Search Documents

WILLIAM H. KOBBÉ (communication to the Secretary*).-I have read with much interest the discussion of my paper by Arthur Knapp and I. N. Knapp published in the March Bulletin. These discussions apparently assume that my paper advances a. number of ideas that are not intended: 1. That the total sandbody or pay is to be removed. 2. That upon bringing this sand and oil to the surface 100 per cent., or perfect separation, can take place. 3. That this tremendous quantity of sand is then hauled away in wagons and distributed as road material. The paper raider discussion is not a theoretical treatment of the subject but is the result of actual experience in oil production under the conditions mentioned.. That wells that produce sand produce in ore oil, and the best operating methods to bring this about are fully treated. It is, of course, impossible to remove all the oil sand underlying a property, but the greater the amount removed the greater becomes the production of oil. As stated in my paper, the surface disposal of this large volume of sand is a problem and the only use to which it can be put is road surfacing; but I did not intend to convey the idea that all this sand was thus used. Only a very small quantity was required on the company's roads, and two wagons only were employed for this purpose. The remaining sand accumulated in the numerous "washes" and sumps. Although this sand contained sufficient oil to stain the hands, it was, surprisingly dry and could be easily shoveled. As stated in the paper, "the piles of sand are gradually freed of their oil content and a crust forms on their surface which will bear the weight of a man." I consider this a high degree of separation. A small amount of oil necessarily remains in the sand and is held there by capillarity. Otherwise it would be useless as a road binder, and, furthermore, to recover such oil special processes of treating are required. Arthur Knapp says, "of the total volume produced by pumping, not more than 4 or 5 per cent. can possibly be sand." I cannot agree with this statement as I have managed many properties where the wells were so operated that the amount of sand produced was five times this figure.

Jan 6, 1917

By W. H. Emmons

THE exploration of deposits of the metals will never become an exact science. There will always be an element of uncertainty in prospecting and developing mines. In countries where the surface has been closely scrutinized, most of the deposits whose outcrops contain valuable metals have probably been discovered. Many metalliferous deposits, however, are normally so much altered at the surface that the true significance of their outcrops is likely to be obscured. If a deposit is not exposed, its presence may become known by some one of its characteristics that is different in kind or in degree from a similar feature of the associated rock. Thus, a deposit that is not exposed may be discovered because of its magnetic property. So few minerals are strongly magnetic that the value of magnetic surveys is limited, but the dip needle has nevertheless proved of great aid in locating magnetic belts, and these in some regions are associated with workable iron ores. The Cuyuna Iron Range of Minnesota, which does not exhibit any outcrop of iron ore, was discovered by drilling "areas of attraction" that are due to belts of magnetic rocks associated with the iron ores. In some regions the use of the clip needle is justified, even if it does no more than reveal the strike of the rocks, since a knowledge of the latter enables the driller to locate and point his holes to advantage. The measures of gravity by the use of the pendulum are so accurate, or the limit of error is so small, that one might detect the presence of a concealed tabular deposit approximately at the surface, 34 ft. (10.36 m.) thick, having a density double that of the surrounding rocks. However, not many deposits have a density twice that of ordinary rocks and a thickness as great as 34 ft.; if they lie a short distance below the surface the density or the thickness must be even greater. Consequently, there is not much hope of sufficiently developing the gravity method of detecting deposits of heavy ores to make it of practical value. If the limit of error could be reduced to about one-tenth the present factor, and if the rather tedious and painstaking methods of determining gravity that are now in use could be simplified, the method would promise some degree

Jan 3, 1917

By W. H. Emmons

The exploration of deposits of the metals will never become an exact science. There will always be an element of uncertainty in prospecting and developing mines. In countries where the surface has been closely scrutinized, most of the deposits whose outcrops contain valuable metals have probably been discovered. Many metalliferous deposits, however, are normally so much altered at the surface that the true significance of their outcrops is likely to be obscured. If a deposit is not exposed, its presence may become known by some one of its characteristics that is different in kind or in degree from a similar feature of the associated rock. Thus, a deposit that is not exposed may be discovered because of its magnetic property. So few minerals are strongly magnetic that the value of magnetic surveys is limited, but the dip needle has nevertheless proved of great aid in locating magnetic belts, and these in some regions are associated with workable iron ores. The Cuyuna Iron Range of Minnesota, which does not exhibit any outcrop of iron ore, was discovered by drilling "areas of attraction" that are due to belts of magnetic rocks associated with the iron ores. In some regions the use of the dip needle is justified, even if it does no more than reveal the strike of the rocks, since a knowledge of the latter enables the driller to locate and point his holes to advantage. The measures of gravity by the use of the pendulum are so accurate, or the limit of error is so small, that one might detect the presence of a concealed tabular deposit approximately at the surface, 34 ft. (10.36 m.) thick, having a density double that of the surrounding rocks. However, not many deposits have a density twice that of ordinary rocks and a thickness as great as 34 ft.; if they lie a short distance below the surface the density or the thickness must be even greater. Consequently, there is not much hope of sufficiently developing the gravity method of detecting deposits of heavy ores to make it of practical value. If the limit of error could be reduced to about one-tenth the present factor, and if the rather tedious and painstaking methods of determining gravity that are now in use could be simplified, the method would promise some degree

Jan 1, 1918

A filled stope is one in which the support for walls and men and, at times, for the back of ore, is furnished by waste rock or sand tailings. The filling may be rock sorted out in the stope or from the walls, develop-ent, or the surface. The orebody is mined in sections, each practically an open or timbered stope, filled wholly or in part before adjacent ground is attacked. As a rule, the filled-stope method is limited to overhand flat-back, stepped-face, or rill stopes. The examples given are Copper Range, Iron Cap, Verde district, Zaruma district, Lucky Tiger, and Silver King Coalition.

Jan 1, 1925

By W. J. Nelson, R. B. Nance

Detailed underground geologic mapping at a scale of 1:1200 has been carried out at the Crown II Mine of Freeman United Coal Mining Co., which operates in the Herrin (No. 6) Coal Member. The roof sequence, upward from the coal, includes (1) soft, medium -to dark-gray shale; (2) hard, black, fissile shale; (3) argillaceous nodular- bedded limestone, and (4) fine-pined, shaly, water-bearing sandstone. The first unit is highly lenticular, and any or all may be missing at a given locality. The sandstone has a sheet facies and a channel facies. The Herrin Coal is eroded in channels near the Crown II Mine. Structural features mapped at Crown II include normal and strike-slip faults and limestone "bosses." Less stable roof and wet conditions are encountered where the limestone is thin or missing or where it is broken by natural fractures or by artificial openings that intersect the water-bearing strata above the limestone. Geologic mapping of the underground workings has allowed us to predict faults, fracture zones, and channels ahead of the face for this mine. Some lithologic and structural pattern apparently are random and cannot now be projected. Conventional exploratory drilling is entirely inadequate to map faults or lithology of the roof, but it does indicate the range of lithologic variability, which can be used to project needs for roof supports. Drilling also is useful in locating channels and in mapping regional variation in thickness and facies of the sandstone.

Jan 1, 1983

By G. Y. Chin, M. T. Dolan, W. L. Mammel

The least work analysis of constrained deformation, first proposed by Taylor and recently modified by Chin, Hosford, and Mendorf to include twinning, has been applied to the problem of axisynmetric flow. Calculations were made, for the case of (111}(110) slip and {111}(112) twinning applicable to fcc deformation. The solutions were obtained by linear programming techniques and with the aid of computer methods. The results show that in axisymnzetric tension the onset of twinning tends to decrease the plastic strength anisotropy as compared with the case of defortnation by slip alone. In compression, however, the strength anisotropy is increased as a result of twinning. The [100] and 11111 orientations and their vicinity are unfavorable for twinning in tension and compression, respecticely. With slight modifications, the present results may be applied to bcc metals deform ing by {110}(111j slip and (112} (111) twinning. Implications of present results to wire texture development of low stacking fault energy fcc materials arc discussed. PREVIOUSLY we' have applied linear programming techniques to obtain solutions to Taylor's least work analysis2 of constrained deformation of single crystals undergoing axisymmetric flow, such as occurs in an axially loaded polycrystalline aggregate. These solutions yielded values of the parameter M = o/.r = Y/w which relates the external stress-strain (u-c) curve to the shear stress-shear strain (7-y) curve for the crystal. The value of M is dependent on crystal orientation and hence enters significantly in texture strengthening considerations.3'4 Recently the Taylor hypothesis was modified by Chin, Hosford, and Mendorf' to include mechanical twinning. The latter has now been applied to the problem of axisymmetric flow and the results are reported in this paper. Calculations have been made for {111 )( 110) slip and {111 )(112) twinning applicable to fcc crystals. With minor changes in the indices of the slip and twin systems, the present results are also applicable to bcc crystals which slip on (110) (111) and twin on {112)(111) systems.

Jan 1, 1970

E. R. Rice, Wickenburg, Ariz. (communication to the Secretary*):—While this paper is primarily intended as a discussion of Mr. Riter's, I think it will be best to indicate my criticism by describing my own field-methods. It has been my experience that, for ordinary work, the regular transit-book is to be preferred to the card-system for recording notes. This is specially true when computations in the field are required, for it is then necessary to have at hand the total latitudes, departures, ancl elevations. Moreover, the transit-book is easier to carry and manipulate in wet or cramped places, and is not as liable to damage as the loose leaf or card. I use a regular transit-book in the field, and then copy my notes, sketches, etc., in an o5ce-book, entering also the latitudes, departures, and other reductions. These values are then copied into the field-book, securing a duplicate record, in case either book should be lost or mislaid. In the field-book, the notes are entered on the left-hand, and the sketches and remarks on the right-hand page. The next two pages are left blank for the latitudes, departures, bearings, reduced distances, etc. Of course, the notes for the different parts of the mine are entered in the field-book in the order in which they are surveyed; but in the they are entered systematically. It has been my experience that the system of keeping notes used by a surveyor, is particularly adapted to the needs and temperament of the individual. Otherwise, he would not be

Jan 1, 1912

By G. A. Vissac

IN the presentation which follows, washability curves, such as are commonly used in making studies preliminary to the cleaning of any coal or to the concentration of any mineral, have been reduced in each instance to a single straight line; thus all the most important characteristics of the coal or mineral are represented in a form more advantageous than that in which such data usually are shown. To obtain consistent results, float-and-sink data must be based on a single definite narrow size range, which may be designated "a coal unit." It will be shown that such units, each embodying a different size range, can be grouped to form what may be termed "a composite coal." A three-dimensional presentation will emerge, which will closely identify the coal, illustrate its characteristics in a new manner and explain many obscure facts. FLOAT-AND-SINK TESTS For the preliminary study of any cleaning or concentration problem, or in the control of any operation, float-and-sink tests must be made. The results of these tests are grouped in tabular form and then illustrated in various systems of curves; but if such a graphic representation is to have the utmost practical value, it must offer at least the following advantages: (I) It must be easier to read than the tabular results, and (2) it must be easy to plot, check and interpolate. The first requirement will be attained by reducing the number of curves to a minimum, and the second by some system of representation that will use only straight lines. Of the many washing curves now in use, only the "recovery curve," often known as the "composite curve "-a somewhat misleading term-will be considered. Any point on the recovery curve will show what percentage of weight of clean coal can be recovered when the mineral is washed at a certain specific gravity. As an example, the tests listed below Fig. I are illustrated in the drawing by a curve obtained by plotting (I) as abscissas the ash content of the coal recovered and (2) as ordinates the corresponding percentage of refuse discarded; but, in general practice, instead of writing down that weight, it is customary to set down its complement, which is the corresponding weight of coal recovered. From this curve can be deduced the information necessary for the solution of most practical problems. NEW FORM OF GRAPHIC PRESENTATION The resemblance of the recovery curve in Fig. I, or, for that matter, the recovery curve obtained in common practice, to a power curve is apparent. The general equation of such a curve is y = axn where n is negative. Taking logarithms: log y = a + n log x. Using a logarithmic scale, the equation of the recovery curve will be Y = A + bX. On this logarithmic basis, the recovery graph will be a straight line, using the same variables as in Fig. I ; namely, the ash con-

Jan 1, 1942

By Wendell E. Dunn

INTRODUCTION The early history of the chloride process has been recorded in a chapter of a Bureau of Mines bulletin (9 by one of the inventors of a chloride process, Stewart Croasdale, who is famous for the Pohle- Croasdale Process. The earliest use of chlorine in metallurgy was in 1557 by Bartholome Medina. But apparently even earlier there was knowledge that salt could be used in gold and silver extraction because a treatise, de la Pyrotechnica, published in 1540 in Venice, asserted that silver could be obtained from its ores by a wet salt process. In 1609 a priest, Alonzo Barba, invented a process using a copper vessel and boiling a solution of salt to extract silver chloride ores. The copper vessel was, of course, one of the reactants. This led to the Kronke process introduced in Chile in 1860 which substituted cuprous chloride for the kettle. A major step was taken in Europe in the late 1700's to chloridize roasted silver ores in combination with amalgamation using iron to reduce the silver chloride. By 1843 the Augustan process was introduced. Ores were roasted with salt and leached with a saturated salt solution. The silver chlorides passed into solution from which silver was precipitated by copper. In 1848 sodium or calcium thiosulfate solution of silver chloride was suggested by Dr. John Percy, and the idea was applied in 1856 by Von Patera in Bohemia.

Jan 1, 1983

By Robert Ignouf

MY REMARKS, which I feel highly honored in being invited to make, shall be limited to a consideration of -the mining and metallurgical problems involved in this question; in fact, these problems alone might well be considered as suffi¬cient to explain the existence of the Ruhr situation and to justify the steps taken by France in this affair. Comparing the France of pre-war days with the France of the period following the Versailles treaty indicates clearly how the Ruhr question is a direct consequence of the new economic conditions which have prevailed in Europe since peace was signed between the Allies and Germany. Before the war, in 1913 for instance, the French out¬put of iron ore was 22,000,000 tons. This output, which decreased considerably during and immediately after the war, has about regained its previous level. It should be noted that 96 per cent. of the production of iron in France is obtained from the eastern part of the country, in the districts of Nancy, Briey,. Longwy, Metz, and Thionville. This concentration of practi¬cally all the iron mines into one district creates a very serious problem for France, involving strategic and economic consequences. The strategic problem arises from the fact that the whole iron resources of France lie close to the frontier of Germany, at a distance of only a few miles; hence it is of the' utmost importance for France to be assured that her eastern frontier shall not be at the mercy of a sudden invasion by an army which could in a few hours deprive France of her iron resources and render her powerless to defend herself. Invaded by her Eastern neighbor three times during the past 100 years, France has had dire experience with what such invasions mean for her. Wherever the German armies have passed, they have left an inefface¬able trail of desolation. France, therefore, intends to protect herself by sufficient and efficient guarantees against renewed invasions of her territory.

Jan 5, 1923

By W. A. Bruce

This paper covers the theory and present state of development of an apparatus for the nonmathematical analysis of complex problems of reservoir and well behavior. At the present stage of development of this apparatus, it is capable of solving the water-drive problem of any reservoir performance for which a mathematical solution has been presented in the literature, either on the basis of steady or unsteady-state flow analysis. The theory is presented for the extension of the scope of this analyzer along the lines of the present development. The resulting apparatus should be able to solve reservoir-performance problems previously thought too difficult for practical solution by mathematical means. As an illustration of its operation and present scope, the analysis of a reservoir problem and synthesis of expected performance is presented. Introduction In this method† of analyzing problems of petroleum-reservoir and well behavior, the porous continuum of the reservoir is assumed to be divided into small blocks, or units. Each block is assumed to be small enough so that for a material balance on the fluids in the block an average pressure for the block can be used. In analyzing reservoir behavior from this point of view by mathematical means, a set of simultaneous difference equations would be obtained (two for each block), which must be solved or combined into a partial differential equation. In the method to be described here, instead of solving these sets of equations analytically, electrical units are constructed, which will behave in respect to the flow of electricity exactly as the reservoir units behave under various conditions of fluid flow. The electrical units are then wired together in the same way that the reservoir units are connected naturally by virtue of their geometrical locations and shapes. Fluid-Flow Equations Consider a block in a reservoir. Assume that reservoir fluid (or fluids) is flowing in at one face and out at the opposite face, and that the block is small enough so that at all points the stream lines are within one degree of perpendicular to the face. Furthermore, assume that the pressure, pi, at the upstream face (Fig, I) is not more than one per cent greater than P2 the pressure at the downstream face. A material balance will show that the mass of fluid flowing out less the mass of fluid flowing in will equal the change in density times the fluid volume. This is expressed in the equation:

Jan 1, 1943

By W. A. Bruce

This paper covers the theory and present state of development of an apparatus for the nonmathematical analysis of complex problems of reservoir and well behavior. At the present stage of development of this apparatus, it is capable of solving the water-drive problem of any reservoir performance for which a mathematical solution has been presented in the literature, either on the basis of steady or unsteady-state flow analysis. The theory is presented for the extension of the scope of this analyzer along the lines of the present development. The resulting apparatus should be able to solve reservoir-performance problems previously thought too difficult for practical solution by mathematical means. As an illustration of its operation and present scope, the analysis of a reservoir problem and synthesis of expected performance is presented. Introduction In this method† of analyzing problems of petroleum-reservoir and well behavior, the porous continuum of the reservoir is assumed to be divided into small blocks, or units. Each block is assumed to be small enough so that for a material balance on the fluids in the block an average pressure for the block can be used. In analyzing reservoir behavior from this point of view by mathematical means, a set of simultaneous difference equations would be obtained (two for each block), which must be solved or combined into a partial differential equation. In the method to be described here, instead of solving these sets of equations analytically, electrical units are constructed, which will behave in respect to the flow of electricity exactly as the reservoir units behave under various conditions of fluid flow. The electrical units are then wired together in the same way that the reservoir units are connected naturally by virtue of their geometrical locations and shapes. Fluid-Flow Equations Consider a block in a reservoir. Assume that reservoir fluid (or fluids) is flowing in at one face and out at the opposite face, and that the block is small enough so that at all points the stream lines are within one degree of perpendicular to the face. Furthermore, assume that the pressure, pi, at the upstream face (Fig, I) is not more than one per cent greater than P2 the pressure at the downstream face. A material balance will show that the mass of fluid flowing out less the mass of fluid flowing in will equal the change in density times the fluid volume. This is expressed in the equation:

Jan 1, 1943

By James E. Lawver

A SURVEY of Minerals Beneficiation Div. membership indicated genuine interest in automatic process control, but revealed that the average mill is operating with a minimum of self-regulating devices. Apparently, the mill operators are content to continue without controls until the practicality of self-regulating devices is more generally accepted, or, in the opinion of the writer, until automatic controls become a necessity to meet economic demands of product quality and cost. Both to stimulate interest in control, and to solicit publication of technical know-how by members and equipment manufacturers, this paper presents a cross section of control problems in two general categories: (a) Control problems that can usually be solved by reference to the literature, i.e. controls that have proven successful in the mineral or chemical industries; (b) Problems that are troublesome and frequently unsolved due to unavoidable adverse conditions in the mill circuit to be controlled.

Jan 10, 1953

By R. Schuhmann

PROBLEMS in expressing, interpreting, and using size-distribution data recur in many phases of mineral dressing; therefore it is desirable that size analyses be expressed in such a form, either numerically or graphically, that comparisons can be made readily. The size distribution of comminuted material is a result of a specific physical operation on the material and therefore should be governed by some definite physical principle, or cause-effect relation. Although this principle has not been discovered, it has been found that the size distribution of comminuted, homogeneous solids may be expressed by relatively simple mathematical equations. Two equations in particular, proposed by Gaudin1 and by Rosin and Rammler,2 respectively, have stood out, both having wide demonstrated ranges of application. The form and the method of application of the two appear almost irreconcilably different on the surface, but, as will be shown, they are asymptotic in the fine sizes when expressed in the same units. This paper gives the results of a further study of the Gaudin and Rosin-Rammler relations, made with the object of developing a form of size-distribution equation that will be more usable and more significant-particularly in comminution studies, both for interpreting the nature of size distribution and for evaluating surface. The work is summarized in the following: I. An equation relating cumulative per cent finer to particle size in the fine sizes is derived from Gaudin's original equation. That equation relates weight per cent retained on one size and through the next larger size in a geometric series of sizes to size (of the retaining screen, for example). 2. Comparisons with Gaudin's equation and with the Rosin-Rammler equation show that the cumulative equation applies to the fine sizes of all size distributions that fit either of these earlier relations, and, furthermore, has some advantages over each. 3. A simple graphical method of surface calculation based on the cumulative-equation plot is evolved and illustrated. 4. Additional confirmation of the cumulative equation was obtained in the more severe test of sizing down to the limit of a sedimentation balance a sample of jaw-crushed quartz. The equation was closely followed over a 20o-fold range in size, from approximately 0.4 mm. (35 mesh) down to 0.0023 mm. (2.3 microns), the lower limit of the size analysis made. There is no indication that the equation will not hold further to well below 2.3 microns. 5. Calculations of the surface produced in the jaw-crushing test mentioned above showed that at least 8o per cent of the total new surface was on particles finer than 35 mesh (about ½ 5 of the crusher setting). The minus 35-mesh portion was only

Jan 1, 1940

By R. B. Basham, C. W. Macune

Very small anomalies in oil well temperatures are detected and measured by recording the difference in temperature existing between two thermally sensitive elements which are Spaced several feet apart on a small diameter carrier and lowered into the bore hole. The elements operate in a balanced electrical circuit, sending only a reference signal to the surface as long as normal gradient temperatures are encountered. When either element enters a temperature disturbance, the circuit is unbalanced and produces large recorder deflections for minute anomalies. The system is highly sensitive to small changes in thermal gradients caused by gas or fluid movements and to the boundaries between beds of different thermal conductivities. Typical logs show successful applications of the process to locating gas and water leaks in casing, gas entry. and gas-oil contact. INTRODUCTION Temperature measurements in oil wells have been made for many years in the search for additional sub-surface data. It has been generally agreed that many conditions in the bore hole cause temperature anomalies which, if located and measured, could yield useful information. But it has been recognized also that many of the irregularities, such as those produced by small water and gas leaks in casing, might be very small and therefore difficult to detect with certainty.' Although tem-perature measurements have been made which show anomalies of less than one degree deviation from normal gradient temperatures, the results are usually uncertain and unconvincing. The general practice, therefore. has been to apply temperature surveys only to well conditions known to produce appreciable disturbances, such as large gas movements and cement hydration. The recent demand for additional data has focused attention on the problem of making dependable temperature measurements in the many instances when anomalies are small but none the less significant. It was for the purpose of detecting these minute irregularities in bore hole temperature that the program described in the following text was undertaken. It is emphasized that this presentation is not offered as a complete study, for the process is still partially experimental. But it is believed that the results obtained thus far will be of interest to the industry and will indicate some of the system's potential usefulness. DIFFERENTIAL MEASUREMENT The chief value of differential measurement lies in the fact that a difference between two factors can be measured with a scale of values best suited to that difference, a scale that might be cumbersome or impractical if applied to the factors themselves. When it is known that all factors will be nearly equal in value, and therefore the differences consistently small, it is possible to select a scale which will permit very accurate measurement of the differences. This advantage is in contrast to the difficulty of measuring small increments of a single variable, where the increment must be measured by a large scale which is suitable for measuring the entire factor. Gradient temperatures are usually measured under this latter condition where temperature measuring apparatus must have a scale extending over the range of expected temperatures, say 50' to 25O°F, and it becomes almost impossible to detect small irregularities of less than one degree. The use of large strip chart recorders and divided multiple ranges tend to amplify the small anomaly and make it more pronounced. But the instability of instruments, both

Jan 1, 1952

By Morris Cohen, Robert C. Ruhl

Fe-Ni-B alloys were inresligated by X-ray diffraclion after splat quenching. Although this rapid cooling did not produce a measurable supersaturation of dissol1ed boron in either binary Fe-B or Ni-B alloys, a marked increase in dissolved boron was achieved by the splal quenching of lernary Fe-Ni-B alloys. Boron additions up to 2.0 wl pcl to Fe-13Ni and Fe-24Ni alloys cause an increase in retained austenite from 0 to 59 pet and to 92 pet, respectively. The martensitic phase in the Fe-13Ni-9 at. pct B alloy is .found to conlain about 0.6 at. pet interstitial boron, as evidenced by the tetragonality of this phase, and about 3.6 at. pct substilutional boron, us deduced from the lattice paratrieler decrease, the balance of the boron being precipitated as (Fe,Ni)aR. The austenitic Fe-Ni-B plznses also contain both interstitial and substitutional boron. Iron-Boron System. The phase diagram and related information about the solid solutions and intermediate phases in the Fe-B system are given by ansen,' Elliott.2 and Pearson.1 The equilibrium solid solubility of boron in both ferrite and austenite is quite small: the maximum solid solubility of 0.02 wt pct B (0.11 at. pct B) occurs in iron at the eutectic temperature of 1150°C. while the maximum solubility in a iron is less than 0.01 wt pct.l There is disagreement in the literature as to whether these solid solutions are substitutional or interstitial. Based on the measured activation energy of boron diffusion in iron, it appears likely that boron moves interstitially in austenite. 4 However, this observation does not rule out the possibility that some of the dissolved boron may also occupy substitutional sites in this phase. Investigations of internal friction of boron in iron have suggested that boron is interstitial there.' Shevelev, 5 on the other hand, reports a decrease in the ferrite lattice parameter with dissolved boron content, thus indicating a substitutional solution. Unfortunately. Shevelev's methods and analysis are unclear. Goldhoff and spretnak6 have measured the lattice parameters of pure iron and an Fe-0.005 wt pct B (0.027 at. pct) alloy at both room temperature (ferrite) and from 920° to 1200°C (austenite). They reporte: a lattice contraction in the ferrite of 0.0003 ± 0.0002 due to boron, thus indicating a predominately substitutional solution. Appreciable (0.0010 to 0.0060) lattice contractions were found in boron-containing austenites, but these effects were much larger than could be accounted for by the substitutional solution of all the boron present. Nickel-Boron System. Elliott 2 gives a summary of thephase diagram and recent work on this system. The solubility of boron in nickel reaches a maximum of 0.03 wt pct at the eutectic temperature of 1080°C. Iron-Nickel System. ansen' presents the equilibrium diagram for this system and also discusses the metastable austenitic and martensitic phases along with the a=? transformations. The lattice parameters of Fe-Ni ferrites have been recently redetermined by Abrahamson and Lopata.7 Their data, Fig. 1, show an unusual change in slope at about 1.7 at. pct Ni. Very few measurements of the lattice parameters of Fe-Ni martensites are available in the literature. The values of Roberts and Owen8 are considerably higher than those measured in the course of the present work: they find that a, is constant at 2.874? from 8 to 30 at. pct Ni. Both the slope change in the ferrite parameters and the occurrence of a maximum plateau in the marten-sitic lattice parameters vs composition denote the

Jan 1, 1970

G. F. LOUGhlin,* Washington, D. C.—With reference to Mr. Bain's paper: The scarcity of adequate geologic data on building stone reflects, among other things, a lack of interest on the part of geologists. It has been one of my duties to attend to matters relating to building stone and other structural materials that have come to the U. S. Geological Survey, but for several years my principal administrative and other duties in the Section of Metalliferous Deposits have prevented me from giving structural materials the attention that they deserve. I have felt that investigations relating to structural materials should be assigned to someone else, but thus far nobody with a sufficient interest in the subject has come forward; further, the specific calls for these investigations have been so few and far between that it has not seemed practical to draft any one for the job. The general situation is such that steady and substantial progress in the application of geology to the utilization of structural materials is not likely to be made unless someone with keen interest in the subject takes the initiative. If the start is once made, I know from experience that cooperation from the more progressive members of the quarry and building industries will be readily forthcoming. Mr. Sales' suggestions are all constructive and most welcome. A thorough, detailed discussion of them might be as long as his manuscript, but could largely be summarized with the one word "amen" qualified by the alibi that a chronic shortage of funds and therefore of personnel has prevented us from carrying out some of his suggestions already. A few of them might call for an Act of Congress before we could undertake them, and one or two, such as the preservation of mine maps, with which I heartily agree, would call for much additional space as well as clerical and supervising help. Several items in Mr. Sales' paper—for example, the question of balance between the scientific and more directly practical studies and the surveys or resurveys of the larger and smaller mining districts—have been covered in my contribution to the symposium. The suggestion of frequent reviews of progress in the study of ore deposits is excellent and can be followed without serious diversion from projects already on the Survey's program. Brief reviews by Survey men have been published in periodicals, and the contributions by several of them to the Lindgren Volume1 may also be cited as serving this purpose to some degree. The practice of publishing short papers by Survey men in outside journals rather than in Government reports is largely the result of experience and expedience. Our printing funds are limited, and considerable time must elapse between the transmittal of a paper and its publication. Time is saved therefore by sending papers to outside journals, and the editors of those journals are usually glad to receive them. Members of the Survey would doubtless prefer to have the products and byproducts of their official work appear in official Survey publications if conditions were more favorable. If we were left entirely to ourselves the balance between the more scientific and the more directly practical studies would be somewhat better than it is, but the

Jan 1, 1935

G. F. LOUGhlin,* Washington, D. C.—With reference to Mr. Bain's paper: The scarcity of adequate geologic data on building stone reflects, among other things, a lack of interest on the part of geologists. It has been one of my duties to attend to matters relating to building stone and other structural materials that have come to the U. S. Geological Survey, but for several years my principal administrative and other duties in the Section of Metalliferous Deposits have prevented me from giving structural materials the attention that they deserve. I have felt that investigations relating to structural materials should be assigned to someone else, but thus far nobody with a sufficient interest in the subject has come forward; further, the specific calls for these investigations have been so few and far between that it has not seemed practical to draft any one for the job. The general situation is such that steady and substantial progress in the application of geology to the utilization of structural materials is not likely to be made unless someone with keen interest in the subject takes the initiative. If the start is once made, I know from experience that cooperation from the more progressive members of the quarry and building industries will be readily forthcoming. Mr. Sales' suggestions are all constructive and most welcome. A thorough, detailed discussion of them might be as long as his manuscript, but could largely be summarized with the one word "amen" qualified by the alibi that a chronic shortage of funds and therefore of personnel has prevented us from carrying out some of his suggestions already. A few of them might call for an Act of Congress before we could undertake them, and one or two, such as the preservation of mine maps, with which I heartily agree, would call for much additional space as well as clerical and supervising help. Several items in Mr. Sales' paper—for example, the question of balance between the scientific and more directly practical studies and the surveys or resurveys of the larger and smaller mining districts—have been covered in my contribution to the symposium. The suggestion of frequent reviews of progress in the study of ore deposits is excellent and can be followed without serious diversion from projects already on the Survey's program. Brief reviews by Survey men have been published in periodicals, and the contributions by several of them to the Lindgren Volume1 may also be cited as serving this purpose to some degree. The practice of publishing short papers by Survey men in outside journals rather than in Government reports is largely the result of experience and expedience. Our printing funds are limited, and considerable time must elapse between the transmittal of a paper and its publication. Time is saved therefore by sending papers to outside journals, and the editors of those journals are usually glad to receive them. Members of the Survey would doubtless prefer to have the products and byproducts of their official work appear in official Survey publications if conditions were more favorable. If we were left entirely to ourselves the balance between the more scientific and the more directly practical studies would be somewhat better than it is, but the

Jan 1, 1935

By Duane H. Haley

Dr. F. Well, the first thing that you have to realize is what is the Bureau of Mines? The Bureau of Mines basically has two functions. First it does the research and development relating to mining, processing, conversion, refining, recycling and substitution for minerals and materials. We work hand in hand with the U. S. Geological Survey on the geological end, although the exploration part of the game is theirs, and there is a very good relationship between the Survey and the Bureau of Mines. There are some overlaps with the Office of Coal Research, and we expect to be able to straighten out the areas of overlap, because it's important than OCR and the Bureau work together. Both the Office of Coal Research and the Bureau of Mines will have increased budgets next year, assuming that they are appropriated by the Congress. The other general area is in the whole area of mineral policy. The Bureau of Mines again is the key agency for developing data and analyses and making recommendations on all types of mineral policy in the Federal Government. It's a focal point for all types of minerals activities. It's the only real centralized focal point, along with the USGS, in the whole Federal Government. The problem areas, to answer your question specifically, are first of all the Bureau of Mines budget this year is $105 million and the budget for next year is $215 million, so it's more than double. Now, assuming that this budget is appropriated by the Congress, most of that money will be used for research and development in the energy area.

Jan 4, 1974

By George J. Bancroft

Western Australia (often popularly called Westralia) comprises all of the Australian continent west of the 129th meridian. The latest census, that of 1895, gives it a population of 101,235 persons. It includes within its bouiidaries 975,920 square miles. About half the colony lies within the tropics. The climate varies but slightly, considering the vastuess of' the area. The interior is dry and hot, and subject to very sudden changes. The coasts are warm, and the rainfall abundant, varying from 20 to 40 inches per annum. Perth is the capital and principal town, having a population of 20,000. Fremantle (pop. 9000), distant 12 miles, is the port of Perth, but because it is out of the track of the mail steamers, the mail and passengers are landed at Albany (pop. 3000) on St. George's Sound. A railroad, 338 miles long, connects Pert11 with Albany, and the running time of trains is about fifteen hours. Kalgoorlie is only about 200 miles from the coast at the little village of Esperance; but to reach Kalgoorlie one must land at Albany, travel to Northam, within 66 miles of Perth, and then east at an acute angle 325 miles to Kalgoorlie; in all about 600 miles. From Perth a railroad also runs to the Murchison gold-fields by way of Mingenew, Mnllewa and Yalgoo, to Cue. A branch goes down to the port of Geraldton. The government operates all the railroads and telegraph lines, and has been very energetic, all things considered, in extending them into the gold-fields. As to the accommodations afforded by the railroads, the less said the better. The comforts of travel are conspicuous by their absence. Of the 975,920 square miles of Westralia, the government, in its magnificent way, cleclares 256,060 to be gold-bearing. There are the Kimberley fields in the north, of 47,000 square miles; the Pilbarra on the northwest coast, of 45,600 square

Jan 1, 1899