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By P. Pietrokowsky

RECENTLY a comprehensive investigation of the various sigma binary alloys was published by Duwez and Baen.1 It was shown that the following conditions are necessary for the formation of the sigma phase: (1) the difference in atomic diameters of the two alloying metals must not be more than about 8 pct; (2) of the two elements which form sigma, one must exhibit a body-centered cubic structure while the second metal must be face-centered cubic, at least in one of its allotropic forms. In addition, a tetragonal unit cell was proposed and powder patterns of six sigma phases were indexed for d spacings greater than 1.640 kx. Since the indexing, based on tetragonal symmetry, led to only fair agreement, the possibility of sigma being orthorhombic was investigated. Various methods for indexing orthorhombic powder patterns are de- scribed in the literature.' The method used in this investigation was a graphical examination of the differences in values of sin' 9 for the adjacent lines of the powder diffraction pattern. This method led to a complete indexing of the Cr-Co (60-40) pattern. Because of the strong similarity between the various sigma alloys, it was then possible to assign indexes to the patterns of Fe-Cr (50-50), Fe-Cr-Mo (30-30-40), Fe-V (50-50), Co-V (50-50), and Ni-V (50-50). The values of sin' 9 and indexes of the six sigma alloys, together with visually estimated intensities, are presented in table 1. In general, the similitude between the six patterns is quite good. For spacings greater than 1.75 kx a few differences are noticeable. In the Ni-V pattern, no (320) exists and the two strong lines (030) and (031) are separated by only two lines of lower intensity, unlike any of the other sigma patterns. However, very little is known about the Ni-V phase diagram and it is possible that the equal atomic percentage composition in this system lies in a two-phase region. At lower spacings there is a close analogy between the patterns. The planes

Jan 1, 1951

By M. N. Short

It is almost self-evident that the student of geology depends for his education in geology only in small measure upon his own observation. His chief sources of information are lectures and personal instruction from teachers, and the geological literature. Of these, the literature is by far the most important. The total geological knowledge available to the geologist of today is substantially that which is on the printed page, and no more than that. There are many geologists of outstanding rank who during the course of a busy and useful professional career have accumulated valuable geological knowledge. This, however, is never available to the profession, owing to the disinclination of these geologists to write or to the refusal of their employers to allow the results of their work to be published. With the passing of these geologists, their accumulated knowledge is irretrievably lost. In many mining districts the operating companies are not averse to the publication of geological information gathered by their engineering and geological staffs, but for various reasons this information is not published. However, when a public survey geologist goes into the district this information is placed at his disposal and eventually is published. But for the intervention of a disinterested public scientist, this information would have been buried in company files. In the last analysis, the teachers themselves depend largely upon the printed page for the knowledge they pass on to the student. Without geological literature, then, the instruction of geological students would be almost impossible. There is no .question that, as a whole, geologists who are on the public payroll have to their credit far more contributions to literature than have either teachers or professional geologists, whether the latter be independent or in the employ of private corporations. The very fact that geologists are upon the public payroll places them under obligation to make available to the public the results of their endeavors. They must either prepare these results for publication or they must furnish data or otherwise aid their colleagues to publish their results. The success or failure of a public geological survey depends entirely on the

Jan 1, 1935

By Amos L. Beaty

The oil industry can prosper only if crude production is not excessive. This is true for several reasons. In the first place, the marketing branch of the business is so highly competitive that there is little room for profits in it. There are too many service stations, too many middle men or jobbers, too many refiners eager to press their products upon the market. And the battle is between the strong. If any money is being made in oil today it is by small marketers who buy products from the refining companies and sell on guaranteed margins. In the second place, refineries are overbuilt. There is a large surplus refining capacity. If refined stocks were drawn down they could and would be replenished in short time on short notice. This excessive refining capacity is not serious, however, if the supply of crude is limited to trade requirements. True, it may reflect upon the intelligence of the industry, but if there were a shortage of crude for a few years refining capacities would be readjusted. In the meantime no great harm could result from some idle capacity. It requires no computation to see that refiners could not produce surplus stocks of products from a short supply of crude. I have in mind, of course, the increased yields from cracking. Allowance must be made for that. Still, the picture is the same; less crude is required. I think we can have prosperity in the oil business if too much crude is not produced. A proper limit at this point would be felt all the way down the line. It would slow the refiner and slow the marketer inevitably. Once this constant pressure to make more and sell more is off, operations will be normal and there will be some return on investments. Peices in Relation to Production Potential production at this time is very large, and this condition has existed for many months. As a result the price of crude is low. It is below the average cost of production. Nevertheless, if restraints were withdrawn actual production would immediately increase and the situation would become even worse than it is now. Eventually, of course, the

Jan 1, 1932

By Henry P. Ehrlinger

The Alta and St. Louis mines of the Alta Mines, Inc., produce a somewhat oxidized ore with a talc gangue that presents quite a problem in milling. For several years the mill recoveries were relatively low and there seemed to be no cure for this condition even with increasing the various collecting agents and frothers to two or three times of what they should be. The usual alibi of "oxidized ore" was given as the reason for these results and the matter stood there for some time until these investigations were started. Flowsheet As a brief outline of the flowsheet the ore is crushed to minus I in. in a Telsmith jaw crusher and then fed to a 64½ Marcy grate mill. The resulting product from the grate mill is passed over a trommel where the coarse particles (plus 7 mesh) are returned to the grinding circuit through the classifier. The under 7-mesh pulp is passed over two Denver mineral jigs where a high grade concentrate is produced, thence over two Wilfley tables where a table concentrate is produced and about 80 pct of the oxide lead recovered. The tailings from these tables are pumped back to the classifier and after classification the 30 pct pulp density product, which overflows the lip, is passed into a series of 10 Denver economy flotation cells where a lead-copper concentrate is produced. Three products are made and shipped to the smelter termed jig, table and float concentrates. Results with various Reagents In March of this year work was started on the metallurgical problems of the mill and, as is shown in Table I, the results obtained were not too efficient. Tests were run with various reagent combinations that were recommended for ores of this nature but there was no appreciable effect on the recoveries. The grades of the flotation concentrates were reduced by the insoluble picked up and retained by these more powerful collectors and frothers. Results with "Metso" In past work on ores of this type the use of "Metso" had improved gold and lead recoveries, but no effect on the silver and copper recoveries had been noted. To

Jan 1, 1949

By W. G. Wender

The North Central Texas district, as known to the oil fraternity, is the area producing from sands and limes of Pennsylvanian age, roughly embracing the territory lying between Fort Worth and Abilene in an east-west line, and between the Red River and the Llano Mountains in a north-south line. The history of oil development in North Central Texas during the year 1927 is briefly reviewed in the following paragraphs. Brown County New discoveries and development in Brown County centered mainly around the Fry pool, located in the west central portion of the county. Important discoveries for the year were: Shoupe No. 1 John Byler, discovery well of the Byler pool, located 2 miles south of the Fry pool which camc in early in February, 1927, at 1262 ft. for 90 bbl. in the Fry sand of upper Strawn (Pennsylvanian) age. Rosenfield No. 1 P. Davis, discovery well of the Smith-Ellis pool located 1 1/2 miles northeast of the Fry pool, came in March 7, in the Fry sand from 1277 to 1279 ft. for 30 bbl. initial. Pandem Oil Corpn. No. 1 Mrs. T. Hutton, located 1 mile east of the Smith-Ellis pool, came in in December in the Fry sand from 1119 to 1130 ft. for 45 barrels. The Fry pool passed its daily production peak of 25,000 bbl. during the first part of June, and declined to a daily production of 5100 hhl. by the close of the year. The oil recovery from the Fry pool up to Jan. 1, 1928, slightly exceeded 4,000,000 bbl., averaging 4700 bbl. to the acre. over the entire pool. The Smith-Ellis pool passed its daily production peak of 5300 bbl. in Octohcr, 1927, and dropped to 3600 bbl. by the close of the year. The possibilities of the Byler pool will be unknown until the area is fully drilled up. In the Blake pool, production passed 2,500,-000 bbl. for the year. The per acre recovery in this pool up to lkc. 31, averaged slightly over 5000 barrels.

Jan 1, 1928

By S. H. Ash

THE increasing need for the products of our mines, mills, and processing plants, the loss of mine manpower to plants other than those concerned with the mineral industry, and the drafting of our younger men into military service have created an acute situation in many places as to workers and production. This, in turn, has focused attention on the need for conserving manpower by conserving the health and life of our mining people. Health A world-wide tendency is noticeable in the mineral industry toward protecting the health of workmen,-particularly younger workers, as well as older workers who can continue to produce in many places where manpower is lacking. This matter was emphasized at the Geneva Labor Conference for Coal Mines at the Committee's fourth session, held in Geneva, Switzerland, May 7 through 19, 1951. Papers concerning the health of workers were presented at the annual meetings of the mining sections of the National Safety Council, the Coal Mine Inspectors' Institute of America, the American Public Health Association, and other organizations. Safety Conferences Without exception, the attendance at mining-safety conferences in widely separated places throughout the country during the year was the largest to date. What is needed at the safety meetings throughout the country is more-widespread attendance by those who can sell the idea to the workers that they are the focal point in accident prevention and that safety is not going to be achieved alone or even in part by laws, decrees, or commands, but by quiet influence, unconscious suggestion, and personal' guidance. If these are acquired by the workmen, a safe environment and ample, capable supervision supplied by management, accidents will be fewer and less severe. Many safety conferences attempt to develop the foregoing idea by enumerating and describing training programs for supervisors and workers alike. Nothing can replace a course in first aid for all persons employed at any mine or plant as an introductory and basic step to a successful safety program. Even in this, the shoe must fit the foot, rather than applying the order do this or else. In first-aid

Jan 1, 1952

By Kendall E. Born

Production of crude oil in Tennessee during 1937 was slightly over 37,000 bbl., an 85 per cent increase over the preceding year and the highest since 1928. Closer cooperation between the operators and the State Division of Geology has resulted in more accurate data than have been possible for the past few years. Such cooperation is most desirable, especially in this state, which has no law requiring the filling of drilling permits, logs, and production figures. The increased production for the year has resulted from discoveries of four small pools in the shallow district of Clay and near-by counties. The most promising of these began production late in 1937 and consequently has had little effect on the 1937 total. These discoveries, along with renewed activities in some of the older areas, have increased the production for Clay and adjoining counties from less than 5000 bbl. during 1936 to over 21,000 bbl. in 1937. The Mississippi lime production in Scott and Morgan Counties declined from 16,335 bbl. in 1936 to 14,644 bbl. during 1937. While the decline curve on this production has been gradual, some of the wells are over 20 years old, and it becomes necessary to look for other favorable structures in this general region if increased production is to be obtained or past production maintained. The only natural gas marketed off the lease in Tennessee during 1937 was in Morgan County, where a small amount was furnished for the town of Sunbright and its immediate vicinity. The gas occurs with the oil in the Boone Camp field and small amounts were put on the line from the near-by Coon Hollow and Seabolt pools. Development There were 59 wells spudded in during 1937, of which 18 were drilling or only temporarily shut down on Dec. 31, 1937. Of the 41 completions, 17 produced oil, 5 were gas wells of undetermined quantity, and 19 were dry or near-dry holes. The flush production on the new wells totaled about 1300 bbl. per day. The more important wildcats are listed in

Jan 1, 1938

By Charles H. J. Patterson

When coal is deposited on the decks of pneumatic tables, all fine particles clinging to the larger pieces are blown free by the air. Inasmuch as the air retains an appreciable residual velocity after passing through the bed of coal, it is capable of suspending particles of goodly size. This velocity is dissipated gradually and, unless confined, can readily extend beyond the limits of the plant. Today the ideal in the design and operation of pneumatic cleaning plants is not that they be no dustier than the ordinary tipple, but rather that they be as clean as an office or shop. This degree of perfection may not yet have been attained in any commercial plant, but it is not impossible of achievement. Not until recently has the recirculation principle been applied to pneumatic separating plants. In the writer's estimation, it has not yet been proved entirely satisfactory in commercial installations. A serious obstacle lies in the fact that it is practically impossible to provide a truly closed circuit. The air circuits must be interrupted at certain points, if only for the introduction of raw material and for the recovery of the finished product. It is feasible to prevent the escape of polluted air at these points, but this can scarcely be accomplished without admitting additional air into the circuit. These additions of air are cumulative, which necessitates means for emitting to the atmosphere the excess while still carrying its objectionable burden, if provisions are not made for conditioning. If it must be provided at all, conditioning is frequently simpler and more economical if applied to the entire volume of air involved. This procedure eliminates the extra initial cost and operating expense of the closed system. Crane Cheek Experiments The first noteworthy commercial installation of pneumatic equipment was made in 1922, at the Crane Creek plant of the American Coal Co. of Allegheny County, at McComas, W. Va. Six tables for cleaning coal between the limits of and 3 in. comprised the initial installation. Dust was collected by hoods connected by a system of ducts to exhauster fans. In this installation the unit dust burden was small, owing to the removal of fines from the feed by vibrating screens.

Jan 1, 1931

By Byron W. Cheever

While engaged in experimenting with the usual methods for estimating phosphorus in iron and steel, it occurred to me that potassium chlorate might be used to oxidize the carbon, and thus avoid the tedious and vexatious evaporations necessary for successfully carrying out the usual methods. After many trials, the following plan was adopted : Take, for analysis, of Bessemer or other low-carbon steels, from 3 to 5 grammes; of crucible steel, 10 grammes; of pig-iron, 1 to 5 grammes, according to the percentage of phosphorus supposed to be present. Of iron, high in phosphorus (1 per cent.), take 1 gramme. Place in a No. 4 evaporating dish the amount of iron or steel decided upon, cover with a funnel which will just fit inside the dish, and then add gradually HNO3, (1.20 specific gravity), using 12 C.C. of acid for each gramme of steel or iron taken. (A larger quantity of acid will be required for small samples.) When the full amount of acid has been added, and the violent action has ceased, place the evaporating dish on a sand-bath, add 10 C.C. HNO3, (1.40 specific gravity), and boil till the bulk of the solution is reduced about onehalf. Then add 10 C.C. HNO3, (1.40 specific gravity), continue the boiling, and add from time to time, during the next 15 minutes, small portions of pulverized KCIO3, till about 2 grammes have been added. (If the solution shows signs of going dry, more strong acid must be added.) This will precipitate the manganese, with some iron. Sometimes it happens that the manganese does not come down readily, and more KCIO3, or further concentration, or both, will be required. The process is not complete till the manganese is precipitated, which may be known by the appearance of a dark, mirror-like deposit on the dish, at the edge of the solution. Boil the solution 5 minutes after the last addition of KCIO3, and then add cautiously (to prevent sudden explosions) 5 C.C. strong HCl. This will dissolve the precipitated manganese and iron. Continue the boiling till the chlorine is all expelled, adding from

Jan 1, 1885

By H. W. Camp

Although the situation in the oil industry during the past year has not been conducive to large expenditures for development and research, there is little indication that such expenditures have been curtailed. While few outstanding achievements have been reported, considerable progress has been made in the development of new product,s and the adaptation of petroleum derivatives to new uses. The most important question facing the refiner today is the antiknock quality of his gasoline. This year has seen the widespread adoption of the term "octane number" as a measure for anti-knock values, and in the latter months of the year the public has been made acutely aware of this condition through competitive advertising. Gasoline is no longer priced on volatility and gravity alone, but on octane number as well; and premiums are being paid for material of relatively high octane rating. The situation has grown more and more competitive and has forced refiners continually to raise the octane rating of their regular and competitive grades, and at this writing the same situation exists for premium grades which have possessed relatively high anti-knock properties for some time. Straight-run gasoline produced from paraffin-base or semiparaffin-base crudes has an inherently low anti-knock value, and in order to convert this material to a higher quality it has been found necessary to crack an increasing percentage of the crude oil charge. By completely cracking the heavier portions of the crude and blending back with the straight-run gasoline, it has been possible to produce an average of 63 to 65 octane number gasoline on average Mid-Continent crude. This operation carried to the fullest extent does not suffice, however, and the recent and rapid development of the so-called '(reforming unit," has resulted. The straight-run gasoline fraction is cut into two parts: a light, low boiling point gasoline; and a heavy gasoline or naphtha. The latter containing the low anti-knock portions of the gasoline, is sent through a re-forming unit and subjected either to high temperature or pressure, or both, which materially increases its octane number. On average Mid-Continent the blend of low boiling point straight-run,

Jan 1, 1932

By H. W. Camp

ALTHOUGH the situation in the oil industry during the past year has. not been conducive to large expenditures for development and research, there is little indication that such expenditures have been curtailed. While few outstanding achievements have been reported, considerable progress has been made in the development of new products and the adaptation of petroleum derivatives to new uses. The most important question facing the refiner today is the anti-knock quality of his gasoline. This year has seen the widespread adoption of the term "octane number" as a measure for anti-knock values, and in the latter months of the year the public has been made acutely aware of this condition through competitive advertising. Gaso-line is no longer priced on volatility and gravity alone, but on octane number as well; and premiums are being paid for material of relatively high octane rating. The situation has grown more and more competitive and has forced refiners continually to raise the octane rating of their regular and com-petitive grades, and at this writing the same situation exists for premium grades which have possessed relatively high anti-knock properties for some time. Straight-run gasoline produced from paraffin-base or semiparaffin-base crudes has an inherently low anti-knock value, and in order to convert this material to a higher quality it has been found necessary to crack an increasing percentage of the crude oil charge. By completely cracking the heavier portions of the crude, and blending back with the straight-run gasoline, it has been possible to produce an average of 63 to 65 octane number gasoline' on average Mid-Continent crude. This operation carried to the fullest extent does not suffice, however, and the recent and rapid development of the so-called "re-forming unit," has resulted. The straight-run gasoline fraction is cut into two parts: a light, low boiling point gasoline; and a heavy gasoline or naphtha. The latter containing the low anti-knock portions of the gasoline, is sent through a re-forming unit and subjected either to high temperature ,or pressure, or both, which materially increases its octane number. On average Mid-Continent the blend of low boiling point straight-run,

Jan 1, 1932

By W. G. Matteson

IN 1915, the State of California passed a law of great scope and importance. This law has been in successful operation for., year and may be briefly described as an act "establishing and creating a department of. the State Mining Bureau for the protection of the natural resources of petroleum and gas from waste and destruction through improper operations in production; providing for the inspection of petroleum and gas wells; requiring all persons operating petroleum and gas wells to make certain reports" and providing the necessary officers and assessments-to carry out the provisions of the act. The statute provides for a separate department of the State Mining Bureau, under the general supervision of the State mineralogist, with a staff composed of a "state oil and gas supervisor" and four deputies. It rules that all petroleum and natural gas wells shall be drilled, operated or abandoned under the supervision of the State supervisor, who shall order such tests or remedial work as seems to him necessary to protect the interests of property owners and the general public. It also provides for a board of arbitration to consider orders given by the supervisor which are not acceptable to the well owner. Section 18 of the, act, which is the provision that is directly related to, this paper, requires "the owner of any well referred to in this act to keep a careful and accurate log of the drilling of such well;" and further requires that this log shall show the character and depth of the formations passed through or encountered in the drilling, particularly the location and depth of the water-bearing strata; the character of the water encountered (so far as ascertained); whether the water was shut off, and, if so, at what point; that it shall show completely the amounts, kinds and size of casing used; the depth at which oil-bearing strata are encountered; the depth and character of the strata, and whether all water was successfully and permanently shut off so as to prevent percolation or penetration into the oil-bearing strata. -

Jan 2, 1917

By Walter Miller

Advancement in engineering in the refining industry during 1933 might be likened to the jagged flame of a poor wick-test kerosene—a few outstanding high spots, but not broadly spectacular. Economic conditions were unsatisfactory for the first six or eight months, but the improvement in the latter part of the year had some immediate effect in stimulating new designing and building. The national legislative program involving the industry drew the attention of executives away from petroleum technology to some extent. The National Recovery Act, and its offspring, the Petroleum Code, demanded deep and continued study to put the machinery into smooth motion. From a purely technical engineering stand, therefore, the emergency measures might be considered a temporary brake on progress. The ultimate effect, if the whole industry can get back "out of the red," may well be a more than expected advance. Of course, petroleum technologists and engineers, including both those engaged within and those busy in designing and building for the industry, continued their efforts, and much of the results of their work will undoubtedly see the light of day under the improved economic conditions, which bid fair to stay with us. There was little improvement during 1933 in atmospheric distillation, sweetening processes, or furnace design, but experimentation during the year on these subjects may materialize into distinct advances. The trend toward compact distilling and fractionating equipment, especially in the Appalachian district, deserves noting. A number of refineries in that district replaced obsolete shell still units with up-to-date tube stills and efficient fractionating towers, both for the better separation of lubricating fractions from the crude and for improving the boiling range of the gasoline. A number of small skimming and topping plants in flush fields, such as East Texas, which felt the pinch of production control, were forced to shut down, but the stronger among them are consolidating their positions by installing cracking equipment and in some cases more modern crude-distillation units. Motor Fuel For the first time in many years a reviewer is able to point to at least a temporary cessation in the competitive race in the manufacturing

Jan 1, 1934

By Everett Carpenter

THE average daily production of crude oil-in Kansas a1 the beginning of the year was about 71,000 1 bbl. and, at its close, 82,000 bbl.-an increase of 11,000 bbl. per day. The total production for the state during the year was about 28,250,000 bbl., or an average of practically 77,500 bbl. per day for the year. This increase in the production was the result of the discovery of several new pools of high-grade oil. COWLEY AND SUMNER COUNTIES One of the principal factors in bringing the production of the. state back to its former level was the newly discovered pools in western Cowley County. During December, 1923, the Waite Phillips Co. completed its Johnson No. 1 in Sec. 20, T. 33 S., R. 3 E., which opened up the Rainbow pool about 12 miles southwest of Winfield. In this pool, the production comes from the Burbank sand, locally called the "Rainbow," found at a depth of 3200 ft. The sand varies in thickness from 25 to 40 ft. in the seventeen wells completed during the year, and the initial productions ranged from 300 to 3000 bbl. per day of 40° Be. oil. The Rainbow pool is purely a wildcat discovery, for no. rocks suitable for the use of the geologist are present. To determine the geologic conditions, the larger companies core-drilled the Rainbow area immediately after the discovery. The Marland Refining, Co., drilling on the Graham farm in Sec. 9, T. 33, R. 3, failed to find the Burbank sand and continued to the Siliceous lime, often erroneously called the Wilcox, at 3505 ft., where a well with an initial production of 900 bbl. of 40 Be. oil was obtained. In the development following this discovery, 4 additional wells were completed, 3 of which encountered pay sand at 2500 ft., the initial productions each being about 200 barrels. Judging by the sands already proved and the area indicated as probably oil bearing by the development to date, these pools have a very promising outlook for the future. It is not unlikely that a field second only to El Dorado may have been opened.

Jan 3, 1925

By C. O. Brawner

The advent of larger drilling, excavation, and milling equipment is resulting in a tremendous increase in the scale and annual tonnage of open pit mining. At the present time, open pits up to 3000 ft. deep, and tailings dams and waste dumps up to 600 ft. high are being planned. One of the major problems that projects of this magnitude create is stability. Stability at open pit mining developments must be assessed for tailings dams, waste dumps, and open pit slopes in overburden soil and in rock. Soil mechanics principles are used to assess the stability for the first three. This science was developed by Dr. Karl Terzaghi in the 1920’s, and since that time the theories and principles have been tested and evaluated. This experience has resulted in the development of sound theoretical concepts, workable sampling and testing techniques, and accurate methods of analysis. Typical problems that can be analyzed include: -bearing capacity of soil under dams and waste dumps. - amount of seepage under and through dams. - stability of slopes and determination of safe slope angles for tailings dams, waste dumps, and open pits. - influence of earthquakes on stability. - influence and cost of different excavation and construction techniques. To assist in comparing engineering experience, an international soil classification system has been developed and used for several decades. In addition, many excellent text books are available outlining soil mechanics principles and techniques. A high degree of technology exists in soil mechanics. This, the mining engineer cannot afford to ignore. If soil mechanics principles had been applied, many major failures involving tailings, tailings dams, or waste dumps, such as those at Aberfan, Mufulira, Luanshya, and El Cobre would not have occurred. Tailings dams are planned in Canada that will be up to 600 ft. high. Construction procedures used in the past have paid little attention to the compaction of the shell material or to the influence of earthquakes on stability. This neglect has led to failures. While failures in low dams may not be too serious, for high dams such failures could have catastrophic results. Another major area of concern is the stability of rock slopes. From the standpoint of long

Jan 1, 1971

By Gary P. Thomason

INTRODUCTION One may have heard about how various projects were financed or certain companies were successful in obtaining a bank loan, but there are many more projects and companies who fail to get the money they need. At least a portion of these failures, and a large percentage of the frustrations connected with even the successful financings, are a result of not understanding the process of obtaining money. Recent years have seen a proliferation of debt financing sources available to finance minerals operations (see the next Chapter 11), but these represent only a minor portion of the minerals financing market. The fundamental source of borrowed money to many minerals related companies remains the banks. Therefore, understanding the "Loan Approval Process" can easily mean the difference between getting the money or not. LOAN APPROVAL PROCESS The initial stages of the loan approval process should begin long before the bankers, and the organizations they represent, enter upon the scene. The loan approval can be broken down into six stages: 1) Generation 2) Preparation 3) Presentation 4) Evaluation 5) Approval 6) Documentation As you can see in Figure 1, the bank is only directly involved in the second half of the process. The perils in obtaining financing for the smaller minerals venture are primarily in the first three stages, not the last three. The minerals venture making application for a loan can, in almost every case, improve its chances of success by carefully planning and preparing itself and the information that will be required of it in the loan approval process. Generation This first step in the process is deciding on the need for a loan. (Earlier papers in this Book and in Chapter 11 provide some guidance.) It is surprising how many ventures confuse the need for money with the need for a loan. Suffice to say that the equity investor risks both the timing of the yield on his capital and, ultimately, his capital. The lender, on the other hand, advances temporary funds which he expects to be repaid on a specific schedule with a fixed

Jan 1, 1985

By Roswell Johnson

ALL strata not yielding oil or gas in commercial quantities or a corresponding amount of water may be called dry in a wide sense. In petroleum geology,, however, we may exclude all sands of too low or fin porosity to yield gaseous or fluid contents to the hole drilled in the sand before any original pressure that its contents may be under is disturbed. Most rocks are of this class and they are not reservoirs in our definition; their "dryness" is wholly a matter of course. What are the contents of the pores or what is the exact porosity of such rocks is of almost no concern to us, for economically they are "dry." What does interest us is the content of a rock having sufficient porosity and the pores of sufficient size to yield oil or gas in commercial quantities, if they were present under original pressure: Dryness of these reservoirs is a matter of supreme practical importance. Three views current as to such dryness seem, to me, to apply in a few cases only. It is the purpose of this paper to give reasons for this position and for believing that, in ordinary sedimentary rocks, there is only rarely a reservoir of competent porosity and undisturbed pressure that is dry in the sense of not yielding water, oil, or gas when first penetrated. 1. Gardner1 writes of some Kentucky sands, "There has never been present any salt water or other water in the sand." Absence of water cannot demonstrate this position. It is necessary to show that the rocks were not laid down in water, but in air, and that they became so enclosed, while still above the water-table of the, ground water, that water has not been able to enter since. Most of these sands, and certainly the productive limestones, were deposited in water; and such sands as have been commercially productive show no reason for believing that the overlying shale or limestone was not laid down progressively from one direction and in water that would have flooded it. No adequate explanation has been offered for this hypothesis, which is so inherently improbable.

Jan 1, 1920

By Henry P. Ehrlinger

THE Alta and St. Louis mines of the Alta Mines, Inc., produce a somewhat oxidized ore with a talc gangue that presents quite a problem in milling. For several years the mill recoveries were relatively low and there seemed to be no cure for this condition even with increasing the various collecting agents and frothers to two or three times of what they should be. The usual alibi of "oxidized ore" was given as the reason for these results and the matter stood there for some time until these investigations were started. FLOWSHEET As a brief outline of the flowsheet the ore is crushed to minus I in. in a Telsmith jaw crusher and then fed to a 64 1/2 Marcy grate mill. The resulting product from the grate mill is passed over a trommel where the coarse particles (plus 7 mesh) are returned to the grinding circuit through the classifier. The under 7-mesh pulp is passed over two Denver mineral jigs where a high grade concentrate is produced, thence over two Wilfley tables where a table concentrate is produced and about 80 pct of the oxide lead recovered. The tailings from these tables are pumped back to the classifier and after classification the 30 pct pulp density product, which overflows the lip, is passed into a series of 10 Denver economy flotation cells where a lead-copper concentrate is produced. Three products are made and shipped to the smelter termed jig, table and float concentrates. RESULTS WITH VARIOUS REAGENTS In March of this year work was started on the metallurgical problems of the mill and, as is shown in Table I, the results obtained were not too efficient. [ ] Tests were run with various reagent combinations that were recommended for ores of this nature but there was no appreciable effect on the recoveries. The grades of the flotation concentrates were reduced by the insoluble picked up and retained by these more powerful collectors and frothers. RESULTS WITH "METSO" In past work on ores of this type the use of "Metso" had improved gold and lead recoveries, but no effect on the silver and copper recoveries had been noted. To

Jan 1, 1947

By E. D. Gardner

WHEN the National Forests Were created, all lands embraced in their boundaries were exempted from all forms of entry, except mineral claims. Later, by Act of June 11, 1906, and as amended by Act of Aug. 10, 1912, provision was made allowing homesteads on areas chiefly valuable for agriculture and not necessary for the public use. Patents to mining claim in the Forests are granted the same as on land not in the Forests, irrespective of timber or other values. It is the policy to encourage the highest use of the Forests. As a business proposition, it is a good policy to have mines developed in the Forests. Their development in remote or inaccessible regions causes the country to be opened up and, in addition to the local market which the mines create, means of transportation are afforded to outside markets. No examination of mining claims is made until patent has been applied for, unless they are actively interfering with the administration of the Forest. In this case, an examination is made, and if there is evidence that the claims are being held in good faith they are in no way interfered with. Timber is never sold from a mining claim except with the consent of the claimant, or unless it is clearly shown, after an examination, that the claim is abandoned. In the case of fire-killed timber, which rapidly deteriorates by standing, a contract bond arrangement can be made for the sale of the timber which protects the interests of both the mining claimant and the government. The promiscuous locating of mining claims has in the past caused considerable trouble. It has been, and still is, the custom in some parts of the West to locate a mining claim when the surface rights of any particular area are desired, irrespective of the mineral character of the ground. This has been done to hold power sites, town sites, summer residences, springs, etc. When the, ground is desired for any of these purposes, what is known as a Special Use Permit will be issued at a nominal sum, to legalize the occupancy. In most instances, it is far cheaper to take out one of these permits than to do the annual assessment

Jan 7, 1914

By George Smith

Introduction THAT an oil-land law is the most needed item in the proposed program of mineral-land legislation follows from the fact that Congress has never enacted a law really applicable to petroleum and natural gas. The action of Congress in 1597 in authorizing entry of oil-lands under the placer law, enacted 27 years before for the mining of gold in surface gravels, was plainly only makeshift legislation. Naturally the provisions of this placer law with its requirement of discovery as a prerequisite to location are nothing less than absurd when applied to petroleum deposits hundreds or thousands of feet beneath the surface. Other reasons which render oil-land legislation an urgent necessity arise first from the large acreage of lands believed to be valuable for their deposits of oil and gas and therefore withdrawn by Executive order from all entry pending the enactment of an appropriate law for their disposition-a withdrawal that has been specially ratified by Congress in the case of one State, Utah-and second from the exceptional importance of this resource to the nation, the large industrial worth of petroleum, and indeed its paramount value to the navy, not being suspected 17 years ago when Congress last legislated upon this subject. Mineral land of this type is also well adapted to serve for purposes of illustration in discussing the general principles that demand recognition in legislative reform. Most of the issues involved in the consideration of oil-land legislation are clean-cut, and essential differences of opinion will be seen to be based upon radical divergence in economic theory rather than upon conflicting views concerning unimportant details. For the last five years or more the geologists of the Federal Survey have discussed this subject and prepared memorandums and reports on .the various bills introduced in Congress. Most of the provisions suggested in the present outline have been under consideration at one time or another during that period, and many of the statements which follow can be said to represent the consensus of opinion among those of us who, both in the field and in the office, have given special attention to the public oil-lands.

Jan 6, 1914