Search Documents

By E. J. Roberts

F. C. Bond (Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Corp., Milwaukee) —This paper considers comminution as a first order process, with the reduction rate depending directly upon the amount of oversize material present. The data show that other factors should be taken into account, and it is possible that in time these may be evaluated as simultaneous or consecutive reactions: Development of the theory of comminution has been retarded for many years by the assumption that surface area measurements constitute the sine qua non of the work done in crushing and grinding, and it is encouraging to note the belated growth of other ideas. In the Abstract the term "net power" should be changed to "net energy." Throughout the paper the term "hp per ton" should be changed to "hp hrs per ton", or "hp hr t." The term "Probability Theory" in the title does not seem appropriate, since it is not clear how the probability theory is used in developing the ideas in the paper. There seems to be a contradiction between the large calculated advantages of closed circuit operation and the statement following that the closed circuit test results showed no significant change in grinding behavior, when compared with the batch grind curves. Tables I and II show that between 75 pct and 50 pct solids the energy input required decreases with increasing moisture content and may indicate the advisability of grinding at higher dilutions in certain cases. The calculation of the hp-hr per ton factor indicates an input in the laboratory mill of only 7.32 gross hp per ton of balls; this casts some doubt upon the accuracy of the factor used, since the power input in commercial mills at 80 pct critical speed is customarily much higher. The tests show that within fairly wide limits the amount of ore in the laboratory mill may be varied and a product of constant fineness obtained, provided that the grinding time is varied in the same proportion. This has often been assumed, and confirmation by actual testing is of value. The Cavg corrections for differences between the plant and laboratory size distributions do not seem very satisfactory, since in many cases the plant/laboratory ratio is farther from unity after correction than before. The following equation has been derived from the data in Table VI: Relative Energy (log new ball diam in in. + 0.410) Input = --------------—--------------- from which the relative energy inputs for balls of different sizes can be calculated and compared. The relative energy input is unity for balls of 2.715 in. diam. The equation indicates that the work accomplished by a ton of grinding balls per unit of energy input is roughly proportional to the square root of the total ball surface area; provided, of course, that the balls are sufficiently large to break the material. The data in support of this statement are admittedly meager, but are fairly consistent when plotted. The relative grindability values listed in Table VI for 200 mesh multiplied by 4/5 apparently correspond approximately to the A-C grindability at 200 mesh.' It would seem that for open circuit tests comparable accuracy could be obtained much more simply by the old method' of plotting the test grind, extending the mesh grinds to the left of zero time if necessary, and determining from the plot the equivalent time required to grind from the plant feed size to the plant product size, using the average of several mesh sizes. The en- ergy input value of one time interval could be determined by tests on materials of known grinding resistance, and this multiplied by the interval required should give the desired energy input value. The relative grindabilities would be the relative time intervals required for a specified feed and product size. When the plotted mesh size lines of a homogeneous material are extended to the left beyond zero time they meet at one point at zero pct passing. The horizontal distance of this point from zero time indicates the equivalent energy input required to prepare the mill feed. The author's results show that the closed circuit grinding tests give about the same K values as open circuit tests, from which he concludes that open circuit tests are satisfactory in many cases. The value of the closed circuit test is its ability accurately to predict energy requirements in closed circuit grinding for both homogeneous and heterogeneous materials. If the material is homogeneous, the open circuit test gives satisfactory results; but if the material contains appreciable fractions of hard and soft grinding ore, the open circuit tests will not be accurate because of the accumulation of hard grinding material in the circulating load. Since in most cases it is not possible to determine a priori whether the material contains hard and soft fractions, the closed circuit tests are preferable and more reliable. B. S. Crocker (Lake Shore Mines, Ontario)—Dr. Roberts probability theory of grinding is very similar to our log pct reduced vs. log tonnage method of plotting and evaluating grinding tests at Lake Shore. However, although we both seem to start at the same point we finish with different end results. Shortly after publishing our grinding paper (referred to by Dr. Roberts) in 1939, we did pursue the subject of the "constant pct reduction in the pct +28 micron material for each constant interval of time. We ran innumerable tonnage tests on the plant ball mills, rod mills, tube mills with 11/4 and 3/4 balls, and lastly pebble mills, with tonnage variations from 180 tons per day to 950 tons per day. We found that when we plotted the log of the tonnage against the log of the pct reduced of any reliable mesh, we had a straight line up until 90 pct of the mesh is reduced. We have also tested this in our 12-in. laboratory mill with the same results. We have used this method of evaluating grinds for the past 8 years and developed the recent four stage pebble plant on this basis. By pct reduced we mean the percentage of any given mesh that is reduced in one pass through a mill at a given tonnage (or time). For example, if the feed to a rod mill is 90 pct +35 mesh and the discharge at 500 tons per day is 54 pct +35, the pct reduced is 90 — 54/90 = 40 pct. If the feed had been 80 pct +35 the discharge would have been 48 pct +35 or pct re- duced 80-48/80 = 40 pct as long as the tonnage re- mained constant at 500 tons per day. Thus we can easily correct for normal variation of mill feeds. This log — log relationship derived from the tonnage tests of all our operating mills has proved of tremendous help in checking laboratory work and in designing alternate layouts or new plants. The difference between the log — log and the semi-log plot is only shown up when the extremes in tonnages are plotted. When the relationship between the pct reduced and the tonnage was first investigated, we used semilog

Jan 1, 1952

By AIME

A GEOLOGIST --one versed in geology, the science which treats of the history of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in the rocks; that is Webster's definition. William Embry Wrather-one of the country's foremost geologists who heads the U. S. Geological Survey; this is the 1948 President of the Institute. He has studied the geology of areas on the face of the earth as far-flung as Texas and the Balkans, and now heads the world's largest staff of geologists. Vital statistics on Dr. Wrather would show his place of birth as Brandenburg, Ky., the year 1883. He will celebrate his threescore and five years of full living the twentieth of this month. As is usual in biographical sketches of this nature, the formative years of youth, and in many ways the most important years of one's life (since professional tendencies as well as many important personal decisions are evidenced before the teens are left behind) are passed over with the mere fact noted that a degree was earned at such and such educational institution. And so we note that Dr. Wrather received his Ph.B. degree at the University of Chicago in 1907, and followed up that degree with two years of graduate study.

Jan 1, 1948

By P. J. Root, J. E. Warren

An idealized model has been developed for the purpose of studying the characteristic behavior of a permeable medium which contains regions which contribute significantly to the pore volume of the system but contribute negligibly to the flow capacity; e.g., a naturally fractured or vugular reservoir. Unsteady-state flow in this model reservoir has been investigated analytically. The pressure build-up performance has been examined in some detail; and, a technique for analyzing the build-up data to evaluate the desired parameters has been suggested. The use of this approach in the interpretation of field data has been discussed. As a result of this study, the following general conclusions can be drawn: 1. Two parameters are sufficient to characterize the deviation of the behavior of a medium with "double porositym from that of a homogeneously porous medium. 2. These parameters can be evaluated by the proper analysis of pressure build-up data obtained from adequately designed tests. 3. Since the build-up curve associated with this type of porous system is similar to that obtained from a stratified reservoir, an unambiguous interpretation is not possible without additional information. 4. Differencing methods which utilize pressure data from the final stages of a build-up test should be used with extreme caution. INTRODUCTION In order to plan a sound exploitation program or a successful secondary-recovery project, sufficient reliable information concerning the nature of the reservoir-fluid system must be available. Since it is evident that an adequate description of the reservoir rock is necessary if this condition is to be fulfilled, the present investigation was undertaken for the purpose of improving the fluid-flow characterization, based on normally available data, of a particular porous medium. DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM For many years it was widely assumed that, for the purpose of making engineering studies, two param- eters were sufficient to describe the single-phase flow properties of a producing formation, i.e., the absolute permeability and the effective porosity. It later became evident that the concept of directional permeability was of more than academic interest; consequently, the degree of permeability anisotropy and the orientation of the principal axes of permeability were accepted as basic parameters governing reservoir performance. 1,2 More recently, 3-6 it was recognized that at least one additional parameter was required to depict the behavior of a porous system containing regions which contributed significantly to the pore volume but contributed negligibly to the flow capacity. Microscopically, these regions could be "dead-end" or "storage" pores or, macroscopi-cally, they could be discrete volumes of low-permeability matrix rock combined with natural fissures in a reservoir. It is obvious that some provision for the inclusion of all the indicated parameters, as well as their spatial variations, must be made if a truly useful, conceptual model of a reservoir is to be developed. A dichotomy of the internal voids of reservoir rocks has been suggested.7,8 These two classes of porosity can be described as follows: a. Primary porosity is intergranular and controlled by deposition and lithification. It is highly interconnected and usually can be correlated with permeability since it is largely dependent on the geometry, size distribution and spatial distribution of the grains. The void systems of sands, sandstones and oolitic limestones are typical of this type. b. Secondary porosity is foramenular and is controlled by fracturing, jointing and/or solution in circulating water although it may be modified by infilling as a result of precipitation. It is not highly interconnected and usually cannot be correlated with permeability. Solution channels or vugular voids developed during weathering or burial in sedimentary basins are indigenous to carbonate rocks such as limestones or dolomites. Joints or fissures which occur in massive, extensive formations composed of shale, siltstone, schist, limestone or dolomite are generally vertical, and they are ascribed to tensional failure during mechanical deformation (the permeability associated with this type of void system is often anisotropic). Shrinkage cracks are the result

By F. E. Jaumot, R. L. Smith

Self-diffusion in zinc has been used as an instrument for comparison of the absorption and sectioning techniques as a means of studying diffusion. Single crystal as well as poly-crystal samples were used asanda the temperature range of diffusion extended from 200° to 415°C. For temperatures above 200°C, the data indicate that the results obtained from the absorption technique agree with those obtained from the sectioning technique. The effect on the values of the diffusion coefficient of electroplating vs evaporation as a means of applying the tracer was investigated and no significant difference observed. It was found that an excess or deficiency of tracer did not materially affect the results obtained from the sectioning technique, but invariably caused errors with the absorption technique. NEARLY all self-diffusion experiments and many alloy diffusion experiments have employed radioisotopes as the instrument for following the diffusion. Of the various techniques in which radioisotopes are applicable, the two most widely used are the sectioning and absorption techniques. In the former, the diffusion coefficient is obtained from a curve of log concentration vs the square of the mean penetration depth. In the latter, the diffusion coefficient is calculated from a knowledge of the decrease in activity at the surface after diffusion. In spite of the importance of knowing the reliability of the diffusion data and the widespread use of these two techniques, they had not been directly compared experimentally on the same samples. Thus, such a comparison was worthwhile. The specific system chosen for this comparison was the self-diffusion of zinc, since the metal was readily obtainable in high purity, single crystals were easily grown, and the anisotropic features of the diffusion added an additional factor of interest to the comparison. Self-diffusion in both single and polycrystals was investigated, since the possibility existed that grain boundaries and grain boundary diffusion might produce different effects for the different techniques. Also, the effects of electroplating vs evaporation as a means of applying the radioactive tracer, and the effects of applying an excess or deficiency of tracer material were studied. The general experimental procedures and the mathematical analyses of both techniques have been described previously in some detail, and only those points essential to an understanding of the present work will be discussed here. The mathematical analysis of the sectioning data requires only a knowledge of the solution of Fick's equation. where C,, is the initial concentration, C is the concentration at depth x, D is the diffusion coefficient, and p is the absorption coefficient of the solvent metal for the radiation from the solute. Having obtained F from the experiment, the value of z can be read from a plot of F vs In z, and D can then be calculated if is known. The necessity of knowing the absorption coefficient causes most of the criticism of the absorption technique. It is very difficult to measure accurately under the conditions existing in the diffusion experiment, but it is absolutely necessary, as will be indicated briefly later. Portions of this problem have been discussed in detail elsewhere." The difficulties involved in the measurement of the absorption coefficient arise from three principle factors: the physical characteristics of the absorber, the geometry, and complex radiation spectra. The first two are heavily dependent upon the third. If

Jan 1, 1957

By K. B. McQuillin

The volume of data resulting from an intensive search for new coalfields necessitated the establishment of a computer based processing system for coalfield data. The development of this system over the past seven years is described, with particular reference to the problems encountered in both the design and operation of the data base.

Jan 1, 1977

By AIME AIME

CHARLES A. CHASE, manager of the Shenandoah-Dives Syndicate, operating the Shenandoah Mines in southwestern Colorado, reviewed the current work at that property at a recent meeting of the Colorado Section, in Denver. This operation is a new one, having been in effect only two years, but the properties that were consolidated by Mr. Chase had had certain production in earlier years, since when they had: been inactive. These properties are located. in the high mountains of the San Juan section in Colorado, and although they had had a substantial production of ores of good grade in the upper levels, the project as a whole involved the bold undertaking of driving through the mountain, starting on the Mayflower claim on the Arrastre Gulch side and passing through the Mayflower, Slide, Terrible, North Star, Dives and Shenandoah No. 3 claims. This is a distance of over 8,000 ft. which is known to be mineralized, and the main operating tunnel was started at an elevation of approximately 11,000 ft. The main exploration work has already extended in nearly 4,200 ft. and the present mining production of nearly 550 tons daily is being secured while the main exploration work is being continued. The main heading is now within the North Star claim and the plan of operations involves continuing ahead for a few hundred feet and then starting an upraise which will he 2,200 ft. high and which will connect with the old workings of the North Star mine. The plan of ruining then will he to drive levels along the vein in both, directions to daylight and retreat downward, taking out all the ore and abandoning, the workings after the ore is removed. In this way one level after another progressing downward will be abandoned. The raise will be of two compartments, one of which will carry the 8-ton skip and the other the counterweight and manway. So far the ore has been broken over an average width of more than 11 ft., with an output of 39 tons per machine shift.

Jan 1, 1932

By Laurence Delisle, Arron Finger

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By Arron Finger, Laurence Delisle

The alloys formed by the addition of nickel to iron by conventional metallurgical procedures show physical properties that differ widely from those of the individual metals. The effect of alloying on the mechanical properties is most pronounced in alloys containing between 15 and 25 per cent nickel. The tensile strength of an alloy containing, for example, 20 per cent nickel and 80 per cent iron (with 0.06 per cent carbon), in an annealed condition, is above 150,000 lb. per sq. in.$ owing to a martensitic type of transformation, as compared with about 50,000 lb. per sq. in. for pure iron in the same condition. The object of this work was to determine whether the same beneficial alloying effect coulcl be obtained in alloys of iron and nickel prepared by powder metallurgy technique. Procedure Bars and pellets for tension and compression tests, respectively, were made. Two groups of specimens were prepared: (I) by cold-pressing the powders and sintering; (2) by cold-pressing the powders, sintering, repressing and resintering. Raw Materials Nickel powder supplied by Metals Disintegrating Co., marked MD-151, was used. A typical analysis of this powder was as follows: sulphur, 0.040 per cent; copper, 0.18; iron, 0.23; manganese, 0.002; magnesium, o.oo15; lead, 0.035; tin> 0.025; silicon, 0.08; chromium, 0.008. Electrolytic iron powder supplied by Plastic Metals Inc. was used. A repre-sentative chemical analysis for impurities other than gases, supplied by the vendor, gave the following results: carbon, 0.005 per cent; manganese, 0.002; silicon, 0.003; phosphorus, 0.001; sulphur, 0.004; nickel, 0.008. The fractions from these powders passing a 325-mesh sieve were reduced in hydrogen at 600°C. for one hour, to clean the sur-faces of the particles. The reduced pow-ders, slightly caked, were ground in a mortar and screened again through a 325-mesh sieve. Mixing The proper proportions of the powders were mixed overnight on rolls, in glass jars fitted with iron-wire baffles to break aggregates of particles that might form. Pressing All specimens were compacted on hy-draulic presses. The pellets were com-pacted in a cylindrical die, 34-in. diameter. The ratio of thickness to the diameter of the pellets was maintained as nearly as possible at 0.9, as specified for standard short compression pieces. The tensile bars were made by compacting 30 grams of powder. Their shape is shown in Fig. I. The compacting pressures for the pellets and the tensile bars were:

Jan 1, 1946

By G. H. Tausch, T. A. Huber

Very encouraging progress has been made ill the develop-ment of the permanent-type well completion which decreases considerable the cost of completions and workovers and aid-in the acquisition of reliable reservoir information at low cost. Completion and remedial operations are performed with tool,; which pass through the well tubing. Perforating and plug-hack operations can be done with the tubing in place and do not require pipe-handling equipment. Because of the many advantages afforded by this method, development work is going forward in anticipation of ultimately being able 10 use it to perform all usual well completion and workover operations. Effort is also being directed to the development of a more permanent type of lift equipment suitable for use with the permanent-type well completion. INTRODUCTION The permanent-type well completion in one in which the tubing and well-head are set in place only once in the life of the well and the completion or remedial work is performed through the tubing with a tubing-type perforator. a retrievable tubing extension. and other wire-line tools. This new type completion has made possible the saving of one to two days' rig time in the completion of each of several hundred wells During the last two years, and use of equipment developed for this type of completion has resulted in a 75 per cent reduction in cost. of certain types of workovers. In addition. the more reliable indication of the commercial value of a reservoir and the more accurate general reservoir information made Possible promise to be of even greater value in oil recovery than the reduction of costs for completions and workovers Recently. several well.. were worked over by using the retrievable tubing extension suspended on a swab line to plug back with cement and then perforating a higher producing interval with the tubing-type perforator, thus opening the way for complete through-the-tubing workovers which may be performed without pipe-handling equipment or mud. Those items attendant to the use of pipe-handling equipment and mud. such as hoard matting rig substructure. and pits. were also eliminated. There are indications that the elimination of drilling mud during completion and workover operations will frequently give increased well productivity, as plugging of the perforation. will not occur. It ii now possible to perforate selectively small sections of the producing interval and to test a well through these sections prior to perforating more interval. The perforating of additional interval will not entail the costly operations of killing the well and pulling tubing, nor will the old or the new perforations be plugged. The productivity of .mall sections of a reservoir and the actual gas-oil or oil-water contacts may now be determined economically under flowing condition.. Selective completions can be made in this manner to delay gas and water problems and bring about maximum oil recovery. At the present time, gas lift appears to offer the greatest potentialities for artificial lift in the permanent-type well com"letion since it can provide full-open tubing to accommodate the through-the-tubing tools and it may be ultimately developed into a fairly permanent type of lift. With precent-day pas-lift equipment. valve or mandrel failure necessitates occacio11al removal of the tubing. thereby reducing to some extent the permanence of the completion. New gas-lift valves are now

Jan 1, 1953

By P. D. I. Honeyman

CHANGING trends in concentration, involving regrinding with the subsequent production of a finely divided, high-grade flotation product, presents a real problem to the modern copper smelter. In the treatment of such a material, handling difficulties are numerous and potential possible losses may be very great. In many plants, of course, preliminary roasting of the furnace charge remains an economical necessity. Under such circumstances, the operator has no alternative except to follow orthodox roaster reverberatory practice, though taking all possible precautions to avoid excessive dust losses and bad working conditions. In other plants, roasting is not only unnecessary but would be highly undesirable, and at best the charge would be merely dried before entering the reverberatory furnace. In the latter case the possibilities of raw charging loom large. The Miami plant of the International Smelting Co. handles the entire output of concentrates of the several mining companies operating in the Globe-Miami district. All of these companies produce a flotation concentrate which, at the Miami Copper Co. particularly, is all reground and is high in grade. In addition, the Inspiration Copper Co. ships a substantial tonnage of high-grade cement copper to the smelter from its leaching plant. Following the flow sheet of the original plant, all such material received was bedded, dried in Wedge furnaces and smelted in reverberatory furnaces. At times during the history of the plant it has been necessary to carry the drying operation further, to a partial roast, before reverberatory smelting. Since the charge contained over 80 per cent flotation concentrates, the handling of which in a dried condition was at best a dusty job, unusual precautions were taken to cut down dust losses. The Wedge furnace plant was equipped with a Cottrell treater and all hoppers and calcine cars were carefully designed to cut down dust loss in transferring the so-called calcine from hoppers to car and from car to furnace. In the furnace itself the dusting problem was a severe one. Arch erosion was very rapid and flues and waste-heat boilers rapidly filled up with a partly smelted flue dust.

Jan 1, 1932

Manganese deposits discovered in Maine may solve one of the problems facing the steel industry today. Diamond drilling is scheduled to start in Aroostook County to determine whether the ore is of acceptable grade. The Bureau of Mines estimates the deposit contains several hundred million tons. If true, it means about a 30-year supply. The steel industry presently imports about 90 pct of its needs. Noranda Mines, Ltd., is planning a sulphur-iron plent for Ontario's Niagara Peninsula. Although contracts have not been signed, a substantial agreement has been reached with American Cyanamid, Ltd., whereby the Noranda plant would be constructed adjacent to Cyanamid's chemical plant at an estimated cost of million. The unit would treat approximately 100,000 tons of pyrite concentrate annually. San Manuel Copper Corp., wholly-owned subsidiary of Magma Copper Co., is asking the RFC for a $111.28 million loan for development of a copper orebody in Pinal County, Ariz. The property s said to be capable of producing 10 million tons of ore annually. San Manuel plans to construct facilities for processing 30,000 tons of ore and for smelting 800 tons of concentrate daily. An Aeromagnetic map covering 120 sq miles of the Wichita Mountain area in southwestern Oklahoma indicates a possibility of iron production from titaniferous magnetite deposits of the Raggedy Mountains, northwest of Lawton. The map shows an area in the north central part of the region which may prove favorable to further development.

Jan 1, 1952

By G. M. Schwartz, D. M. Davidson

THE Duluth gabbro outcrops containing sulphides of copper, nickel, and iron are located on both sides of State Highway No. 1 an airline distance of 8.5 miles southeast of Ely in northeastern Minnesota. The region of known sulphide occurrences includes parts of sections 5, T. 61 N., R. 11 W., and parts of sections 25, 26, 32, 33, and 34, T. 62 N., R. 11 W. These sections, given in Fig. 1, are all in Lake County, Minnesota. Part of the area, which lies entirely within the Superior National Forest, is shown on the topographic map of the Ely quadrangle. The original discovery was made in 1948 when a small pit was opened in weathered gabbro rubble for use on a forest access road. A shear zone had caused unusual decomposition in this glaciated area, and the resulting copper stain was noted by Fred S. Childers, Sr., an Ely prospector, who began searching the outcrops along the base of the intrusive. He was joined in further exploration by Roger V. Whiteside of Duluth. In the summer of 1951 a small diamond drill was moved into the area and a hole 188 ft deep was drilled, passing through 11 ft of glacial drift into sulphide-bearing gabbro. This paper is a preliminary report on the geology of the newly discovered ore. The Duluth gabbro is one of the largest known basic intrusives and may be defined as a lopolith.' It extends northeastward from the city of Duluth as a great crescent-shaped mass that intersects the shore of Lake Superior again near Hovland, 130 miles to the northeast, see Fig. 2. The distance around the outside of the crescent is nearly 170 miles. The form of the intrusive is simple at Duluth where it ends abruptly north of the St. Louis River; at the east end, however, the gabbro splits into two elongated, sill-like masses separated mainly by lava flows and characterized by minor irregularities. The outcrop reaches a maximum width in the central part where it is about 30 miles across, and a maximum thickness of about 50,000 ft. It may be significant that the sulphides occur at the base of the thickest part. The lopolith has segregated into rock types ranging from peridotite to granite. The most abundant types are olivine gabbro, gabbro, troctolite, anortho-site, and granite. Of lesser importance quantitatively are peridotite, norite, pyroxenite, magnetite gabbro, and titaniferous magnetite. Grout estimates that two-thirds of the gabbro at Duluth is olivine gabbro. Variations in the percentages of plagio-clase, augite, olivine, and magnetite-ilmenite constitute the only essential differences found among the basic rock types. The predominant mineral is plagioclase, mainly labradorite. Plagioclase and olivine seem to have crystallized early, and the olivine rich rocks, usually troctolite, are found in the lower part. Segregations of titaniferous magnetite are abundant near the base of the gabbro along the eastern part and also occur far above the base. These have recently been described in detail by Grout.' Near the top, segregation has produced a gradation to granite, or "red rock," as it is known locally. This consists of quartz, red feldspar, and hornblende. The red rock forms a zone with a maximum width of nearly 5 miles but is quantitatively unimportant from Duluth northward for 35 miles. In Cook county, where the gabbro splits, each of the two sill-like masses has a red rock top somewhat thicker in proportion to the gabbro below than in the main central mass. The intrusive ranges from coarse to medium in grain size and from granitoid to diabasic in texture. Throughout much of the Duluth gabbro in Minnesota banding and foliation are well developed, as Grout has emphasized.V he bands are mainly a result of variation in the percentage of minerals, as in troctolite with alternating bands high in olivine and in plagioclase. A few bands may consist largely of one mineral, as is true of some segregations of magnetite. Many of the banded rocks show a clearly developed parallelism of platy plagioclase crystals, and both banding and foliation are believed to conform to the floor of the lopolith. Throughout its extent in Minnesota the Duluth gabbro dips east and south toward Lake Superior. It is generally believed to extend beneath Lake Superior and is found as a smaller mass exposed along the north side of the Gogebic district in Wisconsin and Michigan. The dip at and near the base ranges along most of its length from 20 to 40°, but at places the internal banding dips even more steeply. The dip of the upper part is much less, and if it is assumed that the flows along the north shore of Lake Superior are a dependable indication, it does not exceed 15". The formations shown in Table I which are intruded by the gabbro range from Keewatin to Middle Keweenawan in age. They present a significant picture. At the top, the gabbro and its accompanying

Jan 1, 1953

By G. M. Schwartz, D. M. Davidson

THE Duluth gabbro outcrops containing sulphides of copper, nickel, and iron are located on both sides of State Highway No. 1 an airline distance of 8.5 miles southeast of Ely in northeastern Minnesota. The region of known sulphide occurrences includes parts of sections 5, T. 61 N., R. 11 W., and parts of sections 25, 26, 32, 33, and 34, T. 62 N., R. 11 W. These sections, given in Fig. 1, are all in Lake County, Minnesota. Part of the area, which lies entirely within the Superior National Forest, is shown on the topographic map of the Ely quadrangle. The original discovery was made in 1948 when a small pit was opened in weathered gabbro rubble for use on a forest access road. A shear zone had caused unusual decomposition in this glaciated area, and the resulting copper stain was noted by Fred S. Childers, Sr., an Ely prospector, who began searching the outcrops along the base of the intrusive. He was joined in further exploration by Roger V. Whiteside of Duluth. In the summer of 1951 a small diamond drill was moved into the area and a hole 188 ft deep was drilled, passing through 11 ft of glacial drift into sulphide-bearing gabbro. This paper is a preliminary report on the geology of the newly discovered ore. The Duluth gabbro is one of the largest known basic intrusives and may be defined as a lopolith.' It extends northeastward from the city of Duluth as a great crescent-shaped mass that intersects the shore of Lake Superior again near Hovland, 130 miles to the northeast, see Fig. 2. The distance around the outside of the crescent is nearly 170 miles. The form of the intrusive is simple at Duluth where it ends abruptly north of the St. Louis River; at the east end, however, the gabbro splits into two elongated, sill-like masses separated mainly by lava flows and characterized by minor irregularities. The outcrop reaches a maximum width in the central part where it is about 30 miles across, and a maximum thickness of about 50,000 ft. It may be significant that the sulphides occur at the base of the thickest part. The lopolith has segregated into rock types ranging from peridotite to granite. The most abundant types are olivine gabbro, gabbro, troctolite, anortho-site, and granite. Of lesser importance quantitatively are peridotite, norite, pyroxenite, magnetite gabbro, and titaniferous magnetite. Grout estimates that two-thirds of the gabbro at Duluth is olivine gabbro. Variations in the percentages of plagio-clase, augite, olivine, and magnetite-ilmenite constitute the only essential differences found among the basic rock types. The predominant mineral is plagioclase, mainly labradorite. Plagioclase and olivine seem to have crystallized early, and the olivine rich rocks, usually troctolite, are found in the lower part. Segregations of titaniferous magnetite are abundant near the base of the gabbro along the eastern part and also occur far above the base. These have recently been described in detail by Grout.' Near the top, segregation has produced a gradation to granite, or "red rock," as it is known locally. This consists of quartz, red feldspar, and hornblende. The red rock forms a zone with a maximum width of nearly 5 miles but is quantitatively unimportant from Duluth northward for 35 miles. In Cook county, where the gabbro splits, each of the two sill-like masses has a red rock top somewhat thicker in proportion to the gabbro below than in the main central mass. The intrusive ranges from coarse to medium in grain size and from granitoid to diabasic in texture. Throughout much of the Duluth gabbro in Minnesota banding and foliation are well developed, as Grout has emphasized.V he bands are mainly a result of variation in the percentage of minerals, as in troctolite with alternating bands high in olivine and in plagioclase. A few bands may consist largely of one mineral, as is true of some segregations of magnetite. Many of the banded rocks show a clearly developed parallelism of platy plagioclase crystals, and both banding and foliation are believed to conform to the floor of the lopolith. Throughout its extent in Minnesota the Duluth gabbro dips east and south toward Lake Superior. It is generally believed to extend beneath Lake Superior and is found as a smaller mass exposed along the north side of the Gogebic district in Wisconsin and Michigan. The dip at and near the base ranges along most of its length from 20 to 40°, but at places the internal banding dips even more steeply. The dip of the upper part is much less, and if it is assumed that the flows along the north shore of Lake Superior are a dependable indication, it does not exceed 15". The formations shown in Table I which are intruded by the gabbro range from Keewatin to Middle Keweenawan in age. They present a significant picture. At the top, the gabbro and its accompanying

Jan 1, 1953

By F. C. Sturges

[CONTENTS PAGE ................. Introduction-Grouting in Mines. By F. C. STURGES. I Use and Technique of Pressure Grouting in the Construction Industry. By V. L. MINEAR . 3 Technique of Pressure Cementing in the Petroleum, Mining, and Construction Industries. By WY. D. OWSLEY and R. E. MOELLER. ..................... 9 An Example of Controlled Pre-grouting in Shaft Sinking. By R. H. ALLEN and J. W. GALPIN. 15 ........ Solidifying Mines and Shafts Areas by Pressure Grouting. By B. H. MOTT 17 .............. Grouting in Southeast Missouri District. By W. W. WEIGEL 20] Introduction-Grouting in Mines By definition the word "grout" means a thin mortar, or a kind of plaster or cement, and "grouting" means to fill up or finish with grout. The words "cement," "plaster" and "mortar" mean a substance that is used in a soft state which subsequently hardens. Thus, grouting is the filling of void space with a substance that hardens. Construction cements are the most common substances used, either by themselves or in mixtures, but the term grouting is applied quite correctly when other substances such as plastics and certain chemicals are used. Also, the use of the term grouting to cover the filling of voids with materials that do not actually become hard, such as the flotation tailings used in grouting in the southeast Missouri lead district, should be considered correct, as some stiffening does take place and, anyway, it is a better descriptive term than any substitute. Engineers are interested in grouting because some of the materials with which they must work contain voids, and certain conditions can be improved if these voids can be filled with something solid and permanent. Grouting is done to accomplish several purposes: I. To stop the passage of fluids and gases, 2. To cement materials together to make them stronger, and 3. To prevent consolidation of materials by filling void space with something solid as a replacement for the air and water that could be forced out under load. The construction industry uses grouting extensively for all three purposes. Grouting is used to stop water percolation under and around dams. It is used to control water flow in tunnel driving and in shaft sinking. It is used to improve foundation conditions under civil engineering structures by permanently filling void space and thereby reducing settlement, or by cementing broken rock together and increasing its supporting strength. The oil and gas industry does a lot of grouting, primarily to stop the passage of gases and fluids. The search for oil at increasingly greater depths has meant greater investment per well, and the oil industry has spent large sums on development of improved drilling methods. This

Jan 1, 1947

By E. F. Koppe

The Upper Freeport coal in the Freeport and New Kensington quadrangles, Pennsylvania, varies from a bony streak to a thick coal deposit often exceeding ninety inches, the "Double" or "Thick Freeport". Distinctive basal partings, a central bone layer, and a canneloid top bench may be present. The appearance of a sandstone roof, sandstone rolls, and bony coal at the top of the main coal bench can be anticipated in thin Freeport areas when basal partings are absent. When the two basal partings are present, a shale roof is normal. These effects are correlated with the original topography upon which the coal was deposited. The original depositional high areas tend to coincide with present structural highs. Preliminary data indicate that coal quality, in part, is affected by the deposi-tional setting. In "high" areas, a tendency exists for the main coal bench to contain higher percentages of fusain and mineral matter. Within limits, some-what higher ash fusion temperatures appear to correlate with paleotopographic highs. As a result of these findings, critical examination of the paleotopography and related sediments is indicated in other areas and other coals. The Upper Freeport coal is quite variable both in thickness and composition in the Freeport and New Kensington quadrangles of Pennsylvania (Figure 1). The coal horizon in these quadrangles is marked either by a thin carbonaceous shale bed or by a single bed containing a variable number of partings (binders). The complex coal zone known locally as the "Double" or "Thick Freeport" contains the Upper Freeport Coal Bed at the base; but in addition, it has an overlying bone layer and an upper coal bed occasionally capped with a canneloid layer. The "Thick Freeport" often exceeds 90 inches in thickness, whereas the normal Upper Freeport coal usually varies between 34 and 50 inches.

Jan 1, 1961

By P. D. I. Honeyman

Changing trends in concentration, involving regrinding with the subsequent production of a finely divided, high-grade flotation product, presents a real problem to the modern copper smelter. In the treatment of such a material, handling difficulties are numerous and potential possible losses may be very great. In many plants, of course, preliminary roasting of the furnace charge remains an economical necessity. Under such circumstances, the operator has no alternative except to follow orthodox roaster reverberatory practice, though taking all possible precautions to avoid excessive dust losses and bad working conditions. In other plants, roasting is not only unnecessary but would be highly undesirable, and at best the charge would be merely dried before entering the reverberatory furnace. In the latter case the possibilities of raw charging loom large. The Miami plant of the International Smelting Co. handles the entire output of concentrates of the several mining companies operating in the Globe-Miami district. All of these companies produce a flotation concentrate which, at the Miami Copper Co. particularly, is all reground and is high in grade. In addition, the Inspiration Copper Co. ships a substantial tonnage of high-grade cement copper to the smelter from its leaching plant. Following the flow sheet of the original plant, all such material received was bedded, dried in Wedge furnaces and smelted in reverberatory furnaces. At times during the history of the plant it has been necessary to carry the drying operation further, to a partial roast, before reverberatory smelting. Since the charge contained over 80 per cent flotation concentrates, the handling of which in a dried condition was at best a dusty job, unusual precautions were taken to cut down dust losses. The Wedge furnace plant was equipped with a Cottrell treater and all hoppers and calcine cars were carefully designed to cut down dust loss in transferring the so-called calcine from hoppers to car and from car to furnace. In the furnace itself the dusting problem was a severe one. Arch erosion was very rapid and flues and waste-heat boilers rapidly filled up with a partly smelted flue dust.

Jan 1, 1934

By P. G. Mason

The upswing in the price of gold in 1979 prompted renewed interest in the Mercur gold property by Getty Oil Company, owner and operator, and Gold Standard Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah, currently retaining a 15% net profits interest. Extensive geological exploration work resumed to delineate the ore reserves, and metallurgical test work was initiated under the direction of A.H. Ross & Associates. This led to the development of an aqueous pressure oxidation process suitable for treatment of the refractory ores. Subsequent geostatistical studies revealed that the distribution of high refractory ore was less than previously estimated, and thus a higher return on investment could be realized if a direct carbon-in-leach process were used despite a sacrifice in overall recovery. This paper reviews the geological and metallurgical studies that led to this final process selection.

Jan 1, 1984

By Arthur Forsyth

A SEARCH through the available literature shows that the cobalt-nickel-silicon system has not been systematically studied. This seems rather odd because all three elements are fairly abundant and have better than average corrosion resistance; however, they have high melting points, which makes experimental work difficult. Cobalt and nickel form a continuous series of solid solutions and each metal dissolves about 7.5 per cent silicon. Many ternary alloys have been studied and the results have been published in a great many different ways, but to present such data in a short but clear and understandable manner is still a problem. The following pages describe the results of the study of 76 alloys from which the partial ternary diagram (Fig. 1) of the cobalt-nickel-silicon system has been drawn. The alloys were chosen according to the plan in Fig. la by taking definite ratios of cobalt and nickel, such as 70 Ni, 30 Co or 40 Ni, 60 Co, and adding silicon in various percentages. Each section was studied in detail by means of thermal analysis and microscopic examination, but only two of these detailed sections were thought necessary in the point perspective drawing to give a comprehensive picture of the liquidus, solidus and solid transformations that take place over the temperature ranges studied. Complete thermal analyses and microscopic data are given in Table 1.

Jan 1, 1940

By Louise Barton Freeman, Coleman D. Hunter

The total production of oil in Kentucky during the year 1943 reached 7,010,776 bbl., which is more than at any time since 1930. Of this total, 5,287,659 bbl. was produced from the counties west of the Cincinnati arch, 692,359 bbl. from the 18 new pools opened during the year, and 3,260,765 from the Smith Mills pool, which was discovered in August of 1942. This is an important increase in western Kentucky in spite of the low price of crude, and demonstrates effectively the desire of the industry to cooperate in meeting the increased demands made by the war. Western Kentucky Two deep tests were drilled in the Kentucky portion of the Mississippi Embayment this year. Both were drilled to test the St. Peter. One well, drilled in Marshall County by the Adams Oil and Gas Co., did not encounter any St. Peter sandstone but drilled 650 ft. of formation below the position of the St. Peter and above the true Knox dolomite. The other well, in Ballard County, was reported to have tested the St. Peter and to have been temporarily abandoned at 3069 ft. At this depth the well probably was stopped in about the same formation as the Marshall County well. No accurate information is available on the Ballard County well. Several new producing areas were added to the list of fields in the western Kentucky coal basin, in Daviess, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster Counties. The Smith Mills pool was enlarged and production was found in the McClosky (Ste. Genevieve) in addition to the Cypress sandstone from which much of the earlier production had been obtained. There was some interest during the year in testing the Devonian and Silurian formations in the area south and east of the western Kentucky coal basin. In the fall of 1943, a 15 to 20-bbl. well was drilled in Allen County and two more wells are now being drilled. The production was obtained from within a few feet of the base of the Chattanooga black shale, probably in the upper Silurian. One well in Simpson County was drilled completely through the Silurian section before it was abandoned. Several wells were drilled in Logan, Todd and Christian Counties to test the Devonian where it is thinned by removal of the upper formations before deposition of the Chattanooga shale. None of these wells was successful but several other locations are now being tested. The Silurian thins in like manner on the eastern flank of the coal basin as the crest of the Cincinnati arch is approached, and it is along this thinning edge that such fields as the LeGrande, Logsdon Valley, Magnolia, Bowling Green and the Barren County pools were developed. A number of wells were drilled around these old pools in an effort to extend them, some of which were successful. The wells listed this year in Larue, Hardin, Barren, Hart and Warren Counties were drilled in the search for other such fields.

Jan 1, 1944

By Louise Barton Freeman, Coleman D. Hunter

The total production of oil in Kentucky during the year 1943 reached 7,010,776 bbl., which is more than at any time since 1930. Of this total, 5,287,659 bbl. was produced from the counties west of the Cincinnati arch, 692,359 bbl. from the 18 new pools opened during the year, and 3,260,765 from the Smith Mills pool, which was discovered in August of 1942. This is an important increase in western Kentucky in spite of the low price of crude, and demonstrates effectively the desire of the industry to cooperate in meeting the increased demands made by the war. Western Kentucky Two deep tests were drilled in the Kentucky portion of the Mississippi Embayment this year. Both were drilled to test the St. Peter. One well, drilled in Marshall County by the Adams Oil and Gas Co., did not encounter any St. Peter sandstone but drilled 650 ft. of formation below the position of the St. Peter and above the true Knox dolomite. The other well, in Ballard County, was reported to have tested the St. Peter and to have been temporarily abandoned at 3069 ft. At this depth the well probably was stopped in about the same formation as the Marshall County well. No accurate information is available on the Ballard County well. Several new producing areas were added to the list of fields in the western Kentucky coal basin, in Daviess, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster Counties. The Smith Mills pool was enlarged and production was found in the McClosky (Ste. Genevieve) in addition to the Cypress sandstone from which much of the earlier production had been obtained. There was some interest during the year in testing the Devonian and Silurian formations in the area south and east of the western Kentucky coal basin. In the fall of 1943, a 15 to 20-bbl. well was drilled in Allen County and two more wells are now being drilled. The production was obtained from within a few feet of the base of the Chattanooga black shale, probably in the upper Silurian. One well in Simpson County was drilled completely through the Silurian section before it was abandoned. Several wells were drilled in Logan, Todd and Christian Counties to test the Devonian where it is thinned by removal of the upper formations before deposition of the Chattanooga shale. None of these wells was successful but several other locations are now being tested. The Silurian thins in like manner on the eastern flank of the coal basin as the crest of the Cincinnati arch is approached, and it is along this thinning edge that such fields as the LeGrande, Logsdon Valley, Magnolia, Bowling Green and the Barren County pools were developed. A number of wells were drilled around these old pools in an effort to extend them, some of which were successful. The wells listed this year in Larue, Hardin, Barren, Hart and Warren Counties were drilled in the search for other such fields.

Jan 1, 1944