able to see that the work is carried on in a safe and efficient manner. Part of this experience may be acquired in his summer vacations during his undergraduate career. Such work would make a favorable impression on a prospective employer, especially if the graduate showed a willingness to continue it until he was prepared for something better. To summarize, the man in authority in the coal industry will not quarrel with the professor of mining engineering over details of curriculum. He will be pleased if the school sends him graduates who possess a good foundation in the courses studied, and who may be depended upon to do their work faithfully and intelligently. Such men will be ready when the time comes to assume their places as leaders of an essential industry.

Jan 1, 1951

By Francis Pyne

THE following notes are presented in an endeavour to point out the disadvantages attending the use of chrome brick in reverberatory furnaces used in the treatment of materials that are too valuable to allow any great amount of metal absorption by the brick. Several years ago one of the large Eastern copper refineries decided to utilize basic material in place of siliceous material in the walls of their reverberatory furnaces for the treatment of very foul blister copper, as the latter rapidly corroded the siliceous linings. It was also expected that there would be less slag formation, with a consequent decrease in the cost of treatment and a reduction in the metal losses. Magnesite brick were first used, but while the corrosive action of the foul material was greatly reduced, and the amount of. slag formed was very much less, the magnesite proved to be unsatisfactory in certain parts of the furnace, because of its tendency to crack and span badly when subjected to the alternate heating and cooling that takes place in a reverberatory refining furnace. This made many repairs necessary, and consequent frequent interruption in the operation of the furnace, which, together with the high price of the magnesite brick, ran up the cost of maintenance to an unreasonable amount. It was, therefore, decided to substitute chronic brick for magnesite brick in the parts of the furnace affected. The results, as far as the reverberatory furnace was concerned, were very satisfactory. The corrosion due to the action of the foul blister was small and the amount of slag formed was no greater than when using magnesite, and the tendency to crack and spill shown by the magnesite was eliminated. Gradually the use of chrome brick was extended to all furnaces; those treating blister copper as well as those melting cathodes, and the results were so satin-, factory that the siliceous roofs were replaced by roofs of chrome brick except in certain places where experience showed a more satisfactory performance on the part of the silica brick.

Jan 12, 1917

By Alan Morris

Impingement attack, as one of the types of corrosion suffered by condenser tubes, has been given a prominent place in corrosion literature of recent years. It has been reproduced and studied in carefully controlled laboratory tests. Much has been learned of its mechanism, and of the effects of variables such as temperature, amount of air, size of bubble and water velocity. Incidentally the technical public has been given comparisons between the behavior of some few metals under various conditions of impingement attack. The tests recorded here were undertaken in an effort to find at least some sort of qualitative answer to questions which arose occasionally as to the relative resistance of various alloys to impingement attack, and which could not be answered by reference to the literature. The final decision to start work on the problem was influenced in large measure by the nature of the water available in this particular place. The mill of the Bridgeport Brass Co. is located on the Pequonnock River at Bridgeport, Conn., within two miles of its mouth. The water is much like many other estuarine sources which are used in condensers, and which cause particularly severe corrosion. It seemed a most suitable water to use in such tests. As the work progressed an important seasonal variation was noted. The purpose of this note is to record this seasonal effect. The results of individual tests are given only incidentally. Impingement Tests Early in 1929 the apparatus was built. The samples were disks of 1-in. dia., cut from sheet metal. They were eleaned with fine emery cloth and set in holders, as shown in Fig. 1. A stream of water pumped directly from the river impinged on the surface of the sample. Compressed air was injected into the water stream through an air duct. Water pressure was maintained at about 35 Ib. per sq. in. and air was controlled by a needle valve. Velocity of

Jan 1, 1932

By Wilhelm Rohn

IN discussing the influence of a content of gases on metals and alloys we should probably first consider the physical and chemical conditions under which these gases may be present. By a chemical analysis, such as the total extraction of gases from the liquid metal by melting in a graphite crucible in vacuo, we find only the sum of gaseous chemical elements contained in the metal in any form and no reference is made to the special form under which they have been present previously. CONDITION OF GASES IN METALS In considering. gases in metals we may first turn our attention to gases simply dissolved. Because the solubility of almost, any gas decreases suddenly at the freezing point, most of them are released during solidification, developing rise of ingots and blowholes. If only a little gas is dissolved in the molten metal the size of such blowholes may be miscroscopical, or even submicroscopical, resulting in, a certain reduction of the notched-bar impact test values. Hydrogen is believed to become less soluble as the temperature is lowered and therefore increasing quantities of this gas may be evolved during cooling between the freezing point and room temperature, leading to unsoundness of the ingot at weak spots; i.e., at the grain boundaries. This gas at the grain boundaries probably is present at high pressure and therefore impairs the mechanical properties to a degree similar to that found in the hydrogen embrittlement of copper. Usually we may trace such gases by observing rising ingots, or at least by the formation of a characteristic pattern of small grooves upon etching. Another condition of gases present within metals is that of chemical compounds, the most common being oxides and mostly present as slag inclusions of various kinds. If such oxides are insoluble in the liquid metal and emulsify with it, we find microscopical or submicroscopical slag inclusions distributed homogeneously throughout the metal and spread through the whole mass of the crystals. This special form does little harm to the mechanical properties. Some oxides are somewhat soluble

Jan 1, 1932

By William G. Krantz

The increased service demands on some of the products of the National Mallcable Castings Co. prompted it about eight years ago to investigate the electric furnace, both in America and in Europe. The process had already been sufficiently developed in Europe to lead us to believe that the electric furnace would most nearly meet our requirements. After further investigation and consultation with the highest authorities on the subject, we decided upon the Heroult type as the simplest and most practicable. In 1910, we built a furnace of this type, of 300 Ib. capacity, for experimental purposes, and although it was crudely constructed the quality of the material we were able to make justified the installation of a 6-ton Heroult furnace in 1912. This furnace has three electrodes, 17 in. in diameter, uses three-phase, 60-cycle current, and is equipped with Thury regulators, which give US good regulation and a uniform load on the line even when cold melting. The power factor of the furnace is 04 per cent. Since July, 1912, the furnace has been in continuous operation, producing up to the present time over 20,000 tons of both carbon and alloy steels of varying analyses and of exceptional quality. Both cold-and hot-metal charges have been used, with a power consumption of about 150 kw-hr. per ton in the case of hot-metal charges and from 500 to 600 kw-hr. per ton in the case of cold charges. The electric energy consumed varies according to the final analysis of the steel and the amount of refining required. Too much cannot be said about the refining possibilities of the electric furnace, for no other method of steel manufacture can compete with the electric in this respect. In proper operation lies the whole secret of success. That steel has been made electrically means nothing, for when the furnace is operated under oxidizing conditions the quality is no better than that of open-hearth material; but when properly made, electric steel is as good as

Jan 1, 1916

By C.H. Davis, W.H. Bassett

The ease and value of the application of spectrum analysis to industrial chemistry appears to be appreciated in few of the large works laboratories of this country. For 8 years, this analysis has been of great value to the authors in both analytical and metallurgical work. To the analyst the complete qualitative analysis of an unknown alloy, revealed by a spectrogram, is a sure basis for the planning of the most direct and rapid method of attack. As the determination of each element proceeds, the purity of precipitates may be checked as often as desired. The spectrograph proves invaluable in the recognition of impurities, the separation of which would entail a lengthy and difficult procedure, or when the weight of an unknown is less than is necessary to complete the desired determinations. A few hundredths of a gram will usually suffice for spectrographic analysis. In the separation of the rarer elements, the spectrograph will show, with precision, the point where each step has been successful. In zinc of certain classes, indium, gallium, and germanium have been isolated in this way; the presence of antimony in lake coppers has been proved; and bismuth has been detected in zinc and in alloys where the presence of a few thousandths of a per cent. would be harmful. An antimony precipitate in a delicate determination may contain a considerable proportion of tin or arsenic, both of which will be revealed. The spectrograph is consequently important to the metallurgist as well as to the analyst. Impurities in raw material are often a source of annoyance, especially when their detection involves delay and costly analytical work. Whethcr low conductivity in copper is due to arsenic, nickel, or something else may be cluickly found out. Residual traces of boron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and other deoxidizing agents are easily identified where wet analysis may fail to reveal their presence, even after days of effort. Complex alloys of any kind are dissociated by the spectro-

Jan 1, 1923

By W. H. Bassett, C. H. Davis

The ease and value of the application of spectrum analysis to industrial chemistry appears to be appreciated in few of the large works laboratories of this country. For 8 years, this analysis has been of great value to the authors in both analytical and metallurgical work. To the analyst the complete qualitative analysis of an unknown alloy, revealed by a spectrogram, is a sure basis for the planning of the most direct and rapid method of attack. As the determination of each element proceeds, the purity of precipitates may be checked as often as desired. The spectrograph proves invaluable in the recognition of impurities, the separation of which would entail a lengthy and difficult procedure, or when the weight of an unknown is less than is necessary to complete the desired determinations. A few hundredths of a gram will usually suffice for spectrographic analysis. In the separation of the rarer elements, the spectrograph will show, with precision, the point where each step has been successful. In zinc of certain classes, indium, gallium, and germanium have been isolated in this way; the presence of antimony in lake coppers has been proved; and bismuth has been detected in zinc and in alloys where the presence of a few thousandths of a per cent. would be harmful. An antimony precipitate in a delicate determination may contain a considerable proportion of tin or arsenic, both of which will be revealed. The spectrograph is consequently important to the metallurgist as well as to the analyst. Impurities in raw material are often a source of annoyance, especially when their detection involves delay and costly analytical work. Whethcr low conductivity in copper is due to arsenic, nickel, or something else may be cluickly found out. Residual traces of boron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, vanadium, and other deoxidizing agents are easily identified where wet analysis may fail to reveal their presence, even after days of effort. Complex alloys of any kind are dissociated by the spectro-

Jan 1, 1923

By Michel T. Halbouty

The area for which oil and gas development is reported for 1938 in this paper is larger than that covered by the report for 1937, in that besides Duval, Jim Hogg, McMullen, Starr, Webb and Zapata Counties, comprising the Laredo district, this paper also includes the South Corpus Christi district, which is composed of the following counties: San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Brooks, Willacy, Hidalgo and Cameron, all heretofore included in A.I.M.E. Gulf Coast reports. In the map, Fig. 1, the area known as South Texas is represented by the counties south of the heavy black line. Production in the South Corpus Christi district, which covers an area that extends inland for 50 miles and follows the coast line, is primarily in zones ranging from the Catahoula, through the Frio sands, into the Vicksburg horizon. General exploration is done mainly with geophysics because in this district production is directly dependent upon structural conditions. In the Laredo district most of the production is from sand lenses; therefore, because these shallow sand lenses represent old shore lines which are monoclinic in character, the most satisfactory method of exploration in the Laredo district is drilling. This type of production centers around Duval County and follows a northeast-southwest trend along the Mirando district. Although drilling operations showed a decline from the preceding year, 1938 was highly successful as far as new discoveries and developments were concerned, and results of the year's operations should have an important effect on the near future trend of exploration and drilling. Besides the discovery of several new fields and many new sands in established fields, 1938 saw the discovery of a new Vicksburg sand trend and the first marine drilling off the South Texas Gulf Coast. Many new fields were discovered during the year, but only a few were subjected to an extensive drilling program. Several already established fields, especially in the Laredo district, received a large amount of drilling as new sands and extensions enlarged the producing areas, a

Jan 1, 1939

By Michel T. Halbouty

The area for which oil and gas development is reported for 1938 in this paper is larger than that covered by the report for 1937, in that besides Duval, Jim Hogg, McMullen, Starr, Webb and Zapata Counties, comprising the Laredo district, this paper also includes the South Corpus Christi district, which is composed of the following counties: San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Brooks, Willacy, Hidalgo and Cameron, all heretofore included in A.I.M.E. Gulf Coast reports. In the map, Fig. 1, the area known as South Texas is represented by the counties south of the heavy black line. Production in the South Corpus Christi district, which covers an area that extends inland for 50 miles and follows the coast line, is primarily in zones ranging from the Catahoula, through the Frio sands, into the Vicksburg horizon. General exploration is done mainly with geophysics because in this district production is directly dependent upon structural conditions. In the Laredo district most of the production is from sand lenses; therefore, because these shallow sand lenses represent old shore lines which are monoclinic in character, the most satisfactory method of exploration in the Laredo district is drilling. This type of production centers around Duval County and follows a northeast-southwest trend along the Mirando district. Although drilling operations showed a decline from the preceding year, 1938 was highly successful as far as new discoveries and developments were concerned, and results of the year's operations should have an important effect on the near future trend of exploration and drilling. Besides the discovery of several new fields and many new sands in established fields, 1938 saw the discovery of a new Vicksburg sand trend and the first marine drilling off the South Texas Gulf Coast. Many new fields were discovered during the year, but only a few were subjected to an extensive drilling program. Several already established fields, especially in the Laredo district, received a large amount of drilling as new sands and extensions enlarged the producing areas, a

Jan 1, 1939

By M. T. Hepworth, T. P. Papazoglou

Hydrogen diffusion in hcp and bcc titanium in the temperature range 610° to 900°C was measured by reacting cylindrical specimens of high-purity titanium at constant temperature with small constant pressures of hydrogen of the order of a few Torr. In the range 0 to 6.7 at. pct H in hcp titanium, the diffusion coefficient D in sq cm per sec is given by: where T is in °K and R in cal per g-atom OK. Only three measurements of diffusivity in bcc titanium were made: at 900' : the diffusivity in ß titanium was found to be 1.8 x 10-4 sq crn per sec. McQUILLAN1 has studied the constitution of the Ti-H system and reported the concentration of hydrogen as a function of pressure of hydrogen and temperature. He found hydrogen absorption was reversible and rapid at temperatures above 500°C in both crystallographic modifications, the a (hcp) phase and the ß (bcc) phase, with the latter phase stabilized by hydrogen additions. Wasilewski and Kehl 2 measured the diffusivity of hydrogen in hcp and bcc Ti-H alloys. For bcc alloys, they reacted cylindrical specimens of titanium with hydrogen gas at 1 atm pressure. They measured the rate of absorption of hydrogen isothermally on specimens ranging from zero hydrogen content when above the transformation temperature to hydrogen contents sufficient to stabilize the bcc phase when below the transformation temperature. By integrating Fick's second law for a cylindrical geometry, assuming a diffusion coefficient independent of composition, they calculated diffusivities as a function of temperature. In the range 650" to 1000°C their results in bcc titanium yielded the expression: where D is in sq cm per sec, T in OK, and R the gas constant in cal per g-atom-OK. Their studies on the hcp a phase were conducted by exposing long cylindrical titanium specimens to hydrogen at a sufficiently high pressure to establish a surface layer of fl phase 80 to 120 u thick for the duration of an isothermal experiment. Concentration profiles were then determined by hydrogen analysis from chips obtained upon machining quenched specimens. The diffusivity of hydrogen was then calculated yielding the expression: The present investigation was undertaken principally to redetermine the diffusivity data on a titanium by a direct absorption from the gas phase at sufficiently low hydrogen pressures to avoid the presence of a surface bcc phase and also to check the diffusivity data at low hydrogen concentrations in the bcc stmcture. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE High-purity electrolytic sponge titanium (99.9 pct) of BHN 91 was arc-melted, forged, rolled, and machined into cylinders of final hardness, upon annealing, of BHN 92. Cylindrical specimens of two sets of dimensions were used: 1.524 by 2.931 cm and 1.905 by 3.663 cm diam and length, respectively. The experimental apparatus used for annealing specimens and for admitting known amounts of hydrogen at constant pressure is shown in Fig. 1. In a typical experiment, a specimen was lightly abraded with fine-grain silicon carbide, washed with water and detergent, and then thoroughly degreased with reagent-grade tri-chlorethylene and acetone. The specimen was suspended by a Chrome1 wire in the center of a quartz furnace tube, without contact with the tube, and heated to 925°C (as measured by a thermocouple adjacent to the specimen, outside the tube) for a period of at least 4 hr under a vacuum of from 10-6 to -7 Torr as measured by an ionization gage. The furnace temperature was then adjusted to the temperature chosen for the particular diffusion study and the specimen allowed to equilibrate thermally. Hydrogen was then ad-

Jan 1, 1969

By Theron Wasson

The Central Michigan area held first place in the state during the year. Midland and Isabella, the leading counties in 1932, produced most of the oil in 1933. The Porter field southeast of Mt. Pleasant and along the same structural trend saw the greatest drilling activity. In Porter during the year 117 new wells were drilled. Under proration these wells produced 3,583,617 bbl., or nearly one-half the total for the state, which has been estimated at 7,947,695 bbl. The Porter field is already outlined on all sides except the northwest. It probably reached its peak in 1933. Unless a new field of some magnitude is developed in 1934, Michigan will see a continuous decline. The Greendale extension to the old Mt. Pleasant field furnished the new flush for 1932. In 1933

Jan 1, 1934