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By B. F. Zwick

The entire production of oil in Ecuador so far has come from the Santa Elens Peninsula, Province of Guayas. Both the shallow fields of the northern and the deeper fields of the southern part of the peninsula have been in constant exploitation, though the former are of doubtful economic value. In Table I herewith, which commences with the total amounts produced by the various companies up to 1940, annual company totals are given for the succeeding years. The figures for 1944 have been partly estimated. Table 2 gives figures on casinghead gasoline. Shell Company of Ecuador (formerly known as Anglo-Saxon) has continued active exploration in the Oriente region east of the Andes, and during 1944 the Company's first wildcat well was spudded in. International Ecuadorean Petroleum Co. (formerly International Petroleum Co., Limited) has pursued an active exploration campaign since the latter part of 1939, and a drilling string was placed in operation about a year later. A second string of tools was added during 1943 and a third a few months ago. Ten wildcats, all dry, have been completed in this period, two wells are drilling at the present time and other locations are on the program. Seven of the wells thus far drilled are in the area between Guayaquil and the Santa Elena Peninsula, one up the Daule River beyond Balzar, one on Puna Island in the Guayas Estuary and one in the northern province of Esmeraldas. Both the present drilling wells are in the Guayaquil-Santa Elena zone. The situation in regard to concessions has changed during the past four years because I.E.P.C. has made its selections from the extensive Daule-Guayas Study Concession, as a result of which large tracts were returned to the Government; because of the expropriation of the holdings of the "Ecuapetrol," a German concern whose acreage has passed into other hands; the Peruvian-Ecuadorean boundary settlement, which has reduced Shell's holdings somewhat; and the transfer of most of the holdings of the Cia. Minero-Petrolera del Pacifico to I.E.P,C. The greater part

Jan 1, 1945

By W. W. Mullins, F. A. Nichols

Solutions are developed, assuming surface diffusion and both internal and external volume diffusion, for the relaxation of bodies slightly perturbed from spherical and cylindrical geometries. Combined with those previously published for the nearly planar case, these results provide a means of gaging the relative contributions of the two diffusional proc-cesses in any given case. It is shown that in all sintering experiments to date, and probably in any attainable in practice, surface diffusion has played the dominant role, although most previous authors have assumed otherwise. It is also shown that surface diffusion predominates in normal field-emission tip blunting and also for the coalescence of gas bubbles introduced into metals by a bombardment. The surface-diffusion solutions for a perturbed sphere are combined with previous results for volume diffusion to show that the inclusion of interface diffusion permits considerably larger spheres to develop in diffusion-controlled precipitate growth before the onset of instability. A mechanism is also proposed for the spheroidization of precipitate platelets as well as rods. In a previous paper1 the relaxation of a nearly plane surface to flatness by the combined action of the transport processes of viscous flow, evaporation-condensation (in a closed system), volume diffusion, and surface diffusion has been analyzed under the assumption that all surface properties are independent of orientation. In this treatment, criteria were developed for deciding which process predominates, and solutions valid in the latter stages of the sintering of small wires and particles to a plane were obtained. A numerical solution, valid throughout the entire particle-sintering process for the case of surface diffusion, was subsequently obtained by the present authors.' It was found that the analytic solution (which assumed small slopes everywhere) is accurate to within -10 pct when the maximum slope of the profile is less than 0.3; the wire-sintering problem has also been solved nu- merically for the case of surface diffusion and here again the results converge to the analytic small-slope solution at late stages of the process, the two solutions agreeing in this case to within 10 pct when the maximum slope of the profile is less than -0.6. The purpose of this paper is to extend the perturbation solutions to nearly spherical and nearly cylindrical geometries. We treat only the two principal diffusional processes, i.e., surface and volume, but for these geometries we discuss volume diffusion both inside and outside of the solid. Our results, when coupled with Mullins' solutions1 for nearly planar surfaces, provide criteria for gaging the relative contributions of surface and volume diffusion to the over-all transport process in three basic geometries. A very interesting feature in the cylindrical case is the occurrence of instability for longitudinal perturbations with wavelengths greater than the cylindrical circumference, a classical result. This instability of the cylindrical surface is applied to give a quantitative explanation for the often-observed "erratic" pore closure in the late stages of the sintering of wire compacts; also, the theory previously presented for the spheroidization of rod-shaped precipitates by surface (interface) diffusion' is expanded now to include volume diffusion inside and outside of the particle. The results for circumferential perturbations on a long cylinder allow quantitative estimates for gaging the relative importance of surface or volume diffusion in the early stages of the sintering of spheres or wires. The results here demonstrate clearly that surface diffusion has played a very important, if not dominant, role in all sintering experiments discussed in the literature, although the surface-diffusion contribution to the kinetics has usually been ignored. The results for the sphere (surface-diffusion case) are added to the results obtained previously by Mullins and sekerka3 concerning instabilities of a growing spherical precipitate particle (with interface diffusion disallowed) to obtain a general solution to this problem including interface diffusion. The inclusion of interface diffusion is found to increase significantly the range of stability of a growing spherical precipitate for typical metallurgical cases. The following assumptions are made: (i) the initial surface lies everywhere near and has a slope differing only slightly from that of the reference

Jan 1, 1965

By F. H. Wilson, E. W. Palmer

The solid solubility of iron in 2 to 10 pct cupro-nickels increases with temperature and nickel content. Property changes accompanying various heat treatments indicate typical precipitation hardening behavior. Iron content also affects softening temperature and sub-scale formation. These factors, as well as impingement corrosion resistance, influence the optimum iron content of commercial alloys. FOR many years Cu-Ni alloys have been used extensively in the form of tubes, pipes, and plates for the construction of salt-water lines and surface condensers on shipboard and in tidewater power stations. The 30 pct Ni alloy has been considered more resistant to rapidly flowing sea water than alloys of lower nickel content, and has been standard on ships of the U. S. Navy. Some ten years ago, the still better corrosion resistance obtained by modifying the 30 pct Ni alloy with approximately 0.5 pct Fe was recognized, and the iron-bearing alloy rapidly superseded the plain alloy as the standard material for severe service. In 1945, Tracy and Hungerford1 published a study of the effect of iron on the corrosion of various cupro-nickels in sea-salt solutions, and their data indicated that the 10 pct Ni alloy containing about 0.75 pct Fe was equivalent to the 30 pct Ni alloy containing 0.5 pct Fe. This was confirmed by LaQue in discussion of the above paper, and by results in an experimental condenser set up at the Kure Beach marine test station of The International Nickel Co., reported by Freeman and Tracy.' The 10 pct Ni iron-bearing alloy is now being very widely used in applications where the 30 pct Ni iron-bearing alloy was formerly considered standard. While this "substitution" has undoubtedly been stimulated by the present extreme shortage of nickel, it must be emphasized that it involves no loss of service performance, and would have occurred anyway in the course of time, for economic reasons. In view of the increasing use of the 10 pct alloy, it seems desirable to make generally available the results of several investigations of Cu-Ni-Fe alloys carried out in the Metallurgical Research Laboratory of The American Brass Co. in recent years. The present paper, deals with the constitution of these alloys in the copper-rich corner of the system, and with the variations in hardness and tensile properties resulting from the heat treatment of alloys containing various amounts of iron. Most of this work is concerned with alloys containing 10 pct Ni. With over about 0.75 pct fe, the 10 pct Ni alloy is suscep- Alloys Several series of cupro-nickel alloys containing iron were used in these investigations. Most of them were prepared in the laboratory, but two samples of commercially fabricated alloys were included. Series A—Nominally 2 and 5 pct Ni, each with 0 to 1.5 pct Fe. Series B—Nominally 10 pct Ni with 0.1 to 0.4 pct Fe. Series C—Nominally 1.0 pct Ni with 0 to 2 pct Fe. Series D—Nominally 10 pct Ni with 3 to 5 pct Fe. Series E—Nominally 10 pct Ni with 1 and 1.5 pct Fe.

Jan 1, 1953

By N. A. Gokcen, J. Chipman

A revised treatment of the authors' published data eliminates the complex relation previously proposed between concentration of silicon and activity coefficient of oxygen in liquid iron. Revised values of the thermodynamic properties of the liquid solution are presented. IN a recent experimental study of the reaction SiO2 (s) = Si+ 2O; Kf, = [% Si] [% O]² [1] the authors' found a substantially constant equilibrium product in liquid iron at 1600°C of 2.8x10-5 They also reported extensive data on the reactions: SiO2 (s) + 2H2 (8) = Si- + 2H2O (g); K'2= [% Si] (H2O/H2 [2] and H, (g) + 0 = H2O (g); K'3 =( H2 O [31 (H2) [%O] From the results on reaction 3 and earlier data of Dastur² on this same reaction in the absence of silicon, they determined the activity coefficient of oxygen, f0, on the basis of the definition K3 = (H2O)/ (H2)f0 [% 0] where K, is the equilibrium constant and f0, is taken as unity in the pure Fe-0 system. Similarly values of fsi were deduced from results on reaction 2. In a more recent study" of analogous reactions in the system Fe-A1-0, it was found impossible to reconcile the results on reaction 3 with Dastur's data; accordingly the latter were ignored and the equilibrium results were extrapolated to find a value of K, at zero concentration of aluminum. This procedure failed to locate the cause of the discrepancy but it did yield reasonable values of activity coefficients. It also avoided introduction of the complex empirical relation between the oxygen activity coefficient and the concentration of the added element. The same type of discrepancy exists for system Fe-Si-0.' In the earlier paper an attempt was made to fit both sets of data by a single curved line (Fig. 6 of ref. l), the form of which is contrary to the theoretical requirement of a finite slope at infinite dilution. In the light of experience on the Fe-A1-0 system the discrepancy must be recognized as one which can be resolved only by more refined measurements. Accordingly Figs. 6 and 10 are retracted. It is pointed out also that until the discrepancy is resolved Figs. 7, 8, and 11 are subject to some uncertainty. Qualitatively the following conclusions still appear valid: 1—The activity coefficient of oxygen is reduced by addition of silicon. 2—In dilute solutions the activity coefficient of silicon increases with its concentration. 3—With respect to equilibrium in reaction 1, the above effects are approximately compensating. The discussion of K'1 in the previous paper requires no revision. It was pointed out that the constancy of the product [% Si] [% 0]² ndicated a compensating effect of the activity coefficients of silicon and oxygen. Therefore, as a very good approximation, K1 = K'1 and the following average values are suggested both for K, and K', at the temperatures 1550°, 1600°, and 1650", respectively, 1.0x10-", 2.8~10-" and 5.5 ~lo-'. Revision of the thermodynamic treatment is necessitated by the recent appearance of new data, based on a combination of combustion and solution calorimetry,' which yields for the heat of formation of low-cristobalite from the elements, the value —209,330 ±250 cal per mol at 25°C. This is about 4000 cal larger than the value previously accepted. The new value for cristobalite is used, together with Kelley's tables of high-temperature heat contents" and entropies and with Korber and Oelsen's' heat of fusion of silicon to obtain the following equation for the standard free energy of cristobalite in the temperature range 1700" to 2000°K: Si (1) + 02 (g) = Si02 (crist.); ?F° = -217,700 + 47.OT [4] The free energy of solution of 0, in liquid iron is:8 O2 (g) = 20 (in Fe); AF° = -55,860 - 1.14T [5] and these two equations are combined to give: Si (1) + 20 = SiO, (crist.); AF° = -161,840 + 48.14T [6] ?F°1873 = -71,700 cal. From the experimental value of K, = 2.8x10-5, Si + 20 = SiO2 (crist.); ?F°1873 = -39,000 cal. [7] The combination of Eqs. 6 and 7 yields the free energy change when liquid silicon dissolves in iron to form the dilute solution of unit activity (1 pct). Si (1) = Si; ?F°1873 = -32,700 cal. [8] The heat effect in this process according to Korber and Oelsen' is an evolution of 28,500 cal per gram

Jan 1, 1954

By W. O. Philbrook

An engineering analysis indicates that the coke rate in present blast-furnace practice is set not by chemical or thermal needs but to give adequate charge permeability for economical driving rates. An equation showing interrelations among pressure drop, gas flow, and charge characteristics has been derived. Flooding conditions and the location of the fusion zone are discussed. Maximum ore size is probably limited by chemical re-ducibility rather than by heat transfer. THE intention of this paper is to show that the ].imitations on the production rate and coke requirement of the iron blast furnace are not primarily chemical or thermal in nature but are related to characteristics of the burden and operation that govern gas flow, heat transfer, and stock movement. A semiquantitative analysis will be developed in terms of standard engineering principles to give a useful picture of the relative importance of physical and mechanical factors in contrast with the chemical features of the process that are more commonly emphasized. Most of the details of calculation have been omitted in the interest of brevity and to avoid submerging the rnain points in a sea of arithmetic. Numerical values have been arrived at by objective methods from reported operating data or by reasonable estimates of material properties where exact data are lacking and then tested to see how well they fit practice, rather than by working backward to find what assumptions are needed to give the desired answers. The analysis is oversimplified in many ways because exact engineering relations have not yet been studied for bed distributions as complex as are known to exist in the blast-furnace stock column. One objective of this paper is to show that the blast furnace, in spite of its complexity, can be at- tacked by engineering methods in the hope that this viewpoint will stimulate the kind of research needed for a more exact treatment. The basic ideas and many of the conclusions presented are qualitatively well known. A careful literature survey to credit the source of all observations not original to the author would indeed be voluminous, and such has not been attempted. T. L. Joseph's Howe Memorial Lecture' gives an excellent background of what is known about the internal workings of a blast furnace. Other important reference works or sources of specific information will be noted. It is hoped that the present paper will contribute something new, in method of attack and interpretation, that will aid in a clearer understanding of how to operate the blast furnace to best advantage. Factors Limiting Production and Coke Rates The rate of combustion of coke in a blast furnace, as in any fuel bed, is exactly proportional to the rate at which air is supplied. It is axiomatic, then, that the production rate of a furnace is limited by the rate at which it will take wind, i.e., burn coke, and the amount of coke that must be burned at the tuyeres to make a ton of iron of suitable composition. These two possible limiting factors will be considered briefly in the order mentioned. One common restriction on wind rate is flue-dust production. Since the volume of top gas is nearly proportional to the blast volume (by a factor of about 1.35 on a dry basis), an increased wind rate causes a correspondingly increased linear velocity of top gas in the throat of the furnace. The higher

Jan 1, 1955

By J. F. Shea, O. F. Tangel

Battelle Memorial Institute participated in a program for the General Services Administration aimed at developing a nickel-cobalt separation process that could be integrated in the Nicaro nickel plant. At the time the programwas being carried out, the Nicaro process was a straight-through operation, in which the ore was reduced and leached, after which the pregnant solution was boiled to produce a so-called "bulk precipitate" which contained virtually all of the nickel and cobalt which had been dissolved in the leaching step. The weight ratio of nickel to cobalt in Nicaro ore is approximately 15 to 20:l. The weight ratio of nickel to cobalt in the finished product had to be 100:l or higher to meet specifications. Because the Nicaro process embodied no nickel-cobalt separation step, the only way that a bulk precipitate of the specified nicke1:cobalt ratio could be produced was to so adjust roasting and leaching conditions that nickel would be selectively leached and most of the cobalt would be rejected with the tailings. The required selectivity, however, was achieved at the expense of nickel recovery, which was 5 or more per cent less than might have been obtained with the existing equipment, utilities, man power, etc., had selectivity been no object. The over-all purpose of the program was to develop a separation step that could be fitted into or onto the Nicaro facilities and which would permit the manufacture of a product that would meet the desired specifications and still permit the recovery of a maximum amount of nickel. Battelle suggested that this might be accomplished by reprocessing off-specification bulk precipitate and specifically suggested the process based on ammonium sulphate leaching followed by hydrogen reduction of the leach solution according to techniques developed commercially by Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited. Such a process would not only satisfy the objectives of the research but would present two additional advantages. (1) It would produce a separate cobalt product which could be further processed into metal, alloys, oxides, or salts. (2) It would yield nickel in metallic form which might be more generally marketable and command a slightly higher price per unit of nickel than the Nicaro oxide product. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS Figure 1 is a flowsheet of the process. The essential features are: (1) Extraction of about 97 per cent of the nickel and about 85 per cent of the cobalt from bulk precipitate by a principal leach with ainmonium sulphate solution (Step A). Extraction of virtually all of

Jan 1, 1961

By J. L. Jorstad

The hypereutectic Al-Si alloys 390 and A390 have wear characteristics superior to any of the more common aluminum casting alloys. This excellent wear resistance, coupled with good mechanical properties, high hardness, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, has made these alloys candidates for the all-aluminum internal combustion engine, the application for which they were primarily developed. A390 alloy is intended for sand and permanent mold casting, and requires a lower iron ccxltent (0.5 pct maximum) than its die casting companion 390 alloy (0.6 to 1.1 pct Fe). The 17 pct nominal silicon in these alloys provides sufficient quantities of the hard primary silicon phase to assure a high degree of wear resistance, yet little enough of this phase, to minimize the casting and m achining problems associated in the past with the hypereutectic alloys. The mechanical and physical properties of 390 and A390 alloys are competitive with the best of the common aluminum casting alloys with the exception of low ductility. This low ductility is not considered a detriment, since in many applications these alloys replace cast iron. Corrosion resistance is similar to the standard alloys 380 and 333. Numerous parts, of varying degrees of complexity, have been cast of alloys 390 and A390, including engine blocks and heads. The deviations from normal good handling and casting practices that are required for the alloys are those associated with the presence of the primary silicon. To obtain optimum strength and machinability, the molten alloys should be treated with phosphorus to refine the primary silicon phase. Care must be exercised to properly control the pouring temperature and rate in order to minimize primary silicon growth and segregation. AUTOMOTIVE engineers have for years recognized the advantages of lighter weight and better heat transfer that aluminum could offer as material of construction for engine blocks. These advantages alone, however, are insufficient justification for acceptance of aluminum engines by the automotive industry. To be acceptable, an aluminum engine first must pass all tests to which cast-iron engines are subjected, and, in addition, must represent no cost penalty in manufacturing. None of the conventional aluminum casting alloys have sufficient wear resistance to withstand the tests to which cast iron is subjected as a cylinder bore material, and recent attempts to manufacture aluminum engines with cast-in-place iron sleeves could not compete costwise with the equivalent cast-iron engine. The prerequisite to an acceptable aluminum engine seemed to be a casting alloy with a high degree of wear resistance that would eliminate the necessity of cast-in iron sleeves or liners. The hypereutectic A1-Si alloys 390 and A390 have met this challenge.' Combined with modified pistons and a patented cylinder bore surface finish,2 the performance of these alloys in more than 1300 cold start and cold scuff tests, over 3500 hr of dynamometer wear and endurance tests, and more than 350,000 miles of road tests leaves no doubt as to the feasibility of running on bare aluminum cylinder bores. ALLOY DEVELOPMENT The desirable characteristics of the hypereutectic A1-Si alloys have been recognized for some time. Their excellent wear resistance and low coefficient of thermal expansions have been used to advantage in the production of diesel-type pistons in Europe and to a limited extent in this country. The major contributor to the good wear resistance of these alloys is the extremely hard primary silicon phase in the microstructure. Although the percent silicon used experimentally has been much higher, most commercial alloys have ranged from about 14 to 25 pct. Generally, as the silicon content is increased, wear resistance increases, and the coefficient of thermal expansion decreases. With increases in silicon, however, machinability and cast-ability tend to suffer. The development of a satisfactory aluminum engine block material at Reynolds involved the testing and evaluation of many alloys, covering a wide range of silicon contents and numerous variations of iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, and other alloying additions. Castability, mechanical and physical prop-

Jan 1, 1969

By Lewis Blanchard Brown

It is my purpose in the following paper to describe the south-central part of Siberia, with special reference to its geology and the mineral deposits. This region is known politically as the Achinsk and Marinsk districts of the Tomsk Government. It is situated among the Altai mountains, in. ]at. 50° to 55O n and long. 87O to 93O E., not far from the northern frontier of Mongolia, and is divided as follows: Mining Districts.—(1) The Tomsk mining district, including the political districts of Altai (belonging to the private crown lands of the Russian Emperor) and Marinsk; (2) the AchinskMinusinsk mining district, including the political districts of Achinsk and Minusinsk; and (3) the North Yenisei mining district, situated in the northern part of the Yenisei political district of the Yenisei Government. Fig. 1 is a map of the Tomsk mining provinces, showing the useful mineral-deposits, excepting those of gold, and giving the routes of the railroads and post-roads connecting the various districts. Political Divisions.—The Tomsk Government is sub-divided into seven " oojesdy " or districts, as follows: Barnaul; Biisk; Kuznetsk; Kainsk; Kolyvan; Marinsk; Narim; and the Altai district (private land, as above). The Yenisei Government is sub-divided into five "oojesdy" or districts, as follows : Erasnojarsk ; Kansk; Yenisei; Achinsk; Minusinsk. Concerning the geology of the region, in addition to the record of my own observations, references will be made to the works of earlier writers. These have been consulted for the purpose of comparison, as regards the districts which I have actually traversed, and for the purpose of completing my account of such portions as I have not been able to visit.

Jan 1, 1904

By W. McA. Johnson

The object of this paper is to describe the several necessary characteristics of the zinc-retorting charge and to show how by certain improved methods, the large excess of coal, over that theoretically required, can be reduced, thereby effecting an increase in the smelting capacity of a retort plant as well as other economies. In the southwestern zinc works a charge of roasted zinc ore with a side mixture of carbonates and silicates, analyzing on the average 50 per cent. Zn, is mixed with 55 or more per cent. of its weight of a mixture of coal and coke analyzing 60 to 70 per cent. fixed carbon. The ore is of varying fineness and the coal and coke are usually crushed in a semi-moist condition through a 3/8-in. screen. With ores of a slaggy nature, this coal proportion is increased, sometimes to as much as 100 per cent. of the weight of the ore. With carbonate ores, or where anthracite screenings with higher carbon content are cheap enough, the percentage of reducing agent is cut to 45 per cent. or even somewhat lower. The average charge per retort for a monthly run of a plant on ore, as distinguished from retorts on blue-powder, ladle-skimmings and other between-products, runs from 60 to 66 lb., with a mean of 63 lb. for the Southwest with standard retorts of 8 1/2-in. inside diameter and 50 in. long inside, using roasted sulphide ores. Conditions will change these figures, but 40 lb. of ore per cubic foot of retort space is, I believe,'an average in the better-operated plants. Since the rise in the price of spelter, the tendency has been to overcharge. To remove the slag that is formed when retorts are overcharged, extra men are put on to "gum-chisel" the retorts to prevent "set" furnaces and "butchered retorts." Taking the above conditions as premises, we find that from four to six times the amount of coal necessary for the reduction is used, as is evidenced by the fact that the residues analype as high as 35 per cent, fixed carbon. There are good reasons why this excess of fixed carbon must be used and perhaps these can be best explained by a description of the metallurgical requisites of a zinc charge. We may enumerate these as follows: 1. High reducing power, especially at the end of the shift, to reduce any carbon dioxide to monoxide and bring about a good condensation

Jan 1, 1918

By V. Koump, T. F. Perzak, R. G. Olsson

Jan 1, 1965

By H. E. Rorschach

Oil-field activities in Oklahoma made 1936 the best year since 1930. Approximately 2800 wells were completed, an increase of about 20 per cent over 1935. Purchasers' reports filed with the Corporation Commission showed a total of 200,240,252 bbl. of oil purchased from leases in 1936. The assembly of a complete table of the oil fields of the state was not achieved, as many of the early records of operators and pipe-line companies are not complete, and data for the older fields will perhaps never be fully tabulated. Table 1 includes all of the new fields and most of the important fields of the State of Oklahoma. The outstanding developments of the year were: the discovery of rich Wilcox-sand production in the Moore pool; the spectacular drilling campaign in the Capitol or Mansion extension in the Oklahoma City pool; the surprising extension of the Olympic pool and the Hunton lime zone in the Fitts pool; and the failure to find more Ordovician production in southern Oklahoma. Wildcat discoveries, which were on a par with 1935, resulted in the discovery of such promising pools as Billings-Wilcox, North Bethel, North Earlsboro and North Lucien. The Fitts-Upper Simpson, Edmond, Jesse, Keokuk Falls and South Burbank pools underwent considerable development. Fitts Pool.—The Fitts area in Pontotoc County was greatly extended during the year and was the leader in drilling activity in the state. The producing limits were pushed to the east and north and the development of the Hunton lime horizon was outstanding. In the Upper Simpson zone 162 wells were completed; 137 in the Hunton lime zone and 26 in the Wilcox zone. The Oil Creek zone, a sand body below the Wilcox member, was discovered by the Magnolia-Statler No. 3 well located in the 1/4. 1/4 of sec. 28-2N.-7E. Moore Pool.—The Moore pool, in Cleveland County, which was opened in 1935 by the Sinclair Prairie-Franklin Community No. 1 well, surprised the oil industry when the Sinclair Prairie-Marvel No. 1 well, on Apr. 1, 1936, discovered a rich body of Wilcox sand below the distillate

Jan 1, 1937

By R. Ward Grosz

Reasonable and timely solutions to the complicated mathematical calculations involved in the mine planning, economic evaluation and slope stability studies related to the Ruth Mine would not have been feasible without the modern digital computers. The Ruth Mine was a prosperous underground copper operation in east central Nevada from 1915 to 1948, when rising mining costs finally exceeded the value of the ore. A substantial reserve of porphyry copper remained in the ground, but until recently all economic evaluations indicated that it was at best a marginal operation and a relatively poor risk of capital. There has been a steady progress in improving all aspects of surface mining since the first steam shovel started stripping overburden; however, developments in just two rather specialized areas proved to be critical in changing the Ruth Mine from a reserve of mineralized rock to an economically attractive orebody. One involved the progress made in recent years in the science of slope stability. Applying the latest techniques in this field to mine planning resulted in reducing the stripping ratio from 6.0:l to 4. 2:l. The other major factor was the efficiency and cost performance of large capacity haulage trucks which made it feasible to go down over 1100 ft. in an open pit and recover ore with a high stripping ratio economically.

Jan 1, 1969

By K. A. ACKLEY

The petroleum industry experienced a year of satisfactory accomplishment in Oklahoma during 1945. Crude oil production was increased, a new record for recent years was established in well completions, and refinery operations were maintained at a maximum level. Daily average crude oil production increased to 382,000 bbl., reflecting a 13.5 per cent gain compared with production during the previous pear. Total wells drilled during 1945 amounted to 2556, a gain of 28.7 per cent over 1944 Refinery throughout averaged 187,500 bbl. daily, an increase of approximately 4 percent over the preceding year.

Jan 1, 1946

By A. W. Hahn

USE of gold leaf goes back to biblical and even to prehistoric times. Both gold and silver, as well as other metals, were employed in illustrating or illuminating manuscripts. The medieval monks also used bronze powders. Metals were subdivided as finely as possible by mechanical methods, or by granulation and then were pounded into finely divided flakes. Substances such as honey have also been employed, since early times to keep the flakes of metal apart during grinding. Stearic acid is a more modern agent used in flaking aluminum and other metals. Finely divided "blue powder" is a by-product in retorting zinc ores, and contains from 78 to 90 per cent of zinc metal. This has been used as a precipitant for precious metals in the cyanide process and for chemical reduction processes. The making of zinc dust by atomizing is a step well known in electrolytic zinc plants. The Thermit process of Goldschmidt also requires the use of finely divided aluminum.

Jan 1, 1937

By G. B. Gould, F. M. Gibson

IN DECEMBER, 1934, the joint Committee on Fuel Values, of the American Institute of Minim and Metallurgical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, submitted a preliminary report, which briefly stated its conclusion that it was not possible to devise any formula for the valuation of coal, based upon the various physical and chemical properties, that would be generally applicable. That report also listed those chemical and physical properties of coal that are generally recognized to have some effect on its use in steam plants, and those physical characteristics of steam plants which affect, in one way or another the relative importance of the properties of coal used in them. Since then, the Committee has considered and discussed in greater detail the interrelationship of the properties of coal and plant characteristics. The conclusions of the Committee are summarized below, with certain recommendations regarding engineering procedure, which will promote the collection of more easily correlated observations with respect to this subject, and thus advance more rapidly the accumulation of data capable of general application.

Jan 1, 1936

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,' 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental Lurig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.2 In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,' 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental Lurig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.2 In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947

By Edward H. Robie

AT a recent meeting of the AIME Board there was considerable discussion of a suggestion that companies should be more interested in promoting AIME membership among their employes. The advocate of this idea argued that companies benefit greatly if their employes are active AIME members, so even on purely a selfish basis they should use various means to encourage membership. Also he argued that companies in general make no contribution to the support of the AIMS although benefiting from its work, so should not object to making more of a contribution, financial or otherwise, than they do. One Director stated that an investigation had developed the fact that a large majority of members felt it unwise for employers to pay the initiation fees or dues of employes. They felt that AIMS membership should be on a purely personal basis; that the rewards of active membership were sufficient so that it is a good investment for a man in developing his own professional stature, presumably resulting in an increase in salary sooner, or in greater amount, than would otherwise be the case. If an employer paid a member's dues or initiation fee the member would take less interest in the Institute. But this Director felt that an employer should otherwise encourage his employes to join the Institute, attend its meetings, and write papers based on company work for presentation and publication. Another Director reported that his company pays the expenses of AIME members in its employ to meetings; the company also encourages nonmembers to attend AIME meetings but does not pay their expenses unless they present papers of interest to the company. Another Director, representing a supplier, stated that his company's policy was to send some of its staff to all AIME meetings at which papers of interest were to be presented or at which valuable contacts could be made.

Jan 1, 1952

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,1 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental rig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.* In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947

By W. M. Mobley

The coal industry in Alabama, centered in Birmingham, has pioneered coal-bene-ficiation practice in the United States. The nature of the coal seams and mining methods employed have necessitated use of equipment and methods best adapted to the local conditions. Although all of the 30 or more coal seams now being mined in the state receive beneficiation, only the three most important producers of coking coals, the Pratt, Mary Lee and Black Creek, are discussed in detail. Nature of the seams, washability characteristics and equipment used are given as examples of the extent of work and progress in this field. The coal seams in Alabama are relatively thin and pitching, making mining difficult and expensive. Most of them are characterized by thin partings of rock or shale in the seam itself, as well as laminations of bone and rash. Mechanical mining methods have increased the occlusions from roof and floor to such an extent that nearly all the coal mined in the state must receive some treatment before it can be put on the market. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1943,1 18,129,792 tons of coal were mined in the state and 14,364,177 tons, or 79.2 per cent, received treatment. Excluding from the total the 1,223,014 tons produced by small wagon mines and the hand-picked lump coal, the amount re- ceiving beneficiation would be more than 90.00 per cent. This is, by far, greater than in any other coal-producing state. The earliest record of coal beneficiation in Alabama was the installation in 1890 of an experimental rig washer by Alexander Cunningham, for the Sloss Iron and Steel Co. at its blast furnace in Birmingham.* In 1894 the Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. introduced the English Robinson washer, a combination of a hydraulic classifier and centrifugal machine. Erskine Ramsay, who has contributed so much to the coal industry, saw its possibilities as well as its mechanical defects and soon had his inventive mind at work. He added a sludge tank of his own design, and many Robinson-Ramsay washers were installed in Alabama and other states. The Stewart jig appeared in 1900, followed by the Montgomery jig in 1910 and both have found extensive use. Increased interest in this field led to new designs, such as the American, Elmore, Burke and Faust. The first Baum-type Norton jig was operated in 1930 and within the last five years six large installations of this type have been made by the McNally-Pitts-burg, Jeffrey and Link-Belt Companies. Wet-washing tables were introduced in 1922 but not extensively used until recently. The two most popular types are the Deister-Overstrom and Deister Plat-O. The coal-cleaning equipment used in Alabama has been relatively simple, yet efficient, but as the amount of impurities in the raw coal has been increased by mechanical mining and labor costs have become higher, much interest has been shown in sand cones, froth flotation and

Jan 1, 1947