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By F. B. Harris

MINE surveying and engineering at the various properties of the United States Smelting Refining and Mining Company has developed and increased in importance steadily as mining methods have changed and expanded, both in the development of ore bodies and in the methods and styles of stoping. Most important to satisfactory engineering practice, and secondary -only to accuracy and precision, is the preservation of all data relative to surveys and calculations so that it is readily available for use at all times and in -such form that it is permanent, easily found, and usable. The first consideration for a proper, accurate, and practical start for surveys and efficient engineering at any property is an accurate triangulation net and system of co-ordinates. This has been our practice and the first step seas to select a base line, readily accessible and easily measured, situated preferably on an even grade where the difference of elevation between the two -end monuments was not too great and -the distance was long enough for practical use. Permanent concrete monuments were built for these base-line points so constructed that they could be easily recognized and were visible. Precise levels were run on this base 'line and the elevation (sea level datum) if possible was established at each end monument. The distance was carefully measured many times, back and forward, by using a tape that had been standardized by the National Bureau of Standards. The tape was supported at ,each 25-ft interval on stakes which had been brought to grade between each measuring point. All conditions were

Jan 1, 1948

By A. S. Odeh

The mechanism of two-phase flow in porous media has been a subject of wide controversy. One of the properties essential for understanding the dynamic behavior of two-phase flow is relalive permeability. Relative permeability to a certain phase is defined as the ratio of the effective permeability of that phase to its permeability when it is the only fluid present and powing. In this research, a theoretical analysis was made to determine the effect of viscosity ratio between the non-wetting and the wetting phase on relative permeability. Experimental work was conducted to test the validity of the derived equations. The experiment was conducted on four natural cores. Four oils were used as the non-wetting phases with a viscosity range of 0.42 to 71.30 cp and two wetting phases with a viscosity range of 0.86 to 0.96 cp. Oil and bring were made to flow simultaneously at various ratios, and relative permeability curves were constructed. A total of eight relative pertileability cycles representing eight viscosity ratios were run oil each sample. It was found that relative permeability to the non-~cletting phase varies with viscosity ratio. The relative effect of this variation on relative permeability values was a function of the sample's single-phase permeability, decreasing with its increase. It was concluded that, for .samples of single-phase permeability over I darcy. the effect of viscosity ratio could be disregarded, and relative permeability would be, in effect, a function of satrtration only. INTRODUCTION Two-phase as well as multiphase flow occurs in many fields of science. This type of flow is of particular interest in petroleum production. The knowledge of relative permeability, which describes the dynamic behavior of two-phasc as well as multiphase flow, is essential for solution of problems arising in that field. Thc relative permeability ot a porous medium to a given phase in multiphase flow. is generally considered to be only a function of the saturation of that phase, independent of the properties of fluids involved and ranging in value from zero to unity. Work by Leverett' and Leverett and Lewis' apparently supports this concept. In his experiments Leverett used a clean, packed unconsolidated sand of high permeability (3.2 to 6.2 darcies) with two phases (water and oil) flowing and a viscosity ratio range of 0.057 to 90.0. His results showed that the wide range of viscosity had practically no effect on relative permeability-saturation relationship. Recently accumulated evidence from work performed by several laboratories and a paper by Nowak and Krueger,2 in which relative permeability to oil of a few core samples in the presence of interstitial water was considerably greater than single-phase permeability to water, cast some doubt on the conclusions reached by Leverett' and subscribed to by a large number of individuals in the oil industry. One explanation advanced to explain this behavior states that it is caused by the variable extent of hydra-tion of clay minerals present in the sand. The greater the water saturation, the greater will be the area of contact between water and clay minerals; therefore, the greater will be the extent of swelling with corresponding reduction in permeability. Yuster4 presents another explanation for the recently accumulated evidence. Utilizing Poiseuille's law, he analyzed concentric flow in a single capillary where the non-wetting phase flows in a cylindrical portion of the capillary and concentric with it. The wetting phase flows in the annulus between the non-wetting phase and the capillary wall. The equations obtained indicate that relative permeability to the non-wetting phase is a function of saturation and viscosity ratio. Although Yuster's equations show that fractional rel-ative permeability to oil could be greater than unity, as was indicated by the data of Nowak and Krueger,1 they failed to present an explanation to the experimental data of early investigators such as Leverett.1 Due to the importance of relative permeability in understanding the flow behavior of petroleum reservoir fluids, this work—theoretical as well as experimental —was undertaken to determine whether relative permeability is a function of saturation only as was concluded by Leverett1 or a function of saturation and viscosity ratio as was theorized by Yuster.4 THEORETICAL ANALYSIS An equation will be derived for the rate of oil flow through a porous medium that is initially filled with water. Based on this equation, an analytic expression for relative permeability will be developed. The porous medium will be assumed to consist of .straight circular capillaries of different radii. It will also be assumed that there are no interconnections among the capillaries and no mass transfer across the oil-water interface. Consider a porous sample initially saturated with a wetting phase (water). As a non-wetting phase (oil) is

In accordance with the provision of the Constitution, notice is here given to all Members, Associates, and Junior Members, that the clues of the year 1918 will be payable on Jan. 1. 191.8, at the office of the Secretary. The dues for Members and Associates are $12 per year and the sum of 83 additional is asked of those Members and Associates who desire to have the three volumes bound in the Institute's standard half morocco binding. The dues of Junior Members are $5 per year.

Jan 12, 1917

In accordance with the provision of the Constitution, notice is here given to all Members, Associates, and Junior Associates, that the dues of the year 1919 will be payable on Jan. 1, 1919, at the office of the Secretary. The clues for Members and Associates are $12 per year and the sum of. $2 additional is asked of those Members and Associates who desire to 'have the two volumes bound in the Institute's standard binding. The clues of Junior Associates are $5 per year.

Jan 12, 1918

In accordance with the provision of the Constitution, notice is here given to all Members, Associates, and Junior Members, that the dues of the year 1918 will be payable on Jan. 1, 1918, at the office of the Secretary. The dues for Members and Associates are $12 per year and the sum of $3 additional is asked of those Members and Associates who desire to have the three volumes bound in the Institute's standard half-morocco binding. The dues of Junior Members are $5 per year.

Jan 1, 1918

By Robert Mehl

THE system cadmium-mercury has attracted much attention, chiefly because of its importance in the study of electrochemical standard cells. The constitutional diagram, as it is accepted today, is essentially that FIG. 1.-BIJL'S DIAGRAM FOR CADMIUM-MERCURY ALLOYS. developed by Bijl1 (Fig. 1), though there has been a great amount of work done on the system by other workers.2 A year ago the senior author published a paper on the crystal structure of the system, in which were described determinations of crystal structure

Jan 1, 1929

By T. lkeda, R. S. Montgomery. A. Hara

Actual test specimens used in the previous laboratory wear investigation,' were fully characterized and the data is given in Table 1. Most of the carbides tested could be placed into groups of similar mean grain size. When the wear rates of the members of these groups were plotted as functions of their hardnesses, a family of curves resulted; curves for groups containing data from larger grained composites were at lower wear rates at the same hardnesses. Most specimens tested showed only A-1 porosity (ASTM Standard designa-

Jan 1, 1971

Jan 1, 1895

By M. A. Childers

Recent work with controlled laboratory tests.' field experience and a new analytical approach indicate that casing centralization, pipe movement and relative rheological properties between the mud and cement (yield point and density) are the three controlling factors in successfu1 primary cementing of dual casing. Turbulent flow has been demonstrated to be unnecessary under the severe displace ment conditions of parallel dual strings of casing. Simultaneous reciprocation of dual casing in directionally drilled boreholes is highly dependent on centralization and on the rapid initiation of pipe movement once the casing has been run to total depth. Successful cementing of 30 out of 32 dual, 3%-in casing wells substantiated these conclusions. A review of 15 dual, 3 1/2-in. casing wells completed prior to the adoption of these principles disclosed only one success. Mathematical and graphical techniques permit the engineer to analyze and anticipate the success or failure of a cementing operation. Standoff, mud displacement and reciprocation can be analyzed mathematically and planned in deep, directional or straight boreholes by review of annular geometry, relative rheological properties between the mud and cement, and forces caused by caring weight, functional drag and differential sticking. Introduction The objective in primary cementing is to displace the drilling fluid with cement that will bond to the formation and casing to prevent communication through the annulus. The predominant cause of failure appears to be channels of gelled mud that remain in the annulus after cementing.1 '* Past investigations have noted many procedures that could improve the displacement process.2-' These procedures include centralization, chemical preflushes, mechanical mud cake removers, controlled flow rates in certain regimes, pipe movement an1 control of mud and cement properties. Not until recently have the effects of many of these procedures been isolated so that their individual importance could be determined. In a recent paper,' a comprehensive and analytical laboratory study of various factors controlling the displacement process concluded that there are three major factors in obtaining complete mud displacement by the cement slurry. 1. Good relative rheological properties between the mud and cement. The cement should be heavier and have a yield point and plastic viscosity higher than the mud being displaced. Buoyancy forces often can dominate the displacement process. 2. High degree of standoff or centralization. The more centered the casing, the greater the likelihood of complete mud displacement and removal. 3. Pipe movement obtained by rotation or reciprocation. Often unfavorable rheological properties between the mud and cement, and poor standoff can be compensated by pipe movement. This work demonstrates the compatibility of the latter concepts with field results extended to the more severe dual casing displacement process. Early Experience With Dual 3'/t-In. Primary Cementing Early slim casing completions in the West Delta Block 73 field, offshore Louisiana, included 17 dual 3%-in., 3 single 3% -in. and 1 dual 2% -in. casing installations. Table I provides data on these earlier wells. Usually, common Class A cement was placed across the pay zone and 12 percent gel cement was placed to a height of 500 ft above the highest productive sand. Centralizers (6%-in. OD maximum expansion) were placed two or three per joint on both casing strings from total depth through the completion intervals and at least one per joint for the remainder of the cement sheath. A number of techniques and procedures were attempted to improve cementing success. Casing was run simultaneously or separately with a number of mud conditioning and circulating techniques. Mechanical aids such as cement bonders, slmiding sleeves, turbulizers and various sizes and strengths of centralizers were used. Common and gel cements were mixed with fresh or sea water with a number of different additives to control retardation and dispersion. Cements were thinned and mixed at high rates to try to induce turbulent flow in the annulus. On one well the "slow flow" method was used." Perforating was accomplished with a jet orienting gun. Unsuccessful cement jobs were indicated by production of extraneous fluids or by pressure communication between zones. On test, five wells flowed water, four flowed sand and six had pressure communication with the other string or the 10%-in. casing. A total of 25 remedial squeeze ce-

Jan 1, 1969

By Roy P. Hudson

A micropyrometer known as the De Graaf apparatus has several advantages over the gas-furnace method for determining ash fusibility. When the De Graaf apparatus is operated by a modified method of procedure, the results closely check those of the gas-furnace method. This is indicated by tests on 27 samples of coal ash, with an extreme variation in fusibility values of 654" F. However, most of the ashes fused at temperatures between 2300º and 2500º. This, presumably, is the temperature interval within which the micropyrometer gives the best results. Additional comparisons are desirable. DISCUSSION (Thomas G. Fear presiding) A. C. FIELDNER,† Washington, D. C. (written discussion‡).-—The Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the Bureau of Mines has made two investigations1 of the micropyrometer for determining the fusibility of coal ash. These studies were undertaken with a view to adopting the micropyrometer method us a substitute or alternate to the present standard gas-furnace method, in view of the obvious advantages of greater speed, smaller ash sample, smaller laboratory space requirements, less equipment and greater comfort to the operator. However, the investigation showed that the micropyrometer type of furnace as then operated in five laboratories having this equipment could not be accepted as an alternate to the standard gas furnace, which is capable of close duplication in different laboratories, as shown in a recent colmparison between the Pittsburgh Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines and the Fuel Research Station of Great Britain.2 The algebraic meau

Jan 1, 1934

By S. Whinery

In these times of sharp rivalry, both as to price and quality, among the makers and venders of engineering explosives, it is often desirable to be able to determine the relative energy or value of the various explosives offered for sale, in order to purchase intelligently ; or, having contracted for a large amount of an explosive of a certain standard quality, to be able to ascertain if the manufacturer keeps his product up to the specified standard. The simple and inexpensive apparatus described below was devised by the writer while engaged on the improvement of the Tennessee River, at MuscleShoals, under the direction of' Major W. R. King, U. S. Engineers, in the summer of 1879. It answered the purpose so well that it is thought that a brief account of it may be of interest to other engineers. It consisted, essentially, of an old blacksmith's anvil and a common striking hammer, such as is used for driving rock-drills. The anvil was placed face downward on solid, level ground. In what was then the top of it, a vertical hole, one and one-fourth inch in diameter and about one arid three-fourths inch deep, was made with a ratchetdrill. The surface of the anvil immediately around the drill-hole was made as true and smooth as possible with a file. Next, a new striking-hammer, weighing nine pounds, with a turned and true face, was selected ; and a handle, eleven feet long and about one and a half inches in diameter, was fitted into it so that it

Jan 1, 1886

By P. de Vitry, Willis P. Mould

The wire saw is a tool not less than 60 years old, probably nearer 100 years old. It was developed in Europe and is reputed to have originated in Belgium. Frombold is said to be the original patentee. Wire sawing equipment, as indicated in Fig. I, is very simple. It consists of a three-strand wire cable, usually pis or 1/4 in. in diameter, or a single flat ribbon of medium hard, tough, alloy steel twisted into a helix of those diameters, made to form an endless belt of any length up to several thousand feet. The wire is guided into the cut by sheaves mounted in slides on steel columns situated close to either end of the cut. The feed motion usually is controlled either by gravity or by hand-operated feed screws. The steel columns or "standards" range from 15 to 30 ft. in length. At the top is a swiveled arm supporting a sheave similar to the traveling sheave below. Immediately under the swivel-mounted sheave is a guy plate or collar with shackles attaching four chain or wire-rope guys with suitable tightening devices, or with two guys and two jack legs for supporting the standard vertically or at any desired anale. The usual drive is by a 10-hp. motor through a gear reducer, on which are Insti- two grooved sheaves, One of which is keyed and the other free running On the shaft. Tension is provided by a car running on a track in line with the driving sheave

Jan 1, 1948

By P. de Vitry, Willis P. Mould

The wire saw is a tool not less than 60 years old, probably nearer 100 years old. It was developed in Europe and is reputed to have originated in Belgium. Frombold is said to be the original patentee. Wire sawing equipment, as indicated in Fig. I, is very simple. It consists of a three-strand wire cable, usually pis or 1/4 in. in diameter, or a single flat ribbon of medium hard, tough, alloy steel twisted into a helix of those diameters, made to form an endless belt of any length up to several thousand feet. The wire is guided into the cut by sheaves mounted in slides on steel columns situated close to either end of the cut. The feed motion usually is controlled either by gravity or by hand-operated feed screws. The steel columns or "standards" range from 15 to 30 ft. in length. At the top is a swiveled arm supporting a sheave similar to the traveling sheave below. Immediately under the swivel-mounted sheave is a guy plate or collar with shackles attaching four chain or wire-rope guys with suitable tightening devices, or with two guys and two jack legs for supporting the standard vertically or at any desired anale. The usual drive is by a 10-hp. motor through a gear reducer, on which are Insti- two grooved sheaves, One of which is keyed and the other free running On the shaft. Tension is provided by a car running on a track in line with the driving sheave

Jan 1, 1948

By P. de Vitry, Willis P. Mould

THE wire saw is a tool not less than 60 years old, probably nearer 100 years old. It was developed in Europe and is reputed to have originated in Belgium. Frombold is said to be the original patentee. [ ] Wire sawing equipment, as indicated in Fig. I, is very simple. It consists of a three-strand wire cable, usually 3/16 or 1/4 in. in diameter, or a single flat ribbon of medium hard, tough, alloy steel twisted into a helix of those diameters, made to form an endless belt of any length up to several thousand feet. The wire is guided into the cut by sheaves mounted in slides on steel columns situated close to either end of the cut. The feed motion usually is controlled either by gravity or by hand-operated feed screws. The steel columns or "standards" range from 15 to 30 ft. in length. At the top is a swiveled arm supporting a sheave similar to the traveling sheave below. Immediately under the swivel-mounted sheave is a guy plate or collar with shackles attaching four chain or wire-rope guys with suitable tightening devices, or with two guys and two jack legs for supporting the standard vertically or at any desired angle. The usual drive is by a 10-hp. motor through a gear reducer, on which are mounted two grooved sheaves, one of which is keyed and the other free running on the shaft. Tension is provided by a car running on a track in line with the driving sheave

Jan 1, 1946

By L. N. Cosner, C. F. Austin, J. K. Pringle

Shock wave attenuation studies with three igneous rocks are reported: a spessartite elastic to low intensity stress waves, a diorite which is anelastic, and a porous scoria. The level of shock passing through a given thickness of rock has been determined by donor-receptor methods using high speed streak cameras. Test results include shock propagation velocities adjacent to the explosive, the dependence of test results upon test geometry, and the variation in shock wave attenuation in these three common igneous rock fabrics. The utilization of explosives in rock mediums involves a series of interrelated phenomena. These are the detonation process within the explosive, the transfer of energy from the explosion products to the surrounding rock medium in the form of sound or shock waves, and the transmission of the resulting waves through the rock medium to create damage in the rock mass. The subject of this paper is the investigation of the close-in phenomena that occur in the intensely shocked rock immediately adjacent to a detonating explosive charge. The specific aspects studied include propagation velocities, free surface velocities, pulse attenuations and the determination of the equations of state for the test rocks employed. In addition, a series of tests was conducted to indicate the dependence of the test results on the charge diameter utilized. The equations of state for rock materials have been investigated by a number of authors. Lombard, ',' Grine and Fowles,3,4 Zharkov, 5 Hughes and McQueen,6 Chabai,7,8 and Bass9 have published equation of state data on rock materials similar in structure or composition to those investigated in the study. Rinehart10 has prepared a voluminous tabulation of the available equation of state data from these publications and in addition has included data on many other rock and earth materials in his compilation. The reader is referred to the extensive tabulations and bibliography of Rinehart for classical studies involving the equations of state of metals and other solids and liquids. The problems of sympathetic detonation between drill holes in hard rock environments has received the attention of various authors as have the problems of explosive rock coupling close-in stress wave attenuation and explosive diameter effects. 11 to 18 In particular, the don or-receptor geometry of this report is very similar to the geometry of adjacent drill holes in rock. Most published pulse velocity and attenuation work in rock has been devoted to velocities at much lower amplitudes than those associated with close-in explosives phenomena and most attenuation studies involve transmission and attenuation across large spans of material. Excellent work in these areas has been published by the U. S. Bureau of Mines and by many individuals and groups engaged in geophysical research. SELECTION OF TEST MATERIALS A series of rock materials was desired for this test program that would be meaningful industrially, and that would also yield comparative results from a research viewpoint. Based on the availability of a series of related petro-fabrics, for which there is an abundance of physical and shock response data, three igneous rocks were selected as the test series. The applicability of shock wave studies in igneous rocks to industrial problems is readily demonstrated. Hardrock tunneling, quarrying and mining take place in igneous rocks throughout the world. From a research point of view, igneous rocks exhibit a wide variety of grain sizes and considerable diversity in composition, yet the common igneous rocks have a general similarity in their constituent mineral structures and in their grain-to-grain bonding mechanisms. The latter is based on the concept of rock formation through magma cooling and crystallization, though the degree of liquefaction in granitic plutonic masses is indeed a moot question. Three specific types of igneous rock were chosen for study. A coarse-grained granitic textured rock was desired that would serve as a representative of the widely abundant intrusive rocks of the world and

Jan 1, 1967

By A. J. Conelius, D. P. Sobocinski

This paper presents a correlation for predicting the behavior of a water cone as it builds from the static water-oil contact to breakthrough conditions. The correlation is partly empirical and involves dimensionless groups of reservoir and fluid properties and of production and well characteristics. The groups were deduced from the scaling criteria for the immiscible displacement of oil by water. The correlation is based on a limited amount of experimenfal data from a laboratory sand-packed model and on results from a computer program for a two-dimensional, incompressible system. Because the correlating groups are dimensionless, they can be used to estimate the performance of water coning cases not specifically considered in the correlation. However, despite its dimensionless nature, the correlation is not completely general and will not provide meaningful estimates of cone behavior in many situations. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The production of water from oil wells is a common occurrence which increases the cost of producing operations and may reduce the efficiency of the depletion mechanism and the recovery of reserves. We will deal with one cause of this water production, namely, coning. The coning of water into a producing well is caused by pressure gradients established around the wellbore by the production of fluids from the well. These pressure gradients can raise the water-oil contact near the well where gradients are most severe. Gravity forces that arise from fluid density differences counterbalance the flowing pressure gradients and tend to keep the water out of the oil zone. Therefore, at any given time, there is a balance between gravitational and viscous forces at points on and away from the completion interval. When the dynamic forces at the wellbore exceed gravitational forces, a cone of water will ultimately break into the well to produce water along with the oil. We can expand on this basic visualization of coning by introducing the concepts of stable cone, unstable cone and critical production rate. For instance, if a well is produced at a constant rate and the pressure gradients in the drainage system have become constant, a steady-state condition is reached. If, at this condition, the dynamic forces at the well are less than the gravity forces, then the water or gas cone that has formed will not extend to the well. Moreover, the cone will neither advance nor recede, thus establishing what is known as a stable cone. Conversely, if the pressure in the system is in an unsteady-state condition, then an unstable cone will continue to advance until steady-state conditions prevail. If the flowing pressure drop at the well is suffcient to overcome the gravity forces, the unstable cone will grow and ultimately break into the well. It is important to note that in a realistic sense, stable cones may only be "pseudostable" because the drainage system and pressure distribution generally change. For example, with reservoir depletion, the water-oil contact may advance toward the completion interval, thereby increasing chances for coning. As another example, reduced productivity due to well damage requires a corresponding increase in the flowing pressure drop LO maintain a given production rate. This increase in pressure drop may force an otherwise stable cone into a well. The critical production rate, well known in the literature, is the rate above which the flowing pressure gradient at the well causes water (or gas) to cone into the well. It is, therefore, the maximum rate of oil production without concurrent production of the displacing phase by coning. At the critical rate, a built-up cone is stable but is at a position of incipient breakthrough. Numerous papers have been published on critical rates. Some of the better known of these include the work of (1) Muskat and Wyckoff,' who first dealt with the coning problem; (2) Chaney, et al,' who developed expressions similar to those of Muskat but who presented results in a conven ient-to-use graphical form (the "Sun" method); and (3) Meyer and Garder,b hose analysis is based on radial-flow formulas. One assumption in critical production rate analyses is that the cone has built-up to just before its breakthrough into the well. But, these analyses reveal nothing directly about the time it takes for the cone to build up to this incipient breakthrough position. Thus, water-free oil can be produced from a well for prolonged periods at rates above the critical rate before the well reaches the condition to which the critical rate applies. The published literature contains little on the rate of growth of a cone. Experimentally, Meyer and Searcy studied the rate of rise of a cone in a Hele-Shaw model.' Additional related work on water breakthrough and produced water-oil ratios in water driven reservoirs was reported by Muskat," Hutchinson and Kemp," Henley, et al,' and Stevens, et a1.B Theoretically, the basic coning equations for a water-oil system can be developed by applying the conservation of mass to each of the phases, relating flow velocities with pressure by Darcy's law, and relating pressures across water-oil interfaces by capillary pressure. With the usual boundaries at the well and reservoir limits, the solution of the resulting equations for the time behavior of a water-oil interface constitutes a free-surface, boundary-value problem. The shape of the boundary depends on the internal potential distribution, while this

Jan 1, 1966

C. E. Dewey, Georgetown, Colo. (communication to the Secretary) : In his remarks on crushing-machinery, Mr. Douglas says (Twins., xxii., p. 322): "To insure a smaller and more uniform size of particles in the crushed material, the Dodge crusher still communicates motion to the upper extremity of tile movable jaw, which oscillates on fixed pivots projecting from its lower extremity!' The notion that, in order to obtain a fine and uniform product from a rock-breaker, the movable jaw must be pivoted at its lower extremity, seems to obtain generally among mill-men, as well as among manufacturers of machinery. My experience with machines of both types does not confirm this belief. It is true that, to obtain a uniformly fine product from a jaw-crusher, the stroke at the lower extremity of the crushing-surface must be short; but that the movement at that end must be less than at the other or receiving-end is, I think, an erroneous assumption. Figs. 1 and 2 are intended to illustrate the two types of machine. It is found in practice that the capacity and the nature of the product of either machine, as usually constructed, are governed by the opening, C D, and the length of stroke of the movable jaw at D. This being the case, machines of either type, of the same width of crushing-surface, running at the same speed, and having the same adjustment as to opening and stroke at D, should give, when fed

Jan 1, 1895

By V. D. Perry

Mineralized breccia pipes, because of their widespread occurrence and close structural relations to some of the world's great ore bodies, are objects of unusual interest for mining engineers and geologists. The literature contains many references to them, but it is questionable whether their genetic significance and economic importance have been sufficiently emphasized. The purpose here is to stress these features, relating them to the field facts, for the particular benefit of younger generations of geologists who, confronted with and sometimes confused by the growing flood of geochemical, geophysical, and other specialized research approaches, may be reassured that mappable field relations remain a foremost guide to a better understanding of ore deposits. A mineralized breccia pipe is a pre-mineral, breccia structure which has controlled the circulation and deposition of subsequently introduced mineralization. It is composed of relatively rotated angular or rounded rock fragments, set in a mineralized matrix. A pipe in plan outline may be circular, oval or approach polygonal form, with a steep to vertical axis proportionately much greater than its horizontal dimensions. The pipe is a steeply plunging, chimneylike mass of brecciated rock cemented with later minerals. Rock breaks in a variety of ways and complete fragmentation often occurs without rotation of individual pieces. A finely broken rock mass may fit into a tight jig-saw pattern, each fragment having mutually concordant boundaries with its neighbors. The result is a stockwork of innumerable reticulating cracks that, once cemented by mineralization, forms a complicated intersecting network of individually insignificant but collectively important seams and veinlets. Stockwork fracturing among its many forms takes the shape of domes of subsidence, fracture pipes, and related peripheral zones around and over breccia columns, or a combination of any of these structures. The significance of the mineralized breccia pipe is that it represents the extreme or climactic expression of a structural type which has a variety of mutations including subsidence domes, fracture pipes, and other stockwork zones all with related ancestry and similar to dissimilar characteristics. These allied and associated structures hold an answer to the fundamental question of the origin of many important ore deposits. CANANEA-TYPE LOCALITY FOR BRECCIA PIPES The Cananea district is characterized by an unusual development of mineralized breccia pipes. It is an important copper producer located in Sonora, Mexico, a short distance southwest of Bisbee, Arizona, and at the southerly limit of the great porphyry copper belt of the southwestern U.S. Cananea's rocks consist of Paleozoic quartzite and limestone capped unconformably by a thick series of volcanics including andesitic flows, tuffs, and agglomerates. These rocks have been intruded by a deep-seated granite with related basic and acid differentiates including dikes and plugs of quartz mon-zonite porphyry. Mineralization coincides with a northwesterly trending belt of these intrusives which break upward into and through the sedimentary-volcanic rock sequence. The district has weakly defined tectonic alignments in a northwesterly direction with subordinate intersecting fracture elements, but lacks important faulting or fissuring to provide throughgoing avenues for the upward circulation of mineralizing fluids. Thus, as will be discussed in subsequent paragraphs, the alternate way in which late magmatic and hydro-thermal derivatives of the parent magma reached the near-surface zone was by excavating their own breccia pipe channelways. There are numerous stages of breccia pipe development, related both in time and space to magmatic activity. A compilation of similarities and differences in various pipes suggests that proximity or remoteness of a demonstrable or inferred magmatic source provides an orderly genetic basis for describing the following representative types. Cananea Duluth Type: There are no intrusive rocks within or close to the Cananea Duluth pipe; therefore, the existence of any deep-seated magma that may have been related to its formation must be inferred. The structure is an oval-shaped ring 1200 x 300 ft in plan dimensions, cutting steeply across low angle, bedded tuffs, and other volcanics; it has been developed by drill holes to a depth of 2000 ft below the surface. The ore follows the periphery of the pipe and is composed of intensely brecciated rock which is cemented by minor galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, quartz, carbonates, and adularia. There is a definite vertical zoning of sulfides with less galena, continuing sphalerite, and increasing chalcopyrite at deeper levels. Within the interior of the ore ring, the brecciation becomes progressively weaker and coarser, the whole indicating relatively gentle slumping with broken, thin tuff beds pre-

Jan 1, 1961

By R. W. Drier

THE conductivity of copper wire is of prime importance to the electrical industry and consequently to the copper refiner and wire manufacturer. Annealed copper wire has a higher conductivity than hard-drawn wire, but, on the other hand, its tensile strength is lower. In an attempt to explain the reasons for these changes in property or at least to study the conditions existing in these two types of copper wire, the experiments described here were carried on in the Department of Metallurgy of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology. This is only a partial and preliminary report on some of the work done to date on a research program of which the object is an intensive study of copper. It is offered with the hope that, though it is not an exposition of the most rigorous of conclusions, the general trend of inferences which may be drawn will be of value and interest.

Jan 1, 1929

By C. A. Siebert, O. S. Duffendack, A. W. Herbenar

IN metallurgical problems involving the study of equilibrium in binary systems, the ,existence of an additional vapor phase, due to the presence of a volatile component in the alloy, has often been neglected. This is well indicated by the modified form of the phase rule, usually accepted in condensed systems in which pressure is not considered as a degree of freedom. In many cases the vapor pressure of the volatile component is exceedingly small and for all purposes can be considered negligible, in which case this form of the phase rule is applicable. However, alloys containing Hg, Cd, Zn, or Mg, tend to show very marked equilibrium vapor pressure, even in the solid state, and therefore present cases where the modified form of the phase rule no longer holds true. A quantitative determination of the vapor pressure of zinc in alpha brasses is not only of practical interest because of the loss of zinc in the processing of these alloys, but also of theoretical interest in that such measurements provide a means of applying the principles of theoretical physics and physical chemistry to problems of applied metallurgy. A number of investigators have reported vapor pressure measurements of zinc in alpha brasses. Hargreaves1 made extensive measurements which were used by Birchenall and Mehl² and Guttman³ for the determination of activity coefficients of zinc in alpha brasses. Hargreaves1 used a differentially heated quartz tube and measured the condensation temperature at one end corresponding to the temperature of the heated brass at the other end. Birchenall and Cheng outlined the condensation method of obtaining vapor pressure of zinc and Cd over some of their silver alloys." The primary object of the present investigation was to increase the range and accuracy of the vapor pressure data for the alpha brasses. Preparation of Alloys: Six alloys were prepared from Bunkerhill zinc and O.F.H.C. copper, both of 99.99 pct purity. The cast ingots were annealed for 24 hr at 550°C, scalped, cold rolled 40 pct and annealed for 50 hr at 550°C. The annealed bars were then surface ground and degasified for 30 min at approximately 550°C in an induction heated vacuum furnace. The surface of the bars was removed before milling the bars into relatively fine chips for chemical analysis and samples for the equilibrium cell. The analyses of the six alloys are given in table I. Experimental Method: The vapor pressure of zinc over the various alloys at a number of temperatures was determined from absorption spectra data. The spark source was produced by means of a high tension discharge between two electrodes of pure zinc. The design of the absorption vessel is shown in fig. 1. The vessel was constructed of transparent quartz which transmits the whole of the visible spectrum and the ultraviolet down to a wave length of 2000 A. The thickness of the vapor space was set at 0.8 mm so as to permit a relatively wide range of measurements without altering the vapor space, and thereby necessitating recalibration of the vessel. The furnace used for heating the absorption vessel consisted of a split wound furnace as shown in fig. 2. The spectrograph used in obtaining the transmitted zinc spectra was a double prism type especially designed for a region of 2500-3500 A. A step diaphragm used in conjunction with a tungsten filament provided the necessary intensity patterns required for calibration of the photographic plates.

Jan 1, 1951