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By J. B. Newkirk, D. L. Martin, A. H. Geisler, R. Smoluchowski

A FUNDAMENTAL investigation of the mecha-nism of the ordering reaction and of the accompanying changes in properties has been undertaken, since an extensive study of this process could well contribute to the knowledge of phase transitions in alloys. Cobalt-platinum alloys were chosen for the study since they exhibit interesting and unusual permanent magnet properties.1,2. In addition, the ordering reaction in cobalt-platinum alloys is a convenient one to study experimentally because of the high maximum ordering temperature, the large difference in the X-ray scattering power of cobalt and platinum atoms, and the relative ease with which the alloys can be plastically worked into wire and strip. In the early stages of this study, it became apparent that the published phase diagrams&apos;, &apos; of the cobalt-platinum system contained questionable features, in the region of 40 to 60 atomic pct Co, which were considered in another publication by the authors.4 That portion of the research reported elsewhere on the equilibrium states of cobalt-platinum alloys does not confirm the presence of a previously reported, high temperature disordered tetragonal phase and a low temperature body-centered cubic phase. On the other hand, the structure of the ordered phase is face-centered tetragonal with an atomic distribution analogous to that of CuAu.4 This lattice forms from the disordered face-centered cubic phase in such an orientation that the <100> directions are parallel to the <100> direc-tions of the disordered phase. At compositions other than the ideal 50 atomic pct the ordered phase can exist in equilibrium at high temperatures with the disordered phase. A Widmanstatten pattern of plate-like particles of the ordered phase parallel to (110) planes of the disordered matrix is observed when an initially disordered alloy is held at these temperatures. The temperature range of the two-phase region has been determined for three alloys by X-ray diffraction analyses, microscopic examination, and electrical resistivity measurements, and these results are incorporated with some of those of Gebhardt and Köster in the revised phase diagram of fig. 1. The purpose of the investigation reported here was to examine the mechanism of ordering in co-balt-platinum alloys by X-ray diffraction and metal-

Jan 1, 1951

By Eckley B. Coxe

In making surveys in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, the ordinary engineer&apos;s chain (50 or 100 feet long) is generally used, both above and below ground. Sometimes, where it is difficult to chain, as, for instance, across a chasm, a wire is stretched from one station to the other, the distance is marked on the wire and its length is then measured with the ordinary chain. Having had occasion lately to make some surveys where it was necessary to determine with great accuracy the position of the land or property line, not

By Henry N. Toler

Oil and gas development in Mississippi during 1936 was about the same as during the past three or four years, with less drilling activity in the proven fields; although at the end of the year there was a decided increase in interest and activity. Jackson Gas Field Six wells were drilled in the Jackson gas field, three of which were producers and three dry holes. The gas production for 1936 was 12,968,-000,000 cu. ft., which is 2,500,000,000 cu. ft. more than for any previous year. The total gas production from the field to the end of 1936 has been 58,092,000,000 cubic feet. Thirteen producing gas wells were abandoned during the year because of encroachment of salt water. At present there are 99 producing gas wells in the field. The three oil wells on the edge of the field, which had been producing, were not produccd during 1936, although they are still capable of making some oil with much salt water. The rock pressure at the end of the year was 930 lb., which is a decline of 80 Ib. since the discovery of the field. In March of 1936, the State Legislature appropriated $115,000 to be used by the State Mineral Lease Commission in drilling some gas wells

Jan 1, 1937

By D. M. McFarland

A FEW years ago a novel electric detonator known as the split-second or millisecond delay electric blasting cap was introduced for use in quarry blasting. Regular electric blasting caps fired in series may be depended upon to fire within a millisecond or so from the first to the last in a series. Regular delay electric blasting caps are provided that fire one period after the other period in intervals of 1/2 to possibly 1 l/2 sec. Most split-second or millisecond delays are designed to fire one period after the other period in possibly 25 to 50 millisecond intervals. The ear is not capable of detecting time intervals of this magnitude.

Jan 11, 1950

By P. LaRochelle, K. Y. Lo, A. L. Tamuly Phukan

In many civil or mining engineering works, the stresses and deformations of natural or excavated slopes due to the combined effect of self-weight and initial stresses are of interest. Because of the mathematical complexities of this problem, however, no complete exact solution exists for the simplest case, that of assuming the stress-strain relation of the rock to be perfectly elastic. Efforts have therefore been directed toward numerical and experimental technique. The stresses within an elastic slope have been obtained by LaRochelle,1 using the photoelastic and finite difference method to determine the difference and sum of principal stresses. Subsequently, Finn,2 Hoyaux and Ladanyi,3 and Duncan and Dunlop4 attempted to solve the same problem by using the finite element method. The problem was also investigated by Brown and Goodman5 and Brown and King6 who emphasize the importance of the effect of loading or unloading procedure on the stress distribution within the slope. Although the geometry of the slope and the boundary conditions involved are identical or similar, the results obtained by these various authors by no means agree. It is therefore necessary to review briefly the results of elastic analysis in order to lend credence to the methods used in the solution. Although the stress-strain behavior of some rocks may be reasonably approximated by the elastic modrl, other rocks generally exhibit an elasto-plastic behavior with strain hardening or strain softening as shown in Fig. 1. Experiments show that for most rocks, the stress-strain relationship is approximately linear from the origin to the point P (neglecting the small concave region under low stresses). At P, the curve deviates

Jan 1, 1970

By Abram S. Hewitt

GENTLEMEN : If my first words were other than those of thanks for the high honor of being called to preside over the American Institute of Mining Engineers, I should do injustice alike to you and to my own sense of the obligation, under which I have been placed by your voluntary choice. When the position was first suggested to me, I resolutely declined to allow the use of my name, on the ground that, by training and occupation, I was not entitled to this honor, which, it then seemed to me, should be conferred only on a professional engineer. In fact, the history of the Institute, which had honored itself, as well as my distinguished predecessors, David Thomas, Rossiter W. Raymond, and Alexander L. Holley, by elevating them to its highest office, seemed to indicate the line and the limit of safe precedent, in which I did not then see how I could be included. But my scruples were finally removed by the consideration that, as in the course of human industry, the pioneer, of whom Mr. Thomas was so marked a type, must precede the mining engineer, so fitly personified in Dr. Raymond, and be followed by the mechanical engineer, whose incarnation we behold in Mr. Holley; so all these must be supplemented by the man of affairs and finance, in order that "enterprises of great pith and moment" may be prosecuted to a successful issue. I felt, therefore, that I had no longer any right to resist your preference, or to deprive myself of what I must regard as the crowning honor of an active career. On an occasion like the present it seems appropriate to review the history in this country, during the last hundred years, of those industries which the Institute of Mining Engineers specially represents. There is much in the story with which other members of this body are more familiarly acquainted than myself; yet I fancy that to all of them, and not less to our distinguished and most heartily welcome guests from abroad, a comprehensive outline of the progress of mining and metallurgy in the United States will prove interesting. I ask your attention, therefore, to a condensed account of that subject, embracing a statement of the beginnings of the industry on our shores, of the notable events attending its increase, and of its present

Jan 1, 1877

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.&apos; This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.&apos; This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.&apos; This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

By Samuel G. Lasky

The writer has been interested in determining the mineralogic dis-t,ribut.ion of silver in the base-metal ore of thc Ground Hog mine of the Asarco Mining Co. in the Central mining district of New Mexico.&apos; This ore consists of a varitextured mixture of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite in a quartz gangue. The average ore contains 14 per cent of zinc, 9.5 per cent of lead, 5 per cent of copper, and 10 oz. of silver per ton. Generally it is accepted that the silver in ores of this type, in which no definite silver minerals can be recognized, is contained in the base-metal minerals. Published assays of pure mineral specimens from many districts show that each of the base-metal minerals contributes in some degree to the total silver content of the ores, and to determine the proportionate amount contributed by each mineral in any specific ore it has been the practice to assay selected specimens of each mineral, the purity of which has been determined microscopically. There being no such assays available for the Ground Hog ore, and it being impracticable to have enough of them made to give average results, the writer resorted to a mathematical attack upon composite assays of large quantities of ore and concentrates. Surprising results were obtained, and it is the threefold purpose of this paper to present these results, to describe the mathematical method used, and to point out the value of using this method even when assays of pure specimens are available. Value of the Mathematical Method The obvious way of attacking the problem would be to separate cleanly large quantities of ore into its component minerals and then to determine the average silver content of each mineral by assay of representative samples. Since an absolutely clean separation is not feasible, it has been the practice, as mentioned above, to assay pure specimens of the different minerals. No one will contend seriously that the silver content of a base-metal mineral is constant throughout any particular deposit, and it will

Jan 1, 1935

By Joseph E. Pogue

Price is a complicated concept, for price is both a cause and an effect. This reciprocal aspect is commonly overlooked and the oversight is the source of many economic maladjustments. Price is the resultant of the ratio between supply and demand, but it differs from a mathematical concept of a proportion, by itself constituting an economic force which continuously alters the elements that determine the relationship. Price, therefore, is not merely the outcome of other forces but is in its own right one of the most powerful of economic agents. Price accordingly does not play a passive role; nor can it be sterilized or rendered inactive. In consequence, price cannot be fixed or at least kept fixed, except by the elimination of all freedom of choice on the part of producers and consumers. A primary objective of all economic activity is equilibrium. The same is true of a unit of economic activity, the single industry. The plane upon which equilibrium centers may shift in the course of time, but equilibrium itself is the point of departure and the point of return. If an industry is in equilibrium, that industry is operating effectively. The motivating forces of an industry—profits or the common good—are not to be confused with the prerequisite of equilibrium, but this mistake is often made. The producer is dominated by the profit motive; the consumer, or his collective representative, by the general welfare motive. No one is the advocate for equilibrium; that status is supposed to be arrived at automatically. If the forces of competition are perfectly free, such is the tendency. Equilibrium For the purposes of this analysis, equilibrium needs to be broadly defined and is conceived to involve: (1) balance between supply and demand; (2) internal equipoise amongst the elements within an industry; and (3) symmetry in respect to the whole economy. This definition implies flexibility and case of adjustment; a ready accommodation to change. Equilibrium does not postulate profits or nonprofits, social objectives or the lack of them. A decadent industry may be in equilib-

Jan 1, 1937

By David S. Butts

The high cost of energy has made many solution mining corporations turn from fuel consuming evaporators to solar energy and solar ponds. The generally held concept of a solar pond is an area enclosed by dikes into which brine is pumped, water evaporated by the sun, and the resulting salts scraped from the bottom of the pond. This paper will show that solar ponding is not simple. It is a science involving six main areas. These areas are (1) land conditions, (2) meteorology, (3) fresh water, (4) accessibility, (5) manpower and (6) mineral resources. Each area is discussed to identify important parameters that must be investigated before the viability of a solar pond complex can be established as a mineral recovery step.

Jan 1, 1985

By H. E. Cline, T. H. Alden

A study zvas made of rate-sensitive plastic deformation and superplasticity in alloys of lead and tin. These alloys (lead, PO-19 pct Sn, Sn-38 pct Pb, Sn-2 pct Pb, tin) were extruded, aged at room temperature, or melted and resolidified to produce a variety of ~nicrostrnctures. Flow stress us strain rate data were obtained frorn tension tests for strain rates between 10-6 and 1 min-1. The curve log o .us log £ was S-shaped jor fine-grained materials and approxinzately linear for coarse-grained nzaterials. At constant grain size, the behavior was relatively insensitive to conposition. High rate sensitivity (d log o/d log k) and superplasticity occurred at intermediate strain rates in fine-grained materials and are believed to be associated with a transition with strain rate in the mode of plastic flow. This transition was shifted to higher strain rates with increasing temperataire or decrensing grain size. The high rate rneclzanisrn is presunzed to be slip, while rnetallographic evidence sug-gests that the low rate lnechanism is pain boundary sliding. PEARSON&apos; discovered that extruded eutectic alloys of Pb-Sn and Bi-Sn could be elongated as much as 2000 pct in tension. The ability for stretching decreased with aging time or annealing to increase the grain size. At high strain rates, or if the material was in the cast condition, normal ductility was observed. Following deformation of the extruded Pb-Sn eutectic at low rates, Pearson observed an equiaxed granular structure on an initially flat surface, while rapid straining produced elongated grains. He attributed the large deformation in the extruded alloys to the persistence of extremely small grains to a temperature sufficiently high for inter granular flow. Avery and backofen2 measured the strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress, m = d In old In 6, in the Pb-Sn eutectic and established a correlation between m and the tensile elongation. In the extruded eutectic alloy the strain rate sensitivity was 0.1 to 0.2 at rapid rates and the elongation was small, while at low rates m increased to 0.4 to 0.6 and superplastic elongation was observed. They also noted a grain size effect. In the case of the cast Pb-Sn eutectic the strain rate sensitivity remained at 0.1 over the range of strain rates of their experiment (3 x 10"3 to 2 min-I). These authors suggested that diffusional (Nabarro-Herring) creep was the mechanism by which deformation occurred at low strain rates, while climb-controlled creep occurred at high rates. Two predictions of this model are that, at low strain rates, the strain rate sensitivity approaches 1, i.e., Newtonian viscosity, and that the strain rate at constant stress varies as D/L2, where D is the coefficient of self-diffusion and L the grain size. More recently, a mechanical and microstructural investigation of the dilute superplastic alloy, Sn-5 pct Bi, has been done.3 The results show that the high strain rate sensitivity is associated with a transition with strain rate of the mechanism of plastic flow. At low strain rates, grain boundary sliding and its associated accommodation processes were evident, while at high strain rates quasi-uniform slip was concluded to be the dominant deformation process. The following experiments were performed to extend our knowledge of the phenomena of superplasticity to a larger range of strain rates, compositions, temperatures, and microstructures in the Pb-Sn alloy system. The question of why a cast structure does not exhibit viscous behavior although it appears to have a fine microstructure2 was investigated.

Jan 1, 1968

By M. W. Dumais, E. P. Abrahamson

In a paper by Abrahamson and Alexander concerning a series of correlations between electronic structure and property changes, it was hypothesized that each solute atom in a dilute solution had a characteristic volume of solvent atoms over which some form of electronic interaction occurred. From this description it is possible to picture the solute atoms as occurring in an ordered array for the most efficient arrangement. A recent review article2 has shown that some form of anomaly exists for a whole series of properties when dilute additions of tungsten are made to iron, of. Fig. 1. Any mechanism to fit one property must also be amenable to mechanisms for the other properties. The possibility of some structural change in this region appears to offer the best hope. The system chosen for investigation was the iron tungsten system. Zone-refined iron with zone-leveled tungsten additions were supplied by Materials Research Corp. as 3/8-in.-diam bars. Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the structure. One-quarter inch specimens of each alloy were cold-rolled to 10-mil sheets, cleaned, punched to electron-microscope specimen-holder size, and annealed in vacuum for 2 hr at 800°C and 2 hr at 700°C followed by a furnace cool. The specimens were attached to a platinum wire and the specimen edge and wire were painted prior to thinning in a solution of 10 pct perchloric acid in glacial acetic acid. It was believed that if ordering were present due to electronic interactions the polishing procedure chosen would provide a simultaneous combination of chemical attack and electropolishing to exhibit the ordered structure. The chemical attack would be expected to penetrate those areas equidistant from the tungsten atoms, while the electropolishing would serve to "plane off" the volumes where the chemical attack had taken place. If one of the ordered tungsten planes were parallel to the specimen face at the edge of the thinned hole, a plate or micalike structure would be expected. A typical result of this polishing is shown in Fig. 2. Here a series of plates can be seen lying one upon the other. In several other specimens the plates parallel to the electron beam have been observed, behaving like slices of bread in a loaf. These edge views coupled with moire patterns indicate that the minimum plate thickness is 37 to 42A. This is equivalent to a concentration of 455 at. ppm of W if a simple cubic superlat-tice exists, or one tungsten atom every twelve iron atoms on the ordered plane. It was further noted that the base iron exhibited no signs of platelike structure. As the concentrations increased above 100 at. ppm W the amount of plate material increased. Among the specimens investigated was that shown

Jan 1, 1967

By Zay Jeffries

Each generation accepts the developments of the preceding generations without full appreciation of the difficulties that had to be overcome or of the effect of any given development on society. Today, the production of pig iron is the yardstick with which general industrial health and progress are measured. So natural and logical does this seem to us, that it is difficult to picture conditions prior to the fourteenth century when pig iron was unknown. Not only was pig iron unknown but iron or steel could not be melted and poured into castings; all iron and steel articles were forged from sponge iron. All castings, as well as many worked articles, were made of non-ferrous metals or alloys. In many parts of the world, over long periods of time, not only was the annual exchange value of non-ferrous metals greater than that of iron and steel, but their combined tonnage was greater. At present, the value of the pig iron produced in a year is of the same order of magnitude as that of all non-ferrous metals combined; the tonnage of pig iron is, however, about twenty times that of all non-ferrous metals combined. Owing to lack of records, we will probably never know the relative importance of the various metals at all periods in historic times. A certain conclusion is that the iron and steel industry, since the discovery of pig iron and the cheap methods of converting it into steel, has grown at a much more rapid rate than the non-ferrous metal industries. Notwithstanding their fundamental fitness for man&apos;s needs, iron and steel owe their importance in no small degree to the low cost of production. The low cost was a result of increased knowledge of the production appliances and of the metallurgical processes. This increased knowledge is the key to our modern industrial civilization. It will remain for future generations to determine whether there is now going on a gradual change toward greater importance of the non-ferrous metals, as compared to iron and steel. The world&apos;s pig iron production in 1920 was slightly more than twice what it was in 1890, whereas the non-ferrous metals production in 1920 was about two and one-half times that in 1890. Every non-ferrous metal industry has shown marked growth during the last thirty years. During this period, the production of cop-

Jan 1, 1924

By P. Schwed

IN determining the mechanism responsible for sintering, the most direct procedure available is the comparison of the observed time and temperature dependence of the process with the dependence to be expected upon the basis of each conceivable mechanism. This was done by Kuczynskil who, in treating the mechanism of surface diffusion, postulated, in effect, that the concentration gradient of vacancies is different from zero only within the neck. This procedure was recently questioned by Cabrera&apos; who assumed, on the contrary, that diffusion occurs only in the region outside the neck. In the present note, the calculations are performed without restriction on the region of diffusion. To carry out this objective it is first necessary to

Jan 1, 1952

Take a look at the maintenance force in some of Wyoming&apos;s surface coal mines and you&apos;ll notice a significant change-the workers are younger than ever and many have had little or no prior experience. The change is quite a departure from industry&apos;s previous "experienced only" hiring policy. It results, in part, from a successful training program offered by Casper College in Casper. Wyo..

Jan 12, 1978

By Hadyn W. J. Wren

The practical experience obtained from designing and commissioning of fully controlled coal preparation plants, using centralised mini computers is discussed. The importance of defining a workable operating philosophy is highlighted with particular reference to the problems associated with trying to achieve a total &apos;hands off&apos; concept. These experiences with a centralised computer controlled system have led to a deeper understanding of the interaction between the operation and the control system and the role of local control and management information within the overall control philosophy of a highly automated process plant. The utilisation of an extensive fully distributed microprocessor control system with over 6500 digital and analogue signals split into six autonomous areas with a supervisory system to provide operator interface is described. The important aspects of project definition and design needs are outlined with particular regard for achieving maximum efficiency with minimum complexity. Views of future trends are offered, based on the experience of both centralised computer and distributed processor systems.

Jan 1, 1984

By C. T. Bischoff

This paper describes the results of testing with colorimetric methods, using "dithizone", soil samples taken over various known copper and zinc deposits covered by glacial till. Variation in results is shown for different depths and types of overburden as well as grade and type of deposit. Limiting factors for the practical application of this work are discussed. The method has proved successful for copper and zinc deposits under clay and fine sand with depths up to at least 30 ft but fails in coarse sand and gravel unless depths are very shallow. Swamps require penetration to the underlying subsoil for sample material. DURING the past few years geochemical testing for traces of heavy metals in water, soil, rock, and vegetation has aroused increasing interest. Various techniques for field and laboratory determinations have been described in the literature, as have some of the results of application. However, little information has been published regarding application to glacial terrain. Over 90 pct of the Canadian Shield is overburdened, resulting in high costs for mineral exploration once the outcropping ore deposits have been found. This has been largely responsible for the widespread application of mining geophysics in Canada, permitting concentration of effort on area or zones considered most favorable. However, geophysical interpretation has its limitations, since at least 90 pct of the structures indicated thereby contain no valuable minerals. A more direct approach is therefore highly desirable. If underlying base metal mineralization can be detected by sampling soil or vegetation at moderate cost this should prove of great help in locating new discoveries or extending known ones. A large proportion of Canadian ore deposits contain appreciable copper or zinc, even where these are not the principal economic metals. Consequently the field of application is a broad one. This paper deals with investigations along these lines with particular emphasis on soil sampling. The problems involved from the start were: 1—Which types of glacial soil, if any, would best lend themselves to testing, and conversely which types might be considered relatively hopeless? 2—Through what depths of overburden could significant mineralization be detected? 3—What sampling techniques would prove economically applicable? This included minimum depth of sample and maximum spacing that could be allowed.

Jan 1, 1955

By Theron Wasson

Michigan has had another record year. Its production has been maintained by the development of fields discovered in 1938. Two minor fields were listed as discoveries in 1939. These are in the southwestern part of the state, where the greatest drilling activity took place. During the year 1465 tests were completed, of which 828 were oil wells, 56 gas wells and 581 dry holes. The four southwestern counties—Allegan, Ottawa, Kent and Van Buren—had 1077 tests drilled, while nine other southwestern counties had 70 tests, making a total of 1147 for this part of the state, 78 per cent of all drilled during the year. Michigan&apos;s production of 23,400,000 bbl. during 1939, equal to an average daily production of 64,110 bbl., exceeded 1938 by 4,655,000 bbl., thus establishing another annual record, which brought the cumulative amount for the state to a little over 125,000,000 barrels. A map showing location of Michigan oil and gas fields was published in the TRansactions in 1939 (Vol. 132, p. 353). Active Oil Fields.—The Walker field, near Grand Rapids, Kent County, had a rapid development during the year. Traverse limestone production was discovered here in September 1938, and development has been rapid during 1939. At the end of the year 5500 acres have been proved by drilling. The Traverse limestone is found in Walker field at a depth of about 1810 ft. The Temple field, Clare County, was the most active in Central Michigan. Its production is from the Monroe dolomite at a depth of 3890 ft. In this field 2500 acres have been proved by 125 producing wells. Michigan&apos;s largest producer for 1939 was drilled in the Temple field, with a rated potential of 8760 bbl. per day. The Wise field, Wise township, Isabella County, discovered in 1938, had a steady and orderly development because the operators agreed on a staggered 20-acre spacing program. So far 760 acres have been proved for production from the Dundee limestone, found at 3650 feet. Active Gas Fields.—The most active areas in which drilling was done during the past year for gas were the Freeman and Lincoln fields in Clare County, the Clayton field of Arenac County, and the Home field of

Jan 1, 1940