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Take a look at the maintenance force in some of Wyoming's surface coal mines and you'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'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 J. S. Bowles

DISCUSSION, M. Cohen presiding J. W. Christian (The Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, oxford, Englandl)—I was very interested in Dr. Bowles' results on the suppression of the transformation by solid films of alcohol or propane. The transformation in cobalt, which is also martensitic, can be explained by a mechanism involving the reflection of "half dislocations" down a series of atomic planes.* This reflection process is similar to that considered by Frank13 for plastic deformation on a single slip plane and, as he pointed out, reflection would be impossible if the metal were immersed in a liquid of higher density. It seems possible that solid films of alcohol have a similar effect on the lithium transformation. Reflection should also be possible at a grain boundary, though a higher kinetic energy of the dislocation, and hence a lower temperature would be required. As Dr. Bowles used coarse grained polycrystalline speci- mens, transformation on cooling should still have occurred in grains which did not form part of the outside (free surface) of the metal. This may account for the X-ray lines of the low temperature phase which were found. There is thus the interesting possibility that in a polycrystalline specimen a liquid, or in some cases a solid, film of material of or or higher density will lower M,, while in a single crystal it should suppress the transformation completely. In the case of cobalt it is necessary to find a dense liquid which will not react with the metal at the transformation temperature. The most promising liquid appears to be pure lead, but it is very difficult to devise a method of investigating whether or not this does suppress the transformation.

Jan 1, 1952

By James Cudworth

THE Birmingham district of Alabama has utilized the slag from its blast furnaces consistently since the earliest development of the slag industry. Today there are producers of slag cement who started business in 1900, and who have, under a progressive policy, expanded the number of their products to meet present demands. There are producers of slag aggregates and other crushed slag products who have been successful for periods of over thirty years. There are at the present two companies, Cheney Lime and Cement Co. and the Southern Cement Co., manu-facturing puzzolan cement; three companies, Birmingham Slag Co., Woodstock Slag Co., and Swann Chemical Co., making slag aggregates and by-products; one company, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Co., a subsidiary of the U. S. Steel Corporation, producing ground open-hearth basic slag for soil conditioning. Two companies, the Sloss Sheffield Steel and Iron Co. and the Woodstock Slag Co., make slag concrete in ready-mix plants and one company, the Superock Company, manufactures fine and coarse slag aggregates under a new granulation process. No Portland cement is made with slag as an ingredient, because dolomite is used so extensively as a blast-furnace flux that the magnesium content of the slag is excessive.

Jan 1, 1937

Coal was found in many places in Montana by the early explorers and trappers but no commercial development was made until 1876, and very little coal was produced before 1885. All available data are given in Table 79 taken from U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 356. [ ]

Jan 1, 1942

A development drilling and bulk sampling program should furnish the following information: (1) geology of the mineralized zone, (2) quantitative data on grade and tons of material within pertinent cutoff limits, (3) physical size and shape of the deposit and areas underlain by waste as well as ore, (4) mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics of the ore, (5) physical characteristics of the ore, (6) bulk samples for metallurgical testing and grade, (7) data on factors that affect mining operations, such as ground water and ground conditions. The method and equipment best suited for a particular drilling job depend upon the geologic features of the mineral deposit to be tested.

Jan 10, 1967

The resin-in-pulp (RIP) ion exchange process was originally conceived by the Atomic Energy Commission in the early 1950's. However it was developed to commercial success by the Anaconda Co. at its 3000-tpd ore processing mill in Grants, N. M. Essentially, the Anaconda mill's crushing, grinding and acid leaching operations are the same as at the nearby Kerr-McGee mill, except that Anaconda uses manganese dioxide instead of sodium chlorate as oxidant during acid leaching. The real differences between the two mills become evident when considering how Anaconda treats its leached materials.

Jan 8, 1974

By E. M. Bennett

HISTORY In 1923 John Campbell Miles discovered the Mount Isa deposit after finding and submitting for assay some “unusual and heavy rocks”. Six months after submission he received the assays of his original samples which indicated high lead-silver values. The deposit area was isolated and unknown geographically and not served by even a rough country road. The isolation of Mount Isa coupled with the depression years had a strong influence on the rate of development of the area. These two factors resulted in a slow amalgamation of the early individually held leases and the lack of ready finance to begin serious mining of the deposit. Initially, surface lead-silver-zinc mineralisation was proved and diamond drilling to shallow depths showed the presence of a viable orebody. Limited underground development work was initiated and open cutting associated with glory holing commenced. Due to the metallurgical problems associated with the ore and due also to unsuspected change in metallurgical conditions as the ore deepened into what is known today as the transition zone, major problems of finance were recurring at frequent intervals. Despite low metal prices the development of the mine continued due to continuing infusion of capital. During the 1939-45 war years a surplus of lead was being produced in Australia, but a grave shortage of copper was apparent. About this time copper ore had been found to the hanging wall of the then known major lead orebodies. At the request of the Australian Government, lead production ceased and copper production commenced.

Jan 1, 1970

By Robert F. Calman

OUTLINE FIVE EXAMPLES OF GOLD-LINKED FINANCINGS 1. Financing the Lupin Mine • Sale of Cdn $40.0 million of 12% preferred shares and Cdn $40.0 million of Gold Purchase Warrants @ $595 per ounce. 2. Financing the Copper Range acquisition • Borrowing 100,000 ounces from a Canadian chartered bank @ US$307 for five years. 3. Financing the Round Mountain expansion • Borrowing up to US $80.0 million in dollars, convertible into gold, repayable over five years from a group of North American banks. 4. Financing the Tenneco Precious Metals Division acquisition •Sale of SFr 110.0 million of ten year 3-718% bonds with warrants to buy 132,000 ounces of gold at US $560. 5. On Forward Sales, Puts and Calls • Gold, Silver, Canadian Dollars, Swiss Francs THE FINANCIAL RULES AT ECHO BAY 1. Never bet the company 2. Equity is the primary form of capital for a gold mining company 3. On debt 4. The Yardsticks for Corporate Decisions 5. Financial Community Relationships 6. Dividend Policy No Text Available Tables Follow

Jan 1, 1990

By Walter B. Devereux

Metallic copper is a product of native metallurgy in various parts of Mexico, and by somewhat varied processes. While recently examining copper mines in the State of Jalisko, I had an opportunity of witnessing Mexican copper smelting by a process which I have not seen described, and which is interesting from the fact, that a fine quality of copper is produced from sulphurous ores in three metallurgical operations, and apparently without excessive loss. The process was carried on in buildings which were part of a plant erected by an American more than twenty-five years ago for the purpose of smelting and working copper. After a few years this man met with accidental death, and the works have been but little used since. Located in the centre of a high range of mountains, far from any town or seaport, and inaccessible except over difficult mule trails, these substantial buildings, filled with furnaces and heavy machinery,

Jan 1, 1883

By E. G. Leonardon

The object of this paper is to describe briefly the practical results obtained in several problems of civil engineering by resistivity measurements of the underground. It is intended for the mining engineer, as well as for the construction engineer; the stratigraphical problems discussed are general and frequently are encountered in mining exploration. Resistivity measurements have been used in mining and oil exploration for a number of years.' Their introduction in the field of civil engineering, on the contrary, is rather recent. It was applied for the first time in the spring of 1928 near Littleton, N. H., in the survey of two dam sites for the New England Power Assn.2 Since then, the geophysical firm with which the author is connected has had an opportunity to develop this field of activity, and more than 20 investigations at dam and tunnel sites have been carried out in the United States and Canada. A part of this work has been verified by underground or drilling exploration. This paper deals with but a few of the results, which we are permitted to make public now. The theoretical and technical sides of the processes employed will not be discussed; they have already been described in various technical publications. A few general points will be mentioned, to make clear the practical examples given. Resistivities OF the Rocks The surveys are based on the measurement of the specific resistance of the rocks. This resistivity is the electrical resistance of a cylinder of

Jan 1, 1932

By Leonard B. Lipson

Boyer, Morgan and Muskat,' with improvements by Morgan, McDowell, and Doty,l and Laird and Putnam,' have described a scheme for the determination of fluid saturatic in porous media by measuring the x-ray linear absorbing power of particular fluids in the media. This method is one of several which depend on the linear absorbing power of the fluids in the porous medium. Other examples of linear absorption methods involve measurement of dielectric constant, gamma ray absorption, and ultrasonic attenuation. It is the purpose of this note to demonstrate by theortical considerations that the absorption versus saturation curve for a linear absorption method is not necessarily a single valued function of the saturation. Such non-unique behavior must be considered and evaluated before suitable saturation determinations can be made by a linear absorption method. To illustrate the discussion, examples will be given only for the simplest cases of combinations of two different dielectrics. The dielectric constant method was chosen for illustration because it was thought to demonstrate most graphically the point in question. According to Argue and Maass,4 the resultant dielectric constant of a combination of two different dielectrics depends on the orientation of the dielectrics in the electric field of the test condenser used to measure the dielectric constant. One ease involves alternate slabs of dielectrics E1 and E2 perpendicular to the electric field of the test condenser, as shown in Fig. 1A. For this case: l/'E, = A/E, + B/E,.......(1) where E,,, is the dielectric constant of the combination, A is the ratio of the path length through dielectric E, to the distance between the plates of the condenser (assuming the dielectrics have the same cross sectional area as the condenser), and B is the ratio of the path length through dielectric E2 to the distance between the plates of the condenser. It will be noted that the constants A and B are numerically equal to the fractional "saturation" of the region between the test plates of the condenser by the two dielectrics E1 and E2, respectively. Another case involves alternate columns of the two dielectrics parallel to the electric field and forming a continuous path between the condenser plates, as shown in Fig. 1B. For this case: E., = AE1 + BE2.........(2) where E., is the dielectric constant of the combination, A is the ratio of the cross sectional area of dielectric E, to the cross sectional area of the condenser plates (assuming the lengths of the dielectrics equal the distance between the condenser plates) and B is the ratio of the cross sectional area of dielectric E2 to the cross sectional area of the condenser plates. As before the constants A and B are the effective "saturation" of the condenser by the two dielectrics. Still another case is described by Lichtenecker5 where dielectric E2 is shown in the form of small particles distributed at random in dielectric E1. This is shown in Fig. 1C. For this case: log Em = A log E1 + B log E2.....(3) where Em is the dielectric constant of the combination. A is the ratio of the volume of dielectric E1 to the volume of the condenser, i.e., the effective "saturation" of the condenser by dielectric E,. B is the ratio of the volume of dielectric E2 to the volume of the condenser, i.e., "saturation" of dielectric El. Equations (l), (2) and (3) are plotted in Fig. 2 for E1 = 2.5 (oil) and E2 = 80 (water). Equations (1) and (2) may he thought of as representing the limiting cases of the configuration of two fluids which might be expected to exist in a porous medium. Equation (3),

Jan 1, 1951

By Leonard B. Lipson

Boyer, Morgan and Muskat,' with improvements by Morgan, McDowell, and Doty,l and Laird and Putnam,' have described a scheme for the determination of fluid saturatic in porous media by measuring the x-ray linear absorbing power of particular fluids in the media. This method is one of several which depend on the linear absorbing power of the fluids in the porous medium. Other examples of linear absorption methods involve measurement of dielectric constant, gamma ray absorption, and ultrasonic attenuation. It is the purpose of this note to demonstrate by theortical considerations that the absorption versus saturation curve for a linear absorption method is not necessarily a single valued function of the saturation. Such non-unique behavior must be considered and evaluated before suitable saturation determinations can be made by a linear absorption method. To illustrate the discussion, examples will be given only for the simplest cases of combinations of two different dielectrics. The dielectric constant method was chosen for illustration because it was thought to demonstrate most graphically the point in question. According to Argue and Maass,4 the resultant dielectric constant of a combination of two different dielectrics depends on the orientation of the dielectrics in the electric field of the test condenser used to measure the dielectric constant. One ease involves alternate slabs of dielectrics E1 and E2 perpendicular to the electric field of the test condenser, as shown in Fig. 1A. For this case: l/'E, = A/E, + B/E,.......(1) where E,,, is the dielectric constant of the combination, A is the ratio of the path length through dielectric E, to the distance between the plates of the condenser (assuming the dielectrics have the same cross sectional area as the condenser), and B is the ratio of the path length through dielectric E2 to the distance between the plates of the condenser. It will be noted that the constants A and B are numerically equal to the fractional "saturation" of the region between the test plates of the condenser by the two dielectrics E1 and E2, respectively. Another case involves alternate columns of the two dielectrics parallel to the electric field and forming a continuous path between the condenser plates, as shown in Fig. 1B. For this case: E., = AE1 + BE2.........(2) where E., is the dielectric constant of the combination, A is the ratio of the cross sectional area of dielectric E, to the cross sectional area of the condenser plates (assuming the lengths of the dielectrics equal the distance between the condenser plates) and B is the ratio of the cross sectional area of dielectric E2 to the cross sectional area of the condenser plates. As before the constants A and B are the effective "saturation" of the condenser by the two dielectrics. Still another case is described by Lichtenecker5 where dielectric E2 is shown in the form of small particles distributed at random in dielectric E1. This is shown in Fig. 1C. For this case: log Em = A log E1 + B log E2.....(3) where Em is the dielectric constant of the combination. A is the ratio of the volume of dielectric E1 to the volume of the condenser, i.e., the effective "saturation" of the condenser by dielectric E,. B is the ratio of the volume of dielectric E2 to the volume of the condenser, i.e., "saturation" of dielectric El. Equations (l), (2) and (3) are plotted in Fig. 2 for E1 = 2.5 (oil) and E2 = 80 (water). Equations (1) and (2) may he thought of as representing the limiting cases of the configuration of two fluids which might be expected to exist in a porous medium. Equation (3),

Jan 1, 1951

By R. W. Raymond

By the death of Prof. Pettee the Institute has lost one of its earliest, most distinguished, most useful and most beloved members. Among those who survive him there are few who have rendered services of equal professional value or unselfish devotion. The warrant for this statement will be amply furnished in the present brief notice of his life and work. William Henry Pettee was born, January 13,1838, at Newton Upper Falls, Mass., where hie childhood and youth were spent. His father, Otis Pettee, a manufacturer of cotton cloth and of cotton-mill machinery, died in 1853. Up to that time, the son had been educated mainly in the district school; but, being inclined by temperament and constitution rather to books and study than to physical exertion, he had been wisely rest,rained in mental activity, and required, for a season, to work regularly in the foundry and machine-shop of his father. Unquestionably, this discipline not only benefited his health, but also constituted a valoable preparation for his subsequent professional career. In 1857, after suitable preliminary study at various New England academies, he entered Harvard College, where he took high rank in the classical course then required, was selected in his Junior gear to deliver a Latin oration; was elected a mem-

Jan 1, 1905

ENGINEERS AVAILABLE (Under this heading will be published notes sent to the Secretary of the Institute by members or other persons introduced by members.) Technical graduate, aged-31, with experience as surveyor, chemist with a sulphur company, practical miner, and as chief engineer of an iron mining company, desires a position as mining engineer or superintendent. Speaks French and German. No. 165. Member, aged 31, married, graduate Yale and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, six years' experience in coal and iron mining, from engineer to general superintendent, desires position with large coal or iron company. Will go anywhere. References. . No. 167. Member, technical graduate, with experience as machinist, chemist, construction engineer, and manager-of mines in the United States and Mexico, desires position .as mine superintendent or manager. Speaks Spanish. No. 168. Member, technical graduate, aged 26, with experience as engineer, mine foreman, assistant superintendent for a pyrite mining company. Experience includes diamond drilling, shaft sinking, underground work, milling of pyrites, and mine accounting. No. 169.

Jan 12, 1914

By P More

US 4,132,621-In the electrowinning of aluminum, the cells are aligned in a lengthwise direction so as to lessen the harmful influence of the induced magnetic fields Each cell is supplied with current from the preceding cell both via the head arid at least one side riser The output of the cathode bars is divided into two separate groups, the upstream group supplying the head of the subsequent cell arid the downstream group supplying the side risers of the subsequent cell This produces a substantial improvement in cell efficiency arid a greater regularity P Morel, J P Dugois, arid B Langon, assigned to Aluminium Pechiney. Jan 2, 1979 12 pp. (204¬243M) Filed 1-12-78 (868,861) Priority: France, 1-19-77 (77/2,213) US 4,134,806-Cells, anodes, arid methods for use in the electrowinning of nickel, cobalt, copper, zinc, or other metals from an acid ore leach solution or the like The cell is provided with vertically immersed stationary cathodes and stationary rod anodes which are noncorrodible by the electrolyte arid are electrocatalytic to the anode reaction. The spaced parallel anode rods are connected to electric current supply bars The anode rods have an electroconductive core made of a metal alloy arid a surface coating of an oxide of platinum or a platinum group metal The ratio of active cathode surface area to active anode surface area is preferably at least 3 0. De Nora arid C Traini, assigned to Diamond Shamrock Tech¬nologies, SA Jan 16, 1979 13 pp. (204-105R) Filed 9-15-77 (833,661) Priority Italy, 1-29-73 (19738 A/73). Same British 1,434,334-5, dated May 5, 1976 US 4,135,994-In the electrowinning of aluminum at a high current efficiency, the electrolytic bath is a mixed molten salt consisting of 2-15% by weight of aluminum trichloride, 15-83% of sodium chloride, 15-70% of combined calcium chloride arid magnesium chloride but riot more than 40% of calcium chloride, arid optionally up to 10% of barium chloride Preferably, plate-shaped graphite electrodes used for both cathodes and anodes are arranged in parallel inclined relation so that the axis in the lengthwise direction makes an angle of from 10° to 45° to the horizontal. T Ishikawa arid H Ichikawa, assigned to Nippon Light Metal Co Ltd Jan 23, 1979 4 pp (204-67) Filed 11-15-77(851,632) Same British 1,550,502, dated Aug 15, 1979

Jan 1, 1980

It is probable that the first commercial production of coal in Ohio was for the supply of Wheeling, before mines were opened at that place. This coal came from Pipe Creek in Belmont County,l where the seam was exposed a short distance above the river. This movement could not have lasted more than a few years, because coal was being mined at Wheeling in 1818, and probably before that.2 Mining began in Tuscarawas County in 1810 and in Perry County in 1816, and has been followed steadily since then. In the eighteen twenties the Pomeroy field in Meigs County, Jackson County, and the northern Ohio field in Summit County commenced production. All of the early data available are given in Table 57. No early official reports were made, but after 1859 the Secretary of State published statistics of production, admittedly inaccurate, by counties, and under various officials these have been continued to the present day. Ohio has never published statistics about coal in smaller units than the county; no reports of individual properties have ever been collected. The period from 1800 to 1885 includes the opening of practically all of the coal fields of the state, although those of eastern Ohio were not large producers at its end. During this time the use of raw block coal in blast furnaces had begun and ended, and at the end, coke was nearly the universal fuel for this purpose. Much of the coal traffic on the Ohio River and its main tributaries originated in the necessity of a fuel supply for Cincinnati and other down-river cities. This traffic started in 1794, and few records of it are available until many years later; in 1846 records of the movement to Cincinnati began and have been maintained with increasing thoroughness, and represent one of the most complete records of such a traffic extant anywhere. As these data show the originating fields of most of the coals used there, the available figures to 1885 have been collected in Table 16.

Jan 1, 1942

By Wilford S. Wright

FOR the past four years the management of the Black Hawk Consolidated Mines plant at Mogollon has conscientiously kept accurate records pertaining to cost of operation and the performance of certain equipment. These records have been valuable in coordinating the work in the mine, mill and power plant. Also, as to quantity and kind of equipment and supplies most suitable from the standpoint of economy and dependable operation, they have served as a guide. Through comparison with records at other mines, where the same things are being done in a different way, they have pointed out mistakes to be avoided. No outstanding accomplishments, either in costs or performances, are revealed; in fact, some of the results are perhaps quite inferior to those obtained at similar plants, but it is with the thought that more records should be published for the benefit of the mining profession that the author presents these data. To other operators and to mining engineers who are called upon to make estimates for prospective operations, the information herein should be helpful. GENERAL CONDITIONS Mogollon is in the southern part of Catron County, southwestern New Mexico. It lies near the western border of the Mogollon Range, 14 miles east of the Arizona line. Silver City, 80 miles to the southeast, is the nearest railroad point. The connecting road, over which supplies are hauled into camp by trucks, is an improved highway for about 50 miles; the remainder consists of graveled roads and unimproved steep mountain grades. One general supply truck and one tank truck make daily round trips. Hauling of supplies to the mine has cost at the rate of $0.08 per ton-mile; or, on the basis of ore production, $0.30 per ton mined. Lumber, hauled in from local mills, has cost an average of $30.00 per 1000 board feet, $8.50 of which has been for hauling. The annual consumption averages 108,000 board feet. Lime, hauled from a plant in Arizona, is about the only other item not brought out from Silver City. Fuel oil for the generation of power is the item of greatest hauling expense, the f.o.b. Mogollon cost of approximately $0.06 per gal. being nearly twice the f.o.b. refinery price. Water for power plant, mill and camp use flows to camp storage tanks through a 4-in. pipe line from a spring and intake 3 miles up Silver Creek Canyon. A few times, particularly in the month of June, mill operations have been suspended for two or three days because of water shortage. MINING CONDITIONS During the years 1938, 1939, 1940 and 1941, the mine produced 230,059 dry tons

Jan 1, 1943

By J. A. Fulton

GOLD was discovered in the Sierra Nevada by J. W. Marshall on Jan. 2, 1848. The town: of Grass Valley soon sprang up and contained several stores in 1849; but the population of the town has always reflected the fluctuations in quartz mining. Gold-bearing quartz was found on Gold Hill in September 1850, and in the next two years most of the quartz bearing veins in the vicinity were located. At first, the quartz was crushed in mortars with spring poles; the Huff Co. took out $20,000 in this manner during the winter and spring of 1851. The first mill was put up in January, 1851. In 1866, there .were in Grass Valley 248 stamps, crushing 71,420 tons of ore with an average yield of $30 to $35; in Nevada City, there were 142 stamps, crushing 14,200, tons, with an average value of $25. But in 1918, only two properties in. this region, the Empire and the North Star, were producing. Since then, there has. been a revival of mining in the district and the following properties are being opened up: The Golden Center, Grass Valley Gold. Mines CO , Idaho-Maryland Mines Co., while the Sultana is kept unwatered and work is going on in a half dozen small properties.

Jan 2, 1926

By Howard I. Smith

THE mineral trona was discovered on Government land in 1938, about 18 miles west of the town of Green River, Wyo., in the core of the John Hay, Jr., well, a test well drilled for oil by the Mountain Fuel Supply Co. in sec. 2, T. 18 N., R. 110 W., sixth principal meridian. Although no oil or gas was reported, the drilling led to a discovery of great potential economic importance and exceptional scientific interest. Trona is a relatively rare mineral found at various places in playa deposits but not previously found at any great depth. It is composed of hydrous sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate (Na2CO3.NaHCO3.2H20). Pure trona contains the equivalent of 70.35 per cent of sodium carbonate. Total sodium computed to carbonate times 1.42 equals the percentage of trona in the absence of other sodium carbonate minerals in the sample. ANALYSES Two short pieces of core sent to the author a few days after the completion of the Hay well were analyzed by R. C. Wells[t] and found to be exceptionally pure trona. A brief article on this discovery has already been published.1 Arrangements were then made through W. T. Nightengale[$] for the author to inspect and sample the core. The company log of the well included notations of sodium salt crystals from a depth of 1190 to 1820 ft. Not being able to identify all the minerals present, the author selected several specimens of the core for petrographic examinations and sampled the sections of trona for analysis. J. J. Fahey, of the Geological Survey, examined the specimens and reported most of the crystals to be a new anhydrous sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate mineral (Na2CO3.2CaCO3), which he named shortite,2 after Maxwell N. Short.* He analyzed the samples of trona, with the results shown in Table I. [ ] In addition to the 10 ft. I in. of trona in the first section, it is reasonable to assume that the 9 ft. 8 in. for which no core was available for sampling is either mostly trona or some other soluble salt, but it should not be included in calculating reserves. In the part of the core between 1590 ft. 3 in. and I600 ft. 4 in. the material insoluble in cold water, amounting to about 5 per cent, was estimated petrographically to contain 70 per cent clay, 25 per cent shortite, and 5 per cent pyrite. ACCOMPANYING MINERALS Fahey later secured about 600 ft. of the core for a detailed examination and study

Jan 1, 1942

By J. R. Sturgul, J. C. Wynn

Computers and computer applications in geophysics are fairly recent innovations. The area of data handling is one that has found many immediate applications. Initially, the use of computers involved in almost all cases, a batch-input arrangement requiring a trip to the local computer center, a wait and another trip. Even though the computer worked at incredible speeds, the time-delays, in case an error in the input data developed, often could be several days. Use of computers in mining exploration by medium-sized or small-sized companies and contractors has been almost non-existent beyond simple data reduction work. The principle J. R. Sturgul, SME member, and J. C. Wynn, both affiliated with the Dept. of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, presented this paper at the Eleventh International Symposium on Computer Applications in the Minerals Industry, reasons appear to be the time factor and the inconvenience of the frequent trips involved. With the advent of time sharing systems, whereby a company need only have access to a terminal, the main objections can be overcome. An Apparent Solution An apparent solution to the time and distance inconveniences which would permit more extensive use of computers in geophysical exploration, is to buy or lease/purchase a medium-sized computer and install it in or near one's office. This is a formidable proposition in terms of cost and programming time on both respects, but several mining companies of larger size have already gone this route. In most cases, the computers have been expensive devices with a limited memory or core size. For routine data handling this memory size is not restrictive; however, for many geophysical applications such as three-dimensional modeling this can be critical.

Jan 10, 1973