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By Elmer A. Jones

Development work in mines of St. Joseph Lead Co., Southeast Missouri, using trackless loading equipment shows definite advantages: Speed of cleaning, ability to work on steep grades and sharp crosscuts, good later tracking conditions, and possibility of wasting rock in old abandoned stopes. THE Desloge mine is one of a group of mines owned by the St. Joseph Lead Co., in the so-called Lead Belt of Southeast Missouri. It has been operating approximately 40 years producing a daily tonnage ranging from 1600 to 3800, depending on various factors. On an average, the present mine is 300 ft deep with an extreme extent of 2.7 miles by 1.7 miles. Most of the present mining is in the lower horizons of the Bonne Terre dolomite, a fairly soft rock requiring no support except occasional channel iron and roof pins. Due to the contour of the underlying sandstone and porphyry, some development work has been through short stretches of these different formations. In some areas the lower part of the dolomite is quite sandy and generally is considered abrasive. Sizes and Methods of Drifting Have Changed: Development work has, like other phases of mining, changed considerably in the last 20 years, from cleaning by hand to the use of a mechanical method. The conception of a standard drift has also changed. Before the advent of mechanical loading in stopes there were many pieces of main line drift averaging 7 ft high x 9 ft wide. With the coming of the St. Joe shovel the drift was increased to 8 ft high x 10 ft ELMER A. JONES, Member AIME, is Assistant General Mine Superintendent, St. Joseph Lead Co., Bonne Terre, Mo. AIME Columbus Meeting, September 1949. TP 2859 A. Discussion (2 copies) may be sent to Transactions AIME before July 31, 1950. Manuscript received Sept. 16, 1949. wide. Now with the Joy loader and shuttle car, a 9x11 ft drift is coming to be standard size. Methods of cutting drifts have changed considerably over the last few years. Some changes in drilling equipment have been made such as reducing the weight of column, clamp, air feed, and fittings to go with the HC10 Cleveland jackhamer. Other changes have been made in drill steel such as the use of detachable bits; throw-away variety, screw type, and the tungsten-carbide insert bits. Later developments have introduced spiral-welded pipe with victaulic couplings, millisecond exploders, bulky powder, and the use of electric cap lamps. Experimental work is going on continually in various phases of development work, some to be tried and discarded, others gradually to become standard practice. To sum up, the standard method of development now in use at Desloge is as follows: The work is done on a two-shift cycle 7:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Two men known as development drillers comprise a crew on each shift. These two men arrive at their work about 7:30 to find a round blasted by the previous shift. After scaling down back and walls they proceed to the cleaning operation, using either a Joy loader and shuttle car, a drag hoist mounted on a slide ramp, or an Eimco Finlay to load into a 21/2 ton mine car. Cleaning may take from 2 to 4 hr depending on conditions such as length of round broken, length of haul, and other variables. After fitting up pipe and setting up columns and drills they are ready to drill a round which should measure 9 ft high x 11 ft wide and break from 5 to 7 ft advance. This may also take from 2 to 3 hr. Then they are ready to charge and

Jan 1, 1951

By William S. Hannan, H. Rush Spedden

Flotation may be defined as a process whereby mineral particles are concentrated by selective adhesion to air-liquid interfaces. The process involves attachment of desired mineral particles to air bubbles, and removal of the mineralized air bubbles from the surface of the pulp as a mineral concentrate. Problem Although great strides have been made in understanding the principles of flotation, one part of the process which has not been adequately explained is the mechanism by which selected mineral particles become attached to air bubbles. A glance at the froth of an operating flotation cell demonstrates adequately that use of proper reagents and conditions mill result in such attachments; but how such attachment takes place is not definitely known. A better knowledge of this factor might lead to improved flotation practice either through altered machine design or the application of scientific innovations. Direct observation of the behavior of mineral particles and bubbles in an operating cell does not appear promising because of the complexity of the system. For this reason, conclusions concerning the problem must be deduced from theoretical considerations or from observation of simplified systems designed to reproduce conditions thought to exist in an operating cell. Present Theories Two mechanisms have been recognized as fundamental in particle-bubble attachment: gas precipitation and direct encounter. It is a simple matter to demonstrate in the laboratory that attachment can be brought about by either mechanism. As to the relative importance of the two in a particular flotation system, however, there is a divergence of views. Taggart1 states, Under exceptional circumstances sufficient force and time to effect attachment may conjoin in an ore pulp undergoing agitation, and a preformed bubble adhere to a collector-coated mineral particle, but the occurrence is rare. . . . Pulp-body froth flotation effects selection in the body of a conditioned pulp by causing gas bubbles to precipitate from solution in the liquid phase preferentially at the surfaces of collector-coated particles, and to cling to these particles, Gaudin2 states that, within the pulp body of an agitation machine, attachment of mineral particles to air bubbles occurs as a consequence of contact between the two. This theory has been supported by theoretical reasoning and much circumstantial evidence. Perhaps the most interesting bit of evidence in favor Of this theory js the difficulty in the flotation of fines. If attach-

Jan 1, 1949

By H. O. McLeod, J. M. Campbell

Data analysis of pentane and hexane adsorption from natural gas in a fixed bed of silica gel shows that constant length mass transfer zones form, the curvature of the adsorption isotherm controls the growth of the mass transfer zone and surface diffusion of molecules inside the silica gel particle controls the mass transfer rate. Curvature of the hexane isothem is more than the curvature of the pentane isotherm. Because of this curvature the hexane adsorption zones reached a constant length. In contrast, the pentane adsorption zones were always increasing in length during each run. A procedure was developed to obtain correct mass transfer coefficients using effluent curve slopes. These transfer roefficients increase with the amount of hydrocarbon adsorbed on the silica gel particle. The characteristic shape of the hexane effluent curves also show that molecular diffusion inside the silica gel particle controls the adsorption rate of pentane and hexane. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanisms that control the dynamic adsorption of hydrocarbons from a natural gas onto silica gel. Before one can deal effectively with multicomponent adsorption, the transfer mechanisms by which a single hydrocarbon component is adsorbed from the gas stream must be defined. Two principal investigations of this system have been published ' and indicate that diffusion through the gas around the particle controls the adsorption rate. Some of the experimental observations in each study either do not support this transfer mechanism or are inconsistent with the mathematical model used in analysis. In this study surface diffusion of molecules inside the particle controls the mass transfer rate of pentane and hexane. This mechanism is indicated by the effluent curve shape for a constant length transfer zone and by the variation of the mass transfer coefficient with concentration of the adsorbed hydrocarbon. THEORY AND DEFINITIONS — MATHEMATICAL MODELS Mathematical solutions for the isothermal adsorption of a trace component from a carrier gas are derived from three relationships: the mass balance or continuity equation, the equilibrium relationship between the gas and solid phases, and a mass transfer rate equation. The transfer rate is proportional to the adsorbate concentration gradient within either the gas or solid phase. Mathematical solutions of these equations usually give the adsorbate concentration as a function of time and distance from the bed inlet. That part of the bed in which the adsorbate concentration changes from a maximum to a minimum value is called the transfer zone. This transfer zone is directly related to a plot of the effluent concentration vs time which has a characteristic S-shape. This general shape is determined by the continuity equation and occurs in many processes of diffusional transfer.

Jan 1, 1967

By Arno C. Fieldner

METALLURGICAL coke and the by-products of the carbonization of coal continue in strong demand. Nearly 500 new by-product ovens were constructed in 1943. Output of by-product coke in the first ten months of the year was about 2 1/2 percent higher than in the corresponding period of 1942, but beehive production remained on approximately the same level as last year and constituted about 11 per cent of the total coke output.

Jan 1, 1944

By Harmon E. Keyes

Harmon E. Keyes (Chemical & Metallurgical Engineer, Eagar, Ariz.)-Chemical dissolution of chalcocite by acidic ferric sulfate is well known. Resulting elemental sulfur may be oxidized to sulfuric acid by heated ferric sulfate. Laboratory tests at Southwest Experiment Station, USBM, Tucson, generally confirmed stoichiometric relations of 1 part Cu dissolved to 1.750 parts ferric iron reduced, using CP chemicals, dried ore samples, and apparatus cleaned with potable water. Recirculation with open-drainage percolation to increase copper in leaching solvent was followed successfully when appropriate, both in laboratory and Pinto Valley pilot tests. Before 1924 attempts to produce ferric sulfate by aerating ferrous sulfate solution were known. Initial oxidation was satisfactory, but rate slowed below practicality as oxidation progressed and acidity increased. Also, due to hydrolysis of ferric sulfate, a ferric precipitate of hydroxide and basic sulfate resulted. Both laboratory and pilot plant tests gave similar results, regardless of whether CP ferrous sulfate or scrap iron cementation discard solution was used. Rapid oxidation of ferrous hydroxide by air alone is well known to analytical chemists. I demonstrated a process to produce acidic ferric sulfate solutions by precipitating ferrous hydroxide with milk of lime, aerat-

Jan 1, 1973

By Kenneth A. Gutschick, Robert S. Boynton

Lime has become a general and loosely used term to denote almost any kind of calcareous material or finely divided form of limestone or dolomite, as well as burned forms of lime. However, according to Webster, lime is only calcined limestone (known as quicklime, unslaked lime, or calcium oxide). It also embraces the secondary product of quicklime, i.e., hydrated lime or slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). There are two basic types of limestone used for lime manufacture-high calcium and high magnesium (dolomitic). The dolomitic quicklimes and hydrated limes correspond to their "high calcium" counterparts. The only difference is that the dolomitic types are a combination of the elements calcium and magnesium, in varying percents, whereas high calicum limes contain less than 5% MgO down to 1/2%. In either case a pure form of limestone of at least 97% combined carbonate content is needed to make salable lime, barring a few exceptions. The calcination of both types is diagrammed chemically as follows: [ ] In the foregoing reversible reactions the limestone is burned (calcined) in lime kilns, with the carbon dioxide content of the stone expelled as a gas. The weight loss during calcination of pure high calcium limestone is 44%; with equimolecular dolomitic limestone, the weight loss is 48%. Since lime has a strong affinity for CO_, particularly if moisture is present, it will readily revert to its original carbonate form. This occurs when quicklime "air-slakes" and adsorbs CO.. from the air. Thus, quicklime is perishable and should be stored in dry, water-tight areas. Depending upon the type of kiln used and the physical structure of the stone, the size of the quicklime may range from sandlike granules to 8 in. lumps. However, pebble sizes ranging from 1/4 in. to 2 in. are the most common. Screened quicklime fines are also com¬pressed (pelletized) into 1 in. pellets. For some purposes ground or pulverized forms of quicklime are used, ranging from No. 10 mesh to dust. Generally a pebble of quicklime is about the same size as the pebble of limestone before calcination (perhaps shrinking slightly). A more stable form of lime is hydrated lime. This is obtained by adding water to quicklime, slaking it into a dry, fine, subsieve size white powder. Because its affinity for moisture has been satisfied, it is not vulnerable to further moisture like quicklime. However, it has the same strong affinity for CO_. The following reversible chemical reactions illustrate how hydrated lime when heated (or dehydrated) can revert to the original oxide form:

Jan 1, 1975

By AIME AIME

THE CHAIRMAN of the fast growing Petroleum Division is not only a graduate of the University of California, but a third generation native son. After a few years spent in hard-rock geology, his professional efforts were transferred to the sedimentaries and to petroleum investigations, as a consulting geologist. For ten years these investigations covered the Rocky Mountain, Oklahoma, Texas, and eastern districts. After the war he returned to Casper, Wyo., as chief geologist for the Consolidated Royalty Oil and Western Exploration Companies. This employment afforded him the opportunity to study particularly the economic relationship between the lessor-lessee interests in development and production, a somewhat unusual type of petroleum specialization.

Jan 1, 1939

By Appendix by A. S. Goldoni, R. E. Tate, E. M. Cramer

The diffision coefficient for self-diffision of plutonium in the temperature range 350" to 440°C has been measured by using puZ3 as the tracer isotope. Autoradiopaphic techniques were used to inzlestigate the possibility of grain boundary diffusion, hut only evidence for volume diffusion was found. The least-squares fit of the data gives the .following equation for the diffision coefficient: The computer least-squares technique for fitting the nonlinear equations is outlined. DETERMINATION of the self-diffusion coefficient of the fcc 6 phase of plutonium is in principle a straightforward experimental task. However, the chemical reactivity, the intense @ activity, and the toxicity of plutonium put limitations on the experimental techniques. The technique selected included roll bonding for preparation of the diffusion couples and pulse-height analysis of the @-particle activity to determine the distribution of the PU tracer in the diffusion couples. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Couple Preparation. Cylinders about 0.5 in. in diam were cast from two special stocks of plutonium, one of which had been enriched in puZ3', as shown in the isotopic analyses listed in Table I. For each roll-bonded composite sheet, a cylinder 0.437 in. in diam and 0.190 in. thick was turned from each kind of plutonium on a lathe in a 98 pct He atmosphere. The two freshly machined cylinders were positioned face to face in a tube of commercially pure aluminum which had been sealed at one end by welding and the assembly was evacuated on a vacuum manifold overnight. The elapsed time between machining the faces of the plutonium cylinders and evacuating the loaded tube was about 15 min. After overnight evacuation of the assembly the indicated vacuum was 1 X 10"5 torr or better. The aluminum tube was then warmed and pinched off with a cold-welding tool. The pinched-off weld was also fusion-welded as an additional precaution against leakage of air into the evacuated assembly. The assembly was immediately heated for 30 min in a 250°C furnace and reduced in thickness by being passed through a rolling mill with rolls heated to 200°C. The rolling schedule (four passes of 100 mils each with a 10-min reheat after two passes) reduced the thickness of the assembly to 100 mils. The rolled assembly was allowed to cool normally in air. The rolled assembly was sheared at the edges and the aluminum peeled from the composite plutonium sheet. The elliptical sheet was about 0.060 in. thick and usually three 0.383-in.-diam disks could be punched from its central portion. The sheet was heated on a hot plate to the ductile low 0 range (140°C as measured by temperature-indicating pellets) before each disk was quickly punched. The quality of the bond in the disks was evaluated by metallographic examination of the scrap sheet adjoining the hole left by the punch. Only well-bonded specimens without oxide in the interface (as indicated by metallography) were considered satisfactory for further use. More than half of the specimens so examined contained sufficient oxide in the interface to be rejected. Diffusion Anneal. Each disk to be diffusion-annealed was wrapped in 1-mil-thick tantalum foil and sealed within a Pyrex capsule evacuated to 1 x 10~5 torr or better. This capsule was then sealed within another Pyrex capsule at a similar pressure. The diffusion anneals were carried out at temperatures between 350" and 440°C in Marshall furnaces adjusted to have a temperature gradient of not more than *1/2"C over a 5-in. length. This gradient was then further smoothed by using a nickel tube as a liner in the furnace. The liner was divided into three longitudinal cavities by a septum of nickel sheet to which two calibrated Chromel-Alumel thermocouples were attached. One thermocouple was used for controlling the furnace temperature by means of a Brown Pyrovane controller equipped with a Capaciline anticipation circuit; the second thermocouple was monitored twice daily with a Leeds and Northrup K-2 precision potentiometer.

Jan 1, 1964

By Henry A. Stiff, J. P. Hammond, A. B. Westerman, H. C. 195-000-000-014 Cross, and Lawrence E. Davis

The phases in Cr-Fe-Mo alloys have been investigated with homo-genization, aging temperature, composition range, and alloy addition as variables. Metallography, three X-ray methods, and hardness were used as methods of study. The behavior of s, M23,C8, and Z phase are reported for cornpasition range 60 pct Cr-15 to 25 pct Fe-15 to 25 pct Mo-<0.005 to 0.36 pct C with aging at 1400º to 2000°F. With 2 pct Ti, Tic and TiC-TiC are formed; with nitrogen Cr2N. THE recently developed class of chromium-base heat-resistant alloys shows appreciably higher strength than commercially used high temperature alloys. However, further developmental work is required to impart needed shock resistance and some degree of room-temperature ductility to these alloys. Extensive exploratory work on chromium-base alloys was begun in a program initiated by the War Metallurgy Committee of the National Defense Research Council at the Climax Molybdenum Co. in the early part of 1942.&apos; Alloys were sought for gas-turbine blades for use at 1600°F. A minimum of 5 pct elongation in the stress-rupture test was a requirement. From the Climax work, ternary alloys of chromium, iron, and molybdenum appeared to show the greatest promise as materials for gas-turbine blades. The composition line in the ternary diagram joining the 60 pct Cr-15 pct Fe-25 pct Mo and 60 pct Cr-25 pct Fe-15 pct Mo alloys was indicated as representing the most useful combination of strength and ductility.&apos; Strength increased while ductility decreased as molybdenum was raised in this composition range.&apos; The 60 pct Cr-15 pct Fe-25 pct Mo type alloy was thought to have the most suitable properties for gas-turbine blades.&apos; Concurrent with the study reported here, other investigations were being made on Cr-Fe-Mo alloys. The liquidus temperatures on a series of low carbon, ternary alloys were being determined, and isothermal sections drawn at 2370°, 2010°, and 1650°F (1300°, 1100°, and 900°C).2 Also, various methods of preparation and some mechanical and physical properties of chromium-base alloys, particularly the 60 pct Cr-15 pct Fe-25 pct Mo type, were being investigated., At the inception of the present program, only a limited study had been made of etchants for developing the microstructures of chromium-base alloys; X-ray analysis of the microconstituents had not been made. A review of the literature revealed that no phase-diagram work had been reported on the Cr-Fe-Mo system. Scope of Work The work on chromium-base alloys includes the following: 1—The development of etching methods for differentiating between the microconstituents; 2—The identification of microconstituents by X-ray diffraction methods; and 3—A comprehensive metallographic and hardness study after various heat treatments. The phases were studied by three standard X-ray techniques: 1—The block-sample focusing-camera method; 2—The powder-diffraction method on elec-trolytically separated residues; and 3—The powder-diffraction method on cold-worked aggregate samples. The results by the first two methods were correlated with the metallographic data. The third method was used largely to study conditions approaching equilibrium, since cold working prior to heat treating accelerated precipitation. Seven types of alloys were investigated: 50 pct Cr-50 pct Fe, 40 pct Cr-40 pct Fe-20 pct Mo, 55 pct

Jan 1, 1953

By T. MacDONALD

ATHOUGH flotation has been a commercial process for over twenty years, the last two years have witnessed a sudden and phenomenal increase in our knowledge of how to separate minerals heretofore not considered amenable to flotation at all. As remarked by Professor Locke in the January issue. "Either commercial or laboratory flotation is reported on zircon, ilmenite, carnotite, kyanite, scheelite, chromite, fluorite, feldspar, cassiterite, wolframite, barite, and clay. Attractive patents on soap flotation are U. S. Nos. 2,000,656 and 2,040.187. A survey by Ralston in the February E. & M. J. adds many other minerals to this impressive list. The simple but pregnant fact is that any mineral can be coated, directly or indirectly, with a water-repellent coating, and since this is true, it follows that any mineral can be floated. Fundamentally, this is no new discovery, where, for instance, is the mineral that cannot he washed from a pair of dirty hands by means of soap and water, given the absence of refractory greases or oils which would have no proper place in flotation ?

Jan 1, 1937

By H. W. Imholz

Active interest in the North Central Texas area centered in the development of the Palo Pinto limestone-producing zone, near the town of Avoca, in the northeast part of Jones County. This producing horizon was discovered in 1937, in the Iron Mountain Oil Company&apos;s well No. 1 Olander, in sec. 196, B.B.B. & C. survey, at 3238 to 3250 ft. During the development of this pool, it was generally referred to as the Avoca pool. As a second pool has been discovered in the same producing zone, also near the town of Avoca, the writer has taken the liberty of changing the name of the original Avoca pool to Avoca-Olander pool. Forty producers had been drilled in the Avoca-Olander pool by the end of 1938; their initial ranged from 28 to 300 bbl. per hour. Stimulus was given to the interest in the development of the Palo Pinto limestone when the Ungren-Frazier No. 1 Griffin, in sec. 199, B.B.B. & C. survey, Jones County, found the limestone from 3225 to 3250 ft., with an initial production of 931 bbl. per day. (This new pool has been given the name of Avoca-Griffin pool, by the writer.) The best well to be completed, up to the present time, is the Bert Fields No. 1 Taylor in sec. 199, B.B.B. & C. survey, which had an initial production of 748 bbl. in 3 hours. The Owen-Snebold No. 1 McKeever in sec. 158, B.B.B. & C. survey, in northwest Shackelford County, added to the interest in the Palo Pinto limestone when it extended the Ivy pool with a well in the Palo Pinto limestone from 3145 to 3183 ft., and was estimated good for 6,000,000 cu. ft. of gas and 6000 bbl. of oil per day. During 1938, Stonewall County obtained its first commercial producer when the Stonewall Oil Co. in No. 1 Parriott discovered the Palo Pinto limestone saturated from 5169 to 5176 ft. and tested 371 bbl. per day. Two new producing horizons were discovered about 2 miles east of the old Noddle Creek pool, Jones County; the first, the Humble Oil & Refining Co. No. 1 Irvin, in sec. 48, block 18, T. & P. R. R. Co. survey, which had saturated limestone from 2550 to 2567 ft. and was good for 100 bbl. per day; the second, in the Humble No. 1 Horton, sec. 40, which

Jan 1, 1939

By H. W. Imholz

Active interest in the North Central Texas area centered in the development of the Palo Pinto limestone-producing zone, near the town of Avoca, in the northeast part of Jones County. This producing horizon was discovered in 1937, in the Iron Mountain Oil Company&apos;s well No. 1 Olander, in sec. 196, B.B.B. & C. survey, at 3238 to 3250 ft. During the development of this pool, it was generally referred to as the Avoca pool. As a second pool has been discovered in the same producing zone, also near the town of Avoca, the writer has taken the liberty of changing the name of the original Avoca pool to Avoca-Olander pool. Forty producers had been drilled in the Avoca-Olander pool by the end of 1938; their initial ranged from 28 to 300 bbl. per hour. Stimulus was given to the interest in the development of the Palo Pinto limestone when the Ungren-Frazier No. 1 Griffin, in sec. 199, B.B.B. & C. survey, Jones County, found the limestone from 3225 to 3250 ft., with an initial production of 931 bbl. per day. (This new pool has been given the name of Avoca-Griffin pool, by the writer.) The best well to be completed, up to the present time, is the Bert Fields No. 1 Taylor in sec. 199, B.B.B. & C. survey, which had an initial production of 748 bbl. in 3 hours. The Owen-Snebold No. 1 McKeever in sec. 158, B.B.B. & C. survey, in northwest Shackelford County, added to the interest in the Palo Pinto limestone when it extended the Ivy pool with a well in the Palo Pinto limestone from 3145 to 3183 ft., and was estimated good for 6,000,000 cu. ft. of gas and 6000 bbl. of oil per day. During 1938, Stonewall County obtained its first commercial producer when the Stonewall Oil Co. in No. 1 Parriott discovered the Palo Pinto limestone saturated from 5169 to 5176 ft. and tested 371 bbl. per day. Two new producing horizons were discovered about 2 miles east of the old Noddle Creek pool, Jones County; the first, the Humble Oil & Refining Co. No. 1 Irvin, in sec. 48, block 18, T. & P. R. R. Co. survey, which had saturated limestone from 2550 to 2567 ft. and was good for 100 bbl. per day; the second, in the Humble No. 1 Horton, sec. 40, which

Jan 1, 1939

By L. C. Morganroth

Discussion of the paper of L. C. MORGANROTH, presented at the New York meeting, February, 1916, and printed in Bulletin No. 110, February, 1916, pp. 475 to 481. DAVID B. REGER, Morgantown, W. Va.-I notice in the third paragraph of the first page of the paper, that in mentioning the clays of the Pottsville series, the author says: "The bed of clay found in the latter formation is unique in that flint clay is practically restricted to it. (A variety of flint clay is occasionally found in these upper deposits but this is in such small amounts as to be negligible."). If the author wishes to confine himself to the fire clays of Pennsylvania, as the title seems to indicate, I have nothing to say, but if he wishes to include a discussion on fire clays of the adjoining States which the. subsequent paragraphs of his paper seem to indicate, then I wish to call attention to the fact that there are large and extensive deposits of fire clay in the Allegheny series, immediately overlying the Pottsville in the northern counties of West Virginia. These fire clays have been studied carefully, and described in several reports of the West Virginia Geological Survey, first in the report on Ohio, Brooke, and Hancock Counties, in the northern part of the State; described later ,in the report on Monongalia, Marion, and Taylor Counties, and in the report on Preston County, which followed. In these latter counties (Monongalia, Marion, Taylor, and Preston) there are some beds of fine fire clay, varying in thickness from 6 to 10 or 12 ft., with a content of only 2 or 3 per cent. of fluxing ingredients, and these are of the typical Savage Mountain appearance and also have the typical Savage Mountain fracture. They have been prospected, but not mined a great deal. Several of them have been tested in blast furnaces and furnaces for other purposes, in glass-manufacturing plants, also for firebrick, arid have been found to be very good. They are simply awaiting development, and I merely want to call attention to the fact that there are plenty of them in the Allegheny series still above the Pottsville in West Virginia. There are two or three valuable seams which I have seen in person and have had analyzed in our laboratory.

Jan 5, 1916

By T. Wasson

Midland and Isabella counties have been the centers of activities for the year 1932. The major part of the 6,967,000 bbl. produced during the year was obtained from the old Mt. Pleasant field and the Eastern Extension field. The total production to the end of 1932 for Michigan, from all fields since discovery, is 20,679,600 bbl. Production in the Eastern Extension field was obtained from Dundee limestone of Devonian age, at a depth of about 3600 ft. As a result of the year&apos;s activity in this area, the limits of the Eastern Extension have been defined. No new fields have been discovered. A number of prospective areas have been drilled and condemned by dry holes. Probably the most outstanding development of the year was the discovery of oil on the Yost farm, in sec. 35 of Greendale Township, Midland County, by the Pure Oil Co., in the early part of December. Production is from the Dundee limestone similar to that in the Eastern Extension but is 4 miles south of that area. The first well has averaged about 500 bbl. per day since completion. It is near the center of a solid block held by the Pure Oil Co., so that rapid development due to competitive drilling is not expected. During the early part of the year the Midland-Isabella area was under proration, but on May 17 proration restrictions were discontinued and remained so until the end of the year. While the Eastern Extension saw the principal activity, some work was done in other fields of Midland and Isabella counties, but very little new production was added. The Vernon field on the north showed a slight increase in production over 1931. The Leaton field decreased. The well in Porter Township, Midland County, is still kept in the production ranks but very little drilling was done in that area. The old Saginaw field, Saginaw County, still remains the only spot in the state where commercial production is obtained from the Berea sand. It showed a slight decline over 1931 with no new producers for the year. The Muskegon field on the west side of the state showed a considerable decline over 1931, but owing to the rejuvenation of some wells by the use of acid this drop was not as great as might have been expected. Only two new producers were drilled in that area.

Jan 1, 1933

By C. W. Reith

The development of production in West Texas during the year 1933 was largely confined to the expansion of proven areas, especially Ward County, Iatan and North Winkler. Wildcat activity was at a comparatively low ebb and resulted only in discoveries of probable minor importance in Ector County. The interest shown in deep wildcatting to test beds of pre-Permian age was a new development, which should soon throw light on the possibilities of deeper production from the present producing fields. The important pre-Permian tests of the year were: 1. Stanolind Oil and Gas Co., Todd No. 1, a unitized test, in north central Crockett County on a probable continuation of the Big Lake trend. The well encountered several showings of oil and penetrated an Ordovician section very similar to the productive zones at Big Lake, but was abandoned when sulfur water was encountered at 8041 feet. 2. Gulf Production Co., McElroy No. 103, in the McElroy Field, Upton County. The well was drilling at 8553 ft. at the close of the year in beds of probable pre-Permian age. The test is an important one because it should prove or disprove deep production in the Church-Fields-McElroy pools and also throw geologic light on the deep possibilities of other fields in the western part of the Permian Basin. 3. Humble Oil and Refining Co., White and Baker No. 1, in Pecos County, about 11 miles west of the Yates field. The well is on a nonproductive Permian high and should indicate the deep possibilities of the Yates field. At the end of the year, drilling had progressed to 7200 ft., where beds of pre-Permian age are believed to have been penetrated. The major fields in West Texas, in which present-day proration had its inception, were produced under increased restrictions. A date of importance in the proration history of the area was $ept. 8, 1933, when the Railroad Commission issued an order placing all producing wells under proration. The severe reductions in total outlet made during 1933 were well compensated for by a more than threefold increase in the price of crude oil. Acid treatment was one of the general engineering developments of interest. The work had not progressed sufficie~ltly at the close of 1933

Jan 1, 1934

By B. C. Craft

Oil and gas development in Mississippi during the year 1933 was rather active and a number of important wildcat wells were drilled throughout the state. Mississippi showed an increase in drilling operations during 1933. There were 58 completions from 22 counties during this period, compared with 53 completions in 10 counties during 1932. The Jackson gas field in Hinds and Rankin counties continued to be the most active area with 26 completions, resulting in 17 gas wells, 2 oil wells, and 7 dry holes, compared with 38 gas wells, 1 oil well and 5 dry holes during 1932. A further attempt to extend the producing limits of the Amory gas field resulted in a dry hole. Extensive exploration in south Mississippi has proved the existence of ample source beds and presence of an extensive sandbody near the top of Cockfield. Core tests, supplemented by extensive geophysical work, have been carried on in Jackson, George, Harrison, Pearl River and Stone counties. Exploration will be continued in 1934. The most important deep test drilled in 1933, and the deepest well ever drilled in a southeastern state, was the Eastman Gardner et al., Bank of Seminary No. 1, sec. 26-8N.-15W., Covington County. This well went through about 1300 ft. of Selma chalk, and was abandoned in the Eutaw at 8004 ft. Another interesting operation during the past year was the Foster Creek Oil Corporation&apos;s Foster Creek Lumber Co. No. 1, sec. 14-2N.-2W., in the "Eastern Conroe Trend." This test is shut down at 3687 ft. in the Catahoula sandstone and has not encountered any important shows of oil or gas. A total of 107 of the 117 gas wells completed in the Jackson gas field since its discovery in 1930 are still producing, and have a combined open flow of approximately 3,724,896,000 cu. ft. It is reasonable to assume that this area will be rather inactive during 1934 as the maximum daily production during 1933 was 3,476,000 cu. ft. The 10 wells that have gone dead were edge wells. The water level is now between the sub-sea depths of 2190 and 2195 ft. The Gulf Refining Company&apos;s Rainey No. 1, sec. 13-5N.-lE., one of the early wells in the field, had gas and water at —2225 ft. That the field is under hydraulic control is

Jan 1, 1934

By N. A. Gokcen, J. Chipman

A revised treatment of the authors&apos; 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&apos; 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&apos;2= [% Si] (H2O/H2 [2] and H, (g) + 0 = H2O (g); K&apos;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&apos;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.&apos; 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&apos;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&apos;1 and the following average values are suggested both for K, and K&apos;, at the temperatures 1550°, 1600°, and 1650", respectively, 1.0x10-", 2.8~10-" and 5.5 ~lo-&apos;. Revision of the thermodynamic treatment is necessitated by the recent appearance of new data, based on a combination of combustion and solution calorimetry,&apos; 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&apos;s tables of high-temperature heat contents" and entropies and with Korber and Oelsen&apos;s&apos; 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&apos; is an evolution of 28,500 cal per gram

Jan 1, 1954

By E. M. Cox, A. S. Skapski, N. H. Nachtrieb, M. C. Bachelder

As a result of using copper-containing scrap in the steelmaking process, the copper content of steels has been steadily increasing for years. Consequently the possible role copper may play in the steelmaking process and in the finished product begins to attract the metallurgists&apos; attention. Some time ago one of the present authors forwarded the idea—based on the results of the analysis of nonmetallic inclusions extracted electrolytically from steels—that sulphur in plain carbon steels is distributed mainly between copper and manganese, the amount of iron sulphide being very small; and that, consequently, the problem of copper and that of sulphur in steel cannot be treated separately.&apos; At the time of the publication of the quoted paper little was known about the relative affinities of copper and manganese for sulphur at high temperatures except that at moderate temperatures (below 1000°C) the affinity of manganese for sulphur is much greater. To gather more experimental data on this subject, the present authors undertook the investigation of the equilibrium constants of the reactions: 2Mn(8 or 1) + S2(g) = 2MnS(s) 4Cu(s or 1) + S2(g) = 2Cu2S (S or I)* 2Fe(s) + S2(g) = 2FeS (s or 1) over a range of temperatures wide enough to establish the dependence of these equilibrium constants on temperature. From the equilibrium constants (K = l/Ps2) the free energy of formation (affinity) can be calculated from F° = -RTln 1/PSt (1) where the standard conditions chosen are: 1 atm of sulphur pressure and the activities of condensed components equal one. The decomposition pressure, Ps2, of sulphur over the respective sulphides is too small to be measured directly, but there is a way of eliminating this difficulty by measuring the equilibrium constant of the reaction between the sulphide and hydrogen. From the latter and from the equilibrium constant of the thermal dissociation of H2S we then calculate Ps2 for the respective sulphide. 2Mn + 2H2S = 2MnS + 2H, 2H2 + S2 = 2H2S_________ 2Mn + S2 = 2MnS The numerical values of the equilibrium constant of the thermal dissociation of H2S at different temperatures were taken from Kelley&apos;s paper, "The Thermodynamic Properties of Sulfur and its Inorganic Compounds."² In previous experimental work published by Jellinek and Zakowski3 and by Britzke and Kapustinsky4 the equilibrium constants of the reactions Metal sulphide + H2 = H2S + metal were determined by passing hydrogen, at different rates of flow, over the sulphide, analyzing the resulting H2S + H2 mixture and then extrapolating the H2S/H2 ratio (which is a function of the rate of flow) to the zero speed of flow, a method necessarily involving considerable uncertainty. In the present work the equilibrium ratio was actually measured instead of being extrapolated. The apparatus is shown in Fig 1. Experimental Procedure The sulphides were prepared by the following methods: FeS Powdered iron which had been reduced with hydrogen (ferrum reduc-tum) was mixed in stoichiometric ratio with sublimed sulphur and carefully ground. The mixture was put into an alundum crucible, covered with pure sulphur, and the reaction started by touching the mixture with a glowing iron rod. After the reaction was completed the product (still containing some metallic iron) was again ground with sulphur, put into a Rose crucible, covered with sulphur, and heated in a strong current of pure hydrogen. Analysis of the final product showed 62.46 pct Fe and 36.59 pct S. Theoretical for FeS: 63.53 pct Fe and 36.47 pct S. MnS Manganese sulphide (precipitated and carefully washed with distilled water containing H2S) was dried in a Rose crucible in an atmosphere of H2S and heated in a current of hydrogen for 2 hr at red heat. The product was then ground and ignited for several hours at 1000°C in a current of hydrogen sulphide. Analysis showed 64.53 pct Mn and 36.63 pct S. Theoretical: 63.15 pct Mn and 36.85 pct S. Some MnS samples were prepared from metallic manganese and sublimed sulphur by mixing and grinding them and then heating in a current of hydrogen sulphide in an alundum tube.

Jan 1, 1950

By J. E. Crawshaw, Francis B. Foley

In the first report1 disks of steel of known composition and history were exposed, under carefully prescribed conditions, to impacts of explosion products resulting from the explosion of 50-gm. charges of explosives having well-determined rates of detonation, or to impacts of a weight of known mass, falling through measured distances. There were available at the Bureau of Mines Experiment Station five explosives, having rates of detonation of 5716, 4470, 3190, 2296, and 1523 meters per second. It being desired to continue this exposure downward, and no explosives with a lesser rate of detonation being at hand, resort was had to the impact of a falling weight, the differences in the velocity of impact being attained by varying the height from which the weight was allowed to fall. It was expected by this means to demonstrate experimentally that the development of Neumann bands was determined by the suddenness of the deformation of the metal in which they were produced. But while progressive deformations were obtained with the explosive charges, the falling-weight method failed because the tup was progressively deformed, also the disks were so flattened as to be unfit for metallographic examination. A return, therefore, has been made to the use of explosives as the source of energy, an air-gap being interposed between the charge of explosive and the disk, as the effect diminishes as the function of the distance between the charge and the object on which the products of its explosion, or the shock wave from its detonation, impinge. The details of the arrangement of the tests by the air-gap method were the same as those described by Foley and Howell,2 except that after the system had been set up and the desired apparent specific gravity for the explosive attained by tamping it, the small lead block, with the steel disk adhering

Jan 1, 1926

By Francis Foley

IN THE first report1 disks of steel of- known composition and history were exposed, under carefully prescribed conditions, to impacts of explosion products resulting from the explosion of 50-gm. charges of explosives having well-determined rates of detonation, or to, impacts of a weight of known mass, falling through measured distances. There were available at the Bureau of Mines Experiment Station five explosives, having rates of detonation of 5716, 4470, 3190, 2296, and 1523 meters per second. It being desired to continue this exposure downward, and no explosives with a lesser rate of detonation being at hand, resort was had to the impact of a falling weight, the differences in the velocity of impact being attained by varying the height from which the weight was allowed to fall. It was expected by this means to demonstrate experimentally that the development of Neumann bands was determined by the suddenness of the deformation of the metal in which they were produced. But while progressive deformations were obtained with the explosive charges, the falling-weight method failed because the tup was progressively deformed, also the disks were so flattened as to be unfit for metallographic examination. A return, therefore, has been made to the use of explosives as the source of energy, an air-gap being interposed between the charge of explosive and the disk, as the effect diminishes as the function of the distance between the charge and the object on which the products of its explosion, or the shock wave from its detonation, impinge. The details of the arrangement of the tests by the air-gap method were the same as those described by Foley and Howell,2 except that after the system had been set up and the desired apparent specific gravity for the explosive

Jan 2, 1926