Search Documents

By George W. Small

The ore, as it is raised from the mine, has all average assay-value of $11 per ton, chiefly in the form of free gold. All the ore goes directly to the stamp-mills, of which there are two. The older and larger mill contains sixteen batteries of five stamps each, with one Frue vanner to each battery. The new mill has eight batteries of five stamps and two Frues to each battery. The large mill is driven by Leffel turbine wheels, with a pressure of eighty feet, and a consumption of 600 miners' inches of water. The smaller mill is driven by "hurdy-gurdy" wheels with a pressure of about 550 feet and a consumption of 150 inches of water. At both mills the tailings from the stamps pass over about 20 feet of plates on their way to the Frues. In each set of plates the first or upper one is copper, the rest are so-called silver plates. The bullion from the stamps is about 800 fine in gold and 200 in silver. The concentrates from the Frues average from 11/4 to 1 ; per cent. of the ore stamped. They very rarely exceed 2 per cent. I was unable to get the exact assay-value of the concentrates, but it is said to vary between $100 and $200 per ton. The concentrates are treated at the chlorination works at the rate of one hundred tons per month. The capacity of the works is somewhat greater than this, but as the supply of concentrates is limited it is not deemed advisable to work them up any faster. Care is taken to keep the concentrates always damp until they are put into the roasting furnace. If this is not done, a decomposition of the pyrites begins, forming lumps which do not roast, and which consequently cause a loss of gold in the residues from leaching. A Fortschaufelungsofen is used for roasting. Its dimensions, incloding fire-box, are 12' X 80'. The hearth is one continuous plane, but the charges, of which there are three in the furnace at one time, are kept entirely separate. The furnace-men call the three compartments, the "drying," the " burning," and the " cooking" compartments. In the middle, or "burning" compartment, the ore is spread

Jan 1, 1887

Successful preliminary experiments at the University of North Carolina indicate that computers can provide speedy, accurate identification of the mineral content of rock samples. In just two minutes, the University's Univac 1105 computer solves the complex equations that would often require more than four hours using conventional methods. In addition, the computer is frequently spotting minerals that a geologist might miss simply because he wasn't looking for them.

Jan 6, 1964

By Thomas G. Murdock

ETHIOPIA, the first country to be liberated from Axis domination, has recovered remarkably from the ravages of occupation and war. Mineral production has contributed significantly towards this recovery, as it has provided a means of obtaining foreign exchange and has given employment to hundreds of workmen whose maintenance otherwise would have presented a problem. Although primarily an agricultural country, never with a large mineral production, Ethiopia has within its borders a variety of minerals, both precious metals and nonmetallics. Some of these are important to the country as a national asset and others contribute greatly to local economy and can be expected to do so even to a greater extent in the future1 (Fig I). PHYSIOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY The Empire of Ethiopia is essentially a mountainous and volcanic country, in northeast Africa, situated principally between latitude 4° and I5°N and longitude 34° and 44°E. It is bounded on the north by Eritrea, on the northeast by French Somaliland, on the southeast by Italian Somaliland, on the south by Kenya Colony, and on the west by Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. These European possessions thus completely surround the country. Its access to the Red Sea is through Eritrea; to the Gulf of Aden, through French or British Somaliland; and, to the Indian Ocean, via Italian Somaliland. These routes range in length from 40 to 250 miles. Ethiopia has an area of approximately 350,000 square miles, with a width from north to south of 625 miles, and a maximum length from east to west, along latitude 8°N, of about 875 miles. Physiographically the country is characterized by two very extensive sub-tabular plateaus: the Ethiopian Plateau to the northwest and the Somaliland Plateau to the southeast, separated by a long tectonic graben-the Rift Valley of the Galla Lakes and Danakil. The Ethiopian Plateau, deeply cut and notched by the drainage, slopes in a general northwest direction toward the Sudanese Plains and the valley of the Nile; the Somaliland Plateau slopes to the southeast, toward the Indian Ocean. The valley of the Galla Lakes and its extension to the northeast-the Awash River Valley, separates the plateaus, from Lake Rudolph to Danakil. This depression which constitutes a continuation or ramification of the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa joins in turn the trough of the Gulf of Aden and the Danakil-Eritrean Rift, continuations of the Red Sea and the Jordan Valley. The general basement of Ethiopia is made up of very old rocks, usually considered as Archaen.2 These rocks are represented by the metamorphic crystallines, such as gneisses, different kinds of schists, included lenses of crystalline limestone, and massive intrusives such as granites, diorites, and syenites, all cut by

Jan 1, 1947

By Thomas G. Murdock

EthIopia, the first country to be liberated from Axis domination, has recovered remarkably from the ravages of occupation and war. Mineral production has contributed significantly towards this recovery, as it has provided a means of obtaining foreign exchange and has given employment to hundreds of workmen whose maintenance otherwise would have presented a problem. Although primarily an agricultural country, never with a large mineral production, Ethiopia has within its borders a variety of minerals, both precious metals and nonmetallics. Some of these are important to the country as a national asset and others contribute greatly to local economy and can be expected to do so even to a greater extent in the future1 (Fig I). Physiography and Geology The Empire of Ethiopia is essentially a mountainous and volcanic country, in northeast Africa, situated principally between latitude 4° and 15°N and longitude 34° and 44°E. It is bounded on the north by Eritrea, on the northeast by French Somaliland, on the southeast by Italian Somaliland, on the south by Kenya Colony, and on the west by Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. These European possessions thus completely surround the country. Its access to the Red Sea is through Eritrea; to the Gulf of Aden, through French or British Somali- land ; and, to the Indian Ocean, via Italian Somaliland. These routes range in length from 40 to 250 miles. Ethiopia has an area of approximately 350,000 square miles, with a width from north to south of 625 miles, and a maximum length from east to west, along latitude 8°N, of about 875 miles. Physiographically the country is characterized by two very extensive sub-tabular plateaus: the Ethiopian Plateau to the northwest and the Somaliland Plateau to the southeast, separated by a long tectonic graben—the Rift Valley of the Galla Lakes and Danakil. The Ethiopian Plateau, deeply cut and notched by the drainage, slopes in a general northwest direction toward the Sudanese Plains and the valley of the Nile; the Somaliland Plateau slopes to the southeast, toward the Indian Ocean. The valley of the Galla Lakes and its extension to the northeast—the Awash River Valley, separates the plateaus, from Lake Rudolph to Danakil. This depression which constitutes a continuation or ramification of the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa joins in turn the trough of the Gulf of Aden and the Danakil-Eritrean Rift, continuations of the Red Sea and the Jordan Valley. The general basement of Ethiopia is made up of very old rocks, usually considered as Archaen.2 These rocks are represented by the metamorphic crystallines, such as gneisses, different kinds of schists, included lenses of crystalline limestone, and massive intrusives such as granites, diorites, and syenites, all cut by

Jan 1, 1949

By James P. Roe

Steel has occupied such a prominent position in most minds during the last thirty years, particularly since the introduction of the basic open-hearth process (by which the field from which the raw material could be obtained has been so widened), that little attention has been made to improvements in puddling iron. In fact, the general tendency seems to have been to accept the prediction that puddled iron is doomed. Events have in a measure justified such a forecast, due in large part to the introduction of mechanical appliances and operations with large units in the manufacture of steel, from which much lower costs have resulted. But this general tendency has met checks in certain directions. This is notably the case where the finished product is a welded one, or is subject to oxidation, to shock or to vibration; and, as far as the writer's observation goes, the bond (which is largely a mechanical one) is not as close and lasting between steel and tin or zinc as between iron and the same materials. The field still open for puddled iron is, therefore, a large one, provided the low costs of steel-manufacture can be approached. The process of puddling is one of the most interesting in the metallurgy of iron, as the reactions and the changes effected are apparent. The subject has had the strongest fascination to the writer from boyhood, and has led, not unnaturally, to a close study, which long ago resulted in the conviction that it could be successfully carried out with large units and by mechanical means. That others have also drawn these conclusions is shown by many undertakings, though there have been few such attempts during the last twenty-five or thirty years. Puddling cousists, essentially, in the removal of most of the carbon and silicon, and part of the phosphorus and sulphur

Jan 1, 1903

By J. B. Clark

The oil industry has long recognized the need for increasing well productivity. To meet this need, a process is being developed whereby the producing formation permeability is increased by hydraulically fracturing the formation. The "Hydrafrac" process, as it is now being used, consists of two steps: (1) injecting a viscous liquid containing a granular material, such as sand for a propping agent, under high hydraulic pressure to fracture the formation; (2) causing the viscous liquid to change from a high to a low viscosity so that it may be readily displaced from the formation. To date the process has been used in 32 jobs on 23 wells in 7 fields, resulting in a sustained increase in production in 11 wells. INTRODUCTION Need For Process Although explosives, acidizing, and other methods have long been used, there still exists a need for artificial means of improving the productive ability of oil and gas wells, particularly for wells which produce from formations which do not react readily with acids. This paper discusses the development of a hydraulic fracturing process, "Hydrafrac", which shows distinct promise of increasing production rates from wells producing from any type of formation. The method is also considered applicable to gas and water injection wells, wells used for solution mining of salts and, with some modification, to water wells and sulphur wells. Requirements of Process In considering such a possible process, it appeared that certain requirements must be met. Some of these are as follows: A. The hydraulic fluid selected must be sufficiently viscous that it can be injected into the well at pressure high enough to cause fracturing. B. The hydraulic fluid should carry in suspension a propping agent, such as sand, so that once a fracture is formed, it will be prevented from closing off and the fracture created will remain to serve as a flow channel for oil and gas. C. The fluid should be an oily one rather than a water-base fluid, because the latter would be harmful to many formations. D. After the fracture is made, it is essential that the fracturing fluid be thin enough to flow hack out of the well and not stay in place and plug the crack which it has formed. E. Sufficient pump capacity must be available to inject the fluid faster than it will leak away into the porous rock formation. F. In many instances, formation packers must be used to confine the fracture to the desired level, and to obtain the advantages of multiple fracturing. Development of Process As a necessary step in the development of this process, it was deemed advisable to determine if the Hydrafrac fluids were actually fracturing the formation or whether these special fluids were merely leaking away into the surrounding formation. To determine this, a shallow well, 15 feet deep, was drilled into a hard sandstone. Casing was set, the plug drilled, and the well deepened in the conventional manner. A fracturing fluid dyed a bright red was used to break down the formation. Sand mixed with distinctively colored solids was injected into the well with the fracturing fluid to prop open any fracture made in the formation. A simulated gel breaker solution dyed a bright blue was then pumped into the well to determine if the gel breaker would follow the first solution. The results are shown in Figure 1. It was noted that a fracture was formed about the well bore, that the propping agent was transported back into the break, and that the breaker solution did actually follow the fracturing gel out into the fracture. While it is realized that this shallow well test is probably not exactly equivalent to a deep test, the results were interpreted as being a definite indication of what happens down the hole during a Hydrafrac job. Of interest in this connection is an investigation reported by S. T. Yuster and J. C. Calhoun, Jr.' This study, re~orted after the Hydrafrac work was under way, presents some excellent field data supporting the theory of fracturing a formation with hydraulic pressure. METHOD Steps of Hydrafrcu: Process Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a well treated by one version of the process. The first step, formation breakdown, is done with a viscous fluid, usually consisting of an oil such as crude oil or gasoline, to which has been added a bodying agent. Due to availability and price, war-surplus Napalm has been used in the majority of experiments to date. Napalm is the soap which was used in the war to make "jellied gasoline". The next step consists of breaking down the viscosity of the gel by injecting a gel-breaker solution and then after several hours, putting the well back on production. Figure 3 shows diagram-matically, a typical field hookup. The oil or gasoline is unloaded into the 10 bbl. tank shown on the left rear of the truck. This base fluid is picked up by the mixing pump and pumped through the jet mixer, where the granular soap is added. Next it goes into a small mixing tub, from which the high-pressure pump takes suction. The solution is then pumped into the well. The breaker solution is then taken from an extra tank and is displaced into the well immediately following the gel. When required, additional trucks may

Jan 1, 1949

By J. B. Clark

The oil industry has long recognized the need for increasing well productivity. To meet this need, a process is being developed whereby the producing formation permeability is increased by hydraulically fracturing the formation. The "Hydrafrac" process, as it is now being used, consists of two steps: (1) injecting a viscous liquid containing a granular material, such as sand for a propping agent, under high hydraulic pressure to fracture the formation; (2) causing the viscous liquid to change from a high to a low viscosity so that it may be readily displaced from the formation. To date the process has been used in 32 jobs on 23 wells in 7 fields, resulting in a sustained increase in production in 11 wells. INTRODUCTION Need For Process Although explosives, acidizing, and other methods have long been used, there still exists a need for artificial means of improving the productive ability of oil and gas wells, particularly for wells which produce from formations which do not react readily with acids. This paper discusses the development of a hydraulic fracturing process, "Hydrafrac", which shows distinct promise of increasing production rates from wells producing from any type of formation. The method is also considered applicable to gas and water injection wells, wells used for solution mining of salts and, with some modification, to water wells and sulphur wells. Requirements of Process In considering such a possible process, it appeared that certain requirements must be met. Some of these are as follows: A. The hydraulic fluid selected must be sufficiently viscous that it can be injected into the well at pressure high enough to cause fracturing. B. The hydraulic fluid should carry in suspension a propping agent, such as sand, so that once a fracture is formed, it will be prevented from closing off and the fracture created will remain to serve as a flow channel for oil and gas. C. The fluid should be an oily one rather than a water-base fluid, because the latter would be harmful to many formations. D. After the fracture is made, it is essential that the fracturing fluid be thin enough to flow hack out of the well and not stay in place and plug the crack which it has formed. E. Sufficient pump capacity must be available to inject the fluid faster than it will leak away into the porous rock formation. F. In many instances, formation packers must be used to confine the fracture to the desired level, and to obtain the advantages of multiple fracturing. Development of Process As a necessary step in the development of this process, it was deemed advisable to determine if the Hydrafrac fluids were actually fracturing the formation or whether these special fluids were merely leaking away into the surrounding formation. To determine this, a shallow well, 15 feet deep, was drilled into a hard sandstone. Casing was set, the plug drilled, and the well deepened in the conventional manner. A fracturing fluid dyed a bright red was used to break down the formation. Sand mixed with distinctively colored solids was injected into the well with the fracturing fluid to prop open any fracture made in the formation. A simulated gel breaker solution dyed a bright blue was then pumped into the well to determine if the gel breaker would follow the first solution. The results are shown in Figure 1. It was noted that a fracture was formed about the well bore, that the propping agent was transported back into the break, and that the breaker solution did actually follow the fracturing gel out into the fracture. While it is realized that this shallow well test is probably not exactly equivalent to a deep test, the results were interpreted as being a definite indication of what happens down the hole during a Hydrafrac job. Of interest in this connection is an investigation reported by S. T. Yuster and J. C. Calhoun, Jr.' This study, re~orted after the Hydrafrac work was under way, presents some excellent field data supporting the theory of fracturing a formation with hydraulic pressure. METHOD Steps of Hydrafrcu: Process Figure 2 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a well treated by one version of the process. The first step, formation breakdown, is done with a viscous fluid, usually consisting of an oil such as crude oil or gasoline, to which has been added a bodying agent. Due to availability and price, war-surplus Napalm has been used in the majority of experiments to date. Napalm is the soap which was used in the war to make "jellied gasoline". The next step consists of breaking down the viscosity of the gel by injecting a gel-breaker solution and then after several hours, putting the well back on production. Figure 3 shows diagram-matically, a typical field hookup. The oil or gasoline is unloaded into the 10 bbl. tank shown on the left rear of the truck. This base fluid is picked up by the mixing pump and pumped through the jet mixer, where the granular soap is added. Next it goes into a small mixing tub, from which the high-pressure pump takes suction. The solution is then pumped into the well. The breaker solution is then taken from an extra tank and is displaced into the well immediately following the gel. When required, additional trucks may

Jan 1, 1949

By D’Arcy A. Shock

In this year's review, the concept of solution mining has been expanded to include total solution as well as the technology of leaching, or partial solution methods. Leaching methods continue to make strides in the processing of metallic minerals, particularly in copper and uranium production. No quantitative data are available on the increase of leach operations; however, it is known that there were more systems installed in 1969 and that the estimated 15% of U.S. domestic production of copper produced in 1968 was by leach methods.1 While the number of publications appearing during the year were few,2,3 there were special sessions in this field at the AIME Annual Meeting and SME Fall Meeting in 1969 and more scheduled for these meetings in 1970. Significant areas that should be mentioned are: the continuing interest in bacteria to convert sulfide sulfur to acid thus reducing reagent costs in both copper and uranium sulfide ores, the exploration of leaching agents other than common mineral acids or alkaline solutions,4,5 kinetic studies of leach mechanisms and the development of microfractures for increased leach solution penetration by use of chemical or atomic explosives.6,7

Jan 1, 1970

By G. Sachs, G. Espey

SIMPLE methods can be used for the determination of the residual stresses in thin-walled tubing if the stresses consist of high tensile stresses at the one surface and high compressive stresses at the other surface Such a stress distribution is approximated in sunk tubing and in deep-drawn shells It is possible to cut sections from such articles in such a manner that a major part of the residual stress is relieved by a bending of the part that is separated from the adjacent metal The circumferential stress is evaluated from the change in diameter D, occurring on splitting a length of tubing (Fig Ib),1-5 or from deflection resulting from the cutting out of a circumferential tongue (Fig Ia) G The bending moment M released by such a flexure is [ ] The release of this bending moment corresponds to the release of stresses, which, in a thin section, vary linearly from one surface to the other, and have the following value in a particular fiber a certain distance (zx from the surface [ ] where C is the section modulus and d is the thickness of the section, the ratio AI C being d 2 for a rectangular section* The maximum stress values at the surfaces are [ ] For most purposes the simpler equations [ ] will be satisfactory, where Dm is the average of the mean diameters of the tubing

Jan 1, 1941

EDWARD W. PARKER,* Philadelphia, Pa. (written discussion ?).-The two papers on coal-mine costs and pride fixing that Mr. Norris has contributed to the Transactions possess as much general interest and are of as much value to the coal-mining industry as any papers that have been presented in recent years. Until recently one of the troubles with the coal business, and especially the bituminous branch of it, has been that because of the lack of a uniform system of cost accounting (many operators, I regret to say, not having had any system at all), the industry as a whole may be said not to have known where it was at. The system adopted by the Federal Trade Commission may not be absolutely perfect but it has accomplished something in that it has compelled a uniform method of reporting and tabulating costs giving results of these compilations which are comparable. The Institute and the coal-mining industry owe a vote of thanks to, and of confidence in, Mr. Norris and his two associates on the Engineers Committee of the Fuel Administration, Messrs. Garnsey and Allport, for the great work they have done in interpreting the results compiled by the Federal Trade Commission, not to speak of the personal sacrifices made by them in giving their services to the government. Those who have read Mr. Norris' paper will probably join me in wishing he had brought out a little more fully the real meaning of the charts so far as they indicate the difference between the cost of producing a ton of anthracite and the price the operators receive for their product. Mr. Norris could have done this more satisfactorily than anyone else. It seems to me that particular attention should be drawn to the fact that, according to these charts, and the tables accompanying them, not less than 25 per cent. of the total output of anthracite, whether "company" or "individual," during the period covered by Mr. Norris' paper,

Jan 4, 1919

By T. D. Yensen, N. A. Ziegler

AGING is a term that connotes a slow change in properties under ordinary operating conditions. It can be accelerated by increasing the temperature and by mechanical straining. The magnetic properties of iron and some of its alloys have for many years been known to be subject to such a change. But the cause of the change was not recognized until a few years ago after mechanical age-hardening in nonferrous alloys of the "duralumin" type had been definitely shown, by means of solid solubility curves, changes in electrical resistance and microanalysis, to be caused by slow precipitation of one or more constituents from the solid solution. The similarity between the solid solubility curves of such alloys (Fig. 1) and those for iron-nitrogen (Fig. 2) and iron-carbon alloys (Fig. 3) below the Al transformation point suggested at once that magnetic aging of iron might be caused by a similar process; namely, by the slow precipitation of carbon and nitrogen in the form of Fe4N and Fe3C at ordinary temperatures because of a cooling rate that had been too rapid to permit complete precipitation according to equilibrium conditions. This suggestion has since been amply confirmed, particularly by the comprehensive work of Köster1 on the effect of nitrogen and carbon. Typical curves are shown in Fig. 4 for the relationship between aging temperature and coercive force. Previous to the establishment of the precipitation-hardening theory it was thought that the effect of nonmetallic elements like C, N, 0, etc., on the magnetic properties of iron was greatest when these elements were retained in solid solution, atomically dispersed throughout the interstitial spaces of the iron lattice2.

Jan 1, 1935

By T. D. Yensen

AGING is a term that connotes a slow change in properties under ordinary operating conditions. It can be accelerated by increasing the temperature and by mechanical straining. The magnetic properties of iron and some of its alloys have for many years been known to be subject to such a change. But the cause of the change was not recognized until a few years ago after mechanical age-hardening in non-ferrous alloys of the "duralumin" type had been definitely shown, by means of solid solubility curves, changes in electrical resistance and microanalysis, to be caused by slow precipitation of one or more con-stituents from the solid solution. The similarity between the solid solubility curves of such alloys (Fig. 1) and those for iron-nitrogen (Fig. 2) and iron-carbon alloys (Fig. 3) below the Al transformation point suggested at once that magnetic aging of iron might be caused by a similar process; namely, by the slow precipitation of carbon and nitrogen in the form of Fe4N and Fe3C at ordinary temperatures because of a cooling rate that had been too rapid to permit complete precipitation according to equilibrium conditions. This suggestion has since been amply confirmed, particularly by the comprehensive work of Köster1 on the effect of nitrogen and carbon. Typical curves are shown in Fig. 4 for the relationship between aging temperature and coercive force. Previous to the establishment of the precipitation-hardening theory it was thought that the effect of nonmetallic elements like C, N, 0, etc., on the magnetic properties of iron was greatest when these elements were retained in solid solution, atomically dispersed throughout the interstitial spaces of the iron lattice2.

Jan 1, 1935

By C. A. Stickels, C. M. Yen

Secondary recrystallization was investigated in vacuum-melted electrolytic iron to which 70 pm N was vacuum-meltedadded. The secondary texture is "near {554}<225>" for material cold-rolled 75 to 90 pct, the sharpness of the texture increasing with increased rolling reduction and with decreased annealing temperature. At reductions of 95 and 97.5 pct the secondary texture is &apos;"near {322)(296)". Both secondary orientations also exist as major components of the primary re-crystallization texture. Development of a strong "near {554) (225)" secondary texture appears to depend on the evolution of the Primary texture to a transition texture depleted in orientations near the secondary orientation before the onset of secondary growth. A variety of qualitative experinzents have been used to show that nitrogen is important in limiling primary grain growth. The presence of nitrogen does not seem essential for the establishment of a transition texture, but a loss of nitrogen during annealing may facilitate growth of grains in the secondary orientation. Secondary grains we shown to form initially at the specimen surface. This is not thought to indicate that surface energies are important in the growth process. It is proposed that the quasi-two-dimensional character of surface grains permits discontinuous growth parallel to the surface before secondary growth of interior grains is possible. An earlier study of recrystallization textures in 90 pct cold-rolled electrolytic iron showed that secondary recrystallization occurred after annealing for several days at 700C1 This type of secondary recrystallization, which had not been reported previously, results in the formation of a strong texture, best described by the indices "near {554}(225)". The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effect of various processing variables on secondary recrystallization in this material and determine the mechanism of secondary grain growth. LITERATURE REVIEW An understanding of the mechanism of a secondary recrystallization process depends on knowing: 1) how grains in the secondary orientation come to be in the primary recrystallization texture; 2) why normal grain growth does not occur; and 3) what factors determine the strength of the secondary texture. For secondary growth of grains of a particular orientation, a certain minimum fraction of the grains must be in that orientation after primary recrystallization. This requirement is apparently satisfied "naturally" in certain systems, i.e., when the primary texture obtained by rolling and recrystallizing material initially randomly oriented contains a sufficient fraction of primaries in the secondary orientation. However, in other cases, e.g., {110}<001> and {100}<001> secondary growth in silicon iron,2 it is necessary to enhance the fraction of primary grains in the secondary orientation by rolling and recrystallizing textured material. In the present case, the "near {554}<225>" orientation is contained within the spread of orientations found in the primary recrystallization texture of iron or bbc iron-base alloys. In systems where the main driving force for secondary growth is the reduction in total grain boundary energy, secondary growth is observed only when normal grain growth is minimized. Four ways in which normal grain growth can be limited are: 1) Limitation by a strong primary texture. When a very strong primary texture consisting of a single component or twin-related components develop, most primary grains are separated from one another by relatively immobile small-angle grain boundaries. The classic instance of this is secondary growth into the primary cube texture in some fcc metals. 2) Limitation by precipitates. Precipitates present in the proper volume fraction with a suitable dispersion will limit primary grain growth. The role of MnS inclusions in impeding normal grain growth in Si-Fe is well-documented.5 3) Limitation by sheet thickness. Normal grain growth slows drastically when the mean grain diameter is of the same order as the sheet thickness. This effect has been used to obtain secondary recrystallization in thin sheets of high-purity silicon iron.&apos; 4) Limitation by solute impurities. It is well-established that certain impurity elements in solution can have a large effect on grain boundary mobility.&apos; However, there does not seem to be any secondary recrystallization process in which primary grain size stabilization has been shown to be due to the drag exerted on grain boundaries by dissolved impurities. In certain systems, e.g., secondary recrystallization in silver,&apos; the means by which normal grain growth is limited has not been identified, and solute-impurity limitation might be suspected. In order to understand the factors which determine secondary texture strength in three-dimensional growth, it is necessary to examine in more detail the current picture of general secondary recrystallization processes. Following Cahn,9 it is assumed that the primary grains have a range of sizes and that secondary growth of one of the large grains in this distribution is possible when it exceeds a critical size with respect to its neighboring grains. The critical size depends on the ratio ?S/?p, where ?s is some sort of average grain boundary energy between the potential secondary and the primary grains and ?p is some sort of average grain boundary energy between primary grains. For a constant primary grain size, the critical size for secondary growth increases as ?$/?p increases. May and Turnbull5 have incorporated the

Jan 1, 1969

By A. H. Lindley, Fraizer M. Stewart

For many years large mining companies were able to finance nearly all of their capital requirements from internally generated funds. However, during the last decade, funds needed for capital expenditures, dividends, and scheduled debt retirement have grown faster than cash flow. As a result the minerals industry has had to rely increasingly on other sources of funds. Getting the capital for new mining projects is a challenge, particularly for smaller companies. New methods of financing and new variations to old methods have been developed and more are needed. Commercial banks are short-term lenders. By policy their loans are limited to low risk loans-those made solely on the borrower&apos;s general credit, and secured loans where cash flow is sufficient to provide repayment within a comparatively short term. To maintain liquidity, banks prefer to make loans of less than seven years&apos; term. If a longer loan is needed an insurance company or pension trust may take the long-term part.

Jan 1, 1971

By Martin J. Gungl, J. Lyman MacInnis

None of the industry submissions could persuade the Canadian Tax Reform draftsmen that the rate of return has had as much bearing on investors&apos; decisions to invest in Canada as the success records of Canadian ore findings. The goverment opted for the position that mining capital goes where the ore can be found. Many tax incentives which were available until the end of 1971 have been greatly reduced. However, it is still recognized that new ventures in exploration and development of natural resources deserve a break even if there is reduced recognition of the established and highly successful members of the industry unless they continue to search and develop. The latter will also get some breaks for processing beyond the prime metal stage.

Jan 7, 1972

By J. J. Scott

This investigation utilizes three dimensional photo-elastic techniques to determine the stress distributions in the pillars and the roof of a room and pillar mine model. Castolite plastic was used for the construction of the model in which a stress pattern was developed by the stress freezing process. Analysis of the stress pattern was accomplished by observation of points in slices from the model with a polariscope and solving the data thus obtained by the shear-difference method. Slices through the centerline, edge of pillar and centerline of span were investigated. The results of this work provide information on the overall stress distribution in points of stress concentration in compression, shear and tension, show relative magnitude of stress throughout the model and indicate directions of the most important stress values. A generalized roof bolt pattern is developed for room and pillar mines based on the stress distribution. A digital computer was used in the reduction of data and proved to be extremely useful for investigation of this type. Underground excavations disturb the equilibrium of the earth&apos;s crust and a core of fracture, or altered stress distributions exists around the openings. This fact is well known by mining operators and investigators in the rock mechanics field. Analysis of the stress distribution in the areas around mine workings is a most difficult problem and one which has no simple and direct solution. Some of the approaches used by investigators in attempts to study stress distribution around mine openings involve mathematical analysis, photoelastic techniques, statistical analysis, model studies on brittle materials and observation of fracture patterns. Models involving imbedded strain gauges, gelatin models using imbedded strings to show internal movement, and many other unique laboratory techniques are employed. Work is also being done in mining operations where load cells, strain gauges, photostress material, convergence plugs, dynamic plugs, etc., are used to measure strain which can in turn be used to obtain stress. Some of these devices measure strain from which stress may be derived. All approaches to the solution of stress distribution are hampered by the fact that the earth is not a homogeneous, isotropic and elastic media. Geologic faults, fractures, bedding planes, vugs, variations in material composition, variations in grain size and structure, etc., make it extremely difficult to obtain results which can be universally applied to mining operations. The purpose of this investigation will be to demonstrate the use of three-dimensional photoelastic techniques to obtain the stress distribution in the pillars and roof of a room and pillar mining operation. This method utilizes full analysis of interior points, and thus it may be that small tensile or shear stresses found in the investigation will prove to be of greater significance than the more obvious points of stress concentration found by two-dimensional techniques. A digital computer was employed to simplify and to shorten the time necessary to obtain final results. Application of the computer to problems of this type may enable future investigators to attempt more elaborate analyses than have been previously considered feasible. THEORY Three Dimensional Stress Analysis-Shear Difference Solution:&apos; Photoelastic studies are based on the fact that an optically isotropic transparent solid becomes optically anisotropic when subjected to forced deformation; the degree of optical anisotropy being proportional to the deformation of the material. There are two fundamental laws which govern photoelasticity: 1) Light is polarized in the directions of the principal stress axes, and is transmitted only on planes of principal stress. 2) The difference in principal stresses is proportional to the difference in the indices of refraction along the planes of principal stress. One method used in three-dimensional photoelastic work is to examine a slice of the object by normal incidence and oblique incidence. In normal incidence,

Jan 1, 1964

By Gustav S. Preller, A. M. Gaudin

For the past 20 years it has been generally accepted that the flotation process is made possible as a result of the action of certain chemical substances on the surface of the mineral particles. In fact, it has been suspected, but never demonstrated, that this action produces on the mineral particles a layer of chemosorbed ions that is of the order of magnitude of a monolayer; that is, of a layer one ion deep. It is the purpose of this paper to present certain initial results on the relationship of mineral surface area and collecting-agent requirements. Up to about eight years ago, all considerations involving the surface area of finely divided solids were limited by the fact that there was not in existence any general method for determining the extent of such surfaces, especially on mixed materials. However, the method invented by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller1 has changed the situation by providing a general procedure (BET method). This procedure has already been applied to mineral dressing problems2-4 and has now received confirmation as to accuracy by an entirely independent method.&apos; This confirmatory or "absolute" method uses a very tedious calorimetric procedure and is not suitable for routine determinations; but still another method6 now is available to relate the results obtained by the BET method to those obtained calorimetrically. This Harkins-Jura method has the advantage that it does not require an assumption concerning the parking area per molecule of adsorbate (nitrogen). In the original work by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller the parking area per nitrogen molecule was calculated to be either 13.8?2 or 16.2?2. according as the nitrogen was assumed to be closely packed as in crystalline nitrogen or loosely packed as in liquid nitrogen. The initial experimental work from this laboratory2 supported the 13.8?2. figure; that work was done on glass spheres of measurable geometric area and it was based on the assumption that the glass spheres were truly smooth; any deviation from this assumption would, of course, have made the calculated parking area higher. Harkins and Jura&apos;s results suggest that the parking area is not the same for all substrata; furthermore, the average of the 87 measurements cited indicates a "preferred" parking area for the nitrogen molecule of about 15.2?2., with extreme values at 13.7 and 16.9?2. The average of 21 determinations made in connection with this study7 gave a parking area of 14.3 ± 0.27?². In view of this result and of the Harkins and Jura

Jan 1, 1947

By Gustav S. Preller, A. M. Gaudin

For the past 20 years it has been generally accepted that the flotation process is made possible as a result of the action of certain chemical substances on the surface of the mineral particles. In fact, it has been suspected, but never demonstrated, that this action produces on the mineral particles a layer of chemosorbed ions that is of the order of magnitude of a monolayer; that is, of a layer one ion deep. It is the purpose of this paper to present certain initial results on the relationship of mineral surface area and collecting-agent requirements. Up to about eight years ago, all considerations involving the surface area of finely divided solids were limited by the fact that there was not in existence any general method for determining the extent of such surfaces, especially on mixed materials. However, the method invented by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller1 has changed the situation by providing a general procedure (BET method). This procedure has already been applied to mineral dressing problems2-4 and has now received confirmation as to accuracy by an entirely independent method.&apos; This confirmatory or "absolute" method uses a very tedious calorimetric procedure and is not suitable for routine determinations; but still another method6 now is available to relate the results obtained by the BET method to those obtained calorimetrically. This Harkins-Jura method has the advantage that it does not require an assumption concerning the parking area per molecule of adsorbate (nitrogen). In the original work by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller the parking area per nitrogen molecule was calculated to be either 13.8?2 or 16.2?2. according as the nitrogen was assumed to be closely packed as in crystalline nitrogen or loosely packed as in liquid nitrogen. The initial experimental work from this laboratory2 supported the 13.8?2. figure; that work was done on glass spheres of measurable geometric area and it was based on the assumption that the glass spheres were truly smooth; any deviation from this assumption would, of course, have made the calculated parking area higher. Harkins and Jura&apos;s results suggest that the parking area is not the same for all substrata; furthermore, the average of the 87 measurements cited indicates a "preferred" parking area for the nitrogen molecule of about 15.2?2., with extreme values at 13.7 and 16.9?2. The average of 21 determinations made in connection with this study7 gave a parking area of 14.3 ± 0.27?². In view of this result and of the Harkins and Jura

Jan 1, 1947

By Gustav S. Preller, A. M. Gaudin

Fox the past 20 years it has been generally accepted that the flotation process is made possible as a result of the action of certain chemical substances on the surface of the mineral particles. In fact, it has been suspected, but never demonstrated, that this action produces on the mineral particles a layer of chemosorbed ions that is of the order of magnitude of a monolayer; that is, of a layer one ion deep. It is the purpose of this paper to present certain initial results on the relationship of mineral surface area and collecting-agent requirements. Up to about eight years ago, all considerations involving the surface area of finely divided solids were-limited by the fact that there was not in existence any general method for determining the extent of such surfaces, especially on mixed materials. However, the method invented by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller1 has changed the situation by providing a general procedure (BET method). This procedure has already been applied to mineral dressing problems2 -4 and has now received confirmation as to accuracy by an entirely independent method.5 This confirmatory or "absolute" method uses a very tedious calorimetric procedure and is not suitable for routine determinations; but still another method6 now is available to relate the results obtained by the BET method to those obtained calorimetrically. This Harkins-Jura method has the advantage that it does not require an assumption concerning the parking area per molecule of adsorbate (nitrogen). In the original work by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller the parking area per nitrogen molecule was calculated to be either 13.8Å2. or 16.2Å2. according as the nitrogen was assumed to be closely packed as in crystalline nitrogen or loosely packed as in liquid nitrogen. The initial experimental work from this laboratory2 supported the 13.8Å2. figure; that work was done on glass spheres of measurable geometric area and it was based on the assumption that the glass spheres were truly smooth; any deviation from this assumption would, of course, have made the calculated parking area higher. Harkins and Jura&apos;s results suggest that the parking area is not the same for all substrata; furthermore, the average of the 87 measurements cited indicates a "preferred" parking area for the nitrogen molecule of about 15.2Å2., with extreme values at 13.7 and 16.9Å2. The average of 21 determinations made in connection with this study&apos; gave a parking area of 14.3 ± 0.27Å2. In view of this result and of the Harkins and Jura

Jan 1, 1946

By G. S. Rice, J. A. Davis

The Péchelbronn oil field is located in the province of Alsace, in the Rhine Valley, about 30 miles north of Strasbourg. It is approximately 4 miles wide and 12 miles long, extending from the villages of Lobsann on the north to Wintershausen and Ohlungen near Haguenau on the south. (See Fig. 1.) The productive area includes about 44,000 hectares (107,680 acres). The name Péchelbronn signifies "pitch-spring" or "pitch-fountain." The first exploratory galleries were driven in from the hillside in 1735; and in 1745 the first official concession was granted by the French government and the first pit sunk to a depth of about 30 ft. Extraction by drilled wells was begun in 1879, supplementing the mining operations, and during the next 10 years 200 wells were drilled to an average depth of 172 m. (568 ft.). The bringing in of two "gusher" wells, in 1882 and 1888, respectively, was followed by the abandonment of all underground work. Underground mining, with a view to increasing the production of petroleum by recovering the oil left in the sands after drilling wells, was resumed in 1916. This mining operation started by sinking shaft No. 1 to a depth of 150 m. (495 ft.). The underground developments were pushed during 1917 and 1918 and the annual production of the Péchel-bronn field was increased to about 50,000 metric tons or 350,000 bbl. On the signing of the Versailles Treaty the province of Alsace, which had been taken by Germany as the result of the war of 1870, was returned to France, and the proprietary rights were taken over by the French Government. Concessions or leases, which embraced all the known oil-bearing territory of the field, were granted to the present operating company, Mines de Péchelbronn. This company followed both the drilling and the mining methods of the previous company.

Jan 1, 1927